Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
Gwendolyn
Moments before
An excited squeal escaped me as I finally slipped into the correct high-tech computer system of the actual Murphy brothers who were behind all the kidnappings.
Over the weeks, I hadn’t gained enough from their employees’ networks to incarcerate the brothers for trading in people, so I quickly explored their server to copy any incriminating information I could while praying they didn’t have anyone as good as me on their side to—
When an alarm on my computer roared to life, a scream tore out of my throat. With my heart hammering, I pushed my chair closer and started searching.
Blood rushed to my ears. “No, no, no.” Someone was trying to hack my babies.
My fingers flew over the keyboard as I threw up more dummy sites to block them and put them off the scent of my actual system.
“Fuck you, you motherfucking cow. Get the hell out of my babies, you piece of shit,” I ranted.
While they were busy with those pop-ups, I quickly installed a few more safeguards and viruses for them if they managed to wander further into my world.
“Take that, you pricks.”
That should stop them.
I should be protected to the nines now.
I hope.
Instinctively, I grabbed the non-traceable phone that I used when contacting Malice and pressed on his name. It rang for a moment before his familiar rough tone came through: “Speak.”
“Shit, Malice, I may have a problem, but I’m not sure,” I blurted. Panic mixed with fear rode me high.
“Doll, what’s wrong?” Worry etched his voice.
Licking my dry lips, I admitted, “Look, I don’t even know why I’m calling you.
I think I’ve dealt with it. No, I’m pretty sure I have.
Okay, let’s say I’m 90 percent positive.
But that leftover percentage is really fucking with my mind, which is why—for a reason I need to evaluate another day—I picked up my phone and called you. ”
“Baby, I need you to tell me what happened,” he responded calmly, which was comforting.
Shit, fuck, shit.
Why was this mafia man’s tone so comforting?
It shouldn’t be.
And I shouldn’t have called him, but my panic pushed my limbs into action.
Could he even help?
Would he?
It was true we’d been working together over the past three weeks and slowly getting to know each other, but he was still scary.
Maybe that was why I called him. He was more frightening than anyone else I knew.
Sighing, I screwed my eyes closed as I said, “I should have stopped. I should have backed out, but I wanted to help. And you can’t blame anyone but me.
No one asked me to do this. I just did it on my own back, so please don’t go killing anyone I like.
That’s if this would lead to murder.” An awkward, unhinged laugh escaped me.
“Promise me you won’t get upset with anyone but me. ”
“Gwendolyn. Tell me.”
And I did just that. I told him everything I had investigated since the call I had with Blaze.
Silence met me on the other end.
“Malice?”
There was nothing.
Was he too busy seething in rage? I did say I wouldn’t work for anyone else, but I wasn’t even doing this for Blaze. It was all on me, and I wasn’t taking a penny.
“I didn’t look into it for Blaze. He never asked me.
I promise, Malice. I wanted to look into the kidnappings to see if I could help my friend in some way.
Like I said, I don’t think they found out where I am.
But I couldn’t do a counter hack to find out what information they got while I was trying to cover my own ass.
What I’m hoping they found was the fake surface stuff that I used to hide my work I did for other people.
” Another laugh bubbled out. “But I don’t work for others anymore. I only work for one man now, right?”
“Correct. I own you—”
“I’m not sure I like how you say that.”
“I’ll deal with this, Gwendolyn. I’ll make sure no harm comes to you.”
“And Blaze? He didn’t do anything. I won’t be so nosy next time.”
“Fine. He’s safe too.”
A long breath of relief left me, and I finally relaxed back in my seat. “Who would’ve thought talking to you would actually make me feel better.” I paused before checking with “So, no blood will spill for my mistake?”
“I didn’t say that, Gwendolyn.”
“Malice—”
“Let me handle this my way. But trust that anyone you know and like will be—” A growl came through before he clipped the last word. “—unharmed.”
And with that, he hung up.
Ah hell, what was he going to do?
Malice
My body vibrated with rage at the thought of someone looking for my hacker. I lifted my hard gaze to my men. Their stern and cold expressions told me they didn’t believe Gwen when she tried to play off how worried she actually was.
This had rattled her.
Which meant the Murphy brothers would pay.
“They’re fucking dead,” I bit out through clenched teeth.
“What’s your plan?” Torment asked, already on board with the idea.
“I’m going to accept Sullivan’s offer, with a stipulation that trafficking people will stop.
” The Sullivans were another Irish family who’d come to me a while ago, seeking my help to rid their country of the Murphy brothers.
At the time, I didn’t see any need to branch out, but now I was more than willing to end these brothers before they caught wind of Gwendolyn.
And if they already had, it was even more important to get this deal underway.
“That won’t be all you’ll want, right?” Reaper asked.
I cocked a brow. He knew better than to ask. I’d make sure I got everything I desired.
Reaper nodded.
Since I’d be sending my men in to help deal with the brothers, and they would be victorious, I’d make sure I had more control over the Sullivan family before they took charge of all businesses the brothers dealt in.
Glancing at my phone, I pressed on the contact I needed and then placed it against my ear.
It rang briefly before Patrick Sullivan answered, “Malice, I didn’t expect to hear from you. How’s everything?”
“Sullivan, I’m reconsidering your offer.”
There was a pause, and then he asked, “And what offer is that exactly?”
He knew exactly what I was talking about. “Don’t play games, Sullivan. I want the contract reworked. I’ll have my copy of the changes to you in an hour. If you approve, I’ll have my men on a plane, and this will all be dealt with by the end the week.”
“I’ll be waiting for your email. But what’s made you reconsider?”
“They fucked with what’s mine.”
A rough chuckle rolled through the phone. “Glad to be working with you, Malice.”
“You haven’t seen the changes I’m making first.” He could refuse my help because of them. But that would only mean my men and I would work to kill the brothers on our own.
“I’m an old man, Malice. My son will be taking over, and I don’t want him to have to deal with the Murphy brothers. They’ll butcher him in seconds. He’s too kind sometimes. So, I’ll take a look at the changes you’ve made, but I’ll be adding one of my own.”
“What?”
“My family will always stay protected under your reign.”
When he’d first approached us about working together to kill the brothers, we dug into the Sullivan family.
They were a smaller operation, likely by choice—keeping under the Murphy brothers’ radar so they wouldn’t be wiped out.
Still, they were a family I could easily handle, especially since Sullivan’s main priority was protecting his own. That was something I could respect.
“I’ll stipulate that in the adjusted contract. We’ll speak after you’ve been over it.”
Once I hung up, Torment said, “The Murphy brothers must have noticed the Sullivans if he’s willing to agree to anything.”
Humming, I nodded. “Let’s see if he’ll actually agree in the end.” I looked at both men. “You’ll both go. Reaper, I want you to take your team.”
“Don’t like leaving you without one of us at your side,” Reaper said. “Let me handle it. I’ll take the team but leave Torment to have your back.”
“I don’t like you dealing with them on your own.”
He snorted. “I won’t be.”
Fuck.
I had confidence in Reaper. He could slip into the highest-armed places and come out the only one alive.
But this was the Murphy brothers.
“I’ll scout for a while. I won’t rush it, but I’ll get it done. Fuckin’ trust me.”
“I do, you dick,” I snapped, glaring. “Torment?”
“I agree with Reaper. He can handle it, and it’s always best to keep one of us with you. Plus, I’ll send Warner and his team with him.”
Goddamn.
“Fine,” I clipped. “But you’d better make sure your men have your back, or else I’ll murder the lot of them if you come back harmed.”
Reaper nodded while Torment said, “This talk of murder is getting me going. I’m heading out. I’ll check in with the club before I head home.” He stood, and as he walked behind the couch, he gripped Reaper’s shoulder on the way out.
Reaper stood. “Text me when he’s signed the contract.”
“I will, and I’ll make sure the plane is ready.”
He started for the door, until he stopped and turned back. “You sure you’re ready to take on more business when you partner with the Sullivans?”
“With the way I’ll adjust the contract, I’ll have say over everything, but I won’t have to do much. The Sullivans will run everything in Ireland, and I’ll only have to make sure they fear me enough to toe the line.”
He grunted. “Good. You work too much now.”
I cocked a brow. “I didn’t know you cared that much, Reaper.”
He shot me the middle finger before stuffing his hands in his pockets. “I don’t. But I bet your woman will.”
I jerked my head back. “What fuckin’ woman?”
He cocked a brow. “Your hacker.”
“She isn’t mine.”
With a roll of his eyes, he started for the door again and called, “Later, boss.”
“Reaper,” I called back.
He just kept walking out.
Only he and Torment could do things like that.
Gwendolyn was a pain in the ass for doing something she shouldn’t have. I’d never settle down with someone who caused me trouble.