Eighty Five

Cassandra sat in her car, gripping the steering wheel tightly. Her mind was still reeling from Alexander’s rejection. If she couldn’t rely on the police, she would have to find another way. Her gaze flickered to the bag on the passenger seat—inside, a plastic-wrapped shirt stained with Antonio’s blood remained neatly tucked away. Her breath came heavy. She knew exactly what it meant to seek help outside the law, but she had no other choice. She needed the truth. After a moment of hesitation, Cassandra pulled out her phone and typed a message. “I need help. Can we meet?” The message was sent to someone she hadn’t contacted in a long time—David Romero, a former police informant who once worked with Alexander. The man had deep connections in the underworld and was skilled enough to navigate the fine line between both sides of the law. If there was anyone who could trace the origins of this blood without drawing suspicion, it was David. It didn’t take long for her phone to vibrate. A reply from David appeared on the screen. “Orlanda Café. One hour. Don’t be late.” Cassandra swallowed hard. She slipped her phone into her bag and started the engine. This decision carried immense risk, but she had come too far to turn back now. An hour later, Cassandra stepped into Orlanda Café, a small establishment tucked away in the city’s corner, often used for discreet meetings. The dim lighting cast soft shadows, and the low hum of jazz music played in the background. David was already seated in the farthest booth, wearing a worn leather jacket and a baseball cap pulled low over his face. As Cassandra approached, he eyed her warily. “It’s been a while, Cassandra,” David murmured, leaning back in his seat. “If you’re reaching out to me, it must be serious.” Cassandra slid into the seat across from him, resting her bag on her lap. “I need your analysis,” she said in a hushed tone, ensuring no one nearby was listening. “It’s about blood on someone’s clothing.” David raised a brow. “Whose blood?” She shook her head. “That’s what I need to find out. I need you to examine it—quietly.” David studied her for a long moment before exhaling deeply. “You realize this could be dangerous, right? If this ties back to someone powerful, I could be in serious trouble.” Cassandra bit her lip. “I’ll pay you, David. And this isn’t about trapping anyone—I just… I need certainty.” His gaze sharpened as he weighed her words. After a beat, he gave a slow nod. “Alright. Hand it over.” Carefully, Cassandra retrieved the plastic-wrapped shirt from her bag, slipping it under the table. David took it swiftly, peeling the plastic just enough to get a glimpse of the stain. His expression shifted instantly. “This isn’t from a small wound. That’s a lot of blood.” Cassandra felt her chest tighten. “Can you help me?” David held her gaze, then gave another firm nod. “I’ll need time. Two days. I’ll contact you when I have something.” Relief flooded her. “Thank you, David.” But before their conversation could continue, David suddenly tensed. His eyes darted toward the café entrance, his expression darkening. “Did you come alone?” he asked, his voice low and urgent. Cassandra frowned. “Yes. I made sure of it.” David didn’t look convinced. “Then we have a problem.” Cassandra followed his gaze to the entrance. Two tall men stood there, their eyes locked onto her. Her pulse spiked. Someone knew she was here. And she had no way of knowing whether they were Antonio’s men—or someone far more dangerous. Six hours earlier, Antonio sat in his office, his fingers tapping the desk in a slow but deliberate rhythm. Across from him, Marcus stood with a tense expression, holding a document filled with suspicious transaction data they had just uncovered. "We have a problem," Marcus said, his voice low but firm. "There's a leak in our organization." Antonio raised an eyebrow, his eyes gleaming sharply. "How serious?" Marcus handed him the document. "Serious enough to put us in danger. There are unrecorded transactions, money disappearing without a trace, and worse—our meeting schedules have been leaked multiple times." Antonio flipped open the document, his eyes quickly scanning the figures. "This isn’t just a simple leak. This is betrayal." Marcus nodded. "We've tracked the pattern and found something suspicious. Every time information gets out, only a few people in the inner circle knew the details." Antonio slowly closed the document, his gaze hardening. "Who are the suspects?" Marcus took a deep breath before answering. "Ben, Riccardo, and Daniel." Hearing those names, Antonio’s jaw tightened. Ben had been his right-hand man for years, someone who had proven his loyalty. Riccardo, though stubborn, had always followed orders. And Daniel—a newcomer who had been working more closely with him in recent months. Antonio leaned back in his chair, his mind working rapidly. "If someone dares to betray me, they must think I won’t find them." Marcus looked at him expectantly. "What do you want to do?" Antonio stared directly at Marcus, his expression cold and unwavering. "We set a trap." That night, Antonio gathered the three suspects in a room at his headquarters. The space was deliberately made to feel tense, with only a single lamp illuminating the long table at the center. Marcus stood in the corner, observing their every move. Antonio crossed his arms over his chest, standing at the head of the table. "Do you know why you're here?" he asked, his voice calm yet laden with pressure. Ben, seated in the middle, frowned. "We assume it’s important, but no one told us the reason." Riccardo shot Antonio a wary look, while Daniel appeared slightly restless. Antonio scanned their faces before finally speaking. "Someone has been selling our information to the enemy." Silence. Ben was the first to speak. "And you think it's one of us?" Antonio didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he took a brown envelope from the table and tossed it into the center of the room. "The evidence is in there." Daniel tensed, while Riccardo glanced at Marcus before reaching for the envelope. He pulled out several documents—reports of suspicious transactions, lists of dubious calls, and decrypted messages. Riccardo narrowed his eyes. "So you really suspect us?" Antonio simply stared at him. "Just tell me if there’s anything you’d like to confess." More silence. Then, just as Antonio was about to speak, Daniel suddenly stood up. "This is ridiculous," he said quickly. "We've worked for you all this time, and now you’re doubting us?" Marcus squinted, noting the reaction. Antonio remained calm. "I never said anyone here was guilty. But you were too quick to defend yourself, Daniel." Daniel froze. Ben and Riccardo immediately turned to him with suspicious gazes. Marcus stepped closer, making the atmosphere even heavier. Antonio leaned forward, his voice low and sharp. "Now, I want you to explain. What are you hiding, Daniel?" Daniel began to sweat. Antonio knew he had just found the traitor in his organization. At the café, Cassandra felt tension crawl up her spine as she noticed two large men standing at the entrance. Their eyes were fixed on her, as if ensuring they had found their target. Across from her, David Romero—the man who operated between the thin line of law and crime—tensed as well. He sipped his coffee calmly, but Cassandra could see how his fingers clenched the cup a little tighter than before. "Are you sure you weren’t followed?" David whispered, his voice barely audible. Cassandra shook her head slightly, though her eyes remained fixed on the men, her wariness growing. "I was very careful. They might have known I was coming before I even got here." David cursed under his breath. "Then we have a problem." One of the men started walking toward them, while the other remained near the door, keeping watch. "Listen, Cass," David’s voice grew urgent. "We need to get out of here—fast." But before they could move, the approaching man spoke in a deep voice. "Miss Cassandra, you should come with us." Cassandra’s heart pounded. She met his gaze with a cold expression, though inside, fear began creeping in. "Sorry, but I don’t know you," she said firmly. The man smirked slightly. "We just want to talk. It would be best if you don’t cause a scene." David glanced at Cassandra, then, without warning, he flung his coffee into the man’s face. The hot liquid splashed onto his skin, making him curse and stumble back. "Run!" David grabbed Cassandra’s wrist tightly. They bolted from the café, knocking over chairs and tables in the process. The man at the door hesitated for a split second before reacting and chasing after them. Cassandra ran as fast as she could, David leading her into a narrow alley beside the café. Her breath came in sharp gasps as they crashed into stacks of boxes, pushing forward into the darkness. "Are they still behind us?" Cassandra panted. David stole a quick glance over his shoulder and cursed. "Yeah. And they’re faster than I expected." Cassandra could hear the heavy thuds of footsteps gaining on them. Their only escape was reaching the main street, where at least a crowd might slow their pursuers down. But just as they neared the alley’s exit, another figure stepped into view—a third man, seemingly waiting for them. David immediately reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a switchblade. "Cass, stay behind me." The man smirked, his hand reaching for something inside his coat. But before he could draw a weapon, David struck first. With swift precision, he drove his knee into the man’s gut, slamming him against the wall before yanking Cassandra forward to keep running. "Come on, we have to get out of here!" They finally burst onto the main street. Cassandra’s breath hitched as she glanced behind her. Their pursuers were nowhere in sight. David pulled her toward an old car parked at the curb. He started the engine quickly and sped off, putting distance between them and the danger. Cassandra was still shaking. She turned to David. "Who were they?" David clenched his jaw. "Either Antonio’s men—or enemies who want to make sure you never learn something that was meant to stay buried." Antonio stepped into his mansion with a blank expression, but his mind raced endlessly. The night felt quieter than usual, as if something unseen yet palpable hung in the air. He placed his coat over a chair near the door and walked into the living room. There, Cassandra sat on the sofa, her eyes fixed on the television screen displaying a movie that clearly failed to capture her interest. Her gaze was empty, and her hand clutched a glass of tea that had nearly gone cold. Antonio observed her for a moment before stepping closer. "You look different tonight," he said, his voice calm yet filled with meaning. Cassandra flinched slightly, as if only now realizing his presence. "Me?" She forced a small smile, but Antonio didn’t miss the way she swallowed before answering. "I’m just tired." Antonio sat in the chair across from her, crossing one leg over the other in a relaxed manner. "Tired from what?" Cassandra averted her gaze. "I went out today." Antonio leaned forward, studying her more intently. "Where?" Cassandra tried to keep her composure. "Just for a walk, to get some fresh air." Antonio didn’t respond immediately. He merely watched her longer than usual, searching for any trace of deception. "Alone?" Cassandra bit her lip briefly before nodding. "Yes." That was the first lie. Antonio knew it. Cassandra was not the type to go on aimless walks, especially in the middle of the tension they had been experiencing lately. Moreover, something about the way she avoided eye contact only deepened his suspicion. "You’re not hiding anything from me, are you, Cass?" His voice was sharper now. Cassandra tensed for a moment before letting out a small laugh. "Of course not. Why would I hide something from you?" Antonio leaned back against the sofa, but his eyes never left Cassandra. He could always tell when someone was lying to him—he had seen it too many times in his world. "I just wanted to be sure." Cassandra sipped her cold tea as if she needed something to calm the nervousness creeping up inside her. She knew Antonio was watching her closely, and that made her chest tighten even more. "And you? How was your day?" Cassandra asked, trying to shift the focus. Antonio raised an eyebrow, recognizing her transparent attempt. He toyed with the ring on his finger before replying casually, "Nothing special. Just some business matters." Cassandra nodded, pretending to be uninterested in probing further. Silence lingered between them. Then, Antonio stood and walked closer, sitting beside Cassandra on the sofa. His large hand reached out, tilting her chin upward, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Cass." Cassandra swallowed. "Yes?" Antonio studied her eyes, searching for something—anything—that would give him the answer he sought. "If something was bothering you, you’d tell me, wouldn’t you?" His voice was gentle, but there was an underlying warning beneath it. Cassandra knew she was being tested. She steadied her breath and nodded. "Of course." Cassandra lay on her bed, her eyes staring at the ceiling restlessly. Her thoughts kept circling back to the café incident and Antonio’s suspicious gaze during their conversation in the living room. She felt as though she was standing on the edge of a cliff—one wrong step, and everything would come crashing down. Her body was exhausted, but her mind refused to rest. What if Antonio found out about her meeting with David? What if the men following her earlier were Antonio’s people? Cassandra shut her eyes, trying to calm herself, but the soft knock on her bedroom door made her jolt. The door opened, and Antonio stepped inside, his expression serious. Without a word, he closed the door behind him and walked toward her. Cassandra immediately sat up, watching him cautiously. "What is it?" Antonio didn’t answer right away. He simply stood beside her bed, staring at her in silence. "You can’t sleep?" he finally asked, his voice low. Cassandra shook her head slightly. "Too much on my mind." Antonio exhaled slowly before sitting on the edge of her bed, not too close, but close enough for Cassandra to feel his overwhelming presence. "Something is bothering you, Cass," he said, this time more firmly. "I can feel it." Cassandra tensed. "I’m fine, Antonio." Antonio drummed his fingers on the mattress in a slow, deliberate rhythm. "Don’t lie to me." Cassandra’s heartbeat quickened. Antonio’s gaze was sharper now, more intense than before. "What exactly are you hiding from me, Cassandra?" Cassandra froze. Without another word, Antonio turned and walked swiftly toward the door. "Antonio—" Cassandra called after him, but he had already opened the door and stepped out, his strides firm and decisive. Cassandra remained seated, a mix of emotions churning inside her. She knew something big was coming. And for the first time, she was truly afraid that her secret might soon be uncovered.