9. Chapter 9
Miles
I review the file. Eric likes to get really rough with his partners; the proof is in the pictures on my screen, attached with dozens of police reports.
The injuries he inflicted range from a broken nose to cigarette burns.
He has been arrested on suspicion of trafficking, but nothing has ever stuck.
He also has a couple of aliases, which is why I didn’t find anything at first, but I should have been more diligent.
Fuck, to know that he was so close to Veronica, that he could have hurt her.
She’s my responsibility. I’m entrusted with her safety.
Eric was recommended by another associate who has a long-standing relationship with the Korolovs. He was vouched for. Either he knew about Eric, or Eric made a fool out of him too. That’s another problem for the brothers to deal with.
The files have been sent, and now I wait for further instructions.
I pull up the footage of Cam outside Princesa’s front door from a couple of days ago.
She looks so irritated to be talking to him.
It’s nice to know that I'm not the only one she can’t stand.
I see her face flushed with rosy cheeks, her lips swollen; she’s trying to control her breathing.
I’ve watched her long enough to know what she looks like after fucking.
Her skin is damp, and the robe is sticking to her like a second skin.
I’m irritated at the indifference she has in Cam seeing her like this, and I’m pissed that I missed her bringing someone home.
I rewind the footage to check the last twenty-four hours, but I don’t see anyone enter her apartment.
I’ve never watched her fuck someone; it’s a boundary I don’t intend to cross.
The thing about this woman is that she never hides the fact that she loves to fuck and is very open about who makes the list. If she didn't bring anyone home, that means she was…
I hear my phone ring, just as I expected… Caleb.
I pick up the phone and don’t bother with the greetings; it’s straight to business. “What’s the next step?” I know the Kayde and Korolov men, so I’m already planning the cleanup.
Caleb speaks. “It seems like Eric intended to bring his business into Veridian Bay. Over my dead body. We are going to have a couple of meetings, starting with the person who brought him here, Sean Becker. My father will be joining us, he’s curious to know what Sean has to do with all this.
Keep Ian out of this one for now, and I’ll loop in Gabe.
We need to tread lightly with Eric; he’s up to something.
We don’t want him to know we’re onto him. ”
“Consider it done.”
“Miles, I need eyes on him at all times. Eric is an egomaniac. He’s going to keep eyes on us as well. You know what that means.”
“I have eyes on the family. Caleb, what about Veronica? Eric may blame her for this. She needs to know.”
He exhales. “No, this one is on me. She just decided to settle down here. This will only cause her to blame herself and leave again.”
“Caleb, she needs to know.” I all but snap at him.
“She doesn’t need to know anything about this. We are keeping her safe. You are keeping her safe.” The asshole hangs up. Fuck, the men in her life are so overbearing…but aren’t I part of that?
Sitting here, there’s an uneasy feeling in my stomach.
I felt it once, and it’s one I never want to feel again.
I look at the screen; Veronica’s face is staring back at me.
I know what the brothers are going to do.
One question is still gnawing at me; it’s been there ever since the club incident with her and Eric.
I grab my phone and dial Gabe. Maybe I can talk some sense into him. He answers on the second ring.
“Gabe, she needs to know.” He knows exactly what I’m referring to. They are keeping so much from her.
“I don’t think she will handle this well,” he admits.
“First the photos, now this? It will have her running or worse—spiraling. You know that she acts out. She becomes self-destructive and rebels. You know that trouble she’s gotten into.
The crowds she surrounds herself with, at times, just to spite us. ”
It’s the elephant in the room. The family tries so hard to protect her that they are actually causing her more harm. But who am I to interfere with their family dynamic? “You’re right, but this isn’t going to end well.”
“You know,” he starts off, “for someone who can’t stand my sister, you sure stand up for her.”
“Well, she is what I call job security. You know how much I hate job searching,” I tell him. I don’t want him to get the wrong idea. I made a promise to keep her safe. “Not everyone wants to be in love.” I regret it as soon as I say it. “Fuck, Gabe, I’m sorry.” I can be such an asshole.
“Don’t be. Just remember, your job is to watch her and keep her safe. From everyone and anyone. That includes herself.” With that, he hangs up.
I know what comes next with this family.
They are all killers and sometimes get lost in the thrill of the kill.
Before things escalate, I need to call in a favor.
My second call is to a person who I can’t stand but I know is the best fit for what I’m going to ask.
I press a code into my keyboard, and I see his smug face on the screen.
I dial his number and see the moment when he knows it’s me.
Fucker lets the phone ring a couple of times, then he decides to answer it.
“I know you’re watching,” he says without so much as a hello. “If you want something to watch, give me a couple of minutes.”
I can’t stand this guy. “I’ll pass. I’m calling in an I owe you.”
He scoffs, “I don’t owe you anything. You get paid for that.”
I push the enter button and hear his phone ping. He opens it, and I see a small smile creep in. It’s chilling; he’s a sadist with a sweet spot. He looks at the camera and gives me the finger. Holding the phone to his ear, he asks, “What do you want?”
After I’m done calling in my favor, I turn to my screens and pull up the nonprofit that Serena Nerva helped fund.
Nina’s Hope is where Veronica will start volunteering in a couple of days.
I don’t need to hack into anything. The security has been upgraded, thanks to Ian Kayde’s company.
Everything is state of the art. The small number of full-time employees has been vetted.
Right now, I’m just doing a maintenance inspection.
I can’t help but smile as I remember how happy Veronica was to be given this opportunity.
Jeez, is there anywhere I don’t watch her?
Because did I hack into Nina’s cameras? Yes.
All in the sake of keeping my job. I pull out my phone and send a message.
Me: Congratulations on your position. Don’t fuck it up.
Princesa: A simple congratulations would have been nice. But coming from you, I'll take it.
Me: Well, it wouldn’t be me if I did that. Hey, you never know. It may lead to something.
Princesa: Is this you rooting for me?
Princesa: Did hell freeze over?
Me: I wager 50/50 on this.
Princesa: It must be nice being you. Never failing at anything. Bye now, lapdog.
That last message hits hard. If she only knew that I failed at one of the most important jobs I ever had.