De Luca

Chapter 25

NO ONES' POV

The gun is mightier than the sword. Go forth and rain down hell and destruction to all those who seek to tear down your kingdom, watch as they crumble before you, trembling with fear and regret. They now know my name... Giovanni De Luca.

De Luca followed the agents into the waiting area. He sat down, elbows prompt on his knees, fingers intertwined into each, and quickly tapping his foot against the hospital tiles. For the audience, he exhibits the symptoms of a worried boyfriend concerned about his girlfriend's health, a scared cop who might be in the midst of losing his job, and a defiant terrified he might say the wrong things.

If only they knew this was an act. De Luca had more power than NASA, CIA, and FBI combined. If he didn't know any better -which he did- Agent Watson was one of his men on the inside of the FBI. Watson doesn't know what De Luca looks like, to De Luca's benefit.

"We need you down at the station for-" the woman asked him. Agent Mackenzie irked him. A woman is bitter enough and desperate to make a case. Too eager for her own good.

"I'm not leaving her," he firmly stated.

"You don't have a choice," Mackenzie bit back firmly. De Luca did not appreciate her tone nor her aggressive approach. He knows cops like her. Cops who refuse to listen to the culprit in question. Fighting hard to pin them to the crime they may or may not have committed.

He knew he needed to get his story to make sense, as long as it didn't match Hendrickson's story. There can be a few pieces that are the same, but mostly, he had to tread carefully.

"My girlfriend could die! I have a choice!" De Luca shouted at her, falsely lunging at her. He can tell by the look in her eyes she didn't care. De Luca blew out a frustrated breath, pacing the floor.

"Everyone calm down. How about we start over? I'm FBI agent Tom Watson, and this is my partner Ariana Mackenzie. We have a few questions about the man known as Red Devil and Rudolph Santini, and Trent Thomason,"

De Luca stares intently at both agents before letting a long breath out. The mention of his name meant someone saw him and described him to the police or cameras were in that location.

If there were cameras, they would have a different conversation. Again there might be two plays in this situation. One of his people's on the inside fixed the video to make it look like how his story is supposed to play out, or someone saw him and describe him to the cops.

"We can return into her room if that would ease your mind," De Luca knew what Watson was trying to do. If a culprit is in his or her comfort zone, it's easier for them to slip up. Even in an integration room, they do but not as quickly as familiar surroundings.

"No. I-"De Luca breathed out, making it seem as if he was nervous. "Can I call her friend Lance to be at her side," everyone nodded, giving him privacy to make the call. He knew they would watch his body language and monitoring his phone call. De Luca slumped his shoulder as he delivered the news to Lance, who quickly said he was on his way.

Six hours. Agent Mackenzie and Watson have been questioning De Luca -officer O'Brain -about his role in the shootout between the two mafia families and the newcomer Marcus.

Agent Mackenzie got irritated and frustrated that the man in front of her refused to admit to the crimes she knows he did. Her gut is telling her that this man in front of her is the man in the Red Mask. She just needed to prove it.

Her partner, Watson, went to interrogate officer Ryles without her. Watson sent her to cool off, during the interrogation with Officer O'Brain, she slammed his face into the table. Causing him to bleed for his left eyebrow. Threatening that she knew who he was. Watson demanded that she take a walk to cool off. Having jeopardized any proof, they could have used against flew out the window. Not to mention that Captain Douglas coming to protect his employee. They now would have to let him go.

As for Officer Ryles - Hendrick - his story checks out. Everyone in the precinct knew little to nothing at all, and those that knew just casual told Watson that Ryles was heading out to find O'Brain. Two suspects with no connection. The information they knew about Red Devil and Santini is the same information that is sticking up on their board. Which means they knew nothing.

So Watson thought.

Mackenzie determined to put a nail to O'Brain coffin. Went to his' house'. It was a simple apartment, yet it was outside of an officer regular salary. He drove the jobs' vehicle, so she didn't have any evidence there. She went through his trash, his bank accounts, where he ate, even visited his parents' house. Thinking she had finally had evidence, eagerly marched back to the precinct. She ignored Watson, who shouted for her to stop; he knew where she was going.

She quickly slammed the door shut, locking it immediately. She laid her phone out in front of him, swiping across to the photos she had taken.

"That's a nice apartment you got there," Mackenzie boosted with confidence, she knew he would break right now. De Luca looked at the picture of his cover-up apartment. 'I need to reassess my finances with the amount of money I am giving out,' he thought to himself.

"Did you break into my apartment?" he questioned her as he played the game of deceit. Loud banging on the door led him to know that Watson was trying to get in.

"How is it that an officer with your salary can afford something so luxurious? Not to mention the house your parents are living in,"

"What are you talking about?" De Luca tiredly answered. Mackenzie was an excellent agent, and her guts lead her to the right conclusion; if she was dealing with someone other than him.

"There is no way you can afford to pay for that apartment that your parents can have that house. Unless you were the man in the Red Mask," De Luca sighed out. The door finally broke open, revealing a pissed off Watson and Captain.

"Mackenzie!" Watson shouted. His warning is evident in his voice. She had crossed the line with what she did.

"Tell me the truth! You are the man in the Red Mask! Tell everyone the truth!"

"If you did your job well, you would know that my father has a share in that apartment building. When he lost his job, his boss set him up with that as an investment after hearing about our break-in. And as for my parents' house, my aunt bought them that as an anniversary gift. Who, by the way, owns her Restaurant. So, agent Mackenzie, as you can see, no matter how much you want me to be the man in the Red Mask, one fact remains. I. Am. Not. Him,"

Mackenzie growled, launching for De Luca, she was stopped by Watson and another officer.

"That's enough, Mackenzie!" Mackenzie went to protest but got cut off by Watson. "Our supervisor heard about this from Captain Douglas, and he is demanding that you return,"

"What about O'Brain!?"

"We have to let him go. We cannot hold everything you gather up in court, including your assault on him,"

"What!"

"You broke into his apartment without a warrant. Assault an officer and accused him with no sound evidence. I had him check out Mackenzie. Everything he told you match up. You did all of this for nothing," He angrily told her. They released De Luca, making his way to the hospital.

---

If he didn't know any better, he would say he was being followed. It's been three days since Mackenzie has been following De Luca. He filed a complaint, which she is unaware of. Agent Mackenzie is in violation of the restraining order, which benefited him.

He had to prepare his home for Nathalie, who will be nursed from home. She suffered more damage to her eye and abdomen than he thought. He wanted her close. This time no one will ever get too close to her like the last time.

For him to do that agent, Mackenzie has to die, and then they can live a semi-peaceful life. Him, his queen, and the baby. It was time to clean up loose ends.

I hope you guys enjoy this book because it has reached its end. Thanks for the votes, comments, and love for my book.

Stay safe and inside.