Page 75 of Unspoken Obsession

"Are you going to be a good boy until I see you again?" He asks.

"I'm always good," he says, scrunching his nose.

"I bet you are," Dante says, ruffling his hair.

Damion and I walk into the building, and I glance over my shoulder for one last glimpse at Dante who is waiting until we are inside.

My heart is going crazy for this man.

I am filled with fear and hope.

DANTE

It is late evening when I sit down at the table with several other families. Two I know very well and a third I am only meeting for the first time tonight.

Given the nature of the meeting, I'm tense and ready for anything. I'm on high alert as I monitor everything and everyone around me.

Next to me, Lorenzo clears his throat.

We were both carrying our handguns, a precaution we had to take.

"Dante, this is Arman. He has risked his life to come and see us tonight."

I glance towards Arman. If he is who he says he is, then he has taken a massive risk to be here.

"Arman, we appreciate you doing this." I nod towards him, still unsure of him. Lorenzo seems convinced of his trustworthiness - I will need to see action before I believe words. "Is it true that you work for Antonio Musetti?"

Arman nods; he looks like he wants to throw up, but also like he has a certain deadly kind of determination in his eyes that will keep him focused on his goals no matter how fearful he becomes. I can admire that.

"I have worked for him for two years now. It is almost impossible to get a position this close to him because he is a man of many enemies. I worked hard to be in this position."

"Why?" I asked, the distaste of his words clear. "Why would anyone ever aspire to work with a man like that and then brag about how good the position is?"

"You misunderstand me, Mr. Russo. Let me tell you my story - then you will see why."

I nod and lean back in the chair, folding my arms over my chest.

Arman takes a slow, but steady breath, then talks.

"Five years ago, my sister went missing. She worked as a housemaid for a very rich man in Las Vegas. My family lived in Peru, and we were grateful for the money she would send home every month. But one day it stopped. And all communication from her stopped. You understand my sister has always been very close with all of us. She would never just disappear like this." he shifts in his chair. "Weeks went by, then months. I tried to call and write and even hired someone to come to the house to speak to the man who she worked for. But after many attempts to find out what happened to her - the man denied she ever worked for him." Arman pauses, taking a moment to pull his thoughts together.

"You see, something bad happened to my sister in that house. The house of Antonio Musetti. And he denied it all he wanted, but I knew she worked there. I had photos she had sent me from her lunch breaks, photos taken inside his kitchen - in his garden. She was wearing the house uniform the maids still wear today. I came to Las Vegas under a different name and did everything I could until I got a position on his security team. I have been working, biding my time, learning about who he is and what he does - and waiting for someone like you to come along."

He is a man I can trust. I understand that something happened to someone you love. We are in the same boat. I want to take this man down, I just don't have the power or resources."

I nod, my heart breaking for him.

"But you have access," I say.

"Exactly. And from Lorenzo has told me - you need a man inside."

Arman, Lorenzo, and I spend a few hours talking. This man has seen so many things - but he doesn't have concrete evidence that we can use. However, he will get it. I tell him what I think Antonio has been doing, and he says he might be able to get access to the office - but if he does, he will need a safe house to hide in afterward. I promised him that.

After an agreement is made, we all stand up, ready to leave.

I clench my jaw. I don't know if I want the answer to this question, but I can't walk away tonight without asking.

"Arman, did you ever find out what happened to your sister?"

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