Coincidences

POV: Adrian

Being under arrest gave me a few hours to catch up on what the local authorities had gathered on Cooper’s criminal empire. We were able to set up a secured teleconference with Hendrix back at my place. Crossing off the information we had already uncovered, this lead us to some new intelligence.

Cooper was suspected missing and there was talk about a new crime syndicate trying to take over his business. I would have thought it was all speculation, had I not had suspicions about Cooper myself. This was the longest I had gone without speaking to him directly.

This drastically changed my plans. I needed to set a meeting with Cooper as soon as possible. The local authorities agreed to work with us and turn over any new information they had to Hendrix.

With the Bureau taking lead on the investigation, I was able to hand the lead over to Hendrix. I needed to get back to Monica before things started to get out of hand and my cover was blown.

Escorted back to baggage claim, I was met by an angry Monica.

“Oh hunny, did they hurt you?”, she played her act well.

“These idiots will be hearing from our lawyers.”, I played into her act.

“You should be ashamed of yourself!”, she yelled at the officers.

“Let’s go before they decided to add to their lawsuit.”, I gave an angry scowl to the officer in charge.

They took the cuffs off me, and I pulled my jacket cuffs down and smoothed out my pants. Placing my arm around the small of her back, I guided us out of the airport.

It was now Monday evening, so we had to push back all of the business plans for the day. I spent four hours going over this investigation at the airport. Tomorrow was going to be a full day in the office.

On the way to dinner, I decided to message Leah, “Hey, it’s been a while.”.

“I needed some time to myself. How are you?”, she replied.

Unaware that she turned her phone back on.

“In Mexico, to buy the resort we stay at. So, I am not too bad.”, hopefully that would flood her imagination with all of the things I did to her body here.

“Sounds fun. Don’t get into too much trouble while you are there.”, she sent with a winking face.

I would have rather had her by my side, than Monica. She was still alternating her shady phones and handling business.

“I am here with Monica, so not much trouble to get into.”, hoping to spark some jealousy.

“Oh yeah, the woman carrying not your baby.”, a hint of sarcasm.

“I don’t know if it is or not, but that doesn’t change the fact I want you.”, I let my intentions be known.

“I’m not for sale.”, the fire inside of her had not wavered over the last few days.

“I will change your mind. In my eyes, you are mine.”, asserting myself.

“Okay tough guy. I will see you when you get back. I have work to do.”, she ended the conversation, and I didn’t bother responding.

We pulled up to our hotel and decided to grab dinner. There was a gourmet restaurant on the fifth floor and the seafood was a delicacy.

Monica and I sat to share dinner together, we shared a ceviche appetizer while we waited for our food. We both went with a shrimp and scallop creamy Tuscan pasta. Paired with a glass of Riesling.

“Should you be drinking that?”, I nodded my head toward her wine glass.

“One glass won’t hurt.”, she informed me.

I was still unsure of the dos and don’ts of pregnancy.

Finishing dinner, we headed for the penthouse. It was the same layout at all of the Daybreak hotels.

We exited the elevator, and each headed for our rooms. There were on the same side of the penthouse.

As we walked down the hall she began to stumble, and I caught her before she fell into the wall.

“Monica!”, I grabbed her before picking her up.

“I am okay, just a… little woozy.”, she stuttered.

“I knew you shouldn’t have drank the wine.”, I lashed out.

“It’s not the wine, it’s the hormones. My doctor said to expect it from time to time,”, she said.

“Well, I will carry you to your room. I can’t have you falling and hurting yourself.”, she rested her head on my shoulder.

I walked her down the hall, two doors past mine. She handed me her key and I opened the door with one hand. She was light enough to carry with the other.

Walking in I noticed that the room had looked used, as if someone had been staying here. I paid it no mind because she usually stays here in Mexico when I don’t need her in the city.

“Will you stay with me?”, she whispered as I laid her down.

There was no way, I couldn’t possibly. She wanted to be with me, but I only wanted Leah. And I can’t forget about her drugging me. Carrying my baby and furthering my career were the only connections we shared.

I made a rash decision, “Just until you fall asleep.”.

She pulled back the covers after kicking her heels off.

“Let me help you change out of the dress. It doesn’t look comfortable.”, I suggested.

She pulled my arm causing me to fall into the bed.

“I will change in a little, let me just rest for a few minutes.”, she protested.

I don’t know how long we laid there before I had fallen asleep.

Waking up the next morning to commotion in the room. I sat up and looked over to see Monica getting dress for the day. It appeared that she had been up for a while.

Peering under the sheets, I was still fully dressed.

Monica must have been watching me in the mirror because she giggled.

“Nothing happened!”, she shouted while curling her hair.

I checked my watch for the time, it was already half past eight. Needing to get moving and started on this deal that was going down tomorrow.

Before leaving her room. “Hey, can you get in touch with Cooper? I have some questions about this deal, and I would like his opinion.”.

I knew if anyone could get in touch with him, it would be her.

“Sure.”, she paused, “Car will be here in 20 minutes.”.

Shit that didn’t leave much time for me to get ready.

I met her down in the lobby and we took a car over to the office. The last time we were here I had been drugged and Hendrix had bugged Cooper’s office. Hopefully I could get some good intel from that device.

It wasn’t a remote bug, so I would need to get in and take out the chip. We went this route to keep a broadcasting signal from being detected. Things were finally coming together.

Today wasn’t a day to waste time, it was spent corresponding back and forth with the legal department to ensure the documents had been proofread. I didn’t need this deal crashing because someone forgot to cross a t.

During lunch I was able to get into Cooper’s office and grab the bug. Monica had gone out for a massage at lunch, so I was unbothered.

The rest of the day was mundane, and I was floating in a sea of black and white. The team here successfully put together a deal that the new owner wouldn’t turn down. All we had to do was wait for him to sign it in the morning.

Monica and I were back to our old selves today and it was refreshing, even though my intentions were to take her down with the company. In this line of work, the legitimate kind, there wasn’t a deal that the two of us couldn’t handle.

It was getting late, and I decided to take the rest of the evening off and head to my room. Needing to be revitalized for the meeting tomorrow, I headed back to the hotel. Monica had gone back earlier, so it was a solo ride.

Before heading to my room, I peeked in on her and she was sound asleep. Her hand wrapped around our growing daughter. It was sad knowing that I was secretly planning to destroy her mother, but I wouldn’t let anything happen to her.

I fell asleep peacefully to the thought of holding my beautiful little girl soon. The restful slumber was just what I needed to be on my A-game the next morning. Everything was falling into place.

The meeting was scheduled and going according to plan. Monica and I arriving on time as requested. It was taking place in a restaurant at the resort, since this particular one was closed until dinner time.

We walked in and it was dark, the only light coming from each pendant light hanging from above. There were about 25 small circular tables in the center of the room, large enough to seat 4 people comfortably. The right side of the wall was lined back-to-back with black leather booths.

Seeing a large bodyguard standing by the last booth, I knew that’s where he sat. I took the lead as Monica followed closely behind. Slowly walking toward the booth, I started to get a gut feeling that something was off.

I couldn’t put my finger on it, and I didn’t know why, but I knew I needed to be ready. I paused, turning around and looking at Monica. She seemed confused but followed my lead.

“Stay here for a moment, I have a feeling something isn’t right.”, she nodded and kept her eyes on me as I turned back around.

Walking up to the table, the young man sat in the booth with his back to the entrance. I walked around the bodyguard and sat in the seat across from him, with my eyes on Monica. She was staring back at me waiting for a signal to approach.

Turning my head and facing the man, my mouth gaped, and my fists clinched.

His face was swollen, and his nose was wrapped in gauze. While his eyes were back and blue, I knew who he was and didn’t expect it at all.

“Cameron.”, I grunted in a low tone.

“Adrian, I have been expecting you.”, he knew who I was all along.

Wanting to get up and finish what I started with his face, I sat there with gritted teeth.

Monica walked over and took her seat next to me.

“Cameron.”, she said.

“Monica, it’s good to see you again.”, he replied.

I was dazed and confused. Did she know all along that he was behind the deal? And how the hell did they know each other?

My hunch wasn’t wrong, but I wasn’t expecting this. They both had some explaining to do and I wanted to hear what they had to say. This deal was hanging by a thread.

I don’t believe in coincidences.

-To be continued-