16- Invasion of privacy

I looked at Shanks who now sat beside me on the stool by the kitchen island while Oscar leaned against the wall with a frown on his face.

He did not like how everyone seemed to be barging into his place, he was losing it. I'm surprised he hasnt shot anyone- wait that did happen.

I made eye contact with him and he raised an eyebrow, he looked like he would bury me if he could. I blew him a kiss while shanks was fiddling with his sleeve, Oscar smirks and steps towards me.

My eyes widen slightly but I won't be intimidated or so I thought, he stepped around to reach me and I called out to shanks.

"What is going on?"

He looked at me as he threw his head back and observed me, "you've changed but at the same time you haven't." I roll my eyes, he has been saying that since we were sixteen.

I gave him a look and then he pulled his sleeves up his arm, he gave me a grin and ruffled my hair. I grabbed his hand to move it aside but the next moment I was off of my seat.

I looked at Oscar who had moved me to the other chair as if I weighed nothing. I watched as he sat between me and shanks.

Shanks had been enjoying the situation, I could see him smirk over Oscars shoulder, Oscar had more to worry about himself than me but he was so clueless.

"Get to the point, who are you, why are you here and what is your relation to Talia." Oscar was in no mood to play and shanks understood that. But he couldn't resist, he winked at me and Oscar tensed up.

He chuckled and unzipped the small duffel that he was carrying with him and spilled the content onto the island.

There were couple of photographs, maps, blueprints and some stationary along with a small rustic Box.

He pulled out his sleek laptop from the backpack he was carrying.

"Talia you are in high demand"

I get up and sit across the kitchen island as it was difficult to converse with shanks over Oscars shoulder when he is built like a beast. I wait for shanks to speak further while I sit across him.

"There is something very valuable that you happen to have on a mafia level, the police forces are interested in it too. I believe that the gunshot that was aimed at you, it was a planned move."

I frown and look at Oscar who had a poker face on.

I looked back at shanks who continued.

"The thing is, your meeting with Diego was intentional. You ended up in that particular station because of some very well planned events. And I hate to say it Oscar but you have snitches in your organization who have been meeting up with the cops."

Oscar clenched his jaw and listened to him without speaking a word and I don't think shanks was expecting any response.

"I found a file at Diego's office that had all details about Talia from her birth certificate to her marks card and all her credit/debit card details. With a very descriptive plan on how to approach and deal with her."

I scoff in disbelief, I didn't think I'd get played to this level-

"The only part that was not in the plan is him tailing you and Oscar because Oscar wasn't in the list of people you know or have spoken to, which if I might add is working out well in your case."

"But, if all this is true then was Brittany involved too?"

"Brittany was just someone caught in the middle who betrayed you for fame and money"

I was afraid to be right in her case.  I sit back down as the hype died down and I had nothing to ask.

"It doesn't end here, Oscar there is a cop undercover in your group-"

"I know, I use him to feed wrong information to the cops"

"Oh that makes sense, I tracked him and he seemed to have been in contact with one of your men who seems to be helping-"

"If you are talking about Lorin then I'm aware."

Shanks finally looked away from his laptop and looked at Oscar who seemed to be deep in thought.

"Now I get why the cops never get anything against you"

"I take care of situations on my own, my men don't handle any situations for me"

I looked between the two, "is there anything else-"

"There is a HELL lot of shit that you don't know about"

I purse my lips at his words, why am I always in the dark- "one thing you need to understand is that you aren't really safe anywhere, everyone who has been approaching you for the last couple of weeks have been after a piece of information that you have been carrying with you"

I close my eyes and they open in slits as I sigh, so they finally know now.

"Oscar seems to be in the clear is why Im trusting him for now."

"If you are talking about the prototype designed by Talia on the side then yeah I don't have any interest in that."

My head whipped towards Oscar in surprise, he knew but then- "it's Talia that I have interest in" he said and leaned back.

Shanks looked at Oscar, "what exactly do you want?" He asked Oscar who wouldn't move his eyes from mine, even to reply.

"I want her that's it, they could have the prototype for all that matters but because it means something to Talia I'll support her."

"You sound like you'd marry me if you could"

"I'll have the ring ready in a few hours if you agree"

I laugh out in disbelief. I shake my head and turn back to shanks who seemed slightly amused and surprised at the same time.

"Shut it"

Shanks grinned and turned back to the photographs that had been spread out. "Take a look"

I got up and looked over, my frown deepening as I look at the photos. They were all my photographs with notes attached that talked about my activities for a month now.

"They started looking into you before they found out about the prototype. Looks like someone give them a hint." Shanks said and I sat back as I folded my arms. Who could it be, I was very secretive about it. It doesn't launch for another month.

"Oscar you said that you knew about the prototype, when did you find out and what do you know about it."

I was curious about this too now, Shanks asked the right question. Maybe through Oscar we could narrow down the perpetrators.

"I found out through a bug I had placed on my men who had gone for a meeting. They dropped it in the room, it was unintentional but it worked in my favour. I had no idea that Talia was a hacker and computer expert. I was intrigued"

I feel my face heat up, he found out because it was related to me.

"You put bugs on your men?"

"I do, I don't trust anyone when it comes to business"

"That's why they say that you are stone hearted" shanks said and Oscar shrugged.

"He was a client, I can look it up. To see who I was dealing with. I tend to keep a record of all my meetings." Oscar said.

Shanks looked impressed with how thoroughly Oscar dealt with his work. Usually shanks found blockheads who would be too arrogant to cross check their working system. It helped him get ahead of them but it annoyed him at how easy it is.

Shanks looked slightly uneasy, I raised an eyebrow and he just cracked a joke. I roll my eyes and my attention is drawn to one image and I get up.

Chills run through my whole body.

I get up and reach for the image, the two look at me. I could feel their eyes on me, i grab the image and shanks tries to snatch it away.

He cursed but I had already seen it.

It was a picture of me in the room. The photo was me holding onto Diego, it was clicked inside my bedroom.

"Talia-"

I zoned the two of them out, my eyes were fixated on the photo. I was crying in his embrace with just a bathrobe on and it looked like the camera was inside the room from my closet, there was someone in my room the whole time?

I didn't notice that Oscar was looking over my shoulder at the photo. I looked up from the photo and Shanks looked uncomfortable, but not guilty. It was definitely not him but then who was it.

That's when I noticed Oscar was right behind me, he grabbed the photo from my hand. I looked at him and he looked like he could burn the photo with just his gaze.

"When did this happen and where did you get this?"

Shanks rubbed his neck uncomfortably. "I broke into Diego's office and other than the missing photos there is no evidence that someone broke in."

I felt so violated, I had a breakdown and someone was sitting, making record of it all in my bedroom.

Diego is supposed to be a cop.

But wait, I looked at shanks he looked like that wasnt all. "Were there other photos?" I asked in a low voice.

Shanks bit his lip and nodded, "multiple others-" "show them to me" "Talia I don't think-"

"Show me the photos" I said in an agitated voice. "NOW" I yelled out when he doesn't move.

He grabbed the duffel bag and pulled out an envelope from an inside pocket. He hesitates but I snatch it from him. I could see that he wanted to protest.

I grabbed the photos from inside the envelope, Shanks got up and walked to the sink for water. Oscar stood by me while I scattered the photos on the table.

I stiffened as the first photo I noticed was me sitting on the bed in a silk robe while drinking wine.

Another was when I was just in booty shorts and a bra, stripping out of my clothes. There was one of me and Brittany rummaging through the shopping bags.

All these photos were shot within this month.

I didn't realise that I was shaking till Oscar placed his hand on my shoulder. I took a deep breath and got up, all the photos were shot from the same angle. There is a camera in my wardrobe.

I paused and looked through all the photos trying to find the one which was older than the rest, among others that just involved me sitting and working on my laptop or talking on calls.

I noticed one that was just of my room, there was no time tag but I knew when it was clicked. The day I had moved the prototype out of my house, I had forgotten my phone at home under the dress that Brittany wanted me to wear for one of the party.

There was another photo of someone fixing the camera in the room but I could only see the man's neck, he seemed to be very lean. A tattoo of phoenix burning to ashes. It looked familiar but I couldn't be sure.

I put it down, "I'm looking into who that is" Shanks said as he sipped on water.

I nod and walked back to the room, I could hear the two talk but didn't bother listening in. I knew it was about me.

I closed the door behind me as I slipped into the silk sheets that felt cold on my warm skin.

I heard footsteps and hushed voices, another door opened and closed and I shut my eyes. I heard the door to the room open, the bed dipped a few seconds later.

"Talia"

"Hm"

"I will find out who is responsible for it"

I squeezed my eyes shut but nod in response. His good hand went around pulling me by the waist towards him. I hug him tight as my head laid on his chest with a hand on his abdomen.

I will wait till they are deep asleep before I go back to the house and find the camera, I don't think shanks found it otherwise he would have mentioned.

I slip out of his hold, I doubt Oscar would have let me had it not been for the painkillers.

I put on his hoodie that lay on the chair. I grabbed his car keys and step out shutting the door softly behind me.

I come face to face with Alan.