Heartless Lover (Dark Syndicate 5)

I close the door behind me and take my seat next to Maksim.

Both have received messages from me letting them know we have much to discuss.

“Sounds like you found a lot,” Aiden states, stern-faced.

“I did. Some good, some not so much. I still don’t know where Robert is, but I’m hoping what I found so far can put me on the right path.”

“All right, tell us what you found.”

As they both gaze at me expectantly, I steady my thoughts of Summer so I can curb the blood that’s still rushing to my dick.

I begin by telling them everything Summer told me. Then I move on to what I found in Robert’s files. I printed off the relevant information and made copies for the two of them.

What I want them to pay attention to is the copies of the design for the Veil.

“I know what’s wrong with it,” I say, and they both snap their gazes at me.

“What?” Aiden asks.

“Having access to the design allowed me to check it out properly. I did that by searching with the code Dominic gave me. From what I saw, it was never supposed to be used in the way they’ve programmed it. It’s like any other anti-spyware software, but it’s been manipulated to do what they’re doing. Last night I found the original idea.”

“So, it’s not Robert’s design?” Maksim asks.

“Fuck no.” It’s just as I assumed. He stole it from someone else. That’s what he’s good at—theft and manipulation. “The guy who came up with it first was a Harvard grad called Patterson Collins. He washed up dead on the beach in Monaco a little over two years ago.”

“We keep seeing things happening around that timeline,” Aiden states.

I agree. The timeline seems to be when things started going wrong.

“My guess is there was some fallout before, and Robert stole the tech. Everything is supposed to leave a trail when it’s in use. For our purposes, I’m going to make a tracker and program it with the same algorithms the tech uses so I can track down Robert and Micah. The problem is the time I’ll need to make it and test it out.” And that’s what pisses me off. Along with the fact that I’ve met my match.

“So, tell me, does this mean you could potentially fix what’s wrong with it?” Maksim looks curious.

I nod. “Yes, believe it or not, fixing it is a lot easier than trying to track the device in live use.”

“You’re kidding me?” Aiden smirks.

“Nope. It’s just a matter of changing around a few parts to allow the tech to operate at the capacity they are using. Patterson probably created it to embezzle money. I saw a few instances where he’d been under investigation for the company he’d worked at, but no one could prove it. The tech would work for shit like that.”

“Sounds like something we should keep.” Aiden raises a brow.

“Already planning to modify it, Pakhan.” Of course, I was. Something like this will be good for us. “Until then, I’m testing. I’m only going to know if what I’m doing works when the code pops. I also have the lead here I’m checking out with Luke Thornton. I have my men looking for him. I anticipate hearing from them sometime today or tomorrow to meet with him.” I’ll meet, talk, torture, then kill his ass.

“Good job, Eric. It sounds like you’ve got everything covered. You’ll have your hands full with the code, the girl, and whatever the fuck happens after you interrogate Luke, so Maksim and I will keep an eye on the emails and Club Montage.”

That will be helpful and allow me to focus on the key things.

“Thanks. The advantage of getting Robert and Micah before they realize they didn’t kill Summer would be good.” My worry is if we found out the truth in such a reasonable time, they can too. I hate to admit that it’s lucky they haven’t yet.

Things will look legit until they don’t.

“I’m hoping for that too,” Aiden agrees, and Maksim nods. “We’ll just have to keep our eyes open and be ready for all eventualities. I haven’t had many dealings with the Camorra, but I know they’re nasty motherfuckers—sly, to say the least. The Bratva are a powerful force to be reckoned with, and our numbers are large, but they keep things small and tight for a reason.”

I haven’t had many dealings with the Camorra either, but I know when people keep numbers down, it’s all to do with trust and loyalty. They might even, on occasion, be more powerful than the bigger groups.

“Alejandro will be back in a few days,” Aiden adds. “Massimo is keen for us to help him, of course, because he’s a friend, but also because Alejandro is finally considering joining the Syndicate. If he does, he’ll be the first Cartel member to join. Regardless of what’s happening with him in Brazil, he’ll be a strong addition to us.”

By my count, that would probably make us stronger than the original Syndicate.