CHAPTER 56

Noah Monterey sat down in the single available chair in the room reserved for him. He then stared at every member on the seat. To his right was Gabriel of course. He was always seated at the head table as if to reinforce the fact that he was the boss here. Gabriel was drunk. It only meant one thing; trouble. He noted that and promised himself not to get worked up by whatever the man said or do, on this table. Not that he couldn't handle any of his wars. But Gabriel's demons were his own and he be damned to help him face them in his current predicament now.

To the left was Nate, looking boyish as ever. Noah had no doubt he just got pulled from one of his many flings. Which one was it? He didn't need to see the lady to know it was someone vetted and approved by his brother; Gaby. Nate knew how hot headed his brother was and he did all he could to stay out of his way. Smart! It was the best gift he could ever give Noah who had enough running with Gaby over every situation. At least with Nate, he didn't have any serious clash with his cousin. The only time he had to butt in was when they dragged money. Yes, Nate wasn't just a flirt, he was a spendaholic. If a word that serious ever exist.

Beside Nate was Samantha seated gaily and poised. Though reserved, Samantha was the smartest of the Monterey. Perhaps being a woman gave her that edge. She wouldn't interfere with Gaby's affair. And she was smart to also run every of her suggestions by Noah, who was far more reasonable than Gaby. She wasn't the same sibling with any of them. Like all of them, her parents and other siblings died during the war. And though it hurts to lose so many loved ones that way, she had seen firsthand what her family was capable of. A lot had happened while growing up with them right in her presence. Perhaps her deep insight came from knowing so much about the family business. As a girl, most men would have kept her away from the shady family business but not Barry Monterey, her father. He was one of the toughest men he knew. He had also seen nothing wrong in letting his kids know about his family and the business they run.

Her father had raised his boys tough and his girls tougher. Samantha had seen more blood in her life than she wanted to. She was barely twelve when she saw him shoot a man who stole his money. She had been trained to shoot at fifteen. At sixteen, her dad had taken her on a shooting spree to celebrate her birthday. All she needed to shoot was a life bull, caged. Her brother had little luck. One of their maids had been caught sleeping with the enemy. The girl tried to explain the relationship had been based on love and nothing else. But Barry Monterey tagged her a traitor. There was no proof of this but her father was a paranoid man. He took things like betrayal, stealing too seriously. The maid had to go. It was the only way he knew to stay in control. It was that girl that her brother had to kill. He was just twelve. The boy wept and his hands shook so terribly.

Samantha was grateful not to be in his shoes. Sometimes, being a female had its speck. So, yes her father did introduce his girls to business, he still kept some inhumane acts away from them. She stared at the bull placed before her and cocked the gun. It was better than shooting another human, she thought and simply did his bidding. The first shot killed the animal. He was so proud of her that he gifted her a new car. So yes, Samantha did know more about the business just as she knew enough about every of her family to handle them appropriately.

When she lost every single one of them, she felt sad but then again, who was she to feel offended when she knew just how many lives her family had taken themselves. She had accepted her fate just like she accepted the family she had been born into. She was born a Monterey and that was who she was. Her father had raised her to study men. Every time she sits with him at the business deals, it was simply to watch the men and predict what they wanted from their stern sitting position. He trained her to watch every twitch, master every masked look. Every slight movement didn't escape her. After these meetings, he'd ask her opinion and they would discuss what they believe the men wanted. She became so good at it that she became his right-hand man. No, make that woman. She became his right-hand woman.

Samantha knew how men wanted their pride smoothed with care. All the partners and business associates where not hidden from her. This had helped her guide Noah in handling the business better. When the Monterey lost the tough hands of their family, it wasn't a surprise that most businesses wanted to overthrow them or cheat them out of their deals. But the Monterey's had trained their kids. Noah knew the books and Samantha knew the man firsthand and well, Gabriel was the muscle. The instant their partners had their first meetings with the newest trio, they were forced to fall in line. Their business was in good hands as usual.

With everyone seated, Sam looked at the two men who ran the family business now. She could see Gaby was in a foul mood and knew Sam wouldn't openly rob his ego just as she knew that he wouldn't openly attack him either. She passed everyone a bottled beer and asked the sole question on everyone's mind.

"Gabriel? You wanted us here. Why?"

Gabriel cleared his throat as usual and stared at her long and hard before giving his reply. His eyes didn't leave Samantha's but everyone knew he wasn't talking to her. "I need the fuck answer to why the Swiss operation failed" he hit the table, angrily. Nate jerked and quietly moved his seat back

CHAPTER 57

Evangeline and Adriana waited in the chamber where they usually held meetings. Their parents were yet to come down and the sisters were getting worked up. Evan stood up going back and forth. "Are we seriously not going to their room?" she asked her sister who turned away instead.

Mrs. Swiss walked in then. Trust Evan to push her sister into this again, she thought. "Good morning" she greeted both ladies and went to sit down, "Your father will be here shortly."

"Good morning, mom." The two chorused in almost a whisper.

Their mother instantly knew what that meant; her kids wanted answers. But they have all the answers, so what else did they want to know? She didn't need to know who instigated the move this time, they both had something to say.

Robert walked into the tense room. He dragged his feet hoping to delay the time it took him to settle down. He had finally settled with his wife and was in a good place. He didn't want anyone ruining the mood this morning. As he walked by his wife, she gave him a stiff smile. That wasn't good. He expected a bright smile. Whatever had happened the night before between them last night seemed to have vanish the instant they woke up this morning. His wife had dashed out of the room as soon as she was awake. He sat down stiffly on the chair. He was barely seated when his first daughter attacked him.

"Dad? Why would you say something so nasty that got your grandchild that worked up?" Adriana queried as soon as he was seated.

Mrs. Swiss looked at her daughter, surprised her first daughter was the one to get this rude. What was going on here? She would have bet Evan wanted this more than her. Now, with the grandkids involved, perhaps this was all Adriana. She didn't even greet their father. Mrs. Swiss was about to point this out when Robert speak up.

Robert seeing his wife about to respond quickly said, "A good morning to you too." Then he looking at Evan who was leaning on the wall, her stomach a little big, he said, "Why don't you sit."

He was being evasive, Evangeline noted with annoyance. She moved away and went to sit beside her sister. That way, the children were sitting facing the parents. It was funny to watch them. "Would you please tell us why I had to go with Ethan to his school to pacify him that he heard you wrong?" She stressed the 'you' while pointedly looking at her father

Mrs. Swiss decided to butt in "We still have no idea what you are saying. What did Ethan heard that got him upset?"

"The better question is what are you both keeping from us?" Adriana threw at her mother.

Her mother looked at her again, surprised "We haven't been keeping anything from you..." Then remembering something, she quickly added, "At least not deliberately." She started to suspect this had to do with the meeting with Noah. Had the kids heard something?

Just about then, Robert also realized his grandchildren had been playing outside while he and his wife discussed the meeting he had with Noah as they watched them play. Ethan did leave to do something in the room. Which was odd because he looked angry. But then, he had assumed his sister won the game, hence the anger.

He heard! "I don't want us all worked up over this. Ad, you know I wouldn't entirely hurt those kids. They are as well mine as they are yours. They are my first grand kid." looking at Evan, he added, "With some others, coming."

Evangeline instinctively robbed her stomach. "Then we need answers." She said softly, a small smile played at the corner of her mouth which she forced away. "I had thought I would be coming here for something else."

'I knew it' Mrs. Swiss smiled triumphantly, Evan had been the one all along. Ethan only fueled Adriana's resolve. She said nothing but let her second child finish off before saying her mind.

"But this here? It's annoying and also confirms it. You both haven't been keeping us detailed about everything. Why would you meet with Noah? We all agreed he is the enemy. Didn't we?" Evan asked, "So, why meet him without us knowing. Especially Ad. And what if it was some sort of twisted set up?"

"First, you have it wrong." Their mother said, "We didn't call for the meeting. Noah did"

Robert quickly added too, "We didn't even know it was him until I walked there and saw him. Trust me." he turned to Evan, "I was armed. I didn't go in blind."

"What did he want?" Adriana asked feeling hurt. Why had Noah contacted her parents rather than speaking with her? "Did he say anything?"

"Nothing important." Their mother said.

Evangeline knew better, "Mother?"

"He claims he didn't do it. Said someone else did it." She replied spitefully.

"Then I assumed that made you say he was better off where he was? Ethan heard that." Adriana looked at them both sadly. "How could you?"

"Do you believe him? With all the evidence we have. Surely you don't?" Mrs. Swiss challenged.

Adriana was upset. "Look, all I'm saying is, the kids are here with you. I didn't want that. Both of you put our lives in danger with this family wars going on. The least you could do is be considerate."

"Yes. Please be conscious of the words you throw around. The boy was upset." Evan said. Their father apologized and so did their mother.

"I'll make it up to him." Robert promised, "What does he like?"

"Chocolate." Evan said, "Cartoon costume." Adriana said. Both ladies giggled happily and said, "Maybe both."

"Okay." Robert agreed.

"And in the mood of gifts." Evan suddenly said, "Jason told me his parents were murdered." The expression on their faces was anything but surprised. They knew. This dampened her mood, "Why didn't you say something?"

Robert replied, "We just found out too."

"This is way too complicated," Evangeline complained bitterly.

CHAPTER 58

Miles away in the suburbs, all three pairs of eyes stared at Gabriel. Nobody said anything about his outburst. Gabriel stared at them all, wondering if somehow they had suddenly become mute. He hit the table angrily and repeated himself again, "Why did the operation fail?"

Nate started to laugh. The others turned to him. Then he said, "Oh. It's not funny?"

"No." Samantha replied, giving him a cold stare, a warning to behave.

Nate shrugged, "Isn't the answer obvious?" He looked at them all, "Well, since no one wants to say it, I will. Big brother here fell in love," he mocked Noah, "And, love and mission?" He shrugged, "Not a good combo. Mission fails."

Gabriel stood up angrily. Noah did the same too. Samantha sat down, gauging their moods, while Nate sat stiffly, looking at the nearest exit. "Noah?" Gaby called, "You heard him. Is he right?"

Noah moved away, ignoring his cousin. "What do you want me to say, cousin?"

"Don't you use that tone with me." He yelled, "The hell is wrong with you?" He gritted his teeth irritated, "The only time I sent you into the field, you messed up big time." He started laughing, "He failed, the almighty Noah, got messed up by a woman. Something so frail."

Noah breathed heavily, "Watch it?" He warned.

"Now, he sides with the enemy!" Gaby exclaimed, "Need I remind you what they did to us? How our families were slaughtered like chicks?"

"Chicken." Nate corrected, laughing.

"What?" Gaby asked seething.

Nathan knew he better stay quiet. He shook his head and looked down humbly.

"So, the tiny weasel was the reason you haven't been delivering." Gaby said bent on getting his cousin worked up.

"Watch it." Noah warned again as he moved closer to Gaby.

Samantha decided now was good a time to come in. she knew just the right way to do it, "Sit you both" she screamed. It was the first time she used that tone with them all. She wasn't angry with any of them, but she needed them to seat and reason things out peacefully. Nate and Noah shook their heads, while Noah took his seat.

"Gaby?" Gabriel scoffed and sat down too. When they were seated, Samantha told both men as calmly as she could, "We have a situation at hand. Rather than fight and point fingers, we need solution" she looked at them all to be sure they were listening. They were, so she continued, "We've been ratted. We have to start getting protection."

"We have protection." Gaby butted in. he hated it when his role in the company is looked down upon.

"I know." Samantha replied, "We need to triple it. If the Swiss knows we've been taking their money, they'd want it back or at least try to run us down."

"They wouldn't." Noah said calmly.

"They dare not." Gaby retorted, "Or I'll shoot their fucking heads off."

Noah didn't let that bother him. He said nothing.

Samantha smiled at him for keeping his cool. She realized also that her cousin was in love. Pushing that thought aside, she asked him, "Do we have a plan B?"

"Not exactly. I can work something out." Noah said. Then he remembered his discovery at the Swiss and said, "Then again, something has been disturbing me about this whole exposure thing. I didn't take the money they found."

"Trying to wriggle out of this, aren't you." Nate teased and laughed again. Gaby hit the table and he shut his mouth. Noah and himself exchanged strange look and at that instant, surprised that Gaby had just sided him against Nate. Samantha realized both men had respect for each other even if they fought at every chance they got.

"You were saying?" She asked

"Yes. The money stolen wasn't from me. You know I stopped delivering a while back. This money was recently moved. It had been going on a while too."

"Well, well, well. It seems the Swiss had more enemies than they realized." Nate commented dryly hoping to get out of the place instantly. He was getting bored already. He yawned stiffly as he checked his phone.

"That's not all." Noah said, "The money being moved his huge." He said and watched Gaby's eyes widen, "And whoever moved it knows enough about me to know that I was doing the same."

"Okay, now I'm lost." Samantha said.

"I mean the person is making it look like I'm stealing it. He's making me take the fall. Which means he knows who I am."

"That could be dangerous. Gaby?" Samantha voiced out.

Gaby realized it too. If Noah had been found out by someone, they were all in danger "I'm on it. I'll bring in more men." And to his brother he said, "Nate, you better stay put."

Nate looked at them all in irritation and cancelled his 8.00. He had been looking forward to spending the night with the lady. "Okay." He said and dropped his phone. Noah tapped him lightly on the shoulder and stood up to leave.