Chapter 44
"Ivan there is a warrant for your arrest. It is all over the news," Ramon said with dread. Things were beginning to get out of hand. If anything the grave expression on his face was all I needed to know it was bad.
"Incriminating evidence which was planted against you is trending all over. There are so many demanding for your arrest. If we get through this it may even take months to prove your innocence ," he added.
Ramon's words drowned in my ears my mind occupied by only a particular detective. It had been hours and no sign of Kayde. My phone buzzed the alarm in my car going off.
Kayde. Something was wrong with him. Tracing the coordinates to the location the car went off Ramon's eyes met mine and the worry in them shone.
"The detective is in danger. I need to get to him!"
Ramon began pacing around the room his hand massaging his temples. His anger seething.
"Him, that man who left you in the middle of nowhere completely vulnerable.
That bastard doesn't care about you. He only gives a damn about his glory as a detective and solving the case.
If I have to I will lock you in this house make sure you don't end behind bars chasing after a man who treats your worth like some piece of shit.
There is a bounty on your head. For God's sake be reasonable. You are going nowhere Ivan!" his words final.
At a different time I would have admired his braveness maybe even applauded it but it was not at the expense of Kayde's life. I stood up facing Ramon. His eyes trained on me watching my every move like a predator.
"Listen, I was the last person to be seen with the detective.
However this goes I'm already in deep shit.
If something happens to him I will still be under the eyes of the law.
So no matter what I do right now I have to find Kayde and save him or else we may be talking about a kidnapping and murder of a renowned detective," I reasoned.
"Fuck," he mumbled under his breath. With that we both had come to a mutual understanding. I had to device a plan. There was no way I could be looking for the detective with all the men in blue after me.
"How is Mariya doing?" I asked. His eyes found mine immediately dread spreading. I knew the words he wanted to say the defiance was clear as day.
"We don't have another option brother mine.
It is time and this is the only way out.
Whoever set this plan was definitely laying a trap for the detective and I.
They did not expect that Detective Williams would act on his own accord.
The second plan of action was to incriminate me of both charges if I had been in the same location with him.
Murder would be the latter charge. Now that the game is messed up we can take advantage as initially planned.
Bring Mariya to the public eye. It will keep them busy.
We prepared for her to appear when time came but it seems time is no longer an asset we can afford. "
I could sense the wheels in Ramon's head turning. All possible outcomes playing.
"I am only agreeing to this because it allows me to keep both sister and you safe. If there was another alternative I would let that selfish detective perish and I wouldn't even bat an eye. Only for you Atticus," he swore.
I cursed hearing him call me by my name. If everything went as planned I would take them both. Leave the city walk away from this life that put them in danger. Move somewhere lively, a nice family home probably with a ranch.
"I'm meeting up with Vance he may have something to do with Kayde's disappearance. Take care of the business to do with Mariya."
Ramon nodded his head in agreement and off he went without a word. By the clenched fists and shallow breath he took as he left was enough to tell me he was doing his best controlling his anger. I understood how he felt yet throughout the years my emotions have never gotten the best of me.
He might assume my reason for interest in rescuing the captured detective was because I was in love with him but he was mistaken.
Love. What a strong word however my main drive was the lair of Vance's father.
Marchetti never had meetings in his den that is how he stayed safe in turbulent times. I was determined to find it.
Although the plan to capture the detective and I went south Vance had to be the one behind it. I drove to the address in his business card hoping that sick bastard had to be home.
His home wasn't fortified as you'd expect from the son of one of the biggest drug lords to exist. Looks can be deceiving a concept I approved of especially when you noticed mouths of rifles hidden from plain eye sight. As welcoming as his security was they were lethal without a doubt.
I knew what he wanted from me and that is exactly what I was going to give him. Vance Marchetti was no fool but I needed to keep him distracted long enough to get what I wanted.
"If it isn't Ivan Bratan, finally you decide to grace me with your lovely presence," he mused. Even with his theatrics I could read him clear as day. His words were a threat and vaguely surprised.
"Do you personally receive visitors whenever they come?" I inquired.
His laugh was chilling, his smile wide revealing his cunning personality.
"No, no, no. Only for you." His words were meant to comfort me or evoke a certain emotion in me instead it made me nauseous to the core.
My mouth met his before I could change my mind.
I knew what he wanted and to ensure I left knowing the detective's whereabouts I had to comply.
The car tracker had shown his coordinates as soon as the alarm had gone off.
Thirty minutes later it was in a new location the previous one completely erased and the only easier option to find him was Vance.
His tongue darting in my mouth brought me back to how dire the situation was.
"Let's take this somewhere more private."