Jaxson doesn’t work on-site. He’s a hacker and prefers his own space for the jobs he does. For other clients, what he will do for the right price is personally set up a layer of security that no one can penetrate.
The door swings open, and I’m instantly met with the set of monitors that line the large wall in front of me. I have five men who work the screens; their only job is to monitor them.
“Boss.”
I nod to the head of the operation, Rick. I incline my chin to the screen in front of him.
“Bring up footage for the room we put our guest in.”
It’s wrong. I know it’s wrong. But yes, I have cameras in every room of the house. Even mine.
The bedrooms are only monitored when I say so. Case in point, now.
There, on the screen, is a very animated and pissed off Sasha. She’s pacing like a caged animal, walking back and forth across the gray-painted room.
I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s made a hole in the tread of the cream-colored carpet from the number of times she’s marched the same path. Her mouth opens, and although I don’t have the volume on, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize she’s cursing.
Her hands fly into the air with each step she takes. Then she pivots, faces the camera, and mouths the word, asshole.
That’s undoubtedly for me.
Rick chuckles, which might be a first. I’ve never seen the man exude any emotion.
Sasha would be the one to bring it out in him.
My firefly.
You’re nothing, idiot.
After several minutes, she stops walking right in front of the bed and throws herself onto it. At first, I don’t know what she’s doing, but then I see. Her back rises and falls in staccato motions, and when she tilts her head to the side, I see her jaw tremble.
“Zoom in,” I command Rick, and he does.
My strong girl has broken.
“Shut the camera off,” I snap. “I want a passcode installed on that camera. Only I’ll have access to it. Set up the feed to be sent to my phone.” I spin around, glaring into the side of Rick’s head. “Do you understand?”
“Yeah, boss.”
The idea that any of my men could see her makes me irate. When I first set up the cameras in all the rooms of the house, I never realized anyone would occupy that room. At least nobody I wouldn’t want my men to observe.
What I saw doesn’t sit well with me. There’s an ache in my chest from seeing her that way. I realize that her pain was caused by me. Her hatred…reserved only for me.
A few seconds later, my phone chimes, indicating that I have a message from Rick. I look up at him with a raised eyebrow.
“Click on the link,” he instructs.
“Can I trust you?” I joke. I know I can. He’s someone who has proven his loyalty from day one.
“Yeah, boss. You can,” he responds. His voice was low, with no sarcasm present.
I nod in acceptance. “What next?”
“It’s going to ask you to connect to facial recognition. It’ll scan your face, and then from now on, your ugly mug will be the only one who can access this link.”
“Did you just crack a joke?” I say, grinning.
This is a new side of Rick.