6. Chapter 6
Miles
I’m in London finishing a job, tracking the CEO of a pharmaceutical company who’s being investigated for security fraud. His wife hired me to obtain additional proof of infidelity. She plans on taking him for everything she can. Fuck, women are ruthless.
I got a call about a situation involving Veronica.
So here I am, watching the footage from last night’s incident at the Korolovs brothers’ club.
I see her enter; I can tell she’s been drinking.
She goes to the bar, dances, and then walks into the restroom.
I noticed one of the new waitresses enter and exit the same restroom within moments of Princesa.
That looks suspicious, but I did a full background check on all the employees.
I see Eric Harrison approach her. When I check the other cameras, I notice he’d been watching her from the moment she entered the club.
A predator who’s chosen his prey. He approaches her, but she’s too drunk to care who it is.
Fuck, I hate seeing her like this—the lack of awareness of her surroundings.
She’s comfortable because she’s at her cousins’ bar, but she has no idea the men they entertain.
It’s her luck that Eric decided to stay after his meeting with the Korolov brothers.
I see the moment she grabs her pocketknife from her small clutch. She does it so fluidly, as if she doesn’t even know she’s doing it. Then Princesa stabs him in the leg. She is her brothers’ sister. I don’t know why that elicits a laugh. When I think of Veronica Kayde, I don’t think dangerous.
I rewind and try to make out what he whispered in her ear right before the blade pierced through his leg.
In the background, security is running to her and makes it just in time.
He was going to strike her, that motherfucker.
She may not be my favorite person, but I sure as hell don’t condone violence against a woman.
She faints but is caught just in time. What the fuck was that about?
I hack into Caleb’s phone and listen as she’s being reprimanded for her actions.
There are times that I feel for her, then I’m reminded of all the stupid shit she’s done to put herself in danger.
Felix volunteers to take her home. She trusts him without a doubt.
I wonder if she has any idea what kind of monster he is.
Why do I even care? I pull out my phone and click on the message button.
Me: Still can’t stay out of trouble?
Princesa: Fuck off, lapdog.
Me: Tsk tsk tsk.
Princesa: FUCK. YOU.
She makes things too easy. It’s always been like this. She’s only spoken to me a handful of times, and by spoken, I mean screamed into the phone. She’s never been in the same room with the tracker who watches her every move.
I feel a headache coming, so I take off my glasses and close my eyes.
I know there’s a good reason why Mama didn’t pick me up at the airport, but she isn’t answering the phone, and she didn’t send a car.
I try again…no answer. I look up; the sky is cloudy; the smell of rain is in the air.
It’s May in Colombia, one of the rainiest months.
I just got back from visiting my best friend. Mama insisted I go.
A bad feeling settles in the pit of my stomach.
I catch a cab and direct it to my house.
The cab driver tries to make small talk, but I don’t pay attention.
It takes twenty minutes to get home. As the cab pulls up, I see the kitchen light is on, but there’s something wrong.
I feel it in my bones. It’s too quiet. Mama loves to play her salsa music when she cooks.
I thank the driver, but he’s in a hurry to leave. He knows who lives here.
The front door is locked, but I have my spare key. Once it’s unlocked, I take the first step, and my shoe steps on something. There’s a discarded bouquet of flowers on the floor.
I open my eyes, remembering where I am. Shit, I haven’t dreamed of that night in so long.
Seeing how close Veronica was to being hurt brought back memories I wish I could forget.
My heart aches. The only family I have is Tia Susana, but it’s not like we can talk about what happened.
After my parents’ death, Tia Susana was devastated.
Besides me, my mother was all she had. I miss her so goddamn much.
Unlike Veronica, who runs and distances herself from her mother, I’d give anything to have mine back.
I’m sitting across from my lawyer, Gerald.
He’s going on about my involvement, or lack of, in the family business.
I have Tia Susana manage that. I’ve been so close to selling it; there’s one buyer in particular who’s very interested.
I consider giving it to my Tia, but I can’t bring myself to do it, not yet.
This is giving me a headache. “Gerald,” I interrupt his speech, “I’m not going to sell it, at least not right now. If and when I decide to, you will be the first person to know.”
“Miles, I hope I’m not speaking out of turn.” That’s what people who speak out of turn say before they’re going to say something that will most likely piss someone off. “You need to get involved. It’s your parents’ legacy.”
“Really, Gerald, I thought I was their legacy?”
“Do I need to remind you of the options available? It will take one call, and then it’s settled.”
“I know my options, Gerald. Like I said, if I decide to sell, they will be my first call. Honestly, Gerald.” He isn’t going to like this part. “I thought about giving it to my aunt.”
He furrows his brow, shocked at my admission. “Why would you do that?”
“Why wouldn’t I? She gave up her life to raise me. She deserves something.”
“But, Miles, she has everything. You made sure of that.”
“My mother would have wanted me to take care of her.” He’s about to respond, but we’re interrupted by a knock on the door. “Well, Gerald, that’s my time.”
“Miles, can you consider your involvement? For the sake of your parents?”
I hate when he pulls that card. The family business has never felt mine. I nod and walk out the door.