The remnants of Grace Brennan

5| Eighteen and big decisions

New Port, 04 August 2017.

Birthdays were never a lavish affair for the Brennan family. Money was always tight, and Norma and Frank never paid much attention to such celebrations. But for Owen, his sister Grace's creativity always made his special day memorable. Sitting at the breakfast table, he couldn't help but miss her presence. He wondered what she would have planned for him this year. Maybe a heartfelt lecture about his involvement with the mafia? He would gladly welcome it with open arms if it meant he could see her and talk to her again. Shaking off the thoughts of Grace, he finished his breakfast and headed to Victor's office. Vincent had been away in New York, and Owen was instructed to train with Victor until his return. However, something felt off. Victor wasn't himself, and anyone with eyes could see it.

Entering Victor's office, Owen was taken aback to see him dressed in dark denim jeans and a black short-sleeved t-shirt that revealed his tattooed arms. It was a rare sight to see Victor deviate from his signature black Armani suit.

"Good morning," Victor greeted, a smile on his face. "Happy birthday," he added.

"Thank you," Owen nodded. "Are you taking the day off?"

"No," Victor chuckled. "I just didn't want to get one of my suits dirty. We should get going if you're ready."

"Yeah, where are we going?" Owen asked as he followed Victor out of the office, descending the stairs.

"Elliot's got some information on Demani through one of his contacts," Victor explained quickly as they approached the waiting black Mercedes.

The drive to Elliot's brothel was silent. Owen stared out of the window, hoping and praying that this lead would finally bring them closer to finding Demani. For the past month, they had been tirelessly searching for his whereabouts so Victor could exact his revenge and bring Grace back home. But each attempt fell short.

Elliot stood outside, eagerly awaiting the presence of the king, as he always did whenever Victor visited his establishments. The sycophantic behavior was starting to grate on Victor's nerves, but Elliot still needed his casino, and Victor had yet to fulfill his end of the bargain.

"Welcome back, sir. It's been too long since you last visited us," Elliot greeted with a smile as Victor and Owen stepped out of the vehicle.

"Elliot, you remember my brother-in-law, Owen," Victor said, brushing off Elliot's comment.

"I do!" Elliot beamed, shaking Owen's hand. "Perhaps there are a few girls here that you'd like to get acquainted with, Owen," he said, giving him a sly smile.

"We don't have much time, Elliot. Where is the girl?" Victor interjected, growing impatient.

"Right this way," Elliot smiled, leading them into the brothel.

The interior of the brothel was adorned with deep reds and purple velvet. Topless women smiled and mingled with the patrons, creating an atmosphere that combined the allure of a brothel with an Eastern touch of luxury. Elliot guided the men to a small table in a common area, where a petite blonde with a pixie cut and vibrant red lipstick sat, sipping a brown liquid through a straw. Her black lace lingerie left little to the imagination.

"This is Candy," Elliot introduced, as Owen and Victor took their seats opposite her.

"Tell us what you know," Victor demanded, skipping the pleasantries.

"I used to work at a small, lousy strip club in New York. The tips weren't great, so I provided extra services to my clients during my free time," Candy began. "That's where I met a man, but I don't know his name. After a few drinks and some cocaine, he started spilling his secrets. He told me he was about to come into a fortune, having finally discovered his father's identity. His brother, Alonzo Demani, would supposedly make things right for him."

"Do you remember anything about him, like his name or any distinguishing features?" Victor pressed.

"No, sir," Candy replied, sounding disappointed. "But I do recall he had a red arrow tattoo just above his elbow. Unfortunately, I can't remember which arm it was on."

"Do you know if he's still in New York?" Victor inquired.

"This was about three months ago, so I assume he is," Candy replied.

"Thank you," Victor said, rising from his seat. Owen followed suit, feeling a tinge of disappointment. They were no closer to finding Demani than they were when they set out that morning.

"You look upset," Victor observed as they drove home.

"We're no closer to putting an end to this than we were a month ago," Owen confessed, sounding defeated.

"Getting this information was a step forward. I'll have Sergio keep an eye out for this guy in New York. It may not seem like much, but it's progress," Victor reassured him.

"How can you stay so calm?" Owen asked, his tone harsher than intended. "Grace is all alone in a city she's never been to, without anyone she knows. It's been a whole month, and I miss her. I want my sister back, and everything we're doing just seems to be prolonging her return."

"You think I don't miss her? Every fucking second, I feel like I'm being torn apart. Every day without her is agonizing. She's all I think about, day in and day out. I can't sleep, I can't breathe without her. I know you miss her, and you want her back. Believe me, I'd burn the fucking world down to have her by my side again. But I won't risk putting her in danger. This is the safest option until we find Demani and put an end to this," Victor said, looking at Owen. He understood firsthand what it felt like to yearn for Grace's presence, and being separated from her all this time was an unbearable pain.