Chapter 20

TWENTY

COLE

I relaxed into one of the plush leather chairs in Lennox's home office and breathed out a heavy sigh. Salem had been on edge lately, pacing around like a caged animal with frustration simmering just beneath the surface. With her and Fallon off doing who knows what, the guys and I had retreated into the office, trying to stay out of the way.

Lennox's new home office exuded an air of refined elegance, showing off his impeccable taste and attention to detail. On the top floor of our mansion, the spacious room had floor-to-ceiling windows that flooded the space with natural light, offering sweeping views of the surrounding gardens and countryside.

Rich mahogany furniture adorned with sleek, modern accents filled the room, creating an atmosphere that was both luxurious and inviting. A large desk sat in the center of the space, flanked by plush leather chairs where we could all sit in comfort.

"Looks like we managed to escape from the girls for a bit," Cohen remarked with a wry grin as he settled into one of the chairs, his gaze flicking over to the closed door. "I swear, Salem's been on a rampage. She really doesn't like being cooped up."

Mateo chuckled, leaning back in his chair and running a hand through his hair. "Tell me about it," he agreed, shaking his head. "I don't think I've ever seen anyone go stir-crazy quite like she has. I mean, apart from me."

Lennox let out a low chuckle, glancing around the room before fixing his gaze on the closed door. "Well, hopefully, they'll settle down when Remington gets here," he remarked, his tone thoughtful. "It's only a few more days."

I nodded in agreement, relief washing over me at the thought of Remington's impending arrival. With him here, we could get a plan in place, and maybe things would finally start to calm down. We could all breathe a little easier.

Lennox leaned forward, his brow furrowed in concentration as he addressed the group. "We need to make sure that Remington's visit goes off without a hitch," he declared, his voice firm. "We can't afford any slip-ups that might reveal he's still alive."

Cohen nodded in agreement, his expression serious. "We'll need to know who is coming and going from the estate," he added, his tone grave. "No one outside of our immediate circle can know that he's alive."

Mateo chimed in, his voice tinged with concern. "We'll also need to beef up security around the perimeter," he suggested, his gaze darting around the room. "Just in case any unwanted visitors try to slip inside."

Remington's visit was a risky move, one that could have dire consequences if we weren't careful. But at the same time, I knew that it was necessary if we wanted to move forward with our plans.

Cohen grinned, running a hand over his stubble. "It's been far too long since we were all together in the same room," he admitted, his expression thoughtful. "And I'm excited that Salem's getting the chance to see Remington again."

Mateo nodded in agreement, excitement in his eyes. "She's been talking about it non-stop," he said, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I think it's going to be really good for her to have her brother back."

Lennox smiled fondly, his eyes distant as he thought of Salem. "Well, she's been through a lot. We've put her through a lot," he said softly. "I can't blame her for wanting to see her brother after only just finding out he's alive."

"We seriously fucked up," Cohen began, his tone heavy with regret. "We need to figure out how to keep making it up to her."

His words were a silent admission of guilt that none of us could deny. We had lied to Salem, betrayed her trust, and now we were left picking up the shattered pieces of our relationship with her.

Lennox leaned forward in his chair, his expression grave. "We definitely need to keep working on making it right." he declared.

Mateo nodded in agreement, his jaw set. "Any ideas on where to start?" he asked, his brow furrowed in thought. "How can we earn back her trust?"

The question lingered, a heavy silence descending upon us as we grappled with the enormity of the task before us. How could we repair the damage we had done and mend the rift that had formed between us and Salem?

"We need to show her that she's ours no matter what," I suggested, my voice tentative but resolute. "We need to prove to her that we're willing to do whatever it takes to earn back her trust."

The idea seemed to resonate with the others, each nodding in agreement. Yes, we had made mistakes, but that didn't mean we were beyond redemption. We could still make things right and show Salem that we cared and we were willing to fight for her.

Lennox broke the silence with a grin, his eyes sparkling mischievously. "I have a gift planned for her to start off my groveling,″ he announced with excitement. "I started planning it before we fucked everything up, but is finally ready for me to retrieve tonight."

With my curiosity piqued, I leaned forward in my chair, eager to hear what Lennox had planned.

Cohen nodded in thought, anticipation in his eyes. "Okay, what else do we have? Let's throw some ideas around," he chimed in, his voice filled with enthusiasm. "I'm already planning to get on my knees for her."

Mateo chuckled, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms over his chest. "You got that right," he agreed, a smile playing at the corners of his lips. "She deserves all the orgasms she likes."

We continued to brainstorm ideas for how to make it up to Salem. We were a team, and we were determined to do whatever it took to make things right with her. Before Salem came into the picture, the idea of sharing a girl with my friends had never crossed my mind. Yet, as she became the center of our attention, not one of us was willing to give her up. I recognized the unexpected advantages of our collective efforts.

"Maybe we could plan a special night for her?" Cohen suggested, his brow furrowing in thought. "We could cook her favorite meal, put on her favorite movie, and just spend some quality time together."

Mateo nodded, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "That's a great idea," he agreed, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "And we could all pitch in to make it happen."

Lennox grinned, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "I like where your head's at," he remarked, his voice filled with approval. "But I think we can do even better than that."

As we continued to hash out our plans, anticipation began to build. We were on a mission to make things right with Salem, and we weren't going to rest until we had succeeded. Nothing could stand in our way.

The streets of Brooklyn were quiet as I made my way through the shadows, the importance of Salem's request urging me forward. The plan for Cohen's father was in place, but we wanted to strike at the others in quick succession to ensure none of them escaped. Now, with more intel needed on Mateo's father and her being under house arrest, the responsibility fell on me to gather it.

I approached the house, my blood rich with adrenaline. I moved with stealth, every step calculated to avoid detection. This was no time for mistakes.

Mateo's father had maintained a string of mistresses throughout the years, yet among them, this one was his favorite. Surprisingly, the state of her residence didn't reflect this. I would have expected him to provide her with a fancier setup, but the modest appearance of the house suggested otherwise. It seemed she was left to fend for herself, devoid of any luxury or extravagance. Maybe Mateo's father believed that such simplicity would attract less attention, keeping their affair under the radar. The more likely situation was that he was just a dick.

The mistress's house stood nestled among its neighbors, its facade weathered by time and neglect. Even at night it was noticeable that the paint was peeling and the windows were cracked. This poor woman was sleeping with one of the wealthiest men in the city and had absolutely nothing to show for it.

Finding the right window to break into wasn't hard; it was just a matter of being sneaky enough to slide it open without waking the whole block.

I slipped inside, and darkness enveloped me. The air was thick with the scent of a sickly sweet perfume and cigarette smoke, a combination I wasn't a fan of.

The foyer greeted me with faded wallpaper peeling at the edges and a worn rug that had seen better days. I crouched low, my heart pounding in my ears as I scanned the area for any signs of movement. Satisfied that I was alone, I moved swiftly into the living room. Dust-covered furniture adorned the space, and I quickly located the perfect hiding spots for the cameras—a corner shelf obscured by a potted plant and the top of a bookshelf camouflaged among a row of dusty novels.

I moved silently through the house, my senses on high alert for any sign of life. The mistress was asleep, oblivious to the intrusion in her home. I crept through the darkness like a ghost, my footsteps hushed against the worn floorboards.

The mistress's snores echoed through the empty rooms as I planted bugs and cameras in strategic spots in the master bedroom, careful not to disturb her beauty sleep. The adrenaline pumping through my veins was electric, every sound magnified in the silence of the night.

Next, I made my way to the kitchen, where the faint smell of stale food lingered. Carefully, I affixed a tiny microphone beneath the table, hidden from view but perfectly positioned to capture any conversation that took place in the room. Moving through the house with practiced stealth, I placed cameras in the rest of the bedrooms, the hallway, and even the bathroom, ensuring that every corner was covered.

As I worked, my mind raced with the possibilities of what we might find. Mateo's old man was a slippery son of a bitch, but nobody could hide forever. With each device I planted, I felt like we were getting one step closer to pinpointing his routine.

Once my task was accomplished, I retraced my steps with the same caution I had entered with, ensuring not to leave any trace of my presence.

Salem would be pleased with my handiwork, that much I was sure of. As I made my way back to Westchester County, I felt satisfied. Tonight, we'd taken a big step toward bringing Mateo's father down, and it was only a matter of time before we would have him in our crosshairs.