Dark Captor (Dark Syndicate 2)

Chapter Thirty-Five

Tristan

Saying goodbye like that was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do in a long time.

When we boarded the plane it felt strange too. Isabella sat with Candace and me with Dominic. The tension was noticeable. More than when we were trying to keep our relations secret.

I know Candace picked up on it straight away. I think she knew we were involved. She’s the kind of person to pick up on things like that without being told what’s going on. She’s known me my whole life and she’s gotten to know Isabella too.

From the vibe coming off the both of us it’s a little obvious.

As the plane took off I found myself looking at the island and promising myself that if I made it through this next battle, I’d go back soon. I never got the place to let it go to waste.

I imagined growing old there with Allyssa and having all kinds of memories you cherish. I think it’s time to move on, move past the past and focus on the future. I will be able to lay Allyssa to rest properly once I kill Mortimer. I think then and only then will I be able to truly let her go from my heart.

I steal a glance at Isabella. I can see the perfect image of her on the reflection of one of the little circular mirrors ahead near the tv. She can’t see me. it’s just like before when I was watching her, when she never knew I existed.

She’s looking through the window. Her head is resting back on the seat and she looks a million miles away.

I meant what I said last night. I would have done everything different if things were different. I definitely would have loved to have a chance with her.

* * *

We’re all staying at Massimo’s house as a base.

We arrived a little over an hour ago and started unpacking. Just like the other day it feels good to be back in L.A. This time it’s good because it feels like we’re moving forwards with a plan I’m positive about.

Dominic is out getting what he needs ready. He’ll be the man with the magic breaking down walls so we can go in and do what we have to do. Everything is ready for us to head back to Rhode island when the time comes. We just need to plan out what we’re doing.

I make my way to Massimo’s office on the ground floor when I finish and find him going through paperwork. It seems strange to see my brother with paperwork all the time now. He started to get like that before Pa died, and now he’s up to his elbows in it.

I walk into the office and close the door.

“You okay?” he asks.

“Yeah, you?”

“Just getting ahead of the game so I don’t have to worry about business. I’ll be done later.”

“Do you need help?” I offer but I have my own business to tend to later when I speak to Alfonse. He’s the last part of the mission.

“No, I’m okay. It’s all contracts that needed to be signed. Little things that can pile up.” He pushes aside the document he was looking in and schools his features as he looks at me. “This looks like it could be it brother. We have a path to get Mortimer once and for all and a lead to this other guy. Two down and the rest is … well the rest.”

“Yeah, I think we’ll all feel better when Mortimer is gone and out of the picture. We have personal ties to consider every time we think of him.”

“I couldn’t agree more. I’m thinking about the man from Isabella’s dream though. That’s going to be an interesting discovery.”

“You can say that again.” I nod.

When I told him about it he was as shocked as I was. The problem is we don’t know where to start looking for such a person and it’s all still vague as to who it is when ninety percent of the people we have dealings with are Italians.

“Well one thing at a time. There’s no point digging another hole when we haven’t crawled out of the hole we’re already in. But… I have a question for you.”

I incline my head to the side when he takes a cigar from the humidor on his desk and hands it to me. I take it because I’m desperate for a smoke. I also know he’s about to ask me something I’m going to find difficult to answer.

“What do you want to ask me brother?” I say.

“You asked me to speak with Isabella about this guy. You didn’t want to do it?”