Chapter 83

The pungent perfume of cigar smoke mixed with the subtle metallic tang of blood as I sat in the dim light of my study. Outside, the rain beat against the windows like a thousand angry fingers. The weather mirrored the storm of rage I was struggling to control.

A battlefield of strewn papers, each one a dagger at my side, covered the polished wood desk in front of me. Proof. Explicit, damning proof linking Ethan Monroe to activities I had carefully concealed. In one quick hit, the leak had cost me millions. However, the hurt went beyond money. My empire was under attack, and I didn't accept treachery.

With a gentle creak, the door opened, and my right-hand man, Alejandro, entered. His visage was gloomy, his customary bluster giving way to something more akin to fear.

"We've verified it," he stated quietly. "The FBI has the documents in its possession."

The leather in my chair creaked as I leaned back. Each tap of my fingers on the desk served as a warning to control my anger.

"At what stage are they?"

Alejandro paused, and I became more aware of his hesitation. "They're making connections, but they're scattered. They don't yet have enough to take action."

"Yet," I said in a cold tone. "This indicates that they've been receiving breadcrumbs from someone. Someone who has access."

Alejandro gave a nod. "There's no question about it-it's someone close."

Except for the steady beating of the rain, the room became quiet. My mind raced, getting darker with each passing thought. Ethan could never have been this careless-not without help. I wasn't ruling anything out, though.

I replied, "Bring him to me," at last. I spoke in a relaxed tone, but Alejandro heard the warning underneath. Without saying another word, he nodded and walked away.

An hour later, Ethan entered with a careful mask on his face. It was dark now, and the only light in the room came from the fireplace. On the walls, shadows moved like ghosts of all the betrayals I had already suffered.

"Victor," he said in a level but careful tone. "According to Alejandro, it's urgent."

As I motioned for him to sit, I noticed his deliberate moves. Ethan was too calm for me, but I knew him. Survivors were usually cunning, and he was one.

"Are you aware of your purpose?" I poured a glass of whiskey and asked. The golden liquid glistened like liquid gold as it touched the firelight.

Ethan leaned back in his chair and shook his head. "I might believe it has to do with the evidence that's going around. I've heard murmurs."

"Whispers?" I repeated with a stern voice. I leaned forward and met his eyes. "Ethan, what I've observed isn't whispering. It's a goddamn yell aimed straight at my neck. Someone turned over documents that were linked to Monroe Enterprises and held damaging information. Tell me, how is that feasible?"

I noticed Ethan's jaw slightly tightening, but he didn't flinch.

"It's not me," he declared. "On my end, I've kept everything tidy. If there's a leak, it's not me."

I looked at him, looking for signs of weakness. "Don't you think it's convenient? Despite being the one closest to the source, you keep your innocence. If it's not you, then who is it?"

A glimmer of anger pierced Ethan's composed tone as his eyes narrowed slightly. "That's what I've been trying to determine. Victor, I've been careful. Too careful to allow such a thing to happen."

The bang echoed around the room as I slammed the whiskey glass against the table. Ethan's hand slightly tightened on the armrest, but he didn't move.

My voice was low and threatening as I added, "Being careful isn't enough. Being cautious doesn't keep millions from eluding me. The FBI continues to circle like birds in spite of this."

Ethan met my look with a small forward lean. "You believe that I would undermine the very empire I've been defending? Whether you want to believe it or not, Victor, I'm on your side."

Tension between us crackled as his words remained in the air. I wanted to believe him, but I didn't often trade in trust. Nevertheless, his tone was clearly one of conviction.

"You won't have a side to stand on if I find out otherwise," I whispered softly, my voice like a blade's edge.

Ethan's eyes stayed fixed, and he did not answer right away. At last, he gave a nod. "All right. However, let me show that I'm not your adversary."

The tempest inside of me didn't go away after Ethan left. I watched as the rain cut rivulets into the glass as I stood by the window. I had a gut feeling that Ethan wasn't lying, but that wasn't enough. A dangerous game was being played, and I was going to put an end to it.

Alejandro came back with a tense face. "There's another issue," he stated.

My tolerance was getting thin, so I turned. "Now what?"

His hands clenched at his sides as he paused. "Richards. He's been increasing the amount of surveillance. More pressure, more agents. He's closing in."

I was taken aback by the name. Richards. I had written him off as a bother and discounted him. However, he was now becoming an inevitable thorn in my side.

"How close?" I asked with a firm voice.

Alejandro moved uncomfortably. "Close enough. He's gotten in touch with someone in our group, but we're unsure of who they are yet."

Every breath felt like a fight as the air seemed to get thicker. The walls of my kingdom were closing in, and Richards was the battering ram. I glanced back at the glass, the storm outside a mirror of the one forming inside me.

"Learn who," I stated icily. "And make sure they understand the cost of treachery."

Alejandro gave me a nod, but I missed it. I was already putting together a puzzle I didn't yet understand in my racing thoughts. Richards was closer than I had expected, and all I had worked so hard to build would crumble if I didn't take immediate action.