Twisted Fixation

『 Chapter 35 』

Part III: When rogues go in procession, the devil carries the cross

With the things that happened back in Giancarlo Costa's territory, Cassius thought that he was currently living his second life, as he still couldn't believe that the mafia boss would let him go, although he assumed that his phone had been bugged or perhaps, he had his people hiding in the shadows, watching his every move.

If he could be honest with himself, he wouldn't prefer to work alongside the mafia if it weren't for Yuri, who seemed to trust the boss implicitly.

He had seen firsthand the power and influence that Giancarlo Costa held, and he knew that having the mafia boss as an ally could be advantageous in certain situations. The FBI couldn't even touch him and his family.

However, deep down, Cassius couldn't shake off the constant feeling of unease and suspicion that came with being associated with such a dangerous figure.

"I was told that some gang members beat you up while you were out but unfortunately, there was no surveillance footage in that area. Were you able to recognize anyone?"

Cassius forced a smile, seeing the worried look on Captain Miller Jones's face. The person he used to respect until he saw his name on Yuri's notebook.

"I was not able to and please do not worry about it. I do feel good now and there are more criminals out there who need our attention more. Is there any development about the case of Captain Elijah Smith?" he asked, faking a curious face.

He saw a flicker of fear passed by the captain's face but he quickly shook his head.

"It is still under investigation and it seems like the mafia is involved but nothing is still certain."

He just quietly nodded at that, remembering how Giancarlo blatantly admitted that he was the one who killed the captain for using his name to deal drugs.

If he was just able to record that, that would be enough reason to put the mafia boss behind bars, but times have changed. He doesn't want to admit it, as it crashes his pride as a police officer, but in order to fix the system, he needs the power and influence of someone untouchable like Giancarlo Costa.

"Oh, before I forgot, we received news from the Commissioner's office that there will be a party tonight and our whole squad is invited. They intend to reward our precinct for having the least number of crimes for this year."

Cassius widened his eyes at that. That just means that he would have the opportunity to meet Commissioner Kelley. He hasn't figured out yet how such an encounter would be helpful to Yuri, but it could be a good start.

***

Days passed in a blur, and Yuri busied herself honing her combat and gun skills. It had been a while since she had been outside for some action, and she couldn't afford to let her skills get rusty.

She spent hours at the shooting range, meticulously perfecting her aim and speed. Giancarlo was kind enough to let her use all of the facilities in the villa, so she intends to utilize them while he is still being generous to her.

The adrenaline rush of a real mission was something she craved, and she knew that staying sharp was crucial for her survival. While she aimed at the dummy targets in front of her, she was instead imagining that those were the heads of her enemies.

"You have been here since morning, according to the maids, Signorina. It's already seven in the evening."  She turned to see Favio at the doorway. He was dressed in a sharp suit, his expression a mix of concern and amusement. She realized that she had lost track of time, completely absorbed in her training.