DARIO

The Delta Night Club is now a Morata property.

I bought it at a very high price, and the owner almost backed off, claiming that the deal was too good to be true.

Well, thanks to the skills taught to me since I was a teenager about business, I managed to secure that one. Except, business skills are not the only skills I used. I negotiated and, like everyone else, he didn’t have the nerve to say no to me.

Now we have more cash flow in the legal system. Fidel taught me how to play every legal system faster than I gained the courage to ask my first crush out. I probably owe him a few Maseratis for his lessons.

I'm at my office in the mansion when Rex storms in.

“Someone ran a background check on you,” he says, sitting opposite me with his legs crossed.

Why do I have an idea of who this someone might be? “Who?” I still ask.

Rex is my best man in running investigations, looking into people, and unveiling every skeleton in their closets. Besides that, he also makes sure nothing gets traced back to us, so it's not a surprise that he found out about this.

“Your little princess,” he says with a grin.

“She's not my…”

Okay, easier said. Then why the hell was she in my dream last night? Then, after that, her image has been residing in my brain. That’s the part that’s not aligning with my mission.

Regardless, “Last night was part of my plan. I don't intend to—you know what, why am I even talking about this?”

“Maybe she has charmed you.”

I give him a serious look to let him know that he should get to business as soon as possible, and by that, I mean now.

“So, what are you going to do about it? Since you've made it your business to annoy the crap out of her. I thought you were going to spare her since she's ….”

“Don’t you dare say it. Besides, you don't have to keep on reminding me of who she is. Right now, the main point is destroying the Vargas Empire. That's the mission. By the time I'm done, they won't even recognize themselves.” The words roll off my tongue with so much spite that I didn't even notice how hard I clenched my fists.

“Okay,” he lifts his hands. “Whatever you say, boss.”

“Just find out who this PI is and kill him,” I order.

If he's working for the Vargas, then is there any reason to spare him?

“Actually,” I change my mind,” find him and lock him up. I'll deal with him myself.”

As soon as Rex leaves, I pick up my phone to call the princess, who seems to have developed some interest in me.

She's not happy to hear from me.

“Sweetheart, if you wanted to know more about me, you could have just asked,” I say as soon as the call connects.

She gives me an angry “Hello.”

“What in the name of earth are you talking about? she feigns ignorance.

“Okay, if we're going to play this game, then I'm in,” I tell her. I can hear her annoyed breaths on the other end.

“I have no games to play with you, Mr. Morata.”

“I guess we'll find out about it tonight.” I remind her of our deal.

“Goodbye,” she hangs up before I can say anything more.

________

In the evening, as I dress up to meet Luciana, another female walks into my room.

“Hey, stranger,” she flops onto my bed as I tie my shoes.

“What are you doing here? I don't remember calling you,” I squint at her.

“That's right, you don't remember because you've forgotten all about me.” She sits beside me and circles her arms around my neck.

“We have an agreement, Brandy. This is not a relationship…and I thought we were on the same page.”

“Of course, we are. I’m not stupid enough to fall for you. But you’ve been too busy lately.”

“Brandy.”

“I know it’s not a relationship, and I’ve had my share of fun with you. Like I said, I can’t fall for you unless I hate myself so much to throw my heart into your hands just for you to crush it.”

“You don’t have to…”

“Let me finish,” she cuts me short. “I know how much you hate commitments.”

I turn to look at her and gauge how serious she is. “You want us to commit? You know it’s hard to understand you when you keep contradicting yourself, Brandy.”

“I’m saying, if you find someone else, will you tell me?”

I skeptically narrow my eyes at her. “Why are we having this conversation again?”

“I just don’t want to make a fool out of myself. If I find someone, I’ll also tell you.”

“Or you already found someone,” I smile. “In which case, we can go back to being good friends, and I’ll be here to give you relationship advice.”

She bursts out laughing.

I close my cufflink and stand to leave. “I’ll see you around, Brandy.”

Fidel is waiting for me in the living room.

“Are you sure about this, Dario?” he asks for the umpteenth time. My date with Luciana has his knickers in a bunch.

“I know why you're worried, Fidel,” I hold his shoulder.

“Oh, you have no damn idea.”

“I don’t want you to lose control. You know how you get about anything that has to do with the Vargas.” He goes on with his speech like he's preparing me for something big.

I let out a soft laugh. “This should be making you happy. At least I get to follow your advice tonight. Enjoy while it lasts.”

Besides, “I was in the same room as her yesterday. In the same club. Did you see me lose control?”

“Uh-huh? What about that stunt with her hand?” he asks.

“That was just me having fun. She's a woman. But I'm not talking about that type of control, you idiot.”

He's a wise man, but sometimes his statements make him a lesser, even though he's lived in this world longer than I have. A fifty-year-old man has seen more.

“Use your head to think—the one over your shoulders,” he warns as always.

I drive to the Vargas manor after dropping by a florist’s to pick a pretty bouquet for Luciana, like the gentleman I’m not.

Or maybe this is just a way to dismiss negative thoughts, to avoid thinking of thinking about who Luciana really is—apart from beautiful.

She’s the daughter of my mortal nemesis, who’s probably going to drive me insane.

My mortal nemesis.

The sudden thought arises the anger that I’ve been trying to keep in a cage.

I know that I should try to push the rage away and stick to the plan, but that's all I feel as I drive.

Shit, I need to rearrange myself.

This is the enemy’s residence. I'm probably going to meet them eye to eye. Hugo Vargas and his wife, the culprits who made my life take a nosedive towards hell. I don't know how much control I have in me.

Fidel worries way too much, but I underestimated my anger. I thought I had all my spite under control. But now that I’m here, all I want is to burn this manor down to ashes.