Chapter 6
six
I have three laptops set up on the small island in my kitchen, all tracking different shipments leaving different warehouses under my control.
I should be worried having this many devices tunneled into the backend of our security feeds, but Breaker assures me there’s no way my security team will know I’m watching.
That in and of itself is concerning. I aim to employ the best in the world in all avenues, and I may need to reconsider using the men here in Grovewood on a more permanent basis.
“Do you know who should be on that route? If you have an idea, I can access their phones.” His features are set in stone, his gaze laser focused on the screen in front of him as he types line after line of code into some satellite tracking program.
“For this route? Should be my cousins, Angelo and Vicente. There’s no telling who they brought with them.
It could be any of a few hundred men. They are supposed to be heading towards this route,” I point towards the normal path they would take from one warehouse to another to drop off their regular delivery.
“But they’re taking a huge detour. Can you see any reason why? ”
“I don’t see any road construction or delays, nothing that would create a need for them to go this way.” Breaker replies, pounding away on his keyboard.
Endless lines of code stream across the screen before a crackling sound echoes through the speakers of his laptop, followed by the sound of Italian curse words.
I recognize Angelo’s voice instantly, having grown up with both him and Vicente nearly my entire life.
At first, they’re not talking about much.
The weather, the drive, the woman Angelo fucked last night.
But then the conversation turns to something much more interesting.
“I really don’t think this is a good idea, Vince,” Angelo says, sighing heavily. Breaker and I watch as their truck takes another turn further away from their designated route, and my jaw tenses.
“Luckily, Luca doesn’t pay us to fucking think.” Vince replies, and the betrayal burns deep in my veins.
Breaker’s hands hover over the keyboard for only a moment before he continues typing, running a program that begins recording everything they’re saying.
It’s always been a possibility in this life that things could turn out this way.
People can always betray you. But there is typically too much fear present for that to be a factor.
Evidently, I have failed to instill that kind of terror in the men at my mercy.
“I don’t know, Vince. This isn’t the way things are supposed to go. The family isn't meant to undermine each other this way. I don’t have a good feeling about it. Makes me feel sick,” Angelo groans, and I find a small comfort knowing he doesn’t want to be put in this position.
“Stop bitching, Ange. The job is almost done. I won’t ask you to help with this shit again if this is how you feel, but we’re already in it now. Let’s just finish this delivery and move on.” Vince replies, the sound of papers rustling coming through the speakers.
“And what do you suggest we tell the boss, Vince? What exactly do we tell Sebastian when he asks why half of this fucking shipment is missing?” The fact it’s taken nearly half an hour for one of them to mention my fucking name is infuriating as fuck.
I’ve done nothing but take care of every member of this family my entire life, and this is how they repay me?
By stabbing me in the fucking back and stealing from me?
They will pay in blood for the betrayals they have committed today.
Before my mind can wander too far down the rabbit hole on the many ways I will seek my revenge, a knock sounds on the door to my apartment.
Who the hell could be knocking for me? Breaker and I exchange a confused look, both knowing that pretty much everyone I speak to in this town is currently in this room or calls before showing up at my door.
Grabbing my pistol from the edge of the island, I brace my shoulder against the door, peeking through the small peephole.
The very last person I expect to see on the other side is also the one haunting my dreams since the moment I stepped foot in this town.
I slide the gun into the small of my back, releasing the chain on the door and cracking it slightly before smirking down at her.
“Ms. Diaz, to what do I owe this great pleasure?” I ask, my eyes unable to stop from sliding down the length of her perfectly curvaceous body.
She scoffs, rolling her eyes and planting a hand on her hip. That only serves to accentuate her full waist and the flare of her hips even more, making my mouth water. She is fucking delectable. The things I would do with this woman, if only given half a chance.
“I’m not here to talk to you, Sebastard. Is Breaker here?” She cocks her head to the side and tries to peek around my shoulder. I pull the door into my body, preventing her from seeing into the room behind me.
“Maybe I can help you. I have a great number of skills, Vanessa.” I drag out her name, watching her eyes rake over the ink lining my skin.
I know she finds me physically attractive, that much is too fucking obvious.
But I also know she hates my guts. It’s an intoxicating combination, making me want her even more.
“I wouldn’t accept help from you if you begged on your damn knees, fuck boy.
Can I speak to Breaker, please?” She crosses her arms, pushing her perfect tits up and drawing my eyes directly to them.
A smirk paints her lips, and I realize she’s fucking with me on purpose.
Never in my life have I ever been told I can’t have something I want. Until now.
“Wait here.” I say, attempting to close the door behind me and leave her standing in the hall. But the woman is persistent. And annoying as fuck. She pushes her way in behind me, not bothering to listen.
“Or come on in, Ms. Diaz. Un-fucking-invited.” I grumble. Slamming the door behind me as she walks ahead of me into the living room.
Breaker hits a few keys on his computer, and all the screens go dark. He understands without question how important the need for discretion is when it comes to my business, for her protection more than anything else. In my world, the more you know, the more disposable you become.
“What the hell are you two into? Why do you need this many computers? Is this like some kind of extreme gamer weirdo thing? Are you using poor Break to organize a vast network of online girlfriends because no one else wants to sleep with you, Sebastian? Are you the Tinder Swindler?!” she asks, raising an eyebrow, and Breaker suppresses a laugh.
“Definitely not. What’s going on, Ness?” He asks, turning to face her. His concern for her is genuine and touching, but I really don’t fucking care or have time for their Hallmark family moment right now.
“Yes. Please tell us the crisis. Dark roast shortage, is it?” I cross my arms over my chest, leaning against the island. I can’t begin to imagine what could be so important she would barge her way into my space like this.
“I need a security system in my home.” she says, and the room is silent. Breaker gives her a confused look, and I can’t help but laugh.
“That’s it? That’s the big problem? You need a doorbell camera to check on your package deliveries or some shit?
That could’ve been a text message. We are doing serious business here, Ms. Diaz.
Maybe you’ve heard of that? And you interrupt to ask this man about security systems?
” My tone comes across condescending, and I mean for it to.
If looks could kill, my enemies would be rejoicing today. She’s pissed, but I don’t give a fuck. She’s wasting my time.
“Did something happen, Ness?” Breaker asks, concern for her evident in the way he speaks. I roll my eyes, unable to contain my annoyance with this bullshit.
“I think…I mean, I don’t really know for sure but…I think somebody…” she stumbles around her words and I’m done with this.
I cross the space, squaring my shoulders in front of her, my presence dominating. Gripping her chin between my thumb and forefinger, I watch Breaker tense out of the corner of my eye, but he doesn’t move to stop me.
“Spit it out, Vanessa.” I command.
“Someone was in my home last night.” She replies, her head tilted back to meet my gaze, eyes soft and mesmerized by the control I can command over her so easily.
“How do you know this?” I ask, not releasing my grasp on her.
“Things were moved. And Doug, he was locked out of my room.” She speaks almost as if she’s in a trance. I look back at Breaker, his brow furrowed in concern.
“Who the fuck is Doug?” I refuse to release her, something in me loving this power.
“Her dog.” he says, turning back to his computer without another word.
He pulls up a dozen different security feeds around town, scanning through each one looking for some kind of clue as to who could’ve been in her home last night. Breaking eye contact with her brings her back to reality, and she smacks my hand away, stepping out of my hold.
“Excuse you. Don’t you dare manhandle me! I don’t know where your hands have been! Gross!” she says, wiping at the spot on her face where my hand had just been. Fucking drama queen.
“Trust me, Bambina. If I were to manhandle you, you wouldn’t be complaining.
” I smirk, and she steps forward sharply, her expression tight with frustration.
Her hand arcs through the air in a quick, decisive motion, connecting with my cheek in a sharp slap.
My head jerks slightly to the side from the impact, my eyes widening more from surprise than anything else.
This woman never ceases to amaze me with her audacity.
For a moment, the room hangs in silence, the tension between us louder than the sound itself.
Breaker doesn’t dare say a word. She rears back to swing on me again, and I catch her wrist in the air.
“Listen to me very carefully,” I say, my voice dropping several octaves and dripping with disdain.
“This will be the final time you take liberties with disrespect in my presence, Ms. Diaz. You do not understand exactly who you are fucking with. I have removed a man’s tongue for far less than the bullshit you’ve spewed from your toxic mouth. ”
We’re locked in a battle of wills, my grip on her wrist tightening the longer she stares me down.
I could snap it easily. I won’t, but she will fucking back down.
I won’t have her barging into my house like she owns the place.
Especially because my sources have already confirmed that she does not.
I squeeze tighter, and she winces, her eyes squinting into sharp slits before she turns her head away.
Releasing her, I give her a small shove backward, wanting to put as much space between us as possible.
“I’m going for a drive. Get her out of here, Mr. Negan. I will return within the hour.” I grab my keys from the bar, not bothering to look her way as she rubs her wrist while scowling my direction.
“What do you want to do about-” Breaker starts, but I hold up a hand. I don’t want her to know a fucking thing about my business.
“I will call Matteo now. We’ll have a plan when I return.” Leaving the apartment, I don’t bother softening the blow of the hard slam of the front door.
Fuck, I can’t wait to get out of this place and back to my life.