However, this morning another beautiful vision played in my mind.
My wild Rose. What are you up to for today?
Currently, this fascination with Rose was the only thing keeping me from dealing with Romeo’s death. And I welcomed the distraction with open arms.
Rose Elizabeth Walsh.
I’d come close to having Viktor buy her perfume, just to smell that scent again. But in the end, it wasn’t about the fragrance. It was about the woman wearing it. In my head, I pictured her naked and lightly spraying the perfume on her skin.
Disrupting my daydreaming, Viktor came onto the balcony. “Good morning.”
“Did Sergei deliver the gift to her?”
“He did.”
Two of my men carried out a television. Sweat dripped down their faces. One looked to be out of breath. On the screen, two women were frozen in the middle of conversation. I recognized Rose immediately.
I quirked my brows. “What’s this?”
The men stopped in front of me and continued to hold the television. Behind them, another guy held the TV’s cord.
Viktor spoke, “I had Sergei remain in the background to make sure Rose opened the gift.”
I turned back to him. “Why?”
Viktor held a remote control in his hand. “Something came up before the delivery.”
“I’m not going to like this?”
“Not at all.”
Annoyance covered my face. I’d already been running around this morning, lighting a fire under Paradise police’s asses to find Romeo’s killer. Then, I had others threatening all of Paradise news stations. There could be no mention of the Diamond Syndicate nor Romeo’s murder this week.
Things had to remain quiet.
I’d hoped to have this moment of peace on the balcony to eat a lovely breakfast. “What is it?”
Viktor gestured to the TV. “Marcelo also called twice. He said you need to see this.”
What would Marcelo know about what I ‘need’ to see?
“Fine.” I turned to the left.
The men turned on the TV. Rose’s face was frozen on the screen.
“Don’t start the recording yet.” I studied Rose. Last night, she wore a sexy dress. Her hair was wild waves. Her cleavage was on full display.
This morning, she shifted to a sexy professor, wearing a stylish jacket, complete with a simple white blouse. A long skirt that hugged her curvy thighs and legs. Her hair was smoothed back into a bun.
I looked at Viktor. “Marcelo called about my reporter?”
“After watching this, he did. Marcelo thinks that neither she nor the station will back down on the story.”
“Well,” I returned my view to the TV. “Mr. Dahl won’t be getting anymore donuts from the Syndicate.”
“The way Marcelo is talking. Mr. Dahl and the reporter won’t be alive to eat them.”
Marcelo should relax.
I picked up the chess piece. “Play it.”
Viktor pointed the small controller at the TV.
On the screen, Rose spoke, “I have been intrigued by the crime here.”
“Or lack of crime. According to the Police Commissioner Kane, this city has no crime at all.” The host shrugged. “Perhaps, Kane lives in another city.”
Letting out a long breath, I twisted the king between my fingers.
“It is true,” Rose said. “I did come down here to understand the violence and crime that plagues this city.”
“While others turn away, what’s your plan?”
“If possible, I plan to investigate the extensive gang network working underground here. Many know them as the Diamond Syndicate—”
The screen went black. The channel’s logo showed on the screen. A sentence was written below, saying, Please Stand By.
“This happened seconds ago. We raced here to get it to you.” Viktor set the remote down.
“Marcelo called while you were rushing up here?” I set the chess piece down and made sure the king faced the ocean.
Viktor watched my movement. “Marcelo wants the reporter dead and the station out of power.”
“Marcelo needs to calm down and focus on defeating his stupid championship boxing belt.” I gestured for the other men to leave. “It’s time for the adults to deal with adult things.”
They hurried and carried the TV away.
I watched a seagull swoop down to the waters, but he didn’t catch anything. He rose back into the sky with only wet legs. I put my attention back on Viktor. “More important, has Chanel or Lei called about this?”
“Not yet.”
“Hopefully, not at all.”
Viktor walked over to the end of the table. “What do you want me to do?”
“Sit.” I gestured to the chair. “Enjoy breakfast with me.”
“I already had some donuts.”
“Then, read the paper.”
Viktor quirked his brows.
“If Marcelo had any finesse, he would know that a gentlemen doesn’t have to kill a stubborn woman.” I picked up the phone and dialed my naughty Rose. “A proper man simply has to show her who is running things.”
The phone rang.
Sitting down, Viktor wore a skeptical expression.
The phone rang again.
Viktor pulled out his phone and turned on this week’s annoying game—Space Pirates. Intergalactic music filled the air. He lowered it. Soft beeps sounded with each press of his finger on the screen. A harp played suggesting he was victorious.