CHAPTER 39
While Jason finished his mean, he listened to an incredible tale he hadn't heard before. The Swiss filled him in about the five founding members and the wall that ensued between them. They had also mentioned their involvement in the war. He listened aptly as he did James. When they were done sharing, he asked his he could help.
"We will let you know when the time comes." Robert replied, "For now, we all should work on getting safe. I don't think the men will engage us now."
"Okay." Jason nodded.
"In terms of an ally, we are counting on connections and the law. We hope to do this the legal way." Mrs. Swiss added.
"Sounds fine by me." Jason moved his seat back. It had been a lovely night. As the couple bade him goodnight, he spoke to his security detail, "Did you get all that?"
"Yes, boss." James replied instantly. He had listened to everything and knew the Swiss were as honest in their account as the tale he had been told. He had called his father the moment all these started. Thomas had been quick to fill them all in about the founding members and the war.
"And?"
"They gave the same story my dad told me. He thinks we can help them."
"Alright. Where are you parked?"
"I'm right outside, boss." he said and chuckled when Jason hit his leg and started to swear, but he quickly covered his mouth his boss wouldn't hear him.
"I heard that."
"Sorry, boss." He apologized jokingly.
Standing outside the restaurant, he spotted his white Lexus immediately. The bouncer handed him his suit, and he stepped into the car. Once in, he said to his PI. "You have to get to work. You and your team, alright?" And as they drove off, something struck him as odd too. "And I want you to look into the death of my parents. I think they died right about the time this Miami war started. Something doesn't seem to add up."
"Sure, boss." James replied, his mind already on the task. Although the suggested sounded somewhat troubling. What if the Valdez had been murdered? It was going to be a catastrophic one. His father hadn't said anything to him about the war and the Valdez. Their names never came up in any of their talks involving the war and the old founding members. But Jason was right. His parents died about that time. It wouldn't hurt to be sure all was right. If there was anything, though, should Thomas his father know? As the security head and the Valdez' PI, he would have known if anything fishy happened. If he did, why didn't he say anything when he debriefed him while handing over?
"Make sure to get those men tailing me. We can't let them off so lightly because the Swiss think they won't engage." Jason added, bringing his PI back to the present. He tried to take off his mind away from what he just heard tonight. "By the way, where's Evangeline right now. I should speak with her."
"She's in LA." James replied immediately.
"Why?"
Well, she's been all by herself for some days now. And you totally ignored her for days, that was what he was going to say, but that wasn't for him to say. Let the boss figure that part out too. "She must have a meeting." He replied instead.
"Then get me there tomorrow afternoon. Is her security detail with her there?"
"Yes, boss."
"Good." He could easy knowing she had company. His mind wandered back to the last time they had been together. Something about his expression must have given him away. Evangeline had looked sad. He needed to correct that impression, and he could do it now, knowing her parents had finally agreed to let them be. Speaking with them tonight had lifted a burden off him. Though it sounded archaic, he was glad they approved. And now, he could face their daughter and sort out this thing they had going.
Noah sat limb on the bed, watching his wife cry out her eyes. This was the most challenging part, "I did what I thought was best for my family." He said, looking at her. She spared him only a glance, but it was a look that broke him. "I'm sorry."
"When you joined the company because I asked..." She was interrupted
"Yes. It was all part of the plan." He told her. "I was to get to the company through you."
"To siphon our funds?" He swallowed hard. This was getting deeper, but she had to know. She has to know this wasn't easy for him too. Gaby and the others would probably kill him for this, but he didn't care anymore.
"Yes." He swallowed. "We have been taking from you." She didn't say anything. It only meant she had at one time suspected. "But I stopped some years back."
Adriana scoffed. "Good of you to think you needed to stop." Sarcastically, she added. "You must have seen the money was running so low."
"No. It wasn't that. If that was it, the total money drain was the point of the whole plan." He reached out to her again. She pushed his hand away, "I changed." He said slowly.
"You changed me." He stood up again but stayed close to the bed. "You changed me." Sighing heavily. He began the story of how he had started to suck at the revenge plans, and now Gaby was getting pissed off.
"When we couldn't have kids, which by the way, wasn't totally planned. I was somehow relieved. Didn't want any kid getting mixed up in a mess." He shook his head, "But you were so miserable. I watched you became a shadow of yourself. I couldn't stop caring." He paused again.
"I cannot say when exactly I fell for you. It was shocking. I don't know how but I love you, Adriana Swiss. One day, I came home, and you were in bed, sad and without the glow. I wanted to do everything to get you to be your old lively self. The woman who showered me kisses every morning and made me excited always to be home. I could do anything for you then. That day was when I found out I couldn't hurt you or your family this way anymore. So, I stopped the plan."
"We were childless for almost six years. You're saying in all those years I was only the pun in the plan" she laughed weirdly, tears falling down her eyes. "My kids and I meant nothing to you."
"I love those kids."
"And now, you stand there to tell me this trash of love stopping your plan."
"I... love you, Adriana."
"Yet you continued to steal from us."
"No. I stopped. It's why my brothers are angry with me. I haven't touched or hurt as much as a fly in your company. Not since the twins came along."
"Then how come just a couple of weeks back, we lost over a couple of thousand dollars?"
"I didn't do it. You have to believe me. I didn't."
She shook her head vigorously. "You need to be out of this place tomorrow." She said sadly and turned off the light. "We can start working out the divorce papers too." She added before covering herself with the duvet. She listened as he took his things and left the room probably to sleep in the other room. And the tears began to fall again.
