The Secret Angel Book 5
Автор
Melanie Gomez
Прочтений
50,1K
Глав
22
Marcelo and his friends are on the brink of their senior year when they uncover a disturbing secret about two homeschooled girls, Angela and Angelia, who are being abused by their father. Determined to rescue them, Marcelo and his friends embark on a daring mission that spirals into a series of dangerous confrontations and emotional revelations. As they navigate through threats, legal battles, and personal struggles, they form an unbreakable bond, discovering the true meaning of family and courage.
Chapter 1
Book 5
CADEN
Stepping off the elevator today, I see Tania and a corridor lined with doors. It seems like everyone has an office now. The younger generation, along with their spouses, have taken over, making it a bustling hive of activity.
We’ve expanded our operations, claiming a large chunk of the countryside for our compound. We’ve spread across a hundred acres, with houses scattered everywhere. We’ve even constructed roads within the compound, eliminating the need to venture outside.
At the heart of it all is our communal area, complete with pools and a massive house dedicated solely to cooking and dining. It’s hard to believe that all this started with a simple business card I handed to Eva, bearing my number.
And here we are now. Eva and I, now in our late seventies, have retired from the family business. Our days are spent watching our grandchildren grow up and join the business, hoping they’ll find their perfect partners soon.
I drop by occasionally to check on things and catch up with everyone. Tony and Niko have retired and moved away to enjoy their remaining years. Sadly, Tony didn’t have much time left.
I received a call from Mary last year, informing me of his passing. We all flew out for the service, spending the week reminiscing about our lives. Over the past ten years, I’ve taken Eva to all the places she’s ever wanted to visit, making up for the time we lost to our busy schedules.
Our pace has slowed down now, as age makes it harder to move around. We mostly stay home. Mason, the latest grandkid to join the business, brought along his friends, necessitating a second floor of offices for the newcomers.
Nate, now in his early forties, still has plenty of time. The kids take turns going on vacations, ensuring they don’t burn out from the business. We attribute our youthful spirits to the constant presence of our grandkids.
It seems like there’s always a new one showing up. We love each and every one of them.
I give Tania a big hug as she is preparing to retire. She’s been training her replacement, Sarah, and it’s hard to believe this chapter of her life is closing.
It feels like just yesterday she was promoted from Human Resources to replace Connie and Mandy. I’ve kept in touch with Connie and her husband during their retirement, always ensuring they had enough money to enjoy themselves.
A couple of weeks ago, their nephew Keith informed me that they had both passed away within days of each other. The news hit Mandy and me hard. Nate was also deeply affected, as Connie had played a significant role in his life.
We’re all attending the memorial service later today. When the kids emerge, everyone looks somber, and I can’t blame them. Connie, despite being retired, always made a point to stop by and meet the new additions.
Her passing has affected everyone in different ways. The elevator dings, and out walks Eva. We’re all set to leave, with twenty cars ready to accommodate everyone—ten for the families and another ten for the security detail.
Imagine the surprise when the Maxwells show up at the service. Our company has grown so large that we need a security detail. It can be intimidating, but everyone knows we’d protect them as if they were family. Some people even appreciate our presence at events, finding it reassuring.
I ensure everyone is ready, and we all head down to the cars. Once everyone is settled in, we drive off to the local church in town.
Our security team has already secured the perimeter. As we pull up, Eva squeezes my hand. I notice it too—it’s the church where we got married all those years ago, where I officially made Nate and Eva mine.
I smile at her, planting a kiss on her lips. I can’t help but feel incredibly lucky. I have my goddess and my empire—what more could a man want in life!
As we arrive, Eva and I are the first to step out. I spot Keith and shake his hand, explaining that my team will be securing the inside.
He tells me he’s already informed everyone of our attendance.
Nate and Mandy, Mason and Missy, Jocelyn and Jessie, Jace and Cami, Anthony and Angel, Marcelo and Angelia, Eddie and Rosa, Jeremy, Trenton, and Jill all arrive. I think we’ve got everyone.
Holding Eva’s hand, we all start walking in. The chatter inside the church dies down as people stare. All sixteen of us, plus our security, file in and take our seats.
The service begins after about thirty minutes. It lasts an hour, during which Nate, Eva, and I all speak. It’s been an emotional day, and I think we’ll all need some rest afterward.
When the service concludes, we all express our condolences to the family. Keith thanks us for coming and hopes we’ll stay in touch. We exchange hugs and head out to the waiting cars.
We all pile in, and our security team escorts us back to the compound. I call ahead, asking the staff to prepare a BBQ and set out drinks. After such a day, we definitely need them.
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