Chapter 327

Elena “Who’s there?”

I planted a smile on my lips and brushed my hair to the side. “It’s me, Elena!” I smiled at the security camera.

It was a long time since I had seen Victoria, and I wanted her to know that I was doing completely fine without her. Well, except for the part where I needed her assistance to access Anya’s evidence.

“Door’s open!”

I entered the apartment and cleared my throat as Victoria leaned against the wall with a smug smirk on her lips. “Where’s your boy toy?” She folded her arms. “Or wait, he can’t know about me, of course- because your entire life is based on a lie-”

“Victoria, please.” I rolled my eyes. “I come in peace.”

We stared at each other for a few more seconds before she flew into my arms. “I missed you so much!” She cooed. “Please don’t worry me like that ever again.

“Come on, let me look at you!” She rested her hands on my shoulders. I knew she thought I wasn’t in the right state of mind, and I knew she pitied me-but I didn’t care. It didn’t have to be a bad thing.

“You look skinnier.”

“Do I?”

“Yes, are these people even feeding you?”

“Yes?” I walked past Victoria and took a seat on her comfortable sofa. I had really missed this.

“So, how is life?” Victoria joined me. For the first time in weeks, I took a good look at my friend and noticed how much she had changed. Her platinum blonde hair fell perfectly over her shoulders and was straightened to perfection.

“Good.”

“Yeah?” She seemed doubtful. “And how is…Marvin?”

“Good.” I nodded a bit too enthusiastically. “He’s good we’re good.”

“And is he treating you well?” She continued her interrogation. I gave her a nod.

“You know, your dad and Alex really miss you.” Victoria vouched for them. “If you don’t want to be friends with me, that’s okay-but you should never let go of family for a guy…a criminal above all.”

Our dads were close, so of course, she would choose his side. No one could understand my feelings because no one was willing to listen. At least they didn’t ran to the Castillo’s to tell them about my family history.

“My dad almost hit me, Victoria!” I stated. “He really took it too far this time.”

“I know. I’m sorry.” Victoria sighed. “George shouldn’t have done that.” She agreed. “But someone like Marvin could also really hurt you one day.”

So we were still on that subject.

“Marvin’s been nothing but good to me.”

In the past, Victoria was clearly the one in control over this friendship, but not anymore. There used to b a time when I was jealous of her.

Jealous of her beauty, jealous of her loving personality, jealous of her going to law school while I had to drop out because I wasn’t qualified enough.

“Anyway.” I breathed. “How is the Danny Hernandez case going?”

“Did he say something about the Castillo’s?”

Victoria furrowed her brow. “I can’t tell you that, Elena.” She said. “That’s confidential information-

“Santiago Castillo.” I cut her off. “The one who killed Stevie Maddens is Santiago Castillo, and Panther manipulated him…or Pedro, whatever his name is.”

“Wait, w-what?” Victoria whispered, leaning forward.

There was no good way to say this, so I just wanted to get it over with.

“Believe it or not, I do care about my dad, and I want him to get his job back,” I spoke. “He isn’t completely twisted, and he’s right. Danny Hernandez is innocent.”

“How do you-

“The Castillo’s set him up to get Marvin out of prison and completely unrelated, but Stevie Maddens was corrupt.” I continued without any interruptions.

“What?” Victoria massaged her head. “You’re saying too much. Please say it slowly from the beginning.”

“Fine, listen.”

I told Victoria everything I knew, making sure not to leave out any details. There were still some things had to process. I couldn’t believe that Panther would go this far to secure the family business for Cisco.

He used poor Santiago, who felt unsure about his position in the family, to get what he wanted to the point he even told him how to hold his gun. He managed to get rid of a corrupt agent and Marvin all at once.

“So Anya had evidence against Puma?”

“Girl, it’s Panther.”

Victoria scoffed. “Not relevant to the story.”

“Are you a hundred percent sure about all of this?”

I reached for my clutch and showed her the stick. “Positive.”

“You’re playing a really dangerous game, Elena. “Victoria grabbed the stick from my hand. “But if I can find out what’s on that stick, it might be a good way to get your dad off probation and to get my client out of prison.”

“Does Marvin know-”

“No.” I shook my head. “He doesn’t, and Tiago is a good person….so I don’t want you to go after him.”

“Lena, he killed someone-”

“So did your client.” I reminded her. “They are responsible for murdering Anya and many others, but you’re still defending his innocence, so don’t blame me for protecting my friend.”

“Your friend?” Victoria chuckled. “If Santiago is willing to testify, I can get him a really good deal.”

“We’re talking about the murder of a DEA agent,” I spoke, irritated. Even though I was not worthy enough to become a lawyer, I was not completely stupid. “Marvin had a life sentence, and Danny Hernandez is looking at the same.”

“So?”

“So I want you to go after Panther and keep the rest out of it.”

“And then?” Victoria asked mockingly. “Don’t you think the truth will eventually come out? Don’t you think Panther will talk to defend himself?”

Good point.

“He won’t,” I stated.

“Why?”

“B-because he has a mom!” I blurted. “We can threaten him with that and-”

“Elena, you should hear yourself!” Victoria raised her voice. “You’re even starting to sound like these people!”

Embarrassed, I lowered my head. I was starting to sound like the Castillo’s, which was not what I wanted Panther didn’t only keep my secret to present Marvin a grand finale but also to keep me from talking. Someone like Panther thought everything through.

Marvin was bound to find out about my identity sooner or later, and no one could stop that. That was the choice I made when I decided to protect his legacy instead of our relationship.

“I’ll just start with having my guy look at this stick, and we can continue from there.” Victoria woke me from my thoughts. “I’ll also keep it from my dad for now…I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“There’s only one thing I can’t seem to wrap my finger around.” Victoria pondered. “Why would Panther want Stevie Maddens dead, and why would the Hernandez want to hurt Tiago or Anya and not Marvin?”

“D-do you think it was Panther?”

Victoria shrugged. “It seems to me like he was smoothing some rough edges, so it would definitely make a lot more sense.” She spoke. “Stevie Maddens seemed like a good man. There’s just no way someone like him was corrupt.”

I thought about Anya’s words. It was still hard for me to believe as well. How could a guy who did everything according to the books be corrupt?

“You were with Anya in her final moments, weren’t you?”

“Yes.” I gulped, remembering that dreadful event I desperately wanted to erase from my memories.

“What was she like?” Victoria questioned. “Did she say something or maybe did something?”

I closed my eyes and imagined myself hovering over Anya’s near lifeless body. “She gave me the key.” 1 began. “She pointed to the man who shot her and said him.”

How could I’ve missed her surprised reaction when Tiago pulled off that man’s mask. Did she recognize him?

“She also said Marvin, Victor, Tiago. I opened my eyes. “In that exact order.”

Back then, I thought she meant I should give the key to Marvin, if not Victor, and as the last option Tiago.

“How was Anya’s bond with Victor?” Victoria pressured me. “Did she seem afraid of him?”

“I don’t know, I barely know these people.”

“How is your bond with Victor?”

“Good?” I guessed. “He’s not like mean, but also not that welcoming.” I ranted. “I do know Marvin hates him.”

“Do you know why?”

“No.” I took a breath. “If I have to be honest, I don’t think Victor got anything to do with this.”

“That man worships the Castillo’s, so he wouldn’t do anything to sabotage them…not even Marvin.”

Victoria released a frustrated sigh. “Do you have Victor’s number?”

“What!”

“Do you have it, yes or no?”

“Y-yes?”

“Give it.” She pulled my phone from my hand and unlocked it. The two of us were so close that we had exchanged our passcodes.

I remember telling Marvin there was no need for him to give me Victor’s number, but he wouldn’t take no for an answer. I’ll put it in regardless, just in case.’ He argued back.

“So, thanks for your help. Victoria handed back my phone. “I send Victor’s number to myself.”

“For?”

“Don’t worry about it.”

I didn’t want to worry about it, but she left me no choice. I knew I brought her into this, but I only did it because I wanted to see whatever was on that stick. This was not my intention.

“I know it’s none of my business.” Victoria looked at me. “But you should enjoy Marvin’s company while you still can because once he finds out about you, it’s over-”

“Yeah, I know.” I snarled. “Thanks for the tip, though.”

Victoria smiled awkwardly. “Just looking out for you.” She placed her hand on my lap. “Elena, you’ve done more than enough.”

“But….”

“Just let me handle it from here, and I’ll keep you updated, okay?”

“Okay.”