Twisted Fixation

『 Chapter 43 』

The letter only contained a few words:

We know what really happened to Juan Carlos Rivera three years ago. We are coming for you.

It had been two days since Cassius bugged the captain's office, but according to Giancarlo's men, they couldn't capture any conversations related to what they were looking for.

He has considered that it is because of either of the two reasons. One, Miller Jones is aware that his office has been bugged; Or two, he goes somewhere else to discuss it with the people involved, which is highly likely considering that the captain has been going out of the office frequently lately.

Cassius massaged his temples, feeling the weight of frustration and uncertainty. He couldn't help but wonder if they were doing the right thing or whether they were even on the right track. The thought that Yuri is out there and risking her life is making him anxious, and he wants to make sure that her efforts are not in vain.

But no matter how deeply he delved into the case, he couldn't find anything else aside from the information they had already gathered.

"Is it just me, or has the captain been going out a lot lately?" a colleague asked, breaking his train of thought.

He shrugged his shoulders at that. "Yeah, I noticed that too; maybe he is being summoned by the top brass."

He did not say anything more, as he didn't want to give away any speculation that he was observing the captain discreetly.

Just in time, he saw Captain Miller Jones go out of his office and walk in their direction. He stopped a few meters away from his table and looked at them with a serious expression.

"Gentlemen, it must have been a great wonder to all of you as to why I have been going out of the office lately," Captain Miller began, his voice filled with authority. "There are certain matters that require my attention outside of these walls, but know that whenever you need me for anything, do not hesitate to approach or contact me."

Cassius remained impassive while the others nodded in understanding. It sounds to him like confirmation that the captain is meeting someone somewhere else. The idea of following him suddenly occurred to him, but he couldn't do it without planning and potentially compromising their mission. He couldn't afford to let his impulsiveness get the better of him.

"It's not just me who is worried about you, captain, so if you need help, do not hesitate to reach out to any of us," he said with a voice laced with fake concern, but it seems it worked as Captain Miller Jones's face brightened up.

"Thank you for your concern, Sullivan. I trust that you are all taking care of the precinct while I am not here."

He just smiled at that and watched as the captain walked away, leaving them among themselves.

He needs to figure out soon what to do next, as it is already a matter of life and death and a race against time.

***

When they returned to the hotel, Valentin had already made some of the weapons, including the tracker. Yuri couldn't help but admire him every time, as Valentin's expertise in weapon customization was truly impressive.

No wonder that the two of them, along with Gillian, had always been a dangerous trio, even in the opinion of their co-mercenaries in SGA.

This time, he made another hairpin that could be used as a knife, although it was smaller compared to the one she already has. But despite its size, it's sharper and more discreet, making it a perfect tool for self-defense in unexpected situations.

"But I am more proud of this," Valentin said as he laid down a velvet box on the table. Yuri's curiosity peaked as she saw him open it to reveal small objects that looked similar to nail claws because of their shape and size.

"As much as possible, we are aiming for weapons that look like ordinary objects only so that they can be easily concealed and not draw attention," Valentin explained.

"These may look like harmless accessories, but they are actually sharp too and infused with poison, just in case you would be attacked by multiple people. It would not kill them, but they should be paralyzed for a few minutes."

Yuri was in awe as she tried to put one on her nail and realized how seamlessly natural it was. No one would suspect that such a thing is dangerous or poisoned.

"Regarding the tracker, Yuri, I just want to remind you that it sounds simple but it's actually more than that. Putting it inside you is the easy part, but removing it requires surgery as I need to open you up, locate it, and carefully extract it without causing any harm. It's going to leave a scar, and you'll need to take proper care of the wound afterwards to ensure it heals properly."

She just nodded at that. A scar on her body is not something she really cares about as long as she is able to achieve her purpose. Additionally, working as a mercenary has earned her some scars on her body already, and adding one more wouldn't make much of a difference to her.

There was a knock on the door, and it opened, revealing Giancarlo, accompanied by Favio.

"When are we going to do this?" Giancarlo asked her.

"I do not want to spoil our outing like last time, so let's do it tomorrow. Anyway, I am also beat," Yuri answered with a tired smile. She knew that postponing the task would give her more time to mentally prepare and go over everything she needed to know. Plus, with all the walking they did, a good night's rest would be really good.

Giancarlo nodded in agreement. "Well, do you want to go to the spa or our bedroom? I had some people clean it, and they even changed the sheets."

Valentin refrained from showing his surprise that the two were sharing the same room. He knew that it was common for teammates to share accommodations during missions, but he hadn't expected it in this case, especially since the mafia boss booked the whole hotel just for them.

It seems that it's not entirely true when Yuri says that it was only a professional partnership. If George could only hear the conversation right now, he would certainly lose his mind.

"Well yeah, a good night's sleep sounds better. Goodnight, godfather. I am excited to wear these tomorrow," Yuri said, walking in his direction to give him a hug. Giancarlo's brow raised at that, but he didn't say anything.

Yuri was the only one who left the room, and Valentin braced himself for what the mafia boss might say next. He knew that Giancarlo had a tendency to be unpredictable, and he couldn't help but wonder if Yuri's display of affection had struck a nerve with him.

"I did not get the chance to personally thank you for coming all the way here despite the work you need to do in Cambodia," Giancarlo started.

Valentin smiled at that. "Just like George, I think of Yuri as my daughter, so please do not mention it. I would've still come even though George would disapprove. I just do not want to have to explain a lot when I come back."

Giancarlo grinned at that. Knowing that Yuri has someone like this man whom she can trust and rely on made him feel a sense of relief. It was clear that Valentin's dedication to Yuri's well-being was unwavering, and he couldn't help but admire him for it.

"I am thrilled to see what you have created for her this time. The hairpin last time was good. I had to have my shoulder stitched by my doctor and she was even able to leave a scratch on my neck. A little bit deeper and she could've killed me already."

Valentin's eyes widened at that. He couldn't believe the extent of the danger Yuri had unknowingly put herself in.

"But don't worry, I have already forgiven her for that a long time ago. Make sure that the preparations tomorrow will be done with utmost care and attention to detail. We can't afford any of your weapons to fail. It's crucial that everything goes smoothly to ensure Yuri's safety."

Before he was able to stop himself, Valentin had already said the question he had been holding back. "Are you interested in her, Signor Costa?"

His question hung in the air, and Giancarlo's expression turned serious. "She's an alluring woman, Mr. Sidorov. But I do not think it would matter regardless of what I feel about her because her focus is solely on her mission."