Chapter 45

Layla

After I told Michelle and Tyler who it was, Tyler wanted to go after him, but the video wasn’t enough. I told them I needed to leave; I needed to speak to Dean and Aleck, but I couldn’t let him know. Within ten minutes, Tyler contacted someone, and for the right price, they would fly me out. I told them to give me four days, and I’d be back.

Michelle said she would tell everyone I went to Arizona for a funeral. Tyler said he would file the case for me, but he wanted to speak to Dean and Aleck to see how they wanted to proceed with it. By ten, I was on a private plane headed back to New York. I went to the house and saw it was locked up, so I figured they went back to the old place. Thankfully, they didn’t change the code. I was waiting for them when they came home.

I didn't expect them to know what happened. But when they saw who it was, Aleck lost it. I was too scared to sleep alone, so I stayed in the living room with Dean. When my eyes opened and I sat up, Aleck was sitting there. He came back.

I stood up and grabbed his hand, then I took Dean’s hand and started walking. I went straight to Dean’s room. “I need to sleep,” I said, looking at them.
“Okay. I’ll take a shower, and we’ll go to sleep,” Aleck said.

Dean helped me onto the bed and got in next to me. After a while, Aleck came back and got into bed. They both just held me.

“Brenham, Texas, that’s where I was, and that’s where he is. I withdrew two million; I bought a house there and worked at a pottery shop. Everyone knows me. Michelle is the girl I work with and my friend. After I woke up a couple of times feeling weird, I confided in her. It was her idea to get the cameras on Friday and set it up for me. I confided in her and her cousin Tyler; he’s the deputy sheriff. I told them everything. He saw the video, but he says he wants to speak to you two before officially making it a case. Before I left, he made his cousin go with me to the doctor. He called some friends and had them do a rape kit. I’m scared that Chris finds out we’re onto him and he runs,” I said.

“Okay. We’ll call him tomorrow, and we’ll figure it out,” Aleck said.

“Close your eyes and get some rest. Just know that we aren’t angry at you. Mallory, Andrew, and Nella will be kept in the dark until we can find out who is exactly helping who and who we can trust,” Dean said.

“Okay,” I said quietly. I closed my eyes and let sleep consume me. When I opened my eyes, they were both asleep with their hands around me, holding onto me as if I was going to disappear. When they woke up, they looked at me and smiled.

We were having breakfast when my phone vibrated. I saw it was a message from Michelle. I clicked on it and read it and looked at them.
“He knows I’m not there. He just asked her where I was, and she told him I went back home for a funeral,” I said.

“Okay. After breakfast, we’ll call the sheriff and figure something out,” Aleck said.

Aleck

We were in the office, and the phone was on speaker.

***ALECK: Is this Deputy Tyler Parks?***
***TYLER: That is correct. Now, who might you be?***

***DEAN: Dean and Aleck Cavanaugh.***

***TYLER: Ah yes, I was expecting your call. Now, I’m assuming she showed you the video and told you the details. If I know the law as well as I do, that video won’t hold up in court, especially if he gets himself a good lawyer.***

***DEAN: Then what if we make him think he made a mistake and she’s not really who he thinks she is? He knows she’s Layla. What if we really make her Samantha Russo?***

***TYLER: Now I like the way you men think. She’ll need to return to Brenham. I’ll vouch that she’s Samantha, so will my cousin and the people that know her. Make it more believable. Why don’t you send someone along with her as a family member? You’ve got enough money. Make her information solid, and we wait to catch him in the act.***

***DEAN: Sounds like we have a plan. We’ll get everything set up on our end, and we’ll let you know the details and backstory. In the meantime, can you file that rape case for us?***

***TYLER: I will indeed. You gents take care of her; we’ve become fond of her.***
***ALECK: We always do.***

After I ended the call, I looked at her and then at Dean. “Get Diego, Mac, and Brian on the line.”
“What do you guys intend to do?” she asked.

“Make you Samantha Russo with a whole life, and we’re sending a bodyguard with you as your brother,” Dean said.
“Leo. Leo’s young enough to work,” I said.

By eleven that morning, we had it all set. Brian created her identity and Leo’s. If anyone was looking, specifically Chris, he would find the information Brian created. Leo was one of our security details; he was never seen by anyone. He was in our office. We explained in detail what his job was.

“Leo, she is more important than anything and everything in our life. Make sure that fucker doesn’t get anywhere near her,” Dean said, looking at him.

“He won’t, boss. I suggest we find a way to keep him distracted and have someone outfit his place with cameras so we can know what he is up to and if anyone else is in on it,” he said.

“That’s not a bad idea. We’ll run with that,” I said.

Dean

We called the sheriff and told him the plan. He said he would be waiting for them. We sent him an email of their identities and the backstory. He assured us that he could keep him busy. He said he would let his cousin know when she was returning to be at the airport to pick them up.

Layla

On Thursday evening, I was saying goodbye to them both. They haven’t touched me in any way other than comforting me, and that was all I needed in all honesty. I stood in the living room looking at them.

“Can we really put an end to this?” I asked, looking at them.

“We will, princess. We just need solid proof, something that can’t be dismissed in court. We can’t be there with you, or that’ll make him run,” Aleck said, looking at me.

“Remember, Leo is your brother; you’re free to act any way you need to. We already spoke to the sheriff, and he will let his cousin know. Be careful and listen to Leo, okay?” Dean said, caressing my face.

“You’ll take our jet to a private airfield in Arizona, then you’ll leave by plane back to Brenham with Leo. If he’s looking, that’s what he’ll see. Mac, Deigo, and Brian are watching. He’s still there waiting for you,” Aleck said.

“Okay. I’ll be careful.”

I kissed them both and said goodbye to them. I left the apartment covered from head to toe. When we got into the car, we left. Leo was next to me.

“The bosses have already explained it to me. I will always have a way to contact the bosses through Brian, Mac, and Deigo. You’ll be okay, Mrs., we’ll catch him,” he said.

I nodded. The trip back to Brenham was nerve-wracking. When we stepped off the plane in Brenham on Friday afternoon, it was like something was different. Leo looked at me and smiled. Guess he was now my brother. I smiled at him; I was not going to let Chris fuck with me. When we walked out, I saw Michelle. Leo was beside me. “He’s watching,” he said in a whisper.

“Okay,” I walked over to Michelle and hugged her. “Thanks for getting us, sweetie.”
“Now why wouldn’t I? I know you don’t have a car,” she said.

“Really, Sam? You still haven’t bought a car?” Leo said, looking at me and pulling a face.
“Yes, I don’t need a car. Michelle, this is my brother Leo. Leo, this is my bestie Michelle,” I said, introducing them.

“It’s my pleasure,” Leo said, smiling at her.
“It’s lovely meeting you. Now, Sam, why would you hide your brother from me?” she said, laughing. Which made me laugh.

On the way home, we were talking. “There’s a car, possibly him. Keep driving at the same pace and keep the conversation going,” Leo said. I simply nodded.
“I only hope we get this bastard and make him pay for it,” Michelle said.
“Oh, we will. One way or the other,” I said, looking at her.