Kylie Bray (Love, Hate and Billions)
Chapter 19 (Michael Stone)

David has always had hang ups with the girl. Recently with age they are becoming civil toward each other, more now with Diamond spending time with me but their antics can be highly annoying. When she first started building nuclear weapons and monitoring other projects for the government I made it my responsibility to see that she remain safe and protected.

It never crossed my mind that our family would become a target. I am not canceling the possibility that my youngest brother has just become a target against the government.

"I'm done, let's go."

Moving toward the door, I KISS Hunter on her cheek, grab my suit jacket off the coat hanger and leave with David following closely behind.

Once we get the keys to the Rover we are on our way.

Kylie crosses my mind, as she always does, no matter how distant I have been with her lately. She thinks I hate her, she is certain that I blame her for my break up with Willow. If only she knew the real reason remain distant.

If only she saw the thoughts in my head. Why I even dated Willow in the first place. Kylie would run far away from me.

Kylie and I have always shared a connection, an in-explainable bond of physical necessity. It is the most natural form of closeness a person will ever experience and I have that with her.

If the world was ending and I could save one person on the earth it wouldn't be her, because I would need her to die with me.

I've never been normal. From a young age my brain has worked faster than others. What amused most kids had only held my attention for a second.

My father knew I was meant for a greater purpose. I was born a leader, and he held me in high regard since I was kid.

I never fitted in with the others similar to me. I have always been excessively broader, taller, smarter, better though Diamond would argue on the smarter part.

Growing up, I enjoyed sports which most of the other great minds in my classes couldn't understand.

I can sit and laugh while watching a movie which many think is a waste of time. I use small words when I don't have to, because I like to. I am able to live and lead a normal life, which many can't.

But my struggles are not non, as an adult I spend three hours a day in my home gym just to calm my mind. My need for perfection has been slowly taking over. I don't sleep as I should. I am riddled with nightmares of failure. I fuck too many women, mastering their bodies as I play dangerous games with their minds, only to walk away in the end. My need for control is my down fall and slowly I know I am losing my mind.

"Where are we looking first?" David asks as he takes the long road out of Liston Hills.

"The Russians have a warehouse ten miles out, I will let you know when to turn, the place is a dirt road with a lot of potholes, the good thing is there aren't any traps, the place is supposedly a storage warehouse for foil, but a few years ago I stumbled upon the land when I was thinking of a place to hide the nitrogen bomb Diamond built. Made a couple of calls, found the owner was deceased, that certainly got my attention, did some digging and kept coming up BLANK."

"So you called the Pentagon, and had them do your dirty work," David concludes.

"Yes, since then we've been monitoring this place, recently there has been an influx of activity. Jace might not be there but it is worth a try."

I look out the window, agitation starting to take over as my brother drives the Rover, taking that control out of my hands.

My phone rings and I don't think about it when I put it on speaker.

"We know where he is, the Bratva has him in a hidden location near Houston, they want a trade, Diamonds co-operation for Jace's life." Kevin's words boom through the car.

"Diamond's co-operation for what?" David asks Kevin as he makes a shitty U-turn in the middle of the road, heading back to Liston Hills.

"They want her to make them a fuel injected drug, similar to the one the Navy used four years ago when they experimented on those soldiers that went missing, didn't end well. And I was the one ending it. They want Diamond to build them a fucking army, I say we agree for now, get Jace out of there, I don't trust those fuckers."

Kevin's instincts are always on target, it isn't like we have a choice.

"You don't trust anybody," David states, his eyes focused on the darkening road.

"I agree, make the deal, get him back, then we can worry about the rest after, what did Diamond say?" I ask Kevin

"She said anything to get Jace home," he responds, but there is pause.

"What aren't you telling me?" I know Kevin, I know there is more to this. Nothing in life is so simple.

"If Diamond agrees to this they want to chip her."

"Chip her like a fucking dog you mean, these men sound like Hitler's people, are you sure they're not German since when did the Russian mob even know about Dakota? Thought we had this shit under lock and key, how many more of these fucking assholes do we have to deal with while keeping her crazy ass safe?." David rants.

"As many as we need to, she's family, don't pretend as if you don't give a fuck about her because that is a lie," I tell my insensitive older brother.

"Going to sort shit out then we headed straight to you," Kevin announces before cutting the call.

I focus my attention on the empty road, but really my mind is on Diamond and what will become of her.

I made a promise to myself and Kylie that I will keep her safe. Unlike me Diamond isn't a functional genius, she can get lost in her mind. She is a weapon, a very dangerous weapon. I don't know how I am going to get her out of this but I will replace a way.000-------------