Except for crackheads.
Crackheads were the exception because the addiction controlled their actions, which were more often than not stupid.
And with Ryan Trent out with some friends, living it up, I’d had plenty of time to check out his place. A standard two-bedroom, one-bath apartment with a kitchen and living room, it was spacious for having just the basics. He could easily afford better, but after having checked out his recording equipment, I imagined that’s where all his money went to.
Because we were heaving on security, we knew our shit, Sal and Remy more than the rest of us. But what I did know was that Ryan Trent’s set up consisted of a Canon EOS C700 Full Frame and everything else he had set up was of the exact same caliber. There were no grainy pictures, no static, no cut in picture, none of that. Ryan Trent was making premium quality home videos and it was no wonder he could blackmail the women he was with. Those videos would be too clean and clear to question their identities.
The bastard.
Now, don’t get me wrong here. I was all for videotaping memories but only if the woman consented. And even then, I’d keep the video because I wasn’t fucking stupid.
And while I hadn’t watched any of them, I did find his secret stash of blackmail material. A part of me wanted to take them but I knew it’d be pointless. A man like Ryan Trent had those videos on backup, so this was something I was going to need Sal or Phoenix to handle. While Sal was our computer expert, Phoenix carried some talent in that department, too.
I had decided to let Ryan Trent keep his little set up until Sal or Phoenix could arrange to destroy it all, backup included.
The sound of the front door brought me back to the present. I turned to face the apartment entrance, my back relaxed against a mismatched kitchen table chair.
I watched as Ryan Trent went about his business, shutting and locking the door since it was almost one in the morning, after all. Surveillance had informed me that he was actually out with friends tonight and not hunting for pussy, so I hadn’t been too concerned with him coming home with company. If he had, I’d have handled it, regardless.
It wasn’t until he turned on one of the lamps in the living room and headed towards the kitchen that he saw me.
And, predictably, he froze.
If I were Sal, I’d probably have a hard-on right now.
“Have a good night out, Trent?”
His blue eyes started darting around, probably wondering if I was here alone.
Or panicking.
And while I knew the man kept in shape, he was still no match for me. I topped him by two inches, and even if I hadn’t, I’ve been trained in the art of combat by the most ruthless killers all my life. I could put Ryan Trent down without breaking a sweat. Even if the man had fighting skills, they weren’t as honed as mine were, that was a guarantee. Because I was the least bloodthirsty out of the lot, I didn’t engage in fights often, so I had to make sure I was always ready for the unexpected.
“Wh…what are you doing here?” Ryan asked, though his feet hadn’t moved an inch.
I stood up and rebuttoned my suit jacket. “I think we need to have a little chat, Trent.”
“I didn’t do anything,” he quickly blurted out.
I straightened to my full height. “Well, now, I think the women in that video collection you have would disagree.”
His eyes rounded, his face paling a bit. “How did you-” I cocked my head, cutting off such a ridiculous question. Clearing his throat, he said, “Sienna and I are just friends.”
“I’m very aware,” I replied. “You’d already be dead, otherwise.”
This time, his face really did pale. “What…what do you want?”
“At first, I simply wanted to warn you to stay away from my property,” I stated simply. “However, finding out that you’re a sexual predator has changed things up a bit.”
Ryan shook his head. “Those women wanted to be filmed. I-”
My hand went up to stop him. “I’m really trying hard not to kill you, Trent. However, if you insist on lying to me, what other choice do I have?”
“Sienna and I are just friends,” he repeated. “I swear.”
“As factual as that statement is, here’s another fact we can assuredly agree on; the reason you and Sienna are only friends is because she keeps turning down your advances. Correct?”
“They weren’t advances,” he denied. “It’s not a big thing to invite someone for drinks. We do it all the time.”
I smoothed my jacked down the front. “Christ, you’re going to make me kill you, aren’t you?”
“No, no, no,” he stammered out. “I…I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
Ready to be done with him, I said, “Okay, here’s what’s going to happen. First and foremost, if you ever so much as breath in Sienna’s direction and it isn’t for professional reasons only, I will kill you. And I will kill you slowly, Trent. Don’t make the mistake of assuming it would be quick and painless, because I assure you, it will not be. Understand?”
He nodded. “Yes.”
“Second, you are done with those videos,” I told him. “Recording a woman while in her most vulnerable state is one of the most abhorrent things a man can do to her, if it is being done without her consent.”
“How do you know I didn’t get their consent?” he asked, and that’s when I realized his treasure trove of blackmail material mattered more to him than getting in Sienna’s pants and that was something, I supposed.
While I hadn’t seen any of the videos, Sal had watched a couple before he realized what Ryan Trent had going on and that was the only reason why I knew the details. “Because men are assholes, women always feel the need to present their best sides, Trent. Those videos are not those of perfect hair, makeup, or women putting on the best show of their lives. They are videos of women lost in whatever pleasure you’ve managed to pull from them. In short, they weren’t acting. And no matter what, if someone knows there’s a camera on them, there’s always a little bit of acting involved.”
“You can’t know that they’re all-”
I put my hand up to shut him up again, then started making my way to the front door. I was so done with this asshole, any more time in his company and I would probably kill him.
With one hand on the doorknob, I turned to look at Ryan Trent. “If a woman comes in here and begs you to film her taking it up the ass, you’re going to politely decline and inform her that you’re not into that sort of thing.” His face turned beet red with frustration he knew better than to voice. “If I hear another word about you and camera equipment, I will be back.” I lifted my chin. “And you really don’t want me to have to come back here, Trent. You really don’t.”
“Those videos-”
Done with this shit, I let go of the doorknob, pulled my gun from my waistband, then had it pressed up against his temple in the blink of an eye. “Those videos, what?”
Ryan’s entire body started shaking and when the scent of urine hit my nose, I figured my point had been made.
I stepped away, making sure to get free from the line of fire, and I tucked my gun back where it belonged. “Glad we cleared that up,” I said before turning and headed back towards the front door.
I walked out without looking back.
Fuck that guy.
Chapter 18
Sienna~
With our schedules scattered this week, Parnell has been my partner-in-crime for the past two days with Ryan finally joining us today. Though hectic like always, me and Parnell were still in our groove, but I’d noticed Ryan seemed a little distant.
While Parnell has been respectful and hadn’t pried at all about my relationship with Leo, I wondered if Ryan was still upset over out last conversation. I knew he might be upset on two fronts: as a friend and also as someone who had been interested in dating me. Still, we needed to make this right if we were expected to work well together. Icing me out wasn’t going to do anyone any good.
However, I also
knew this wasn’t a conversation we could have a work. Not only did I not want to discuss Leo Benetti in public, but I also didn’t want anyone witnessing a possible argument between us and assume we were having a lover’s quarrel or something to that effect. I didn’t need any rumors floating around about me and other co-workers. Especially, if I really was going to try my hand at a relationship with Leo.
Which I was.
I haven’t seen him since he left my apartment that night, but he’s been texting me constantly, if only just to check in with me. A part of me wondered if he was staying away to prove just how much I would miss him if we ended it, but then the realistic part of me knew that Leo wasn’t the type to play games like that. We hadn’t seen each other a whole lot before I found out who he was, I didn’t know why I thought that would change now, but a part of me had.
And then that got me to thinking about what I could expect from our relationship. Was it always going to be a drive by during my days off? Was he ever going to spend the night? Was I ever going to see where he lived? Was I his girlfriend or his mistress? And even though he said that we were exclusive, I’ve seen enough Mafia movies to know they believed in having wives and mistresses. Was Leo like that?
Now that I’ve made up my mind to see where this could go, I had a million more questions to ask, and I could only hope Leo was willing to answer them.
However, one battle at a time, and that’s what had me waiting by Ryan’s truck after clocking out. We needed to talk, and I just hoped he was willing to talk this out like adults. However, that hope quickly died when Ryan saw me standing by his truck and his face lost all expression, clearly not happy to see me waiting for him.
Hoisting his backpack over his shoulder, he practically body checked me getting to his driver’s side door. “What do you want, Sienna?” he clipped out, his voice hard.
Undeterred, I said, “I was hoping we could talk.”
He opened the door to his truck and tossed his backpack over to the passenger seat. Turning back towards me, he said, “You made it pretty clear the other day that you weren’t interested in talking to me. As a matter of fact, you made it absolutely clear how shit was none of my business.”
I pulled my shoulders back, ready for the obvious fight he wanted to pick. “And my personal life is still none of your business, Ryan,” I reiterated. “But my professional one is and you icing me out is not good for either of us, not to mention our patients.”
He cocked his head, a sneer on his face, a Ryan I’ve never met before. “Oh, so because I’m not fawning over you and begging you to have drinks with me anymore, that’s going to be a problem for our patients?”
My head reared back in shock at the malevolence in his voice. “Are you serious?”
“Didn’t see any patients dying today because we didn’t have lunch together, Sienna,” he said callously. “So, I’m not exactly sure what your problem is.”
Wow.
Okay.
Maybe it was because it was his Monday or maybe it was because he was an asshole, but whatever the reason, I was pretty sure we were done here.
“You’re right,” I replied. “We don’t need to be friends to do our jobs well.” I turned to leave, but one step in, Ryan snatched me by my arm, yanking me back. My purse fell on the ground, my phone, compact, and keys spilling out.
Wrenching my arm from his grasp, I knelt to gather my things. But as I started tossing my things back in my purse, I felt Ryan’s hand around my arm again. I dropped, barely having time to catch myself, but then he hauled me to my feet.
When I pulled my arm from his grasp again, Ryan was in my face, livid. “Everything was going perfectly fine, Sienna,” he seethed. “Then you had to go opening your legs for goddamn Leo Benetti.”
“What in the hell are you talking about?” I hissed, way past caring if we were going to cause a scene. However, unless someone getting off shift was parked near Ryan, we had a decent amount of privacy with Ryan parked near the corner garage spots.
“I’m taking about your boyfriend ruining everything,” he hissed back.
“Ruining what?” I took a step back, not appreciating the earlier manhandling.
“Everything was fucking perfect, Sienna,” he repeated. “And now all of it is for nothing.”
“Look, I don’t know what in the hell you’re talking about, but I don’t need this shit.”
Ryan’s blue eyes narrowed. “Is that why you told your boyfriend I was trying to fuck you? Because you don’t need drama?”
My eyes blinked in surprise. “Are you crazy? I never told Leo anything about you.”
“Sure, you didn’t,” he sneered. “That’s why he paid me a little visit, huh? Because you didn’t tell him anything?”
What in the hell?
“Why would Leo pay you a visit?” I asked, shocked at the possibility. “I never told him you’ve been asking me out, Ryan. Leo knows nothing about you. Simply, because there’s nothing to know.”
“You’re lying!” he yelled, and that’s when I realized there was a serious threat of Ryan going off the rails.
I looked around and saw that we were still alone, but somehow that no longer felt as necessary as it had earlier. I had no idea what was going on or why Leo would seek Ryan out, but I knew better than to continue this shitshow.
“I’m done here,” I told him. “Let’s just stay out of each other’s way and everything will be fine.”
His arm snaked out, and when his hand latched onto my arm, he yanked me forward hard enough that I collided with his chest. “Tell him to back off,” he growled in my face.
I could only stare at him as none of this made sense. Just last week, Ryan was telling me how dangerous Leo was and that I should stay away from him, but now he’s manhandling me as if Leo was the type of man to tolerate that?
“Ryan,” I said, calmly and deliberately, “you need to get your hands off me. You need to pull it together.”
His other hand came up, and soon, he was shaking me. “Pull it together?” he snarled. “Your goddamn boyfriend is ruining everything, Sienna. Don’t tell me I need to pull it fucking together. What I need is for your boyfriend to back the fuck off!”
“Get your hands off me!” I yelled, no longer caring if we drew attention or not. Whatever this was, this wasn’t about me.
I saw that now.
Something happened between Leo and Ryan, and Ryan seemed convinced it had something to with me, but how could it? I never told Leo anything about Ryan hitting on me. It seemed pointless when there was no chance of me ever going out with Ryan. Why borrow trouble where there was none? Plus, I hadn’t wanted Leo wondering stupid shit whenever I had to work with Ryan. So, whatever happened between them, it had nothing to do with me.
“Not until you get him to back off, Sienna!” he yelled back.
"Back off of what, Ryan?” I shook my head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“The tapes!”
“What tapes?”
He shook me again. “Don’t act like you don’t know, Sienna.”
It was time to end this. I drew my knee up to crack him in the balls, but he was quicker than I thought he’d be. He was in such a rage that I hadn’t expected him to be paying such close attention. When he deflected my hit, a piercing white shot of intense pain radiated across my skull when Ryan swung back and hit me across the face.
As my body slid across the concrete, his voice was a vague shriek. “Now look what you made me do!”
I struggled to find my bearings, but the sound of a truck’s engine starting, and the screeching of tires had my head spinning. But that was nothing compared to the pain of the bones crushing in my left leg as I screamed until my voice broke.
Chapter 19
Leonardo~
I was at Sal’s, going over the conversation I’d had with Ryan and the fucker was laughing at me.
Sal’s dimples were showing, and he looked like a goddamn proud poppa. “Seriously, Leo,” he laughe
d. “I’ve never known you to pull your gun out on regular, working folks.”
“I’ve never had to,” I pointed out.
The jackass smirked. “That or it is love.”
I flipped him off, even if there was some truth in his words. “You’re acting like I’ve never pulled my gun out on someone before.”
Sal relaxed back in his chair, eyeing me from behind his desk. A desk that looked like it could power NASA, might I add. Sal’s office looked like a controls room for any major government military branch.
“Leo, I’ve seen you kill people,” he said. “I’ve even seen you torture a couple.” I arched a brow. “But those people were people from our world. People who had crossed the line and who had to be dealt with.” He cocked his head. “You’re the rational one, Leo. You have respect for the people outside our world. So, for you to almost blow his brains out in his apartment tells me you’re in love, little brother.”
“What in the hell are you talking about? You’re the one who told me to kill the bastard,” I reminded him.
“No. I told you to pay him a visit. I said, if it were me, I’d kill him,” he corrected.
“Same thing,” I toss back.
Sal grinned. “Fuck, I can’t wait to meet this woman.”
I almost winced. “Yeah, not sure she’s up to that just yet,” I told him honestly. “I think she’s still in denial about who I am.”
Sal shrugged. “We’re so underground and secretive, it’s hard for a lot of people to believe that we still exist. Especially, in the capacity that we do. We own this fucking city and most of the state, but you’d never know it, apart from the rumors.”
“She’s a good girl, Sal.”
“So was Remy,” he pointed out. “Frankie was born for this life, so there was no surprise there. And Robbie lived in the bad side of town, so she had some hood in her already. But Remy was fresh off the farm, so to speak.”
The Bishop (The Holy Trinity Duet Book 1) Page 9
