Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Three dark SUVs with tinted windows flew past the centre of Byron Bay. Racing towards Lennox Head.

The clock on the dash of the lead car flashed.

2.17 a.m.

While a few tourists still partied at the beach town’s hot bars and club hot spots, most locals were fast asleep.

‘On approach,’ Reg warned as he pumped the accelerator.

Ash nodded beside him in the sable sports Range Rover.

As they neared the target address, they shut off their headlights and slowed the cars to a crawl in darkness.

Parking a street away, nine Sovereign operatives slid out of the vehicles.

Leaving a driver in each vehicle, they disappeared into the lush underground. Their approach was towards a villa designed with a modern Australian sensibility and contemporary solid finishes.

According to their intel, the location was a stunning five-bedroom, five-bathroom home with multiple living areas and a sparkling pool.

With a sprinkling of snow and low-level crims,Ash thought.

He edged his way to the boundary of the filled nature reserve in the historic quarter, across the road from their target.

Each move he made was silent, unusual for his body size. An attribute of his years of training. He turned on his night vision glasses and scanned the perimeter, trying to match his intel on the location with what he was seeing.

Earlier that day, a slight, pretty, purple-pixie-haired woman in a generic engineer’s uniform had arrived at the home.

She’d produced credible business cards and a letter authorising entry from the house owner to check on the national broadband network conduit.

Her no-nonsense attitude convinced the current residents to let her in. Once inside, she’d announced a possible outage later that night.

‘Due to the NBN upgrade, your electricity might also be disrupted, but only for a short time,’ she promised.

The woman, Jax, was, in fact, Sovereign’s head hacker.

Paying no mind to the leers and jeers of the gangsters in the house, she’d fiddled with equipment and signal boxes.

Done, she flashed a sweet smile at the two Czech handlers and exited, ignoring their glares.

Unknown to the thugs, she’d managed to plant listening devices and cameras in the short time she’d spent in the home.

She’d also placed a tiny breaker on the mains that could be operated via remote access.

An hour later, she was back at the Sovereign offices in downtown Byron, drawing the house’s layout from memory in her brief to Ash and Reg.

‘Downstairs is multi-level with several open plan zones, break-out spaces, and kitchen dining. Upstairs are two king-size bedroom suites. Where I assume the two handlers are sleeping. You’ll also find three other rooms with bunk beds for the worker bees. Entry is simple as, with no guards on the street.’

Ash confirmed Jax’s thorough assessment as the quarter moon dipped under a cloud. His crew, masked like he was and in dark, non-reflective jumpsuits, crept out of the tranquil undergrowth.

They fanned towards the location. Ash led them, lifting a hand to pause their advance.

They were all working to a precise time, and at 2.45 a.m., the mains cut out, and the residence fell into darkness.

Ash grinned at Jax’s efficiency. She’d also taken care of the redundancy batteries for the video intercom and cameras, which went down at the same time.

He gestured, signalling his team to vault over the timber gates.

He followed, sidling past the alfresco zone beside a heated NakedSwim set-up that pumped purified water into a natural stone pool.

The space featured oversized loungers and umbrellas for poolside relaxation, surrounded by lush tropical landscaping.

Ash saw none of it.

His focus was on his crew as they picked the door locks. Giving them access through the large glass sliders connecting the outdoor lounge area to the indoor living and dining.

The doors slid noiselessly open, and Ash raced past the north-facing, open-plan space.

Empty bottles, syringes, weed pipes and sleeping bodies scattered the living and rumpus room. One figure was slumped against the glass café-style folding doors leading to a modern yet dirty kitchen.

Dirty dishes and drug paraphernalia covered the custom benchtops.

Ash winced at the thought of the house owner’s forthcoming cleaning bill.

With his nod, two of his men subdued the slumbering men with well-placed choke holds. Tying up the unconscious men, they moved them to the centre of the living area.

Ash and the rest of the Sovereign crew flew up the stairs.

They entered the bedrooms and caught five more thugs in deep sleep. They neutralised them with pepper spray and fast ties.

A few resisted, but the intruders were on their best game. They dodged any sleepy punches and soon had their targets bound and trussed.

Ash came in behind the team, checking for hidden bogeys.

He compartmentalised and isolated the rooms, reducing the chances of an unseen ambush.

He whirled on his feet when a groggy man staggered into the hallway, raging in Czech.

Ash recognised him as one of the gang’s leaders from a photo Jax had also provided earlier. He tucked his lethal weapon away, lifted his stun gun, aimed at the unarmed man’s chest, and fired.

The zap hit him, and he fell to the ground writhing.

Another body, the second Czech lead, darted towards him, ranting. Ash tapped him, too.

He strolled over to the fallen men and trussed one up while Reg tied the other.

‘All good?’

‘That’s the lot upstairs,’ Reg confirmed as he urged a recalcitrant gangster to his feet.

Ash tapped his sophisticated ear-pods linked to a WiFi call to Sovereign’s genius hacker, who was spotting for them outside. ‘We’re good, Jax. Light us up.’

They heard the sound of the mains hum to life, and the lights in the residence flickered back on.

The pair dragged the dazed and confused moneymen downstairs while the rest of the crew did the same to the entire gang. They were all placed in a circle where they sat glaring at the masked Sovereign infil team.

Ash lifted a hand, and his crew fanned out again, gathering evidence and incriminating proof, dumping what they scored within the circle’s centre.

At the same time, Ash took pics of the haul and the faces of each gang member with his phone. ‘Say cheese.’

Reg trudged up to him after a few minutes. ‘That’s all, Sir.’

‘Done?’ Ash asked.

‘Dusted.’

Ash checked his watch. Only twenty-five minutes since infiltration. ‘Fantastic time. Let’s roll.’

The Sovereign crew melted into the darkness of the stunning bushscape. Leaving behind the raging and thumping drug gang, howling into the rags stuffed in their mouths.

When the cops arrived, they found the Red Addermen trussed together and riled up. With kilos of coke stacked up inside the circle they’d been placed in.

The outcome suited Byron’s understaffed constabulary to T.

Sovereign did the dirty work.

The local cops got the glory.

They uncovered drugs and briefcases packed with washed bills. Which had been readied for transport, most likely to a yacht waiting offshore.

Among the items also seized in the garage of the sprawling house were a Lamborghini Huracán, a Rolls Royce Ghost, an Audi R8 and a Mercedes CLS63. They also found a Porsche Cayenne, a Range Rover Sport, and a BMW M4. Worth roughly $1 million altogether.

‘A significant haul for the blue team,’ Saint said when he called from Sydney the following day. ‘I’m watching it all unfold on the news here to much fanfare. But this is just the tip of it all. Red Adder’s leaders will be raging after this, and they have the cash to fund real, proper warfare.

Ash lay on his lounge at the Farm, espresso in hand, recovering from a night of little sleep. ‘So do we. Let’s hope Joseph and his thugs get the message. That Byron Bay, scratch that, the East Coast is off-limits. And that we Kings of the East don’t share or play fair with anyone. ‘Specially those looking to bring the fuckin’ drugs or a war onto our patch,’ he growled.

Cece spent the next few weeks conducting an in-depth review of Falcon House’s competitors in the area, analysing their services and putting together a strong case for what would differentiate their wedding and events marketing.

She also devised a strategy to understand the target market, local population size and demographic profiles.

When she was done, she emailed the proposal to Denise and Ash.

She also reviewed the catering options with Rich, Falcon House’s chef.

Cece then turned to the required marketing and promotions, pulling together the concepts for a revamped website, photography and videos.

However, the going could have been smoother when it came to Laila.

Cece’s act of kindness in overlooking Laila’s drug problem delivered zero remorse or appreciation.

Instead, the young woman’s audacity only increased. Her delegated tasks never met deadlines. She continued to ride her excuse train. She showed up late for work and responded with a distinct sourness to Cece’s questioning.

‘She wants your job,’ Rachel explained one day over lunch when Cece shared her frustration with her junior.

Cece paused mid-bite of her sandwich. ‘No way. She’s just out of college and has never run an events portfolio.’

Rachel huffed as she stabbed her fork into a feta and cucumber salad. ‘There a word for it. Entitled. She’s also got a thing for Ash Falconer, as does every red-blooded woman within five metres of him. I swear, every time he comes into the building, she giggles like a schoolgirl. She’s trying to impress him by making you look bad in front of him.’

Cece huffed, toying with the lettuce on her plate. ‘I don’t care about her crush. I just need her to do her job. Her performance is impacting my workload.’

‘Sucks balls, hey?’ Rachel commiserated.

Cece gave her an eye roll. ‘I get that people can be under pressure, but she’s on another level. Whenever I ask about a project, she claims it’sunder control, but it never is. Her only response is to blame someone else when it all falls apart. I have a major problem on my hands, and I need to have a formal sit down with her.’

‘Do it,’ Rachel urged. ‘And put everything in writing.’

‘Always.’

Rachel leaned in with a grin. ‘On a different tack, Cece, I’ve been meaning to say I love your style! That blouse is divine.’

Cece glanced in surprise at her swooping cowl neck top with a wrapped bow at the waist.

‘Thanks. It’s an old favourite in my wardrobe. But make no mistake, Rach, while some of it is elegant, some is also an unapologetic ode to being a couch potato. Regarding my style sensibility, I either have my hair, heels and makeup done, or I’m rockin’ shorts, sneakers or pyjamas all day. There is no in-between.’

Rachel laughed. ‘Love your vibe. So European. So, too, are your shoes.’

Cece’s eyes lit up. ‘I have a fetish. From high to low boots and sandals in all colours of the rainbow.’

Rachel grinned. ‘I’m with you, girl, because I love shoes too. What are those heels, though?’

Cece had on a pair of red hot ankle boots. She twirled them as she spoke. ‘They’re from my collection of Identità heels that I adore. Italian, sexy, easy to wear, comfy, and great with almost anything.’

‘They’re hot. I want a pair.’

Cece beamed. ‘Why don’t we go shopping one day soon, see what Byron has to offer?’

‘You’re on. I’d love that.’

Cece walked away from her break with a smile. Making new friends in your 30s could be challenging, but she sensed that Rachel would be a fun and trusted companion to hang out with.

Life was looking up in Byron.

The next day, Cece called Laila into the boardroom.

‘What?’ the surly young woman grumbled as she dragged herself through the door and threw herself into a chair.

Cece launched straight into it, keeping her voice calm. ‘Laila, I’ve got a few concerns. I’ve noted you’re not getting your tasks done in time. Last week, I needed you to work on the website copy for the Wedding pages, and you’ve still not handed it in. Even after promising I’d have it last Friday. If you’re not coping with your to-do list, I need to know so I can delegate resources to ensure things aren’t slipping through the cracks.’

Laila’s twisted her mouth. ‘I told you I’m managing the social pages and don’t have time for these other tasks.’

‘I thought Brad, the social media manager, was in charge of it.’

‘I help him out, and he’s asked for my expertise a lot in the last few weeks,’ the girl mumbled.

Cece bit her lip, holding back from giving the young woman a reaming. ‘Laila, you’re not on the social team. You’re the events coordinator, and I need you to be across our division’s work. We have a deadline we’re working to, and I can’t have any more delays. From now on, I’d like you to meet with me every morning for 10 minutes. Go over the day’s objectives and decide if you need support with your tasks.’

‘That’s micro-managing!’

‘It looks that way, but it’s only for a short time until I see improvements. There’s also no other way to keep us meeting our deadlines as a division. I’ll keep these check-ins short and only offer assistance where it’s warranted.’

Laila gave her a look loaded with sass. ‘Fine. Is that all?’

Cece shook her head as the younger woman pushed off the table.

Laila shot her another baleful look and flounced away to her desk, where she fumbled around for her vape, a frown on her face.

She hated Cece’s guts. That much was clear.

Cece gave a wry smile. She wasn’t one to be cowed with such ease.

‘Bring it,’ she whispered as Laila barrelled past her again, heading outside. No doubt, to vape in the back of the kitchen. Where the junior team members tended to congregate and where Laila could bitch to her heart’s content about her new boss.

‘Serenity now,’ Cece whispered before wandering towards the welcome lounge to see if Penn needed help during the busy checkout period.

She’d noticed that all staff rolled up their sleeves at Falcon House and helped wherever needed.

So she did the same, extending a hand, especially to Penn, who was inundated with guests mornings and evenings.

Today, during a whirlwind of check-outs, she stepped in to track down a guest who’d left the property but abandoned his suitcase in the lobby.

She checked the name on the luggage tag, found his phone number in the property management system, and called him.

Thankfully, he was only a few minutes away and turned around before returning to the airport.

Next, she was waylaid by two guests who approached her and asked how to get reservations at the most popular restaurant in town.

‘Other than the Eatery, dear. We love the food here but need some variety,’ the silver-haired wife said.

‘No problem.’

Cece recommended a popular spot, and the pair smiled sweetly, thrilled with her suggestion.

The work was non-stop, but she loved it.

Mason, too, was having a fabulous time. He was settling into school well. He reported that his teacher was ace and that his group of friends was growing, helped by Jake’s popularity at Byron Bay Public.

At pickup for a few afternoons now, Cece noted Ash’s son leaving with an older woman. She had a warm smile and was elegant and well-dressed. Going by her features, there had to be a biological link to Jake and, therefore, to Ash.

She realised then she hadn’t seen the man for a few days. He’d been coming to the office less since Denise returned from her carer’s leave.

Cece felt somehow bereft, missing her taciturn boss, until she did bump into him.

One mid-morning, she walked into the Eatery looking for Rich to discuss his latest email about the special events’ menu pairings.

She slowed her roll when she caught sight of Ash standing with the chef.

Both men sliced their eyes in her direction as she approached.

While Rich’s eyes were warm, Ash’s were the polar opposite. Cold, arctic and with a touch of outright hostility.

His lip curled, and he turned his back on her as if she didn’t exist.

What the hell?

She took a slight step back as Rich met her confused gaze and shrugged.

The men’s voices rumbled a minute longer, discussing a new macadamia whisky and food pairing concept.

Ash gave her a second, even colder look and stalked away.

Rich stared after him and then swung his head back to her.

He paused his lips. ‘He’s in a mood.’

‘You don’t say. It’s the Nth time he’s been rude to me, and it’s getting a little tired.’

Rich reared back his head and gave her a puzzled look. ‘Rude? Ash? He’s quite laid back, easy going, the best boss I’ve had.’

Cece shrugged, her lips tightening.

Rich picked up on her irritation. ‘Hey, pay him no mind. Probably got loads on his plate.’

Cece was keen to move past her annoying and moody boss. ‘Speaking of plates. Let’s chat about seasonal menus. We must nail autumn and winter to include them in the first marketing kit.’

‘Gotcha,’ Rich grinned as he finished his notes from his meeting with Ash.

The tall, sandy-haired man had a solid frame, his body built like a brick house. He always seemed up for a laugh, with a quick grin and good humour.

She’d come to find out he was also Penn’s brother and his resemblance to the hotel’s sunny receptionist was uncanny.

He also cheffed like a dream. Which Cece didn’t hesitate to share with him. ‘Might I say, your food is phenomenal?’

The Eatery’s food embraced a pure farm-to-table philosophy with ingredients from Falcon Farm and the smaller vegetable gardens on the grounds. It celebrated the flavours of local produce, and Rich created each dish to tell its own tapestry story of Bryon Bay’s rich husbandry.

He beamed at her compliment. ‘Is that right?’

‘Hand on heart, I loved it. I shared a tasting platter last evening with Rachel when my son Mason had a late soccer practice.’

‘You had the matching cocktails, too? Flames, drama and all?’

‘Loved it. I relished each mouthful!’

‘You haven’t seen anything yet.’

Cece returned Rich’s wide grin with a smile. He was a decent bloke, and she liked him. Most of all, he didn’t seem to have any issues with her.

Together, they discussed the latest trends in themed cuisines, tasting different dishes and brainstorming unique ideas to impress their potential bridal clients.

When their catch-up drew to a close, Rich clapped his hands together. ‘All right, I think we’ve got some great ideas here. I’ll start putting them into action.’

Walking off with a wave, Cece was beset with the unsettling cloud of unease she’d been trying hard to ignore since Ash’s earlier reaction to her.

What else had she done wrong?

She couldn’t think of anything, so part of her began to suspect something was more going on with Ash than he was letting on.

Years of being around a stepfather with a temper had taught Cece to be attentive to the subtle changes in people’s behaviours. Her intuition told her something about Ash didn’t sit right.

She couldn’t help but feel that the man was hiding something, which made her curious, wondering what was happening beneath the surface of his chilly exterior.

Yet he was a respected leader, well-liked by everyone at Falcon House.

He had a warm smile for all the guests, some of whom made an annual Falcon House pilgrimage. They even called him by name and insisted on greeting him when they arrived.

He had a strong working relationship with his executives - from Rich in the kitchen to Denise, whom he treasured.

He had an excellent reputation among the staff.

‘He always pitches in on busy days, handling reception, cleaning messes and general repairs,’ Rach gushed to Cece one day after their morning stand-up with Denise. ‘He works hard and has no qualms about getting his hands dirty. He’s a dream.’

Cece shrugged. To her, he was a shadowed nightmare.

She felt it in their interactions, distant and cold.

He barely acknowledged her presence if and when they crossed paths.

Which they did over the next few days.

When he spotted her entering a hallway or the staff office, he stepped aside with a tight nod to let her pass. She tried greeting him once, and he’d just grunted.

In meetings, he ignored her, even when Denise called for Cece to present her strategy and ideas.

After her presentation, he made zero comments. He pursed his lips, letting Denise lead the feedback session.

So far, Denise and most of the team supported Cece’s proposal, except him.

He was making it clear she was not someone he focused on.

Except when he was.

Cece caught him watching her a few times. His eyes narrowed as if he was trying to figure her out. He never engaged when their gazes met; he just glanced away, pensive.

Despite his cold demeanour, there was something about him that intrigued her. Maybe she wanted the challenge of trying to crack his tough exterior and find out what lay beneath. To get under the allure of this powerful, successful man who commanded respect from everyone around him.

Like that was ever going to happen.

Cece told herself to forget it. She had more important things to worry about.

She diligently perfected her seasonal wedding reception packages, and Rich was a solid help, always ready with new ideas and suggestions.

He also kept serving her the ‘keen look’, indulging in low-key flirting and joking with a glint in his eye.

One afternoon, when they’d just finished tasting some new desserts, he laid his intent on the table.

‘Hey, I think you’re one cool lady. Care for a drink and dinner with me one night?’

Cece’s eyes widened, surprised.

‘Please,’ he said, repeating his ask with a waggle of his brows.

Cece laughed. No doubt, Rich’s easygoing personality charmed her.

Yet she felt a flutter, not from excitement but more concern. Romance with a coworker made her uneasy. ‘I don’t know, Rich. I’m not sure about dating someone I work with. It could get complicated.’

Rich laughed. ‘Come on, Cece; it’s just dinner. No pressure, no expectations. Just two people enjoying good food and each other’s company.’

She thought about it for a beat. ‘What about Mason? He needs someone to look after him.

Rich smiled. ‘Penn will kid-sit him.’

‘That’s quite the assumption.’

He grinned, ever affable. ‘She’s my sister and owes me for getting her this gig here. She’ll do it.’

Penn was gregarious and outgoing. She’d even looked after Mason a few afternoons, entertaining him at reception while Cece wrapped up for the day.

Cece capitulated. The date could be a welcome distraction from her unhealthy fascination with Ash. ‘If she’s up for it, then you win. I’ll go out with you.’

Rich’s grin widened. ‘Sweet! It’s a date, then.’

They made plans for Sunday evening when both of them were off duty.

She felt good about it. The fact that an attractive and charming man with no behavioural challenges wanted to hang out gave her hope about testing her waters in the dating world.

As she returned to her office to grab her things before the school run, she caught a glimpse of Ash in the distance.

Standing by the Eatery bar, his eyes fixed on her.

Cece’s heart skipped a beat as she tried to avoid eye contact, but it was too late. He’d already caught her gaze.

They just stood there for a moment, glaring at each other without a word.

Suddenly, Ash turned and walked away, disappearing into one of the back rooms.

Cece sucked in a breath loaded with vexed feeling, trying to clear her thoughts. What was wrong with the man?

Was he against fraternising at work? Or was he jealous? Indifferent? Did he even care at all?

She shook her head. It didn’t matter what Ash thought.

What mattered most was her job, her boy and her new life.