“Burn those who burned me!” Chapter 117

***Kai’s POV:***

The five of us sat in the empty warehouse building waiting for Ramone to show up with Benard Thorton.

The morning after my night with Gracie, I’d left the room to grab me some water. Turns out, Tyler was doing the same thing.

*“What are you doing here?”*

Asking simultaneously, after a short pause, we laughed aloud.

*“So, you really did have a crush on Londyn this whole time.”*

*“Yeah…we really bonded over these past few months while you were in the hospital.”*

*“Hmm…looks my coma was love magnet.”*

*“Hahahah!!!! That’s going on a greeting card.”*

After grabbing two water bottles each, we made our way back to our rooms. Before splitting up, Tyler called out to me.

*“Hey…I’ll start the search for Thorton later this morning.”*

Yesterday, in my anger, I told Tyler to immediately begin searching for Thorton. But after everything that happened last night, I realized spending time with my family was just as important. We had all of next week to find him, today I just wanted to enjoy being back home.

*“Nah…let’s begin everything on Monday. Today…spend as much time as you can with Londyn.”*

Tyler smiled brightly at me.

*“Well, who knew a little hanky panky would have my best friend being all mushy.”*

Tyler laughed and ran back to his room before I could react.

Tomorrow….I’ll kill him tomorrow.

After the family weekend ended, I had Parys help Cam with some of his workload at the office while I handled everything else from my home office. Tyler immediately began his search for Thorton that Monday. Turns out, he wasn’t an easy man to find. We figured the Rochesters went through great lengths to keep him hidden.

In the meantime, I’d purchased Gracie a new phone and had her number changed. I didn’t want the Rochesters tracking her or having access to her. The father had begun sending her messages demanding she set up a meeting with my parents to discuss business. Rochester truly had a set on him. You all but sold your daughter and then had the nerve to demand more in return. I couldn’t wait to give him exactly what he deserved.

It took three weeks to finally get a trail on him. Turns out, he had multiple aliases for his bank accounts and IDs. But it was his shell company that became the turning point.

*“Hey, I think I might have something.”*

Tyler walked into my office one afternoon holding a stack of papers.

*“What’s this?”*

*“It’s kind of like Task-Manager. Apparently, it pairs people with ‘service techs’.”*

I looked at Tyler with a puzzled expression, why was this relevant? Sensing my confusion, Tyler explained.

*“This site, I found it on the dark-web. It’s a shell company used to hire underground services.”*

Underground….I quickly understood. It was a site where you could hire the worse of the worse to get *‘jobs’* done.

My brows furrowed as I continued to read. I still didn’t understand how this would help find Thorton.

*“Okay, so how do we use this to our advantage?”*

*“I’ve got my team tracing jobs he’s completed. Phone numbers that were used, and possible meeting sites. We should be able to pull something out of this.”*

I nodded my head in agreement. This was the most information we’d uncovered so far, so I had to have some faith.

And then, finally. It happened after weeks of tracking and tracing, Tyler finally found his location.

*“Relax, relax! I call baring good news….I’ve found Benard Thorton.”*

My eyes immediately darted to Gracie; I could see the change in her expression. She looked at if she’d stopped breathing for a moment. Her eyes stayed on the phone, waiting for Tyler to continue.

*“So, where is he?”*

*“He’s staying in a condo owned by the Rochesters. It’s in the outskirts of Kingston in a small town called Union City.”*

Gracie’s eyes widen at the name of the location.

*“What is it Gracie?”*

*“I know that place. I mean, I’ve been to that condo before.”*

Both Tyler and I grew quiet as Gracie explained. Apparently, her piece of shit brother Noah, sent her there before to drop documents off to a man. The man was about average height, salt and pepper hair with a mustache. He wore glasses and had a scar on his right arm. She'd met him several times. The man was none other than Benard Thorton.

*“He used to give me the creeps…always staring at me.”*

I could see her face began to pale as the realization settled in. As tears started to stream down her face, she spoke just above a whisper.

*“So…all this time...I had been meeting with the man that almost killed….”*

Gracie jumped up and ran to the bathroom, as the door slammed shut I could hear her heaving as she threw up.

*“Shit…I’m sorry man.”*

Tyler said in a lowered voice. I could feel my heart aching in a million pieces. This was why I hadn’t wanted her to be involved. I didn’t want her to get hurt. Heartache slowly turned into rage as I became furious at this Benard Thorton.

*“Good work Tyler. Get everything set up…I want him in the warehouse tomorrow.”*

*“On it!”*

After hanging up with Tyler, I immediately went to the bathroom. The door was still locked but I could hear light sobbing. I knocked on the door.

*“Gracie…baby, please let me in.”*

*Sobs.*

*“I know this is a lot. I’m so sorry. I’ve wanted to protect you from all of this…I’m so sorry…I’ve been failing you in so many way…I-”*

Before I could finish, Gracie opened the door. Her face still had fresh tears as she gazed at me intensively. Without saying a word, she lunged into me hugging me tightly. I wrapped my arms around her, kissing her head lightly.

*“I’m so sorry baby.”*

*“No…stop saying sorry.”*

She looked up at me with those beautiful eyes. Tears slid down her cheek.

*“Kai…don’t you ever say you failed me. You have no idea how much you’ve saved me. This isn’t your fault…it’s theirs. Let’s finish this…together…so we can move forward with our lives.”*

I smiled warmly, my heart beamed brightly. She was so brave, so much resilience…Zelma was right…there was a fire in her eyes.

Now, me, Cameron, Tyler, Parys, and Gracie…all sat waiting for my head bodyguard to bring the man that could answer all the questions surrounding Gracie’s birth.

*“I just received a message. Ramone and his team are heading into the warehouse now.”*

After Tyler confirmed Ramone was on the way, we all immediately stood up. I could see Gracie’s face twitch; she was clearly nervous. A few moments later, the warehouse gate opened as three cars pulled in. After his team stepped out of their vehicles, Ramone stepped out of the SUV with a man gripped in his hand. The man had a sack on his face causing his words to sound muffled, but I could clearly make out what he saying.

*“Hey!!! Let me out of here!!!! Do you know who I am!!! If you know what’s good for you-”*

Snatch!

Ramone snatched the sack off of his face causing the man’s eyes to widen as he looked around the warehouse.

Thorton.

Gracie squeezed my hand; I could feel her slightly tremble as she looked at the person that almost took her life. I gently kissed her hand; I needed her to know everything would be alright. I would let no harm come to her ever again.

Thorton was still rambling when we made our way to the front, as we grew closer, his began to widen.

*“Gra….Graceland??? What is….what the hell is this!!! What’s goin-”*

Punch!

Ramone punched Thorton directly in the jaw causing him to fall over in his chair. Immediately, his henchmen stood the chair back up.

Fear was now in his eyes as he breathed frantically; blood dripping down his mouth. I spoke in a calm tone.

*“Mr. Thorton…I’m going to ask that you not address my fiancé any further. From this point on…all of your commentary will be directed at me.”*

Thorton spit out blood and scoffed.

*“Oh yeah…and who the hell are you.”*

A dark grin spread across my face.

*“I’m Kai Christiansen.”*

Thorton’s eyes widen in fear…you’re scared…very good.