Ian POV

"I wish you didn't have to go," Mona said as I took off her shoes. She had been in the hospital visiting her grandfather and she was exhausted. I talked her into going to a hotel that wasn't too far from the hospital so she could rest.

She eased in the bed and I started massaging her feet. Her sweet eyes were puffy from the tears she cried earlier.

"I won't be gone for long. Decatur is not that far just eight miles," I said laughing.

She laughed too.

"Can you bring me some pecan brittle back, please?" She said batting her eyes.

"Of course, now get some sleep. Cason and Paul will be in the suite next door so you can relax."

"Can you lay with me until I fall asleep?"

I took my shoes off and climbed in. We could see the view of the skyline as she cuddled up next to me. I bent down and kissed her on top of her head and smoothed down her hair. It was the quiet moments like these I enjoyed so much with her.

"It's not looking good Ian. If he doesn't make it my grandmother will lose it. She loves him so much and to not only lose a child but now her husband would devastate her. I know if I lost you, I would be."

"Everything will work itself out. Your grandfather loves your grandmother, just like I love you. We haven't been together for long but each day I am overjoyed having you in my life."

"Ian what's wrong?" She asked rubbing her hand across mine.

How did she know? I tried to keep so much inside because of the stress of her having her grandfather in the hospital and the pregnancy.

"Nothing for you to be worried about."

"Ian, honey talk to me, Zara called you when we were on the plane didn't she?"

"Yes. How did you know?"

"You get quiet with a worried look on your face. The small blood vessel in your neck becomes defined. I pray it doesn't burst and you stare into space."

"So you've noticed all that?"

"Yea, a woman is suppose to know her man. Men aren't that much different from women."

"Okay Professor Harrington, why would you say that?"

"Because you all have feelings too, although women show theirs a little bit more frequently than men. We bleed the same color when we get hurt and deep down inside men want to be loved too. We all hide our feelings at times and sometimes we just need a little push to help get them out. So my dear husband what's wrong?"

"They are alive."

"Who are they?"

"Both of my parents."

She turned around and looked at me with shock written across her face. She quickly sat up and sat Indian style.

"When did you find out?"

"Today, right before I came to the hospital to see you. I didn't want to tell you with the stress of your grand..."

"Ian I appreciate that but honey you need me. God only gives us what we can handle and if you would have told me, I would have handled it. You don't have to carry the load all by yourself because I'm here now to help you carry it. I know this must be surreal for you."

"It is. Twenty something years I thought my mother was dead to only find out she wasn't."

"How did you find out?"

"Zara mentioned it. Between her and my father, I'm going crazy. So many lies have been told. My dad is in Sweden somewhere pretending to be dead, my mother is in a convalescence home here in Atlanta and then there's Zara and her child."

"We will figure this out Ian."

"I damn sure hope so."

"I have a small confession to make," she said looking a little weary.

"Okay?"

"The night at the gala when you saw Darren he pretty much threaten me and my grandfather. I think he might have had my grandfather shot. I found drugs in my house and I flushed them down the toilet before we broke up. I didn't know Darren was a drug dealer. When I flushed the drugs down the toilet, he got upset. Evidentially it was some new pills they were testing out. At five dollars a pill, I think I flushed down over a hundred pills."

"What did he do?" I could feel my pressure brewing as I remember what Ray had told me.

"We had an altercation."

"Mona, did he hit you?"

"It was a long time ago and I just want to forget."

"Damn it Mona! Baby, did he touch you?"

"Yes, but that was a long..."

"Baby, he should have never put his hands on you. A real man doesn't do that. I'm sorry you had to go through that," I said touching her knee.

"Well there was one thing it did show me and that was I could find a real man to love me," she said kissing me on the corner of my lips.

I couldn't help but smile, but when I got my hands on him, we would feel my rage.

"You should be thrilled that your mother is alive."

"My dad and her physician did some awful things to her so I have no idea how she will react."

"Well there is only one way to find out," she said.

"I'm having the papers drawn up for her release as we speak."

"Good."

"I still need to go to Decatur and take care of some business."

She gave me a funny look and narrowed her eyes. I rose up and kissed her. She wrapped her arms around my neck as I laid her back down. She pulled off my shirt and ran her hands down my back.

"Don't think trying to get me all hot and bother is going to make me forget what you are really going to do in Decatur."

"I promise it won't be anything you wouldn't approve of. It's only business. Just going to handle a few financial obligations and I will be back by dinner time," I said kissing her on her spot and she moaned.

I rose up and she pulled her dress down. I quickly unbuttoned my pants and she got on top. My hands roamed her body as I rolled her over. She moaned as I went right between her legs. Moments later she was bucking against my lips.

"My turn," she said climbing down. Her mouth and tongue felt good as she worked herself. I couldn't hold it in for long. She took her position as she glided right down. This wasn't our usual tug of war as she wanted it hard and quick. Her body bucked as she put her hands on top of my chest. I grabbed her breasts for leverage.

Her cute round belly didn't stop her from enjoying her ride. Our moans hovered as her body arched. I felt her release and soon mine as she lay on top of me catching her breath.

"I so needed that. Too much pent up anger and frustration. Sorry," she said kissing my chest.

"I feel so used," I said with a weak voice. She started to laugh.

"You have two hours to handle your business in Decatur, after that we will finish what we are starting. I need to take a shower and get back to the hospital."

"You need to be resting?"

"I can't rest until my husband comes home," she said getting up.

"Okay two hours," I said putting my clothes on.

"No, no, come shower first," she said looking at me moving her pointer finger to come. I quickly followed just like a good husband would do.

I had finally made it to the abandoned warehouse. It was getting dark as the orangey sky appeared. The warehouse had seen better days but this was the address that was given to me.

"Mr. Ian Harrington," Lane said shaking my hand. "Loving the suit," he said patting me on the back. It had been a little while since I had seen him.

Lane was tall and always wore a tailor made suit. He was friends with Cason. Lane's father use to work for Mariabella Bernardi, a mafia princess, back in Italy until he retired and died some years ago of a heart-attack. Lane had managed to take over his father's projects and he was the man to call when you needed to handle business. He led me into the warehouse and I took off my jacket. He passed me a plastic coat, gloves, boots and a pair of goggles.

I shook my head no only putting on the coat.

"I will let you do the honors tonight," I said to Lane while he smiled. He nodded and we continued through the warehouse.

We went up the stairs where Everett sat in a chair in the middle of the room with his hands tied to the sides.

"So Everett, I'm still waiting on that phone call," I said sitting across from him.

His clothes were torn and splatters of blood were on his shirt. The boys must have roughed him up as he leaned to the side. His left eye was busted and his lip had dried up blood. His hair was slicked back and he looked scared. Everett Gorga, was my father's trusted attorney. I always thought he was a little shady, but I didn't have to deal with him. I hated to see him like this but he gave me no choice.

"I don't know anything Ian."

"Why are you lying? You and my father tried to play me. Oh yes, I know he is still alive."

His eyes widen at my confession. I crossed my legs and folded my arms. "I don't have a lot of time Everett. I have a very important dinner date tonight and my guest would kill me if I'm late."

Everett licked his lips and looked around as there were five other men in the room. They all looked ready to kill as their sizes were very intimidating. They wore black suits and sunshades come to think of it they all had the same built and haircut.

"I swear I don't know anything," he said.

I looked at Lane. He walked over to the firepit and pulled out a long poker. You could still see the redness against the iron as smoke rose into the sky. Everett's eyes got big. He looked at me and then Lane.

"I will tell you everything I know," he said as sweat dripped down his face.

"I'm waiting Everett."

"Your father is not dead. Mr. Durand is a drug dealer and has been since you were young. The textile company was just a cover up. Within the last few years, his health has started to fade. He knew he needed to get out so he faked his death."

"Why did he go to Sweden?"

"He has Ankylosing spondylitis, where he has pain in the spine, hips and knees. The doctor says that the medication he has been taking is not working and they are working on a cure in Sweden."

"So my father is a drug dealer."

"He was."

"From what I hear, once a drug dealer always a drug dealer," Lane said laughing.

"Why did you all fake my mothers and Zara's death?"

"Your mother wasn't happy in her marriage and was going to file for divorce once she found out he was a drug dealer. Your father got wind of it and she never filed. He and Grayson came up with a plan and the next thing I knew, she was taken away and I was at a funeral."

"So you didn't try to stop them?"

"What was I suppose to do Ian?"

"You let them man handle an innocent woman over my father's other life."

"There was nothin' I could have done, believe me Ian."

One of Lane's men came up to me with a folder. I opened it up and pulled out a contract.

"From this sheet of paper, it looks like my father, Grayson and you had her committed." I walked up to him and showed him the paper. He swallowed hard.

"They made me sign!"

I looked at Lane and he placed the hot poker against Everett's left hand branding him with an X. He screamed out in pain.

"Sorry Everett, but he made me do it," I said looking at Lane while he laughed.

Everett continued to holler before Lane whispered something in his ear and his eyes got bigger. I could see tears in Everett eyes.

"Why Zara?" I sat back while he tried to compose himself. I could already see his skin starting to become disfigured.

"She worked for your father," he said breathing hard.

"What?"

"New York Ventures was owned by your father, where Zara worked. A lot of the drug money was filtered into the company. She was his assistant. They became lovers and then you entered the picture. She didn't realize that you were father and son and he became obsessed with her, but somehow your father found out she had a boyfriend named Darren in Atlanta." He flinched as his hands were forming fists.

"New York Ventures is owned by Bergdorm."

"He is the front man, but your father owns it. A lot of your financial clients including M&R, Richards, Gold and Peters, Mason's Companies, OilTech and ORGO are all owned by your father. He was trying to help your career without you knowing. He diversified his assets from the drug money so no one would know."

I was floored. These were major corporations, trading on WallStreet. They were multi-million dollar companies and they were formed by drug money. I felt sick, as I had managed their corporations for years. I had no idea who my father was.

"Go on," I said trying not to blow up.

"Your father employed the boyfriend Darren. He figured he could keep watch on him and keep Zara. What he didn't plan for was you falling for her too. She ran off with evidence of your father's drug dealings and got in a car accident. Then we found out she was pregnant. She begged for him to let her go and that she would raise the child. I guess he had a soft spot and they made a deal. He sent her money to keep her mouth shut."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Zara had played me so well. Did she really love me at one point or was she using me for something she couldn't find in Darren or my father?

"Who is the child for?"

He hesitated. "We don't know for sure. We don't have your DNA so it can't be official. Your father agreed to give him his last name if she disappeared and never saw you again."

"Why was he paying her out of Durand's shipping accounts?"

"Please Ian, just let me go!" His lips perched. "Please my hand is throbbing," he said shaking.

"Finish!" I said moving forward in my chair.

"The accounts I gave you were not real. They were fake."

I turned away boiling mad. That's why she wasn't so upset when I discontinued the money going in the accounts. I grabbed Everett by the neck as his started gagging for air.

"I want to kill you so bad," I said finally letting go.

"Let me finish Ian," he said choking.

"Darren was setting up his own shop in Atlanta using your father's connections, I'm guessing from info through Zara. By the time he found out, his health was fading."

"Where does Mona fit into this?"

"She's smart and has experience in shipping."

"Are you sure about that?" I asked looking at Lane with the poker that he was getting back out the fire.

"Please Ian?"

"Tell me!"

"He researched Judge Harris and found out that over ninety percent of drug cases he presided over he gave the maximum sentence. It would be a way to get Darren out the picture and get Zara back but then he found out his granddaughter Mona worked for his so called competitor, so he bought her company. He figured he would have the inside scoop and would have better access to the Judge, put Darren away and get Zara back. Then he found out that Mona and Darren were together and put things together."

"Who shot Judge Harris?"

"I don't know!"

Lane walked back over with the lit poker.

"Okay!" He yelled.

"Judge Harris found out that Darren beat Mona up. I think your dad might have sent the pictures and information regarding Darren drug deals to Judge Harris anonymously. So the Judge called in some favors and they started investigating Darren. Your dad found out and faked his death, before they could put Darren with him."

"So Darren had her grandfather shot?"

"As far as I know yes," he said gritting his teeth.

"Is Mona next?"

"I don't know!"

I looked back in the file. "Cut off the money!"

"I can't do that!" He said looking shocked.

"I am so sick of people telling me they can't do something when I know they can. Lane when I called you and told you to help me out what did you say?"

Lane had a devilish grin on his face. "Let's see. I told you what time and it was done."

"See that Everett. You thought you could run away from my call. I felt so betrayed. We can do this the hard way or the easy way. I want Darren's account numbers, suppliers and how he is transporting."

"I don't know. If I did they are not people you want to play with."

I pulled out another contract. "It looks like you not only represented my father, but Zara and Darren. Why would you lie to me? I thought we were cool. You are very disappointing."

"Ian please, I have a family."

"From the way I see it Marie and the children will get a nice little life insurance policy and they will forget about you. Oh but this is for sure, she actually filed her divorce papers, I have a copy right here."

"No she wouldn't!" He yelled.

"The papers were served five minutes before they took you. You thought they were regular law documents but they were divorce papers." I pulled out the white envelope and showed him.

"This can't be happening," he said shaking his head.

"Look at me Everett. All I need are those account numbers, passwords and contacts."

"I...can't..."

I nodded at Lane. He tore Everett's shirt open and pierced his flesh with the hot poker as he screamed out in pain. Lane made a large X across his chest starting at the shoulder all the way across the stomach. You could smell the burning flesh.

"You stink Everett. This can all be over if you give me the information or next we will be removing body parts."

Lane walked over with a buzz saw and turned it on.

"Damn it," he screeched. I could see his burnt skin opening before my eyes.

"Everett come on man, save yourself!" I said looking at him.

"The...codessss... are in..."

I could see him about to pass out. One of Lane's men threw water on him. It splashed down his face on to his chest and stomach and across my plastic gear. He screamed again.

"See why I gave you the plastic, not one drop on your suit," Lane said chuckling.

"If you don't talk, the next thing they are going to pour is salt water. Your wounds will not only burn worse but you will heal that way. Where are the account numbers and info?" I said ignoring Lane trying to get what I came for.

"Comp...ter... Please stoppp this..."

"Give me the access Everett!"

"I'm in. We just need the account numbers," John, one of Lance's men said with laptop in hand.

"Ball is in your court, Everett." Lane had a cup of water and poured the salt in the cup. Everett screamed as his legs moved all around.

He gave us the information and we were able to transfer Darren's account into a dummy account. Now when he wanted money, his accounts would be overdrawn.

"Four million transferred from Darren and we found this," John said.

I looked down and good old Everett had Zara's real accounts, my father's active accounts along with suppliers and transportation documents. I smiled at John.

"You know what to do. Payback is a bitch."

There was one thing about rich people they went ballistic when the money disappears. Going from having millions to nothing can cause such affliction. Zara had been working with Everett and I wondered if my father knew. I would make a call to Ray.

"How is Darren transporting the drugs?"

"Durand Shipping," he said breathless. "Mona approved it," was all he said before he passed out.

Lane and John looked at me. It was no way in hell she did that. He looked on the computer and John nodded his head yes.

"Impossible," I said getting up.

"If she did she didn't know." I got up and pulled out an envelope. I gave it to Lane and he put it in his pocket.

"You weren't the only person looking for him. I will take care of him from here," he winked. I nodded and headed out the building. I heard the buzz saw echoing in the building, I quickly walked out and headed to the