Chapter 196

#196 “The Ring for Evelyn.”

Early in the morning, Alexander and Sophia arrived at the quaint café where they were meeting Kyle.

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air as they entered, greeted by Kyle’s frown at the sight of Sophia.

“What is she doing here? You said you were going to keep it a secret,” Kyle started, skipping the usual pleasantries and getting straight to the point.

“I can’t just leave her out. If you think you’ll do better, come on in,” Alexander retorted, his tone tinged with irritation as he gestured for Sophia to join them.

“You really weren’t going to include me in the surprise for Evelyn?” Sophia intervened, taking a seat at the table with a hint of exasperation.

“How do I know you won’t spill the beans? You two share everything,” Kyle countered, skepticism evident in his voice.

“Because I wouldn’t ruin my best friend’s engagement party,” Sophia retorted, crossing her arms in defiance. “Plus, I already know, and I want to help.”

Kyle glanced at Alexander, silently debating whether to include Sophia. Eventually, he let out a resigned sigh and began explaining the plan to her. After hashing out the basic details and receiving input from both Sophia and Alexander, Kyle’s expression turned thoughtful.

“There’s one more thing I want to address before we finalize everything,” Kyle announced, drawing their attention.

“What could that be? I thought we covered everything?” Sophia replied, confusion evident as she flipped through the notes in her notebook.

“The ring for Evelyn,” Alexander chimed in with a laugh, already guessing what Kyle was about to bring up.

“Bingo,” Kyle agreed with a nod. “I want to give her the family heirloom ring, but there’s a slight snag.”

“What’s the snag?” Sophia asked, her curiosity piqued.

“The ring is a legacy from my mother,” Kyle explained, his voice tinged with emotion. “But it’s stored in the family house.”

Sophia’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. ” Wait, isn’t that the same place that’s, you know, associated with…?” she trailed off, not wanting to say the word ‘ mafia’ aloud.

Kyle nodded solemnly. “Yes, it’s also a stronghold for the mafia. And despite my leaving the organization, I’m not exactly welcome there anymore.”

Alexander interjected, his tone thoughtful. “What if you bring a bodyguard with you? Someone to watch your back while you retrieve the ring. I can put you in touch with…”

“No,” Kyle snapped. “That’s not how things work when you’re involved with the mob. I must go alone, or it will be considered weakness and fear. I shouldn’t look worried. However, I have a relative of the elders in the mafia who can help me.”

Sophia looked concerned. “Are you sure about this, Kyle? It sounds risky.”

Kyle offered her a reassuring smile. ” I’ve dealt with them before. I know how to handle the situation.”

Alexander leaned forward, his expression serious. “Can you also ask him about the stolen documents from Sophia’s home that I asked you for?”

“Of course. I’ll even call him right now, “Kyle affirmed, pulling out his phone.

The tension was palpable as Kyle dialed the number of the mob elder, his fingers trembling slightly with apprehension. After a few rings, the call connected, and Kyle wasted no time in getting to the point.

“Hey, it’s me,” Kyle began, his voice tinged with urgency. “I need access to the house. I…uh…need to take care of something regarding the inheritance. Can you help me out?”

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line before the mob elder’s hearty laughter filled the air. “Ah, Kyle, always so secretive,” he chuckled. “But don’t worry, I’ll sort it out for you.”

Relief flooded through Kyle as he thanked the man profusely. But before he could end the call, he had one more matter to address.

“Listen,” Kyle continued, his tone more serious now. “There’s something else I need to talk to you about. A week ago, some documents went missing from a lawyer Sophia Johnson’s house. I have suspicions that it is related to the mafia.”

The man remained silent on the other end of the line, his silence stretching on for what felt like an eternity. Kyle’s heart pounded in his chest as he waited for a response.

Finally, the mob elder spoke, his voice low and measured. “I have heard about Sophia Johnson,” he said cryptically.

Kyle’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. ” You do?” he exclaimed, caught off guard by the revelation.

The mob elder nodded, though Kyle couldn’t see the gesture over the phone. “And if anyone needs information from me, they can come and ask me personally,” he declared, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Kyle glanced over at Alexander, who was listening intently to the conversation. With a silent nod from Alexander, Kyle knew they had no choice but to agree to the mob elder’s terms.

“Alright,” Kyle replied, his voice filled with resignation. “I’ll pass on the message.”

As he hung up the phone, Kyle could feel Sophia’s gaze burning into him. He knew she didn’t approve of their dealings with the mafia, but they had no other option if they wanted to get to the bottom of the missing documents.

With a heavy sigh, Kyle began to arrange a meeting between Alexander and the mob elder for the following morning, hoping against hope that it wouldn’t end in disaster.