Page 5 of Watching Her

Maybe I had a penchant for drama, but I’d found I enjoyed the stench of fear almost as much as the act of revenge itself.

“And no,” I continued. “We are not considered a mafia family, Brandon. In fact, we are much… much more dangerous.”

“I don’t know what you’re getting at, Christian.”

“Yes, you do, Brandon. I certainly don’t take you for a stupid man. Foolish but not stupid. It took me a couple weeks of beating my head against the wall to figure out how the information had leaked. Financials. Upcoming contracts. Even bid numbers that had yet to be released. I don’t need to tell you how vital it is in our business to keep details of an upcoming bidding war secret. In this case, two. Or perhaps more.” I shook my head and rubbed the scruff on my jaw. Damn, I needed a shave. “It would seem my hacker skills are rusty.”

He said nothing, not even in his defense.

I laughed and while this was all nothing more than a game, the tone was laced with bitterness. Trust was earned and the worst thing anyone could do was betray me or my family’s legacy.

“Given access had already been limited to my brother, myself, and my assistant, you can imagine what I’d endured for a full day. My sweet assistant has no understanding how close she came to losing her life.”

That wasn’t true. Maybe my dramatics were being a little overplayed. But I did love to see him sweat.

“Anyway, with my knowledge of the system that you helped supply when I was in my early twenties, I finally determined the source. I admit, Brandon. The way you covered your tracks was brilliant. You missed your calling as a hacker, which if I’d known your level of expertise, I would have exploited. The only mistake you made was in not covering up your tracks well enough in creating an offshore bank account where someone deposited two million dollars in funds. While I’m aware the party depositing the funds is hiding behind a shell corporation, it’s only a matter of time before I discover who is behind Southshore Limited.”

Brandon’s body was now shaking violently. “I can explain.”

“I’m certain you can,” I told him as I retrieved my weapon. “But here’s the truth. I’m just not interested in hearing whatever it is you have to say. I thought that knowing how my father handled traitors within his organization, you’d know not to fuck with me. I guess I was wrong. I assure you I won’t make that mistake again.”

Pop!

His yelp of anguish was followed by a moment of shock as the force pitched him forward onto the platform before dumping him into the water. Almost immediately, he began to flail, which of course created a surge in his blood pressure, thereby pumping blood from the leg injury into the water.

I wasn’t interested in even the remote possibility of him being rescued. Yes, I could have simply ended his life, attaching a cinder block to his ankle and tossing him to the depths below. But what fun would that have been?

I’d enjoyed the art of playing the game more than the outcome itself over the years. This was no different than the salacious games played in college with my buddies.

Classic warfare.

I’d praised his work, lured him in for a prize.

Made him feel comfortable while assessing the situation.

Then struck when the time was right.

Actually, this game had been beneath my skill level, but there was much more at stake than when I’d been twenty-one.

Plus, Brandon’s acts of espionage could cost Tempest International billions if not handled appropriately.

The anger I’d managed to keep locked away for the duration finally surfaced when grabbing the buckets of chum I’d stored down below.

He’d dared try to climb on board, which forced me to plant my foot against his face, kicking him backward.

Brandon popped right back to the surface, his eyes filled with horror. “Please, Christian. Please. I had no choice.”

According to the few bastards I’d personally dealt with in my career, you’d think no one ever had a choice. Bullshit.

I tossed the chum into the water, not bothering to save the buckets.

“That’s where you’re wrong, Brandon. Every single person alive has a choice. You just made the wrong one.”

Turning away, I headed back to the captain’s chair and started the engine. Just as I pulled away, I swung my head over my shoulder.

The sharks were already circling.

CHAPTER 2