Alexander arrives in Greece after a twenty-four-hour flight. The sun beats down fiercely and his body feels unbalanced from lack of rest. He spends the rest of the afternoon in his hotel room trying to contact Leonard or Minos, but neither seems to be answering their alternate numbers.
The next day, he meets with his partners at a country club for lunch. Animal calls his secret organization in Greece to have four men come to the hotel and escort him, putting them in charge of his security.
Once at the place, Bastián greets him with a big hug — It's been so long! — says with a slight accent — How have you been since the funeral?
— Better — Alejandro replies. He approaches the table and shakes hands with Egan, Bastián's cousin.
— Nice to see you — Egan says and takes off his dark glasses, but Alexander keeps his on. He wears a pair of slightly opaque lenses, enough to notice when he blinks.
– Likewise. Have you ordered yet?
Egan nods and Bastián says — Well, we already know the reason for this meeting.
— I assure you that I am doing everything possible to find the rat who could have planted that chip, but there is also the possibility that one of your own people did it before you received the shipment.
— Are you saying that we are traitors? — asks Egan with a heavier accent than his cousin's.
— What are you implying? — asks Bastián.
— What I'm saying is that someone who was on the submarine or someone who received the merchandise at its destination put the chip there — Alexander alleges — It's unlikely that such a small device could be constantly connected to a network so many meters underwater where the signal doesn't reach.
— Won't lie to you, my friend — says Bastián — We also have our suspicions, but we wanted you to show your face to avoid misunderstandings. If we have a rat in the organization, we can't continue running our business smoothly.
— I'll make the next delivery myself — Alexander affirms. He looks at his men and nods for them to leave. Bastián, seeing this, does the same with a gesture. When the tables around them are completely empty, Alexander continues — I'll send it by another route this time.
— We trust you're telling us the truth, Animal — says Egan.
— If you want to end our partnership, I'll understand, but first you'll have to kill me — Alexander says this with a serious expression. At least, as far as can be discerned from the rest of his face.
After an awkward silence, Bastián smiles at this statement — We are family, only death can separate us. That's right! — he pats Alex on the shoulder as he laughs. Egan, on the other hand, takes this as a challenge.
After lunch, the group decides to go bowling at the country club and then head to a members-only nightclub a few hours later to hang out. Bastián amuses himself by admiring the strippers, throwing money at them, and asking them to hand him their clothes while he drinks one drink after another. Meanwhile, Alexander is sitting in one of the cubicles looking around. — Bored? — Egan asks.
— A little tired — Alexander sighs — Hey, I understand that you have your doubts. You always did business with my father and...
— You're like brother — says Egan, putting his hand on his shoulder — Don't disappoint us.
— That won't happen — Alexander replies. He drinks the last of his raki and stands up — I need to rest — and shakes Egan's hand before leaving.
At the hotel, he can't stop thinking about what happened a couple of days ago and sees some news reports about it. There don't seem to be any kidnapping victims among those reported, apart from Dove's alleged disappearance. Leonard would know where his wife is, but he's not answering his phone either. Alexander makes a call to order his men and the private investigator to look for his shadow.
<><><> JULY <><><>
Tadeus stands transfixed as he watches the woman's eyes release her soul. When he reacts, he is sitting in the bathtub in his room with the shower running, staring at his hands — Aren't you going to work? — he hears his sister's voice — What's wrong with you? You've been acting strange for days. Hello..? Okay, whenever you want it, breakfast's ready — she says, and leaves the room.
Tadeus gets dressed and stares into space for several minutes until his sister returns to the room. He sees her move her lips. You promised me, you promised me everything would be okay!
He hears that voice in his mind and bursts into tears, collapsing to his knees on the floor.
A few hours later, Yenedith is in her brother's apartment with Charles, helping to clean up — I'm worried about him. I think something terrible has happened — Yenedith comments — I've never seen him so depressed. What do you think it could be? Do you know anything?
— No, I'm the last person to find out about things — says Charles — I'm not as involved in the boss's affairs as you think.
After cleaning up, they throw the trash in the small window in the hallway.
— Are you coming with us? We're planning to go to the mall later — she asks at her brother's bedroom door.
— No, I'm gonna stay here and rest a bit — Tadeus responds as he lies on the floor, staring at the ceiling from the center of the room.
— What happened? Talk to me — She kneels and reaches out to touch Tadeus' arm, but as soon as he feels her touch, he turns his back on her, trying to hold back his tears — Well, try to eat something.
— Don't forget to send me a message when you get there — he replies.
Despite what his sister said, Tadeus is unable to get up all day. He only gets up to go to the bathroom, picks up his phone to order food delivery, and although he receives it at the door, he doesn't bother to eat it. When he falls asleep, he wakes up startled by the sounds of gunshots in his dream. He replays that moment over and over in his mind until he receives a text message from the senator and meets him at his house.
— I missed this, a good meal and a good drink with my friend — Gustaph says with a smile.
—I suppose so — says Tadeus — I missed you too.
— You look very down. I heard you met with your father recently. About the matter of...
– Dove.
— Yes, her, the housekeeper.
— She's dead. I murdered her — says on the verge of breaking down in tears once again — I'm no different from one of the thugs who work for my father!
— Oh, my boy...
— I don't have the heart to tell my grandmother that her grandson is a murderer, but it's eating away at my conscience! — Tadeo sobs — I have to end this, I have to turn myself in.
— Turning yourself in to the police won't wash that blood off your hands.
— I can't go on living like this — Tadeus says, walking away from the table.
— Hey, look at me, listen to me — Gustaph says, placing his hands on each of the journalist's shoulders. He takes a deep breath, trying to calm down, and nods at his friend's words — Everything you do is for your family. It's not your fault that Edwin pushed you to do that. Do you understand? — Gustaph continues once the boy takes a deep breath — There's nothing you could have done for her. It was a risk, and in a world like this, risks can cost you your life. Okay?
— Okay — Tadeus nods.
The rest of the night, he drinks until he can't stand on his own two feet. In the morning, Edwin tries to have a meeting with both of them, but when he sees the state Tadeus is in, he decides to postpone it for a couple of days.