Culpables years later...

Chapter 37

Noah

I couldn't believe we were actually doing this. I stood in the middle between Ronnie and Lion. It was a strange atmosphere. "So what do you want from me?" Ronnie asked me, raising an eyebrow. I took a deep breath and looked over at Lion. "I think you know Michael? Briar has probably told you what he is doing to us or has done to us. We have to stop it. You have your eyes on the ground at all times. We have to know where he is and who is helping him. Can you help us?"

Ronnie snorted and laughed and received a nasty look from Lion. "We all know we had our problems with each other. We just have to grow up and now is the time to prove it." Everything Lion said was right. "I would have to make a few calls, but I can help you. I'm doing it for Briar. She wants to put the past behind her and I want to help her. Her greatest wish is to make amends for what she did to you. So I'm helping you now. And then we'll never have contact again! Understood?" Ronnie was always a bad guess for me. But now he had shown greatness. He got into the car to make a phone call and Lion was waiting here with me. We looked out over the mountains and processed the moment. "Do you think Nick will get better soon? Whenever I'm pregnant he's in the hospital. It sucks." Lion put his arm around me and tried to calm me down. "He's a fighter. And for you, to make you smile and be happy, he would do anything. He'll get well soon, Noah. And then you'll be a happy family." I really appreciated our friendship. It was funny that Nick's best friend was with my best friend. Lion understood me on a different level, like only he could. Because we both grew up in normal circumstances and sometimes in poverty. We appreciate the little things in life. "Yes, I'm glad Steve is with him. Change of subject. How are you and Jenna?" He smiled sheepishly and stroked his face. "Good. We're having sex again and are honest with each other. We've been doing much better since Luca left." I stroked his cheek and we smiled. I leaned against him and we waited until Ronnie came back with hopefully good information. About fifteen minutes later he came and smiled confidently. "Well, I called a few friends and they say Michael is sometimes in a bar at the end of the highway, always after 8 p.m. But you always see him alone without friends or anything like that. But someone once said they heard that he smuggles people into the lives of his victims and thus controls them. They say he has someone hidden in Nick's company who keeps an eye on him for him." Michael was always one step ahead of us. Shit. And he placed spies in our lives who could tell him everything. I looked at Lion, horrified and seeking help, who was still processing Ronnie's words. "Do you know who?" Lion's question came out more seriously than expected. Ronnie looked disparagingly and laughed at us. "I'm not from the secret service! I've told you everything I know. So we have nothing more to say to each other! Take care of yourselves and see you sometime." Just as he was about to leave, I stopped him. He turned to me because I called his name. "Thank you. You helped us a lot. Greetings to Briar."

I'm not entirely sure, but I thought I saw a smile. He quickly nodded, got in his car and drove away. So Lion and I were on our own. "What do we do now? Anyone can be a spy. Apparently Michael knew when Nick would be home, so he had his contact in the company. Who could it be?" Lion seemed to think about it. "Does he have any new employees? Or old ones who maybe don't like him?" I thought about it. Nick had told me about one. Since Simon was going to Germany, they needed a replacement here. He said they had one, but also that Nick himself had a strange feeling about him. So I nodded to Lion and took out my phone. "Yes, there is someone new. I just can't remember his name. But we can't drive up to him and ask, can we?" He knew I was right, but what else could we do? A message from Steve appeared on my phone, saying that Nick was sleeping and fine. Then one from my mother, saying that Andy was very sad and missed me. But he was fine. I quickly replied to both of them and sighed. "I could go to the office tomorrow morning and, if I recognize him, ask the new guy a few superficial questions. I recognize liars and then we'll know if he is who he says he is." "Unfortunately, I don't have a better idea, so that's fine. We just have to be careful. We don't know exactly who we can trust and who we can't. It could be anyone. If Jenna finds out, she'll jump for joy. Will you tell Nick what you're planning to do?" That would be funny if. So I shook my head gently. "I don't think so. He needs to rest and get fed first. Now it's my turn to protect our family! Years ago, I let Michael into my life or our life and I'm going to finish it! And I can go into Leister Enterprises unnoticed as the boss's wife." Lion laughed and hugged me. "If you think so. But please be careful. Where should I take you? To Nick or...?" "To the villa, please. I have to see my son, he needs his mother." Lion drove off with a nod and we arrived late at night. I thanked him and went quietly into the villa. Of course Alex appeared right in front of me as security and I was frightened. "Oh my God Alex! I was scared to death!" He had an icy expression on his face and you couldn't tell. "Sorry Miss Leister. Have a nice night." I nodded gratefully and went into Nick's old room, where I knew Andrew always slept. It was dark and quiet in his room and I took off my jacket and shoes. I carefully lay down next to him and immediately his arms wrapped around me and he snuggled up to me. "Mommy, you're here?" He looked at me sleepily and I nodded lovingly. "Go back to sleep, darling. I'm with you." He nodded absently and immediately fell asleep again. While my son lay in my arms, I was finally able to get some sleep.