EREX

They talked.

I don't know about what. Or why.

But I knew they talked. Call it an inherent feeling, or call it my intuition. Or simple common sense.

"Let's go, girls."

I listened to the shuffling noise and voiced protests from the young girls as the older woman ushered them out. I allowed myself to finally look their way and saw frowns lining each face except the woman who carried herself haughtily. 

Muffled talks ensue between them, and then they all proceed to leave. I spot Eve with a grin on her face and the others also looking on with hopeful eyes. 

The older woman meets my eyes and I tilt my head slightly. She lets her eyes drag up my seated frame before looking towards the counter. 

"We won't be coming here again." 

And with the, the entourage of the annoying women left.

Just like that.

After months.

I felt like I'd lost a group of stalkers from my tail. Was that weird? 

The air of the café seemed to change as everyone exhaled and then joyously exchanged looks. I snickered and looked around, trying to spot Kaya. Sadly enough, it seemed she'd managed to slip out when everyone's attention was caught up by the Regina Flies.

I sighed to myself and collected the papers I'd been going through. I was preparing to leave and head back to the office when I got a call.

"Zeke." I picked up.

"I'm right outside Emile's to pick you up. We have to get to downtown Chicago. There's a case."

"Alright." I disconnected the call with that, moving outside to join him. 

I wondered for a second about how Kaya would reach but then shook my head to clear my head of that thought. Something told me that women might just reach before me.

Once I spotted Zeke, I headed over to the car and greeted him. Sliding into the passenger seat, I glanced at Finn in the backseat who was typing away on his phone. 

The car slid into motion and I asked for the details, "What's this one about?"

Outside the window, we could see the sun was starting to set and the Chicago sky had taken up a yellow-pink tinge. The sky-high buildings obstructed the view of the giant dipping ball of fire while the rush hour made its presence known with the long lines of traffic. Horns sounded incessantly, and abstract chatter filled the surroundings.

I waited for a reply but none came. My brow twitched, and I turned to look at Finn. Zeke usually wasn't the one who filled me in, that was more of Finn's jam, so I automatically held him responsible for the delay.

But his eyes were wide and glued to my neck.

I frowned and snapped my fingers in front of his face. "Finn." His word came out laced with ice.

His eyes slowly flicked up too mine and a slow grin spread over his face. That felt creepy. I narrowed my eyes, but before I could say anything, he patted my shoulder patronizingly.

Feeling a twinge of confusion, I turned back to face the front, shrugging off his touch, "What the heck are you doing?"

Zeke turned peek at us as we moved forward in the traffic, his eyebrow raised at the interaction. "What-"

His eyes widened and he pulled the brake suddenly. 

Now I was growing self-conscious. What the fuck?

People honked behind us, shouting curses and the guy in the car in front of us peeked out of his window with a glare. Finn and Zeke called out apologies and I opened another button of my shirt, feeling the need to breathe a bit better.

I glared at both of them as we settled into a steady pace again.

"What?"

Zeke was biting back a smile. I could tell because he was literally biting his lip. Finn snorted and then he ended up chuckling.

"Pffffttttt, who knows?"

I slid my icy blue gaze towards the backseat prince through the rearview mirror. "You either spit it out or face the conseq—"

Relaxing into his seat, Felix smirked at me in the rearview mirror, "I'm glad to know your love life is succeeding, but you don't gotta display it like that." He pouted, "I'm suffering, be at least a little considerate."

"She's a bold one." Zeke's deep voice added, laced with amusement.

My brows drew in instantly, "What the fuck are you guys talking about?"

"Your love life." Finn looked positively like a dog with a bone, all giddy and bouncing with energy. It was truly concerning and to know I was the reason for it only made me apprehensive.

"The non-existent one?" I drawled, annoyance creeping into my words as my jaw flexed. 

"So, who is it?" Finn leaned forth again, his eyes passing between me and Zeke before he paid him all attention. "I think it could be Kaya. Have you sensed that tension when they're together?" The guy fanned himself dramatically. "She could be untrustworthy for all we know but goddamn she's hot."

I glared at Finn and as if he sensed the heat of my gaze, he turned to look at me again and smiled widely, "I'd tap that too." He was totally baiting me, and I couldn't help it when my jaw clenched.

I took a deep breath and tried not to pull something dangerous like punching him in the car and go with one man less to an important investigation.

"Finn. I don't like playing games." My voice was dangerously low but apparently he was enjoying it too much and couldn't sense the danger. His eyed dropped to my neck again and I scoffed, sure there was something there that had caught his attention and led tot his conversation.

"For God's sake," I gritted out, "I'm pretty sure I don't have a hickey on my neck so stop staring at it."

"No, you just have a lipstick mark." Zeke snorted, ruffling his light hair with one hand and sneaking in a look.

I stilled.

I stared at Zeke for one whole minute and Finn howled like a hyena in the backseat. Zeke calmly ignored me, smirking to himself.

I finally managed a, "What?"

That was impossible.

Finn laughed outright and I instantly adjusted the rearview mirror, tilting my head to spot the lipstick mark.

It wasn't on my neck. No.

The lipstick mark was never going to wash out. My white collar showed off a very deep and indented shape of red painted lips. 

This shirt was ruined.

Like I'd be if I didn't start to build stronger walls.

But aside from that, it explained the strange glances I'd gotten on my short walk to Zeke's car. I closed my eyes, praying for some patience. It was an entirely foreign sensation that flooded my senses at the memory of Kaya's stunt.

"That's one hell of a territorial move on her part, boss." Finn nodded in mock seriousness and I shot him such a look of vitriol that he sealed his lips.

But he wasn't wrong.

I pulled on the corner of my collar so I could better inspect the mark and I thought back to how she'd leaned in closer to blow away something on my collar. It wasn't like I thought she was doing it innocently but with her scent and proximity overpowering my senses, I'd been rendered still like a statue.

Not even in my wildest dreams did I think she'd do something like this.

No wonder the Regina Flies suddenly left. A nd that too, never to return. I mean, hey I was glad to be rid of my stalkers but only gods know what else she did besides leaving a kiss mark on my shirt. The women probably thought Kaya was my girlfriend and what with me allowing her to blatantly breach my personal space and mark me with her lipstick like a piece of property in public, they must have thought I was taken and claimed.

What century am I living in? These are outdated notions and yet....

Yet, her actions were an exact reflection of that.

I hadn't had a romantic affair since my Freshman year in college.

And I was 18 back then. I was 29, nearing 30 now.

I've basically stayed a monk and there's a reason. Kaya can't just barge into my life and start changing everything. 

The worst part, though, was the fact that my skin wasn't crawling at this revelation. But my heart sure was pumping faster. It was a smirk that lightly pulled at my lips once I realized how brazen and bold she'd been.

How sly and how sneaky.

How......powerful.

That woman was so much trouble. The kind of trouble I welcomed into my lair and devoured like a monster until there was nothing left.

I was giving her enough leeway already but she couldn't just go ahead and turn the tables on us. This was a game I planned to win. She hadn't earned my trust or my confidentiality. She had a long, long way to go. 

But getting under my skin was definitely a quicker route to grab my attention if that was what she was vying for.

"Was it Kaya?" Zeke curiously asked.

"It was no one." My hard tone brokered no room for argument. This couldn't get out of hand but I had been blindsided and there was no hiding it anymore.

"Do you have a spare shirt in the car?" I directed my question to Zeke who nodded. 

We made our way into the highway, driving along steadily and Finn rummaged in the back until he finally gave me something worthwhile.

"Here." A dark blue tee shirt with one corner stained with grease.

"Thanks. I'll change into it when we get there."

They both nodded in understanding, all traces of the mirth vanishing from the atmosphere and turning tense. I was partly responsible for it.

Okay, majorly but they'd have to just deal with it.

"Now, about the case. Details, please." I leaned back in the seat and with a no-nonsense look asked for further information.

Clearing his throat and trying to maintain a straight face, Finn stated. "It was matricide."

I drew in a controlled breath and casually promoted him for more information. "It'd go to the local Police first, though."

He nodded, brown hair messed up and eyes still twinkling. "It did. They're already there. But as it turns out, the man killed is one of Marcello's Enforcers."

My brows jumped, and I glanced at Zeke who nodded. "His name is Valter Agostini. Apparently, his wife, Amella Agostini, shot him dead at around 4 pm today. The neighbors reported fighting, shouts and then hearing a gunshot. "

I nodded to myself slowly, "Well, let's see what the truth is then."

~🎭~

By the time we reached our destination, it was well past seven and there was barely any natural light left. 

Police cars lined the spot and I noted that aside from the Station House Officer, Sergeant William was present too. As I walked over towards the walled-off cute house, Finn and Zeke followed me dutifully. I let my eyes survey the surroundings once, unable to spot the blonde-haired beauty as I crossed the yellow tape and entered the sealed off zone.

"Rex." 

William called out to me and I headed his way. We shook hands, and the officer with his hair turning slightly grey motioned towards the ambulance where I could spot the silhouette of a woman and a child of about eight sat wrapped up in blankets.

"That's her." He pointed towards them. 

"And her husband?"

"We've sent the body for a forensic report." 

I bristled, rubbing my hand over my jawline.

If Kaya hadn't taken pictures already, this would mess with our investigation. Even though I couldn't spot her and wasn't that keen on meeting her so soon, I'd appreciate it if she'd arrived here before us.

They shouldn't have sent the body or moved it until we'd arrived. But this was a simple power play I could understand between the local Police force and the FBI. Just because they were now being a little co-operative didn't mean the race wasn't ongoing.

The older man glanced towards the woman in question, "She claims it was self-defense. Used an unregistered pistol and shot him four times. Twice in the chest, once in the head and one bullet went straight to his heart."

Something dark inside me told me it was most probably well-deserved.

The streetlights turned on as he finished speaking, and the space lit up with white and orange streaks. Now I could spot the blood and bruises that the woman sported. Her son huddled close to her, his fervent wide eyes darting around anxiously.

William was soon joined by the Station Head, Paul, who subsequently greeted me and my guys. 

Paul smacked his lips, his belly straining against the ill-fitted blue shirt he wore, "We haven't touched anything so far. But our forensics team will be here soon. Gotta get the fingerprints. There's a CCTV camera their neighbor has in the garage. We checked it, but it's in a blind spot. Although the sounds can be clearly heard, just like the neighbors reported."

I nodded to Zeke and Finn and understanding the cue, they went around for a perimeter check and to see the situation.

I gave a curt nod to Paul and William, "Thank you."

Then I started to walk closer to Amella Agostini, weaving through the two police cars and one ambulance in my path. Ignoring the murmurs making a round, the spectators consisting of worried and nosy people alike, I stopped only when I was in front of the woman who committed the crime.

She had a busted lip and there was a scratch on her cheek. One that looked like it'd been made with a particularly nasty ring.

"So, Miss Agostini." I slid my hands into my pockets and looked down at her, "Mind telling me what happened?"

~🎭~

A/N

I know this is one late update but I've got a lot on my plate at the moment. So I apologize in advance but thank you for sticking with me and showing so much love. Can't believe we're already at like 3.6k reads, WHAT!?

Anyways, what do you guys think about the interactions between Erex and the guys? His inner monologue? What about Kaya's actual move of leaving a lipstick mark on his collar and he didn't even sense it? *chuckles*

Hope you enjoyed the chapter. I totally scarified two hours I couldn't afford to just so I could write this. And good news, I've written like 800 words of the next chapter already so yeah. I'll have some more time next week and I'll try writing lots of content. Okay maybe 2 chapters worth? Because I've got end sem exams from 21st till the 17th and holy hell, there's so much to do? *sobs*

Okay, I'm done now.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter and keep reading the book. Please do vote on all chapters and if you haven't already, just take a moment to go back and do so. As a writer it means a lot to me. And of course, every single comment and feedback is much cherished, it makes my day to read them and connect with my readers. So don't hesitate to drop your comments! Take care of yourself too and till next time then!

~Skyler