It had been a long time since Adam had entrusted Delfina to Severo.
He and Severo had arranged to meet for a month, but after a month he split up.
A lot had happened in between, and the mention of Adam had caught Allyce off guard for a moment.
She tilted her head slightly to look at Xabat and asked again, unsure, “Did you say Adam?”
Xabat nodded silently.
Allyce was slightly stunned for a moment before continuing, “Severo’s in the shower, I’ll tell him when he comes out”.
…
Severo came out of the shower, listened to Allyce and walked down the hall with her.
Xabat and Dita had been waiting for a while and both were whispering something with a pile of information.
When they saw Allyce and Severo arrive, they hurried to keep quiet and said in unison: “Boss, ma’am.
Allyce and Severo sat down and Xabat placed the pile of photos in front of Allyce and Severo.
“This is a picture taken on a dock early this morning, the image is not very clear but you can tell this man is Adam,” Xabat said, his eyes sweeping back and forth to both Severo and Allyce before finally returning to Severo.
Severo slowly and methodically picked up the photo and looked at it carefully.
Allyce came over to look at her as well.
The photo had been taken at night and was not very clear.
As Xabat said earlier, although the photo was not very clear, it was clear that the person in it was indeed Adam.
Allyce and “Desiderio” had lived together for a long time, so he was immediately recognisable.
The picture was of a man on a dock, his head on one side, talking to the man next to him, the river glistening in the moonlight behind him, the whole picture seemed dark and clear.
“Early yesterday morning?” Severo was about to put the painting down after looking at it, but seeing that Allyce was still looking at it intently, he continued to hold it and did not put it down.
Allyce looked at her for two more seconds before turning her head away, and only then did Severo put the photo down.
“Yes, the photo was taken in the early hours of yesterday morning …” The words that followed seemed to be shielded by Allyce’s presence, Xabat and paused slightly and did not continue.
“Say it.” Severo leaned back, looking careless.
It was then that Xabat continued: “I sent people to gather information and I sent others to look for Adam because he had only been back a short time, but I did not expect such a gain.
Severo rubbed his fingers together, lost in thought.
Earlier I had thought that Adam had not been heard from for so long, probably killed by Grizzi.
But after all this time, Adam had reappeared …
However, Adam’s identity was important to Grizzi, and he was a man of some ability, so it would be a shame to kill him like that.
He should have just punished him and gone back to work for Grizzi.
And I loved Delfina so much, how could I not go back to her.
All this was to say that Adam had not been abandoned by the organisation, so he was not concerned about Delfina’s welfare, and that was why he had not turned up.
Allyce looked at the painting again and said, “What was he doing on the docks?
Grizzi never had a normal deal, and Adan was certainly up to no good in the early morning hours on the docks.
Suddenly, Severo reached out and took her hand in his, his face calm as he whispered, “I’m a little hungry, why don’t you go to the kitchen and make me a bowl of noodles?
Allyce looked at the clock on the wall not far away, it was close to lunchtime.
Given Severo’s nature, there was no way she would be left alone to cook him noodles at this hour, and she would simply bring lunch forward.
It was clear that he wanted Allyce to go first.
Allyce was a little frustrated, even though she knew Severo didn’t want her to know what was bothering him, she was sometimes a little confused as to when things would calm down again.
“Well, wait for me, it’ll be quick.” Allyce said and prepared to get up and leave.
However, Severo spoke again at that moment: “Wait a moment”.
“How …”
This last word disappeared in Severo’s kiss.
Severo’s kiss, with its reassuring touch, was brief.
He worried that she was thinking too much and calmed her with this kiss.
But …
Allyce turned her head to look at the two Xabat brothers who had turned their heads towards the window in unison, looked at Severo with a fiery face and headed for the kitchen.
Once in the kitchen, Allyce set about preparing lunch.
He knew Severo wasn’t very hungry, so he had no intention of cooking pasta, so he just made them lunch.
…
In the lounge, after Allyce left, Xabat brought some more information to Severo.
They hadn’t been in J much in the last two years or so, and although Dita had been here, there hadn’t been as much time to gather information on all aspects of the business.
Severo’s hands were clean, but his were not, and after so many years in J, he had to be attentive to the various changes and shocks of the situation.
Especially now, with the upcoming presidential elections, many of those in the light and those in the shadows have already made their moves.
And Severo had no way out when Eka had dragged him in earlier.
It could only accept the current situation and do what was necessary to ensure its interests and security.
Severo narrowed his eyes, hiding the darkness beneath them.
He picked up the file that Xabat had placed in front of him, turned it over a couple of times and returned it to its place.
He raised his jaw slightly, his face looking inscrutable: “Keep following Adam, and don’t let him know until it’s necessary. Keep an eye out for Delfina if she’s been to J recently.
Xabat seemed slightly stunned by his words before looking at Severo, as if to confirm something.
Severo, who was never one to give many explanations, gave Xabat an affirmative answer: “Just what you think”.
Xabat heard Severo tell him to keep an eye on Delfina and assumed that Severo intended to use Delfina to threaten Adam if necessary.
People like them were good at winning by exploiting their opponents’ weaknesses.
And this was not a tactic Severo would have used for a long time.
That is why Xabat had asked Severo as if he was unsure.
To his surprise, he received an affirmative answer from Severo.
“I know, I’ll get someone to do it right away. Xabat nodded slightly, and with those words turned to leave.
Dita followed Xabat, wanting to say something but not saying anything, just casting a silent glance at Severo before following him.