Page 37 of Monster in Disguise

Even at work, people assumed I was gay simply because I kept a respectful distance from all the ladies in the office. And now I have to get married... likely to an eighteen-year-old. The thought of it makes me ill.

That's not to say that there have been no accidental touches throughout the years; it's practically impossible to live completely isolated. But each one of those touches caused me physical pain and so much mental anguish that I needed time to recover. Aside from that, I want to believe that I adjusted well enough to live in society as a normal being—or as normal as I can ever be.

"Someone's here to see you, Signore." Amelia's voice startles me out of my thoughts. I remove my glasses and rub my temples, trying to relieve the tension there.

"Show them in."

In strolls Vlad, his cocky grin in place as he plops down on the chair across from me.

"Marcello." He greets me with a smirk, audibly chewing gum between words.

"What brings you here?" I ask, already knowing that Vlad wouldn't visit without a purpose. We had been trying to unravel the mystery behind the recent attack, but according to him, both Quinn and Matthew Gallagher had disappeared after Jimenez's death.

"Not much, same old stuff." He shrugs nonchalantly, his eyes darting towards the clock behind me.

"And what does that entail?" Getting information out of Vlad is like pulling teeth.

"You know," he adds innocently. "Ortega's cartel teaming up with an MC chapter, Quinn returning to town... nothing new."

"But you said there were no signs of Quinn."

"Did I? Well, there are now. My sources say he's gearing up for a big fight. They've even added more arenas in the Bronx."

"And you didn't think that was worth mentioning?"

"I'm not concerned about Quinn. He's like a machine, but not a very smart one. His father, however? Haven't seen him since the Agosti attack. Now if we could get some intel on him, that would be a real development." Vlad leans back in the chair, wearing a relaxed expression that conceals his true intentions. His acting skills are top-notch; it's hard to see beyond his facade.

"My people want revenge for our losses," I remind him.

"And you think I don't want the same?" Vlad asks, feigned offense coloring his tone.

"I don't know what you want. Actually, why did you come here?"

"Marcello, Marcello, must you always be so rude to your guests? No wonder people can't stand your grumpy attitude." Vlad shakes his head in mock disappointment.

"Cut to the chase, Vlad."

"Hmm..." He studies me for a second. "You've made the correct choice to assume your role as capo... and so you will reap the benefits."

Furrowing my brow in confusion, I ask, "What are you talking about?"

"The thing you've desired most... it's almost within your grasp," Vlad says cryptically before rising from his seat and striding towards the library. The way he moves is fluid and confident, like a predator on the hunt. "There was a recent death."

"Chimera?" I interject, finally understanding why he has come to me personally.

"Yes. Saratoga Springs."

"What? That's..." My words trail off as the weight of the situation hits me.

"It's getting closer and closer, faster than before. If this were a normal serial killer, I'd say their cooling-off period is decreasing. But we both know this person is not ordinary."

"What are the police saying?"

"No prints, no evidence to speak of. The locations are chosen so chaotically that they can't establish a pattern."

"So nothing." Vlad nods in agreement.

"But we have something they don't. Motive."

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