Heartless Lover by Faith Summers
19
Eric
Alejandro looks over the paperwork on my desk then balls his hands into tight fists. His entire face hardens when he scans over it.
We’re in my office at Markov Tech and I’ve just given him the rundown of the shit Borya unearthed.
This is the first time we’ve met where it’s just been the two of us and this is going to be one interesting meeting because I’m going to demand information he might not want to tell me.
“Jesus Christ,” he mutters. “You got this today?”
“Yes. My men tracked Micah’s guys down early this morning.”
Christ.It’s not even midday yet but it feels like a whole week has passed.
There’s no way it’s still the same day, or that mere hours have passed since I left Summer in my bed.
After I spoke to Borya I checked in with Aiden. Now it’s barely eleven and I’m here with another million things going through my mind.
“This all shows they’re up to something more than just selling the device,” Alejandro states. “They would be human trafficking for that kind of money.”
“I agree. It looks like there’s more going on in Brazil though.”
I eye him with a little more seriousness and drag in a breath. I’m always respectful of guys like him because they’ve been in the game for a lot of years. He’s forty-seven and has this empire of wealth and power. I have my wealth and I’m part of the elite in the Voirik, but I’m a newbie and small fry compared to him. At the same time, if we’re in this mission together I need to be told everything.
“I need to know what’s happening in Brazil, Alejandro,” I state, and he sighs. “Because Micah and friends are really playing you.”
“I know, amigo. I just didn’t know the extent of it and it looks like my people have been bought to betray me. That’s why I’m here,” he answers.
“And here by yourself again,” I observe with raised brows. This is the second time I’ve seen him and he’s had no men from his cartel with him. A man like him doesn’t travel without his most trusted. “You don’t have any men with you.”
He gives me a curt nod. “I haven’t spoken much to anyone besides the D’Agostino brothers, but the answer you’re looking for is my men aren’t with me because I don’t trust them. My heart tells me one or more of them betrayed me and helped Micah kill my brother. This evidence you’ve found shows I was right to think so.”
If his men betrayed him it means Micah got to them and made certain promises.
“What does Micah want from you? A man from the Camorra wouldn’t just suddenly have an interest in something out of the blue.”
“It’s not out of the blue, but I wanted to keep that information on a need to know basis.”
“Don Alejandro, I believe the time has come where I need to know, so talk,” I inform him.
From the uncertain look on his face, I’m sure under normal circumstances he would tell me to go fuck myself. But since we aren’t under normal circumstances and our paths have interwoven he’s going to have to trust me.
“This isn’t a simple matter of catch the fucker who’s screwing with you,” I add and the tension loosens in his face.
He nods again. “What I’m about to tell you is a secret I’ve been hanging on to since before my brother died.”
Instantly, my interest piques. “What is it?”
“The largest producer of petroleum in Brazil was solely government owned until January this year,” he begins and temples his fingers together. “Up until then the government owned fifty-four percent of shares and the rest were privately owned. After the death of the C.E.O of one of the private agencies, my brother and I received all his shares and we bought out the others. When one of the governors got into a bit of trouble of the scandalous variety we demanded more shares and it tipped the balance.”
“So you own it?” My eyes widen. That’s serious wealth and fuck knows how they managed to obtain it.
“Yes, but nobody is supposed to know that. All we wanted was the ownership value and wealth it would garner us,” he explains. “With my brother gone, I currently co-own the company with my niece.”
My lips part. “Your niece?”
“Yes. Unknown to our enemies, my brother left everything to his wife and his daughter. That was why they were all supposed to die that night. The only person left to be rid of should be me. My brother was killed a month after we signed papers. People have tried to take our territory many times in the past so being at war is no stranger to us. My brother’s death was just the first time anybody succeeded, and in such an easy way.”
“How did Micah get to him?”
“Your guess is as good as mine, but it happened at their home. My brother’s property is like mine. You would be shot dead before you could think to come on to our land. But Micah made it though. Made it inside the house where he shot my brother and set the house on fire killing his wife and almost killing my niece.”
“How did she get out?”
“She didn’t, her mother placed her in a safe room and locked her in. It’s fireproof. I found her in the morning when I went there. Her mother was dead by the door guarding her child.” He dips his head and presses his lips together. “I took her in after and she became mine.”
“I’m sorry Alejandro.”
“Thank you. I believe, Micah is after the ownership of the company. I’ve found evidence to suggest he’s rubbing shoulders with certain governors in Brazil. I’m guessing they would have told him about the venture my brother and I obtained in the company. So if he kills me and my niece they’ll find a way for him to get our shares. Of course there’s going to be something Micah must have offered them for their assistance. I sure he only hasn’t succeeded because of the ties I have with the government. But if he kills me it’s game over,” he pulls in a haggard breath. “That is what is happening in Brazil, Eric Markov. And, the fact that Micah has found his way into my shipping port means even more. Somebody is clearly feeding him information and giving him free reign over my assets and facilities when my back is turned.”
“Having control over the oil industry in one country is even more money,” I surmise and think deeper into the situation which seems clearer with that explanation. “I think he’s collecting money and assets for something. Something big.”
Alejandro straightens up. “You think so?”
“It looks that way. There’s the situation in Brazil that will ultimately stand to make him a god because if you die he can infiltrate more than just the oil company, then there’s the flesh trade and the device. That looks like he’s collecting and my ex-best friend is right beside him helping him along.” That’s how it looks to me.
“So if this is part of a bigger plan the incident in Monaco with Summer Reeves was just one thing.”
“It seems so. Now we just need to know why he’s collecting and where he’s going to be next.”
“Do you think it’s going to be possible to track them? I know you’re already doing your best.”
“I have to go back to the drawing board.” And race against time.
“I’m going to be in L.A. for a while as it’s looking like things are gravitating here. The D’Agostinos have finished helping me secure my affairs in Brazil, so I will be available when you need me.”
“That’s good. What about your niece?”
The worry on his face looks more like a father, not an uncle. “I have two people who I can class as loyal to me watching her at all times. She’s in a safe house only I have the location to. I also have guards, watching the area but they don’t know what or who they’re guarding. I know you know the sting of betrayal more than anybody, so you’ll understand my need to overprotect her.”
“I do.”
His niece is almost seven months old. I can’t imagine having a baby to look after, much less having one that wasn’t mine. I’d do the same if I were him though. I don’t have a fatherly bone in my body but I’ll always be there for my niece or nephew
when he or she comes along.
“My niece deserves that justice,” he adds.
“She does,” I reply.
“More than anything, she’s an innocent in this and she deserves a chance to live. If I don’t help her, no one will. She doesn’t have anybody left who cares enough about her to make sure she’s safe. If I don’t find a way to keep her safe then I’m just another monster walking around in the darkness.”
I stare at him and I really listen to what he’s saying to me because he makes me think of Summer. She’s the next innocent in this mess and if I don’t help her, no one else will.
I just didn’t start off with the intention to help her in that way—to protect her. I’m man enough to admit my intentions were purely selfish.
While I intend to make sure she doesn’t die, the streets will run with blood before I allow anybody to hurt her, I need to find a way to resist the temptation I feel when I’m with her. I need to make my way back over that line I crossed to where I should be.
Far away from her, because I’m the opposite of everything she stands for.
She’s life and living, and I am death.
