Chapter 11
The security room was cold, dim, and washed in the blue glow of monitors.
Maps of Chicago glowed across the largest screen.
Shipment routes marked in red, names and faces scattered across smaller side monitors.
Dimitri stood at the central console with his sleeves rolled to his forearms, one hand braced against the edge of the table as he studied a list of names Nico had pulled from the docks.
“We start with the dock crew, and the drivers of our truck,” Dimitri said, his voice clipped and controlled. “Then we move to the warehouse crew.”
Nico sat at his station, typing quickly, though his usual precision was off just enough to be noticeable.
“Agreed,” he muttered. “Bea can start there and narrow the list based on behavior. If she wants more, I can pull bank records by noon.” Killian sprawled in one of the chairs, arms crossed over his chest, his boot tapping against the polished floor.
“I have been dying to see her in action,” he said. “Professional and unprofessional.” Giving Nico a wide smile and wink.
Dimitri cut him a look. “Do you even hear the words that come out of your mouth?”
Killian grinned, unrepentant. “You know you have the same dirty thoughts as I do D, you just refuse to say them out loud.”
Nico exhaled sharply through his nose and kept typing. Mumbling something they couldn’t pick up.
Dimitri’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Nico had been off since breakfast. Not enough for anyone else in the house to notice, maybe. But Dimitri noticed everything, and Nico was operating like a man whose brain had split into two warring halves. He was tense to say the least.
Distracted, and very obviously trying not to look at either of them for too long.
Dimitri turned back to the central screen. “Set the first interrogation for two this afternoon. I want the place cleared beforehand, and I want every camera-”
“Nico,” Killian interrupted suddenly.
Nico and Dimitri both looked over to where their brother, Killian, was standing near a few monitors towards the back.
The ones that once showed Bea in all her glory but now have been shut off.
He was frowning down at one of the screens with open disgust. He reached out and scratched at the glass with one thick finger.
“Nico,” he repeated slowly, “what the hell is on this monitor?” Nico’s face drained, then immediately turned bright red.
Killian rubbed his thumb and forefinger together, staring at the residue now stuck to his skin.
He squinted, “It’s got like…dried crusty shit all over it.”
Nico shot to his feet so fast his chair nearly tipped over. “Killian,” he said, voice high and strangled, “please go wash your hands.”
Killian blinked at him.
“It…it’s a new cleaner I was trying out,” Nico rushed on. “It’s extremely poisonous.”
Killian’s eyes widened. “Poisonous?”
“Yes!”
Killian swore violently and bolted for the small sink built into the back counter. He turned the water on full blast and scrubbed his hands like the devil himself had licked them.
Dimitri stared at Nico. Slowly. Carefully. With the kind of look that is a mixture of concern, irritation and confusion. “Why would you use a new cleaner that’s poisonous?” Dimitri asked, very calmly.
Nico kept pacing and breathing heavily, red-faced and furious. Glasses slightly crooked, looking like he wanted to launch himself through the nearest wall. “I got a deal on it.” he muttered.
Dimitri’s expression did not change.
Nico swallowed. “And I wanted to try it out, is that a problem?”
Dimitri went still at his sharp words. Then his head tipped slightly to one side, eyes narrowing with dangerous thought. “No, Nico,” he said softly. “That’s not a problem at all.”
Nico said nothing.
Dimitri continued, “It’s just that you’ve used the same computer cleaning products for years. You buy it in bulk. You once yelled at a security guard for using the wrong microfiber cloth on the side of the monitors.”
Killian, still aggressively washing his hands, turned to stare at Nico in disbelief. Nico opened his mouth. Closed it then opened it again. “I…got a good d…deal.” He stuttered. Dimitri’s brows lifted.
Killian barked out a laugh from the sink. “What is going on? What the fuck did Bea do to you? You are acting like you just got caught with your pants down jerking it in the shadows like a creeper.”
Nico looked murderous. “No one asked you! besides that’s what you do, you fucking freak!”
Dimitri folded his arms across his chest. “You’re not acting normal, and I’m honestly starting to wonder if I need to have you evaluated.”
“I’m fine.” Nico grabbed his jacket off the back of his chair with jerky, irritated movements. “Just leave me alone.”
Dimitri didn’t move. “Nico.”
“I said I’m fine.” He shoved one arm into the jacket and turned for the door. “I’m going out for a bit.” Then he stormed out of the room before either man could stop him. The heavy door slammed behind him. Silence followed.
Killian turned off the sink and dried his hands on a towel, still looking vaguely offended by the entire experience. Then he glanced at Dimitri. Dimitri glanced back. They held each other’s stare for one long second.
Killian broke first. “You think he’s on drugs?”
Dimitri huffed out a humorless laugh and dragged a hand over his beard. “No.”
Killian tossed the towel aside. “Then what the hell was that?”
Dimitri looked toward the closed door, then toward the monitor Killian had found. His eyes narrowed. When he spoke again, his voice was dry. “You notice that these two are the only monitors that are shut off?”
Killian leaned against the counter. “Yeah?”
Dimitri’s eye twitched with faint annoyance. “Flip that switch and turn it on.” Killian did and both men swore under their breath, as Bea came into focus. Sitting on her bed texting someone on her phone.
Killian actually laughed, “And he had the nerve to call me a freak, who knew our nerdy little brother was into voyeurism?”
Dimitri shoved him hard in the shoulder. “Good Lord.”
Killian barely budged. “What? We have the proof right here.”
“Better than listening to Nico lie about discount poison cleaner.” Dimitri shook his head then his eyes widened. “Killian?”
Killian replied, “What?”
“If he was watching her this morning during her ‘Self Care’ time, what do you think he was doing?”
Killian snorted, “The ol’ rub and tug, I know I definitely would be.”
Dimitri just stood there with this knowing smile, “You of all people should know what turns crusty after drying…” his words trailed off waiting for his brother’s mind to catch up.
Killian smiled and nodded his head and looked at Dimitri.
“Don’t I know it.” He laughed and Dimitri raised his eyebrows and cocked his head to the side.
Killian scrunched his brows together, “What? Why are you looking at me like….” Then it hit him.
“Oh” his face dropped and turned a sick shade of green.
“You touched Nico’s…” Demiri’s words were cut off as Killian started to dry heave
“OH FUCK…” He ran to the sink again and turned the hot water on and started scrubbing his hands.
“I’M GOING TO FUCKING KILL H…” another gag echoed in the room.
As well as a deep boisterous laugh that escaped Dimitri.
“SHUT THE FUCK UP!” Killian roared as he shut the water off, gave his brother a hard shove and stormed out the door.
Dimitri bent over with his hands on his knees trying to catch his breath from laughing.
He stood up and wiped his eyes as he stared at the trouble maker sitting on her bed. “You could either end us or save us menace, I pray it’s the latter.” He turned off the monitor and made a mental note to remove the cameras from her room as he went to find his brothers before Killian killed Nico.