The Nanny // Faye Yoko AU

Chapter 19 Ninja spy

Venice

"Someone accessed our servers?" The Don's voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable edge to it that made Wiz's throat tighten.

"Y-yes, boss," Wiz stammered, trying not to meet the Don's gaze directly. "It's... it's my job to keep that from happening."

"Yes, it is," the Don replied, his voice low and controlled, a dangerous calm that made Wiz gulp. "So why didn't you?"

Wiz fumbled with his tablet, trying to gather his thoughts as sweat gathered at his temples. "I-I shut it down as soon as I caught it. Our network is tight, but..." he hesitated, knowing the next part wasn't going to go over well.

"But?" The Don's tone sharpened, his patience clearly thinning.

"We receive data from the annexes," Wiz explained quickly, feeling the weight of the Don's stare. "I combed the transaction records, and the packet from Lyon was... bigger than usual. Much bigger." He paused, swallowing hard before adding, "I think someone slipped an executable file in—"

"Wiz." The Don's voice cut through Wiz's explanation like a knife. He didn't have the patience for Wiz's technical jargon.

Wiz's voice sped up, nerves getting the better of him. "Someone traced the mirroring software to its source and hacked us!" He spoke fast, hiding himself behind the tablet like a shield, as if it could protect him from the Don's wrath.

"L-Look, boss," Wiz continued, his voice shaking slightly. "The Lyon annex is being upgraded almost faster than I can keep track. DOZENS of new security programs. I think they might be HIDING something at that annex," he finished, his worry evident on his face as he showed the tablet to the Don, desperate to shift the blame elsewhere.

The Don's eyes narrowed slightly, deep in thought. "...And Faye just got back her best men," he murmured to himself, rubbing his chin.

Wiz's anxiety spiked at the silence. He ventured a question, though his voice was barely above a whisper. "Was it a mistake to give her such a long leash?"

The Don's face remained impassive, but there was a coldness in his eyes as he responded. "It doesn't matter how long the leash is," he said with chilling certainty. "It always ends in a shock collar."

"If my niece needs a gentle reminder of who holds her remote..." the Don began, his voice slow and deliberate, like a predator sizing up its prey. He let the words hang in the air for a moment, watching Wiz squirm under his gaze. Then, with a sinister smile spreading across his face, he continued, "So be it."

Wiz shifted uncomfortably, clutching his tablet tighter to his chest, eyes darting between the Don and the bloody doctor still hovering nearby. The air felt thick, suffocating, as if the room itself had become a cage.

Faye

In the Malisorn mansion, the soft, warm glow of Faye's study lamps illuminated the room, casting shadows across the polished wooden floors. Faye sat at her desk, her brow furrowed in thought, while Val stood by the window, looking out at the darkened estate grounds.

"You're sure it's not a problem?" Faye asked, her voice measured but laced with underlying tension. Her fingers tapped lightly on the desk, betraying her usual calm exterior.

Val turned from the window, her expression relaxed, almost dismissive. "I have plenty of friends in the city," she replied confidently, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "I'll shake a few trees, see what falls out."