CHAPTER ONE #2
Pete looked up. “We’ve had what we think are day walkers hitting several of the clubs, trying to get in and cause trouble.
Charlee’s team and mine have worked together to knock them back, arrest who we can.
Some of our suppliers have informed that orders that were put through got changed or cancelled.
We found out by accident because they called in.
So we checked with the others and the same thing.
We gave them code words for future orders, no code no order and or no change.
We also put tabs on their phones in case it happens again we might be able to trace it back, but I doubt it as you’d have to be alive.
” He told them dryly to several sniggers.
“We’ve upped security at all points. Camera’s in the grounds here and house.
I brought in a car scanner as well as a body scanner, mental detection as standard, similar to the airports, you might have noticed it at the front gate we used it tonight.
No one comes in without going through one or both.
I brought in a specialist who checked the house as you requested and there were bugs on your electronics and phones.
We took them out and upgraded the system.
Luce behind me can give you more details on that. ”
She didn’t bother to look up from her laptop sitting behind Pete, but kept typing and doing what she did best as she spoke.
“Yeah hi, well, whoever put this system in saw you coming and took the piss, it was crap with a capital C. Or just from the dark ages leaking your personal shit all over the place. It was cheap and nasty and did sod all to protect you, you might as well of bent over and told them to fuck you. Clearly they did. So I’ve changed that.
Put in several new fire walls, isolated your own network, having put rotating security portals in place, your phones both in-house and the mobile numbers given to me are now working from that new system.
They can no longer be cloned or info stolen and all of you need to swop out your old phones for new ones, they’re in the office.
The new software will self-detect now too, so if some foreign tech gets in here in any form, that it doesn’t recognise, it will alert you to what and where it is.
“That’s my own creation and will cost you for the patent.
If you’re going to use the net, I suggest you shut down your own server or disconnect from it before you do.
That way, you won’t risk viruses or let others try to get in through a backdoor to steal from you.
Don’t use your own internet from your phones outside of this building, turn them off and use free wifi and clear your data before going back online to the in-house system.
You also need a hard wire upgrade like a century ago.
It’s barely serviceable but I can change out the hardware and been working on some new stacks that will do that job.
What I can’t see and still need to use until the new hard wire goes in, my tech stacks can buffer it, I’ll also bring in some booster’s cos the connection is crap, strength middle ages and a lot of rooms barely have it and outside, it’s a wish and a prayer.
Again, old and cheap. Whoever did this need’s shooting if you told the same level of security I was told or maybe their dead cos it was that long ago.
Either way it doesn’t make it on its own, not in this world.
I’ve had to add and patch and botch it. I don’t like it.
It’s not good enough, I don’t like working with cheap shit, it makes me look bad and that needs putting right real quick if you actually want this to work.
” She paused. There was silence in the room.
She gradually looked up. Pete was grinning from ear to ear. Arturo tried not to grin either. They watched her as she took in the room.
Lucie Ambrose refused to be cowed.
She was right and the system was crap and they needed to know it. She could feel eyes burning into her from the right of the table. Turning her head to look at the person burning a hole in her face. He was quite beautiful. Had come in with Arturo. Tall. Blond. Nice blue eyes.
Too intense though, thought Luce. Alex. In fact, as she swept round the room, they were all big men and unbelievably good looking. Not just the last two. Her eyes took in Val and another woman on the other side of the table and then rested on the female next to the leader. She seemed warm. Regin.
Luce smiled at her. “Are they all this pretty?” she asked her. The leader Arturo laughed along with several others as she looked around the room again.
The female grinned back at her. “Yep, they sure are.”
“Damn,” she told her.
Really? There were several more chuckles.
“Luce, is it?” Arturo asked her, and Luce looked back at him.
“Yes sir.”
“You can have whatever you need to put this right and my permission to do so.” She smiled at him.
“Great but there will be some disruption so you might want to leave the re-wire until your current situation is….. resolved. We can do a workaround.”
Arturo nodded at her. “Indeed. Anything else you need speak with Pete.”
She nodded. “Yes sir. I made a number of suggestions to Pete, and I’ve been working on it for a couple of days. I’ll also be monitoring communications with vid body cameras and drones on missions having an Overlord position. If, I get the job that is.”
She turned to Pete. “Did I get the job?” she asked him quite innocently.
“Oh yeah.” He told her. “You got the job.” She sat back and grinned.
“Welcome to House Arturo.” The intense guy told her.
Luce turned back to him. “Err Thanks …I think.”
Arturo brought the meeting back together.
“Right. I want everyone to work together on ousting our visitor groups. I want them all gone in the next 24 hrs. We have the main event next Saturday and I don’t want to find we have a force on our doorstep pretending to be idiots, fucking about, that turn out to be more soldiers for Marcus.
So, let’s work the problem. Several lieutenants working together with their teams, co-ordinated attacks, let’s go for pockets in the same area at the same time.
Pierre, interrogate where we can I want info.
Pete, I’d like your boys doing day light checks on what could be the nests.
They’ll have day walkers so watch yourselves.
If it’s possible, you have my permission to take um out.
But bring back the info for John to go over with you just in case ok.
I want everyone on the streets clearing them. Brandon your boys want in?”
Brandon looked up and nodded. “Thought you’d never ask mate.” Arturo smiled.
He turned to Alex. “Alex?”
Alex pulled his eyes from the girl on the laptop. There was something about her. His beast raised his head breathing in. “My people will be here tomorrow. I’m in.”
Arturo nodded. “James work with Alex on accommodation for his people. The house in the French quarter might be good.” James gave a nod. “Right starting now, I want a strategy on getting it done then move out. We meet tomorrow to strike.”
Waiting 1ntil people started moving out. “I’m sorry but where will I be working.” She asked Pete then turned her gaze to the leader Arturo. He answered her.
“You’ll be working in the house, I’ll set you up an office. Day light or night?” He asked her. Luce thought about that. She kinda liked working the nights.
“Night.” She told him smiling.
“Maybe we should reconsider having a child in the middle of this Arturo.” Mr intense cut in. Turning she looked around her seeing no child, then the penny dropped and looked back at him narrowing her eyes.
Not again……
“I don’t know who the fuck you’re talking about Mr Moody but I’m no child and haven’t been for 6 years, so back the fuck off so I can do my damn job.”
Alex stared at her. So much fire in someone so tiny. “My mistake.” He told her bowing and left the room.
Grimacing she turned, he’d been so polite, and she’d been…. Annoyed with herself she didn’t want to watch him leave the room. And looked up at the others still present.
“Sorry, I get fed up of people assuming things. I’ve had to deal with a lot of that.” She sighed her anger leaving her. “I should go…apologise.” She told them closing her laptop and rising from her seat.
“If you can find him, I’m sure he would appreciate it.” Arturo told her. She nodded.
“Thanks for the job. You won’t regret it. I’ll wait outside Pete.”
Shit……
She’d done it again, she seriously needed a muzzle.
And found Mr Intense leaning against the portico by the front door. She stopped a little away from him.
Wow he had great hair and loads of it……
“Hi look I’m sorry for the outburst in there ok. I get tired of people seeing me and thinking I’m a kid. I was rude. It gets the better of me, I apologise. But I can handle myself and do a good job.”
Mr Intense turned to look at her.
Damn he was tall…..
She knew he was seeing her as a tiny young woman. “Do you know what we are?” he asked her bluntly.
She frowned; she wasn’t stupid. “Yes. Pete told me.”
“And you still believe that you can look after yourself?” he asked her questioningly.
She shrugged. “Yes.”
And couldn’t believe how fast he moved. One minute he was standing there, the next he grabbed her hair and yanked her head to one side.
Grabbing in her pocket as he breathed in deeply along her neck pushing her back against the wall sending chills down her body.
Goosebumps shuddered over her as he ran his nose down her flesh.
“Do you still think you are safe Luce?” he asked her quietly, whisperingly seductive adding his beast to his voice.
This male liked being in control….. Damn, thought Luce. Fucking male was killing her. She was soaked.
But it wasn’t scared she was feeling, he didn’t scare her not in a frightening way, but boy was her juices going crazy. And glad to hear her voice come out clear and strong.
“Look at my hand.” She told him quietly.