“I couldn’t agree more,” said Luke and the other seniors in the room. “You guys did a helluva job down there.”
“Hey,” said Hiro. “Rita, or whoever the fuck she is, is on the line.”
Her face appeared on the screen in full hair and make-up, wearing a dark-blue suit. She smiled at the men as they stared back at her.
“You are very difficult to reach,” she grinned.
“We like it that way,” said Ham.
“I didn’t get the chance to thank you,” she said.
“For what?” asked Brooks.
“Much of what you said was the truth. My brother and I planned to place me in front of Ruvienne. Unfortunately, he turned out to be weak, in both mind and body. We knew that Bolivia needed something better.”
“And that was your brother?” asked Ham.
“No. Me.”
“You? It was you to be president all along?” asked Brooks.
“Well, that was my plan. See, my step-brother and all of you have something in common. A sense of superiority. He believed he was the logical person to run this country. What he forgot was that I’d been living with these people for twenty years. I know them. I see them. I hear them.
“He believed that keeping the cartels was a good plan for the economy. I did not believe that.”
“Wait. So, you planned this. You wanted us to come down there and rid you of the cartels?” asked Mitchell.
“I knew you wouldn’t let me hire you for everything I needed. I am surprised it took so long to discover that we were related. He was a good brother but his time had come.” There was commotion behind her and someone calling her name. “I’m afraid I have to go now. My first public appearance as president of Bolivia. I hope I can count on you gentlemen should I need you in the future.”
The screen went dark and they all just stared at one another, shaking their heads.
“Unbelievable,” frowned Mitchell. “Just when I’m questioning the integrity of all women, God puts that one in front of me.”
“You know she’s not the norm,” said Brooks.
“Isn’t she?” he said standing, leaving the room. His father looked at him and Brooks just shook his head.
“Listen, you all did a great job down there,” said Ham. “We will not be making ourselves available to her anytime in the future. She’s on her own and either she’ll turn out to be a helluva president for her country, or she’ll be a fucking train wreck. Either way, we’ll make the popcorn and watch from a distance.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Lennon was breathing heavily, flush from a passionate night with her husband. Cuddled into his arms, holding him tightly, she was happy to have him home where he belonged.
He’d congratulated her over and over again for finding the information on Bora and his step-sister. It changed the game for all of them. They’d also discussed at length Mitchell and his concerns about finding a woman in his life.
“I know a lot of girls back in San Diego,” she said.
“No. No, we don’t work that way,” said Brooks. “He’s got to figure this out on his own. Something is in his head and I can’t get to it.”
“Brooks, I love you but you’re oblivious,” she smirked. “Your brother has seen his triplet siblings find love. Literally dropped into their laps. He’s feeling left out and scared that he won’t find the same. You can’t count on meeting a woman on an op or helping a damsel in distress.”
“Why not? It worked for me,” he smiled.
“You’re impossible,” she laughed.
“And you’re sexy as fuck. Come here woman, I’m not done with you yet. Let’s get to making our own triplets.”
“Brooks, don’t you dare wish that on me.”
