POV: Raphael
At first, I wanted to be serious and hear what he had to say, but when I finally heard him talking about Victoria’s reaction when she saw us, I couldn’t help laughing at his childish thoughts. Like seriously?
His sister, whom he claims to love so much, is currently in danger, and all he can think of is his childish cravings to keep his sister to himself. I can’t believe that he is jealous of her feelings for me. If only he knew that our relationship was just a contract.
With the way he is being so jealous and possessive, I have to make sure he doesn’t find out that we are in a contract relationship. If he ever thinks that our relationship is not real, he could buy off her debt with ease and take her away from me.
For the sake of our relationship and the feelings I have for her, nobody must find out the truth. They must not find out about our contract until I find the courage to tell her exactly how I feel about her. If she accepts my real proposal and agrees to be my one true love, then we can proceed with the announcement and start preparation for our wedding.
“So what do you propose, Miguel?
Would you prefer I back down at this point and let you handle everything, or would you rather I call off our engagement and let her go because of your insecurity?” I asked him, thinking he would laugh it off and call my bluff. But he looked thoughtful, it was as if he was thinking about it. I guess that is exactly what he wants, he wants me out of the way and out of her life for real. It was so annoying to see the look on his face as if I would be doing him a favor if I walked out of his sister’s life.
“Really?
That is exactly what you want, isn’t it?” I asked him, scoffing at his childish thoughts. If only he knows how much I love her if only he knows what I’m willing to do to keep her all to myself.
“Look man, you are just being stupid and overdramatic for no just reason. You are being insecure for no reason, and you are letting your insecurity get the better of you. I’m in love with your sister, and if you think you are going to take her away from me, then get ready to go to war with me because I’m not backing down so easily. Victoria is my fiancee, and I love her so much.
Soon we will be married and there is nothing you can do about it, Miguel. So don’t even try.” I warned him sternly, looking at his face. I saw the disappointment in his face and I know I have to help him get rid of that insecurity in his heart. It would be a shame if we kept fighting even after we rescued the girls. Whatever issues between us have to be settled before they get back home. I have to make sure of that.
“You need to understand that she needs time to adjust to the revelation that she has a brother who is capable of saving her. Before you came, I was the only one in the picture, and she trusted me to save her. That must be why she called out to me and not to you. Besides, she is fighting for her life, so to speak.
She has no time to think straight and include everyone in her decisions. Give her some time to get used to having you around. Soon, she will get used to you pretty soon.” I told him, trying as best as I could to explain to him that he had nothing to worry about. He had doubt written all over his face, but, he shrugged it off so we could continue our investigation and trace everywhere Eloise had been to in the last ten years or thereabouts.
Something tells me that we can find the records that could lead us to the city or island where she is keeping the girls. We drove back to the station to get more information from Austin Kendall and his wife Vera. Unfortunately, Cindy was not implicated in their crimes so she is still out there with Nate.
I had a long talk with Austin about Eloise, but he doesn’t seem to know anything about her escape plans. He didn’t even know that he had been scammed by Eloise, too. He looked so weak and hopeless when I saw him. I would have felt pity for him seeing as he never planned for any of this to happen. But he is just as greedy as his wife, so he doesn’t deserve my pity.
“I need you to list down all her assets that are relatively close to water. We have reason to believe that the girls were taken on a boat ride to the place she wanted them to be. Do you have any idea where they could be?
I need you to write down everything you remember. I don’t care how far inland her building is; as long as it needs a boat to get to shore before assessing that property, I want to know about it.” I told him firmly, handing him a pen and paper. He sat on his seat and rested his back on the backrest, ignoring me as if I wasn’t talking to him.
“Did you just hear what I just said?
What the hell are you waiting for, start writing!” I ordered sternly, glaring daggers at him.
“Or what, Raphael?
What are you going to do to me that you haven’t yet done?
In case you didn’t notice, Raphael Hawkins, I’m in prison already and my life is ruined. So if I’m going to help you, then I’m going to need something in return.” He lets out firmly, ready to bargain with me.
“Fine!
Just get it over with, what do you want?” I asked him angrily, earning a wide smile. He seems to love being in control. Too bad he Is not going to be in control of anything when he gets his sentence. I hope he gets what he deserves in there. For now, I have to meet his demands and give him exactly what he wants.
“I need you to take my wife, Vera, and our daughter, Cindy, out of this city before Eloise gets back. I don’t care what you do to me, just save Vera and our daughter. This secret was the only leverage I had to keep Eloise under control. But now that the secret is out, she will unleash her anger on them and probably blame them for destroying her family.
She would kill them, Raphael. She has always put up with us because she doesn’t want her secrets to be leaked. But now that the secret is out, there is no telling what she would do to my family. Vera has no hand in all this, please let her go. Save them, Raphael, please.” He lets out urgently, sounding as crazy as his first wife, Eloise.
“Start writing, and I’ll see what I can do about your wife’s case. If your info checks out, I’ll help her get a lighter sentence. But if it doesn’t, I’ll be sure to send Eloise details of your wife’s location on Facebook. Let’s see how she survives after that.” I threatened him, my eyes glaring at him. He looks so scared of his first wife, I wonder why that is.