The Professor's Mate Clause novel Chapter 25

CHAPTER 25

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CHAPTER 25

KELVIN’S POV

I sit in the back booth gulping my third whiskey, Derek was getting late. He is always late, just Likes to make people wait. Likes the power it gives him.

Nonsense

I hate him. Hate his cold eyes. Hate the way he talks about killing like discussing the weather. Hate that my father trusts him more than he trusts me.

But I need him I need someone who can do what I cannot. Someone who does not hesitate. Does not feel guilt. Does not lie awake at night seeing the faces of people they killed.

Creak

The door opens as Derek walks in. Moves like a predator. His Eyes began to scan the room. Assessing. Cataloging threats. Finding exits.

Always the enforcer. Always ready.

He slides into the booth across from me. Does not order a drink. Just stares at me with those dead gray

eyes.

“You look like shit.” His voice is flat. No emotion.

“Thanks.”

“How much have you had?”

“Not enough.” I take another drink. “You have information?”

“Always straight to business. No small talk. No how are you Derek. No thanks for meeting me.” He leans back. “Your father raised you with no manners.”

“My father raised me to follow orders. Which is why we are here.” I set my glass down. “Can we just get this over with?”

“Eager to plan your ex girlfriend’s murder. Touching.” Derek pulls out his phone. Swipes through something. “I have good news and bad news. Which do you want first?”

“Just tell me.”

“Bad news. Metcalfe has been keeping her locked down tight. Security everywhere. Wolves on rotation. Getting to her in his building is impossible without starting a war.” He shows me his phone. Photos of Adrian’s building. Guards. Cameras. “She is untouchable there.”

“So we wait until she leaves.”

“She does not leave. Has not left the building in three days. Lives like a prisoner.” Derek swipes to

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another photo. “Until today.”

My heart jumps. “What happened today?”

“Lover’s quarrel apparently. She stormed out. Told him to leave her alone. Blocked his number.” Derek smirks. “Your ex has a temper. I like that in a woman.”

“Where is she now?”

“Motel on the east side. Seedy place. Paying cash. Alone.” He shows me the address. “But here is the thing. She is not as alone as she thinks. Metcalfe has wolves watching her. Three at least. Maybe more. They are being discreet but I spotted them.”

“So we cannot get to her there either.”

“I did not say that. I said she has wolves watching. Wolves can be dealt with.” Derek’s eyes get colder.” The question is how messy do you want this? Quick and clean? Or do we send a message?”

“I do not want to send a message. I just want it done.” The words taste like ash. “Fast. Painless if possible.”

“Painless.” Derek laughs. Short. Sharp. “You want to kill her but you want it to be nice. You are pathetic.”

“I did not ask for your opinion.”

“No. You asked for my help. And I am telling you that if you want this done right you need to stop being sentimental.” He leans forward. “She is a target. Nothing more. You kill her fast. You kill her quiet. You do not give her a chance to scream or fight or beg. Understand?” 1

I nod. Cannot speak. The image of Freya begging flashes through my head. Her mother begged. It did not help.

“Good. Now here is the plan. She is vulnerable right now. Alone. Emotional. Probably not thinking clearly. “Derek swipes through more photos. “We use that. We do not go in guns blazing. We get close first. Gain her trust. Make her think she has an ally.”

“How?”

“You.” Derek points at me. “You are her ex. You have history. You reach out. Say you want to talk. Apologize. Whatever pathetic thing women want to hear. Get her to meet you somewhere public. Somewhere Metcalfe’s wolves cannot follow without being obvious.”

“And then?”

“Then I handle the rest. You get her alone. I take care of the problem. You go home. Your father gets what he wants. Everyone wins.” Derek makes it sound so simple. So easy. “Except her obviously.”

“She will not want to see me. She hates me.”

“Of course she hates you. You cheated on her. Married someone else. Treated her like garbage.” Derek shrugs. “But she is also hurt. Angry at Metcalfe. Probably questioning everything. That makes her weak.

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Exploitable. You know how to manipulate her. You did it for months.”

He is right. I do know how. Know exactly what to say. What buttons to push. What memories to bring up.

I used to be good at it. Making her think I cared. Making her believe I would change. Making her stay even when she should have left.

I can do it again. One last time.

“When?” My voice is quiet. Defeated.

“Soon. Tomorrow if possible. The longer we wait the more time Metcalfe has to fix whatever broke between them. The more time she has to think clearly.” Derek stands. “I will send you her location in an hour. You reach out. Be pathetic. Be sorry. Be whatever she needs you to be. Get her to agree to meet. Then I do the rest.”

“What if she says no?”

“Then we go to plan B. Which is messy. Violent. And will definitely start a war with Metcalfe’s pack.” Derek’s eyes are hard. “But your father said he does not care. Said he will burn everything down if he has to. So really it is your choice. Easy way or hard way. Either way she dies.”

He walks out before I can respond. Leaves me sitting in the booth with my whiskey and my guilt and my complete inability to do the right thing.

I should warn her. Should text her somehow. Should tell her to run. To hide. To never trust me again.

But I do not. Just sit there and wait for Derek to send the location. Wait for my phone to buzz with

instructions. Wait to become exactly what I have always been.

My father’s weapon. His tool. His obedient son who does what he is told even when it destroys him.

The phone buzzes. Derek.

*East Side Inn. Room 108. She is alone. Metcalfe’s wolves are in the parking lot and lobby. Room has a back window. Fire escape. Make sure she agrees to meet somewhere else. Somewhere we control.*

I stare at the message. At the address. At the room number.

Room 108. That is where Freya is right now.

She has no idea what is coming. No idea that her ex boyfriend is planning her murder. That the man she used to trust is about to betray her worse than he already has.

I gulped down the rest of my whiskey. Order another. The bartender gives me a look but pours it anyway.

I need courage. Liquid courage. The only kind I have anymore.

My phone sits on the table. Freya’s number is still in it even though she blocked me. I could call from a different number. Could reach out. Could start this nightmare.

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But I do not. Not yet. Need a few more drinks first. Need to be numb enough that I do not think about what I am doing. Do not think about her face when she realizes I set her up. Do not think about anything except getting this over with.

My father calls. I ignore it. He calls again. I answer.

“Did you meet with Derek?” No greeting. Just business.

“Yes.”

“And?”

“He has a plan. Says he can get to her. Says I need to make contact. Get her to meet me somewhere.” The words feel mechanical. Rehearsed. “It will be done in a day or two.”

“Good. Do not mess this up Kelvin. This is your last chance to prove you are useful. To prove you are my son.” His voice gets harder. “Fail and I will handle it myself. And you will wish you had never been born.”

He hangs up. No goodbye. Just the dial tone and the threat.

I finish my drink. Order another. Stare at my phone.

One text. That is all it takes. One text to Freya and this whole thing starts. One text and she is as good as

dead.

I should feel something. Should feel horror or guilt or remorse. Should feel like the monster I am

becoming.

But I just feel empty. Tired. Done with all of it.

My fingers move before I can stop them. Opening a text. Typing.

*Freya. I know you probably do not want to hear from me. I know I messed up. But I need to talk to you. Please. Just once. I have things to tell you. Things you need to know about Metcalfe. About your mother. About everything. Meet me tomorrow. Anywhere you want. Just give me a chance to explain.*

I stare at the message. At the lies. At the manipulation. At the trap I am setting.

Then I hit send before I can change my mind.

The message goes through. Delivered.

Now I wait. Wait to see if she takes the bait. Wait to see if she is desperate enough to believe me. Wait to see if I can actually go through with this.

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