He types on the computer, shaking his head every few seconds before he says, “Fucking finally.” He spins the screen around and shows me an invoice order. “Fucking Jon Doe. Whoever sent that is a fucking wise guy.”
I look over at the employee, whose face is pale with fear. “Do you require ID from your customers?”
“No, not unless they need insurance.”
“I need the camera footage for this shop. Now.”
She shakes her head. “I can’t.”
I reach into my pocket and pull out my gun, placing my Sig on the counter. She yelps and drops to her haunches with her hands over her head.
I roll my eyes and in a voice low in its lethality, I say, “Give me. The footage.”
Tears pouring down her face, she says, “I can’t. The cameras don’t work. They’re…they’re not real.”
Austin walks over to the wall and pulls the camera down. “Declan, they’re not hooked to anything. They’re fucking decoys.”
I growl and put my gun back in its holster. “Dammit.” The girl looks up at me, her face red with tears. “Do you remember this Jon Doe dickhead? Made the delivery,” I look at the computer, “two days ago.”
She shakes her head quickly, her hair flying all over. “No. I just came back from vacation in Cancun. I was there for two weeks.”
Reaching into my wallet, I pull out all the money in there and slam it on the counter. “Don’t call the cops or tell anyone what happened here,” I threaten the girl in a low voice. “I’ll know and I’ll fucking kill you. Got it?”
“Y-y-yes. Okay.”
I glare at her for another few seconds, then we breeze out of the store. Once outside, I place my hands on my hips and look up at the sky. That was a fucking bust. Whoever is trying to bleed me for five mil is smart. They probably picked this place because they peeped that the cameras weren’t real and they wouldn’t be spotted.
“Fuck,” I growl, threading a hand through my hair. “Goddammit.”
Donny asks, “What’s going on? What are we looking for?”
“A dead man,” I tell them. “Go back to the casino and walk the floors. I’m heading to see Carter. I won’t be back to work.”
“We can escort you,” Austin says. In a low voice, he adds, “You shouldn’t be out here alone.”
Maybe Dad is right, maybe I should find someone to take Hendrix’s spot. I assess both Austin and Donny. They’re strong, loyal, and capable. If I can’t figure out what the fuck is going on with this blackmailer, I’ll take them on as my personal guard. Right now, I’m not ready.
“I’m good,” I tell him, heading to my car. “Go back to the casino and make sure no one else leaves anything in my fucking office.”
“Boss,” Donny says, inclining his head.
I pull off, not intending to go to Carter’s casino. I’ll tell him and Dad about the asshole that keeps sending me threatening shit tonight at dinner. Right now, I need to calm my nerves.
When I get home, I change into loose shorts and go into my home gym. Before I step onto the treadmill, I start mymusic, turning the volume as high as it’ll go. Then I climb on and run myself into the ground.
Instead of my mind giving me ways to find who is after me, it keeps coughing up images and feelings and sensations of my time with Nico.
Even days later, I can still feel his hot, hard cock drilling into me. His big hand gripping my dick, jerking me as he marveled over my piercings. His thick tongue in my mouth, tasting me like he couldn’t get enough.
No one has ever made me feel like that. I felt…fuckingseen. Cared for. Cherished. By someone that doesn’t even like me. He played my body like he’s been doing it his entire life. Every touch, lick, kiss, and stroke seemed effortless. Like he knew me.
“Dammit,” I grunt as I slam my hand down on the emergency stop button. I can’t run while my hard dick is bouncing around.
My legs feel like jelly when I get off the treadmill and make my way to the shower. I keep my hand off my dick while I’m washing up. I’ve thought about Nico enough, don’t need to beat off to memories of him giving me the orgasm of a century.
After I finish my shower, I pad to my room naked to pull on a pair of sweatpants. I grab my discarded suit from the ground and toss it into the hamper, but not before grabbing the letter from the pocket. It’s wrinkled all to shit, but I smooth it out so I can take it to Dad’s house this evening. Me, Carter, and Dad can figure shit out.
Then I head to Hendrix’s room.
