AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Veronica
There’s the sound of light tapping against my keyboard, an occasional crunch of potato chips, and the soft hum of classical music flowing through the large space of my apartment. Except for the light glowing from my three monitors, darkness shrouds my home.
My oasis, a place I never leave. This kind of paradise is not easily found. It’s gotta be built up over the years.
This place has everything I need, and whatever I don’t have on hand, I can get it delivered straight to my door. My home is a haven I’ve transformed over the last two years. Hidden by everyone, I don’t even think my neighbors know what I look like. No one is suspicious enough to even knock on my door.
In this place, apartments are owned by those who have money. I pay for discretion, just as everyone else here. Thank god for that. I don’t need either neighbor at my side to suddenly think they’ve got a gremlin held up in such a luxurious place.
Crunching down on another chip, the spice burns away my tastebuds one at a time. Sniffing back, I lick away what few crumbs cling to my skin. My chair creaks as I lean back with a smile growing on my lips.
It’s time.
With my quota met for the day, I’m free to use my skills to satisfy a craving that junk food can’t appease.
With a few clicks, I soon have a clear image covering my bottom monitor. Bringing my thumb to my lips, I bite my nail as I stare at my most recent fascination. The person who came across my radar only a few months ago during a job.
A certain man in a suit stands in front of many others who work at monitors similar to my own. If I have to guess, they’re watching closely for any unwanted activity. At a business like a casino, I’m sure they have their hands full.
I’m not worried about what’s on their monitors, I can access the feeds they’re watching whenever I want. No, I’m staring at the man who is in charge of the entire team of security. He shifts only slightly, tugging back his sleeve to check his watch. Only a second of his attention is gone, then he’s right back to watching his men.Waiting.
If I have to guess, he’s itching for a reason to give a signal to throw someone out. If the person is too much of a problem,he’llbe the one to go down to the crowded floors. It’s been too long since I’ve watched him make a scene. Every time he leaves the room, he draws attention. Hell, he doesn’t even have to do anything and people will flock to him to get a closer look.
I’d be right in front of that crowd too, shamelessly. Watching with a held breath, hoping he’ll look my way.
Even if it’s a brief moment, my heart will stop if I ever lock eyes with this man.
The casino isn’t even in my city, a solid hour away. Too far from the comfort of my home. Instead, my skills are enough to satisfy the urge to see him. Through a screen, I can watch him without ever being noticed.
Unfortunately, there’s still the pinging reminder of the emptiness in my chest. Even if I lean closer to my monitor, I’m no closer to the man I’ve made into a wicked hobby. He’s nowhere closer to knowing of my existence. How depressing.
I’ve memorized the curve of his scowl and counted the thirty different dark shades of ties he wears to different shifts, he still doesn’t know whoIam. He doesn’t know I’ve made a habit of crawling into his systems.
This hacker hasn’t infiltrated just once, but more often than I can count on my hands and toes. I’ll need a few more of those to even come close.
When did I begin watching Dante Lombardi?
I didn’t even know of his existence until I received a job requiring a different form of spying. Hacking into the security system of some random casino was the easiest part—everything after, absolutely more challenging.
Not because of discovering that one Italian family runs the place as their main operation and has a whole underground base, but because of the man in charge of protecting the business and making sure there are eyes on every inch. Dante Lombardi, the head of security. The very same man I’m watching now through the upgraded cameras he thinks I can’t get into.
Or, maybe he upgraded as some kind of gift to his favorite hacker so I can zoom in even closer than I normally do. The quality isn’t as grainy and leaves less to the imagination. As if I need to add anything to this man. He’s already perfect.
I mean, why else would he have changed the one in the security room? It’s not like a normal person has any reason to crack into this one until they specifically want to see the one responsible for all the security of this place.
Yet, I’m the opposite of someone sane. Dante is my hobby, an excuse to help time pass by.
Sometimes, he’s amusing. I get a good laugh whenever something doesn’t go his way when it comes to running a smooth operation. Other times, like now, I feed into the ache in my chest and play pretend.
Pretend that the infamous V hasn’t crossed him in the past. That if he ever got his hands on me, hewon’twant to kill me.
Pushing another chip past my lips, I watch Dante check his watch for a second time. Rather than letting his eyes briskly check the time, he lingers on looking at the small numbers. An oddity, for sure. Is he waiting for something?
Considering pulling up his schedule to see what has him so time-pressed, my hand pauses on the mouse when the man turns.
He looks directly at the camera and my heartstops.
For all three seconds, it feels like he’s looking directly at me. Those dark eyes starehard. Like he can see who is watching him. Though, that’s impossible. He doesn’t have any clue how many hours I’ve spent watching from my desk.
