CHAPTER 26: A WEDDING TO SHOW DOMINANCE

***ELIAS***

“Eagle squad,” I said, clutching the earpiece closer to my ear as I stared at the screen. “Do we have movements yet?”

“No sir,” A voice responded through the comms. “Everything here looks normal.”

“Keep your eyes peeled,” I said, pulling the earpiece away.

“Something is wrong,” I said, pacing inside the control room. “I can feel it in my gut.”

“It's not even 9PM yet,” Samantha's voice came from behind me. “I think you're just being paranoid.”

I turned around slowly, facing her. “Let me see the text?”

“What text?” Her eyes widening.

“The lead we're chasing,” I responded, my lips parting slightly.

A heavy sigh tore from her as she pulled a phone from her bag, handing it over to me. “Here.”

I went through the text, and that was when I noticed something oddly familiar—

“Lucien Moretti will be striking a drug deal by 9PM tonight. Tell Erling Smoke—this is the best opportunity to finally make Lucien pay.”

My chest tightened as I read the text. The mail was directed to my undercover alias. A name no one knows except me and three other top officials who are now dead.

“Can you track the sender?” I asked, handing the phone to Jack, who was typing at his computer.

“The sender used a MOD account,” he responded. “It leads to a dead end.”

“What about the IP address?” I requested, hands curling tightly around the phone.

“I already tracked it,” he responded instantly. “It traces back to a Cafè at Brimin street.”

“I’ve got movement,” a voice suddenly came through the comms. “East side of the building.”

I rushed to the monitor and pulled up the camera feed. Four men in suits, guns in their hands, were moving toward the storeroom.

“That’s our cue,” I said, grabbing my vest. “We move now.”

And with that, I alighted from the van parked in front of the club's building. The special squad was already perfectly lined up in front of the building.

“Let's go.” Instructed, leading the way.

Music thundered through the club, shaking the walls and the floor beneath our boots. People turned their heads as we passed, but I kept my eyes forward. The storeroom was behind the kitchen.

The noise faded a little when we stepped into the kitchen, but the heat and activity hit just as hard. Cooks moved around the stoves, shouting over the music.

“Police,” I said, flashing my badge.

The kitchen cleared out almost instantly. Flames were turned off, pans abandoned, and within seconds the room was empty.

I tugged my gun close to my chest, and I flicked my fingers over my head twice as I walked towards the door—heart slamming hard against my ribs. When I got to the door, I tilted my head to my squad behind me and they looked ready and sharp.

After a nod, I opened the door in one swift motion. “Freeze.” My voice thundered, guns flashing in the air against the criminals.

Two of the criminals tried to reach for their weapons but they were shot before they could even aim. And when we had finally brought them under, I moved closer and discovered—Lucien wasn't even amongst them.

“Where is Lucien?” I screamed out, pulling one of them up.

His lips shook as he answered. “I don't know.”

“Useless,” I muttered, shoving him back to the floor. “Arrest them.”

We seized the drugs and took in twenty of Lucien’s men. To the squad, it looked like a success.

To me, it felt like another failure.

***A FEW HOURS LATER***

I was at the interrogation room, trying to get confessions that tied Lucien to the drug trade. But I got nothing.

“Tell me all that you know,” I requested in a high tone, smashing the table. “Who is your boss?”

“I ain't saying shit,” the man said, spitting on the table. “Puta.”

Something snapped inside me. Before I could stop myself, I grabbed his head and slammed it against the table.

“Fuck!” he cried as blood ran from his nose.

The door opened. Detective Rogers stepped inside, his expression dark.

“I need you outside,” he said, raising an eyebrow.

I followed him into the hallway. As soon as the door shut behind us, he turned to me.

“Where the hell is your head at, Detective?”

I dropped my gaze, realizing I took things too far.

“You know what?” Tilting his head up, as his gaze locked with mine. “Go home. Get some rest.”

“I can still—”

“No,” he cut in, raising his index finger in between us. “You did a great job today. Get some rest.”

There was no point arguing. I nodded and walked out of the station, heading toward my car with the weight of another missed chance pressing down on my chest.

***

The drive home passed in a blur, and before I knew it, I was standing in front of my house, too tired to even reach for the door. That was when I saw it—my TV was on. And when I peeped inside my living room, Damon was sitting on the couch—head tilted back as he watched the news about the operation.

I drew in a deep breath as I walked in. “Hey babe.”

He didn't respond.

“Is something wrong?” Walking slowly toward him.

Only then did he stand, and slowly tilted his gaze towards me. “How did the operation go?” His expression darkening.

“You can see it already on the news,” I responded, gesturing towards the TV.

“And for how long do I have to keep waiting to get your attention?” 

“Babe…” I muttered, stepping closer to him.

“Don't.” He cut in, stretching his arm between us. 

“What's wrong?” I asked, searching his face. “Why are you being like this?”

“I don't think this is working, Elias.”

“What do you mean? We're good,” putting his arm away, as I closed the distance between us. “I just need to clear this up and we can finally be together.”

“You've been saying that for three years now,” he stated, sniffing in air, “I no longer believe that.”

“So what are you saying?”

“I'm saying we can no longer be together. You clearly have your priorities, which is cool. But I really hate being the second choice.”

“Damon,” I grabbed his arm just as he was about to walk out.

“I'm sorry,” he said, gently pulling my hand away. 

Then he left.

I sank into the nearest couch, head buried in my palm, then, my phone started ringing. I ignored it at first, but the buzzing didn't stop. When I glanced over my phone, Samantha's caller ID flashed on the screen.

I picked immediately.

“You really do have a habit of not picking calls in time don't you?” She said, chuckling softly.

“Now is not really a good time.” 

“I'm about to make it worth it,” she said in a firm tone. “Check the news.”

My breath caught as soon as I turned on the volume of the TV. Lucien was getting married in two days, and the bride was none other than my undercover alias—Erline Smoke.

“Thank you, Samantha. I'll call you later.” 

Then I ended the call.

I ran my fingers into my hair as I let out a heavy sigh. I didn't chase a dead end, Lucien had been playing me from the start. And this wedding… is to show his dominance. 

But that is his mistake, because this time… I won't fail to catch him.