Chapter 23
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
I turned around when the beeping sound of the door to our server room indicated someone was trying to access it—whose access was being denied.
Who the hell dared to come in here without permission? I exchanged a look with Michele, who shrugged, then I glanced at my watch. And at this hour?
It was almost midnight, and I should probably send Goofy and Peaches home since they’d been at it for far too long.
I was surprised by their tenacity and motivation to get the job done, but at one point, their brains just started to decline—it would be the same for anyone.
I crossed the room in two strides, burst open the door, and blocked it with my body.
To my surprise, I came face to face with Matt, Alex, and Marco Bianchi, our head of security, and the one man—aside from Michele—in a position of power within Salvini Global Enterprises that I knew, without a doubt, was on my side. His people were the ones who noticed the hack first. He was the one who kept silent about it to anyone when I asked him to. But he was also the one man who should’ve known to keep my brother and Alex away instead of leading them here.
I glared at him, and he just shrugged his shoulders and shook his head—so much for that. Just because Michele and Marco were on my side, didn’t mean they blindly followed my orders. And rightly so. Blind obedience was not what I was looking for in my men. I didn’t need a bunch of yes-men. I wanted them to think for themselves, needed for them to make decisions without me, and I wanted them to challenge my orders—that’s how I became better, that’s how our relationship evolved, and that’s how the business would grow.
I focused back on Matt and Alex.
But Matt was looking behind me. He stared at the people in the room, froze for a second, then sidestepped me and entered. “What the hell?”
Alex barged in behind him, narrowed his brows, and his head snapped to me. “Why are the guys from Security Operations Group Bravo in your server room?” he said, his voice tinged with the same surprise that was written all over his face.
How did Alex know Peaches and Goofy well enough to recognize them as members of SOG on sight?
Goofy chuckled. “It’s not SOG anymore; ever since Hawk and Midas decided on the merger, we’re all one happy family at Raptor Security now.”
Alex narrowed his brows even more, clearly not pleased by Goofy’s cocky answer. “That was not the question.”
There was some kind of unspoken animosity between Alex and Goofy, or maybe it was between Alex and Raptor? Wait, was it because of Gabe’s years working for Raptor?
“Guys, no pissing matches allowed in my server room,” I growled when the tension intensified with every second of silence that ticked on.
Matt was the first to act. He nodded once, elbowed Alex, and sauntered farther in. “Have you lost your damn mind, Brother? What are they doing in here? They’re basically show ponies for the government.”
Peaches, who didn’t even stand up when Matt and Alex came in, leaned back in his seat, stretched his arms, then interlaced his fingers behind his head—the epitome of relaxed and not threatened. “Show ponies? More like prized stallions,” he deadpanned.
I looked back at Peaches, caught his wink, and rolled my eyes before I focused back on Matt and Alex who were both glaring at the Raptor guys.
Okay, this was enough.
“I hired them for a job, and if I want to hear your opinion about how to conduct my business, I’ll let you know,” I said, lacing my voice with a growling edge.
The moment Matt showed some serious interest in our family business, I would start to include him in my decision-making process. But not a second before that. “Gabe recommended them for the job,” I added, directed at Alex, who gradually relaxed when I mentioned his brother’s name.
“And what exactly is the job you hired them for?” Matt asked, looking around, staring at the racks of servers and blinking LEDs surrounding us, then his gaze snapped back to me. “We got computer problems that are severe enough to need outside help?” He seemed baffled by the fact.
I had no idea why he was surprised by that. Did he think we still conducted business out of small black books?
“How did you even know I was here?” I narrowed my brows. “Or is there another reason to wander into our server room in the middle of the night?” I gave them the death stare and included Marco.
I didn’t think he or Matt would try to sabotage me. But I knew better than to underestimate my father. If he had something to blackmail Matt with, he wouldn’t even blink an eye about pitching my brother against me.
If that was the case, he should’ve given him access first, though.
“We had security find you for us since Father called an emergency meeting, and your phone is unreachable.”
I looked at Marco who nodded once.
The server room was equipped with EMC shielding, which acted like a Faraday cage protecting the hardware against EMP and EMI and blocked all cell reception. But Marco could’ve called the landline extension in here. So why didn’t he? Because he wanted Matt to see what was going on? Why?
“What’s the reason for the meeting?”
Matt shrugged. “Who knows what goes on inside his head? But I’m guessing whatever guerilla war you’re waging against him has him in a bad enough mood to call in a meeting on a Sunday night?”
I glared at Matt. It was an open secret how there was no love lost between Father and me. Though only my brothers and people close to me knew how deep that animosity ran.
But since I kept tabs on my father’s dealings, my bet was this meeting was unrelated to me. More likely he wanted to either celebrate his latest deal, or he had encountered an unexpected hitch. My father still thought things worked like they used to when in reality, blackmailing and bullying people was so outdated.
“Let’s go,” I said but neither Matt nor Alex moved.
Instead, they both kept on staring at Peaches and Goofy.
I sighed. “We had a data breach, and Raptor Security helps with the forensic investigation.”
“A data breach?” Matt said and focused back on me. “What kind of data breach?”
Was this the moment to come clear? I exchanged a glance with Michele, who shrugged, then looked at Marco, who held my stare.
The fact that he’d led Matt here told me he thought it was time to let my brothers in on what’s been going on.
“We were hacked a couple of months ago.”
“Hacked?” Alex and Matt said in unison.
I clenched my jaw, the admission tasting bitter on my tongue. “Hacked. As in, someone hacked into our online gambling platform and siphoned off a chunk of change.”
Matt’s eyes widened. “How much are we talking here?”
I ran a hand through my hair. I clamped down on the rising frustration. It wasn’t about the money—not really. It was the goddamn principle of it all. Someone had gotten the better of me, of us, and had weakened my position within the company. And if it was who I suspected…
“Enough to sting,” I growled. “But it’s not the amount that matters. It’s the fucking audacity.”
Alex leaned against the glass door of a server rack arms crossed. “You think you know who did it?”
I shot him a death glare, and he straightened again.
This room was a controlled environment, not a children’s playground.
“Is that why they’re here”—Matt pointed at the Raptor guys—“because you don’t know who did it?”
My mind flashed to Jemma—her defiant eyes, that infuriating smirk. The feel of her lips against mine in the library.
Fuck.
I shoved the memory aside, clamping down the warmth spreading in my chest.
“I have my suspicions,” I muttered, then turned to Peaches. “Any progress on finally nailing her down as the person of interest?”
Peaches swiveled in his chair. “We’re getting close, boss.” His expression got maddeningly smug when he called me boss.
I glared at him. Those Raptor guys were entirely too cocky.
“But whoever she’s working with, they’re good. Real good. They even went back and covered their tracks,” he said.
I scrubbed a hand over my face, equal parts impressed and infuriated. If it was Jemma, and by now, I was convinced she was at least a member of the group, well, the girl had more guts and ability than I’d given her credit for.
“Her? Person of interest?” Matt stared at me for a second, then snorted. “Let me guess—you think Jemma Donnelly’s involved somehow?”
I whirled around. “What did you just say?” No way had he made the connection. Not my fun-loving, self-absorbed brother.
“Jesus, now it all makes sense.” Matt shook his head. “That’s why you’re so obsessed with her all of a sudden.”
“You suspect Jemma is involved with a group of hackers who hacked into your online gambling platform?” Alex’s voice was laced with disbelief. He shook his head and chuckled. “You’ve lost your freaking mind.”
I bristled. “The fuck do you know?”
“It means I know the Donnelly girls,” Alex said, then his smug grin suddenly disappeared, and he rubbed the back of his neck. “Fuck me.”
“What?” Matt said, staring at Alex.
“Fee mentioned something a while back, but I didn’t pay attention,” Alex said, then stared at me. “You should’ve told me. She’s family. I could’ve handled it.”
I cocked my head. “I’m dealing with it. And she’ll be family soon enough.”
Matt exhaled noisily. “Only you would think forcing her into an arranged marriage counts as ‘dealing with it’.”
Then a knowing glint entered his eyes. “Now, on the other hand, since your interest in her is bordering on obsession, maybe you should be the one marrying her, you know, just to have even better control over her,” Matt said, his mocking tone of voice grating on my nerves.
“Interest, obsession, mixed with some major attraction,” Alex deadpanned. “Sounds like a solid basis for a fake marriage.”
I gave him the death stare.
“He’s got the hots for her even when she’s pissing him off and vice versa,” Matt added. “It’s basically a match made in hell.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but the words died in my throat when the image of her on top of me entered my mind uninvited.
They weren’t entirely wrong, damn them. I side-eyed Peaches and Goofy, who stared at the three of us, interested, low-key amused, and entertained.
Then I looked at Bianchi and Michele who were both grinning.
Great, just damn, fucking perfect.
“We shouldn’t let Father wait,” Matt said, and I nodded.
“The two of you should take a break,” I said, directed at Goofy and Peaches, who both nodded in agreement.
Matt, Alex, Bianchi, and I headed towards the conference rooms on the third floor while Michele accompanied Peaches and Goofy.
I received a couple of messages as soon as we left the server room but ignored them for now.
When we arrived, my father and his cronies were already assembled. I took my place on the opposite side of the table from him and leaned back in my chair, eyeing my father across the polished mahogany. Meeting twice in one weekend—must be a new record.
The conference room reeked of expensive cologne and stale cigar smoke, a mix that clogged my nostrils. I drummed an impatient rhythm on the armrest, the only outward sign of my growing irritation that I decided to show.
This was a cheap power play. So typical of my father.
“Now that we’re all finally here,” Father drawled, his glare settling on me, “I have some exciting news.”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. His idea of “exciting” usually meant more headaches for me.
“It’s a very recent development but one that I think will be very beneficial for both sides.” His smug smile set my teeth on edge. Whatever had he cooked up now?
Alex’s phone buzzed. “Hey, princess,” he murmured, taking the call while getting up. He took one step, then suddenly stopped. His rigid posture and sharp glance in my direction sent a chill down my spine.
Something was off.
Alex continued outside, and I looked at Matt and sent him after Alex with a nod of my head.
Father cleared his throat, commanding attention like the pompous ass he was. “Gentlemen, I’ve secured a new alliance that will strengthen our position considerably.”
My hackles rose. An alliance? Without my knowledge? Of course. I clenched my jaw, tasting bitter resentment on my tongue. I was so done with this bullshit.
Father gestured to one of his lackeys, who went to the exit on the other side of the room. The door creaked open, and in walked a figure that made my blood run cold.
Ivan Zotov.
Fuck.
What was the bastard up to now?
I slowly stood, leaned down at the table, and glared at my father, but before I could even raise my voice, Matt appeared by my side. “Fee says Jemma went out to meet some friends this afternoon. She’s still not back and not picking up her phone.”
I froze, my mind racing. Jemma was missing? A cold dread settled in my gut, clashing with the anger already simmering there.
“When was the last time anyone heard from her?” I demanded, my voice low and controlled despite the turmoil inside.
Matt shook his head. “Don’t know.”
I clenched my fists, torn between the urgent need to find Jemma and the urge to shut down the irritating situation unfolding in this room.
Ivan Zotov’s presence complicated things exponentially. What game was he playing?
And what was my father planning now?
“Vince,” my father’s voice cut through my thoughts, sharp and impatient. “We have important matters to discuss.”
I met his gaze. “Indeed we do,” I growled, then focused on Zotov.
He stared back at me, his eyes full of mischief while my own were hard as steel. “But the middle of the night is hardly the right time for big decisions,” I said.
I found my father’s men nodding their agreement.
“I suggest we postpone this meeting to first thing tomorrow morning.”
My father glared at me. “Since we’re all here right now, we do it now.”
Fuck.
I fixed Zotov with another glare, one that had made lesser men wither—but not Zotov, then I nodded once and straightened. “Then I need to excuse myself. I’m sure you don’t need me to come to a beneficial agreement for everyone.”
My father looked like he was about to blow a gasket, and Zotov looked perplexed.
Without waiting for a response, I strode out of the room, Matt close on my heels.
As soon as we were in the hallway, Alex approached, his face grim. “Fee’s worried sick. She said Jemma mentioned meeting some friends, but she’s not answering texts or calls.”
I ran a hand through my hair, frustration and unease warring inside me. What was the punk thinking, not coming back home at a decent hour?
“I’m on it.” I pulled out my phone and dialed Jemma’s security detail.
“What about the meeting?” Matt asked, glancing back at the conference room door.
I hesitated, torn between my responsibilities and the worry for Jemma. “You two go back in. Keep an eye on Zotov and whatever the hell he and Father are planning. I’ll handle this.”
As they nodded and turned to go, I grabbed Matt’s arm. “And Matt? Not a word about where I’m going to anyone in there. Understood?”
He met my eyes, a flicker of understanding passing between us. “Got you, Brother.”
“Where the hell is she?” I barked into the phone and ended the call as soon as I got my question answered.
If my little punk thought she could act this way, she had another think coming.
Somebody needed to teach her some discipline.
And that someone was apparently me.