Chapter Sixteen
CADE
“Don’t wreck my place, Jack,” I yell as another crash booms from his room.
There’s another, and something smashes, and I sigh, getting a trusty dustpan and broom from the tiny laundry, one thing I made sure I’d have when I got this place.
I pass the main bathroom and bang on his door.
“Shut up and go away!”
“Petulant, little…” I bite my tongue, cutting off the low words. I raise my voice. “Open the fucking door.”
“It’s still my room.”
I close my eyes and lean my forehead against the wood. “You don’t pay rent, Jack.”
I straighten up and knock again.
Jack opens the door, and his eyes are suspiciously damp.
I have to remind myself part of Jack’s problem is me. He’s young, yeah, but I didn’t do a good enough job in helping him grow when I took over raising him and teaching him about the world in ways that matter.
“Here.” I hold out the broom and pan.
He snatches them from me. “I don’t need these.”
My gaze shifts past him to the mess beyond. “Yeah, you do. And I need you to clean up everything when you move.”
“It’s my room.”
“Maybe I’m going to rent it out.”
“You wouldn’t.”
I raise my brows. “Make some money to go to the cost of this place? Yeah, who’d do that? Clean up whatever you broke. And, Jack?”
“What?” The sullenness tugs at my heart, but I have to ignore it.
I know he doesn’t want to leave. I know he’s wishing he could find a way to fix the rift between us and stay, but Jack has to find that way, not me. He won’t ever learn or grow otherwise. And Jack having to fend in for himself the world might be the best thing for him.
So, I bite down on telling him he can take as long as he likes. And I do the same with the words of love for him, too.
“Just make sure you leave Violet’s things in one piece for her.”
“So you can see her?”
Yes.
“So I can make sure she gets them back. I don’t think she’s happy with you.”
“And whose fault is that?”
“Yours, Jack. All yours.”
I lie on my bed with my laptop. I know Vi’s got work to do, so I’m only half surprised when the text lights up on my screen.
The difference between her app and mine is hers is just a Band-Aid over her number, but it’s from her phone, and it takes nothing to find out who’s the one using it. Mine’s the real deal.
I can easily bounce the data between phone and computer. Between burner and mine if I wish.
And only Enzo would be able to track me down, with some difficulty.
Vi2l
Jack?
Me
Try again, sweet thing. My name isn’t Jack.
Vi2l
But you’d say that, wouldn’t you?
Me
I’m not your ex-boyfriend. I told you I know his name. I told you information’s my thing. I know who he is. I also know who I am, and I’ll say it one last time. I am NOT Jack.
That little fucker.
I’m just shocked she’s even seriously contemplating me being him.
As if Jack has the drive to hack.
I’m still reeling he had the drive to get on a plane.
It’s unlike him. I blame those fucking so-called friends of his, looking for a free ride on Jack’s dime. I know at least a couple of them work, but having a real good time in Vegas? That was on Jack, even without the added charges I put on him.
But I did expect better of Vi. I figured she’d laugh about him claiming to be me. There’s no way Jack was even paying enough attention to her boss, and there’s no way he’d rouse himself to do the dirty work I did.
Me
And this Jack is no hacker. I’d have heard of him. Why are you so convinced?
There’s a long pause between my text and hers.
Vi2l
He said he’s the one who hacked my boss’s account, and he seems to know we’re texting. And he knows about what we’ve been texting about.
Fuck.
Vi2l
How would he know if he’s not…if you’re not him?
Me
I guess you’ll have to trust me, won’t you?
I’m going to murder my brother.
She doesn’t answer, and I can’t hack into his phone from here, and I’ve never had a need to, or a want to, if I’m being honest.
Jack doesn’t do anything that untoward, and I never wanted to know whatever the fuck he and his girl talked about.
My imagination’s great.
I didn’t want to fuel nightmares.
But now… Shit.
I hack into her cloud, and there I can see sweet Violet never thought of blocking that part off on the app, so her texts under her fake number are going there like everything else on her phone, including some choice conversations with her friend, Lia, about me. Rather, about The Ghost.
Christ, I’m going to need to teach her to use encrypted shit.
But not right now. As The Ghost I can send her stuff, and if she asks me, I’ll help her, too.
For a moment, I stare at the screen, not moving.
I never bet on this ever being complicated. Then again, I never bet on Jack using his brains to pull a slick move.
An approximation to slick, anyway.
Me
Maybe we should leave this be as a fantasy.
Vi2l
If that’s what you think. Should I go back to Jack, too?
Me
Not unless you want to. I get the feeling you don’t want to. But I think you’re capable of making the decision for yourself. Gut-wise.
Vi2l
You know the answer to that. I told you. It’s embarrassing, and it makes me nervous, considering the topic.
The fact Jack invaded her privacy pisses me off. This is the wrong kind of displaced. I want it to be outside her normal comfort zone but with that danger and unease that comes from anticipation, of really not knowing what comes next and her imagining it all.
I don’t want her to feel violated.
Me
He’s a dick to do that to you.
I refuse to think about how I’ve done the same.
Me
Change your passwords, unlink him from your cloud. There’s a chance if his photos from Vegas synced to your phone, maybe this app you’re using is doing the same.
Vi2l
You mean he’s been privy to all my texts?
The funny thing is, though there’s a world full of texts there in her cloud, I highly doubt Jack looked at any but the ones between Vi2l and Ghost. Because it’s the path of least resistance for him.
Me
I’d suggest changing your passwords, and making sure only your email and phone number can access your cloud. If his photos from Vegas were syncing to your phone, there’s a chance your texts are, too. If so, it wouldn’t be hard for him to have accessed them. Switch to encrypted texting, too.
Vi2l
That little lying shit. Wait until I’m done tearing him to pieces.
I laugh.
Me
Are you going to confront him?
Vi2l
You bet.
Me
Good. But can I have a little fun with this Jack before you do that?
Vi2l
Go right ahead.
I smile, closing my eyes, the dark blue of the dress she had on when she came here from work flirts with my memory and senses.
There’s something I want to do, but I have to do it right, and I need to be creative with it. This game is intricate, and like nothing I’ve done.
Because I know her. The contract part might be difficult and diffuse the situation.
I want her on edge, feeling violated in the right ways, ways she likes and the more real this part is before I reveal myself, the better.
It’s time, I think, for a test.
I already know a lot about what she wants and likes, not just from reading her fantasies, but from our text conversation.
So, I start typing.
Me
You look sexy in the dress you’re wearing.
Vi2l
You’re watching me??
Fuck. Yes. This is what I want. Visceral. I can see her turning, looking, heart beating fast, expecting cameras, something…
Me
Scared?
I want to be able to watch her. And that predatory part needs it.
I’ve done it before, with girls I’ve had arrangements with.
One we never met, I just watched, directed her, and we both got off like we were having the hottest sex.
Others, we’d fuck, and then we’d play. I’d watch them, chase them, fuck them in public, dominate, and then if I felt like it, have them tied up to feast on when I wanted.
This is that game, but without some of the safety nets.
Nothing in writing.
At least not to start.
There’s something about Vi that tells me she craves the realness. She needs the dive into the unknown.
I want to put cameras in. Living room, bedroom. And in her office. But that’s a different thing. I don’t trust her fucking boss at all.
This is a test, and one I hope she fucking passes.
I want her to think that maybe I’ve already invaded her privacy, that I’m watching her now.
Vi2l
It’s invasive.
Me
But is it hot?
Vi2l
Yes.
Now I’m so fucking hard I ache.
Me
I think you like being watched.
Vi2l
You like watching.
Me
I like to know what I’ll be playing with.
Vi2l
Where are the cameras?
Me
A good master never lets the toy get the upper hand. Maybe I’m just guessing you’re wearing a pretty dress. After all, it was a nice day. The chances of you wearing a dress are high, right? Question is, do you want me to be watching you?
Do you like that idea?
Vi2l
That’s not the point.
Me
You find it hot.
Vi2l
The idea is hot, yes.
Me
So, maybe me watching you while you shower, while you get off is the entire point.
This time, she doesn’t answer. But I’m pretty fucking sure she’s still there. She’s probably wet, her pussy dripping, and maybe she’s rocking on the edge of a hard seat. Of course, I don’t know if she has one in her apartment, but I like to think she does.
Fuck, maybe she’s fingering herself.
I think I need rules on that.
No touching unless I let her.
In fact, I know I need to lay down rules.
Vi2l
Do you have cameras?
Me
Maybe you should act like I do. Best behavior. Because maybe I’ve been watching you more than you know. Remember what I said about the shower? I’d never just put in one camera. So best behavior. I leave it up to you about what that means.
She has her computer open, and I know it’s on.
I open up her computer camera so I can see her.
She’s searching for a camera, I can see her move past the computer that’s on her bed, I think.
And she’s still in the dress.
I grin, this time rubbing my hand over my cock.
I think I’m going to have to jerk off later, but not yet. I like the ache that bites deep, the build of the sexual anticipation inside.
I take my hand away, not undoing my jeans.
She comes back to the bed and flops down on it, on her stomach, and I enjoy her profile as she texts me.
Vi2l
Liar. No camera.
Me
That you know of.
I almost describe to her how she’s lying, where she is, but I stop myself because control is the thing that leads to real payoff.
But I do know I’ll be putting in top of the range cameras. Tiny things that are almost impossible for others to pick up or find, unless they really know what they’re looking for.
She rolls onto her back and lets out a soft little moan.
I can’t hear her, but her lips part, and lust crosses her face.
She’s excited, she wants this. And her hand starts to move south.
Me
One thing, no masturbating unless I say so. I have complete control, or I walk.
She sits up, gasping, and her gaze darts around.
Vi2l
How did you know I was going to touch myself?
Fuck me. I laugh.
Me
I didn’t. You just seem to like the idea a whole lot. Or maybe I do, and I know just how wet you are. How you’re aching.
She snatches back her hand and sits up.
Vi2l
Who are you?
Me
Your biggest wet dream ever.
Vi2l
I know you’re fucking with me.
Me
Whatever helps you sleep at night. Remember, I’ll be watching.
And I put my phone down.
Violet flops back down but doesn’t touch herself. I won’t know if she does. Tonight.
But the smile on her face and the way her fingers keep hovering over the phone tells me I’ve got implicit confirmation to spy on her.
Bedroom. Living room.
I’m not about to put anything in her bathroom. But I could put one in where I can see into the shower so I know when she goes in there.
I’m not that much of a pervert to spy on her if her toilet’s in there. But maybe it’s not.
I text Enzo.
Me
What’s tomorrow like?
Enzo
I could be balls deep in some hot chick.
Me
Why the fuck would you be answering your texts?
Enzo
I’m a fucked up guy?
Me
I know that. Tomorrow?
Enzo
The usual. We don’t have anything special on our plate.
I prefer him to handle the bookings of jobs. I trust him with it, and it leaves me time for my side projects. I’m not interested in rooting through the work to find the things I want, Enzo likes that side, and I’m more able than him to disappear into the job for days on end. We work.
Me
Want something special?
Enzo
Color me intrigued.
Me
I want to start very early, I need cameras in Isaac Stengal’s office, and in an apartment.
Enzo
You know I’m in. Let me know when you’re up.
We work out the details for the office, and I set my alarm.
I’m used to odd hours, so getting up at five doesn’t bug me. The trick is to be there before the main staff arrives, and Enzo will go in as a technician for a faulty phone line.
We’ve done this before, and no one ever asks questions when you act officious.
And a dead phone line is a dead phone line, even in the age of cells.
I then focus on my asshole brother. Who needs to fucking regret claiming he’s The Ghost.
It takes some time to set up, because I don’t want to slip up and have Jack find out somehow it’s me. I also don’t want him having access to Vi’s cloud or letting her know I’m doing this. At least, not until I decide I want her to know.
So, I make a mirror cloud, one where most of her things are gone, just enough to let him think he still has access, and then I set about writing a whole string of texts.
They’re automated to stream here and there like it’s all happening. So, if Jack looks, he’ll see new ones pop up.
I grin. By the time I’m done, Jack’s never going to go snooping through someone else’s texts again.