Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Joshua
“ A t least we’ve stopped the hijacking of our vans,” I remind Fiero as he paces the length of my office, almost wearing a line in the carpet. “Using the security staff from Mazzone’s firm to accompany all deliveries is working. We foiled another attempted robbery last night.”
“It helps, but it’s not enough.”
I located an airline company willing to do business with us two weeks ago when our entire cargo was stolen. Fiero and Massimo’s manager at their Colombia plant procured two-thirds of what we needed, and we had it on the streets three days later. But it was already too late. McDermott had used our supplies to undercut us.
The average joe on the street doesn’t give a shit about loyalty when he’s offered the same quality drugs for less. Now a large chunk of our street trade is being supplied by someone other than us, and it’s a big issue. We can’t concede and save face, and we don’t want other outfits returning to the city. We drove the Triad, the Colombians, the Russians, and the Paraguayans away five years ago, and I’m fucked if they’re gaining new footing on my watch.
“More foreign supply has come in through Canada,” Fiero confirms, “and we’re losing customers every day. We need to catch McDermott in the act, and we need to do it the fuck now.”
“We have men following him every time he goes out, but they are getting jack shit. Either McDermott has made the guys, or he’s getting someone else to do his dirty work for him.” I drum my fingers on top of my desk, puzzled as to how he’s evading us so effectively. It doesn’t make sense.
“I’m guessing it’s the latter. He doesn’t want his hands anywhere near this so O’Hara can’t pin anything on him.”
“He’s got help.” I lean back in my chair as I smooth a hand down my tie. “There’s no way he could be avoiding detection unless he has a big backer.”
We have a lot of manpower on this. Both online and on foot, and it’s yielding no leads so far. The chip-tracking reports didn’t give us much to go on either. Apart from a list of men who weren’t in the vicinity during the time of the robbery. But there are still hundreds not accounted for ’cause they don’t have a tracker. It’s pretty much a dead end unless we can identify some criteria to narrow down the list. In the meantime, we have all agreed to manually peruse the chip-tracking lists and reports in case anything stands out. But it’s a “needle in a haystack” task that is unlikely to deliver results.
“Or backers.” Fiero drops into the seat in front of my desk with a weary sigh. “Is Gia gaining any traction yet?”
“It’s still early days, but Liam is definitely on the hook. He’s calling her twice daily, sending her regular flower and chocolate deliveries, and constantly asking her out on dates.” He’s so predictably cliché. The guy irritates me to no end.
“She needs to say yes.” Fiero stabs me with a solemn look. “We need to move this along before we have no business left to protect.”
“Any updates?” I ask one of the team working out of the basement of my building. Ben sent his tech specialists here so they were readily available to me. I decided to stop by before I head home early. There’s a good chance my twin has forgotten our family dinner date, and I’m planning to swing by our apartment building to grab him before heading to Greenwich.
“Gia has agreed to a date with Liam tomorrow night.”
“Good. Send the details to my secure cell and tell whichever soldato is shadowing McDermott to ensure he isn’t spotted. I want regular updates throughout the night.” Gia would bust my balls for keeping such a close watch over her, but I can’t let anything happen to her. Liam is not trustworthy. He could pull any kind of shit.
“I’m heading home early today. Call if there is anything significant to relay,” I add.
“Will do, boss.”
I’ve just reached my car when my temp PA, Lavinia, comes rushing toward me. “Sorry to bother you, Joshua, but I need your signature on this paperwork.”
“It’s Mr. Accardi,” I correct her, again , wishing my normal personal assistant would hurry up and return from maternity leave. Ruthie hired Lavinia through an agency, and she underwent thorough vetting by HR and our IT security team. Apparently, she has good credentials. I’ve yet to notice because she seems to spend most of her time attempting to flirt with me, and I’m low on patience.
She bats her eyelashes as she hands the paper folder over. “Sorry, Mr. Accardi. It’s just we’re so close in age it seems silly to stand on such formality.”
“This is a professional workplace, and I expect all my employees to conduct themselves accordingly. If you can’t address me properly or stop acting so familiar, it may be time to call the agency to seek a replacement.”
Her face pales. “That won’t be necessary, sir. I’m really sorry. It won’t happen again.”
I work my way through the folder, carefully checking each document before I sign it, wondering why it couldn’t have waited until Monday.
“So, um, will you be back in the office this afternoon?”
I scrawl my signature on the last page and hand the folder over, drilling her with a sharp look. “Did I not ask you to keep this Friday afternoon free on my calendar?”
“You did.” She flashes me a smile as she runs her hands through her long dark hair.
“Then you have your answer.”
“Going anywhere nice?” she asks as I open the driver’s side door to my Maserati.
I draw a calming breath before I turn to face her, crossing my arms and fixing her in place with a lethal look. “What did I just say?”
Heat swamps her cheeks, and her lower lip wobbles. “I was just making conversation. You work so hard all the time; I was hoping you were doing something nice.”
“Goodbye, Lavinia.”
Her cheeks stain fire-engine red as she clutches the folder to her chest and runs off.
I get behind the wheel, remove my tie, and toss it on the passenger seat before opening the top two buttons of my dress shirt. Choosing some soothing classical music, I drive out of the building heading toward home.
I decide to drop by Caleb’s adjoining penthouse apartment first, letting myself in when he doesn’t answer. Loud music blares throughout the apartment, but there’s no sign of my brother in the main living space.
The place is a mess. As usual.
Half-drank champagne bottles reside beside empty vodka, scotch, and beer bottles, all fighting for floor and table space in the living room. A stack of pizza boxes litters the island unit. On the dining table, half-eaten bowls of nachos, wings, fries, and garlic bread lie uncovered, congealed with a dry layer on top, and it turns my stomach. Pungent smells crawl up my nostrils, and I pinch the bridge of my nose to block the scent. I’m stepping over a trail of clothing on the floor just as a loud scream emits from somewhere upstairs.
Bile travels up my throat when I spot the white powder remnants on the coffee table. I tap out a message to the cleaning service we both use, asking the owner to send a team here to clean up the place, before I dispose of the drug evidence.
I walk upstairs as more moaning and screaming filters out through Caleb’s bedroom door.
I don’t bother knocking, entering my twin’s room without announcing myself. I’d like to say I’m shocked by the scene in front of me, but I’m not. A woman with a black pixie crop is riding my brother, cowgirl style, while a blonde sits on his face, and he has his fingers in the redhead lying upside down on her back groping the dark-haired woman’s tits while she bounces on Caleb’s cock.
They are all lost to lust and oblivious to my presence. Striding around the bed, I yank Caleb’s phone from the sound system, muting the heavy metal as my ears offer up silent thanks.
“Oh look,” the blonde says, smiling as she reaches for me. “It’s your clone.” She rakes her gaze over me from head to toe and licks her lips. “Come join us. You can fuck my ass while your brother eats me out.”
“Don’t fucking touch me,” I snarl, stepping back. “I wouldn’t fuck you if you paid me.” I glower at Caleb as he locks eyes on me. I imagine he’s sporting a smirk, but I can’t tell cause his lips are devouring the blonde’s pussy while she fondles her tits and writhes on top of him. I point my finger at Caleb. “Finish this now. We’re due in Greenwich by six, and I want to leave in an hour to avoid getting stuck in traffic.”
Traffic in the city is a shit show most days, but it’ll be worse this evening with the usual mass exodus for the weekend. “I’ll be back in ten minutes. If you’re not done, I don’t care. I’m throwing them out on their asses.”
I stomp out of his room, sick of this shit. I love my brother. We’ve been through hell together, and I would stand in front of a bullet for him, but some days, he really tests my sanity. I’m not sure what’s up with Caleb, but he’s more reckless than usual lately.
Heading back downstairs, I move around my brother’s penthouse picking up empties and other trash, trying to ignore the moans wafting down the stairs. I need to get laid. I haven’t fucked anyone since Sorella, because I’ve been pulling all-nighters at work, and I need a release. Pulling up my contacts list, I send a message to Elizabeth to see if she wants to hook up tomorrow night.
“You’re no fun,” the redhead says, materializing in front of me as I pocket my cell.
“The door is that way.” I point to my right as she slips her high heels on.
“Spoilsport,” the blonde says, pouting as she flips me the bird before trotting after her friend.
The pixie-haired beauty levels me with a poisonous look as she fixes her dress into place.
“What, no insults?” I ask as she walks past me.
“I wouldn’t waste my breath.”
“Don’t let the door hit you on the way out,” I call after them, pulling up the lobby cameras on my phone to ensure they exit without incident.
Caleb appears at the top of the stairs as I watch the girls enter the elevator and leave our lives. My twin rarely fucks the same girl twice, so I’m pretty sure that’s the last we’ve seen of those three.
My brother saunters down the stairs in his boxers, yawning as he attempts to tame the bird’s nest on his head.
“Really, Caleb? A foursome at two fucking p.m.?”
“We were still partying from last night.” He waggles his brows and grins as he bypasses me, heading straight for the refrigerator.
“You look like shit. Mom will throw a hissy fit if you show up like this.”
“Relax, bro. I’ll shower, drink a bottle of mouthwash, and smother myself in cologne, and she’ll be none the wiser.” Caleb throws me a bottle of ice-cold water before popping the cap on his own bottle.
“Weren’t you supposed to be at the office today?” I ask before taking a drink.
He shakes his head and leans back against the refrigerator. “I booked the day off weeks ago when Mom said she was throwing a small party for Leo’s fiftieth.”
As much as I bust my brother’s balls, he doesn’t shirk his responsibilities. To family or the business. He’s the only man I know who survives on four hours sleep a night and still functions effectively. I need a solid eight, or I’m a grumpy motherfucker making mistakes left and right.
“Okay. I’m going home to get showered and changed. I’ll drive. Meet me in the lobby at three.”