Thiago

What is justice? It should be the shield of the weak and innocent. 

Is it though, or is human nature just too biased and too easily corruptible? You can see a human's true character only when he is put in a position of power. When he holds lives in his hands you can truly see if he is a champion of the many or of himself ultimately. 

"Hey, Golden Boy, what are you musing over?" Davi puts two beers in front of me. 

"Nothing your superficial ass can grasp."

"Pragmatic. It's called pragmatic and it brought me so far only promotions."

"Because you are lucky and surrounded by people that care only about the end, not the means."

"Might come as a surprise to you but that's what most people care about."

"Very funny. I am still angry with you."

"Whatever would you be angry about, my beloved friend?" I feel like punching him once more just to prove a point. "I mean, would it not have been for my little stunt you wouldn't be fucking the Russian variety every night, would you? I bet it's quite delicious. She has a little whiff of crazy in her; those are the very best. You end up either wife-ing them or on the front page of the newspaper. Or both." His broad grin is just as infuriating as last time we spoke. 

"You are awful. Remind me again, why are we friends? You are an utter asshole."

Davi takes a deep swig of his beer. 

"Because we've known each other since we were five, I suppose. I balance you out. I am your much better half. I am also hotter. Ugh, god is so unfair. But you have more money. Or well, you would if you would suck it up and make up with your dad. You know he can be the solution to all your problems."

"Did he pay you to butter me up?"

"No, but you know Don Vitor is the hero of my childhood."

"Only because he is not your father."

"My father was a drunkard who beat us up every night. Sometimes you should really consider counting your blessings. Yes, I would have preferred a father like yours." This is only because you don't really know him. But Davi's father was just as awful. And unlike me, Davi was born in a favela and wasn't gifted anything growing up. He accomplished everything on his own with hard work.

"I am sorry, ok?"

"Whatever." He takes another sip of the beer. "I suppose you have nothing for me, do you? She didn't spill anything. Did you search her stuff?"

"No, because there is nothing to spill." 

"Or she still doesn't trust you enough. Buy her a present, give her some wine, eat her out, and then ask about the Italian mafia. And if that fails, I still have some truth powder."

"You really want my fist to collide with your face today, don't you? She doesn't know anything. She is just a victim, besides, the guy she is running from is from the Balkans or so. Not Italian..."

"I have my doubts." Davi puts a folder on the table between the beers. "Think about it. A fake yet real Italian passport. Not everybody can do that. A little thug could not. I bet she rode at least one, rather high-up, gang leader's dick for those."

I cringe at the thought, at the images. Maybe she did. Maybe she had to. It's just sad and disgusting what people like that do. She did something and that someone wasn't kind to her at all. A lion-shaped burn scar is a rather sadistic punishing method even for an honorless thug. He wanted to humiliate her and show dominance. Disgusting. 

"Well, smartass, how far along are you and Bruno with the investigation?"

"We are stuck," he admits and blows a raspberry. "That's why I need you to get me something. Six months ago we got a solid tip that someone connected to a powerful European clan would be on the beach that day. And what you find is the Russian mini-Barbie. It has to be her."

"Well ask your contact again if you're stuck. It might have been her but the tip wasn't so strong as you thought. Yes, there is a connection to a medium-level East European thug but that is it." That is all you need to know. 

"Dead people can hardly give you more input."

"He is dead?"

"Yup, died days after. Man, if you want back in you need to give me something good so I can go to the major will solid arguments, solid enough for him to have the courage to go against your father."

"I am not sure if I want that anymore."

"Whaaat? You must be kidding me. Did the bitch get you soft? Now you want to hold hands and cook dinner and all that shit."

"Why not? I like her a lot. I think I might be actually in love."

He throws me a thunderstorm gaze. 

"You must be kidding me. You know you might be banging the ex-girlfriend of one of those people that you despise most in the world."

"She is a victim. No ex-girlfriend, no nothing. Ex-girlfriend," I huff. "If she would be the ex-girlfriend she wouldn't be hiding, scared as a deer at the end of the world."

"Do you really trust what she says? She doesn't trust you, that's for sure."

That is one truth for sure and it really is mortifying.

"I know you are dying to get back," teases Davi. "It's in your blood. You remember the chase, all the adrenaline, the naked glory, killing the bad guys." I fucking do."You are born for this and nothing else. Not raising a family or wasting your days in a bar," he whispers in my ear like the devil whispered to Jesus in the desert. "What about the Asian killer that fascinated you so much? That is such a perfect execution that nobody was able to trace him. How did they call him? Black Death? You still dream about catching that one, I bet."

"You know he is probably finally dead. He hasn't been active for months."

"Ahh, here we go." Davi grins triumphantly. "Yes probably, but I came upon something interesting last month. A copycat. A way more violent version of this guy. Very precise, subtle like a shadow, just like him but fucking bloody, unlike him."

"Where?" I mutter. He did touch a sensitive chord. I have been fascinated with that guy for years since we had to witness a crime scene in Sao Paulo that had no clue whatsoever. Zero. The autopsy gave nothing. The scene gave nothing. As if it were a ghost. The victim was the Brazilian crime family head, Agosto Carvalho Costa. His death looked like an accident but I am pretty sure it was not. Since he was a goon, the higher-ups just qualified it as good fortune and moved on with their lives.

"It could be a girl; did you think of that?" Davi says casually. Or masked as casually. Nothing is casual about him.

"I don't think so." I don't. "My money is on an Asian guy."

"I say it's a girl. Would you like to bang here if it is a girl? The love is already there. The fascination..."

"Nooo."

"But would you?"

"Davi, stop it or I will hit you."

"Hit me, but get my info so I can get you back and back on the glory track."

"You know you would cross my father?"

"I do, but I think Don Vitor knows low-key that it's your destiny."

I don't hit him after all, as much as he manages to annoy me. He is difficult but not a bad person and an extraordinary law enforcement agent.

Roxana will finish classes today at one. I don't like it when she has to take buses or the subway. She hates it even more.

This damn girl... The phone beeps. Daniel sent me again some mem. Funny and all but it's the fifth today. The boy needs friends his age. I send him a laughing emoji. He's traumatized and my girlfriend's brother.

It's a nightmare that drive in Rio at rush hour.

Another text.

V: Son, I want you to be at my engagement party on Saturday. It's a private venue, black tie. Bring your girlfriend; I want to meet her.

I roll my eyes at the tone and the audacity. All the years in the army got him used to only demanding, not asking.

T: Fine.

I text back apathetically. He will have to meet her eventually. Better in public so it's less likely for him to make a scene.

Roxana is waiting in front of the faculty. But this time she is not alone. She is talking to a man. All those scenes about not being safe and here she is chatting with a random guy. Maybe Davi's words got to me after all.

"Who is that?" I ask when she gets into the car. My disapproval is probably evident in my tone.

"His name is Pedro. I told you about him. Today we talked again and he seems harmless. Don't worry; I am cautious." She kisses me on the cheek and smiles.

"You were the one hiding in a favela. And now you find it suddenly ok to stroll around with random guys?"

"It's not that. If I refuse to talk to everyone people will label me as suspicious with reason. Now I seem only shy or whatever. We only meet in public places and believe me, if anything is off I will be the first one to go. And you know..." Her voice drops. "If something will happen I want it to happen to me. Like that, you get a heads up and you can protect Dani."

"Don't talk like this. Nothing will happen. Nothing happened so far. You are safe with me."

"No, I am not safe. I will never be safe. If something I am endangering you too. But you said you are an adult and all that. Listen to me. If shit happens, I want you to run. I don't want you to rescue me. I want you to save Dani and yourself. His beef is with me. He might let you live."

I look at her. She is lovely even frightened like this, even unkempt, and dresses like a little boy as she usually does when going outside, with baggy clothes to hide herself from the world. But I have never seen a face I find so lovely or a body more appealing despite the scars.

"Tell me his name."

"No," she says stubbornly.

"Is he Italian?"

"What?" She frowns. "No."

"Why are you irritated? It's a fair assumption since you have Italian passports and obviously zero to do with Italy."

She turns away.

"I thought we were over this."

"We will never be over it unless you trust me with the whole truth."

Maybe I should start pushing. A thin layer of moisture is coming into her eyes. But hell, why is it so hard? Have I not done enough?

"Let's not talk about it. Please."

"Whatever. So dad has invited me to his engagement party on Saturday and wants you to come too. I think you should. You will have to meet him eventually and I think it's better in a public setting so he doesn't ask too many uncomfortable questions."

"What do you mean by public?" She frowns.

"It's not actually public. Just a party with guests. Probably dressed a bit fancy."

"Okay fine, but are you sure it's not an actual event or so?"

"Yeah."

"Hmm. Is it ok if I take the afternoon off?"

"Why?"

"I need to write a paper for school. It might take all night so I guess I will sleep at my place."

This is weird. Or it feels weird to me. She might still be irritated. 

"If you have to. But I thought it's an unspoken rule that we always sleep together."

"I promise I will make it up to you."

Falling asleep alone starts to feel weird. Since that dreadful night that turned out to be a turning point, we were never apart. It was the most strange but also fulfilling time of my life. Now I am staring at the ceiling thinking about how her perfume smells, how her skin feels under my touch, or how her voice sounds when I make her cum again and again. 

I cannot fucking sleep. 

T: What's your sister doing?

I text Dani and he answers right away. 

D: Writing some paper or trying to. She is kind of sad today. Did you two fight?

T: Maybe. Maybe I need your help to make up. I will come up tomorrow before she is back from school.

D: Kay. I will help you. 

The next day Dani greets me enthusiastically as always. Again, this kid needs friends his age. 

"Why did you two fight?"

"Couple stuff." He doesn't need to know too many details. 

"Where are your sister's things? I want to buy her a nice present. I am not sure what, though."

"You bought her a dress and she liked it. I think she will be happy about anything just not roses. I bought her some on her birthday and she freaked out. Someone gave her rose trauma because she used to love those."

I could ask him about the past. He would surely answer, but it would be wrong. 

"What were you thinking of getting her?"

"Um, maybe some jewelry."

Dani is searching through a backpack. He stops and looks at something.

"Not sure. She doesn't own any. She used to though. The only thing she has now in that department are our parents' wedding bands but she isn't wearing them. They are just a keepsake. But I guess they are giving her now too much trauma too and she put them away. And there is this weird thing."

Dani opens a box with two simple wedding bands in it and a third ring. Big, golden, definitely very old and expensive.

The boy is chatting for a long time till he gets a call from his boyfriend, which distracts him and lets Satan whisper in my ear in Davi's voice. 

Satan is a charmer because I leave the apartment with a mysterious ring in my pocket. 

How was that, does the end justify the means?

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Muhaha. Stuff eas revealed. 

I am even a bit proud of myself that I made a little parallel with when Marco is reading Machiavelli. :D