Page 2 of Scarlet Embrace

Alexander’s defense did quite a good job trying to convince the jury that Alexander had actually not seen Jane that night. The claims were quite outrageous, but if there’s anything I know about the Cruz’s, it is how easily they could make anything stick, especially if it was to their benefit.

The trial was adjourned for another week, and Lucas Cruz left the courtroom almost instantly. Roland and I watched as he rushed past us, and I could tell that something urgent had come up.

“I think we should follow him,” I suddenly told Roland, who looked at me as if I had suggested something stupid.

“What?” He asked, confused.

“We need to follow Lucas Cruz,” I explained, nodding in the direction of the door.

“And is there any particular reason why we would do that?”

I don’t know because he might be heading over somewhere important?

Explaining to Roland might seem strange, but I needed him to come along with me. In case we catch Lucas breaking the law which is most likely the reason he rushed out.

“And what are you going to do? Follow him all day? He’s probably heading back to their mansion,” he pointed out.

Maybe, but I saw him whisper something to Thomas, his right-hand man.

Roland had not seen what I had seen, that’s why he was a bit apprehensive, but I had seen Lucas and his giant bodyguard act a little bit worried. The only explanation for the change in Lucas's demeanor could only have to do with the fact that a sudden problem had developed. To some extent, I knew that Lucas had been struggling to consolidate control of the cartel, but things weren’t going his way, and I think it was because of his stepmother. Very little was known about Lucas’s real mom, some saying that Andrew had her killed years ago.

“You don’t have to come then,” I told him right before I ran out of the courtroom.

Lucas already had a few minutes lead on me, and most likely, he was gone. Luckily for me, I spotted his car just as I rushed out of the building. I waved down a taxi and jumped in almost immediately.

“Easy, lady,” the Indian driver said.

“Follow that car,” I pointed at Lucas’s car. “Try not to make it obvious we’re following them.”

He paused for a moment, his eyes sizing me up before he shrugged and turned his attention back to the road. I began to massage my right palm as I tried to make sense of what I was doing. Following Lucas without a plan was a rather stupid move, but I had strong convictions that I had made the right choice.

If he’s truly heading back to their estate, then this whole trip would be a mistake.

My prayers were answered when Lucas’s car made a right turn. He definitely wasn’t heading home, and I could tell he was heading to the port. Several questions began to pop into my head as I tried to make sense of where he could be going.

Shipments? Or is he going to see his uncle? What if he’s meeting with someone else?

This might be the day I was finally going to get all the answers I wanted. The dent that would finally destroy the Cruz’s and get me justice for my father! I really hoped it was something huge, and I, for one, was glad that I brought my camera with me. I just needed to catch something solid, one that would be more than enough to put Lucas behind bars.

CHAPTER 2: LUCAS

HIJACKED

I hate it when things don’t go according to plan.

My instructions were quite clear. “Get the cars from the port and drive them to the warehouse without attracting much attention.”

I specifically told the boys handling the transportation to ensure that no mistakes were made during the transport. Avoid attraction or anything that could cause trouble, as a whole lot was riding on this project, and I was looking forward to getting a win. This would finally be my chance to prove that I was far more capable of leading the Cruz family. To show Hannah and my father’s men that I, Lucas Cruz, could take our empire to greater heights.

“Do we know who intercepted the transport?” I asked Thomas.

“Not at the moment, but we think it’s the LaRosa,” Thomas answered.

I punched the seat right next to me. The LaRosa had been a pain in the side for the past few months, and it was because of Marcus LaRosa. That little punk was trying to spread his influence, forgetting that Philadephia belonged to us. My grandfather had moved down here seventy years ago. He managed to build an empire for himself and his children, an empire that my father took over and one I’m hoping to take over someday.

That is if Hannah doesn’t have her way.

She won’t openly admit that she was trying to lay the groundwork for Daniel, but I knew what she was doing. In fact, she was most likely responsible for sabotaging my efforts. Of course, she wasn’t the only problem I had, as there was a mole within the organization. Bringing it up without evidence had turned out to be my undoing, and my father had made it clear that I wasn’t to accuse any of his men without evidence.