Chapter 68 ROCCO MORETTI
ERICA'S POV
I stared at my laptop screen, watching the Giselle controversy slowly die down. For some reason, it felt like someone powerful was backing her, quietly clearing her name. The worst part? Those glowing pictures from her charity auction and all the hype around it, made my lips twitch in pure disgust.
"Ding dong."
The doorbell rang. I stood up and headed to the door. Yeah the lotion finally arrived! She had sent it over and to avoid suspicion i had to rent a local house and dress all different: fake blonde wig and nerdy glasses on.
"Please sign here!" the delivery man said. I forged a signature, scribbling it down, and took the box from him. I kicked the door shut with my foot and strolled over to the table.
I set it down. God, I was bored out of my mind. My eyes drifted to the photos on the table-Carter's. A slow smile curled on my lips. I had lost that one recorded video of him, but Nine had dug up another of his dirty habits...
"Go ahead with the plan. Give Carter a good gift," I texted Nine, then shut my phone off and tossed it onto the bed.
I grabbed a small kitchen knife and sliced through the seal tape, peeling away the foam padding until I finally got to it.
"Formula-A." That's what Finn's company had named it. The miracle lotion to "clear skin," they hyped it up like crazy. Worse, they were producing huge batches, ready to flood the market. Lucky for me, I had gotten my hands on a sample early, but there was a note attached: \[This is it finally! Please help me\].
My eyes narrowed, I had promised to help her clear her skin, so that I would do.
I pulled out the bottle. It was packaged sleekly, shaped like an hourglass with white laced leather wrapping, their logo stamped on it, and a fine lady with pure, almond-shiny skin. I examined the plastic seal, then finally spotted the expiration date and ingredients list.
I grabbed my journal and pen, jotting them down.
Glycerin
Ceramides
Hyaluronic Acid (Sodium Hyaluronate)...
I stopped dead when I spotted it. This one ingredient looked off: worded strangely, like it didn't belong.
I reached for my laptop and searched the name. Nothing popped up. Not a trace. I bit my lower lip hard. Were they hiding some toxic chemical in there? My pulse quickened as I grabbed the mercury test kit.
I squeezed some lotion onto a wooden platter. Seconds later, after running the test, the result hit me like a punch.
Mercury (Mercurous Chloride, Calomel). My eyes darkened. Highly toxic-damages skin, kidneys, everything. They'd buried it deep in the formula. I licked my lips slowly, a dark thrill crawling through me, and glanced at my watch.
I should report this... but not yet. I needed to get it to a proper toxicologist first. Just then, my watch beeped.
It was time.
I tied the fake blonde wig into a ponytail, sealed the lotion back up, and shoved the box under my bed. Lately, I'd noticed those shadowy men tailing me like ghosts. After digging, I realized they were after the real but dead Erica.
This disguise was the only way to escape from them.
My gaze flicked back to my digital watch. The target was on the move... he was leaving.
I yanked on my shoes and bolted out the door, locking it behind me. There he was, the man who followed me around and took pictures, climbing into his jeep.
"Taxi!" One pulled up fast. I pointed at the departing jeep. "Follow that car," I whispered, sliding in.
"Keep it slow," I told the driver. He nodded and sped off just enough to stay on their tail.
I glanced at my phone, typing a quick text to Nine: I want to see Erica's bastard uncle. I'm sure he was the one who ordered his men to shoot her that day. For months, I had tried digging into every detail, but they came up empty, except the known facts.
Rocco Moretti. The name alone made my jaw clench. Another twisted mafia bastard I can't stand. He dealt in illegal drug smuggling across the country… and the worst part? He never got caught. Even when the police knew he was deep in it, they couldn’t prove a damn thing.
Every shipment he ran was scrubbed clean of evidence. That’s when it hit me, he had insiders in the force. That was one reason I’d contacted Cassandra: not just to help with Emily’s and Jolie’s case, but to gather intel for me. Using anyone else would’ve been too risky. Besides, Cassandra wanted him behind bars just as badly.
I licked my lips, letting the details sink in. Every hint of his deeds screamed evil. A deadly way to be his target
I hissed.
The car twisted through shadowed streets until the taxi jerked to a halt. The jeep had stopped five meters ahead. The figure I'd been tailing stepped out, glancing around warily before slipping into a restaurant.
A restaurant? I arched a brow. All this chase for that? Something felt off-way off.
"I'll get out here," I murmured, paying the driver quick with my phone's QR code. The transaction went through, balance deducted. I watched the taxi pull away, then turned to the restaurant.
I pulled the nose-mask from my pocket and slipped it on.
This was dangerous. Stupid, even. But sometimes you have to dive into the fire.
The place screamed trouble: graffiti-scarred walls, like gangster territory. Was it a front? A classy spot for mob deals? Or straight-up underground illegal den?
My hand gripped the door handle. I was walking into my own grave, maybe. Death itself. But that dark temptation clawed under my skin, i couldn't back out now.
Just as I pushed...
"Ding ding." My phone rang loud.
I froze. Inside, everything went dead silent. I sucked in my bottom lip. No running now.
The door swung open.
"Delivery!" I blurted, thrusting a small package forward with both hands. Thank God I'd prepared one as backup.
My eyes darted, trying to peek inside yet only chairs, legs moving, shadows shifting....That's all I caught.
The guy stared me down, head to toe. "Didn't order anything," he growled, slamming the door.
But I jammed my foot in, stopping it cold. He froze.
"What the hell?" His voice was pure ice: dark enough to make any normal girl bolt in terror. Instead, a smile tugged at my lips.
"But the app said this exact address!" I muttered, playing innocent.
"Could be a mistake," he snapped.
"That's not true, it showed right here-"
"Fuck off," he warned low, his eyes blazing.
I had to get inside. Say something, anything. But I just stared, pleading silently. His anger built, I saw his hand twitch toward his side...
His gun.
Shit. I should run. My lips parted-Then a hand clamped on my shoulder.
"I ordered it," the voice said behind me.
I froze. That voice... it was too familiar. I looked up.
There he was, his face sharpening into view, eyes locking on mine with a small, dangerous smirk.
Aaron? What the hell was he doing here? How? Why?