Maybe Levi was into mind games.
Levi issued a threat and had been relatively quiet, besides having people watch a Jag that hadn’t moved in days. Not a good sign. He’d rather have Levi out there making moves he could counter instead of working in silence. Especially when life was pulling Daron in so many different directions. The consequences of dropping the ball on any of his obligations had deadly repercussions. That’s why he’d returned to the lavish estate in Wilmette. He needed to assess the security system and figure out who brought down the entire thing, buying time to put multiple bullets in Kahlil and one in Vikkas.
“Since none of the boys in your program sell drugs, I can’t figure why Levi feels you’re costing him money.” Steve jarred Daron back into the conversation they’d been having about Levi.
“Maybe he had a deal with the traffickers to move drugs when they move the girls,” Daron suggested, driving through the wooded grounds toward the acres of sprawling greenery.
“We’ll figure out what we’re missing,” Steve assured, but his tone signaled something far from it.
“I don’t doubt that. I just don’t want that to happen moments before he lays waste to my life.”
Daron disconnected the call, sitting in the car taking in the beauty for a second. The Castle property had an eighteen-hole golf course, horse stables, swimming pool, basketball and tennis court, lake, and more features than he cared to list. He launched the ghost drone after exiting the Porsche Panamera and entered the foyer. All anyone could see was the golden elegance and lavish beauty of the space.
“Mr. Kincaid, Mr. Vikkas will be with you in a moment,” Terrell announced then returned to his post near the door. Professional. Crisp. Well-groomed and strapped.
The foyer was designed to impress, without safety in mind. Many people saw the area as a magnificent showpiece, but it was a threat zone and security nightmare, a death tunnel. The beautiful floors were not flat. The way the ground shifted reminded Daron of a speed bump. He wondered if it was created to prevent vehicles from crashing through the doors and getting too far down the hall way. A great idea until an active shooter or an emergency evacuation, then it would be a disaster.
Vikkas hadn’t given Daron any reason to distrust him but he didn’t know enough about the dynamic between father and son. Had Vikkas been jealous of the men his father had mentored? And if Daron’s instinct held, he needed to do a little recon on Jai. Something was off and no one else could see it except him.
Daron would have to assess which of the security personnel would stay on and which ones would be let go. “Were you here the morning Khalil was shot?”
“No, sir.” Terrell’s shoulders stiffened before his hand went up to adjust his earpiece.
Daron created a palm control for the drone. The drone would pick up on things he missed, like Vikkas’ facial expression when he thought no one was looking, people quickly stepping in and out of the room, cameras shifting, and guards’ reactions.
Vikkas appeared in the foyer.
“I don’t understand why my father hired you to handle security.” His face was taut with displeasure. “Let alone become a King when you inherited your membership from a criminal.”
“Alleged criminal,” Daron corrected. The rumors about Bishop didn’t do the man justice. “Your displeasure with my presence needs to be taken up with Khalil. Now are you going to allow me to do my job or are you going to continue to bitch and moan about the fact that I’m here?”
“What do you need?” Vikkas’ tone was curt. The set of his shoulders indicated Vikkas was far from letting his annoyance go. “Why is this visit necessary, when everything seemed settled the day you placed Nicco with us?”
“I need access to the security system.” Daron followed him down the hall. “How did you and your father survive?”
Vikkas’ head snapped in Daron’s direction. His olive skin was flushed and his eyes conveyed his displeasure. “What?”
“This foyer, unless you’re on the second level or near the stairs, doesn’t provide anyone with adequate cover.” Daron was curious about who was present in the foyer besides the two men. “Was there anything out of place in the foyer that day?”
Vikkas sighed, “When I met my father near the entrance, I realized I’d left my wallet and turned back. I was on my way to retrieve it when a shadow flickered and my father lunged at the shooter.” Vikkas touched his arm, the place where the bullet grazed him. “A second intruder rushed me while my father was wrestling with the shooter. He was holding his own. By the time I had my guy down, the trespasser had the upper hand. He fired several shots at my father. The gun jammed. A third person raced in and said they had to go. The two men backed out so quickly. I couldn’t stop them.”
Daron filtered through the story, searching for inconsistencies. “It was divine intervention that you and Khalil were close to the door. Had you been further back, you would’ve been dead before either of you had a chance to react.” Daron scanned the lengthy golden entrance with three red strips of carpet, two of which went up a double set of stairs and the other down the hallway in the center.
“I need a list of the men working here that day,” Daron stated as they neared an entrance.
Vikkas entered a code, pulled the handle and walked into the security room.
I should have known the security room would be a grand affair.
Fourteen flat-screen monitors lined the front wall. Several surveillance desks with leather executive chairs, with four monitors to each desk, lined two of the walls with a large station in the center.
“This is Scott, one of the supervisors.” Vikkas gestured to a heavy-set blonde.
“Nice to meet you,” Scott said, his voice sounding less than friendly.
Daron didn’t take offense. The security personnel were concerned that they might not have a job in the coming weeks.
“Adesh is the head of security.” Vikkas motioned to the dark-olive man leaving the center station. “He’ll get you the list of the men’s work schedule.”
“You can take my station but there’s no footage from the shooting.” Adesh led him to the middle console. “I’m close to the family and I’ve been here for years. I’ve never seen anything like this happen. The system was down twenty minutes before and twenty after those guys left the premises.”
Adesh logged in as Vikkas swept out of the room. “Let me know if you need anything else,” he called over his shoulder.
“I’ll get that list for you.” Adesh walked away, leaving Daron at the center station.
When Daron went into the system, he found there had been an update and the footage from the day was in a backup file. A blessing because the video had not gone down until the actual reboot and was the first thing to come back online.
Daron watched the screen, taking in the series of events— Vikkas patting his pocket and walking away. Khalil tripping over the carpet gave the intruder the advantage. The gunman firing several shots. Vikkas hitting the assailant then jumping in front of Khalil. The intruder taking the center mass shot and the gun jamming. The intruders sprinting off before the police arrived. Daron reviewed footage of a patrol car entering the driveway and someone running out of another exit of the building, snagging their attention.
Who heard the shots and called the police? He was trying to process everything else he’d seen when Adesh returned.
“Oh! There is footage from the shooting,” Adesh shocked, leaned closer to the screen.
“Rewind it.” Daron shifted to allow Adesh closer access to gauge his reaction. “Show me from a few minutes before this.”
Adesh hesitated, then said, “The young Mr. Germaine instructed if the footage was to be recovered to show you from this point forward.” He tapped the screen that only showed Khalil laying in Vikkas’ arms.
“I work for Khalil, not Vikkas, and if you know what’s good for you … And for you to keep your job ...”
Adesh grumbled but complied. The footage, while in reverse, was a blur.
Kaleb Valentine. What the hell was he doing at The Castle? At no time had Kaleb mentioned he was there when they were attacked. Vikkas didn’t mention it either.
“Fast forward.”
Adesh shifted the speed.
“Stop.”
Vikkas was holding Khalil in his arms, but a heated conversation took place between Kaleb and Vikkas before Kaleb stormed out of The Castle.
Interesting, it seems people are keeping secrets.
“I also need a list of personnel who weren’t here on the day of the upgrade,” Daron requested. He noticed Scott and Terrell kept an eye on him as Daron procured the printout from Adesh. Scott marched to a terminal as Terrell quickly slid out the door.
Daron returned his attention to the screen, then cursed while reviewing the coding that rebooted the system. Cedric, his resident hacker, was the person who took down the system. Daron avoided having a conversation with Vikkas about his findings for a multitude of reasons. Most people wouldn’t be receptive to being lenient on Cedric, considering what resulted from his action.
He gathered the items he needed and headed to the parking lot to find a slim, short man with wide blue eyes, thin lips, and sunburnt skin— who had an intense glare—leaning on the Porsche. Marquise Sinclair.
“It seems your hearing isn’t too good.” Marquise stalked toward him with two goons nipping at his heels.
“You’re the one with the problem.” Daron stepped in his face, undeterred by being outnumbered. “The answer is still no.”
“If that’s your final answer,” Marquise growled, shoulder bumping Daron as he continued to a Bentley Flying Spur. He stood in the open door. “Enjoy that beautiful woman of yours while you can.”