Lesser Evil: A Dark Mafia Romance

3

CAULDRON

The girls sunbathed on the loungers toward the front of the yacht as I sat in the shade, a drink in my hand, an untouched charcuterie board on the center table with cured prosciutto, Tuscan olives, chocolate-covered almonds, and fine French cheeses from Beaulieu-sur-Mer. My linen shirt was open down the front, the sea breeze running over my bare chest, licking away the sunscreen I’d applied for the fifth time that day. The ocean was a fair blue, Cap-Ferrat still in sight in the far distance. Other yachts were visible, keeping their distance, their helicopters parked on every top deck for a quick getaway.

One of the staff approached. “Hugo says they’re ready for you, sir.”

I gave a slight nod in acknowledgment and downed the last of my drink. Wiping my mouth with the back of my forearm, I headed inside the parlor then into the private study where I conducted my business.

I sat on a white couch that faced the enormous screen, another charcuterie board waiting for me, this time with smoked salmon and crystallized oranges. My drink was already on a coaster alongside it.

The screen changed, showing my appearance on the couch, my shirt still unbuttoned, my skin kissed by the warmth of the French sun. Then Hugo appeared, in his study at my estate in Cap-Ferrat. “Jeremiah is ready for you. Shall I patch him through?”

“Yes.”

“When the meeting has concluded, there’s something I wish to discuss with you, sir. If that’s alright.”

“Yes.”

Hugo connected the meeting, and that was when I saw Jeremiah, my lead analyst in Botswana. “Mr. Beaufort, how are you?”

I hated small talk, so I didn’t answer. “Give me an update.”

“Of course, sir.” Jeremiah seemed unaffected by my callousness. He was used to it by now. “The new mines have been fruitful, yielding some of the largest stones we’ve secured. Transport will begin soon.”

“Good.”

“But we do have an issue.”

“Always do.” I drank from the glass sitting in front of me.

“The competition has found our location. They’ve begun their dig from the opposite end of the mountain. It is my belief that they’re trying to reach our mine as covertly as possible.”

“Dunglar?”

“Not sure, but most likely.”

“You’d think he’d learned his lesson.”

“In my experience, you cut off the head of the snake, it grows two more.”

I gave a slight smirk. “Well said, Jeremiah.” We finished our meeting, and then I was returned to the screen where Hugo waited for me.

“Hope all is well.”

“It wouldn’t be well if I didn’t have to kill someone.” I took a bite of the smoked salmon with the brie then grabbed a few berries. “What did you want to discuss?”

“I hate to trouble you while you’re on vacation—”

“I’m always on vacation, Hugo.”

“On the contrary, you’re the hardest working person I know, sir.”

I ignored what he said. “What is it, Hugo?”

“A woman has visited the residence more than once looking for you.”

That wasn’t that unusual. “Name?”

“Camille.”

“I don’t know a woman by that name.”

“I assumed so. I’ve tried to dissuade her, but she says it’s urgent that she speak with you.”

“About what?” I asked, growing impatient. “She’s just desperate for my attention, like all the others.”

“I thought so too, until she mentioned Grave.”

I was about to reach for my drink, but the name shattered my thoughts. My arms returned to my knees, and I stared at Hugo, eyes narrowed, my temper primed. “What about him?”

“She wouldn’t say more. The only reason she confessed that much is because she was being escorted from the property.”

“She made it on to the property?”

“She’s determined, sir.”

I stared at the screen, feeling my annoyance in my clenched jaw.

“How would you like me to handle this?”

I rubbed my palms together, frustrated that the past was knocking on my front door. “If you see her again, threaten to kill her. If that doesn’t dissuade her, then shoot her in the f*****g head.”