Chapter 100 Chapter 100
Damien’s POV
I considered this. Having Vincent bring the footage made sense from a security standpoint. But it also meant bringing someone to the safehouse, revealing its location
.
Still, I needed to see that footage. Needed to understand exactly how my security had been breached.
“Fine,” I said. “Then I’ll send someone to pick you up. They’ll bring you here to the safehouse so we can review the footage together.”
There was a slight pause on Vincent’s end, just a fraction of a second of hesitation.
“Boss, wouldn’t it be easier if you just…..” Vincent started.
“Kai will come get you,” I interrupted, making the decision quickly. “Be ready in an hour.”
“Not Kai,” Vincent said quickly, almost desperately. The words came out in a rush. “Boss, please. Anyone but Kai.”
I frowned, surprised by the vehemence in his tone. “Why not Kai?”
“He doesn’t like me,” Vincent said, and I could hear genuine discomfort in his voice now. “He never has, boss. Every single time we work together, he questions everything I do. Challenges my methods. Watches me like I’m about to betray you at any moment. He makes it very clear he doesn’t trust me.”
“Kai doesn’t trust anyone,” I pointed out. “That’s not personal. That’s just who he is. It’s why he’s so good at his job.”
“I know that, boss, but…” Vincent trailed off, then tried again. “It makes working with him extremely difficult. Uncomfortable. I can’t focus on the task when he’s constantly breathing down my neck, questioning every move. Please. Can you send someone else? Anyone else?”
I stood there on the balcony, the cold air biting at my skin, considering the request. Vincent did sound genuinely uncomfortable, almost anxious. And I needed him focused on analyzing that footage, not worried about dealing with Kai’s suspicions and interrogations.
“Fine,” I agreed after a moment. “Lorenzo will pick you up instead. He’ll be there within the hour.”
“Thank you, boss,” Vincent said, and the relief in his voice was palpable. “I really appreciate that. I’ll have everything ready for when Lorenzo arrives.”
“Good,” I said. “Make sure you have all the files, all the analysis. I want to see everything.”
“Of course, boss. I’ll…”
Before I could hang up, Vincent spoke again, his tone shifting slightly.
“Boss, you know… it really would have been better if you’d just given me the coordinates of the safehouse directly,” he said. The words sounded casual, almost offhand. “Would have been much faster. I could have been there already instead of waiting for a pickup.”
I paused, my finger hovering over the end call button.
Something about the request made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. It was reasonable on the surface, yes, it would be faster if Vincent drove directly to the safehouse.
But the location of the safehouse was need-to-know only. I’d been extremely careful about who had that information. Even most of my guards didn’t know exactly where it was.
And Vincent was asking for it so casually, like it was nothing.
“We’ll do it this way,” I said, my voice flat and final.
Then I hung up without another word.
I stood there on the balcony for several more minutes, staring out at the dark forest surrounding the house, the phone still in my hand. The conversation replayed in my head, and that moment when Vincent had asked for the coordinates stood out like a red flag.
Was I being paranoid? Reading too much into an innocent suggestion?
Or had Vincent just revealed something about his intentions?
I didn’t know. Couldn’t be sure. But after discovering that guard’s betrayal on the footage, after learning that someone I’d trusted had opened my gates for my enemies, I couldn’t afford to take chances.
Everyone was suspect now. Everyone.
Even the people who seemed most loyal might be hiding knives behind their backs.
I’d have to watch Vincent carefully when he arrived.
Because somewhere in my organization, there were traitors. And I was going to find every single one of them.
Even if it meant suspecting everyone I’d once trusted.
The next morning came too quickly. I’d barely slept, my mind racing with plans and contingencies and the faces of everyone in my organization, wondering which of them might be secretly working for the Morellis.
Before the sun had even begun to rise, casting its first pale light over the horizon, I was already awake and dressed, moving through the quiet safehouse like a ghost.
I found Lorenzo in the security office, reviewing overnight reports with tired but alert eyes.
“Lorenzo,” I said from the doorway, and he immediately stood at attention.
“Boss,” he acknowledged.
“I’m sending you on your next assignment,” I said, stepping into the room and closing the door behind me. “This one’s important.”
“I’m ready,” Lorenzo said without hesitation. “What do you need?”
“Vincent has footage to deliver,” I explained. “I need you to go pick him up and bring him here so we can review it together.”
“Understood, boss,” Lorenzo said, already reaching for his jacket and keys. “I’ll leave immediately. Where am I picking him up?”
I gave him Vincent’s location and specific instructions about the route to take, the precautions to follow.
“Be careful,” I added. “Very careful. We don’t know who we can trust right now. The Morellis could be watching any of us, following any of us. Make absolutely certain no one tails you back here.”
“I’ll take every precaution, boss,” Lorenzo assured me. “No one will follow me. I guarantee it.”
He left quickly, and I watched him go, then moved to make coffee in the kitchen, my mind already working through everything that needed to happen today.
That’s when Kai appeared in the kitchen doorway, his expression grim and troubled.
“Boss, we have a problem,” he said without preamble.
I closed my eyes briefly, feeling exhaustion wash over me. Of course there was another problem. There was always another problem these days.
“What now?” I asked, opening my eyes and looking at him.
“There’s recent news from the city,” Kai said, pulling out his phone. “You’re going to have to follow us back there. Today.”
“Why?” I demanded, feeling frustration spike. “I just got the family settled here. I need to be here protecting them.”
“The elders of the Crimson Syndicate are calling an urgent meeting,” Kai explained. “They need you there. They’re insisting on it.”
“It can wait,” I said dismissively. “Whatever they want to discuss can wait until the Morelli situation is handled.”
“No, boss, it can’t wait,” Kai said firmly, his voice taking on an urgent tone. He stepped closer, holding out his phone so I could see the screen. “Another elder just died. This morning. They found the body an hour ago.”
My blood ran cold. My hand froze halfway to the coffee pot.
“And boss… Luca Morelli made it known through the mafia chain of communication that he’s responsible for it. He’s bragging about the kill. Said he’s ‘poking the bear.’ Those were his exact words.”
I felt rage surge through me like wildfire, hot and all-consuming.