004 Karl Moretti

Karl

I stare straight at her. I see how tense she becomes when she spots me, she must be wondering what I’m doing here.

My gaze didn’t flatter, but hers did when the guy sitting opposite her said something.

I want to go to them and smash his face into the food in front of him.

My blood boils to see her having a good date with Mr. Nobody. I would give anything to go back to the bar where we met.

I enjoyed her company as much as I knew she enjoyed mine, but Ryan had to ruin it with that damn message.

“Karl,” I hear my brother’s voice, and I drag my eyes away from them and glare at him.

“Who are you looking at?” Ryan asks as he traces my gaze to her. “Ohhh, she’s pretty, but she looks like she’s taken,” he adds.

I don’t think she’s taken. She clearly told me what her boyfriend did to her, so it’s definitely not him she’s having dinner with. I’m guessing someone is courting her.

“She’s not taken,” I reply sternly, and Ryan blinks.

“Whatever you say,” Ryan says in surrender. “Why are we here?” he asks.

“I want everything you can get on the lady over there,” I inform him, and Ryan looks really confused.

I don’t blame him. I have never asked for information on a random girl whose name I don’t even know. Hell, the first time I laid eyes on her was at the bar two weeks ago, but I want to know more about her.

I felt relaxed after a very long time. I haven’t been so comfortable the way I was with her at the bar.

“Are you interested in her?” Ryan asks.

“Is there a problem?” I ask back, raising an eyebrow.

“No… nothing. I just feel sorry for the poor girl,” Ryan sighs like he’s mourning her.

Damn idiot.

“Just do as you’re told,” I ordered.

I would have easily asked Evan to look into her, but Evan also answers to my grandfather, and that older man would become nosy if he found out.

So I have to deal with my idiotic brother, even though he’s capable of getting the job done.

“Did you find the mole?” I ask.

“Not yet, but I believe we’re close,” Ryan replies, and I nod.

“Be extra careful,” I say and return my gaze to her.

Our eyes meet again, but she quickly averts her gaze. Cute.

She mutters something to her date and stands up, so does he. “I want every bit of information on him too,” I tell Ryan, referring to her date.

Ryan looks at me like I’ve gone a little crazy, and maybe he’s right. “Alright,” Ryan answers, but he’s still staring at me.

“What is it?” I ask.

“You’ve never been interested in a woman your entire life. Why now? What’s so special about her?” Ryan asks the question I’ve been asking myself since I saw her at the bar that day.

I wish I had the answer. Maybe things would be easier, but I don’t. There’s just something about her, something interesting I can’t place my finger on.

But I sure as hell don’t want guys hovering around her, especially her douche of an ex and Mr. Nobody who just had a date with her.

“Just do what I asked and stop asking questions,” I glare at Ryan, who chuckles, knowing I’ve evaded his question.

_

I park my car in front of the odd building in the middle of nowhere. The place is concealed by the numerous trees surrounding it, a perfect hideout for a secret base. I get out of the car and walk toward the door. The man at the entrance recognizes me and opens it.

I walk into the building and sigh when I see Ryan. “You’re late,” he complains.

“Where is he?” I ask, refusing to comment on the complaint.

“In the basement. He refused to admit he’s the mole, but we’re working on it,” Ryan tells me, and I nod.

I walk into the basement and find my head of security tied to a steel chair. He has bruises all over his face and is bleeding from his head.

“Simon,” I say calmly, and he raises his swollen, purple eyes to me.

“Boss, I swear it, I would never betray you,” he starts as soon as he sees me, and I sigh.

I really liked Simon. I trusted him; that’s why I made him head of security. Too bad he had the nerve to feed information to the Venoms, our rival.

“Why?” I ask, even though I already know the reason: his bitch of a girlfriend.

Simon is quiet; he must have realized.

“They were going to kill her,” he finally says, his voice breaking. I would’ve felt sorry for him if he had come to me when he received the threats from the Venoms, but he didn’t. He chose to betray me instead.

“She’s working with them. She was just using you, Simon,” I tell him, and his eyes widen.

“No, that’s not true,” he protests in disbelief.

“I’m afraid it is,” I reply and stretch my hands out. Ryan places a gun in my hand, and Simon shakes his head in fright.

“No, please no,” he begs fearfully. But if I don’t kill him now, I’ll have moles swarming my organization in no time. I didn’t get to where I am by being soft on betrayers.

The gun goes off, and Simon stiffens, a bullet straight to his forehead.

“Clean it up,” I say and throw the gun on the floor as I walk out of the room. Ryan follows behind me.

“I really liked Simon. What a shame,” Ryan sighs, and I honestly feel the same.

“Haven’t you gotten what I asked for?” I ask him. It’s been a week since I told Ryan to give me every piece of information on her. That’s enough time for him to get everything I want.

“Yes. I sent everything to your email. Nothing special about her, except for her mother. You’ll be shocked,” Ryan says carefully.

“Who is her mother?” I ask, curious.

“Antonia Myers,” Ryan replies, and I pause.

Interesting.