The Slave of Pleasure
Chapter 90

Rachel

I sat on the edge of the bed, absorbing all the information I had already learned about Veronica Allbane. I knew that I couldn't handle it all alone. Vincenzo had always been a strong presence, filling every space in the mansion with his energy. He had the power to disarm me with a single sentence or a look, and I knew that if I tried to press him with all the questions burning in my mind, he would simply say that I was dealing with something beyond my comprehension. And maybe he was right.

I needed backup. Someone I could count on to unravel this web of mysteries without raising suspicion, and Nancy was the obvious choice. I picked up my cell phone and, without hesitation, dialed her number.

"Rach?" Nancy's voice sounded excited on the other end, even though I didn't understand why she was calling.

"Nancy, can you come here? I have something big on my hands, and... I need help. Veronica, she's more than she seems. - My voice was shaking slightly, but I tried to hide it.

There was a short pause, and then the answer came without hesitation.

- Tell me where and when. I'm in.

I felt an immediate relief. Having her around would make everything seem more bearable. After we had sorted out the details, I went after Vincenzo to let him know that Nancy would be staying at the mansion for a few days. I found him in his office, leaning back in a leather chair, immersed in papers and spreadsheets, but he looked up as soon as I entered. It was as if he always knew I was around, as if he sensed my presence before he saw me.

- Vincenzo, I wanted to ask... if it would be okay for Nancy to stay here for a few days. - My voice was calm, but filled with something that even I couldn't fully define.

He frowned slightly, but a slightly crooked smile appeared on his face.

- Rachel, you don't have to ask permission for these things - he said, with an amused glint in his eyes. - This is your home now.

I swallowed hard, feeling the impact of his words. It was a powerful statement, but at the same time, contradictory, considering the uncertain and risky universe that seemed to revolve around him.

As I turned to leave, Vincenzo called me back, with that tone that always disarmed me.

"I thought you would have a lot of questions about Veronica. It's not like you to leave a question unanswered." He tilted his head to the side, analyzing me.

I took the opportunity to launch my own provocation, trying to keep a casual tone:

"I think the next Veronica who shows up will introduce herself. After all, we never know anyone completely, do we?"

He arched an eyebrow, an intrigued and slightly confused expression appearing on his face. Before he could respond or question my comment, I left the office, without looking back.

In the bedroom, I waited for Nancy to arrive. My thoughts raced as I pondered what Vincenzo had said, what he expected of me, and everything I feared he was hiding. Vincenzo knew me well enough to know that I was persistent, but did he know how much I was willing to replace out, even if it revealed dark truths?

Nancy arrived shortly after, carrying a small suitcase and a curious expression. As soon as she entered the room, I couldn't contain my excitement as I began to pour out all the information about Veronica. I had brought her up on everything: the suspicious connections, the exclusive events, the international travels, and especially the possible involvement with the Yakuza.

"Wait... are you telling me that this Veronica might have ties to the Yakuza? Rachel, do you have any idea what you're getting yourself into?" Nancy asked, her eyes wide, her expression oscillating between fascination and fear. "I know, Nancy. But I need to understand. This isn't just curiosity; this is about what awaits me with Vincenzo. If Veronica still has some control over him or if her past poses any danger to me, I need to know. Nancy nodded slowly, and I could see that she understood my determination. Then we opened the laptop and began to delve deep into the information. The early morning was filled with incessant clicks and an endless list of open windows. While Nancy searched for old articles and interviews that Veronica had given, I focused on patterns of behavior: specific events, people who were always around her, photos where the presence of certain figures was constant. We soon discovered that Veronica had more than one registered name. There were companies and properties linked to her under different names, like a web that she had built to camouflage herself. Veronica was a true ghost. She changed identities and left minimal traces, as if each new piece of information were a purposefully incomplete puzzle. What caught my attention the most was replaceing a name that seemed to always appear in financial articles. A man named Hiroshi Nakamura, who, according to Nancy, He had a police record and was a known suspect of involvement with the Yakuza. Hiroshi always showed up at events where Veronica was also present. At first, he was a discreet figure, but the more I researched, the more I realized that he was a central figure in some of her biggest acquisitions and partnerships.

That revelation sent a chill down my spine. I was dealing with something much bigger than just a woman with secrets, and the presence of this man by her side only proved the depth of his influence.

Nancy exclaimed when she found a photo from one of these events. It was a seemingly innocent image of a gala party in Tokyo, but the people present there were a select group, all rich and well-dressed, but with a dark and cold aura. Veronica was next to Hiroshi, and suddenly I noticed her gaze. Those eyes were not just seductive; they were calculating, cold, and dominating. She looked at the camera, not with vanity, but with an authority that gave me chills. Feeling the weight of the discovery, I leaned back in my chair, taking a deep breath. I looked at Nancy, and saw in her eyes the same mix of fascination and fear that I felt.

"Nancy, do you think... Vincenzo knew about all this? That he was somehow involved with these... these monsters?" I asked, unable to hide my despair. Nancy hesitated, but took my hand.

"Rachel, he may be more involved than you would like to admit, but he may also be as much a victim as you. These circles can capture anyone who passes near them."

I nodded, but doubt gnawed at my thoughts. We were exhausted, but determined to continue. Something in me had changed, as if a dormant part had awakened. I wasn't going to give up until I had all the answers.

While Nancy slept in the next room, I stayed awake for a long time, looking at the information on the laptop screen, trying to organize the next steps. Tomorrow, perhaps, I would have to confront Vincenzo with what I had discovered, but I would need to do so carefully. I knew that any slip-up could not only undermine our relationship, but also put him in a difficult position.