Chapter 22

TWENTY-TWO

COHEN

I leaned back in my chair, surveying the array of monitors and gadgets that made up my new kingdom. The room was a hacker's paradise, every inch of it tailored to my whims and desires. From the high-powered computers to the state-of-the-art security system, it was a setup that any tech enthusiast would envy. With a satisfied grin, I finalized the online order I had been tinkering with, ensuring that everything would be delivered by that afternoon.

As I clicked the "confirm purchase" button, my thoughts drifted to Salem. Ever since her cooking lesson with Lennox, she had been practically glowing with happiness. And while I was genuinely glad to see her smiling again, a part of me couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy. After all, I was happy to share Salem if it meant having her in my life, but why should Lennox get to have all the fun?

Just as I was mulling over what to do next, there was a soft knock on my door, and Salem poked her head inside. Her presence filled the room with a palpable warmth, and I felt a rush of excitement at the sight of her.

"Hey, Cohen," she said, her voice soft but energetic. "Got a minute?"

I nodded, gesturing for her to come in. "Always, Salem. What's up?"

She stepped into the room, her eyes darting around at the various screens and gadgets. "Wow, this place is incredible," she said, her tone filled with awe.

I grinned, feeling a swell of pride at her admiration. "Thanks. I've been putting it together for a while now. It's still a work in progress, but it's getting there."

Salem nodded, her gaze lingering on one of the monitors. "I can see that. So, what are you up to?"

I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms over my chest. "Just finishing up an online order. Should be here by this afternoon."

Her eyes lit up with curiosity. "Oh? Anything exciting?"

I chuckled, feeling a mischievous spark ignite within me. "Maybe. But that's a surprise for later."

She laughed, a sound that heated my heart. "Fine, keep your secrets. I actually came to see if you'd lend me your computer expertise again."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her request. "Sure thing. What do you need?"

Salem stepped further into the room, her hands clasped together in front of her. "I did some digging, and it looks like Massimo has disabled our access to his operations since he found out I'm still alive."

My jaw tightened at the mention of Massimo's name, the memory of everything he'd put Salem through sparking a familiar anger within me. "Figures," I muttered, already thinking of ways to bypass his security measures.

Salem nodded, her expression serious. "Exactly. So, I was thinking… What if we went through the records of everyone on Massimo's payroll? See who had been taking extra payments from him, maybe find some potential soldiers we could convince to side with us instead."

I paused, considering her suggestion. It was risky, but if we could get our hands on the right information, it could give us a significant advantage in our fight against Massimo.

"That's… actually a pretty good idea," I said, unable to hide my admiration for her strategic thinking. "But it isn't going to be easy. Massimo's security is tight, and he will be expecting us to try and get into his systems."

Salem nodded, her eyes gleaming with tenacity. "I know. But I figured it was worth a shot."

I smiled, feeling a surge of pride at her resolve. "Agreed. So, where did you want me to start?"

Salem pulled up a chair beside me, her fingers tapping against the surface of the desk. "Well, I was thinking we could start with the lower-level employees first. Work our way up from there."

I nodded, already opening up my coding programs. "Sounds like a plan. Lets see what we can find."

It took me a while to find the right algorithm to bypass Massimo's firewalls, but after a few keyboard taps and mouse clicks, I pulled up his payroll records and muttered, "Got it."

For the next few hours, Salem and I pored over the data, searching for any discrepancies that might indicate someone on Massimo's payroll was less loyal than they appeared. It was slow going, but Salem's determination never faltered, her focus unwavering as she sifted through the information.

As the afternoon wore on, we started to make some progress, identifying a few potential candidates who might be willing to switch sides. Salem's eyes lit up with excitement at each discovery, her energy infectious as we continued our search.

Eventually, we had what we needed: a list of all those we knew we could count on within Massimo's ranks to support Salem taking over power and also names and details for those who we thought could be persuaded. Salem's grin was triumphant as she leaned back in her chair, satisfaction radiating from her.

"Looks like we have our first recruits," she said proudly.

I smiled in response and was about to suggest we start making contact when a notification pinged on my phone, pulling me out of my concentration. I glanced at the screen and grinned—it was the alert I'd been waiting for. My order had arrived.

"Come on, Salem," I said, turning to face her. ″Time for a break. I've got something to show you."

She looked up from the list, curiosity evident in her expression. "What is it?"

"You'll see," I replied cryptically, excitement coursing through me as I led the way out of my computer room and toward the garage.

As we approached, I could hear the heavy footsteps of the foot soldier who had been tasked with bringing up the large box from the front gate. I gave him a nod of thanks before turning my attention back to Salem.

"Ready?" I asked, my heart pounding with anticipation.

Salem nodded, her eyes gleaming with interest. "Absolutely."

With that, I hoisted the box up and gestured for her to follow me into the back gardens. The air was cool and crisp, the scent of freshly cut grass mingling with the faint aroma of blooming flowers.

Salem looked around, taking in the tranquil surroundings with a smile. "What's in the box?" she asked, unable to contain her curiosity any longer.

I grinned, feeling a flood of excitement as I set the package down on the ground. "Be patient," I teased, pulling a knife from my pocket and using it to carefully slice through the packing tape.

As I peeled back the cardboard, Salem leaned in closer, her eyes widening with anticipation. And then, with a flourish, I revealed the contents of the box—a brand-new axe-throwing kit.

Salem's face lit up with delight, her eagerness palpable as she took in the sight before her. "No way," she breathed, a grin spreading across her lips. "You got an axe-throwing kit?"

I nodded, unable to contain my own excitement. "Yep. I thought it could be fun. Plus, it'll be a great way to blow off some steam."

Salem's eyes sparkled with anticipation as she reached out to touch one of the axes. "I love it," she said, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "Let's give it a go!"

With a shared grin, we got to work setting up the targets in the back gardens.

I leaned back against the sturdy wooden fence, my heart racing with adrenaline as I watched Salem step up to take her turn with the axe. She raised it high above her head, her movements smooth and fluid, and I admired the way she carried herself with such confidence.

"Nice form," I called out, unable to resist teasing her as she lined up her shot.

Salem shot me a playful glare over her shoulder, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Don't distract me, Cohen," she retorted, her voice colored with amusement.

I chuckled, enjoying the banter between us as she released the axe with a flick of her wrist. It sailed through the air with precision, embedding itself in the target with a satisfying thunk.

"Not bad," I conceded, nodding in approval as she turned to face me, a triumphant smile gracing her lips.

"Your turn," she said, gesturing for me to take my place at the throwing line.

I stepped forward eagerly, taking hold of the axe and weighing it in my hand. The metal felt cool and heavy, the weight comforting in my grip. With a deep breath, I raised it overhead, focusing all my attention on the target before me.

As I released the axe, I felt a burst of exhilaration wash over me, the rush of adrenaline heightening my senses. It spun through the air, slicing through the crisp autumn breeze before embedding itself in the target with a satisfying thud.

Salem let out a whoop of excitement, her laughter ringing through the garden as she rushed forward to inspect my handiwork.

"Not bad yourself," she said, flashing me a grin as she retrieved the axe from the target.

We spent the next hour or so taking turns throwing the axes, each throw more daring and competitive than the last. The tension between us was palpable, the air crackling with electricity as we flirted and exchanged playful banter.

Salem flashed me a mischievous grin, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she twirled her axe in her hand. "You ready for this one, Cohen?" she asked, her voice laced with good-humored taunt.

I chuckled as I raised my own axe in response. "Bring it on, Salem," I replied, matching her grin with one of my own. "I hope you're ready to lose."

Salem rolled her eyes, her grin widening as she took a step back, preparing to take her throw. "We'll see about that," she retorted, her voice dripping with mock confidence.

With a flick of her wrist, Salem sent her axe hurtling through the air, the sound of it embedding itself in the target echoing through the gardens. I watched in awe as it hit dead center, a satisfied smile spreading across Salem's lips as she turned to face me.

"Good throw," I admitted, unable to hide my admiration. "But let's see if you can keep it up."

Salem shrugged, her confidence unwavering as she handed me the ax, gesturing for me to take my turn. With a grin, I stepped up to the line, my heart pounding with anticipation as I took aim at the target.

I let out a breath, feeling the weight of the axe in my hand as I took a moment to steady myself. And then, stepping back with one foot to brace myself, I sent it flying through the air, the sound of it hitting the target sending a thrill of satisfaction through me.

Salem let out a cheer, her excitement contagious as she examined the axe in the target. "Looks like we're evenly matched," she said, flashing me a grin.

I grinned back at her, feeling a torrent of exhilaration coursing through me as we continued to take turns throwing the axes. As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the gardens, we called a truce. Both of us were breathless and energized from our impromptu competition. With a shared grin, we set down our axes, the tension between us still lingering as we made our way back toward the house.

As we walked side by side, our shoulders brushing against each other in the fading light, I felt a closeness between us, a bond that went beyond mere friendship. We stepped through the door, the warmth of the house enveloping us, and I knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, I would be one lucky man if Salem chose to face them by my side.