Page 4 of My Merciless Don

“You didn’t think to call me first?”

“I’ve been trying to call you!” she screeched. I winced, moving the phone from my ear.

“Yeah okay, send me all the data you have on what’s been sold and when. We need to know who did it and why and we need that info fast. Before I talk to the Lamberts or Colbert, the Hellers or anyone else. Quick, Jade.”

“On it.” She said and hung up. I straightened up, my heart racing with anxiety. Of course, my first suspicions were the Russians, but I didn’t think they were bright enough to pull this off. I had to trust that Jade's hacker would be able to find out who had done this so I could have the pleasure of killing them once I got all my money back.

And I would get it all back. There was no other option.

I was filled with simmering rage and was determined to find a target for it very soon. I got out of my vehicle and strode into the hotel, wanting to collect my belongings and get back to the office as quickly as possible. There wasn’t much in my hotel room, as it had just been a temporary base of operations in Santa Monica, and a much shorter drive to Malibu compared to my headquarters in Pasadena.

All I had there were some clothes, my iPad, a few burners, and some cash.

I should have just gone ahead to Pasadena and let Valerio collect all this shit.

Tapping my foot, I waited for the elevator, my brother a taller, calmer presence behind me. We walked in silence to my room, and then he held me back as he checked the door and the booby traps we usually left.

They were still intact, and I nodded as he stepped back and let me enter. He would stand outside and wait for me, probably very glad to be away from my simmering spirit for a few minutes, unless I called him in.

I was walking straight for my closet, one hand stretched out to open it when I realized the room wasn’t empty.

Giving a shout, I reached for my gun when the woman on the bed raised her hands. “Don’t shoot.”

She was lying on my clothes, my iPad next to her, cash spread all around her, wearing nothing but a black teddy and some red soled heels. It would have been comical any other time, but now it just played into my paranoia.

“Who the fuck are you and what are you doing in here?” I growled even as the door flew open and Valerio came barging in. He saw the woman on the bed and dived, grabbing her hands, and detaining them in his. He looked up at me, “Should I kill her, boss?”

I smirked a bit, cocking an eyebrow at her, “Well?” I asked, “Should he kill you?”

She batted her lashes coyly at me, “Not if you want to know where your money went.”

CHAPTER FOUR

AUDRY

The strategy was risky, I'll be the first to admit it - stealing from a trigger-happy gangster is one thing. Sticking around and confessing is truly unhinged behavior. Kylie told me so many times. However, I could see no other way to infiltrate his many layers other than to offer myself up to him.

He didn't make it easy, but I'm not one to complain. His iPad had his passwords saved. His fingerprint, I simply lifted from his key card. Oh, and the booby traps on the door… amateur hour. Too easy to set up again for the eagle-eyed infiltrator; that is, me.

Months of study and research, including a very drunk and high night with his accountant’s assistant, had given me the correct authorizations. Transferring the money from one place to another was a matter of moments. I was really proud of myself for this one.

Brilliant work Audry.

If nobody else was going to pat me on the back, I sure was. But now this bodyguard was holding my hands way too tight, and it was a little painful I admit. Difficult to maintain a flirty mien when you're in pain. But I did my best.

“It's rude to keep a woman waiting. Where were you all this time?”

His eyes literally flashed at me. It was scary sexy. I might have been a little wet. “Who do you work for?” He asked me coldly.

“Hey, come on, if you're going to interrogate me you should at least ask what my name is.” I changed to a preppy British accent, "We haven't even been properly introduced. What would Emily Post say?”

His lips twitched the slightest bit, as if he was tempted to laugh.

Got him! I thought triumphantly.

Marco looked at his underboss. “Cover her up and bring her along. We don't have time for this.”

He watched as his underboss manhandled me, taking off his coat and covering me with it, before gathering his belongings off the bed and stuffing them into a bag. He walked out of the room without another glance at me, the body guard following behind, his hand like a vice around my arm.

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