Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
ORION
Inside Remi’s office at the Krazee Tavern, I sat at the table sipping A Grumpy Old Man while waiting for Attikus to arrive.
“What are you drinking?” I asked Remi, who wore an aqua shirt that made his dark hair stand out.
Smiling, he lifted his thermal mug. “Audri made me chrysanthemum tea. It’s good and helps me stay sane on chaotic days. You know how our schedules can be.”
I sipped my drink. “You don’t look like a chrysanthemum tea kind of guy. Scotch is more like you.”
Smiling, he placed the mug down. “It’s still my drink on some days. But I’m trying to maintain good health. The tea is superb. Want to try some? I have another mug over on my desk.”
“No thanks. Audri made it for you. I’m good with mine.”
Remi was a changed man. When I first worked with him, he was a man dwelling in darkness, but now he was beaming with...love. I supposed the right woman could inspire a man to change.
Kate popped into my vision. A beat later, Elena’s face intruded into my thoughts, startling me. No woman had interrupted my thoughts when I walked down memory lane with Kate.
Feeling guilty, I pushed Elena away to think about something else. Anything but her.
Partygoers cheered in the banquet room, and I focused on that. The restaurant was a hotspot for Providence, Rhode Island, bringing in an eclectic crowd.
Then my mind wandered to my mentor’s death. If The Trogyn or someone associated with them had killed The Condor, then they could be anywhere. They could be the guy with spikey hair having a drink with his buddies in the far corner. Or the woman enjoying an appetizer with her friends.
What had The Condor discovered that had gotten him killed?
“You okay?” Remi eyed me from across the table.
I debated on whether I should tell him about my mentor. Remi, Royce, Grayson, Forrest, and Arrow were busy trying to locate elite members of The Trogyn. They were supposed to attend today’s meeting but couldn’t make it. I didn’t want to inundate them with my personal issue until I knew for certain it was connected to The Trogyn.
“It’s been a hectic month. I just acquired a new company, and your drones are almost ready. With so much going on, I haven’t had time to work on Level Six yet. I know you’re waiting for the demo. It still needs some changes.”
“Don’t stress about it. Let it sit for as long as you need. Don’t push it.”
“Thanks. I’ll share it once I make all the changes.”
“The version I saw was fantastic.”
“Thanks, man. It needs something I can’t see right now.”
I didn’t know why, but I felt like it needed a change in direction. I hadn’t touched the game in a while because of my crazy schedule and the lack of motivation.
These boys were the VATV men I respected—vigilantes against the villains. My circle of trusted men was small. I’d learned a long time ago that the more successful you became, your circle of friends became smaller. Keep your circle of friends tight. In the business arena, it was difficult to trust people. The man standing next you could scheme to overthrow your business or take it over. I’d seen it happen too many times.
Remi glanced at the clock on the wall. “Is Attikus coming tonight?”
“Speak of the devil.” Remi jerked a chin toward the entrance.
Attikus walked toward us with his wooden cane etched with an intricate design. He wore a black suit with a white shirt and a silver tie. He had dark hair that appeared darker than his suit and a face that rarely showed any emotion. Older than me by five years, we met when he witnessed me stealing documents from a corrupt police detective. The officer had disrespected a minority family who was distraught and grieving for their deceased family member, who had been shot mistakenly by another police officer.
Attikus had come up to praise me because he’d seen the incident too. I told him I planned on sending the evidence to multiple news stations. He gave me the name of a reporter he trusted. We became friends that summer when I’d returned to Providence at nineteen years old to commemorate my mother’s death.
Attikus hooked the cane on the chair and slid into the seat. “Sorry, I’m late.”
“Any good reason?” I asked, knowing he was rarely late. Men like us with multiple businesses to oversee followed a tight schedule.
“There was a painting I needed,” he said.
“For your museum?” Remi asked.
Attikus shook his head. “My personal collection.”
Unlike me, who had a collection of oddities, Attikus was obsessed with fine art. Most of the paintings I’d stolen from other criminals were given to him because he’d appreciate them more than I would. I only did it for the thrill and because I didn’t like the men who’d owned them.
“You want anything to drink?’ Remi asked Attikus.
“No, thanks.” He looked at me and then at Remi. “I heard two elite members are attending a movie premier in Hollywood next month.”
“They’re funding movies so they can hide behind the glamor of Hollywood,” I said.
Attikus nodded. “I’ll monitor those members and see where they lead me.”
“Grayson and Royce also got the same intel. They’ll continue with the elite clubs around the world,” Remi said. “Arrow is monitoring an elite member who’s meeting someone at the Pentagon. Forrest is focused on a pharmaceutical company that suddenly got large private funding for a new medication that sounds too good to be true. I’m looking into a prominent hotel chain that recently filed for bankruptcy.”
“The Trogyn are probably working fast to tie up loose ends,” Attikus said.
“Or strategically placing their chess pieces against us. Anything is possible now. They know about you and your boys.” I looked at Remi.
“We’ll be ready for them.” Remi’s jaw tightened.
“I have my team monitoring a club in Sweden that hosts celebrities and wild parties.” I leaned into the table. “My team just finished the drone prototypes. You should receive yours in a couple of weeks. Test it and let me know if you’d like any tweaks.”
“That’s fantastic.” Remi beamed. “I can’t wait to see what your engineer and designer came up with from my old drone.”
Remi and his friends had given their drones to me. They’d created them when they were teens. The devices had recorded the crime that linked them to The Trogyn.
“My team had fun,” I said. “How’s Slash doing these days?”
I’d never met him, but had heard wonderful things from Remi and the others. Slash had been a member of the crime organization and given these men a second chance. He was their savior.
“He’s retired.” Remi smiled. “His wife gave him an ultimatum—retirement or divorce. They live in Costa Rica now. In the same area as Royce’s parents.”
“That’s wonderful to hear,” I said.
“Slash has helped you enough. It’s time for a break.” Attikus looked at me. “Do I get a drone?”
I patted his back. “You bet. I need your feedback.”
“I heard you bought a company. What is it?” Attikus asked.
“I bought it six months ago, merging with my tech company, specializing in artificial intelligence.”
“With how the world’s going that’s a brilliant investment. Let me know if you need our help with anything.”
A loud boom rattled the restaurant. We jumped out of our seats, rushing toward the kitchen.
“It’s outside.” A girl with curly red hair pointed through the window.
I headed out the door with Remi and Attikus. A crowd of people had already surrounded the area. An eight-wheeled truck had collided with a silver SUV.
The driver from the eight-wheeler gripped his head, looking distraught. A man and a woman were trying to help the SUV driver, who was on the ground. I could tell from the look on the woman’s face that he didn’t make it.
“He wouldn’t stop.” The driver of the eight-wheeler told the police officer who had just arrived. “I think something’s wrong with his car.”
The ambulance arrived, and the EMTs exited, rushing to the man on the ground. Remi and Attikus walked up to the two police officers roping off the area.
A familiar sensation came over me. Looking around, I spotted Elena...and a man with bleached blonde hair. He wore a T-shirt with ripped jeans and neon sneakers. He stood too close to her. I didn’t like him already.
I especially didn’t like this jealousy surging in me. What the hell was wrong with me?
I couldn’t take my eyes off Elena and the man. Who was he?
As though she sensed me staring at her, she turned in my direction and recognized me.
Her entire face lit up. Or was that my imagination?
“Hey!” She strode over. “What are you doing here?”
When she smiled, my chest constricted. She was so beautiful, reminding me of a peaceful night sky filled with stars. She had an easygoing way about her that softened my hard edge. Though she’d been distraught during the accident, I could still sense an easiness within her. I didn’t know how I could sense it, but I did. It was asthough she were attuned to the flow of nature, wherenothing wasforced. A wildflower that grew to its own calling, manicured by nature and untainted by society’s standards.
The fuck?
Why was I standing amid a majoraccident waxing poetic? I desperately needed a shower and a good night’s sleep.
Christ.
The guy draped an arm around her, and my fingers itched to break his arm.
“Who’s this?” he asked her.
He was around my height, but leaner.
Elena met my eyes. “This is my friend Orion. Orion, meet my friend Elliot.”
The word friend loosened the knots in my stomach. If he were her boyfriend, she would never introduce him as just a friend. My itchy fingers immediately calmed.
I didn’t like this possessiveness in me.
Changing the subject, I asked, “Were you present when the accident happened?”
“Yeah. I was just heading out of the Krazee Tavern.” She tapped Elliot’s arm, and he extracted it from her shoulder. She stepped close to the caution tape and pointed to the silver SUV. “He was seriously speeding.” She snapped some pictures with her phone. “Something feels off.”
“What makes you say that?” I asked.
“Gotta go now.” Elliot wiggled his eyebrows. “Jake’s waiting at my apartment.”
“I’ll stop by the salon sometime this week. Have fun tonight! Don’t stay out too late.”
“But that’s when the fun starts!” He kissed her cheek and looked at me. “Nice to meet you. Nice T-shirt, by the way.”
The discomfort on my shouldersslid off, making me feel ten times lighter. Elliot was a gay man, which meant Elena wasn’t interested in him.
No woman had distracted me like this. Not since Kate. Guilt yet again nipped at me, and I touched the ring on my necklace.
It’s time to move on, Orion.
Ralph’s words echoed in my head. He knew Kate and witnessed how devastated I’d been when she died.
Though I knew it was true, it was easier said than done.
Elena continued taking pictures of the crowd and surrounding area.
I watched her maneuver around, snapping pictures with efficiency. My feet followed her like they were tied to her. What the hell?
The more I studied her, the more I wanted her.
And the more it annoyed me.
I was losing control of myself.This desire had to stop.
Irritation rose in me when she got close to the crime scene. “What are you doing?”
Her brows furrowed at the sudden change in my mood. “Investigating.”