Chapter 43
Ivan's car was filled with his scent making my decision taste like sand in my mouth. I kept driving miles away from the man who my heart yearned for. Every time my thoughts strayed to him I silently chastised myself. I had to focus it was either do or die.
Given that his security system was overriden no one would be able to come in from the outside unless he let them in. Given his state it wouldn't be any time soon and so he was safe. It gave me enough time to figure out what the deal with Suarez was.
I reached the location Suarez had given to find a mansion in the middle of nowhere.
Without a pin the place was likely not easy to locate.
I dropped him a quick text doing a quick check around the premises.
The gate had no guards but every instinct in me said otherwise. There was this eerie feeling around.
I was being watched from the roof on the left side. A silhouette of a six foot two man with a nine millimeter was concealed in the shadows.
Was it an ambush? It did look like it.
I started coming up with reasons Suarez would want to ambush me. No it couldn't be he was way too infatuated with me to set me up. It was meant for Ivan. He despised him that much. Meaning if I stepped out of the car without him they wouldn't shoot. Considering they needed Ivan alive.
Still seated in the car I watched all the possible exits in the mansion. The house had more than six windows given its structure and a back door. My eyes glued to the darkness outside when a beep distracted me. Suarez.
"I think the girl is being kept in the house." The text read.
He was lying. Mariya was nowhere near the premises Ivan would never let it happen.
My suspicion grew every minute that passed by.
I thought it was best if I turned and left the car was bullet proof if they decided to shoot at me.
There was silence around me my brain coming with different possibilities for me to flee or investigate.
A knock on the window made me alert already making the choice for me.
My fingers brushed the gun on my waist and we locked eyes with the bulky man.
He must have been six two given how he had to bend to get into an eye level with me.
The glass was tinted but he still managed to look me straight in the eye.
He gestured for me to step out of the car.
I configured the car to immobilize the engine, locked all doors, and activated alarms if within twenty four hours if I was not back.
"Hand me your gun," he said. The thick Italian accent made me extra alert given the only man who was connected with Italian drug lords was Vance Marchetti. Whatever lead Suarez claimed he had acquired was good or it was a very big mistake. For both our sake I prayed it wasn't the latter.
I handed my gun to the guy and he still trapped me on the hood of the car and frisked me.
Satisfied I was unarmed he led me toward the large gates.
Every step we took inside the mansion was a step closer to exposing such a big syndicate or closer to my death.
Once inside he led me in a mahogany inspired office.
The wood was a contrast compared with the painting on the walls.
I was left to my own devices and he shut the door behind me.
I start doing a quick once over in the office trying to see if there was anything I could find.
I had searched for about five minutes to no avail when the latch on the door moved.
I made haste to stand directly at the painting of blood dripping down someone's neck.
It was a horrid painting and I believe so must be the owner.
The door swung open exposing the white haired man who cleared his throat and I turned around.
This must be the famous Romano Marchetti a man whose reputation exceeded himself.
He was a crafty man with good looks yet stealth with a dagger.
Having had Samurai training in the ten years he spent in Japan.
He was rumored to have been part of the Yakuza while he was there making him a prime drug lord when he returned to Italy.
Even with rumors circulating about him no solid evidence has ever been strong enough to detain him.
If it was, his influence with who he knew let him out in less than an hour.
Apart from Ivan Bratan he is one of the most feared mafia bosses the underworld has ever had.
It is also rumored he is the one who practically raised Ivan if not mentored him.
"Detective Kayde Williams, are you done with psychoanalyzing me or do I need a consultation apart from this particular one?" his voice boomed with sarcasm. If I was naive I would have taken lightly the man's words but he meant what he said.
"That won't be necessary Mr Marchetti it's a pleasure to finally lay my eyes on you," I said quietly.
"We both know you lie. I had no idea down at the precinct deceit is one of their specialty."
He walked across the room making no show to sit.
"I have no intention to deceive you. I am simply in awe to stand in your presence. There is a lot I've heard about you." My guts churned at the disgusting flattery. With men like him you ought to be five times craftier.
He broke out into a laugh tracing circles with his fingers on a painting where a man stared at a cliff and another reached out to push him.
"You must be wondering why you have been brought here but you need not wonder no more. I am not one to play cat and mouse such childish antics when I have such a worthy opponent."
I made a few steps towards him and stood next to him where we both stood having a clear view of the painting.
"You hold me in such high regard Mr Marchetti when I'm only as mighty as a man can be even if it means being considered a mouse," I retorted.
"Well said. Detective Williams have you ever read of the commandment that says thou shall not covet?" He questioned.
I cleared my throat grimly and gathered my thoughts.
"Of course it is wise to be satisfied with what you have," I responded.
"Indeed. You see every painting in this room has a story to tell. Specifically this one. It reminds me of a man who wasn't satisfied with what he had and maybe a jump down the cliff would make him appreciate the view he had from the top," he warned.
His message was very clear to decipher knowing what he meant.
"I simply do not understand," I feigned.
He put his hand on my shoulder and turned to me my whole body stiffening at the contact.
"My son Vance does not take it kindly when it comes to sharing what belongs to him. Unfortunately if you covet his items you end up as one of these paintings on this wall and nothing more. I feel saddened that an exemplary detective like yourself may now be part of an art exhibition."