Page 6 of Temptation: Discreet
“Good morning sir,” Krystal purrs.
Krystal is my assistant and Kai’s cousin, and she's been trying to get my attention for as long as I can remember. Her hair is recently dyed brown, and it’s pulled into a neat bun with a green bow in front. The green matches perfectly to her light green dress shirt that she’s wearing which is tucked gently into the waistband of her black pencil skirt. Kai wraps his arm around her shoulder, shaking his head when he sees her flirtatious smile. No matter how many times he tries to warn her, she doesn’t stay away.
“Morning Krystal,” I mumble, accepting the coffee in her hand that she prepares for me every morning. I follow behind Kai and Krystal down the hall and to my office.
“There’s a Julian Dominguez waiting for you in the conference room. He didn’t have an appointment, but he insisted that he speak with you,” she mentions once we finally get inside, her tone full of confidence.
I nod acknowledging the meeting when Kai turns around to face me, his brows arching in curiosity on why my childhood best friend and brother of the woman I’m obsessed with is currently requesting to speak with me. I shrug. I still hadn’t mentioned the idea to Ry about them becoming a client, and I’ve been extra careful when going to see Catalina late at night. I am practically a ghost haunting the place, no one sees me or hears me. I blend in like a fucking chameleon. Kai gathers his things and goes towards his own office, surely waiting for Julian to leave so I can give him the details of this surprise visit with the best friend I once had.
Krystal takes my coffee while I slide off my coat and place it on my chair in my office, and then we quickly make our way to the conference room. When I open the brass door, I see Julian standing by the window that overlooks the view from the office building. Kai and I were lucky when we got this place. It’s close to our penthouses, and has the most beautiful view of the pier. It’s also about 20 minutes from the Dominguez home, not that I’ll share that little bit of information.
“Dominguez,” I say while trying to sound impressionable, then pull out the chair furthest from the door and sit down. Krystal places my mug in front of me, and scurries out the door, enclosing us inside the large conference room.
Trying to keep my composure, I make sure to sit with my back straight and my arms at each side of me on the arm rest. I keep my eyes on him, his focus still on the scenery as if he were lost in his thoughts before I had interrupted. He turns and makes his way to a chair on my left with his back to the window. He looks meaner than he did in high school, much more deadly. His lust for blood always overpowered mine, but instead of trying to control it, he feeds into it.
“Enzo Giordano, it’s been a while,” he nods while looking me up and down. I cross my arms at my chest and lean back on my seat. He mimics my movements and lets out a long sigh.
“What can I do for you Julian?” my eyebrows arch, waiting for his response rather impatiently.
“Ry told me you had a security business. I’m impressed. I’d like to hire you. I can pay double your standard pay.” His tone is serious, but his Spanish accent is strong and leaks through his words.
“I figured it was Ry. You are aware that this is legal work, right?” I answer directly, uncrossing my hands I grab the mug of coffee and take a sip. His malicious smile reminds me of the days we roamed the streets, of the days we would cause trouble, fighting to the point that the police knew our names.
“Before I get into it, I know you did what you had to do. It’s water under the bridge. You remain on good terms with me, which in turn means you’re on good terms with my family,” he begins with a shrug of his shoulders. “The job is my sister.”
Well fuck. I am all too invested in this job already, but I’m determined to not give him any reason to not hire us now. I nod, my lips remaining in a thin line even though there are a million thoughts racing through my head.
“She snuck out a few months back. Father just found out about it, so his order is that we hire more security until she’s married. She’s been promised to… it doesn’t matter. I’m working on removing him from the equation.” He grins, a smile on the edge of his lips at the thought, knowing him, he will make sure the disappearance happens painfully and swiftly.
I know he didn’t actually say it, but he fucking might as well had. The thought of her marrying makes my heart stop, of her being promised to someone that isn’t me. The anger and jealousy takes over as I clench my fists, digging my nails into my palms hard enough that I wince at the pain. In that moment, I’m grateful to have Julian in Catalina’s corner, that at least he is attempting to save her from her father’s demands. There is no chance in hell that I would allow her to marry anyone other than me. Julian glances up at me, and I nod, knowing full well that there is only one outcome to this conversation.
“I’ll help you keep her safe.”
I’ll help kill every motherfucker that comes near her.
Chapter 5
“You didn’t fucking tell me that she was part of the fucking Mexican cartel!” Kai seethes, dragging his palm down his face in frustration. Looks like he did his own research while waiting for me to finish our meeting.
The moment I walked Julian out and shook his hand, Kai was ready to pounce, readying himself for a fight with me at the corner. It didn’t take me long to agree and discuss at length with Julian on what he needs from us. His requests were that I personally oversee her security team and her, and that I take my best men, which happen to be Kai and Rocco, along with a few others. He agreed to pay double the standard which ultimately is great for the business, except for the part that it would be dirty money and I have no doubt that it was either from drugs or guns.
“He’s paying double.” I shrug and rub at the back of my neck, not wanting to say another word to cause Kai to have a heart attack. His dirty blonde hair is a mess from him constantly rubbing his hands through.
The job hasn’t even started yet, and he’s already tired of it.
“Why didn’t you mention she was a cartel princess? Does Ry know? You better not have given him the idea for the meet. Fuck. I swear if you took my advice, this one fucking time… I may just jump off a cliff.” He’s completely freaking out, pacing back and forth in my office. We both have an urge for blood, but working for the cartel means more violence than we anticipated. Even if we manage to control it, it won’t be easy trying to hold back the monster we each have.
“I don’t know man. I haven’t spoken to Ry about this yet. Julian just showed up. He blindsided me. But, It’s her, Kai, so we are taking that fucking job.” I proclaim.
Kai simply shakes his head in disappointment, like he can’t believe I’d tantalize the idea of being surrounded by the Dominguez family yet again.
I pick up my phone and dial Ry placing the call on speaker, the call only ringing once before his voice fills the room.
“So, did you accept the job?” he clips, holding back the laugh he is so desperately trying to hide.
I open my mouth to speak before Kai beats me to it. “Did you know?”
“Know? That Julian is in the cartel? Yeah, I grew up with the asshole. Or that the girl Enzo is stalking is his sister, Catalina? Yupp.” He pops the p loudly, and then chuckles.