Chapter 61: This Seafood is Really Delicious!

Later that evening, after booking a hotel for a month, they decided to visit a seafood restaurant and linger there before moving on to the lead. Ella’s information mentioned a nightclub, Grand Grounds, where a group of men usually gathered. Angela also frequented this club, and these men were like the friends she had made there, though they were described almost like a group of wealthy thugs.

They prepared for the encounter, but Nathan suggested it would be wise to enjoy some seafood first.

Grumbling, Jason asked:

"You really don’t know what to order, do you?"

Nathan frowned and ignored him. For the past ten minutes, they had yet to place an order, mostly because he could not decide. The menu was written in a foreign language, which only Nathan understood, and he also knew which seafood would be the best choice.

The restaurant had everything, yet Nathan felt almost frustrated. He tapped his leg against the floor as if keeping a beat while grinding his teeth nervously.

Jason sighed.

All he could do was stare at the images on the menu, salivating at each dish. Yet his thoughts kept drifting to Angela, and he could not bear the idea of her dying like that without the perpetrators being held accountable. He needed to uncover the secret behind her death and understand why it seemed so intricately linked to him.

To succeed, he could not afford to lose the lead that Ella had provided, thanks to the private investigators.

He scowled.

"Just pick something already and let’s get this over with. We can’t afford to lose our objective!" he shouted at Nathan in frustration.

The commotion drew the attention of everyone in the restaurant for a moment. When they realized there was no actual fight, they returned to their own conversations. Jason felt a flush of social anxiety as all eyes lingered on him.

’Damn it!’

Nathan scoffed, glanced at him, and replied calmly,

"Fine."

"Waiter!"

Nathan sat upright, the candlelight reflecting off the glass panels behind the counter, where bottles were arranged in precise rows.

The waiter Nathan had summoned approached, holding a small notepad, ready to take their order.

Nathan cleared his throat, the earlier hesitation replaced by a steady confidence. He spoke clearly, and the waiter remained attentive, jotting down every word.

"We will start with Sarde in Saor, followed by Fritto Misto. Add Risotto al Nero di Seppia, Grigliata di Branzino, Scampi alla Busara, and Capesante Gratinate," Nathan announced.

Jason stared at him in disbelief, muttering that the prices were outrageous.

Nathan responded firmly:

"We are not here for bread and water. This is Venice, and seafood is the centerpiece."

The waiter, clearly taken aback by the volume of the order, maintained his composure.

When the dishes arrived, they nearly covered the entire table. The porcelain gleamed under the warm light, steam rising from the risotto whose ink-stained rice was an intense black. The sardines lay beneath caramelized onions and raisins, the fried platter piled high with golden prawns and calamari, the branzino split open to reveal tender white flesh beneath aromatic herbs, the scampi bathed in a rich red sauce, and the scallops lightly browned under a crisp topping.

Nathan picked up his fork and cut into the sardines, savoring the blend of sweet vinegar and sea salt. He nodded slightly as he chewed.

"This is why we came here. This is what proper seafood tastes like," he said while chewing loudly.

Jason tasted his portion next, chewing deliberately as the soft, balanced texture unfolded. He admitted quietly,

"It’s excellent."

They moved on to the fritto misto. The batter was thin and crisp, the prawns juicy beneath the coating, and the calamari firm without any hint of rubberiness. Jason wiped his fingers before reaching for the branzino, whose flakes separated effortlessly under gentle pressure.

"This is absurd," Nathan said. "The fish is immaculate, the herbs perfectly measured, and everything is fresh." 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Jason scooped some risotto, the ink coating his spoon thickly. He savored it, noting the briny depth that lingered longer than expected.

"It’s richer than it looks," he admitted.

They ate steadily, conversation pausing as the flavors demanded attention. The scampi were infused with garlic and wine, the scallops buttery with a crunchy breadcrumb topping. By the time the plates were nearly empty, both men leaned back with visible satisfaction.

Nathan wiped his mouth with a napkin and glanced around the restaurant, observing the women seated at various tables.

"You saw that brunette earlier? She was staring at you," Nathan remarked.

Jason rolled his eyes.

"She was staring at the plates. The order was excessive."

Nathan shook his head.

"No, she was staring at you. And the blonde near the square, where the musicians were playing, seemed interested too."

Jason took a sip of water before replying:

"Interest is cheap, distractions are costly, and objectives are fragile."

Nathan chuckled quietly.

"You are impossible. Not everything is about objectives. Life is more than revenge."

Jason’s expression tightened, Angela’s name lingering in his thoughts, yet he kept his tone measured.

"We are here for a reason, and that reason is not flirting."

Nathan smirked.

"Fine. When this is over, maybe you’ll allow yourself to notice someone."

Jason shrugged.

"Maybe."

The waiter returned with the bill folder and placed it carefully on the table, the total printed clearly. Jason reached into his wallet and retrieved the black card resting among the others.

He set it on the tray without hesitation. The waiter, noticing the matte black surface, looked momentarily startled.

"Sir... that would be—" the waiter began.

Jason interrupted calmly.

"Run it."

The manager, standing behind the counter near the wine racks, whispered to a staff member while glancing at the table. The waiter processed the payment with careful precision, as though the card demanded respect.

Once the receipt was signed, they stood. Chairs scraped lightly against the floor as other guests finished their meals, and the waiter thanked them with renewed courtesy.

Outside, the night air was cooler, lantern reflections dancing across the canal. Tourists walked in clusters, their voices blending into the background, while gondolas glided slowly beneath softly lit stone bridges.

Nathan adjusted his jacket and walked confidently through a narrow alley, where the signs were written in Italian.

Jason followed quietly .

"You said you knew this city," Jason remarked. "You said every corner was familiar, and now we’re walking in circles."

Nathan replied without slowing.

"I know the landmarks. During the day, everything is clear."

Jason scoffed.

"So at night it’s different, and now we’re lost."

"We are not lost," Nathan insisted. "We’re recalculating."

Jason stopped briefly, glancing around at the identical buildings lining both sides of the alley.

"Recalculating... where, exactly?"

Nathan turned slowly.

"The nightclub is near the water, and Grand Grounds isn’t far from the central canal."

"And which direction is that?" Jason asked.

Nathan paused.

"It’s... um... that way."

Jason narrowed his eyes.

"You hesitated."

"I did not hesitate; I was confirming. There’s a fucking difference, bro."

"Confirming what?" Jason pressed. "That we should have hired a guide who knew every shortcut?"

Nathan exhaled.

"We didn’t need a guide. Hiring one would have been unnecessary. Besides, I’m fucking older than you. You can’t just talk back to me, dickhead."

"What the fuck did you say? Unnecessary while we’re standing here, confused in an alley?"

Nathan gestured ahead.

"Pfft."

"The main canal is close. Once we reach it, transportation is straightforward."

"Transportation like what? Teleportation?"

Nathan chuckled despite himself.

"Boats exist here. Water taxis are common."

Jason glanced toward the riverside, where ferries boarded passengers beneath bright lamps, engines humming steadily as people queued.

"Can a ferry get us there?" he asked.

They stared at each other for a long moment, calculation and doubt mirrored in their expressions.

After several seconds, they shrugged in unison.