BXBX NOVEL Chapter 109: Uncertainty
Tristan nodded.
"Thank you. Then… I apologize, but I came here in a hurry, and don\'t have too much time to spend. We should exchange contacts and organize a proper meeting later."
"Definitely. And I will give you the information as soon as I can."
***
On his way out of the building, Tristan snidely wondered how she got another guy, better than the previous one, around her finger in such a short time.
He had a few ideas. Evelyn was a woman who knew how to be beautiful in every aspect, not just face alone.
But Tristan had to admit that Vargas was utterly smitten with her—way more than someone of his rank would be just only because of beauty. There had to be some long story involved, and maybe even genuine love.
Tristan scoffed inwardly as he sat inside his car.
If so, the less he knew about it, the better it would be. At least Evelyn was actually helpful instead of "helpful"… And although he didn\'t fully trust her, Vargas appeared to be someone worth dealing with.
Tristan still planned to be careful with both of them.
Sam and Cutout sat on the back seat, but before driving, Tristan sent a text message to his other two grunts.
[Sit low and wait for further instructions. Do as Derek says, too.] .net
Tristan was sure Derek won\'t let them be brought in for questioning, at the very least because of possible public implications.
But he had to convince the manager to let all his security have a free day at once… somehow.
Scowling, Tristan began driving toward the apartment rented for his subordinates.
"Someone must\'ve tipped the police off about you, but I bet that if they had actual proof, they would\'ve come to the hotel with a warrant. Yes, they came for Trey and Owen, too. So until this is resolved, sit quietly at the apartment. I didn\'t tell the exact address to anyone but you, so at the very least they will spend time looking for you."
Both apartments were rented in Tristan Hayes\'s name, but Tristan imagined the police would have to spend a lot of time finding that, since all documentation was only between him and the landlord, anyway.
There wasn\'t a lot of documentation in the first place.
"Got it, boss. But who could\'ve tipped off the pigs? The GTG crew doesn\'t know a sniff about us, I swear! That couldn\'t be… one of ours?"
"It has to be." Tristan scowled. "And probably someone high up."
Cutout sneered.
"Worst kind of scum."
"I hope that guy gets into a prison himself… and everybody knows what he did," Sam said with disgust.
\'Yeah, snitches and pedophiles don\'t live long or well in prisons. However…\'
"I hope we will deal with this person ourselves," Tristan said out loud.
A moment later, he felt his phone vibrating—his Gemello phone. Without looking, he knew Derek was calling him.
Tristan didn\'t reply until the manager gave up and just drove faster.
***
After dropping off Sam and Cutout, Tristan changed identities again and, as Tristan Gemello, returned to the hotel—to be met with Derek. The usually calm smile of the man was strained and anxious—a sharp contrast to his cheerful flower-print suit.
"Mr. Gemello! Where were you? You weren\'t replying to the calls. I thought the police—Well… We should talk about this all in a quieter place. Please, come with me."
Derek ushered Tristan out of the lobby and into his hotel room.
That room was a smaller suite than Tristan\'s or Nel\'s, without its own kitchen, but still quite luxurious. This hotel didn\'t have super cheap rooms, anyway.
Nel was there as well, sitting on a couch and repeatedly running a hand through his hair, together with Owen and Trey.
Both of the gangsters in disguise were stone-faced, but Tristan saw the anxiety under these masks. They wanted to follow their gangster instincts and get the hell out of here before the police came with a warrant.
"I was out, because Samuel and Collins," those were the fake names of Sam and Cutout, "got into the similar predicament as these two. I had to help them get away." Tristan gestured at Owen and Trey. "I rented them rooms in a motel where they stay now… Just in case. Sorry for not responding to calls—I was driving."
Tristan showed Derek his charming smile, and the manager smiled back in reflex.
Then he caught his wits together.
"Why did they call you, not me? Well, I will ask them. But I\'m even more concerned about what the Los Angeles police wanted from them! These people were hired by the GTG agency itself…"
"The police didn\'t have a warrant! Whatever the police wanted, it wasn\'t good enough!" Nel exclaimed suddenly. "We aren\'t some nobodies anymore, right? We can just block their way if anything happens. And IF they come with a warrant… Will it be any good, anyway?"
Derek looked at Owen and Trey.
"I\'m sure it was all a huge misunderstanding. Both of you and your colleagues were nothing but helpful. However… I\'m afraid that until this situation stabilizes, you should stay inside the hotel. Samuel and Collins should return here, too."
"No, let them stay where they are, Mr. Derek. At the very least, to not put all eggs in the same basket."
Derek hesitated for a moment, but nodded.
"Well… You paid for the motel already, I suppose. It\'d be a waste of money to not use it. All their things are here, though."
"They will be fine for a day or two." Tristan said more forcefully.
Derek hesitated more. Although his smile didn\'t show it, there were some doubts about his security people in his mind.
They were dutiful people, but with a bit more scars and a general air of danger than an average security guard.
But he couldn\'t stand in Tristan\'s way.