5. Chapter 5
Chapter five
— ANGELS BY CHASE ATLANTIC
Vince: I’m sending you an address. Get your ass over here early so you can set the new system up. And don’t be fucking late, or I’ll break your ankles.
Nico: Someone’s in a mood this morning.
Vince: See you at eight.
Nico: Why the fuck are you up so damn early? Do you ever sleep?
Nico: You’re getting old, Vinny. It’s important to get eight hours, or your dick might fall off. Or maybe it will anyway without proper use.
“ You’re late.”
Nico and his team step out of their vans, and while his team gets to work, he comes to shake my hand. “I had to stop and buy more hair gel.”
I hum in response as I bring him inside the house. “I don't want a single blind spot in here or on the property, including the guesthouse. I have my guys staying there.”
Nico just whistles as he moves around the foyer, his hands shoved into the pockets of his perfectly tailored suit. He has always been a suit guy while I opt for more comfortable clothes that let me move easily. “Where are you staying while you're here, Vinny?”
Don’t punch him. “Stop calling me that. I’m staying upstairs.” I don’t offer more because none of this actually concerns him. “How long is it going to take?”
“Probably all day with a place this size but pretend like we’re not even here.” Nico runs his tattooed hand through his jet-black hair as Bree comes upstairs. Has she been working out since four this morning? To be fair, if I had access to a home gym like hers, I’d use it as much as she seems to.
My gaze falls on her as she looks over at my business partner. “Are you the infamous Nico?”
Nico smiles at her, and for some reason, it pisses me off. “Guilty as charged. I hope Vinny told you some good things.”
Bree reaches out, and they shake hands, Nico’s smile still on his face. “Vinny, huh?”
“Or if you prefer to call him one-half of Wilder’s Angels, he loves that too.”
“Wilder’s Angels?” Bree looks confused, and I remember I never told her the name of the company we founded.
“Our company,” I say to her as her eyes widen.
She smiles, and I notice how red her cheeks are. “I like the name.”
“Vince picked it out, and I have to say, I like how he used my last name instead of his. It has a nicer ring to it.” Nico winks at her. Prick . Even he doesn't know why I picked that name, but I do know he likes being the face of the company over me. He prefers the spotlight, and I’m more of a silent partner. It’s why we work so well together.
“How did you guys meet? You two seem very…”
“Different?” I finish her sentence, and she nods at me.
“Well, we do have different tastes , if you know what I mean…” Nico elbows me in the side. Fucker.
“I don't need to hear about your sexual escapades, Nico. I get enough of that in the emails you send me once a week. And stop fucking putting me back on your stupid newsletter when I’ve unsubscribed.”
“But it’s too fun. I always enjoy the emails you send back. I didn't realize that many bad words existed,” Nico jokes.
Bree laughs as she runs a hand through her ponytail. “How much do I owe you for this? And do any of your guys need water or snacks? I can whip up something.”
God, this girl—always worrying about other people before herself. Before Nico can speak, I cut in. “You don't owe us anything, Bree.”
Nico meets my eyes and winks at me with a stupid fucking smirk on his face.
“No. Absolutely not, Vince. Let me give you guys something, please. I can’t let you do this for free.”
“Bree, this is for your safety, and it was my idea to call Nico.” I don’t tell her that I already paid Nico. I paid the usual amount I do when I bring him to a client. He gets them to use our security service while I guard them. It’s a win-win.
“I take payment in the form of catching that Ralph motherfucker. How does that sound, princess?”
Bree’s cheeks go red. Seriously? “Don’t fucking call her that, asshole.”
“Vince, it’s fine. Does this system work the same as the last one?”
“It does. There’s a passcode I suggest you change from the last one, and you have someone on your house twenty-four-seven. If anything is tripped or looks out of place, someone will notice and call authorities. There will also be panic buttons around the house, just in case. Those alert us as well.”
I see Bree’s shoulders relax when he finishes. “Oh. That’s good.”
“You’ll be safe, Bree, especially with this one living down the hall from you. He’s like a giant wall, and nobody I’ve seen try has succeeded in breaking it down.” Nico pats my shoulder as I stare at him, hoping he catches the annoying glare I send his way.
“Do you guys think…” Bree trails off, her eyes looking hollower than before.
“Think what, angel?”
Nico snickers and covers it with a cough.
“Do you think it’s still Ralph, or could it be someone new? He didn't sign the note he left like he used to.”
“The timing of it all is too coincidental. It’s him,” I tell her.
“And if you remember our boy here, rule number nine is that coincidences don't exist.” Nico pokes fun at my rules for the umpteenth time. “So, tell me about this guy. I’ll put some feelers out for him, but I need to know more.”
“Bree, you don't have to be here for this,” I tell her as we move into my makeshift office, my files spread out all over the room.
“No secrets, remember?”
I nod at her, but I still feel this urge to protect her from seeing all this despite her having to live through it every single day.
“Ralph Nash is a thirty-five-year-old male, approximately five foot eight, with no living family members. Physically, he’s fit enough to be able to lift a person, but he grew a bit of a stomach while he was in prison.”
Bree shudders next to me, but I continue. “He’s socially awkward since he doesn't contact face to face, and he manipulates his victims through the notes he sends. He likes to be in control and isn’t a compulsive person.” This fucker plays the waiting game a bit too well. The only reason he got to Bree before was because his patience was wearing thin and the police were almost onto him, which made him act more quickly than he would’ve liked.
“I believe he latched onto Bree because of her looks and personality.”
“How so?” Bree asks, a note of false confidence in her voice.
“I dug up some files that were previously sealed,” Nico says as he pulls out his tablet.
“How did you get access to them if they were sealed?” Bree asks.
“Princess, don't ask questions you already know the answer to. I hope Vinny here has told you just how good I am at my job. I get results, and sometimes the ways I do it aren't so…”
“Legal?” Bree questions, a slight smile on her face.
“I knew I liked you.” Nico smirks before continuing. “As I was saying, his ex-girlfriend has the same hair type, color, and build as Bree. They could almost pass for twins. According to a police report I found, she went missing a year before the notes started. Police had Ralph as the main suspect, but no charges were ever filed. She’s technically still a missing person.”
“That plus his obsessive personality would make sense. He lost one obsession only to latch onto another,” I say, all the pieces starting to fall into place. “He prefers knives over—”
Bree shakes her head. “No, he doesn't. He has a gun. It’s a silver revolver. I think it holds six or seven rounds.”
What? “And you’re sure of this?”
“Well, when it’s pointed at your face on the worst night of your life, you tend to remember little things like that. I’m sure, Vince.”
Christ. I feel like an asshole for some reason. She never told me about that. Our eyes meet, and I can tell she’s trying not to slip back to that night .
“That’s all I’ve got.” Nico pauses as Bree and I continue to look at one another. “I’m going to go check on the guys.”
As he slips out of the room, I speak a few seconds after I’m sure we’re alone. “I didn't want to make you go back there. I’m sorry.”
“Vince, it’s fine. If it helps you catch him faster, then I’ll do whatever it takes.”
“You say you're comfortable with that, but I’m not. I don't want to cause you any more pain or stress while I’m here.” It pisses me off that I might’ve already. I’m supposed to be protecting her, not adding to her trauma.
“Vince, I can handle it.”
“I know you can, but it doesn't mean you have to.”
She only looks at me, her gaze flitting to my mouth and then back up to my eyes. For once, I can’t tell what she’s thinking. Her words say one thing, but her tense shoulders, tight jaw, and clenched fists say another.
She’s been working out since this morning, yet she’s still tense as fuck. “That’s all we’ve got for now. If any other notes get delivered, you’ll know about it.”
“I’m gonna go shower. I have a brand meeting this afternoon that I have to get ready for.”
“Sounds good.” After she walks out the door, I take all the anger I’m feeling out on the desk as I swipe everything onto the floor.