Trying to calm the unease that is beginning to mount inside of me, I pace the perimeter of my study. I hate the anxious feeling I have, but between Sienna coming over this evening, my father’s latest questionable behavior, and suspicions with the gala, my anxiety is at an all-time high.
I don’t have fucking time to feel anxious. In fact, I don’t have much time at all to do what I need to do this evening. I glance down at my watch to check the time. I arranged for Jake to arrive at the brownstone to pick up the latest batch offantasmabefore Sienna arrives.
It’s risky having product picked up from the brownstone, but lately, I don’t feel like I have another choice. It does help thatfantasmais unlike anything else being sold on the streets right now. Much like myself,fantasmais a product of deception. It has been specially formulated to be practically undetectable, which adds to the appeal. My clients can indulge in a clean high without the risk of failing a drug test. It’s also highly addictive, which means it’s highly profitable. In fact,fantasmahas brought about the highest profit margin I have seen since I dove headfirst into the drug game.
My pacing halts when I hear footsteps in the hallway. I look up to see my housekeeper, Ella, standing timidly in the doorway. I was so preoccupied, lost in my own thoughts, I almost forgot that I asked her to come to the brownstone today to help me prepare for my dinner meeting with Ms. Ricci.
Aside from a handful of people, there are not many who come to the brownstone or even know about it. And no one, apart from myself and Alex, know about the previous owner.
“Mr. Moretti—” Ella begins.
I motion for her to enter the study. There is a subtle hesitation in her eyes before she obliges.
“I finished everything you asked of me, is there anything else you need me to do? I can stay to serve the meal if you prefer,” she offers.
“That is quite alright, Ella. I thank you and I love how you set up in here.” I gesture toward the bistro table I had her set up in the study. Black linens adorn the small, round table for two, with a crystal candelabra lit in the center.
She bows her head in almost a curtsy-like manner, taking in the compliment. “Ok, great, everything is prepped and ready to go in the kitchen for when you are ready.”
“Excellent.” I grab a wad of cash from my pocket and hand it to her. The way her face lights up with gratitude as the generous amount of money is transferred to her hands makes me smile. Part of me feels bad giving her what is essentially hush money to ensure she keeps quiet about the brownstone, especially to my father. However, I know Ella, a single mother of two, is appreciative of the payment.
My life has been in such a downward spiral that I almost forgot what it feels like to do good. Granted, this kind deed is technically considered bribery, but I’m no fucking saint. So, this is as good as it fucking gets.
“Don’t forget what we discussed before you came here today,” I remind her of our agreement to mention nothing of the brownstone, if asked.
“Of course, Mr. Moretti, I promise,” she says as she secures the payment in her back pocket. She thanks me once more before she heads out of the study.
I inch closer to the pocket door, standing there until I hear Ella exit the brownstone. Once she is gone, I lock the door to the study as I maneuver my way to the dark wood built-ins that surround the fireplace.
Heading to the highest shelf located to the far left of the mantel, I reach for the black and gold spine of the decoy book I have placed in the middle of the shelf. My fingers are met with fine dust that has been collecting on it as I begin to pull the spine forward. The few times I have Ella come to the brownstone to clean, I give her strict instructions not to touch the bookcases in the study. I can’t risk what lies behind these shelves being exposed…or anything else for that matter.
A cranking noise begins as I give a final tug to the decoy Poe book, causing the shelves to begin to shift, revealing a small, dark opening. I make my way into the tunneled darkness, feeling for the control panel on the wall. Once my hands find the panel, I press down on the first button I can feel, illuminating the control panel. I enter the passcode, which grants me access to my small stash room behind the steel door. As the door slides open a frigid blast of air hits my face. Flipping the light switch on, I see a small cloud form where my warm breath meets the cold air. The concrete walls and slate flooring do little to hold any warmth in.
I begin to assess the amount offantasmaI have packaged and ready to go as my phone vibrates with a text message from Jake saying he has arrived. I head to unlock the back door of the stash room to let Jake in.
We exchange a quick handshake and nod, wasting no time before grabbing thefantasmathat needs to be transported. As we work, packing the product in the black duffel bag Jake brought with him, I take notice of how banged up he looks. Even in the dimly lit space, I notice the swelling on his face. Both of his eyes are puffy to the point of looking like they are only half open. He looks exactly as I imagined he would be considering him getting jumped just the night before on top of the last-minute alterations made by Christian. With the cops now sniffing around more than ever, I couldn’t take any chances that he would be recognized. Jake didn’t even blink when I told him to head up to Christian’s floor earlier today.
This is the most product I have tried moving at a time, which I have done on purpose, because I know if anyone can disperse it, and quickly, it is Jake. He has been in a bit of a bind lately, so the money I am offering him to be my main distributor is worth his while and reassures me that he won’t fuck it up.
I place the last bundle in the duffel bag and zip it shut. It’s a tight squeeze but I am able to close the bag before handing it to Jake. “Alright, I think that’s all of it.” I stretch my hand out to his.
With a bag slung on each shoulder, weighing down his midsized frame, he sways forward a bit before grasping onto my hand. “I won’t let you down, Boss.”
“Very good.” I nod, releasing his hand. I peer once more at my watch, confirming the time. Sienna will be arriving soon, so I need to hurry and lock this place up. “Keep me in the know, and should there be any surprises, you stick to the plan we discussed,” I remind him.
Jake nods in agreement. With the weight of the duffels, he begins to walk carefully to the car he parked a few feet from the back door. I hear a grunt spill from his lips as he lugs the bags into the trunk. I know he has been through a lot today, considering his visit with Christian, and ordinarily, I would step in and help him. But the clock is quite literally ticking, I have mere minutes before I will be in a room alone with Sienna Ricci.
Anticipation begins to swirl in my gut as I lock up and reemerge through the small, dark opening back into the warmth of the study. I head directly to the pack of Parliaments on the desk, needing a rush of nicotine to my system to hopefully cancel out the angst running through me.
Cigarette in my mouth, I light it and begin to puff the bitterness into my system. The decoy book is still out of place, so I walk over to adjust it. My hand is re-coated in dust as I return the book to its fraudulent state.
The dust that has collected in this room reminds me of how long I have had to make this place my own. I have forced a lot of things to be able to sneak my way into her life.
I never wanted to be the enemy, but I eerily feel at home in this body that was designed to steal, torture, and kill. The fickle bitch of anxiety invades my subconscious, making me second guess my decision to bring her here for just a fleeting moment. Making me question if she will accept my lies once she learns the truth. There is so much I need to say to her, but even more than that, there is a debt that needs to be paid, and I will stop at nothing to take what is owed to me.
Chapter25
Carmine
