My Neighbor is Bad News

10: Arrangement

Jenna had found the two men in the study and she saw the two of them in conversation. "What the hell?" She said as she entered the room no longer able to conceal her anger. "You are too reckless." Her father told her.

"Who are you?" She asked more to Cade than her father and he looked to her. "Was this planned all along? Is that why you called my father the other night?"

"Yes." Was all Cade had said and Jenna felt her hand move of its own accord as it came across his face and she had slapped him. He didn't say anything to her but to her hit. "Was everything a lie?" She asked him again and he didn't look at her. "I can't believe it." She said feeling her throat choke up.

"I put him up to it." Her father said and Jenna looked at him. "How, how did you even know where I was going when it was all random." She said not fully believing that her going to Oregon was part of her father's plan.

"I have eyes in places and we caught sight of you getting off the bus in Oregon. How did you think you were able to take out all that money and get an apartment with no ID on top of paying cash for everything?" He asked and it never occurred to her that he had this much control and power. "And him being my neighbor? How was that possible?"

"He is a computer programmer, he knows how to do certain things." He told her and Jenna could barely wrap her mind around the fact that her home was all set up by her father and the idea that she could live on her own was a mere set up, a fantasy in her mind. "Lonnie?" She asked feeling her heart break.

"That one was not planned. I had offered her money to buy the diner but she refused. As long as her story checked out she was okay." He said and even though she felt relief that at least one person seemed to be who they were. "Karson? Was he planned?"

"Karson was a hitman, he wanted to lure you out so that he could take you out, or use you as a bargaining tool. Whatever was more beneficial to who ever hired him." Her father has said as he tossed a file onto the desk. Jenna looked at it before opening up the file and sure enough there was his background. "So he didn't desire me?" Jenna asked in disbelief, her world shattering once more.

"He did, don't get me wrong on that one but your chastity is still important." Cade said and Jenna glared at him. "Did you know?" She accused him and he knew that he couldn't lie to her. "I bugged your apartment and once I got a clear picture of him, I sent his photo into Interpool's database." He explained and Jenna could only stare in disbelief, her facial expression full of disappointment.

"I can't believe this. I-I need to go." She said feeling the throb in her arm worsen and she felt that it was a good time to pop some meds. She exited the room and didn't look back as she felt the need to run again. How was it possible that she was just a pawn in her father's game?

She felt the tears burn behind her eyes and the knot in her throat. She was tired of everything and she needed to escape from her overbearing life.

***

"I thank you once again for taking care of her." Lazarus told Cade as he took a seat in the chair that faced his desk. He went over to grab them both a Scotch. "It was nothing, but how did you know who I was?" Cade asked.

He was the illegitimate child of the Don and he didn't know who he was until he turned fifteen. Apparently his mother had an affair with the Don years ago and she ended up getting pregnant. When she let him know that she was expecting, he had given her a bunch of money to go and get an abortion, so she took all that she could from him and disappeared.

Now his mother was dead and he had no one else. He had his own reasons for wanting to rise to the top and he would do what he could to get there. "I thought that there was an odd resemblance between you two and there had been rumors that the geezer had an affair. So like how you have background knowledge in computers, I have people I know. And it was a plus that we happened to meet." He said referring to the time that he had some IT guys up his computer systems so that there was no way certain things could be traced back to him.

Cade was one of the guys who helped him out and he ended up becoming one of his security details. On top of his almost killing Cade for some files that he had come upon, he decided to take him in. That was three years ago and he had some use for Cade after finding out who he was. "How do you feel about what your daughter said, about what she wants?" He asked Lazarus.

Truth be told, the idea of Jenna marrying Lorenzo made Lazarus pissed off, but from the way that he was raised, he had to sacrifice his daughter to make sure that they had the backing if any one wanted to take over. He didn't know what else to do in case someone took him out and left his family with nothing. In the long run, if Jenna married into the Giovanni's, she would have their protection. He just had to figure out what to do with his two younger ones and he could see himself doing the same to the both of them. Years from now, when he was gone, he hoped that what he had done today would procure his children in the future.

"If I had a choice, I'd wish she would have the choice to marry out of love, but I'm glad that she felt she could turn to you. I take it you will take good care of my daughter, and I would do what I can to make sure you reach your end game." He told the younger man. Cade nodded to him as he took a sip of the Scotch. The Amber liquid left a bitter taste in his mouth and he wondered how he was going to use Jenna to succeed.

"Now tell me, what is this thing about my daughter's chastity? Is she untouched?" Lazarus asked Cade and he remembered how close he was to trying to have sex with Jenna. He had a moment of weakness and he was caught up in the moment of finding her kiss sweet and a change of pace.

He was used to different kinds of women and especially those who were quick to use him just as he was ready to throw them away. As much as he was aware of the fact that she was the Mob Boss's daughter, he knew and she knew that they couldn't be anything more. He regretted that he had that moment of weakness but now that they were engaged, the idea of seeing her again thrilled him.

Jenna was beautiful as much as she was exotic. Esmeralda was all Italian and he had to wonder if Lazarus was, but she had such exotic features with her olive skin and chocolate eyes. There was something in her that had him wanting more of her and he could only assume was his piqued interest in her. "She is. I was able to stop them while I could." Cade replied when he saw on the hidden camera that they were having a hot make out session. He came up with the excuse to break them up somehow and it had worked.

He had planted her apartment with a camera that was hidden in the smoke detector and out of respect for what privacy she had, he had only that one which was more for seeing if she had any unwanted visitors. He let her have her space as often as he could, but he would be lying if he said he never watched her when she did her yoga or burn her food.

He did watch her from his room and he saw the loneliness and the freedom she had when she was alone. He could see the difference in the person while she was here at home than how she was at her apartment. If only he could have the same relationship with her as he had before, he could see their future marriage working out.

"There is something that I need to ask of you." Cade said to Lazarus hoping that what he was asking was possible for his daughter to have a healthy change of pace.