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Today is yet another one of those days when I pretended I was okay. This week, I had a third-degree burn graft on my neck, and it was still extremely uncomfortable to move. If Luke sensed any resistance from me, he certainly wouldn't accept any of it, so I was just gritting my teeth. When Dianna is around, I never hide something like this. Michelle looked from side to side as if she wanted to scold Luke right there, making it clear how much she disapproved of it all.
I take a deep breath, trying to ignore all the things going through my head. Jake sends a message, letting us know he's coming up with Ramon. Like Robert, Ramon, who led them all there, thanks to our arrangement, was already far away when the police kicked in the door. He ended up not being arrested, but Jake had some contacts, and finding him was easy.
"You're welcome," Ramon smiles arrogantly, leaning against the wall in front of me. He had dark blue braids tied up in a bun on top of his head and some gold jewelry, contrasting with the more casual clothes he wore.
"Likewise. If it weren't for me, I guarantee you wouldn't be here, and I'm not just talking about not having killed you," I reply.
"A well of kindness," he rolls his eyes. "Little sister," he greets Dianna, who was standing by my side, with a fake smile.
"Can we get to the point?" I'm impatient.
"It was beautiful. There were cameras where you were, you know? I watched. Needed to see you keeping your promise. The cold-bloodedness to slit a throat like that?! Excellent work," Luke shifts uncomfortably, but says nothing.
"I have no doubt, you were the one who wanted her dead in the end. Why?"
"She tried to kill my mother out of jealousy. My mother worked for Anthony, for a long time."
"How about another arrangement?" I make an effort to continue that conversation. He seems to ponder for a few seconds and takes a step toward the bed. Luke leans off the wall, preparing for any threat. "You tell us everything you know, and in return, the police ignore you. Think about it, you have many police records, but Robert is our real interest."
"My mother was one of the whores at the many parties Matteo McAllister attended. From there, you can imagine. But he was never a father to me. I never saw a cent from that man."
"Whose side are you on? Because until recently, you had a gun pointed at Dianna's head," Michelle asks, suspicious.
"I was really going to pull the trigger, I had orders to do so. I grew up within the mafia, so, in theory, my loyalty was to Anthony, and now to Robert, plus she's the daughter of the man I hated the most in life. So, yes. I would." Michelle doesn't say anything, but I see her shift from one foot to the other, nervous.
"You have homicide on your criminal record, it wouldn't be a problem for you to kill Brett. Why did you want my help?" I ask another question.
"Because I would look bad. I wouldn't have a week to live if I killed Anthony Moore's little princess. Even though he's dead, their connection was so strong that Brett alone was very influential. After Anthony's death, Robert took over everything that was his, but still, many people were loyal to Brett." He seemed to say it as if it were obvious.
"I killed Anthony Moore and Brett, and here we are."
"I'm not as bad as my father. You had nothing to do with this story, so I helped you, but as for her..." He points his white-painted nail at Dianna. "It would be an interesting death. Nothing personal, but she's the only person Matteo McAllister cares about. He ruined my mother's life. She might have been a whore, but she was Anthony's protege when your father raped her. She lost everything because Anthony didn't believe in her loyalty."
"Where is Robert now?" Dianna asks.
"In one of his luxury apartments, waiting for the dust to settle and thinking about the next step. He wants the McAllister family dead and the money for himself."
"The truth is, Matteo McAllister has returned to business." I look at my girlfriend, who didn't have a single muscle contracted. She had a serious face and a straight posture. My brain connects the dots from our conversation, at the dinner on the first night in Madrid. Matteo McAllister wanted his daughter to join him. Dianna looks at me, knowing exactly what went through my mind. "But this time, on his own. Robert is jealous because Matteo is much better at what he does, and he's not alone. Alencar is a familiar name to you?"
"Partners," Dianna's voice drips with sarcasm. "Wow."
"It's been almost 7 months since he got involved in arms trafficking. They, in a short time, are already almost as big as Robert." It's been 7 months since Dianna signed the contract with Alencar, so the initial money was Dianna's. If they're working together, it means her father is laundering her money. I look at Dianna and see her glaring at Ramon as if she could shoot him in the head.
"600 million," Dianna grumbles, typing something on her phone.
"Almost all the money has already been invested in the companies. Since you don't have children, if you died, your money would go back to your father, which is why Robert wanted you dead. If the money were still only with your father, any kind of scam would be easier."
"But what about Robert, does he know about this? Because as far as I know, he was foaming with rage because Matteo McAllister stopped negotiating with him." I inquire.
"Not everything. In his mind, Matteo retired when he passed the company assets to Dianna."
"I imagine that's enough," Luke breaks the silence and opens the door, gesturing for Ramon to leave. He goes, but with a sarcastic smile on his face.
"Son of a bitch," it's the first hint of emotion Dianna lets slip.
"I don't know if you're cursing him or your father, but I agree," I say to her.
"That's it, folks, Matteo McAllister is a filthy millionaire drug dealer."
Michelle sits on the couch. Dianna remains silent, with a stern expression, staring at her phone. I know she was arranging for the private jet to be prepared and that she would arrive in Madrid today. Nothing I said would stop her from going. I look at Michelle again and notice some movement at the earpiece point, the way she nods and takes out her phone from her pocket. So, I let the two of them work.