ALESSIO
Greg started scrolling through his tablet, looking for something. "You must be talking about Daniel Prett" he said, showing me his picture on the tablet. "He's a Tech consultant. Mid-level clearance. And his sister is Gina Prett"
I raised a brow. "Gina Prett?"
"Yes, boss. She's overseeing the upcoming land auction. It's government-backed, and private access only."
I leaned back in my chair, a slow smile curling on my lips.
So that's what she was after…
Greg looked uneasy. "Seems Celeste wants to get a spot in the auction"
I laughed. Loud and dark. My chest vibrated with the sound. "She's insane. I love it."
I continue. "Too bad, Daniel will not be able to get her in. They have registered the maximum number of participants, and no one can override it."
Even I had to buy my own invite through the black market. That auction was tighter than a Vatican vault.
Greg frowned. "Then why did Daniel take her number?"
I flung my cigar in the ashtray. "What other reason? The son of a bitch just wants to fuck."
Greg nodded slowly. "We actually tried reaching him. But he refused to meet us."
I lit another, inhaling and exhaling deeply. "Then we do it the hard way."
Greg looked nervous. "You sure, boss? He's tied to the government. If this gets messy—"
"It won't get messy" I interrupted, turning to him with cold eyes. "Bring him to me. Tomorrow."
He nodded.
•••••
The next day, Daniel sat tied to a rusted chair in the basement of one of my older buildings, a place I reserved for men who needed persuasion.. He had already pissed himself twice.
Pathetic.
I stepped out of the shadows and watched his eyes widen when he saw me.
He's heard of me. This should be easy.
"Who are you!?" He whimpered.
I flashed him my teeth. "Alessio."
"Why am I here?" He trembled. "P-please… I didn't do anything!"
"You refused to talk to my men when they came nicely." I said, sighing. "You wasted their time, my time. And worse…" I took a slow step closer, letting my soles echo. "You touched something that wasn't yours."
"I—I don't know what you mean" he stammered. "I'm not involved with gangs! I swear."
I stopped in front of him, jaw tightening. "At the ball… I was the one that wanted to dance with your partner."
His face changed as realization hit.
"I swear I didn't know!" he cried. "I didn't know she was yours. I wasn't planning anything serious. I swear!"
My temper flared hot and sharp, and for a moment, I imagined snapping his neck right there. But I shouldn't. I had control. I always did.
Instead, I smiled faintly, and I leaned in, voice deathly low. "Then why did you touch her ass!?"
He cried louder. And then, he shit himself.
Fuck. What a disgusting twat.
I turned to my men. "Clean this fucker up."
I stepped outside, lit another cigarette, and let the smoke calm me.
When I returned, the room was cleaner. Daniel sat trembling, fresh bottoms, but still pathetic.
I walked up to him and pressed the burning end of my cigarette against his trousers. He yelped.
"Now" I said, stoic. "Hand over the card and number she gave you."
"I…I don't have the card." he whimpered. "But I remember the email. And the number's in my phone."
A pen and paper were placed before him. He wrote them down.
My hand brushed the paper when I took it, and I felt a strange, primal rush. This was a piece of her. A breadcrumb she hadn't meant to leave.
I cross-checked, and they matched the one on his phone. So I handed the number to my tech guy. "Run it."
Then I turned back to Daniel. "So tell me. What did she want?"
He spilled everything. The auction. The land. The inheritance. Every single lie she'd fed him.
"…she wanted me to add her to the list" he finalized. "But I can assure you she will not be getting close to the building! I won't go near her!"
I laughed darkly, as my heart pumped, watching Daniel lose his mind and cry like a baby "Too bad. I kinda want her there."
He looked confused. "Huh…Why?"
Because I wanna see her, dummy.
I just blew smoke at him, as my tech guy returned. He whispered in my ear. "The phone is a second level burner, boss. We couldn't establish a direct connection. And there was no identity attached to it."
Chuckling, I turned to Daniel with a mischievous smirk. "So apparently, the phone's a burner…"
"No! I swear! That's the number she gave me!" His chest heaved up and down violently.
I watched him beg and grovel, with a sadistic smile threatening to escape. "Relax. I know it isnt you."
Of course, she used a burner. She was infuriatingly brilliant. She wanted to stay hidden, but she didn't realize she was feeding my obsession. The more she ran, the more I wanted to catch her.
Then my guy whispered again. "Another thing, boss. It's a self-destruct model. One call, then it dies."
I paused, running my fingers through my hair in frustration. Why the fuck was she being too careful?
I wanted to hear her voice again so bad. I wanted to be sure she would come to the auction. But if we called… that would be it. One mistake with the call would send her running farther away from me.
I thought long and hard. Then I made my choice.
"Call her" I said, handing Daniel a phone. "Tell her she's on the list, and the invite should arrive in her email soon."
Daniel swallowed hard, looking confused. "B-but the list is closed. I…I can't—"
I frowned, then leaned forward till I was directly inches in front of him. "Yeah, that's unfortunate…" I gently grab his tie, before adjusting it tightly to his neck. "I guess that means nothing can be done about—"
"No! No! I'll give her my spot…I won't be attending anymore" He was trembling so hard I thought he might pass out. "I can do that…please—just don't—"
I licked my lips and smiled. I love when people pick up on things quick. Makes things a lot easier.
I patted his shoulder, as he took the phone with shaking hands. Then stepping behind him, I quietly pressed my gun to the back of his head.
"Call her. And you better pray to God she picks." My voice was raw.
After the third ring, she answered with a soft, but cautious 'Hello?'.
Her voice.
God.
My skin erupted in goosebumps. My blood boiled, and my cock twitched.
She was music. Fire. Silk.
I closed my eyes, letting her voice crawl into my veins like a drug. I am addicted, and I like it.
As she and Daniel conversed, I imagined her lips moving, imagined the shy smile that came with her words. She had no idea I was listening, marking the way she breathed, the rhythm of her speech.
When the call ended, I slowly leaned down to him and whispered "That wasn't so hard now, was it?"
He nodded weakly, then I handed him his own phone. "Now…" I said. "call the auction manager. I'm sure you know what to do"
He nodded with tear streaked face, as I raised my gun again.
He informed the manager about the change, and read out Celeste's email for the invite to be sent.
It was done.
I smiled. "Good job, buddy."
He nodded, trembling.
"I'm sure you know not to go to the police." I said. "My men will be watching you until the auction ends. If you misbehave…"
He shook his head violently. "I won't! I swear!"
I untied him. Then punched him hard enough to send him sprawling. "That" I said quietly "is for touching her. You're not worthy."
Blood dripped from his mouth as he whimpered. I grabbed his shirt and wiped the blood from my knuckles with it, smiling faintly. Then I tossed it aside and left.
Outside, I saw a missed call from my aunt.
Getting into my Porsche, I dialed her number.