Chapter 6
Chapter Six
CADE
The scent of richly scented flowers blooming on a summer’s eve sweetens the air as she leaves the kitchen, like a trail of innocence ready to be defiled.
A hint of spice, vanilla, and something a man wants to bury his nose in.
My brother’s a fucking moron.
I make another coffee, hoping the aroma will burn up Violet’s subtle scent trail. And then I grab an apple and head to my large room and lie down on the sofa beneath the window there, computer on the floor.
Shit. Vi. Violet.
Her nipples got so fucking hard when we talked.
I did try not to look because looking is on the wrong side of…everything.
She’s my brother’s girl. She’s too young.
Vi’s dumping Jack’s ass, but…she’s still his girl.
“Yeah, right up until she’s not, but she’s still off-limits.”
Thing is, is she going to be off-limits because Jack’s going to care, or because she needs to untangle herself from it? Or is it because of me? Of who I am. What she sees me as.
Fuck if I know.
Just like I really have zero idea if the tension that wrapped around me like sticky threads and pulled tight was just in my head, or if she felt it too?
I’ve liked girls who haven’t been into me, and I’ve been aware of them.
I’ve been wanted by women, too, and not returned the interest. But that tension…it’s only ever been there, for me, with a mutual connection.
This, though, is different. More intense.
A shift of air and meaning.
Maybe because I know her.
And knowing her is complicated. Because of who she is.
My brother’s ex, even if he doesn’t know it.
Normally I’d take her words with a pinch of salt, but this is Vi. And one thing I’ve learned about her is she’s not just driven, she doesn’t do things on a whim. Not like that.
I don’t think they have sex often.
I take a bite of the Pink Lady apple. And there’s been an air of distinct…
not frustration, but resignation about her.
Like Vi comes here and spends time with Jack because it’s expected.
And I wonder if she’s stayed with him so long, far longer than what she’d give anyone else, because of the little boy lost element Jack projects.
Duty, old love, a need to belong and to shelter him.
Something a girl her age shouldn’t be doing.
And fucking Jack…I don’t even think he loves her. A guy who takes her for granted that much is just used to her being there.
Maybe I’m not being fair. Maybe Jack loves her, in his own way, but it isn’t enough.
If anyone asked me, not that anyone would, Jack and Violet don’t click.
There should be fireworks.
I should be completely nauseous by how much fucking they’re doing, by the constant PDA.
Real PDA. Not whatever Jack did last night.
“Fuck, Jack. What’s wrong with you?”
I shouldn’t ever find myself forgetting Vi is his girlfriend. This feeds into something darker, because sometimes when we talk, when I forget who she is, I also forget Vi is so fucking young and completely inexperienced compared to me.
Vi is sweet, innocent, and no matter where my filthy mind might decide to venture, she’s going to be into rainbows, teddy bears, vanilla sex, and a normal man.
Not me.
I wasn’t lying, though, when I told her I enjoyed having her around.
Vi’s pretty much the only highlight to Jack being here.
Which sounds terrible when I put it that way.
Terrible, however, doesn’t mean untrue.
I finish my apple and put the core on the edge of the small coffee table and drink my coffee.
Violet and I have been getting closer over the last few weeks, the banter is easy and natural, and what is she meant to do, watch Jack play games until she loses her mind?
Selfishly, I liked it, looked forward to coming home and finding her here.
But none of this matters. Not the tension, not her level of experience.
Vi is going to avoid my place like the plague, especially with Jack here. And if I’m honest, even if he wasn’t.
I’m his brother.
Of course, she’d keep the fuck away.
I rub the hollow spot that seems to open in my chest.
It’s a little like loss, or sadness, like the last leaf falling from a tree and winter finally taking hold.
Shit, I guess the idea of not seeing pretty, smart, and unexpectedly funny Vi does that. But I’m also happy she’s come to her senses finally, and is ending things with Jack.
Jack’s not a terrible kid.
There’s a world of potential in there, but he’s not right for her at all, especially right now.
Vi’s an amazing girl, one who deserves better than my brother.
With a sigh, I set the coffee cup down and pick up my computer to check out the web as I don’t have work today.
Yet.
For the next few hours, I tidy up a few work things, keeping an eye on some of the ongoing jobs that run in the background. When I’m done with that, I lose myself in the different sites.
When I look up again, the sun is pushing long fingers of soft dying light through the window.
As I’m about to log onto yet another website, my phone starts buzzing.
I answer it on my computer. “Enzo, you can’t keep the fuck away from me, can you?”
He laughs. “You know it. Actually, if you’re bored, I need some help with a job.”
Of course, this piques my interest, and I sit up. “I’ve got nothing better to do. What is it?”
“That spoils all the fun.”
I groan inwardly.
Enzo and his fun and fucking games. But he also knows me too well.
I’m here, I was the moment he said he wants help with a job. “When and where?”
“Be ready and outside your apartment building in ten minutes. I’ll pick you up.”
“Pick me up? An Uber or cab?”
He snorts. “Please, nothing so fucking crass. I’ll be driving.”
“In New York City?”
“Yup.”
I half smile. “And on the brink of a Saturday night?”
It’s an old joke. I know he likes driving and the city traffic never bothers him, but him driving means we’re not going to be in Manhattan.
“What can I say? I love to live on the edge.”
“A regular James Bond. Dress code?”
“Wear a suit. One that won’t embarrass me.”
I put the computer down as I stand. “I’ve got just the thing. Hot pink?”
“The one with the sequins. Ten minutes.”
I hang up, kind of pleased to have something to do. It’ll help stop the inappropriate thoughts about pretty Vi.
I’ve already showered, so I go to my walk-in and select a charcoal suit and slate gray tie, along with a crisp white shirt and black onyx and silver cufflinks.
I like them, but they’re not my best.
Since I don’t know exactly what we’re doing, I’m not wearing my best.
When I’m done, I’ve got two minutes to spare, so I grab my phone, keys, and the small money clip I always have on me.
Vi’s gone. She must have been gone a while, because the apartment feels empty.
I head downstairs, and there’s no Enzo.
I bite back a sigh and check my messages online through the burner, but there’s nothing from my brother. And I resist contacting him. Just like I resist tracking him, which would be easy enough for me to set up here.
But I don’t do any of that.
Jack’s grown up. His mistakes or wins are his own and maybe he just fucked off with his idiotic frat friends for the day, but I really don’t think he’d like me checking in. And I can’t keep coddling him.
As I wait for Enzo to show up, I play one of the games on my phone and check my watch, periodically as the sun finally sinks.
Enzo’s got a strange notion of ten fucking minutes.
A black Porsche pulls up, and the window lowers. “Get in.”
I side eye Enzo as I climb in. “Ten minutes?”
“Never said I was using Earth time.”
“You never use Earth time.” I strap myself in as he guns the engine and pulls out into the traffic.
“You should know that by now, Cade. Enzo time takes time.”
“Please don’t fucking refer to yourself in the third person.”
He chuckles. “Enzo does what he wants. And Cade knows ten regular minutes means thirty Enzo minutes.” He pauses. “Also, the traffic was hell. But what do you think of the car?”
Neither one of us are into cars, but I can hear the pride he happened to snag a Porsche for whatever this is, so I crush it dead.
“It’s got four wheels and gas to get us wherever we’re going.”
“Asshole.”
It becomes clear we’re heading to Long Island.
I give him another side eye. “Why are you making me ask? Where the fuck are we going?”
“It’s no fun if I tell you right off the bat.” He crosses into another lane, narrowly missing getting clipped by a driver who slams on their horn.
“It’s no fun if you kill us, either.”
“Also true.” Enzo turns on the GPS. “We, my friend, are crashing an engagement party.”
“Whose?”
“Svetlana Andronski.”
“Shit. No fooling about for you.”
“Have you banged her?”
“No, dickwad. I haven’t banged her. But come on, I know as well as you do who she is.”
He grins. “The precious daughter of Ivan Andronski.”
“Diplomat.”
“And bratva boss.”
“A double whammy of trouble. Triple if we upset baby girl.”
“Let’s not upset her.”
“Deal.” I look at him. “What’s the job?”
“I need to hack Andronski and his bratva’s accounts.”
I frown. “You wanted some Russian vodka and caviar while you did it?”
He sighs. “Fucking security measures. They’re solid. We could do it. Eventually. But remote hacking comes with a big risk of getting caught. If I’m on premises, then it’ll be easy. And something tells me that it just might be a physical thing.”
“Turning something off then on again?”
This time, he doesn’t laugh. “Yeah.”
“Fuck, I hate shit like this. I’m guessing I’m the distraction?”
“I’m not going on the record and calling you pretty…”
I roll my eyes. “So, I’m the distraction if things go to shit.”
“Pretty and smart, I might fucking swoon. Also, you’re so damn good at causing a distraction.”
Most of our jobs are remote, but occasionally situations like this pop up, and we need to be creative.
I look at Enzo. “Got a plan on how to get inside? I’m pretty sure it’s invite only, and I highly doubt Ivan’s gonna invite us in.”
“We don’t need an invitation. We’ll get in the same way we do to every single event we’re not invited to.”
“I assume this is a Long Island mansion?”
“And it’s got a back entry.”
“Wired and booby-trapped to the teeth.”
“I don’t think houses have teeth.” He grins.
“Besides, I called in a favor to ensure there’s a weak spot in Ivan’s security.
The alarm system is easily controlled, and it’s on basic levels because of all the guests.
They’ve beefed up security. And we’ll be able to get in with two guards who’re going to be on break. ”
“And you thought a Porsche was the way to go?”
“Distract from the main thing. Or something like that.”
“You just wanted the car.” Not like I care.
“She’s hot, isn’t she?”
We get out of the car as he checks his watch.
“Game time.”
A familiar thrill races through me.
Enzo flashes an evil grin. “Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.”