Chapter 14 Àlvaro's Pov
“I've got some information, boss.” Damien, my chief of security informs me as he placed a hand down onto the warehouse table. “And I think you're going to want to listen to this.”
I peered up from the paperwork I was working on. “Go on.” I gesture for him to speak.
“You're right. We do have a traitor.” He starts, immediately grabbing my attention and I leaned forward in my chair, placing the edges of my elbows onto the edge of the table. “I've been doing some digging like you wanted me to, discreetly listening to the men on the job and I heard someone mention that they've been approached by an outside gang to leak sensitive information all for a big wad of cash.”
“Who?” I barked in anger.
“Dante.”
My eyebrows shot up in surprise. Dante has been with us for years. He would never betray me like that.
“Are you sure?” I lowered my voice.
Damien nods and folded his arms against his chest. “One hundred percent.” He says. “He wasn't spreading it but he told another member in confidence and by the sound of things, he could easily do it again if you don't take him out.”
I groaned out loud.
“Good work, Damien.”
“All part of the job, boss.” He nods before taking a step back but pauses. “What are you going to do to him?”
“What he deserves.”
“Fair enough.” He rasps as he finally walked off.
When he leaves, I find myself staring down at my laptop with heavy eyes. Dante has more benefits being in this gang than he does stabbing me in the back. So why he would do this was a mystery to me.
I organized with some of my men to bring Dante to the warehouse immediately. Dante would know exactly what line he crossed when he's tied to a chair, having a conversation with my fist.
“Boss.” I heard from above me. I looked up and my eyes collided with one of my men. “He's ready.”
I stood up to remove my blazer and slide it on the back of my leather chair, rolling the sleeves of my white shirt. I should've worn black today. Now not only will my hands be dirty, but this shirt would be ruined and it was one of my favorites.
I took long strides as I made my way down the warehouse hall. My hand pressed against the door that already has two guards standing inside with Dante tied to a chair in the middle of the room.
He squirms and his wrists twitch against the rope on the chair. His eyes are burning with fury and then once he sees me, they turn into fear.
I loomed over him and he settled back into the chair in pure silence.
“Do you know why I've brought you here, Dante?”
“No.” He released a breath. “What the fuck are you doing, Àlvaro.”
“Since when do you call me by my first name?”
Dante's eyes are hooded. He's trying to put up a front but it's not working. I can already see how terrified he is from his expression.
“What is this about?”
“Did you leak information about our last operation with the Russians?”
“What?!”
“Dante.” I folded my arms across my chest. “Did you?”
Dante opened his mouth and then shook his head. “No. I don't even understand the question.”
I snort. “Alright then. I'll make this simpler. Did you give a heads up to the Russians that we were coming to raid their shipment?”
His eyes widened for a split second but he masked it quickly. “No.”
“Liar.”
“I didn—”
My fist slammed into his face and I felt the crack of his teeth. Blood is now pouring down his face over his lips. “Don't lie to me, Dante. You'll only make it worse.”
Dante began to pant as he spat out the blood on the floor beside him. “It's not what you think.” He heaved.
“Aaaah.” I began to pace in front of him, my hands tucked behind my back. “So you did lie to me.”
“Àlvaro please.” He begs.
I hit him twice as hard. Blood splattered on the plastic sheets on the ground and down his neck.
“You really don't learn, do you?”
“H–he..” He choked back a cough, squeezing his eyes shut. “There's more to it.”
“What?”
“T–this guy,” He straightened his spine onto the chair. “He threatened to hurt my wife. He threatened to kill her if I didn't act as a mole.”
“Who?” I asked as I stood directly in front of him.
Dante winced as he opened his eyes to look at me. Purple bruises were already forming on the side of his face.
“I don't know who it is. They disguised their identity.”
“You're either lying or covering for someone.”
“No, boss.” He pleads. “I promise I'm telling the truth. I had no choice.”
“How did he blackmail you?”
Dante inhaled slowly and when he took too long to speak, I landed my fist on his nose. I could feel the bone crunch beneath my fist and more blood coated the floor and my knuckles.
I grabbed his shirt, my eyes flicking between his in a deathly glare. “How. Did. He. Blackmail. You?” I said through clenched teeth.
“They sent me messages on my phone and then pictures of my wife out and about.” He groans quietly. “The person's voice was disguised but he said I had to do what they wanted or he'd kill her and send me the video to watch.”
My hands released his shirt. “Why didn't you come to me about it?”
“They said not to.” He shook his head. “I didn't want to do it at first but the pictures and descriptions of what they'd do to her got worse and I had no other choice.”
I drew backwards and folded my hands again. “Where's your phone with this evidence?”
“He took it.” He said, gesturing to one of the guards behind him.
“What's the password?” I asked as the guard dug the phone out of his pocket. I walked around him slowly and he attempted to glance over his shoulder but ended up wincing in pain as I took the phone.
“3-2-2-4-5-9”
I repeated the password in my head as I typed it in.
“What's the first thing that is taught when you join my empire?”
“He was going to murder he—”
“What is the first thing that's taught when you join my empire?!” I repeated, this time, louder. My voice booms across the empty room. Dante blinked at me and swallowed harshly.
“L–loyalty.”
“Loyalty.” I flashed him a forced smile. “And what didn't you give to me?”
“Àlvaro, she's my family.”
“And we're your family too!” I roared at him and he flinched. “Do you know how many men we lost because of your stupidity?”
Dante looked up at me with his bruised eyes. “And I'd do it all over again if it means protecting her.”
Before I knew what I was doing, I grabbed my gun and immediately pulled the trigger, blowing his brains out. A heavy growl rippled through me and I tried to breathe as deeply as I could.
“Fuck!” I grumbled as I stared back at his dead body. “Desechar el cuerpo y limpiar todo esto.” I ordered the guards before leaving the room. (Dispose of the body and clean this all up.)
If someone is going around blackmailing my men, I'll have to dig harder to find the culprit.
On the way home, I informed Damien and Santiago with the new information. Dante might've been blackmailed but things could've been done differently.
As soon as I entered the house, I headed straight to the shower, removing my clothes and disposing of them. This was something I did everytime I get blood on my clothes, which was often.
When I'm out of the shower, I get changed and headed downstairs, ready for a quiet evening with a glass of whiskey to get me going. The events of the evening was fucking draining. We've gotten rid of Dante but since he wouldn't give up who blackmailed him, it's only a matter of time before they sink their clutches in another one of my men. We gotta tread carefully. I just hope what happened to Dante would make any other person think twice about betraying me.
Immediately I got to the foot of the stairs, I stopped dead in my tracks. My eyes glowed as I looked at Cami, standing right in the kitchen and glancing into the fridge.
A white towel clung to her body and her long dark wet hair cascaded down her back.
Why the fuck is she practically naked in a mansion with men roaming all around? Dangerous horny men!
I have no patience for her nonsense today.
My fists clenched, my knuckles still sore from earlier but I don't stop as I walked straight up behind her. She must've been lost in thought because she didn't hear me walk up behind her.
My hand reached forward and I grabbed her wet hair between my fingers and she gasped in shock until I twisted her face towards mine. She looked truly afraid but when she saw that it was me, she physically relaxed.
“I suggest you go put some fucking clothes on.”
She places a hand to my shoulder and pushes me off, eyes glimmering with annoyance. “Maybe you're the one who needs to put your dick back in your pants because none of your men would dare touch me.”
She's right. But I didn't want her to know that.
I shoved her back into the fridge, my hand wrapped around her throat. I hate how amazing she smells.
Fresh. Clean.
“I told you what I'd do if you keep running that little mouth of yours.”
She visibly shuddered beneath my touch as I tower over her. “No. Actually, you didn't.” Her confidence shook me because I've never been challenged like this in my life, much less by a woman.
“Well, maybe it's high time I showed you.”
I physically couldn't take it anymore. My anger has been over the edge today and now this?!
Before she had a chance to open her mouth again, I pulled her by her throat and pressed her into the counter face down. She huffs out a breath as the towel drops to the floor.
I almost choked.
I hated this effect she had on me. I reached over and slapped her hard. On her ass.
She gasped, suppressing a groan. I did it again, painting her skin red with my palm print.
She's no longer resisting my hold as she pressed herself against the counter on her own accord. “For a virgin, you sure do love a good spanking.”
“Fuck you.” She spat but I cut off the last syllable with another slap.
“You think because you're marked you're safe from me? I practically own you.” I slide my hand down the back of her thighs and I felt the slickness between her thighs and I know for a fact that she's not wet from the shower.
I felt instantly hard inside my pants to the point where it was beginning to hurt because she looks so good like this. My eyes glanced over her naked body submitting to me just like the day I officially met her.
“I bet you'll look good on your knees.” I said huskily.
“I'll never get on my knees for you.”
A dark laugh erupts from my chest. “Just wait and see Chica, you'll be begging me for more once I'm done with you.”
Her fingers curl over the edge of the counter as my fingers edged higher up her thighs but I still don't touch her.
“Go. Get. Fucking. Dressed.” I whispered through clenched teeth as I released her.
She must've detected the seriousness in my voice as she pushes up from the counter, picked up her towel and wrapped it around her body, scrambling away.
She didn't spare me a glance but I know it's because her cheeks are tinted pink and she shamefully enjoyed every second of what just happened.
And the obvious bulge in my pants is evidence that I enjoyed it too.
Fuck!