CHAPTER 25

About that time, Jason Valdez sat down, holding Evan's hand stiffly. They had gone to the hospital for the third-week checkup, and though the doctor confirmed all was well, he had insisted on seeing them both. While seated, awaiting his arrival, Jason had reached over to hold her hands when he saw her shaking. She smiled at him. The smile she gave him was forced. He could tell now since he had seen her deep smile and heard her laughter at their LA tour. The memory of that day had stayed with him all week. The doctor was tidying up and was yet to give the news. He hoped nothing was wrong with the baby and the mother too. "So, what is it, Doc?' He asked the instant doctor. Tom walked in.

"Oh, it's nothing serious." The doctor dismissed, and Evangeline released her breath. Doctor Tom smiled at her, "Relax, Evan. You are doing great. So is the baby. I just need you to still slow down for me. The first trimester is where the real work is. After that, you are in the clear."

"Is that all?" Evan asked, hoping that was really it.

"Yes. That will be all." The doctor said. He shook hands with Jason and asked about the business. While they chatted, Evangeline packed her items from the table, her phone and her new baby key holder, and they left.

In the car, Jason asked if she wanted to come to his home for dinner. She nodded, and he started the car. "Spence?" He called his android.

"Even here?" Evan asked curiously.

"Yes. Spence is connected to my phone." He explained, "Inform Cora to set the table. I'm coming in with a guest." The drive home was silent. So was dinner. After the meal, he suddenly brought out a wrapped box.

"What's with everyone and wrapped gifts?" She asked, collecting the box.

"Someone beat me to it already!"

"Yes. The twins."

"Well, that's fair. What did they give you? Wait, the baby-shoe key holder."

"You saw that, huh."

"It's the perfect fit for what I got you." He told her while nudging her to open the box.

Evangeline sat down to undo the wrap. Inside was a glistening diamond chain set with matching earrings. It was pure diamonds. "Wow!" she exclaimed. Another box was in the wrap. Curious, she brought that out and opened it. In it was a key.

A car key. "Oh my God!!" She exclaimed, looking outside. He laughed and walked her out to the garage where a ROVERS was parked.

"What?" she ran towards it, opened the car and got in. "It's beautiful." She said and ran to hug him. She came down and went back to the car, started it and drove it around the compound. Then she parked it and got down.

Jason noticed her changed mood, "What's wrong?"

"I like the car. Really. But I don't think I can accept this."

"Why?"

"I told you not to pay me for carrying this child."

"Our child, you said. I remember" then he moved closer to her. "But we agreed I could give gifts. Remember?"

"Big gifts." She said. She did remember. "Thank you." She hugged him again. As they hugged, Jason pulled her closer, and she leaned on him, allowing her head to rest on his shoulder. Something had changed between them, Evan noticed. They were more relaxed around each other. Suddenly, he pulled back. She looked at him, alarmed. Then he pulled her closer again, tilted her head to meet his and kissed her. It was a chaste kiss, but it made her heart flutter in a foot off the ground loving way.

******

It was a very troubled Adriana who picked her kids from school and drove home to an empty house. Having the home alone to herself was a welcome relief. She discarded her clothes on the floor and laid on the bed naked. Breathing in rapidly, she soaked in the serenity and silence. But the twins soon finished their homework, and they rushed to her room.

She managed to get them out of her room for a quick nap trick before the tears began to fall. Ethan woke up earlier and to find her in tears. And that ended whatever tranquility she had been craving for. The two curled in bed and were that way till later in the evening. She somehow managed to let him know she had been crying when he came in because she was stressed at work.

"You can quit, Mom." He hugged her then said. "I thought grandma owns the company. Just tell her you need a break.

Adriana couldn't stop laughing at that. "Okay, we should try that now, don't we?" And she pulled the boy closer while she continues to cry silently. If only it was that easy to just take the break.

Later, Evangeline soon walked in too. But whatever she had been about to say skipped her mind on sighting her sister's puffy eyes. "What's wrong?" She asked, picking up the tussled clothes.

"Mom's been crying all day." Ethan said. Even his mother had thought she'd fooled the little boy. He must have heard her silent sobs.

Evangeline moved the little boy to the living room, fed him then carried him to his room. She rocked him to bed and checked on his sister, who was very much sound asleep. She quietly stepped out of their room.

"You think dad's okay?" The boy asked as she was about to close the door.

"He'll be fine. Your mom will be alright by morning too, okay? Trust me, and have a good night." she said. Evan went to her sister's room to find her still curled in bed when she got back. She removed her shoes and got in bed with her. "You're still on it. Want to tell me what this is about?"

A few more sobs escaped her throat and she leaned on Evangeline who hushed her and told her everything was going to be okay. "Mom thinks Noah is stealing from the company."

"What? How can she say that? And you let her get away with it?" She kept quiet when her sister gave her a sad look, "What? There's more?"

"There is proof. Pieces of evidence I'm trying to overlook. But it's all there." She started crying again. "Can you believe that?"

"Don't listen to mother. You should still do your investigation. I have a good PI that you can trust on sensitive issues like this."

"I told mom already to give me time to find the evidence myself. The company's PI is mom's paid man. I could use a PI with no attachment to the company. Send me his contact."

Evangeline sent her PI's contact to her. "Done." She told her sister. "In the meantime, I want you to relax. Don't act strangely around him. It might be a false alarm."

"I desperately hope it is."

And they stayed that way till they both fell asleep. Morning found them both lazing around till the twins came into the room. Adriana was still in a very bad state. Evangeline prepared the kids for school and made light breakfast while their mother dressed up

$CHAPTER

CHAPTER 26

Five families controlled suburban Miami; The Swiss, Valdez, Monterey, Nelson and the Smith. These were the founding members. They were rich, powerful and highly connected. The Valdez were into Estate management. Most of the buildings in the suburbs were built by them. They leased out, sell and mortgage them for public use. They also owned the widely used commercial bank, with the Swiss being the majority shareholder. Their connections went beyond the suburbs. They had powerful allies within and outside the state.

The Smiths were an organized corporate body. A little too organized. Their companies and deals were very well managed that when you wouldn't think they were into anything illegal. But on a closer look, you will start to notice the discrepancies. The overdressed hefty men in the pubs. The excessive extras on security. Restricted bars and limited access to some of their facilities. And then there were the exotic cars they drove. That alone was a clue into some other businesses the family did underground. They owned pubs, bars, gaming houses, liquor businesses, bets and pools. Yes, the Smiths were corporate criminals. A lot of shady deals went on in their pubs and bars. But they were smart too. They've never being caught.

The Monterey, on their part, were drug lords; Dangerous and feared. Though they had legal businesses here and there in the country, their money came from their hard drugs. Unlike the Smiths, they have no fear of showing their dirty hands. They were known to be hot-blooded and not scared to shed blood in broad daylight. They were always in possession of strange ammunitions. Now and then, the law catches up with them, but nothing solid ever holds. In court cases involving them, victims have disappeared or died in mysterious ways. Everybody avoided the Monterey.

The Nelsons were also equally powerful allies. They owned coffee shops, Cafes and commercial offices in the suburb. Unlike the other families, they were the quiet ones. Also rich and influential but not like the others. In the years that settlers have settled in Miami, there has never been any incident involving them. Perhaps that was a mistake. If there had been, the residents would have discovered that these quiet members were related to another drug cartel on the outskirt of suburban Miami.

For power to be restored in the city, a balance needed to be put in place. The Swiss held this power. Power in suburban Miami was balanced using the law. And though the Swiss held power, it wasn't strange to hear of occasional sabotage. It was not unusual to have a fall between two families. The cases were settled in court. But most times, things go south. Victims disappear, never to be seen. Some found dead. And most times, an incidence like this happened when the case involved a Monterey. Once in a while, dead bodies were found shot, decapitated, maimed and dumped in hidden corners of the county. Sometimes the culprit was apprehended. Sometimes, the culprit is sentenced to death or jailed. At times the prosecution isn't smooth. Victims end up dying in some cases. Still, the Swiss did their best to serve the country.

To stay safe and maintain peace, the Swiss were rumored to run under thugs that did the dirty work. It wasn't ascertained. It was mere speculations which the family refused to say anything about to the public. The legal system in Miami was unlike now, where everyone has a good idea of what the law says. Then, the presiding judge ruled as he or she deems, which was why the thugs could have been a problem now. But then, no one minds; as long as the intention was pure, all was fair in cooking and in battle, until some couple of years ago when a really dangerous incident happened that threatened the peace of Miami and the five founding families. A daughter of the Nelsons was found dead and dumped in front of her father's house in the most despicable manner. And the one's quiet family in Miami showed their true color.

Witnesses claimed the young lady dated a Monterey boy. It was only right that the primary suspect was the Monterey boyfriend. The Swiss sent their thugs to sniff around. As expected, the Monterey boy was placed at the murder scene at the time of the murder. Though the CCTV was tampered with, they had their way. The buried murder weapon was also unearthed, and his prints were all over it. As it happened, the Nelson girl was at the wrong place at the wrong time. She had witnessed something she wasn't to live to tell. Everything was in place: the murder scene, the victim, the motive. Everything but one! No witness wanted to step out for fear of what the Monterey would do to them. Heck, they just murdered a supposed future spouse. The frustrated judge knew the implication of that. It was looking like it again. The Monterey was going to get away with yet another murder. But the Nelsons wouldn't hear of it. They were ready for war. Their allies were beginning to troop into the country, ready for war. The Swiss was in a dilemma on how to solve the case with no witness stepping forward.

Then, at the brink of open war, a witness stepped forward. The witness, a young boy, had strong evidence that could nail the Monterey. The salvaged CCTV recording placed him just a few miles away from the real murder scene. He had a direct view into what had happened that night. It was a closed deal. But his mother was scared. She requested that her child be put under witness protection to stand against the Monterey in court. The Swiss agreed, and the Nelsons were in full support. And so the prosecution started. From the moment the case was opened, it was evident that the Monterey boy was going to jail. So, they tried what they always do; take out the witness. It wasn't the first. They had done it severally. But what made Robert Swiss angry and why he chose to deal with the Monterey was how they forced his hands with how they executed the witness.

Typically, witnesses were taken to a secured location until court started. But no one could be trusted. Barbers, supposed neighbors, thugs, even Police officers were on the Monterey's payroll. The location had to be changed almost every day. Nobody except a few could tell where the witness would spend the night. The Monterey had no way to keep a tab on him. All attempt was futile. They were always too late and leaving dead innocent bodies in their wake. Once, they had come close to almost shooting the boy who was being moved to another location when the lawyer realized there had been a compromise. He noticed the officer on the last duty was receiving a dodged call and quickly alerted the judge. The officer was immediately arrested, and the location was changed.

CHAPTER 27

It was almost too late as the Monterey's men were already there, all loaded up. Two officers died protecting the witness that day. Eventually, they were able to escape. The judge left with no choice, moved the case to that very evening leaving the Monterey no time to act. The witness was sworn in. Then the state attorney stepped forward and began interrogating him. "Tell us as clearly as you can what happened that night."

"I was home." He began, "I've always known Debbie Nelson rolled with the Monterey. She was their girl, always coming around at odd hours. It annoyed me." He sniffed.

"Why did it annoy you? Have a crush on her?" The Monterey's attorney, a stocky man in his late thirties, queried, intending to divert the case in another direction. He looked just as shady as his client, who sat in the accused corner with no iota of remorse. He kept giving the witness a deadly look as if threatening him to keep his mouth shut. The witness didn't look his way. The state attorney had advised him not to so the threatening looks wouldn't pressure him.

"Objection, My Lord. My colleague here is making speculations irrelevant to this case." The state attorney countered immediately

"Sustained." The judge; Robert Swiss cautioned, "Counsel, do not make accusations with no solid proof here again. State counsel may take that again."

The attorney bowed slightly, "My lord." And he moved closer to the witness, "You may go on. But first, for clarity, why did the late Debbie's visit bother you?"

"Every time she comes... came." He corrected hastily. "Monterey go wild trying to impress. Once, they shot my friend in hand for touching her drink at the pub. He didn't know that." He slurred, "He was chilling with this girl and poof. His hand was bleeding."

The courtroom became a little rowdy with 'ahas' and 'Boohoos.'

"Order!"

"So, what happened the night she was killed?" The state attorney asked

"That night, I was out doing stuff." He sniffed again, "She came round, asking if I have seen the Monterey. I ignored her and walked away. Talking to her was dangerous for me being the Monterey's girl and shit. Knew what they did to my friend and all." He looked pointedly at the Monterey boy this time and snickered, then looked away quickly.

The Monterey's lawyer seized the opportunity to butt in again. "Did you somehow carried a grudge against them because of that? Shooting your friend and all." He said, trying to imitate the witness. Everyone erupted in laughter.

"Quiet."

"I didn't have no grudge on them. Couldn't" he laughed like that was the most insane idea anyone could come up with. "Who dares the Monterey?"

Though it was a rhetorical question, everyone in the courtroom chorused, "Nobody."

The clerk shouted "Order." And there was silence again.

"I can't fight them." The witness proceeded. "So I avoided them."

"Smart dude." Shouted someone from the backseat. The judge smacked his rod and said, "I'll hold anyone who speaks rudely in my court in contempt."

The state attorney took a step back then asked, "Did you ever speak with her at all?"

"No. I don't talk shit with her. Not until that day when she spoke to me. I walked away." He stared at the police officers seated in the front seats again. "When she asked me, I ignored her, and when I turned the corner, I saw a truck of shitload coming."

"Truck of shitload?" The state attorney queried.

"Cocaine bro." The witness scoffed, "It was the Monterey's. I ran into the building to stay dead till they were done. If seen, I was doomed. The girl saw her Monterey dude. Didn't think she was in any danger and just went there. I think She saw who I saw." He paused, looked around, frightened. His gaze fell briefly on the police officers on the front seats. Two of them were now standing. Their guns hung loosely at their side. He looked away.

"Who?"

The boy cowered backwards in fear.

"Is the person here now?"

"Yeah." His voice was barely a whisper.

"Who?" When he pointed at a police officer's standing, everyone scampered away from him. "My Lord, I'll like the court to arrest officer Fin for possession of the hard drug and misuse of power and possible accomplice to murder."

The officer was instantly arrested, and the judge charged everyone to be quiet. "State Attorney, please proceed."

"What happened afterwards?" The attorney asked the witness.

He requested s cup of water. The clerk passed him a sealed bottle which he opened and drank from. That seems to have calmed him down, "Her man." The boy shook his head as if replaying the incident in his head, "He just shot her dead."

"Do you know who the man is?"

"Sure." He stared at the Monterey boy again. This time he didn't look away.

"Is he here now?" The attorney asked.

"Yes."

"Where?"

"There. Him." He pointed at the accused Monterey. Everyone gasped.

The judge adjourned the case till a few hours later. The break was just normal courtesy. The offender had been nailed. Everyone stepped out to await the judge's decision. While the witness was being escorted out, a young female lawyer for the state ran after them. She had been passed an envelope by a woman she assumed to be the witness' mother. "This came for you." she said and handed the envelope to the boy. The instant he opened it, he, alongside his escorts, was blown to pieces.

Robert Swiss heard about the incident. The dead witness. The dead escorts. The lawyer whose career ended with that singular mistake. Everything made him so angry he went ahead to sentence the Monterey boy to death through lethal injection. Then he went on to open a case against the Monterey family. He had had enough of them. For years, his father had complained about their fearlessness against even the law. And they continued to misbehave even when he assumed the position after the late judge's demise. It was high time they are dealt with. He didn't go through the usual channel.

The Monterey were all in jail before they could lift a finger. They were all shot dead quietly overnight. But that wasn't the judgment Robert Swiss passed. Another family had taken up the case. The witness, as it were, was a distant cousin of the Smiths. And the Smiths with the Monterey had bad blood. His family wanted revenge and control of the Monterey business.

In the war that ensued, the Swiss became caught in the middle. The Smiths blamed them for their loss. The Monterey felt they owe it to the Swiss to put them in their place for publicly humiliating them constantly. But the Smiths had the upper hand. For years, they have been monitoring their enemies, studying their tactics, buying their way into their business. It was not an easy takeover, but it was done. There were so many casualties. Innocent residents were found dead on the streets and in their homes. Houses were burnt down to erase evidence of a full-blown out organized killing. A few Monterey escaped that day. Most left Miami. Never to be heard of. The ones that survived changed their name for fear of being butchered to death. And so, the ruling family in the suburb Miami became just four. The fifth was never to be spoken of again.

The instant the Smiths came into power, the Swiss became a target. The new lords weren't sure where their loyalty lay. So, they were being monitored. Their phones were tapped into. Conversations were streamed. It didn't take Robert Swiss long to figure out that the power balanced had tipped. The fifth family didn't go extinct. It had been merged into the Smiths. Now, the Smiths had more power than any other founding family. To save his family, he needed to act fast. Because their phones were tapped, the Swiss couldn't involve their kids in the scheme. Then again, who goes telling 21year old and 19year old something that grave? Something that could get them killed if said to the wrong person?

This was why when Robert got his wife into the car for a meeting outside the suburb, they fought. The fight continued until he had to leave. It was all part of the scheme but not entirely complete. Swiss blamed her husband for making the wrong call.

"As a presiding judge, you could have chosen a jury. But no, you played god. You must have been so intoxicated by the power that you forgot who you were dealing with." She mocked.

"They murdered the witness. It wasn't the first, second, fifth. I'd had enough." Robert countered.

"And you sent them all to jail. If you hadn't jailed them, the Smiths wouldn't have murdered them right under your nose. Now, the Monterey, wherever they are, will always come back for our heads. The Smiths, well, you know those are even worse."

Robert Swiss knew she was right. They were not safe. There was only one thing to do, "Divide and conquer." He said.

She inhaled sharply at his suggestion, "That my dear would be another wrong call. Divided, they see us weak."

"But what will you have me do?"

"I say we show a united front. Get help outside the suburbs. Let's reach out to our clients for help." She suggested.

He pondered on it a while, "We need help. That you got right, but we can't just stay here and ask for help. I know how these people run their street. They will sabotage the help and turn them against us. To get help, we need to go looking for genuine ones. Not stay and be calling for it."

"Then what do we do?" Mrs. Swiss asked.

"I'll insist on 'Divide and conquer', It's our best call." He replied. It was the first time he wasn't yielding to her decision. And it was apparent she wasn't going to let him have his way. "You don't trust me." He noted sadly.

"Not after this last call." She threw back at him carelessly.

That hurts. "Then, I must do what I can to fix the problem I made." He told her sadly.

"You're leaving." She said, nodding sadly. Why did he have to be so stubborn about it?

"To get help." He clarified. He had already packed his things; she realized as he stepped down from the car. He went round to move his box. He then came around to bid her farewell. "Take care of the kids. Better to let them believe we are divorced."

"Oh, we are." She smiled at him sourly, "The moment you walk out on us, we are." She threatened. He smiled sadly at her but started to walk away. Not even her threat could make him change his mind. Swiss watched his retreating back and began to weep. She had no idea how to handle this. How was she going to face the kids? He was right. Holding him down would be grasping at thin straws. To deal with the dire situation, they found themselves, and they needed more than straws. Heck, what they needed were machetes and hacksaws, swords and sharp blades. He better be right about this and makes good friends. "When will you be back?" She called to him

"It could be years, honey. But the moment you notice the money trail, even when you don't know who's moving it, call me. Then, it will be the time to come home."

Amidst tears, she nodded. "Okay."

That was years ago. Now, it was time to bring him back and hope for all their sakes that he now has helped. Strong allies, or else, they'd be begging for their lives soon.

"Do you think you've gotten all we need for this war?" She asked, not believing she just used the word 'war'. It had almost ruined them then. She hoped in all earnest that it doesn't destroy them now.

"Yes, I do." He replied confidently, "It's time to come home."