Blood and Roses

15 | If I Can't Have Her

~Angelo

We must embark on our research concerning Felix with utmost urgency. Regrettably, time is not on our side. Should he indeed make an appearance at my casino last night, it’s evident that he’s closing in rapidly and holds a concealed advantage. The information regarding the mysterious explosive he carried in his pocket remains elusive, but it’s imperative that I uncover every detail. Fortunately, I had Camila as my steadfast companion throughout this ordeal, provided our interests remained aligned. Her presence was indispensable in the face of Felix’s impending threat. It goes without saying that I would never exploit her support merely for protection against Felix. Her decision to aid me when I sought her help was a testament to our mutual affection, which meant the world to me.

Camila emerged from her bedroom, her weariness evident as she let out a soft yawn, and wearily rubbed her eyes. She settled next to me at the counter, casting a curious glance over my shoulder to observe my activities. With a swift motion, she reached out and picked up the file folder positioned nearby, expertly flipping it open to review its contents: my entire dossier on Felix.

For the past year, one of my loyal associates had been working undercover, posing as a member of the Inferno Syndicate, all to keep a watchful eye on Felix. However, the flow of information from this undercover source had ceased for several weeks, and anxiety began to gnaw at me. It was always a precarious endeavor, using a member of my mafia to spy on Felix. There were no guarantees that he wouldn’t uncover our plan. And so, my worries intensified. What if he had discovered the truth? Was my member unharmed, or had they met a dire fate?

“So, this is all about Felix, huh? I must admit, I’m rather intrigued. Where exactly did you manage to acquire all of this?”

“You see, there’s this guy, Wayne Piñeda, one of my mafia folks. He’s been undercover, playing the role of an Inferno Syndicate member. He used to send me regular updates on whatever he could dig up, making sure nobody from their side or even Felix himself got a whiff of it. But lately, it’s been a barren stretch. No messages, no info from Wayne for weeks. Something tells me Felix might be onto him.”

“Is that why you’ve been so curious about Felix lately?”

“Listen up, and listen carefully. Yeah, the whole undercover thing is part of it, but it’s not the whole story. Like I already warned you before, Felix has been MIA for two long months, but last night, he made a grand entrance at my casino. Now, that’s a major issue on its own because he’s on the hunt for me, specifically. He had an explosive in his pocket yesterday. I hope you ain’t so drunk that you forgot about that little detail.”

“The only detail that slipped my radar was the fact that one of your mafia members is undercover in the Inferno Syndicate. Other than that, well, everything else isn’t exactly news to me.”

“Figured as much. Look, I need to find a way to reach Felix without him turning my face into a punching bag the moment we cross paths. I gotta get a grip on his intentions, Camila, but I’m clueless on how to do it without risking my neck.”

As Camila meticulously sifted through the file folder, I found myself engrossed in a similar pursuit, sifting through a mountain of papers before me. Unfortunately, nothing seemed to align with my own intentions. I’m on a mission to reach out to Felix, to unravel his plans, understand his moves, and discern his intentions. It’s undoubtedly a perilous undertaking, but an unavoidable one. I sense the imminent danger, an impending showdown where one of us may meet our end. It’s him or me, and I’m determined it won’t be me. Yet, reaching that point will require an immense amount of effort: extensive research, strategic planning, rigorous training, and channeling every ounce of strength to permanently deal with Felix. Presently, we find ourselves in the most tedious phase of all: research.