16. Luca

Chapter sixteen

Luca

G io, Rafael and I are working in my home office compiling a list of every client, sugar baby, and employee at Sweet Connections, when I receive the text from Kylie.

Wanting to know how her day went, I decide to call her back and ask the guys if they want coffee before heading to the kitchen. The phone only rings once before she answers. Maybe she's as eager as I am to spend more time together.

"Hi." Her one softly spoken word is all it takes to fill me with need. It's a reminder I should be getting all that softness in bed, not over a phone. When we find the plant, I'll make sure they pay for keeping me from her.

"Hi, Angel. How was shopping?" I place the phone on speaker before laying it on the counter.

"Joanna seemed pleased, so I guess it was successful. I wasn't sure what you wanted me to buy. I left it in her hands, which is why you're going to have one heck of a bill."

A yawn comes through the phone, causing my lips to kick up. There's a reason Joanna is a stylist. With her love of shopping, I'm not surprised she ran her ragged, despite being done earlier than I'd expected.

Dumping several scoops of coffee into the machine, I respond, "I had nothing in particular in mind. Just a day to treat you. I would've taken you myself if business hadn't interrupted." Surprisingly, I'm speaking the truth. I think I would have enjoyed spoiling her.

"A car though? Don't you think it's a bit much? The contract said you'd cover car payments, not purchase a new car."

I can almost hear her eye roll and the corner of my mouth curls up. "I am covering your car payments—on a new car."

"If you could see me right now, I'm rolling my eyes," she sasses.

I chuckle, feeling smug that I can already predict her reactions.

"Angel, your car looked like you dragged it out of a junkyard. I want you to have safe transportation. It was that or hire a full-time driver. I figured you'd want more freedom than that."

Little does she know, I've already hired Joseph as her driver slash bodyguard.

"Did Rafael say something to you?" She asks. A hint of suspicion in her voice.

I'm about to push the brew button on the machine when I still from her question. "What do you mean?"

"You both used the word junkyard when describing my car." She huffs.

Relaxing my shoulders, I smirk and push the button. I turn to lean against the counter and cross my arms while I wait for the stream of coffee to pour into my mug. "He isn't wrong. And no. You were driving it that first day, remember? I worried you wouldn't make it home."

"Really? Wait, did you know I was applying to be a sugar baby?"

Still not wanting her to know I’m the owner of Sweet Connections, I hedge around my answer. "No, but I knew what door you walked out of. I knew it was that or the dating service, so I asked about you."

"Oh."

I smile at the surprise in her voice. Taking my mug out, I set the second one under the spout and wait for what else she might ask.

She doesn't disappoint.

"Why the new phone and laptop, then? I already had both."

"Angel, I knew that if they were anything like your car, they were due for an upgrade. Did you forget who I am to you? I plan to take this role seriously. "

Little does she know how much more I have planned for her. Grabbing the creamer, I pour a small amount into my mug as I wait for the other mug to fill.

"Are you sure? I never thought I'd be going on three days without having sex with my sugar daddy."

Her snark makes my hand twitch. What I wouldn't give to be next to her so I can turn her over my knee. I hold in a growl at the thought and because she's right—I should've already indulged in her by now, so I give it to her straight.

"If it had been allowed, I would have taken you home the first night. Or if I didn't think you would have run from me."

"I wouldn't have run."

Her protest is weak and we both know it.

"Keep telling yourself that." I take a sip of my coffee and close my eyes as the rich flavor coats my tongue.

"It's ok, I took care of myself that night, anyway."

Thankfully, I already swallowed the coffee or I would have spit it out just then. Instead, I still. After a beat, I lower my coffee cup to the counter and look down to stare at the phone. "Would you like to repeat that?" My voice comes off strained, but I can't help myself. The hunger for her has done nothing but grow since I first laid eyes on her. To hear she took care of herself was more than I could handle at the moment.

"Uh … no?" she squeaks.

Damn it. I scared her. Inhaling, I soften my voice, "Angel—"

"Luca." Gio calls, alerting me to his presence. A muted "Eek" comes from the phone.

I glare at Gio, who's leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, grinning from ear to ear. Who knows how long he's been listening. I narrow my eyes further, causing him to chuckle.

"Rafael's got the lists ready."

I nod before looking back at my phone. "Angel, I gotta go. But this conversation isn't over. We will discuss this in great detail tonight." I take Gio's filled mug out and put in the last one.

"Or we don't have to. You seem busy right now."

I chuckle at her evasion. "I've got a few things to do still, but I'll pick you up tonight. However, I don't know how late."

"It's okay. It'll give me time to have dinner with my parents so I can check on my dad."

"That's a good idea. Make sure you tell them you started seeing someone. I have a lot of plans for you for the next six months. Now behave yourself—at least until tonight."

"Only if you do." She taunts.

"I make no promises. Later, Angel."

"Bye, Luca."

I tap to end the call. "Here asshole, take your mug. Have you checked in with Joseph?" If I can't physically be with Kylie, I want a man on her, just in case.

Gio takes his mug and walks around me to dump an ungodly amount of sugar into his coffee. "Yeah. He had Edward drive around the block first. Joseph clocked her looking out the window when he dropped her off, so they pretended to leave. They came back around and parked a couple cars over where they have a good sightline to the door. They’ll be there until shift change."

"Good." I pick up Rafael's mug and turn to lead the way back to my office.

After hashing things with Rome, we came to an agreement. He wanted me to hand over the names and have his team of hackers look into them. No way in hell was I going to do that. I have an obligation to my people and I would not betray their trust for one mole.

Rafael's as good as any private investigator I could hire. I trust him to find this person. As soon as Gio and I left Rome's, I called in backup for Kylie so Rafael could meet us back at my home office. When Rafael got here, we wasted no time forming a plan. We met up again after work this morning to compile a list of names.

Once that's done, we'll comb over every individual to find any inconsistencies or any unexpected flush of money and looking for any ties leading to this new syndicate. It's tedious but effective and I have no doubt we will find the mole. That's when Rome will step in.

I set Rafael's cup on the desk while Gio settles on the couch.

"Have you been able to eliminate anyone yet?" I ask.

Rafael sighs and runs a hand through his hair as he sits back. "Yes, but we may need to come back to them later. I've broken targets down into three lists we need to investigate first." He grabs the paper off the printer. "I think it's smart to first focus on the office staff. They have access to records and would be the obvious choice. We don't have any new employees, and it's a small list."

He hands it to me, but I already know who’s on the list. "And if it's not any of them?" I move to sit on the edge of the desk as I place the paper down.

Rafael hands me the second list. "These are employees at the club and the cleaning service we use. They may be under the wrong assumption you keep important files in the club office or have plans to break into the office next door. We have two new staff members I will focus on first and then the cleaning crew."

"Lisa, and who's the second?" I scan the list, but I'm afraid I don't know all the employees who work at the club. I set the paper down on top of the first one and look at Rafael.

"The guy's name is Robert Smith."

I snort at the generic name.

"He's a part-time bartender. He's only been on the job for a couple of weeks. Which happens to be the same amount of time as Lisa. They were hired the same week."

I cock my eyebrow. "Interesting timing."

He nods. "It is, but not highly unusual. The last part-time bartender stopped showing up and Lisa was hired as extra help to cover the increase in business pulling into the club." Handing me the third list, he continues, "This last group is anyone trying to get close to you, Gio, or myself. If we don't find our mole within these three lists, we'll go back to square one. But my gut says the person is here." Rafael taps the second list I laid on the desk. "It doesn't make sense if it's a sugar baby or one of the clients—they won't have access to any records. "

"Unless they think the sugar babies have more access than they do." I suggest.

"Yes, but since the odds are unlikely, I'll focus on the ones who have access first."

I nod. "Good plan." Setting the third list down, I stand and pat Rafael's shoulder before turning to Gio. "Gio can help investigate Lisa since he's sleeping with her. We also need to proceed with business like normal while you investigate." I move to the couch and settle next to Gio. "Hire your usual guys for help. Explain it as some sort of employee audit."

Rafael nods. "I know you want this done quickly, so I'll do everything I can to speed up the process." He looks to Gio and then back to me. "Are you really going to let Rome handle it when we find the person?"

Leaning back on the couch, I sigh. "Yes. It's his fight. I don't like being used to get to him, but I understand it. It's what I'd do if I couldn't get a direct hit in." I look down at my cup. "Besides, he'll be brutal, and it'll send the right message to never fuck with us or him again."

"As much as I hate missing out on the fight, I agree," Gio says.

Rafael nods, then stands to gather the papers. "I'll keep in touch."

"Stay safe, Rafael."

Rafael lifts his hand in acknowledgment before disappearing through the door.

"Spend more time with Lisa. Get her all soft and talking. I don't like the timing of her start date, nor the fact she tried to grab my attention first."

"It won't be a hardship. The girl likes to give head, and she's good at it." He gives me a feral smile.

"Fucksake, I don't need to know that, Gio." I grimace and the fucker laughs. "Let's inspect the new investment properties tonight. Kylie's having dinner with her parents and once I pick her up, I want the next twenty-four hours with her uninterrupted."

"You got it, boss."

"Come on. The sooner we finish, the sooner I can see Kylie again."