STEAM & SMOKE | 18+

CHAPTER | 34 |

"YOU'RE STILL BEING NOSEY?"

I looked up to the sound of a voice from the doorway of my office. Ghost stood there arms folded, with a frown on his face.

"Adonis Romano," I said, looking for a reaction.

Apart from the tightening of his jaw, he remained impassive and simply glanced at folders I had been going through. "I'm pretty sure you got fired."

"Thanks for that," I replied sarcastically.

"Maybe you need to get better at your job."

Shame and frustration painted my cheeks red. I didn't need the reminder. "F*ck you."

Finally, he walked into my office until he stood beside me and turned the chair I was sitting in. He gently lifted my chin so I was looking up at him and leaned in towards me as if to press a kiss to my mouth. "I really don't want to threaten you but you're not listening. Stop being curious about me," he demanded in a low whisper.

"Or what?"

The metal on a gun pressed against my temple.

"I'm serious, Angel. Focus on Santan or Lucio."

"Why can't I be curious?"

"Because that person is dead."

I glared at him. "Pretty sure he's in front of me."

Ghost responded with an exasperated sigh. Suddenly, his phone started to ring, and without breaking eye contact, he pulled it out of his pocket and answered. "Hello?" I could barely hear the voice on the other end, but what was being said was not good news. "Agents are snooping around? Move the important cargo. I'll be there in the morning."

"You shouldn't be here," I reminded him once he hung up.

"Neither should you," he smirked.

"I hope you're ready to go back to prison."

Mockingly, Ghost put his hand on his heart. "It's so sweet that you believe that. I don't have long so here." He glanced at the clock behind me before pressing a piece of paper in my hand. "This man has what you need to put my brother and his dad in prison for a long time. Also, your office is bugged."

My eyes widened at the last part. "You say that now?"

Winking, he walks out of the door. "You better start investigating," he calls back.

***

After finding five microphones, I stormed into the director's office with them in hand and slammed them on his desk. "I don't even want an explanation, and I'm sure you heard my conversation with Ghost. So here's my offer. Give me 48 hours, and I will have Ghost arrested."

He crossed his arms calmly. "You had weeks, and you couldn't do it."

Fair point.

"You don't plan on completely stopping Sinners, right?" An eyebrow raised at my statement, letting me know I had guessed correctly. "You just don't want the illegal market to be mainly controlled by international organizations, and that's Ghost's plan."

"I have people arresting his members as we speak."

"That doesn't mean you'll find him guilty of anything."

"And what crime will you find find?"

"Murder."

There was a heavy pause as he stared at me in disbelief. "You would need indisputable proof. We know he's killed people, but Sinners' lawyers are hard to fight against."