Chapter 166
Derek arrived at the secluded parking lot and parked his car. The air around him was thick with anticipation as his gaze swept over
the empty rows of vehicles. He took a steadying breath and adjusted his rearview mirror to catch any movement.
He didn't have to wait long. Within minutes, there was a sharp rap on his car window. Derek unlocked the passenger door, and the hitman, a young man in his late twenties, slid into the seat beside him, glancing around. Derek looked up to see the hitman's cold and annoyed face. He had clearly been expecting to see Sandra and not him.
"Who the hell are you?" he asked, his tone low and threatening. He reached for the door handle, but Derek quickly activated the automatic lock.
The hitman's eyes narrowed, his hand twitching toward his jacket pocket, where Derek guessed a gun was concealed.
"Relax" Derek said, keeping his voice calm. "You're not going anywhere just yet."
The hitman smirked, his fingers edging closer to the gun's grip.
"Big mistake, friend," he murmured, fingers finally closing around the weapon.
Derek let out a resigned sigh and clicked the lock again, letting him go. "Fine," he said simply, watching as the hitman pushed open the door.
The hitman stepped out, but before he could take a step further, two detectives materialized from behind parked cars, guns drawn.
They moved in swiftly, disarming him with practiced ease.
Shock replaced the hitman's initial confidence as the detectives ordered him back into Derek's car. His eyes darted around, and he slumped into the seat, realizing he was outnumbered and outmaneuvered.
Both detectives slid into the backseat of the car, and Derek automatically locked the doors again.
"Big mistake, friend. I was going to do this without the detectives""" Derek muttered as he pulled out his phone and hit play on the recording he'd saved from his conversation with Sandra. Her voice filled the car, casually outlining the hit she wanted on Evelyn and Michael. The hitman's eyes widened slightly as the realization sank in. "Now," Derek said, his voice steely, "there's no question you're going to jail. But I want answers. Who else knows about this?
Have you made arrangements with anyone else to carry out the job?"
The hitman's mouth twisted into a sneer, but his voice was defiant.
"I don't know what you're talking about. And you're arresting me anyway, so why should I talk?"
Derek's eyes flashed with quiet menace. "You should talk because you don't know me," he said slowly, leaning closer. "You don't know what I'm capable of."
The hitman's face faltered, but he kept his mouth shut. Derek
continued, his tone sharp as ice. "If even a single hair on Evelyn's head is hurt, I'll make sure your mother finds out about what you do, and your daughter... you should think about her."
The hitman's composure crumbled, his body tensing as he glanced at Derek in horror. Derek held his gaze, a deadly calm in his eyes.
"I know more about you than you can imagine. Did you think I would come to someone like you without doing my homework?
I've pulled a lot of strings to be here, so you should make it worth it," Derek continued. "Now, answer my question. Have you arranged for anyone else to go after Evelyn?"
A beat passed before the hitman swallowed, his voice barely a whisper. "I... I have a crew. We were going to do it together."
"Good," Derek replied coolly. "Now, you're going to call them off.
And you're going to give the detectives their locations so they can take care of them."
The hitman's face twisted in defiance. "I can't snitch on my own men."
Derek's gaze darkened. "How much do you love your mother and daughter?" His words were low, and there was no hint of mercy in them.
The hitman hesitated, visibly torn. Derek leaned back, letting him stew in the silence for a few moments. "Here's my offer," Derek said. "Cooperate, and I'll see to it that your daughter's medical bills are covered while you're locked away. All her needs, including your mother's needs, will be met- everything. But only if you agree to help us." At that, the hitman closed his eyes, his resolve breaking. When he finally spoke, his voice was resigned. "Alright. I'll do it."
Derek nodded to the detectives, who quickly began coordinating the plan, with the hitman reluctantly leading the way.
It took a while for them to finish, and after they were done planning everything, Derek returned home in the evening.
Evelyn greeted him at the door, her expression a mixture of worry and relief. "You're finally back. You took so long," she said softly, stepping aside to let him in.
"Yeah. It's over for now," he replied, taking her hand as they moved further into the house. The warmth of her touch relaxed him after the tense day.
"Rayna has left?" Derek asked, looking around the living room as he sat down.
"Yeah. She left a short while ago to get ready for the reunion. I've also dropped Samantha off at Sara's place for her sleepover with Ella since we will both be out, and Maya still needs to get some rest, Evelyn said, and Derek nodded. "Is Maya back from the hospital? What did she say?" Derek asked with concern.
"We couldn't talk earlier because Rayna was here. After Rayna left, I went in to check on her, but she was taking a nap," Evelyn explained as she went to get him a glass of water.
She returned with it, and after taking a long drink, Derek let out a sigh as the tension eased from his shoulders.
"So, how did it go?" She asked, and he looked into her face, noticing the worry still lingering in her eyes.
"The meeting went well. All we need now is to get you and Michael to the final location. Someone will be there to handle the makeup
and make sure it looks convincing. If it weren't for your idea to arrest her at my mother's birthday celebration, I would've had her arrested tonight. But we'll give her a show- let her believe she's won."
She gave him a small, grateful smile, her eyes sparkling with determination. "I know. But I want her to enjoy her moment of victory. I want to see if she will truly be happy once she believes I'm out of the picture. Maybe she will have regrets."
Derek shook his head, "I don't believe she will. But we will find out soon enough. I need to get some rest before I get ready to go pick her up for the reunion. She wants me to wear a touch of red, so we look like a couple," Derek said, and Evelyn laughed. "Do you want me to wear a touch of red for you?" She asked, and Derek grinned "Really? Can you do that?" He asked, and she nodded.
"Sure. Anything for my knight in shining armor," she said, and Derek smiled at her as he set down his glass and pulled her close so she would sit on his lap.
"I can't wait for this to be over, Eve. I want to go on dates with you and Samantha without worrying about your safety," he said, kissing her bare arm.
"I want that too. I want a real and normal relationship with you,"
she said softly, and Derek kissed her.Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.
"I love you."
"I love you too," Evelyn said, holding his gaze.
As she looked at him, she wondered whether or not to tell him now that one of the reasons she was anxious was because she was yet to see her period.
She didn't want to believe that she had taken in again so carelessly, but she had been thinking about it and realized that she had not remembered to take any morning after pill after they had sex at the resort, because of all the drama that ensued.