Chapter 492 - In Which They're Pissed

For a week, Lieutenant Clark didn't back away from Gael. He would corner him every chance he got. One time, Gael had just finished a meeting in a restaurant and had to relieve himself in the restroom before leaving.

He wasn't surprised that Clark followed him inside. Obviously, the motherfucker didn't know boundaries. Gael grew tired of being followed everywhere. He seriously considered whipping his dick out and peeing on Clark just to piss him off—or in this case, piss on him.

Gael stood by the urinal while facing Clark, who leaned against the sink a few feet away, and then he unzipped his pants, a sly grin ghosting his face as he nodded at the Lieutenant. He was ready to take out his junk, thinking the asshole must really want to see his dick if he didn't turn. The fucking pervert.

But then Clark scoffed and turned away, retrieving his phone from his pocket to answer a call and walking a few steps to the door.

Facing the urinal now, Gael ignored the other's presence as he relieved himself. He could have his men get rid of Clark, but he didn't want to risk it. Clark was too important to the police. His colleagues would notice if he suddenly just disappeared. Gael and Giovanni had already thought of doing it a few times over the years, but they didn't act on their urges. Therefore, Clark remained an annoying thorn in their lives.

Washing his hands in the sink, Gael nonchalantly perked his ear up, listening to Clark's low voice by the door several steps away. He seemed to be arguing with someone over the phone. And Gael could guess what it was about.

Grabbing some tissues from the wall dispenser, he took time drying his hands. Just as he tossed them into the trash, Lieutenant Clark went straight for him and got in his face.

"What did you do?" Clark demanded.

Gael tilted his head sideways, raising his brows as he shrugged. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"My supervisor just…informed me to leave you alone." Clark bared his teeth, his face going red.

"He did?"

Well, that was fast.

"Don't give me that, De Luca. You and your family make me sick. What the hell did you do?"

Gael pretended to think, looking sideways as if he recalled something, and Clark watched in silence. "I really have no idea why he would do that." Then he raised his eyes back to meet Clark's, still keeping his expression neutral and calm. "In fact, I praised your…hard work."

Clark looked confused, his brows knitted together like he was constipated. "What?"

"Oh, I just…thought I'd compliment how you and your colleagues have been working so hard the past few days. You know… Ambush—I mean, interviewing…stake-outs outside my apartment, going everywhere I go, and making sure I'm safe and protected. Like I said, I'm extremely touched that you're looking out for me. I just wanted to make sure you are properly compensated for the things that you do."

Gael brushed imaginary lint off Clark's shoulders. He should have done this before washing his hands.

Then he added, "I merely gave my commendation, knowing that my property tax is used well."

Gael did a good job holding his smile in. He really could be an ass to others, but did he care? He didn't give a fuck. Especially when it was Clark.

Still red in the face, Clark pointed his finger at him and muttered under gritted teeth, "I'll get you one day. You and your family." And then he left, slamming the door behind him.

Gael had to admit that Lieutenant Clark was persistent. If they weren't fighting from the opposite sides of the law, the man would've been useful.

Stretching his arms up, a small smile formed on his face because he finally got rid of his tail. It was fun while it lasted.

Not.

***

Because Gael had been followed around for days, he could barely move and do his other businesses. He had to delegate important things to the capos working under his family and the soldiers whose duties had also been doubled.

Gael loved the extra time he spent with Angela, going straight home after work. Still, there were pressing matters that needed to be dealt with—aka Perry and Filippo—so that he could actually enjoy spending time with Angela without worrying about the next attack.

Last Monday, the morning after the assassination attempt, Gael confronted Perry in the office during lunchtime when most of the staff weren't around. It was a heated conversation, but they stayed on each other's side of the table while Perry adamantly denied he ordered the drive-by.

"If I really wanted you dead, I'd just hire a sniper, and you wouldn't even know what killed you before you hit the ground," Perry said and scoffed. "A drive-by. Are we in the 90s?" Then he stalked out of the meeting room, leaving Gael and Giovanni.

It was no question that Perry wanted the De Lucas out—especially when Gael got Morgan's shares. But what he said was also true. If he wanted Gael dead, he'd make sure of it. 

Of course, Perry could have also only said that and lied.

Since the shoot-out in Brooklyn two weeks ago, Angela had been cooped up in the apartment, working on her new book. Gael had all of her things from Brooklyn moved to Manhattan. She didn't really complain about just staying inside as she was too busy concocting the spells in her book.

However, on Friday morning, she asked Gael if they could go out for some fresh air and a change of scenery maybe. She was a little stuck on one scene of her book, knowing what to write about but uncertain of how she should write it.

He learned that Angela was writing another mafia romance novel.

At first, he gave her an eye, but he didn't interrupt when she described what it was about. "I promise, I'm careful this time." She blushed, and there was a sparkle in her eyes, looking so excited as if she couldn't wait to show him what she did.

Honestly, he didn't mind that she was writing that anymore. As long as she didn't get herself into too much trouble, he was okay with it. He'd be right behind her if she did get herself in a sticky situation. Plus, he thought about how fun it would be to nitpick the parts of her work just to get a rise out of her. He loved it when she got so worked up defending her babies.

According to Angela, the female main character in her new book worked in a club—because apparently, that's where all the "dirty" happened.

Gael figured that perhaps bringing her to one would put her in the mood to write again, and maybe that would give her inspiration. So he arranged for them to visit The Phantom's Empire and even had Ruth show her around and introduce her to all the staff working that night.

Ah, the light in Angela's eyes when she realized what he did was worth seeing.

His manager, Ruth, didn't question why she needed to "educate" Angela about the work around the club. But she thought of it as getting acquainted with the future missus, thinking that Gael might ask Angela to be in charge of Empire one day since he'd be busier in KMH.

The club was always packed on Friday evenings, and that night wasn't an exception. While Gael made sure he didn't have to work that night so he could be around Angela, he, unfortunately, had to leave for a while. Giovanni, who was at The Manor, called him over.

"She doesn't leave the club. And she's not getting out of your sight," he reminded Trigger as he got to his feet.

Angela emerged from the kitchen doors with Ruth beside her. He told her where he had to go and she didn't complain. She even reassured him that she was having fun.

"I'll see you later." He kissed her and then walked away.

***

The Manor

Just like The Phantom's Empire, this club was crowded. Sometimes, they'd wonder where all these people were from. Were there always that many people in the city? It was like the whole population doubled on the weekends to party. Of course, they didn't complain—the more patrons, the better.

Gael entered through the side entrance and headed straight to the office upstairs where Giovanni told him they were waiting. He wasn't sure who "we" was. He thought the capos had important things to report.

However, he wasn't prepared to see the people in it when he entered the room without knocking. Immediately, his brows drew together as he stood by the door and stared at them, waiting for someone to start talking.

"What the hell is she doing here? What is he doing here?" Gael questioned, his eyes bouncing between the two people before they trained on Lia. She sat at one end of the leather couch, not meeting his stare while the other man—someone from the accounting department in KMH sat on the other end, his clothes and hair disheveled.

"I need to go home." Malia's jaw tightened, and she attempted to move.

Glaring at her, Giovanni's foot rammed down against the edge of the coffee table, making them jump.. "Sit your fucking ass down! You're not leaving until I tell you so."