CHAPTER 107: RETURN

Alisha was at the hideout, checking the CCTV camera in Nathan’s office.

A grin was on her lips, and she was enjoying the scene as she popped some popcorn into her mouth as if she was watching a movie.

She was sprawled on the chair, her legs crossing against each other on the table with the laptop on her lap.

"This is too good," she moaned, scanning the popcorn to search for the brand. "This is really good."

She watched as Nathan questioned his mother, yelling in her face while the woman tried to explain.

"You ruined my life. And now, because of you, I lost everything," he claimed, eyes shooting daggers at the older woman who held his hand, trying to explain herself.

She and her husband were in the living room, watching the news of Katherine’s crimes when he suddenly received a text that contained photos, and in those photos were she and another man hugging each other.

She’d been discreet, not wanting anyone to find out about her secret.

Nathan’s biological father had been pestering her for money. She loved her marriage and didn’t want to spoil it because of some man. So, she didn’t have any choice because Nathan’s real father would threaten to reveal her secret to Mr. Cross, she was left with no other choice but to give him whatever he wanted.

And now, she was caught. But the photo had been taken at such a weird angle that one would think she was actually having an affair.

Then came the video of her mentioning who Nathan’s real father was.

She had no idea who the person behind all of these could be, but they’d succeeded in ruining not only her marriage, but her life as well.

Nathan on the other hand pulled his hair in frustration, not pleased with how things were going working out that day.

From Katherine’s arrest to him finding out he was a Cross, then being ripped from his position at the company.

Eva popped another handful of popcorn into her mouth, resisting the urge to increase to volume so she could hear him cry.

She suddenly heard a van pulling over.

Quickly, she rushed out, only to find Ryan and her brothers with a few men, which was compared to the number of men that had gone out with them for the mission.

And not only that, but they were also greatly injured.

The other men who were guarding the hideouts quickly assisted by helping them in.

First aid boxes were brought over once they arrived in the resting room.

Their appearance was shocking to Eva, because she thought the mission was going to be a simple one like the other ones that they’d done before.

But from the looks of things, it wasn’t.

It’s been two days since they went away, and although they usually went and came the same day, the location was further away. Mobile service was also terrible, cutting off all communication.

Eva didn’t ask questions as she helped them bandage up their injuries.

Some had bullet shots, some had grazes but thankfully, the alive didn’t seem to have gotten shot in the wrong part of the body.

"I’m still shocked that we’re alive," said Jace, hissing in pain when Eva rolled the bandage across his neck and arm because apparently, he’d been shot there.

"But what happened there?" She asked.

Ryan sighed before he responded. "It was a trap."

Eva frowned deeply.

"It was like they knew we were coming. They were expecting us so they set a trap for us. There were already armed men waiting for us in the warehouse, waiting to shoot us down..."

He reiterated the story of how they’d almost been killed that night.

Armed men had been waiting for them patiently, calculating and listening in to any sound.

They’d lost a lot of men who were the first batch to check out the warehouse.

Thankfully, their sacrifice wasn’t wasted since they still managed to confiscate the weapons and bring them back with them.

It was war, blood was shed but they still managed to win.

Eva was glad about this.

They’d left with at least thirty men, but were returning with only fourteen.

The numbers had diminished.

They’d gone there for a mission without knowing that they wouldn’t be back.

This left an ache in her chest.

"Don’t worry, we managed to give them a proper burial," said Adrian, knowing fully well that Eva would be worried about the souls of the men that they’d lost.

That brought a faint smile to her lips.

At the Unity Tower,

"You seem so happy today. Is it because the elections are near?" Lucas asked Mr. Tedoro who had a smile on his lips the entire time that he was sitting across from him in his office.

"Of course. Jaime is still being stubborn about everything but I know how I’ll handle him," Mr. De Rossi said, skimming through a page in a file, his eyebrows knitting when he saw the reports from across Lexora. It turned out some locals have been protesting, but the officers have been trying to threaten them into stopping by all means.

It was difficult as the protesters were determined to continue doing what they wanted to do.

However, Mr. De Rossi wasn’t bothered by it.

Now and then, there were always protesters raging close to when an election would commence.

"This election is going to be a big one. However, I’m curious about what you told Dante when he asked you about Peter Gonzales," Lucas asked, curious in his tone.

Mr. De Rossi’s eyes darkened. That name still bothered him although it’s been several years since he last saw that man.

"What can I say? That boy will wake up and have the most unexpected questions for me. Knowing how Peter Gonzales died shouldn’t be any of his business..." As Mr. De Rossi said those words, his mind wandered why Dante was suddenly curious about that man.

Dante had never asked him that question not until recently, not until he met Eva.

’Are Eva and Peter Gonzales related? Is she his daughter?’ He wondered.