22: Vigilance

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Tyler

"Tyler!" Anya squealed, running out of my four-million dollar mansion and jumping me, kissing every spot she could get her mouth on. I was taken aback, my wound throbbing, but I didn't mind the pain. I was just happy to see her again.

"I missed you!" I responded, kissing her everywhere. She smiled against my mouth, "how was the last week?"

"Tyler! When I found out you'd gotten shot, I called Samuel immediately! He took care of..." she began, but I shook my head.

"Not that, I mean, how are you?" I kissed her again, still holding her small frame in my arms outside in the white-paved driveway leading up to the glass doors of my house.

"Lonely! Tyler you have no idea how happy I was to see you! I've been praying all week! I even called the pastor and he came and blessed our house. Gosh! Oh my gosh! I just realized, you're hurt." She unstrapped her legs from around my waist and stood in front of me instead, staring at me with delicate glass eyes and moving her fingers into my pale brown hair. Her warm fingers fluffing my long-ish hair. The top strands would reach my ears within the next month, I realized it would be a good idea to get a haircut soon.

"I'm fine," I smiled at her, my heart racing through the fabric of my new shirt.

The glasses that framed her face showered her eyes with the sunlight above, she was remarkable. I smiled at her, wishing I could capture this moment in my memory forever.

"Yeah." I cleared my throat as she watched me through curious eyes. "Actually wait, let's stand here for a second."

Anya looked at the home that she'd become so used to living in. She was so accustomed to being around me and I, her. We simply smiled at each other, soaking in the details of every change that had happened.

"Tyler, I love you." She said suddenly and my eyes widened. We'd said it to one another a dozen times before, but those three words could've been said to me a million times and my heart would jump each and every single time, "The whole week that you were gone, I was so worried about you and I thought you weren't coming back and I wished I'd told you before you left and I wanted to visit you, but you told me not to come to the hospital and..." her hands were moving as fast as her mouth.

I took a step forward and held her flailing hands in mine. I'd never been in love before, my previous two relationships were acquired when I was too young to know what love was. Now, I knew.

I knew as I reached for her hand and kissed it, I knew when my heart wouldn't stop thumping against my chest. I was in love with Anya.

"Should we head inside?" I asked. Her eyes sparkled as she held my hand and she skipped through the eight-foot tall glass doors to enter onto my white marble floors. I couldn't help but stare.

She looked absolutely mystical. Standing in the middle of the entry-way, white sparkling marbled floors beneath her delicate feet. The pure, clean, beautiful sunlight entered through giant glass windows that could fit three people vertically through them and surrounded her small frame. Her pale blue summer dress was fitted around her body as her white socks slid across the floor as smoothly as the wax of a car. Anya had hair that was so blonde, it could be considered white with a small undertone of red beneath. Her skin was illuminated by the sunlight and her smile made her glow more than I thought was possible.

"Samuel said he can stop by later today, he said he had things to talk to you about your new video game." Anya announced. Anya was the woman of my dreams, she walked with a silhouette of an angel, mystical and spectacular, carrying herself with sophistication beyond her years. It was no wonder I had to steal her off of the black market that was trying to sell her.

I tried to save all of them, but she was the only one they truly wanted back. I'd given the others good homes and new names in new countries, but Anya was hunted down twice. And twice I'd returned her to my home. She was safe here, happy here. And yet, it seemed like no matter how many times I changed her name or gave them false information to an unknown location, they'd always found a way to get to her. I'd hidden her in two different countries, but ultimately decided that staying with me was her best bet. My mansion was surrounded by cameras and security guards at all hours of the day. And if all else failed, I was willing to give my life to protect her.

I could protect her and work beyond the video game industry to help free victims of kidnappings, victims of a devilish place that showed the disgusting truth about humanity. The black market was no game, and I was no gambler.

"Did you eat?" I asked her, leading her to my kitchen, hand in hand. She swung our arms playfully, looking at me through pale-blue eyes.

"Yes, Tyler. But it wasn't the same without you." She smiled cheekily and I shook my head.

"So cheesy, damn, I've missed you." I laughed, holding her hand and spinning her around. She smiled at me and I at her. I held her close, swaying in the entryway of the kitchen, broad smiles on both our faces.

"I made your favorite dessert." She said, standing too close and not close enough. I kissed her cheek, guiding her hands around my shoulder as I leaned forward and pressed my mouth to hers. "For when you came home tonight. I got a little help from Rebecca, but I sent her home to her kids after she helped me."

"I love you, Anya." I whispered, staring at her, my voice husky. I was happy that she had thought of me and my favorite dessert, happy to be enlightened by her beautiful presence.

I didn't feel like Anya and I were people. I felt like we were two souls that had found each other, colliding together in the vast space of the universe and wanting to spend every waking moment with each other. This was love.

"Just wait till you taste my dessert," she giggled, kissing me, "you'll be loving me even more."

"I don't think that's possible." I laughed, unable to release her from my arms, missing the feel of her arms around my shoulders. The soft touch of her warm lips against my own. I took a deep breath when the doorbell rang and Samuel barged in without warning.

"Ty, can you come upstairs with me. Oh, hi miss Anya. It's nice to see you smiling again." Samuel laughed, rolling his eyes at me. I had a boyish grin on my face, I knew I did. I could feel it as much as the next person could see it.

"I'll see you later, miss Anya." I whispered as she giggled, releasing me as I pressed my lips against the back of her hand and followed Samuel upstairs. He knew his way around my mansion as much as the next person, and he was someone I trusted wholeheartedly. He'd done so much work for our undercover mission, to protect the young women and children from being forced into a life they never chose.

"Can you walk any slower?" Samuel drawled sarcastically, annoyed that I'd taken a while to get up the stairs. Truth was, I would've much rather have spent time with Anya at this instant than anyone else in the world.

"Still recovering." I responded, making it to the top of the stairs, "why didn't we just use the elevator?"

He ignored my question and held the door to our office wide open. It was the only room in my house that didn't have any windows, but it did have a very good ventilation system.

"Three things, first I'm glad you're back. I hired a hitman to go after the guy that shot you. He was successful, so you no longer need to worry about thatย  particular group coming after Anya." Samuel began, "now, the profits from your new video game have skyrocketed since news came out that you were in the hospital. Either way, they're calling the attack on your life a publicity stunt and there are conspiracy theorists claiming your hospitalization was a sham. Either way, sales have gone up and since the launch of Shadow Crow is in a few days, we'll need you at the office to prepare for PR. Anyway, the bad news is, I received a call last night..."

Samuel's dark beard was shadowed further by the dim yellow light in the big, messy room that felt much smaller than it actually was. The wooden bookshelves and desk were scattered with papers and books. The maids were not allowed in this room and thus, neither of us had much time to clean it. We had a map on the western corner of the room with connections between the groups that threatened our and Anya's safety. Though Anya was not and never would be a possession, I needed to keep her safe and away from them. Especially now when countless groups had heard about her and for whatever reason, wanted to take her from me.

"Tyler, did you hear me? Do you know who she is?" Samuel asked. I looked up at him, realizing I had zoned out. Anya was just downstairs. She was so close, we could spend so much time together if Samuel hadn't chosen to show up as soon as I got home.

"No, sorry, what?" I asked as Samuel pursed his lips and crossed his arms. He knew I zoned out easily, having the patience of a wolf.

"Do you know a girl named Amy Bloom?" He asked. My tongue jumped into the back of my throat and was swallowed in that instant. I hadn't heard that name in years. I hadn't seen her since we'd broken up, aside from the court cases I attended for moral support. She had been through so much that a shitty boyfriend should've been the least of her problems back then.

But, after her sister got sentenced to death row, for what I believed was a lie and utter stupidity, we parted ways. We hadn't talked after graduation. She didn't say goodbye to me when I moved away. Nothing. We'd completely parted ways. And now, out of nowhere, her name taunted me.

"A...Amy?" I stuttered, my mind becoming foggy as I thought of all the possibilities of what happened.

"This new group, they called using an anonymous number last night. They directed the call for you, told me that they've captured a girl, who might be of importance to you in the past, and that they'll trade her for Anya. They mentioned that if you don't comply, Amy Bloom will be dead by the end of this week."

A/N:ย  I know a few events were mentioned here that weren't mentioned in the Wattpad 1st book of this series. The edited version of the Boy Who Read Minds has events that take place in a different order, and as such, this story follows that timeline. Also the book is free today and tomorrow (2/16/2021) on the smashwords link in my bio! (While you're there, why not follow ๐Ÿ‘Š๐Ÿผ)

Your discussion responses last chapter were incredible! I had a lot of fun reading them; you all are so thoughtful, inquisitive, and clever!

If you want to answer these, I'd love to hear your thoughts:

Do you think Tyler will trade a life for a life?

Has Tyler 'reformed' or has this always been his true nature?

There's a new story on Bailey Bloom! Titled "Butterfly of Gold" under TBWRM reading list on my bio!

Stay safe! I love you!

Until next chapter โ™ฅ๏ธ

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