Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
Malice
Finally, I pulled into the garage of my modern two-story house and shut off the car.
I scrubbed a hand through my hair and sighed.
I was more than ready to wash this blood off and crash into bed.
I unclipped my seat belt, climbed out, and was heading for the door connecting the three-car garage to the house—until my phone rang.
Stilling, I groaned and clipped, “For fuck’s sake.”
I pulled my phone out and immediately recognized the number that flashed over the screen. A smug smile pulled at my lips.
As I continued to unlock the door and step into the house, I hit Accept. “Three on the dot. Color me impressed, doll.”
A sweet laugh swept through the line. God, she sounded like an angel. A groan nearly slipped out.
Hold the fuck on.
What the fuck is wrong with me?
No woman’s voice had brought out that sort of reaction from me unless I was dick deep in them. Yet, she was waking up my cock with her voice alone.
“Well, baby cakes, I did tell you it would be no later than three. And when I make a promise, I aim to hold it.”
Baby cakes?
That was a new one. If it’d come from anyone else, I wouldn’t have liked it. But from her, I could get used to it.
“That’s good to know, doll. It’ll definitely be useful for future jobs. I’ve never had someone get information this quick.” I made my way into my home office and sat at my desk chair, since it was easy to wipe blood off it, though most of the blood on me had dried by now.
“Future jobs? I thought this was a one-time gig.”
“If you did a good job, doll, I pay very well.”
There was silence for a beat. That she even had to think about my offer boiled my blood.
I needed her to stay on as my employee. Even before seeing what she’d gathered, I believed she was already true to her word and found everything she could. If not, she wouldn’t have called.
She was smart, driven, sweet, and efficient. Attributes I liked in an employee.
“How much are we actually talking about?” she asked. “You already know I charge two thousand an hour.”
“If you’re as good as you say you are—”
She snorted. “Which I am.”
“Three thousand an hour,” I offered.
She choked and coughed. “Three?”
“Yes. As long as you prove yourself.”
“Can I take each task as they come and see if I’m willing to work on what you ask?”
Usually, I wouldn’t allow such leniency. Especially since I’d be paying such a high price.
It ticked me off. Yet, I couldn’t help but give her what she wanted. “I’ll allow it.”
“You got a deal, Mr. Devil.”
Hearing she was willing to continue working with me, which meant we’d stay in contact, made me relax.
Smirking, I said, “I am glad to hear, sweetheart. Now, what did you find out?”
“Well, these guys are definitely some disturbing people. Did you know that Matthew was into some, uh, let’s say, alarming types of porn?
I nearly lost my Coco Pops. Disgusting. Honestly, he deserves whatever you’re planning.
” Shock made my brows rise, but then I smirked as she quickly rushed out, “But you didn’t hear that from me.
And Roman, he’s just a little weasel. Follows Matthew’s every command. Oh, oh, and—”
Chuckling, I rolled my eyes as I cut her off with “Gwen, where are they?”
“Ha-ha. Yeah, sorry. I did of course find that out. They’re traveling together and have made it to Austin, Texas.”
My upper lip flickered before a growl rolled out of me. I was seething at how far they’d gotten.
Hell, how in the fuck did they make it past the border without any of my people knowing?
“Oh, sweetie,” she cooed. “Shivers ran down my spine from that little grumble.” She cackled, and when she settled down, she said, “Anyway, I’m not done talking, and I have better news for you.
I’ve pinned their exact location from tracking their phones, so if they make a move, I’ll be alerted right away.
So, honey lumpkin, I’m sending you their current location as we speak, along with the specific hotel and room numbers.
It seems they’ve settled for now, since they’ve stayed at the same place for a week.
If they’re not at the hotel when your team arrives, I have an address of a bar they frequent that I’ll also forward to you. ”
Fuck me. She is good.
“Thank you, doll.”
“You’re most certainly welcome, sir.”
“Also, Gwen.”
“Yeah?”
“Since you’ve agreed to be on my payroll, I don’t want you working with anyone else.”
“Excuse me?” she snapped.
Fiery. I like it.
“I’ll have a contract made up. On top of the three thousand an hour that I’ll give you when I have work for you, you’ll get a weekly wage. But you won’t need to do any other jobs. It’s a payment to stay exclusive to me. Let your clients know you’re out of business.”
“Again, excuse the hell out of me? You can’t—”
“Gwendolyn, I don’t share. You will be my own personal computer genius and no one else’s.”
“I don’t do control, Malice,” she snapped.
“Unless in the bedroom and it’s for a good reason.
” I was sure I wasn’t supposed to hear those rushed muttered words.
She then added grumpily, “I won’t just sit around twiddling my damn thumbs while I wait for a job from you.
I’ll work when I want and with whom I want. ”
Cute.
Her attitude was appreciated. But I got what I wanted.
“Four thousand a week for your weekly wage.”
There was nothing but silence on the other end.
“How much money do you have to just throw away?”
“Doll, I won’t be throwing it away. I’m paying for exclusivity. I want no one else to have you.”
“You didn’t like sharing as a kid, right?”
A surprised laugh tumbled out of me, but I quickly cut it off. I cleared my throat. “What do you say, Gwen?”
“I say you’re crazy.” She sighed. “Let me think about it.”
“Health coverage will be on top of that amount for you and if you have any family.”
She groaned. “I’ll get back to you when I do. For now, call me when you have a job. Until next time, baby cakes, buh-bye.”
I pulled my phone away from my ear and glared at the screen. Did she really just fucking hang up on me again?
Fucking cheeky girl.
I stood and started for my en suite as I made one last call.
“Yeah?” Reaper answered.
“Good morning to you too, my friend.”
He grunted. “What’s up?”
“I’ll send you the information my girl got on Roman and Matthew. I want them brought back for questioning.”
“I’ll get the team together.”
“Good. Happy hunting, Reaper.”
“Thanks, boss.” I heard the smile in his voice. He would bring them back in any way necessary.
Pocketing my phone, I climbed the stairs and walked down the long hall to my bedroom.
Once I’d deposited my gun to the bedside table, I moved along to the en suite and started the shower.
As I waited for it to warm up, I stripped off the dirty clothes and threw them in the basket stationed in the corner.
My housekeeper would get them tomorrow. She used to work for my father, so she’d been around for a long time.
I transferred her over to my employ, knowing that if I paid her well, she’d keep her mouth shut about anything she sees in my house.
I stepped under the spray and watched the blood stream down my body before it swirled around the drain and disappeared.
At least the issue Vincent had come to me for hadn’t been a long one.
A waitress had been caught shooting up in the employee bathrooms. As soon as I’d walked into the blue meeting room, she’d dropped to her knees and begged for forgiveness.
She’d made all these promises and advances to not only me but my brother and the guards around us too.
Chances weren’t given for those types of things.
Even though I supplied the town drugs, I, for one, didn’t give a shit about who was using what. That was unless they were someone I cared about or an employee. I expected all my workers to not use in my establishments or on my time. It was a simple rule.
She was taught a lesson, fired, and told to never come back. I also sent one of my men to monitor her for the next few weeks. I needed to make sure she, or anyone she was involved with, wouldn’t be a problem in the future.
My mind traveled back to Gwen. Did she have curves like the waitress had?
Did she have a pouty mouth? Sighing, I realized it’d been a while since I had one of my regular hookups visit.
If I had more time now, I would’ve called for one, but my hand would have to do.
Maybe then I wouldn’t be so eager to know what Gwen looked like.
Reaching down, I stroked over my semihard dick.
It didn’t take much for it to be erect and aching.
I raised my free hand and rested it on the shower wall.
I watched my other hand jerking up and down, wishing it was a woman’s palm instead as she got me ready for her.
I wanted to slip inside a drenched, tight pussy and fuck her until she couldn’t form words.
I’d choke her, pull her hair, and spank her ass all while she had my cock drilling in and out.
Fuck.
I needed to get laid.
Needed a hot snatch to eat and fuck.
I conjured an image of green eyes, my favorite color, as I watched them widen while I cut off her oxygen with my hand around her throat as I used her pussy as my personal fuck toy.
“Christ,” I muttered, body humming blissfully just before I released over the tiles and watched it wash down the drain.
Finally relaxed, I finished showering, which didn’t take me long. I stepped out and toweled myself dry before walking naked into my room to retrieve a pair of black boxers from my bedside table. After I slipped them on, I went over to the window to look out over my gated community.
After the death of my father, I bought fifty acres of land and had this secure community built. It wasn’t only for myself, but my family and most trusted as well.
There were houses everywhere, and most were filled with family members who wanted my protection.
My mother’s home was down the road. I had Torment and Reaper on my left in their own houses.
My brothers, uncles and aunts, plus their families were filling the streets, but I also had a compound for the single guards.
The ones who had families were in houses of their own.
The security meant I slept better here than any other place. Guards roamed the streets at all hours, and the community was surrounded by a thirty-foot-high wall, and the only way in was through the electric front gates, manned by armed guards.
If anyone tried to come onto my property without my consent, they would be dealt with.
All deliveries were dropped off at the main gate and checked for any type of explosives.
The same went for any wanted visitors, like my assistants and hookups—or my assistants who were sometimes my hookups—their vehicles and bodies were checked over thoroughly.
Maybe my little doll needs a house close by.
I tensed in shock at the thought. I didn’t know this woman. I shouldn’t want to implant her into my space like this.
Maybe it’d be best to keep her at arm’s length and not be so amicable.
I could have Torment deal with her instead.
But the thought of her speaking with him put a sour taste in my mouth.
He was a flirt, and I didn’t want her to tease or laugh with him either.
Just thinking of her on the phone with him made me want to shoot my cousin in the head.
Fuck.
What was this woman doing to me?
Scrubbing a hand over my face, I let out a rough sigh. Now wasn’t the time to think of her anyway. I needed to sleep.
Turning from the window, I made my way over to my bed and slipped under the cool sheets. I closed my eyes, wondering if Gwen would be climbing into her bed too.
With a groan, I rolled onto my side, already planning to never meet this woman in person. If she was near, it was likely I’d want to lock her away so no one else could use her like I wanted to.