Thank you for the reviews, comments, favorites and alerts! Thank you for being patient as well!
WARNINGS: usuals
Disclaimer: I don't own The Vampire Diaries or the characters associated with it. I just own the city of Nivea, the country of Atteca, the minor characters and other cities I made up and this plot.
Damon felt groggy when he awoke the next afternoon in between Caroline and Katherine. He was a little weary to see the state of his household after everything that had taken place yesterday but dressed anyways. He knew Tyler come home but wasn't sure what happened after. He jogged to Jeremy's room, anxious to see the state he would find the younger in.
"Jer?" he said quietly as he knocked on the door. As he suspected, there was no response. "I know you're upset, but we should talk about what happened."
He waited nearly five minutes for a response that didn't happen.
"Jeremy?" he called louder as he knocked again.
"Goddamn it," he muttered as he pushed his forehead to it. "C'mon Jer. I'm not leaving until you open the door."
He heard movement behind it, and then it was open and he was staring at a half-naked Tyler with low riding pajama bottoms. His eyebrows shot up.
"This is a surprise."
Tyler merely grinned. Damon looked over his shoulder at the lump under the blankets.
"I assume you two have…talked."
"Among other things," he smirked. Damon couldn't help but laugh.
"You waste no time, do you?"
"We had a lot to talk about."
"I'm sure you did," he grinned. "You should see your neck."
Tyler turned around. Damon laughed when he saw thin red lines crisscrossing all over his back, as well as the half-moon indents on his shoulders and finger imprints on his sides.
"Lunch will be ready when you're ready to join us."
"What time is it?"
"12:30."
"We may or may not make it down. Maybe this evening," Tyler winked. Damon shook his head with a laugh as he shut the door.
The billionaire rid himself of his pajama bottoms and crawled back into bed, snuggling against Jeremy. The orphan stretched and groaned in his embrace.
"Who was that?" he mumbled.
"Just Damon," he kissed his shoulder. "Go back to sleep."
"I should get up. He wants me up before ten," he rolled over to face his lover, "but you're so warm."
"It's almost 1, so don't worry about it," he smirked. "He knows we won't be coming down for a while since we were up late…talking."
"And what a nice talk it was," Jeremy grinned with his eyes still closed. Tyler chuckled as he kissed him. Their legs tangled as they pressed closer to indulge in more lazy kisses. Jeremy fell asleep first and Tyler followed soon after with their foreheads still touching.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
"How's Jeremy?" Rose asked when Damon came downstairs.
"Still sleeping. He and Tyler were up late last night. Talking," he chuckled.
"Lovely," she grinned. "So that explains all the noise then."
"You heard them?"
"It was rather hard to ignore," she shivered. "Reminded me of when Mason and I were good."
"How is he?"
"He's healing at home," she sighed. "He feels horrible. I'm not condoning what he did in any way but he's torn up about it."
"I know," he said quietly. "It's not fair that he screwed Ty over but I do feel sorry for him."
"I do too."
Trevor stomped down the stairs and entered the room. He sneered when he saw them and they sneered back.
"Where's Jeremy?"
"Asleep. Why?" Damon snapped.
"We had an argument and I wanted to apologize. Not that it's any of your business."
"You seem to forget whose house this is," Damon retorted. "As long as you're staying here, what you do is my business. Since Jeremy lives here and he's my sub, he's my business too. When little fuckers like you try to tear my family apart with your bullshit, then it really becomes my fucking business."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Stefan told me how he found out, how you planned for that shit," he glared at him. "You're not a slick bastard, just a petty one."
Trevor snorted, "It's not my fault Lockwood decided to listen in at the wrong moment. He could have happily left any time."
"It absolutely doesn't surprise me that that was all you," Rose spat. "Jesus Trevor, your jealousy of Tyler is fucking pathetic."
"I think I did him a favor, since none of you were going to tell him anytime soon. You claim to be a loving family, and you weren't going to tell him about their relationship and for what? To spare his feelings? Families would tell each other the truth, and you keep more secrets from each other than a government does its country."
"My family is none of your business," Damon snarled. "What we do and how we do has shit to do with you Porter. You better watch yourself before you find yourself out on the streets."
"So long as Jeremy is in this house with that madman, I'm not going anywhere," Trevor clenched his fists by his side. "He's not safe with Lockwood, or any of you lot for that matter."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Rose laughed meanly. "Jeremy's safe with anyone that isn't you! You're the one obsessed with him!"
"I'm trying to protect him! You don't know these people Rose! All they have done to Jeremy is lie to him over and over and force Tyler on him, even when he didn't want it!"
"And when was that?" Damon rolled his eyes. "He's always been in love with Tyler. It's never been about anyone else."
"And when it wasn't about Tyler, you made sure it was about his uncle. You lot have done nothing to let him heal from his past! One billionaire isn't present and you replace him with another! You make sure he clings to you and in turn you can manipulate him how you want!"
"Christ," Damon rolled his eyes. "You're an idiot Trevor, but I guess that's to be expected from a creep like you. I understand it's upsetting that Jeremy doesn't see you the way you want him to but making up lies like this isn't helping your case. You just sound insane."
"I'm nowhere as insane as Lockwood!"
"What the hell does that mean?"
"I know what he's capable of! I know what he's done!" Trevor sneered at them. "You want to believe he's so innocent but he isn't! He's unstable and completely out of control!"
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"I know about the murders! I know he's covered them up! Business deals gone wrong and then they wind up dead the next day!" he spat. "I'm no fool! When he's done with Jeremy he's going to do the same to him and I refuse to stand by and watch that happen!"
Rose and Damon shared a stunned look before bursting into laughter. Trevor's sneer worsened as he watched them.
"You think Tyler is a murderer?" she chuckled. "You really are crazy!"
"It's the truth!"
"Where's your proof?" Damon snorted. Trevor glared at him but kept his mouth closed.
"He's a murderer and one day I'll be able to prove it," he snarled. "Mark my words, Lockwood is the insane one. And when he's tired of Jeremy he'll try to dispose of him like he does everyone else but I won't let him. I will be here to watch over him and pick up the pieces when Lockwood breaks his heart again."
He gave them another glare before going back upstairs. He made sure his door was locked before flipping on his laptop and turning to the cameras. Jeremy and Tyler were curled together under the blankets, sleeping as soundly as they were when he first checked in on them. He'd been up all night watching, waiting for Tyler to strike Jeremy. That hadn't happened, but he kept watching anyway, telling himself it was for Jeremy's protection and that he wasn't enjoying seeing him in the throes of passion. He wished it could have been him inside Jeremy, bringing him pleasure beyond his wildest dreams. He wished it was him that Jeremy was calling for, him he was clinging to as he made love to him for hours. He pretended that Jeremy was telling him he loved him as he cherished him.
He couldn't help but be jealous of the Lockwood billionaire and his ability to sweet talk Jeremy back into his bed. He sucked his beloved back into his world of sin and he couldn't just stand by anymore. He had to save Jeremy from these people, but most importantly from himself. And when he realized that he was better for him, Jeremy would thank him for it. He needed to take Jeremy from this hell and back to Italy where he was safe from Tyler's influence.
"I'll save you Jeremy. Even if I have to kill him myself," he vowed.
He rewound the footage to the previous night and started at the part of their fight where they kissed against the wall. His eyes glazed over in lust as he zoomed in on Jeremy and stuck his hand in his pants.
When Tyler awoke in the late afternoon, he frowned when Jeremy wasn't next to him. He grinned when he heard the shower and Jeremy humming and got out of bed to join him. The steam floated over the giant shower, immediately making him hot as he stepped in and wrapped his arms around Jeremy's slick body. He gasped and tensed before leaning into him.
"Why didn't you wake me?" Tyler whispered hotly. Jeremy chuckled as he kissed his cheek.
"You looked peaceful. I felt guilty."
"Never feel guilty for waking me up for showers," he licked a long line up his neck as he cupped his cock. He stroked it a while, grinning when he felt it stiffen.
"You want me?"
"Yeah," he panted as he turned to kiss him. It quickly grew heated and soon Jeremy found himself leaning against the shower wall, moaning as Tyler thrust into him at a steady pace. He thrust back, quickly coming undone from Tyler stroking him and the warm water. He turned around and pushed Tyler back to sit on the ledge. He straddled him, kissing him deeply as he rose up slightly and Tyler guided himself into him. The shower head sensed they moved and turned to bring the water to them, creating a waterfall as they made love slowly. Tyler gripped his cock, stroking as he rocked on him faster.
"C'mon," he muttered against his lips when he felt heat pool in his stomach. "I want you to come first."
It only took a couple more strokes for Jeremy to reach his end. He clenched around Tyler and he grunted as he came hard inside of him. They collapsed against the shower wall, still holding each other as the water ran over them, getting out when they recovered.
"I'm sure they're wondering where we are by now," Jeremy chuckled as he used his plush towel to dry his hair. "It's almost dinner time."
"It's happy hour. They're probably drinking," Tyler chuckled as he pulled on his shoes.
"Hopefully there's still some food left for us."
"They made enough food to last a couple days. There's enough," he reassured.
"Good; I'm starving," Jeremy's stomach rumbled loudly to back his statement. Tyler laughed and kissed him quickly.
"Then let's hurry up and eat so we can get back to bed."
"Gutter mind," Jeremy nuzzled him playfully.
They left their room hand in hand, unable to resist stealing kisses on their way to the kitchen. Tyler pressed him against the wall when a kiss turned intense and they both forgot about where they were going.
"Aren't you two sick of each other yet?"
They broke apart with grins as they faced Rose, "Not yet."
"Figures," she snorted. "You two have amazing sex. Of course you're not sick of it."
"What?" Jeremy cried indignantly as he blushed. "Did you listen to us?"
"I don't need to. Your face says it all. And the way you're limping."
Tyler laughed when Jeremy sputtered for an answer.
"I'm not limping," he muttered as they followed her through the kitchen.
"You are a little babe," Tyler kissed his fingers. Everyone greeted them with wide smiles when they made it outside. Bottles of alcohol, glasses of cocktails and ashtrays for cigars and joints littered the long table. Damon and Alaric raised their glasses to them, making them laugh.
"Thought we wouldn't see you until tomorrow," Stefan chuckled as he lit the cigar in his hand.
"We need to reenergize," Tyler grinned. Jeremy chuckled too but stopped short when Trevor rose from his seat and hastily walked to them.
"Jeremy!" he gave him a grin. "I've been waiting all day for you to come down! How are you feeling?"
Jeremy grabbed his arm and pulled him off to the side roughly. The others quieted down to watch the confrontation.
"Did you tell him about me and Mason?" Jeremy asked in a dangerously low voice. "Tell me the truth Trevor."
"Of course not!" he exclaimed. "Did he tell you that?"
"He told me everything," he hissed. "Did you purposefully argue with Mason in the bathroom you knew he had to pass, look him in the eye, and ask Mason how he would feel if he knew we slept together?"
"We were arguing but I swear to you I didn't see him!" Trevor pleaded. "You have to believe me Jeremy! I didn't see him standing there until after I said it!"
Jeremy nodded and turned away slightly as he tried, in vain to control his anger. Only Tyler could see just how angry he was.
"Jeremy, please—!"
Jeremy snapped when Trevor put his hand on his arm and threw a sharp right hook into his jaw. He stumbled backwards and brought a hand to his face in surprise.
"You lying son-of-a-bitch!" he bellowed. "You did this on purpose! You wanted him to hear you! You wanted them to fight and for Tyler to hate me! Everything you said to me yesterday wasn't to make me feel better! It was to make yourself look like less of an ass for trying to break us up!"
"No—no that's not true!" Trevor immediately started. "I was looking out for you! Mason was the one that was trying to destroy your relationship, not me! He wanted to ruin things between you and Tyler and I was defending you!"
"He's the one who wanted to forget it happened in the first place! Why would you do that?"
"I was trying to protect you!"
"By putting me and the people I love against each other? What's the point Trevor?"
"He doesn't love you!" Trevor screeched. "You're his fucking bitch, his mistress when he needs a good fuck! He'll never love you like I do! He's nothing but a wife-beating man-whore with a fetish for younger boys!"
Tyler growled and made to move but Damon put a hand on his shoulder.
"Let Jeremy handle this," he murmured.
"I am ten times the man Lockwood is! I am better, smarter and greater than that bastard ever will be! And you can't see that because you're blinded by his smooth talking lies and his power and his money!"
Jeremy's eyes narrowed, "What the hell does that mean?"
"You let him treat you like trash because he can give you nice things to make up for it! That's not love Jeremy, that's being the whore of a rich man! I can give you more than he ever can! I could dominate you better, discipline you better, be better for you and show you what real love is!"
"Love doesn't mean you judge that person for the choices they've made! Love doesn't mean you get to manipulate me and control me and turn me into your bitch! Controlling me to act the way you want isn't love at all! You're no better than the people at the orphanage!"
Trevor's hands flew to his hair in obvious distress. "That's not true! Don't you see what he's doing? He's trying to put you against me Jeremy! He's jealous of what we have and he's trying to destroy it by twisting my words! I love you! I only want what's best for you and it's not him!"
"And it's not you either," Jeremy snapped. "You need to leave."
Trevor's mouth dropped.
"What?"
"Pack your stuff and get out of my house," Jeremy glared. "We're done."
Trevor's face morphed from shock, to dismay, to fury like Jeremy had never seen.
"No!" he screeched with such anger Jeremy had to take a step back. "You will not dismiss me for Lockwood! I will not be second place to that lecher! I'll show you how much better I am for you!"
Without warning, Trevor sprung forward, grabbed Jeremy by his arms and forced their lips together. Jeremy tried to pull away immediately but Trevor yanked him forward. He gasped in surprise and Trevor forced his tongue into his mouth.
"Get your fucking hands off him!" Tyler barked as he and the others ran forward.
Jeremy recovered from his shock and bit his tongue while stomping hard on his foot at the same time. Trevor pulled back and he immediately threw a swift elbow to his side. Trevor doubled over, giving Jeremy time to break free and throw another punch to his face. He fell to the ground, his nose gushing blood.
"Get out!" he spat with venom as he walked into Tyler's arms. He was shaking horribly when he reached him and buried his head in his shoulder. When Damon reached him, he threw his own punch to Trevor's face, knocking him to the ground again.
"You're lucky I'm not breaking your fucking arms," he snarled as he pulled him to his feet. "Get your shit and get the hell out of my house."
"I think he might need a little help," Alaric smirked. Damon returned it.
"I think you're right."
They dragged him back into the house. He wailed Jeremy's name the whole time but he didn't look up until he heard the door slam.
"You okay?" Tyler murmured. He nodded.
"Yeah. I can't believe he just did that."
"I can," Tyler cupped the back of his neck and grinned. "You looked hot kicking his ass."
"It was very impressive," Katherine and Caroline giggled. Jeremy smiled in slight relief.
They walked back to the table and took their seats, with Jeremy replacing Trevor. The sun was nearly gone by the time Damon and Alaric came back, this time with two people behind them. Tyler frowned when he saw the state they were in.
"Matt? Kol?" Stefan stood when saw the blonde officer's arm in a sling. "What the hell happened?"
"We were attacked last night," Kol sighed. "Mikael's men found us and they…they killed Henrik and took Rebekah."
"What?" Tyler shot up quickly. "Why?"
"Holy shit," Kol breathed when they landed on Jeremy. "Matt, that's the kid. That's the one Rebekah found on his computer."
Matt gaped when his eyes went from him to Caroline. She looked back anxiously.
"How? I thought they were in the warehouse?" he turned to Kol. "Didn't they have buyers and prices?"
"They do. Jesus Christ," Kol swore lowly. The others looked at them in confusion.
"What is going on?" Katherine stood as well. Kol let out a short, humorless laugh.
"This just got so much more complicated," he sighed. "We need to talk."
They all moved into the living room, Kol and Damon bringing up the rear. Jeremy saw the pensive look on Damon's face and knew that whatever was happening wasn't going to be good. Damon whispered something in Stefan's ear and the younger sighed heavily.
"What's going on?" Tyler gripped Jeremy's hand tightly.
"There's something we need to tell you and Jeremy," Stefan started softly as he faced them. "And I need you to stay quiet and not react until we're done, okay?"
"Okay," Tyler said slowly.
"Are you two…?" Kol asked in shock. When they nodded, he laughed lightly.
"Well that explains a lot."
"That explains everything," Matt muttered. "If Mikael knew about this beforehand—"
"Then this is his revenge," he finished with a biting laugh. "This shit just keeps getting more and more disturbing. How that man is my father I will never understand."
"What're you talking about?" Tyler asked.
Kol and Stefan shared a look and the younger Salvatore sighed deeply.
"Do you remember the night of the play party, when Jeremy was taken into that back room by those men?"
"Yeah. What about it?"
"Well, we went through Anna's security footage—"
"Who is we?"
"We," Stefan gestured to Damon. Tyler scoffed.
"And you didn't think I should have gone through it too?"
"Not at the time. We didn't know what we would find," he sighed. "We went through the footage and the names on the list…and we discovered it wasn't a random attack."
"So he was a target?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
Stefan, Damon and Katherine all shared a look.
"The people who took you into that room…they work for Mikael."
"What?" Tyler cried. "What the hell—why would they be at a kink play party?"
They all shared another look. Tyler growled in annoyance.
"If someone doesn't start talking right now—!"
"Mikael runs a human trafficking ring. He's going to sell him and her," Kol pointed to Caroline, "to foreigners that paid millions for them. Rebekah broke into his office and found pictures of them, hundreds of copies. Then she found their pictures on a website with price tags and buyers along with some of the people who have been reported missing over the past few months."
"We thought they were already taken," Matt said lowly. "Under each price it said they were sold and a name and we thought we were too late to save them."
Jeremy and Tyler stared at the officers with wide eyes and opened mouths. The silence in the room was deafening.
"When you say sold," Jeremy swallowed heavily. "You mean…like a slave?"
"Yes. Mikael plans to sell you like a dog to some perverted bastard in another country," Kol spat. "That is his lucrative business. That is why people have been disappearing for so long. It's all been him."
"That's why I took you to Europe Jeremy. That's why we didn't tell you about Tyler," Damon said lowly. "You would've wanted to come back and we didn't know if Mikael was still after you."
"And who the fuck did he sell him to?" the anger was clear in Tyler's voice. "How the fuck does he even know about Jeremy? He's never even seen him before!"
"He has Ty," Stefan sighed heavily. "Your house has been bugged. They were hidden, and they more than likely link back to a main computer that Mikael owns."
"They have pictures of all of us in every part of the house," Damon said quietly. "Mikael found a way to send them to your computer, so that you know that he's always been watching."
"What? How?"
"Elijah," Kol growled. "He's been working for Mikael this whole time. He betrayed Richard Lockwood for him and got him killed."
"Elijah is the one that turned Mikael in! Why would he turn around and work for him if he accused him of murder?" Tyler felt his head spinning. "Mikael threw him out with nothing but the clothes on his back—!"
"They wanted us to think that. They wanted us to believe that Elijah had betrayed his father for yours so we would trust him," Damon sighed. "They've been planning this from the beginning Ty."
Tyler stared at each of them as he took it all in.
"I don't fucking believe this!" he screamed. "What the fuck is wrong with that bastard? Jesus fucking Christ—how the fuck has he been getting away with this for so long? And who the fuck was Jeremy sold to?"
"It looks like someone in the Middle East or Russia. Maybe even Eastern Europe," Kol said quietly. Tyler let out a slow breath.
"This is the reason my father was murdered, wasn't it? He found out and he was going to stop it."
Kol nodded, "It's also the reason Klaus disappeared. He knew he was going to be sold and he ran away. But Mikael probably found him and sold him anyway. And now Rebekah is with him, about to face the same thing in worse conditions."
"How?"
"She's pregnant."
"Holy fuck," Damon tipped his head back. Katherine gasped and covered her mouth. Tyler's jaw dropped.
"How far along is she?"
"She's not showing yet, but it's coming on three months. If Mikael finds out, there's no telling what he'll do."
"He'll probably beat it out of her," Tyler started pacing as he glared at the brothers. "I love how we're just finding out about all of this now!"
"We didn't tell you because you would've done something stupid to make this worse," Damon gave him a pointed glare. "You don't think straight sometimes. You act first and ask questions later."
"Which is exactly what should've happened! Now Mikael's coming after all of us and he's going to sell Jeremy and Caroline like fucking animals at the fair!" he screeched. "You were so afraid of what I'll do and you should've been more afraid of him!"
"We had no leads Ty. Jeremy isn't the only one this affects. There are dozens of people that have gone missing or are currently missing that we thought about too. If we had exposed Mikael too soon he could have killed them all to get rid of evidence."
"You still should have told me when you first found out!" he insisted. "Just how many secrets have you all been keeping? First Mason, now this? How the hell can I trust any of you anymore?"
Jeremy flinched at his words and curled into himself. He folded his arms across his arms and looked down, his guilt making him clam up.
"We're sorry," Stefan stressed softly. "We were only doing what we thought was right. I know you Ty. You don't think about what you're doing when someone you love is threatened and we thought it would be better—"
"We thought it would be better if you didn't know," Damon interrupted. "We didn't even know if Mikael was serious about doing this after we went to Europe. We thought it would be over when he came back."
Tyler looked between them and sighed heavily. His family lied to him, again, and he hated that. But he couldn't be that much angrier when he understood why. Had he known about this earlier, he would've killed Mikael and everyone involved and they would have had a hell of a time covering it all up. He also couldn't be mad when he also lied to them about his relapse and was still hiding the fact that his overdose was actually a suicide attempt.
"So what the hell do we do? Because I'm not waiting for these bastards to take them to take action," he growled. "Maybe we should let them come and settle it when they get here."
"The people they were sold to are wealthier than all of us. They're important where they come from. Most of them are probably world leaders. They'll probably be armed, or have people with them that are," Stefan stressed. "These people can get away with corruption where they're from and have the means to make sure they get away with it here. These aren't average criminals."
"I don't give a fuck if they're considered gods where they come from! You know why people like them buy other people off the black market and I'll be damned if they become sex slaves for rich perverts! If that means we kill them then that's what we do," Tyler snapped.
"That could start a war."
"Then they should've have fucked with us!"
His cellphone went off, making all of them jump. He frowned when he didn't recognize the number.
"Hello?"
"Lockwood. You sound well."
Tyler felt fear like no other grip him. "Mikael."
"You still know who I am, so your memory must be intact," he chuckled. Tyler quickly looked out the window for any sign of someone watching them but the sun had since gone down and he couldn't see beyond the patio. He wrapped his free arm around Jeremy, feeling threatened. The others alternated between watching him and watching each other's backs.
"You are going to meet me in twenty minutes at that restaurant with the flamboyant yellow sombrero. The one your father liked," he said calmly. "You're going to want to hear what I have to say."
"Where the hell is Rebekah?" he growled before he could stop himself. "What'd you do to her you bastard?"
"My daughter is the least of your concerns right now Lockwood. Twenty minutes," he chuckled as he hung up. Tyler gripped the phone tightly as he removed it from his ear.
"What did he want?" Jeremy asked anxiously.
"He wants me to meet him at the restaurant my father always took me to."
"No," Katherine stood hastily. "It is a trap. And now he knows that you know he has Rebekah. You cannot go!"
"She's right. What if it's a trick?" Stefan asked. "You can't go alone Ty."
"I have to! I have to help Rebekah!"
"Then one of us is going with you," Damon grabbed his best friend by his shoulders. "We'll stay in the car but you're not going alone. He could put a bullet in your head the moment you get out the car."
"He sounded like he wanted to gloat," Tyler snorted. "I don't think he's going to kill me."
"Still, I'm coming with you," Damon said firmly. "I don't trust that bastard."
Tyler nodded, "Let's go."
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
"Lockwood! It's been a while," Mikael stood with a devilish grin as he walked in. "You're looking much better than the last time I saw you."
Tyler immediately became weary the two rather large men sitting at the table in front of him. There was hardly anyone in the restaurant, save the weary bartender and the nervous hostess who looked ready to wet herself as she watched Mikael and his goons.
"What the hell do you want?" Tyler growled. "What did you do with Rebekah?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Mikael gestured to the seat across from him and he sat. "I haven't seen my daughter in months."
"You attacked Kol and Matt and got your son killed so you could snatch her," he snarled. "What did you do?"
"I haven't done anything yet," he grinned wickedly. "But it really isn't Rebekah you should be worried about right now."
He pulled out a manila folder and slid it across the table. Tyler flipped it open and he had to keep from cursing out loud when his contract with Jeremy stared back at him.
"I believe that is a contract for a sexual agreement with a 19-year-old boy. I'm sure the press will have a field day with this," he chuckled. "They're still dying to know the reason you broke up with my daughter and I think this will more than satisfy their appetite."
"How did you get this?" Tyler breathed as he stared at his contract with Jeremy. He felt nauseated as he flipped through all the pictures of him and Jeremy on his balcony, in their bathtub, in their bed at every angle.
"That's not all I have," he grinned as he pulled out a disc. "I've made at least three copies so you can keep this one. I never knew what a pervert you were until I watched this but it seems to please Jeremy. He sure is a screamer."
Tyler was out of his chair in seconds. The two body guards stuck their Glocks into his back with their fingers on the trigger. The hostess yelped in fear.
"You might want to sit down. My men get nervous at sudden movements," Mikael chuckled.
"You disgusting piece of shit!" he snarled as he sank back into his seat. "You watched us in our own home!"
"It's been quite entertaining."
"This is Damon's house!" he threw some of the photos at him. "How the fuck did you get inside his house?"
"Jeremy's dear friend Trevor. Pathetic as his jealously and paranoia is, it certainly came in handy," he grinned wickedly. "He was under the impression you would murder Jeremy in his sleep! I'm sure he was in for a rude awakening when he saw this."
"This is fucking illegal! You filmed us without permission!" he growled. "I'm going to sue you both for everything you own."
"Will that be before or after I send this to the press?"
His eyes narrowed, "You wouldn't dare."
"I would. The world should be informed of the truth; what really cause the break-up between Tyler Lockwood and Rebekah Mikaelson all those months ago?" he chuckled. "I don't believe your business would fare too well after people discover your fetish for tying up and spanking younger boys. I don't think the public would like you so much either. They would especially hate Jeremy for breaking up such a happy union."
"You son-of-a-bitch," Tyler snarled. Mikael chuckled as he pulled out another folder and slid it to him.
"I know you and my daughter met in secret back in July and settled with the lawyers. However, if you look really closely at the words, it says that should either party be unfaithful to the other or blatantly break any of the rules of the contract which, unfortunately for you, includes having other relations with other people outside the union, that the offending party can be punished with prison time as they have breached a contract and committed an act of fraud. It also states that any third parties involved with the offending party will also face prison. I have already talked to the Chief of Police and they have officers ready to be dispatched to your home to take you and Jeremy into custody immediately. All I have to do is make the call."
"How the hell is breeching this fraud?"
"You were aware that when Rebekah signed this contract that she, as agreed upon, would invest millions into your company. We also had a $3.7 million dollar house built for you to live in and it was nearly finished when you broke up with her. I haven't seen any of that money for retribution for that property, which indicates you never planned to live there nor pay the contractors," Mikael cackled wickedly. "The Chief of Police was very concerned when I told him these things and agreed that you should be held accountable for your lies."
Tyler let out a slow breath. Everything Mikael said was incriminating and he knew he wouldn't be able to reason his way out of it.
"What do you want," he glared warily. Mikael chuckled with glee.
"Don't sound so defeated Tyler. You should have realized what you were getting into," he grinned. "I won't send you or Jeremy to prison and expose you for the perverts you are unless you give me everything that I ask for. I will essentially own you and your family from here on out, but it's better than having your perversions on display and Jeremy bending over for some inmate, isn't it? Because once everyone knows who he is, they're going to be lining up to have turns with him in prison."
"What do you want?" he bit out impatiently.
"I want the company your father stole from me. I want every company that you invest in, including Katherine's clothing line and Salvatore's coffee company. I want every property, every car, every valuable thing any of you has ever bought. And as an extra bonus, I want Jeremy Gilbert and the girl."
"What?" he snapped. Mikael grinned evilly.
"You either give them to me or I will make sure he spends the rest of his life being someone else's bitch. Can't imagine he'd make it a week in the same ward where Giuseppe Salvatore is held."
"You fucking son-of-a-bitch! Leave Jeremy out of this!" he seethed. "I swear to God if you do anything to him—!"
"You'll do what, Lockwood?" he taunted. "You can't do a goddamned thing because I have you beat. I'm going to make you suffer and it's going to start with that boy you decided was more worthy of your love than my daughter."
Mikael leaned back in his seat as he took in Tyler's demeanor. The billionaire seethed as dread filled him. He had him cornered this time and he wasn't sure how to get out of it.
"Why did you wait to do this?" he snapped. "Why not do this after I broke up with Rebekah?"
"I had other matters to attend to. And now I am dealing with you," he smirked. "I would think very smartly about this decision Tyler. Think about Jeremy's well-being."
"I know what you want him for, you sick piece of shit!" he snarled vehemently. "Sex trafficking? I guess nothing is beneath you Mikael."
"It is a rather rewarding business. You could have been in on it if you didn't hate me so much. But you're too moral just like your goddamned father was."
"And I have a fucking heart, which you clearly lack," Tyler spat. "You have no humanity at all Mikael and I feel sorry for you."
"I didn't have to give you the option of deciding the fate of your boy-toy. I have so much of a heart that I'm giving you the decision," Mikael cackled. "So what will it be Tyler? Prison or me?"
"He's going to be in hell no matter what I choose! That isn't a goddamned choice!" he roared. "Leave Jeremy the fuck alone and I won't put a bullet in your fucking head! That's your choice Mikael!"
"You're making this more difficult than it needs to be. Perhaps I need to choose for you?"
Tyler clenched and unclenched his sweaty palms, "What's the point of exposing Jeremy if you want to take him to sell him to some asshole? Everyone will want to know everything about him! He'll be in the spotlight for months!"
"I wouldn't expose either of you if you gave him to me. But if I were to and people see he's gone missing, they'll look at you as the reason he's disappeared," the elder man smirked. "I think they'll find it interesting that he's disappeared as this is all coming to light. And then when they discover that his three roommates he lived with at the orphanage are dead all within the past year that he was your slave, they're going to trace that straight back to you. That 25 to life for each one of them, maybe a little less for Jeremy since they won't find a body."
"You're fucking sick," Tyler hissed, feeling desperate like a caged animal.
"Don't be a sore loser Lockwood," he cackled. "Make your decision. I don't have all night."
Tyler glared at him, wishing that he would drop dead. There was absolutely nothing to think about in this situation. He already knew what he was going to do.
"Go to hell," he snarled as he stood. "Tell the police to come because I'll never hand Jeremy over to you."
Mikael smirked as he stood as well, "That is the wrong decision Lockwood. You're going to regret it for the rest of your life."
"The only thing I regret is not killing you when I had the chance," Tyler sneered. "I don't give a fuck if a hundred officers are at my front door tomorrow morning. If any of you touch my family, I'll cut you down. That is a promise."
"I'm sure it is," Mikael smirked. "Enjoy your cell Lockwood. Tell Katherine she has twenty-four hours to make her decision before I expose her too."
Tyler watched them leave, feeling stuck from fear. His heart pounded in his ears, he felt sweat gather on his forehead and his breathing was shallow. The feeling of being trapped still gripped him, and he jumped when the hostess tapped him on the shoulder, making her yelp in shock.
"Mr. Lockwood, are you alright?" she asked, clearly startled. Tyler stared at her, slightly confused. Her big brown eyes stared back at him and he immediately thought of Jeremy.
"I have to go," he told her as he ran out the door. He hopped onto the driver's side and thrust the keys into the ignition before swerving out of the parking lot.
"What?" Damon asked. "Tyler, what happened?"
"We're fucked is what happened! He's going to expose us!"
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Jeremy immediately felt alarmed when Tyler ran in and grabbed him in his arms. He held him back just as tightly, and peppered kisses on the side of his face to calm him.
"What's wrong?" he asked softly. Tyler pulled back and pressed their foreheads together. Jeremy could feel the fear rolling off of him.
"Tyler," he cupped his face. "What happened?"
"He's going to expose us all to the press if we don't give him what he wants. He's got hard evidence of all our sex lives to make us a scandal forever," Damon's voice was hard. "Where's Matt and Kol?"
"Their captain called them in. He said it was urgent," Stefan started pacing. "What does Mikael want?"
"Everything we own, our companies, our homes, our possessions…Jeremy and Caroline," he sighed. Jeremy shook his head desperately.
"No—no there must be something else he wants!"
"I'm not letting you go with him!" Tyler said fiercely. "I'll be fucking damned if that bastard takes you from me. He can have everything else but not you."
"If we don't go to him he'll leak everything to the media!" Jeremy cried. "Everyone will know that you're a Dominant! Everyone will know your secret!"
"You think I give a fuck if people know that shit?" he shot back. "I don't care if people know! I'm not letting him take you!"
"It could destroy your company! You could lose everything!"
"I don't care!" he cupped Jeremy's face. "My reputation and money is nothing if you get sold to some fucking pervert!"
"If Jeremy and Caroline don't go to him, Mikael is going to have Jeremy and Tyler arrested for fraud," Damon ran a hand over his face. "We're fucked if he goes or doesn't go."
"Fraud?" Jeremy cried. "How did I commit fraud?"
"You didn't, but Mikael wants to make me miserable," he kissed Jeremy's cheek. "I'm so sorry babe. I never meant for you to get caught up like this."
"But they won't arrest me without a good reason? They can't, can they?"
"Mikael donates millions to the police department every year. They'll do anything he says without question. Once Mikael paints you as the person that broke up the engagement between Rebekah and Tyler and became Tyler's sex slave people are going to want you gone."
Jeremy's legs shook as he dropped to the couch. Never in his life did he think he could be in this position. He was damned with either choice he made. He was going to suffer either way.
"What do I do?" he asked them desperately. "I'm screwed no matter what I choose!"
"You both must go into hiding. That is the only way," Katherine said quietly as she held Caroline for dear life. "We all should until the news dies down."
"If we hide, it will probably be for a long time. We'll have to sell all the properties and our businesses and change our identities," Stefan muttered. "Mikael is close to getting it all. He's not going to let us go if we go missing for a couple weeks."
"Where the hell would we even go? He's bugged my house and our room here! How do we know he doesn't have our other houses bugged too?" Tyler cried. "He has pictures of us because of Trevor! He put cameras in our room and it linked back to Mikael!"
"Oh my God," Jeremy felt sick. "How many people have seen us?"
"There's enough footage and pictures for people to know what you look like," Tyler cupped Jeremy's face. "I'll have Andie and my mom run as much damage control as they can but I can already tell you it won't help."
"I don't care," he whispered. "I'd rather be exposed than be with Mikael."
"But then you get arrested," Stefan sighed. "Mikael doesn't know where I live. He doesn't know where my other houses are either. Jeremy and Caroline can come with me."
"Where?"
"Ontario, London, Romania, Venice, Hong Kong and Tokyo. Japan is the farthest, so that's probably where they should go," Stefan said softly. Jeremy felt sick at the thought of being so far away from his family.
"How long?" he asked hoarsely.
"As long as it takes," Tyler kissed his hair. "Mikael said we have 24 hours to make our decisions before he sends the police after us."
"Then we have to leave tonight," Stefan said quickly. "Pack everything that's important. We can get the rest over there."
Jeremy's legs felt weak and he his world spun out of control once again. He gripped Tyler tightly as he led him upstairs to his room. He sat on his bed numbly as Tyler pulled out his suitcase from rehab and dumped his remaining clothes out before running to the drawers and pulling out armfuls of Jeremy's clothes to put in.
"I don't want to go!" he blurted. "I don't want to be away from you!"
"Jeremy, you have to. Otherwise you'll be arrested and no one will be able to help us," Tyler stressed as he cupped his face. "I promise babe, when this all clears up, we'll be together."
"When will that be?" he cried. "When exactly will that be Tyler? You're going to be arrested and I have to leave because your ex's crazy dad wants to turn me into a sex slave! How are we supposed to be together if we can't even live in the same—!"
"Shh!" Tyler looked around quickly, reminding Jeremy of the cameras. He pulled Jeremy out of the room just as Alaric passed them.
"What's wrong?"
"The cameras," he said quietly. Alaric nodded and disappeared down the hall for a moment before reappearing, this time with rubber gloves. They watched as he found each camera and pulled it from its hiding spot. Jeremy felt sicker and sicker with each camera that was revealed to them. How could Trevor do this without his knowledge?
"I think I got them all," he muttered. "I'll keep them for evidence."
"Thanks," Tyler gave him a small smile before taking Jeremy back to his original spot. As Jeremy watched him pack, he felt on the verge of a panic attack.
"I can't leave you like this," he said desperately as he grabbed Tyler's arm. "You're going to prison and who knows how long you'll be in there?"
"I'll be fine Jer. You won't make it in prison, you and I both know that," Tyler said just as desperately. "I'm not going to put you through that hell. We'll be exposed, but at least you'll be somewhere safe."
"But it's going to look worse for you if I run!"
"That's better than you being under some asshole!" Tyler snapped. "This guy won't take pity on you Jeremy! He bought you for one purpose, and he'll make sure he gets his money's worth."
Jeremy looked away, feeling tears starting in his eyes. He was scared, anxious and desperate to be safe. But he also needed Tyler to be safe too. He needed all of them to be safe.
"Come with me!" he said desperately. "Please Ty, just come with me to wherever I'm going and just be with me! We'll both be safe!"
Tyler kissed him hard, his heart cracking when he felt Jeremy's tears on his face.
"I couldn't hide, even if I wanted to," he murmured. "I have to deal with Mikael. If I run, he'll never stop trying to take you. No one knows who you are Jer. It'll be easy for you to hide. By the time people find out you'll be gone."
"But not with you," Jeremy grabbed his arms. "Please don't leave me Tyler. Don't abandon me."
"I'm doing this to save your life," he cupped his face. "When this is over, I swear I'll come for you and we'll be together."
"You promise?"
"On my father's grave," he kissed his nose. "After this, I'll never let you go again."
Jeremy sighed and wrapped his arms around his waist, "Why does Mikael have to be crazy?"
"Because he's a miserable dick," Tyler chuckled and kissed his hair again before pulling away. "I love you Jer."
"I love you too," he kissed him gently. He watched forlornly as Tyler packed the rest of his clothes and zipped it shut. He went back between Jeremy's legs and leaned against the edge of the bed as they held each other.
"Don't forget about me," he begged as he squeezed the billionaire tighter.
"Never."
"Did you find something?" Kol asked breathlessly as he and Matt ran into the precinct.
"There's someone here to see you. He says he wants to help," Vaughn stood apprehensively. "He's in the conference room."
Kol frowned as they followed him down the hall. When they entered the freezing room, his heart pounded and rage overtook him.
"What the fuck is he doing here?" he spat as he pointed to Elijah. "He's working for Mikael! He betrayed Tyler and his family! He put cameras all over their house and linked them to Mikael's main computer!"
"He also has information that could be useful. He's agreed to cooperate with our investigation."
"What?" he screeched as he glared holes into his older brother. "Is Mikael not paying enough for each person you snatch off the streets Elijah?"
"I heard about…about Henrik," his voice wavered. "I needed to see if it was true."
"Well it is. He caught a bullet in the throat from your people!" he snarled. "Our brother is dead and our sister is going to be sold to some dirty pervert but of course you fucking knew that you conniving son-of-a-bitch!"
"Kol!" Vaughn snapped. "Get yourself together! Elijah is willing to help us."
"We don't need his fucking help! He's a traitor for Christ's sakes, why should we trust anything he says?"
"I might know where Rebekah is," he said softly. "I will tell you everything I know after I see my brother."
"Why is he so important to you all of a sudden? You never gave a shit when he was alive!"
"Let me see him," Elijah closed his eyes. "He's my brother too Kol. Please."
"He was,"he younger snorted. "It's not like I can fucking stop you Elijah."
"I would like you to accompany me."
"What the hell for?"
"Please Kol. I don't want to do this alone," he pleaded.
The room went dead with a tense silence for a few moments.
"Fine," he grumbled as he stormed out of the room. Matt eyed Elijah suspiciously as he followed the elder Mikaelson out the door and down to the morgue. Matt waited outside as Kol trudged into the room after his elder brother.
"Can we trust him?" Matt asked Vaughn warily.
"I hope so," he sighed. "Maybe seeing his dead brother will make him grow a heart."
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Elijah had seen dead bodies before. He had been around them enough to where it no longer affected him if he was in their presence. But nothing prepared him for the sorrow that hit him when he saw Henrik's pale face that looked so cold, almost like a statue. He felt tears welling in his eyes as he stared at yet another dead member of his family.
"He was only seventeen," he whispered painfully. "He had so much life ahead of him."
"You're part of the fucking reason he's on that table," Kol hissed. "You did nothing to stop Mikael from attacking us."
"I had no idea he was going to," he wiped his eyes. "That is the truth Kol. I never meant for any of you to get hurt like this."
"Does that include Klaus?" he snapped. "Mikael hated all of us except for you because you sold Klaus out! You betrayed our brother and then you betrayed us! You abandoned us when we needed you! You didn't even fucking call to make sure we were still alive!"
"I had to make it seem I had cut all ties with our family. After I accused father of murder he thought it would be the best way for me to gain their trust. He has all the phones in the house tapped Kol. He would've known."
"So working for Richard was all part of the plan to murder him and frame Klaus for it," he sneered. "You're a sadistic fucker Elijah. What the hell did they ever do to you?"
"Richard Lockwood was never supposed to die. He found out about our father's operation and he wanted him gone. I pleaded with him not to but he wouldn't hear it," Elijah shook his head. "I never intended for Tyler to lose his father or for our brother to be caught in the middle of it."
"How touching," he snorted. "Don't think you're walking out of here a free man Elijah. When we're done here we're taking you into custody."
"I expected as much. But there is something I wanted to tell you first, something I didn't want them to hear."
"About what?"
"Everything I have done was to protect our family," he said lowly. "I found out about what father was doing because he needed me to deliver Klaus to the man he promised him to. His name is Adrik Romanov, and he is who Jeremy Gilbert will be sold to."
Kol stared at him, "Why are you telling me this?"
"He is a cold, soulless man. If anyone deserves to be behind bars, it's him. He's committed countless, unspeakable crimes both in Russia and here in Atteca. When you go after these people, make sure to get him first," he sighed. "He is the one Klaus was meant to go to but I told him to run. He called Richard Lockwood to help him but when he went to meet him Richard was dead and he knew he was next. He hid on the streets for a while until father discovered he was alive."
Kol gasped, his heart sinking into his stomach, "He did kill him."
Elijah shook his head.
"He sent me to do it before I went on a trip to another city to scout out a warehouse. I called one of my associates and we were able to create a new identity for him. We gave him a new passport, a new birth certificate and a new home. I couldn't tell any of you because it was too risky."
Kol stared at his brother with a dropped jaw.
"You—you're saying that—"
"He's been alive this whole time," Elijah's voice grew hushed. "He's alive and safe."
"How do I know you're not lying to get me to trust you?"
Elijah pulled an envelope out of his sweater and handed it to him. Kol removed the piece of lined paper from it, hands shaking as he recognized his brother's handwriting.
"I received it three days ago," he murmured. "I don't know where he is but he's safe."
Kol felt as if the wind had been knocked out of him. This was clearly his brother's writing and his signature at the bottom. His brother had been alive this whole time.
"There were three warehouses Mikael had at the time where he was storing people. Klaus was supposed to go in one of them and that is where they have trucks come to smuggle people to the airport to meet their owners. Rebekah is in one of them."
"You have their addresses?"
"Yes."
Kol felt his heart pounding.
"Where is he?" he demanded.
"I don't know. I told my associate not to tell me where in case father ever discovered he was still alive."
"Who helped you hide him?"
"Kol, it is really in Klaus' best interest if I don't tell you anymore than I already have."
"Tell me damn it!" he screamed. "Who helped you? Who's hiding him?"
Elijah looked around warily to make sure they were alone. Only then did he whisper a name.
"Stefan Salvatore."
It was midnight by the time Jeremy and Caroline left Damon's house with Stefan. Their good-byes had been painful for all of them. Not knowing when they would all be together again was the worst feeling to Jeremy. It seemed their family had just been reunited and now they were forced to separate again.
"It's going to be fine," Stefan reassured them. "They'll sort everything out with the police and Mikael and you'll be back before you know it."
When they arrived to Stefan's home, Jeremy immediately noticed how there were hardly any houses by it. It was huge, as he expected it would be. Three garages sat nearly behind a giant structure that looked more like a castle than a house. Vines hung beautifully from the balconies and trees and plants nearly hid it from view, much like the forestry areas around it. There were lights on inside as well as one outside, and he wondered if Stefan's supposed wife was there.
"My butler will bring everything," Stefan told them softly as he led them inside. Jeremy couldn't help but be in awe of the beautiful design of his house and the art that hung on the walls. It was more or less like Damon's house with different colors and artwork.
Stefan showed them only one part of the house, which included their rooms, before promising to show them the rest tomorrow. His butler John had brought in all the bags and had prepared drinks for them in their time of exploring. Jeremy and Caroline murmured their thanks as they were each handed one.
"There's dinner if you're hungry."
They nodded and the butler served them up a few plates. The two submissives ate silently while Stefan sipped at his drink. Footsteps alerted Jeremy and he turned around quickly when he saw two people standing in the dark hallway.
"I didn't know you were still awake," Stefan's grin was clear in his voice. "You both had your eyes closed."
"We did not think that you wanted…" the woman's voice trailed off. Jeremy's brow furrowed at the familiarity of it.
"Its fine," he held out a hand to beckon them closer. "Come here."
When they came into the light, Jeremy's jaw dropped. Caroline gasped loudly as her fork slipped from her fingers and hit her plate with a loud clatter. She gripped the armrests of her chair as she stared wide-eyed at the woman that could only be Katherine's twin. Jeremy couldn't take his eyes off of the young man whose face was all over the missing person's posters in Nivea for years until he was considered dead. Though his hair was dyed dark brown, there was no mistaking his face.
"Oh my God," Caroline breathed shakily.
"No way," Jeremy said just as breathlessly.
"Jeremy, Caroline," Stefan stood calmly. "This is my wife Elena and this is Klaus. He's my submissive."
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