CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Achilles' POV

I hurry to the car, cursing the fact that I became so ruffled in front of her. I know what she's trying to do: weave her way into the hearts of my brothers and me. She is a little conniving snake, I think to myself, slamming the door hard. The road is wet; a slight drizzle had fallen earlier this morning. My itinerary for the day was simple. I had two important meetings, a phone call to make, and a traitor to catch.

My phone rang. I answered without looking at the caller ID. “Hello?” I say, placing the call on the speaker phone. "You were not meant to do that,” a hushed voice whispered to me.

I parked my car quickly at the side of the road. “Who is this?” I bark out, quickly sending a message to our IT guy, Isaiah, to start tracking the call I am on. He replies with a thumbs up and instructions to keep the caller on the line. “You were not meant to burst in and shoot everyone like that,” the whispered cry came back. “What do you want?” “Nothing. Everything. Except that. You acted stupid.” The call disconnected.

I screamed in the car, calling Isaiah. “Tell me you fucking got a location,” I say as his face fills my screen. Isaiah grins lazily. “Well, a good morning to you too, Boss.” I see red.

“Motherfucker, I should beat your ass up.”

“You wouldn't dare,” he smiles back, running his hands through his shaggy blonde hair. My cousin was the best in the country; although he was wanted by all the government agencies as a first-level national risk, he was still the most evasive man I knew. It was shocking they even managed to get an ID on the guy who kept hacking and exposing the dirty things the cops were up to for fun.

“Don't play with me, Isaiah,” I tell him, putting my car back in drive. He's on whatever continent, never home. Always a runner. “Is this because of the first call?” He asks. I nod my reply. “Hmmm. You still don't want to share with me what is going on?” I sigh. “Isaiah, you're safe. Have fun.” I disconnected the call.

My company building, one of the many fronts for the legal business I do, was the largest in the city. I made sure of it, buying the land my boss had stolen from us years ago and erecting Draghi Enterprises on it. It felt amazing, making my dreams come true. What do we do, though? It's not important. A lot of things get done. I have legal services, a construction company, and a charity department. I'm at the very top.

I adjust my suit as I step out into the chilly air; my secretary is standing outside the building, waiting for me. “Good morning, Mr. Draghi,” she says, handing me a cup of coffee. I don't bother learning their names; they never stick around for long, but this one has managed to stay on for three months now. “Morning.” I grunt in reply. A series of greetings from personnel reach my ear; they all know better than to expect replies as I walk towards my personal elevator.

I key in the password, and she hurries in beside me. “Mr. Draghi, you have a meeting with the D.A, and the secretary general of the Lotus house has requested you give her a call. Also, Mr. Killian called in the morning. And there is someone in your office.” I nod. “Who's there?” She shrugs. “A lady. I told her you wouldn't want to be bothered so early, but she insisted that you were her boyfriend.” Boyfriend? The elevator doors ping open, and I step into the penthouse, towards my office. “The meeting with the D.A? Tell him to come to my office in the next five minutes. I wouldn't see him after then,” I instruct. She types fast on her eye pad, impressing me with her skill. “And call a cab. For the person in my office.” “Right away, sir.”

I open the doors to see the suspect spread across the sofa I have. “Achilles,” Leilani whispered seductively. She had on a purple coat and thigh-high boots, a slit showing me her thick thighs. “What are you doing here, Leilani?” I check my watch.

Four minutes.

“Well, you cancelled yesterday, so I decided to come surprise you,” she purrs, getting up to meet me in the middle of the room. As she walks, she opens her coat, revealing the lingerie she has underneath. “Did you tell my secretary you are my girlfriend?” Leilani laughs, “Yeah. She wouldn't let me in here. Even then,” she says with mirth in her eyes.

Three minutes.

“Leilani,” I grab her coat and wrap it around her, ignoring the shock and sadness she has on her face. “You know the rules. No affection. No showing up without my call.” Her lips quiver. “I just wanted to surprise you.”

She breaks into a sob.

Women.

“I don't like or need surprises. I have a meeting in two minutes. I would like for you to get out right now.” Leilani gasps. “I'm sorry, Achilles,” she says, grabbing her purse from the table. Her heels click against the tiles, irritating me even more. “It won't happen again.” I nod, believing her. She's not a stupid girl, and I had been very generous to her. She'll be fine.

As she walks out of the door, the D.A. comes in, whistling as she passes him. “Holy Cow, you know how to get the right bitches, huh?” D.A. Ross.

I hated him. He was a greedy bastard, but it was good to have control over the politicians in this place. Even the sleazy ones. “D.A.,” I rise to my feet, stretching my hand out in greeting. His clammy hands shake mine, and I try my best to hide a shudder. “Mr. Achilles. You're a hard man to pin down,” D.A. Ross says, settling down on the chair opposite my desk.

I walk over to the bar and grab two cups, pouring a shot of whiskey for myself. “Do you fancy?” I ask him, shaking the cup in the air. “Please, my wife would kill me. She says I should stop drinking before I die of liver failure,” he grins widely, revealing some plaque on his teeth. I pour him a glass of water instead, setting it in front of him. “To what do I owe this pleasure?” I ask, sitting down.

“Well, Achilles. It seems you bought another piece of land the government wants,” D.A. Ross folds his arms on my desk. Ah, my latest purchase. There was this field that had not been used for ages, at least since I was born in this place, and the government wanted it. “May I ask why?” I sip my whiskey. “You know Hare Heaven is a rural place,” he sips his water hesitantly. “The government wants to build a school for the children of the town.” Hare Heaven was miles away from our city, Finch Cove, but I do not point that out to him. The land did, however, stand between the two cities. I had just purchased it on a whim one day; I loved buying real estate. It was better than having cash lying around. Plus, it would be a good place to store drugs when needed, since it was just at the entrance.

“Well, also. The government is getting concerned about the source of your income. Something about no taxes, no prior information,” the sleaze bag wipes his brow. “You just popped out, Achilles.” I nod. “I pay sizable donations to the city,” I stare at him hard from the rim of my glass. “Don't I?” He nods furiously. “Yes, but this isn't us. It's the Feds.” The Federal Government is interested in a small land in a shitty city? That just made things more interesting.

“It would be in our best interest if you knew,” D.A. Ross shrugs slightly, “Sell us the land back,” he says with hope in his eyes. “Why didn't the Governor come himself?” I ask. “There was a vote. I lost,” he sighs. D.A. Ross gets to his feet. “Listen, boy, the federal government isn't to be played with. Just yeah, settle for this.” He places a piece of paper on my desk. I watch as he walks out of the office, closing my door before I glance at the paper and throw it into the bin. If the Federal Government wanted that land, they had to do more than send him.