Chapter 44
-DAMIAN-
While getting dressed, I thought of how things between Millicent and I shifted from platonic to this volatile attraction. It could either make me or break me. Millicent was important to my family; if I am not careful, I would lose more than I am willing to risk. And despite all the risk involved, I still wouldn’t change a thing about last night, the smile permanently etched on my face reveals how this upgrade in our relationship pleased me.
I didn’t want to ruin the excellent start of my day by crossing paths with Candice, so I took my sweet time getting ready for work.
She’s my sister, and I would always love her even though we didn’t see eye to eye on things, but she had been a pain in my a ss. I would never hear the end of it if Millicent had already told her what happened between us.
Girls and their gossip. Tell me all about it.
When I was sure the girls were gone, I headed to the kitchen and made coffee.
Riggs walked in while I was filling my mug with coffee. I frowned. I told him to drive Millicent to the city and stay with her until she’s back. “Why are you not with Millicent?”
“Gianni Molina picked them up.” He rubbed the back of his neck.
Riggs was a big guy, full-bearded with army-cut hair. His dark gray tee looked about to reap on the seams from containing his tanker body. He would pass for a wrestling star, and if this were another situation, the sight of him unable to meet my eyes would’ve made me laugh, but his news just ruined my entire day.
“Why the f uck didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“They just left, Riggs explained.
I clenched my fist, molars grating.
Something about Gianni Molina unsettles me. Sure, I hated how he looked at Millicent, it was like he wanted to take her home and keep her to himself, and yes, I hated the guy for being close to her, but it was the way he looked at me last night. He was clearly taunting me. As if he knew something I didn’t, and I hated not knowing who I was up against.
“Get me everything you can get on Gianni Molina.” I took a sip of my coffee just to get busy. My hands were itching to land
strike on the island.
“Here’s what I have so far.” Riggs pulled out his phone, and an encrypted file flashed on my screen.
I perused the file. He knew Millicent and Candice since college, and the three of them stuck together until he began working for their family business about two years ago. Oceanlink Shipping. My lips pursed. So he was from old money. Oceanlink Shipping is one of the oldest companies in Sicily. They’ve already penetrated the import and export in almost all
continents.
“He’s clean,” Riggs murmured, coming around the island, helping himself to a cup of coffee.
“Too f ucking clean.”
“I already have Mon’s guy on him,” Riggs sat across from me, plucking the cloche from the island. Under it was a plate of English breakfast. Riggs looked at me questioningly. “You gonna eat this?”
I shook my head, and he gobbled up the food like he hadn’t eaten in days.
“How did it go?” Danny asked from the driver’s seat, waiting patiently for my response.
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Chapter 43
She gnawed on her lower lip, “Except that I do.”
“I’m not taking any chances, Millicent.”
She knowing arguing would be futile. “I have to get ready.”
I looped an arm around her waist. “We have time.”
Her eyes lit up. “We don’t. Candice would know what we’re doing in here. She was breathless.
I reluctantly stepped, eyes feasting on her body. “She knows not to meddle with my business.”
I couldn’t help but pull Millicent for a scorching kiss, groaning at her sweet taste. She moaned, tossing her arms around my neck, rubbing her body against mine.
F ucking hell. She felt so good. I playfully bit her lower lip and let her go. “Go now while I’m letting you.”
Her giggle as she stepped into that white dress was music to my ears.
Chapter 44
-DAMIAN-
While getting dressed, I thought of how things between Millicent and I shifted from platonic to this volatile attraction. It could either make me or break me. Millicent was important to my family; if I am not careful, I would lose more than I am willing to risk. And despite all the risk involved, I still wouldn’t change a thing about last night; the smile permanently etched on my face reveals how this upgrade in our relationship pleased me.
I didn’t want to ruin the excellent start of my day by crossing paths with Candice, so I took my sweet time getting ready for work
She’s my sister, and I would always love her even though we didn’t see eye to eye on things, but she had been a pain in my a ss. I would never hear the end of it if Millicent had already told her what happened between us.
Girls and their gossip. Tell me all about it.
When I was sure the girls were gone, I headed to the kitchen and made coffee.
Riggs walked in while I was filling my mug with coffee. I frowned. I told him to drive Millicent to the city and stay with her until she’s back. “Why are you not with Millicent?”
“Gianni Molina picked them up.” He rubbed the back of his neck
Riggs was a big guy, full-bearded with army-cut hair. His dark gray tee looked about to reap on the seams from containing his tanker body. He would pass for a wrestling star, and if this were another situation, the sight of him unable to meet my eyes would’ve made me laugh, but his news just ruined my entire day.
“Why the f uck didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“They just left.” Riggs explained.
1 clenched my fist, molars grating.
Something about Gianni Molina unsettles me. Sure, I hated how he looked at Millicent; it was like he wanted to take her home and keep her to himself, and yes. I hated the guy for being close to her, but it was the way he looked at me last night. He was clearly taunting me. As if he knew something I didn’t, and I hated not knowing who I was up against.
“Get me everything you can get on Gianni Molina.” I took a sip of my coffee just to get busy. My hands were itching to land a strike on the island.
“Here’s what I have so far.” Riggs pulled out his phone, and an encrypted file flashed on my screen.
I perused the file. He knew Millicent and Candice since college, and the three of them stuck together until he began working for their family business about two years ago. Oceanlink Shipping. My lips pursed. So he was from old money. Oceanlink Shipping is one of the oldest companies in Sicily. They’ve already penetrated the import and export in almost all
continents.
“He’s clean,” Riggs murmured, coming around the island, helping himself to a cup of coffee.
“Too f ucking clean.”
“I already have Mon’s guy on him,” Riggs sat across from me, plucking the cloche from the island. Under it was a plate of English breakfast. Riggs looked at me questioningly. “You gonna eat this?”
I shook my head, and he gobbled up the food like he hadn’t eaten in days.
“How did it go?” Danny asked from the driver’s seat, waiting patiently for my response.
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Chapter 44
“Things started off, but it ended well,” I said, knuckles pressed on my lips, elbows resting on the open windows of the jeep.
“What do you mean it started off?” Since I dragged him out of California, Danny knew my plan of surprising Millicent. Apart from overseeing the turnover of the Belmont Hotel to Silverio, we were in California for a crucial matter concerning Millicent as well.
I told him about Gianni and what Riggs had found out.
“You worried about the stories surrounding Oceanlink Shipping” Danny asked.
For the longest time, I handled every security matter for Black Holdings. I partnered up with people like Mon and a lot more. And in the long run, I ventured into a private security business as well, opening up a small security company focusing on providing protection for individuals.
It opened my mind to the dangerous part of the world. Drugs, human trafficking, gun smuggling, gun for hire. Although my company was small, with only thirty men under my payroll, specializing in personal security, I had to be armed with knowledge to provide the proper protection for my clients.
of the
And the family behind Oceanlink was one of the most dangerous families in Sicily. They were said to be one part Sicilian mafia. I didn’t know enough details about them, but most influential people avoid confrontations with them.
“A bit. But Gianni was a Molina, and the Oceanlink is run by the Romano family?”
“Last I checked, yeah…” Danny murmured, parking the car in front of Black Holdings.
“Riggs already has Mon’s guy digging on Gianni Molina,” I said, sliding out of the car.
In the office. Mon was already waiting for us in one of the conference rooms. Mon, a retired marine, was still in good shape at fifty-five.
“I didn’t expect you to come here personally,” I said, shaking his hand and gesturing for him to remain seated.
Apart from making sure all cameras and security at Belmont were already in place, I asked Mon to investigate Rome Fletcher. What Millicent said to Hunter when he took her statement made perfect sense. In her line of business, crossing paths with someone like Rome was highly unlikely. Someone paid him to hurt her, and I want to get to the bottom of this; Mon showing up in Roslin City personally proves that this matter is crucial.
“I haven’t been to Roslin City,” Mon murmured, “so I took the chance of seeing it while doing business.”
I chuckled and settled on my seat across from Mon. “Hitting two birds with one stone, I see.”
“You know me too well,” he replied, accepting the coffee Stella, the floor secretary, brought in
“I have another job for you,” I informed him.
“Jon told me,” Mon said, dropping a cube of sugar in his cup, gently stirring it. Once Stella left, Mon’s jovial front quickly shifted to a business note. “And I wanted to deliver what we found out about this Rome Fletcher in person.”
I tried to keep a straight face, hoping that my initial assumptions were wrong. Mon handed over a manila envelope. I looked inside, and my jaw fluttered when I saw what was inside.
“That was taken in California,” Mon said as I handed the pictures to Danny.
“You know, I was betting Millie’s ex was trying to sabotage your relationship,” Danny cursed. “I can’t believe it was yours. You both have insane exes.”
“There’s more,” Mon frowned as I flipped through more pictures of Rome and Sonja together. “Rome was also responsible for triggering the fire alarm at the Belmont Hotel.”
“Did you find out when they started working together?” I asked, trying to keep my head on the game. All the cells in my body wanted to fly back to California and confront Sonja for trying to hurt Millicent. I can’t believe she would go this low just to get back at me.
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09:28 Sat, Feb
Chapter 44
“From our investigation, they met here in Roslin City,” Mon said, pointing out the picture at the bottom of the file. It was taken from a children’s park. The photograph was blurry, but it was enough for me to recognize Sonja and Rome.
“But this won’t be enough to incriminate Sonja for being the mastermind of the attacks on Millicent,” Danny said.
“It’s not.” Mon murmured solemnly. Silence swelled inside the conference room. “Well, now that I’ve finished my business here, I want to enjoy my little vacation in your city”
“Thank you for putting these pieces together,” I stood and walked Mon towards the door.
Before I could twist the k nob, Mon paused and stared at me with determined eyes. “If there’s anything you need, anything at all, Damian. I will be here all weekend.”
There was an underlying danger in his tone. Only the people close to Mon would catch the shift in his tone. Mon hated violence, especially when it came to children and women. It doesn’t take a genius to read between the lines.
“111 keep in touch. I said, patting his shoulder. “Thank you!
“What do you want to do?” Danny asked once I closed the door.
I have to speak with Sonja,” I said, my jaw fluttering in anger. “Prepare the jet.”
Danny pulled out his phone, frowning.
“What?”
We don’t need to use the jet” He showed me the photo on his phone. It was Sonja dragging a suitcase out of Roslin City International Airport.
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