Page 95 of The Apprentice
Nowthisseemed more typical for a prepper with a bunker.
I did as he insisted and sat down.
“This is my safe room. Completely soundproof and there are no signals in or out of here. It’s secure.” He patted his hands on the surface of the table. “Now, tell me, what are we looking for?”
Fionn pulled out his phone from his pocket, opened his app with notes, and showed Ciro. “Date and time. I need all surveillance footage of the garage a few hours around that.”
Ciro narrowed his eyes. “You shouldn’t leave important information on your phone. Anyone can hack it.” Then, he snorted. “I can get it for you, but it’ll cost you.”
Fionn smiled, but there wasn’t anything nice about it. The expression reminded me of the cold and aloof Fionn, the onewho had something to prove, and yet it also looked a lot like the expression Sloan made as a dangerous warning. “Do I look like the type of person you should be trying to bargain with? I could make Alonzo’s life hell, and how would your lunatic cousin like that, hmm?” He leaned back and crossed his leg, completing the perfect boss appearance, and I couldn’t help but appreciate the long lines of his sinewy body in the custom-made suit. The power exuded off him.
I hid the smirk that threatened to slide onto my mouth.
The corner of Ciro’s mouth twitched, a subtle sign of his irritation. “We’re allies.”
“And we can make your cousin’s life hard in this city.” Fionn shrugged. “Your choice.”
Ciro laughed tightly. “I will have the footage to you by end of day.”
“Wise choice.” Fionn stood, and I followed. He straightened his suit jacket. “If I don’t have it by this evening, I will visit again.”
“You can’t make demands like this,” Ciro snapped.
“You’re right, but let’s put our cards on the table. I now oweyoua favor. Not your cousin, you.” Fionn grinned. “And having a favor owed to you by a Killough is a rare commodity, don’t you think?”
Ciro swallowed and nodded. “Deal.”
Fionn and I spent the rest of the day at my penthouse. I did paperwork for Sloan’s legal businesses while Fionn perused Diaz’s notebook to see if he could find more information. He’d decrypted secret meetings that had nothing to do with the Company, which he said would be beneficial for us, and I believed him. If we knew about informants of other criminal enterprises, we could trade the secrets for something we wanted.
Finally, I decided he’d had enough of straining his eyes on that notebook. I rose from my desk and went down the steel steps to the living room, where he was seated on the couch, a pen clutched between his teeth as he frowned down at the book.
I leaned across the back of the couch and curled my arms around him, earning a smile in response. “Enough of this. We’re going out.”
“Where?” His eyebrows furrowed. “We have a lot of work to do. Between the rat, Reyes, and the businesses?—”
“Shh.” I kissed his cheek and moved around to the front of the couch. I grasped the notebook and threw it on the cushion beside him before I dragged him up. “We’re going to Southampton, where you’re going to update your uncle, say hello to Lor?—”
Fionn opened his mouth to protest. He’d barely spoken to Lor since Sloan had told him the truth about Lor’s relation to them, but that wasn’t anything new. Fionn’s attitude toward Lor had grown saltier, and Lor had noticed, if his sad pouts that he directed at Fionn meant anything. The boy had no one his age, and it was obvious he wanted Fionn to like him.
“No. No more excuses, boy. Sloan isn’t giving the Company to Lor, and Lor isn’t the kind of person to join a mob. He’s an academic, like Vail. I’ve let you have your tantrum over it, but we’re done now. If you keep up with this attitude, I will put you over my knee and spank your ass red in front of everyone.”
He shuddered and his pupils went wide. “Yes, Daddy.”
I plopped a kiss on his mouth. “You can drive today. It’ll be good practice.”
He coughed, nearly choking on his own saliva. “What? I don’t have my learner’s permit. If they pull us over?—”
“Then, I will handle it. Youneedto know how to drive, even if someone chauffeurs you around for the rest of your life.” I stroked my thumb across his jaw. “I’m putting my foot downabout this. You will get your learner’s permit and then your license. Am I clear, boy?”
He licked his lips, eyes darkening as he stared up at me with lust that would give anyone a spiked heart rate. “Yes, Daddy Daire.”
“Good boy.” I brushed my nose over his. “Now let’s go.”
I grabbed my keys and dragged him toward the door. He huffed at the rough handling, but he didn’t protest.
As soon as we arrived at the SUV, Fionn froze, as if the reality of what we were doing had hit him. He swallowed visibly and glanced toward me. “I don’t think now’s the right time to learn. You should drive. I can study first, and when it’s quiet with the Company, I can get into the driver’s seat.”
“Fine.”
