Virtuously Evil [Book 1 of Animosity series]

Vote kay bye.

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It took me almost an hour to convince Jay not to put Diego in the torture room and let me handle the case. Crusano agreed with me at once, not loosening his hold on Diego while the other members of the inner circle: Alforo; Fubini; and Jayceono did not agree at first but eventually they gave in. Alforo was still persistent on putting Diego in the torture room and not letting me take the lead.

"We have to think rationally, this could be an easy set up. We want to abate the malefactor, not the victim." I said folding my arms against my chest, looking at Jayceono who's childish dick couldn't bear someone else taking the lead.

"What if you try to escape again?" Jayceono mimicked my position by folding his thick arms against his chest.

I rolled my eyes at him and said, "Yeah, let me just walk out the mansion through the main gates while the bodyguards bow to me and hitch-hike back to Los Angeles."

"Don't be such a smart-ass."

"Don't be such a dumbass."

He pinched the bridge of his nose before looking at me and giving a curt nod. "Okay, how do you wish to proceed?" His voice filled with disinterest. I smiled up at him.

"Okay. First of all, don't let anyone pass through or-"

"Already done." He interrupted. Crusano's eyes widened a little as he recalled how I hated being interrupted. He made his way towards Jayceono, hurriedly and whispered something into his ears.

I continued, "Check the whole mansion again," I saw Jayceono open his mouth to interrupt again but a little jab in the stomach from Crusano shut him up. "Check the dustbins and the main garbage area, and take me where the irregular shoe-prints were found. Also assign men to keep an eye on Diego and the others." I saw Jayceono roll his eyes before he started walking towards the direction where the shoe-prints were found.

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"This is fake as fuck." The second I saw the irregular shoe-prints, I knew it was to manipulate the audience into thinking it was Diego.

"How can you be so sure?" Jayceono voiced beside me. I saw the trail of steps, followed it and came back to Jayceono.

"How long has Diego been limping?" I asked as I looked at the too irregular steps.

"About two years, he was shot in the left thigh, which struck a major nerve and he was left like that." He answered. I saw him study my face from my peripheral vision. I knew he was dubious. "But then how do you know for sure that this isn't him?" He asked.

My serious façade was up now. "You see, if he has been a limp for the past two years, he would have patterned irregular steps. But the prints here say otherwise as the steps are all over the place, it was a calculative move." I explained.

"But it could be a calculative move of Diego. That bastard is one hell of a genius. He could have easily forged his steps." Jayceono said. And it did make sense. Right now everyone from the inner circle and the house was a suspect.

Right as we stood there studying the shoe-prints, Hercules came running towards us and stopped when he reached us. And he just stood there in silence, looking straight in front of him with his bulky arms against his chest.

"Fucking robots." I muttered under my breath.

Jayceono cleared his throat. "It's alright, Hercules. You can say whatever you want to say in front of her."