Just My Hockey Roommate’s Filthy Desires by Esther Pen novel Chapter 285

My Hockey Roommate’s Filthy Desires

Chapter 285

BRANDON’S POV

The glowing monitors in the makeshift security room cast a cool, blue light across the walls.

17

I had cleared out one of the large guest rooms on the ground floor of Aria’s mansion to set up this temporary command post.

Aria had complained that it was way too much when the technicians first started hauling in the server racks, monitors, and encrypted lines, telling me I was being overly paranoid. I didn’t care.

When it came to protecting her and Amelia, there was no such thing as being over-prepared. It was two in the morning.

Upstairs, the grand mansion was dead quiet. Aria and Amelia were fast asleep in the master wing, guarded by four armed tactical officers stationed quietly along the hallways.

I stood behind Marcus, watching a stream of raw code and facial-recognition maps scrolling across the main screen. Marcus was my second right-hand man.

My top guy, Dominic, and my third, Antonio, were still back in my city handling the heavy logistics for my corporate move. But things were changing fast, and I needed my full inner circle on the ground.

“Run the plate scan again,” I said, my voice low in the quiet room. Marcus typed quickly on his keyboard. A grainy infrared camera picture popped up on the high-res monitor.

It was an unlisted rental SUV, taken from a toll camera on the outer ring road six hours ago. “The rental was pulled under a shell company out of Delaware,” Marcus said, zooming in on the driver’s side.

The image cleared up, showing two distinct shapes in the front seats. “Facial geometry confirms the driver is Julian Vance.”

My eyes narrowed as I stared at the screen. “And the passenger?”

Marcus hit a few more keys, running the passenger profile against federal databases. The camera zoomed in on the delicate jawline, sharp cheekbones, and dark headscarf.

A glowing red box flashed across the screen with a sharp beep: MATCH CONFIRMED – LEONIE VANCE.

“She met up with him in the arena garage right after his public meltdown,” Marcus reported, his face grim. “We traced her secondary phone signal three miles from his apartment complex. They stayed in his car for forty-five minutes before switching to this rental. They’re travelling together now.”

A heavy, cold silence settled over my chest.

Julian on his own was just an unhinged ex-athlete who had blown up his own career in a fit of pure rage.

But Leonie was a cold, calculating criminal. She was wanted for trying to kidnap Amelia and she was damn good at hiding.

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11:34 Mon, Aug 17

My Hockey Roommate’s Filthy Desires

On their own, Julian was predictable and Leonie was running out of cash. Together, they were two cornered animals with nothing left to lose.

“He didn’t just snap on the ice,” I said, looking at the tracking map of the rental car heading toward our district. “He threw his career away because she convinced him they had one last move.”

“They’re targeting the estate, boss,” Marcus said, turning to look at me. “Miss Amelia’s sixth birthday party is coming up in two weeks. The mansion is going to have vendors, deliveries, extra staff, and guests coming through the main gates. It’s the only window where our outer perimeter won’t be completely locked down.”

“Not anymore,” I replied, my voice hard as iron. “We elevate security to Level Four immediately. And I want Dominic and Antonio here now.”

I pulled out my phone and dialed Dominic’s direct line back in my city. He answered on the very first ring.

“Dominic,” I said flatly. “Leave the corporate files with the rest of the management team. You and Antonio need to be on the very next flight out here to Aria’s city. Leonie and Julian have teamed up, and they’re heading this way.”

“We’re on our way to the airfield right now, boss,” Dominic answered without hesitation. “We’ll be on the ground before morning.”

“Good,” I said, ending the call and turning back to Marcus. “Effective immediately, replace every third-party contractor for Amelia’s birthday party with our own vetted security personnel. I don’t care if it’s the florists, the party decorators, or the people bringing the ponies for her party, every single person stepping onto this property will be searched, background-checked, and escorted.”

I stepped closer to the control board, pointing at the layout map of the grounds.

“Activate the motion sensors along the forest tree lines and keep the anti-drone tech running around the clock,” I continued. “I want biometric checkpoints at all three estate gates starting tomorrow morning.”

“Understood,” Marcus nodded, grabbing his radio. “What about the school details?”

“Double it,” I ordered sharply. “Aria thinks Julian is just throwing a desperate tantrum, but she doesn’t know Leonie is sitting right beside him driving his rage. Use armored vehicles for Amelia’s morning ride, and put two plainclothes operatives inside the school building during class hours.”

“On it,” Marcus said, keying his mic to broadcast the orders across our entire security grid. I left the ground- floor security room, walking quietly up the grand staircase to the main residential wing.

I pushed open the heavy double doors of our master suite, slipping into the warm, dark bedroom. Aria was sleeping peacefully on her side, her dark hair messy against the white silk pillows.

She looked so soft, so completely untouched by the threat lurking outside our gates. I took off my watch and shirt, sliding under the heavy blanket beside her.

The moment my weight hit the mattress, Aria shifted in her sleep, turning toward me and resting her hand against my bare chest. “Brandon…?” she murmured sleepily, her voice thick and soft. “Is everything okay down

there?”

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