Tainted Vows | Book 1 'Til Death Do Us Part Duet | Mafia Romance | 18+

Chapter 26

Dominic

"Have you fallen for your wife?"

Kai's lazy voice filled in hauling me out of my thoughts.
"What?" I didn't even hear him coming in.
He rolled his eyes letting out a frustrating sigh.
"I called you twice."
I don't respond to him.

"So, you didn't find him?" Roman drawled.
Kai shook his head plopping himself on the couch.

"Boss?" Ivan's voice came from the other side of the door followed by a knock.

"Come in."

He strolled in, Phoenix and Max trailing behind him.

As always Phoenix is dressed comfy in his hoodie and a packet of chips in his hands. Whereas Max looks happy casually strolling in both his hands inside the trousers pockets, whistling low.

Phoenix waves his packet in Kai's direction the latter almost swallowing the whole packet. It's a thing between them that I won't understand ever because Kai is a health freak. He likes no scratch that, he loves to eat healthy and yet he stuffs his mouth with snacks from Phoenix.

"Why are we here?" Ivan inquiries making himself comfortable on the couch.
"We are back to Dominic's investigation," Max replies.
Ivan nods silently. 

"Where's D?" Ivan implores.
"Out of town." Phoenix fills him. D is short for Diego and only Ivan calls him that.

"Isn't it a year now since you have been hunting him?" Max implored Kai filling two glasses with whiskey. He settles one in front of me, other gulps. 
"Tell me about it. The bastard is good at hiding." Kai grumbled. "Just wait till I get my hands on him. I'll skin him alive." His eyes glint dangerously. If there's one thing Kai loves it's the chase.

"Why is he good at hiding? Is he keeping tabs on us?" Ivan prompts.
"More like someone is protecting him," Phoenix mumbles munching on the chips.
My head snapped at that. All of us pause and stare at Phoenix.

"What did you say?" Kai's voice is accusing. He grabs the packet from Phoenix's hand.
"Give it to me you bastard." Phoenix lunged at Kai.

"Phoenix," I call him and he halts "repeat what you said."

"What? It's possible."

We all exchange glances focusing on him.
"I mean look, he" he points at Kai "has been on the bastard's tail for a year. We all know what Ghost can do. So why does he escape whenever we are this close to catching him? It means one thing he is being watched by someone we are not aware of." He grabs his packet and resumes to fill his mouth with more chips.

Kai looks at me.
That silent conversation between us is thrilling. I know what he is pointing at.

"The Mexicans, do you think," Max doesn't finish the sentence voicing mine and Kai's silent conversation.
"It can be." Roman finishes his doubt.
"You mean there's someone out there who is acting like the puppet master?" Phoenix interrogates.
"Uh-huh. The motherfuckers don't know with whom they are messing with. Oh, I can't wait for this." Ivan cracks his fingers.

"What was his last location?" I enquire Kai.
"The cheap motel downtown."
"Have you checked it?" Roman asks rubbing his jaw.
"Done and dusted. No clues."
"Cameras? Card payments?" Phoenix cuts in.
"If it was there you would have been the first one I would contacted," Kai replies obviously.
"True."
"He's clean. Never paid with cards, always cash. Never stayed at one place more than a week."
"What about his family?"
"Don't have any."

Why do I always come back to square one when it's about this case? Does she not want me to give her justice? I don't want to give up like my old man did. Without any clues, he had finally given up on the case. On her. But I can't. I have to find him even if I've to sell my soul for it. Maybe I did.

"Fuck." Kai bellowed.
"What? You missed something?" I cock my head narrowing my eyes and seizing him up and down.
"There was a camera." He can't believe he made a mistake he rakes his hand in his newly grown hair.

"What? You said there weren't any cameras." Roman shot at him.
"There weren't any in the corridors."
"Then?" Ivan asked suspiciously.
"In the bathroom. While I was exiting I saw the owner at the desk watching porn. Now that I think of it he was gawking the guests."
"Sick pervert," Phoenix grumbled.

"I'm gonna head out." Kai gets up ready to leave.

"There's a charity gala tomorrow. You are attending?" Max shoots.
"Hmm." My mind reverts to yesterday when I made Liliana agree.
"We should be vigilant then." Roman gets up stretching his muscles.

"Kai, you are coming with me for the gala," I inform Kai.
"Deal." He whistles.

"You sure you'll make it to tomorrow we have a gala waiting." Ivan annoys Kai.
"You bet." Kai snorts.
"He's a Ghost for a reason, Ivan." Roman snickers.
"Good luck." Phoenix gives him a Cheshire cat smile.
"As if I'll need any," Kai mutters escaping the room. Before he exits he casts a glance at me. His eyes vow with the thrill of conviction. 

"I have a bad feeling for tomorrow." Max confides.
"You and your gut should stay here then." Roman glares at him but behind the facade I see the worry clouding in his eyes as he cast a glance at me. Ivan and Phoenix chuckles.
"Shut up you both." Max is annoyed and Roman looks smug.

I swirl the whiskey in my glass my mind void with unspoken words.

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It's short I know.
But I wanted to give the boys more space.