“We are still going forward with our plan.”
Jordan just smiled at me and squeezed my hand. We both knew that paying Escabar off wasn’t going to keep us or our families safe. The only plan that would work was going to Ramos. I was confident in that.
As we walked outside, my father pulled his checkbook out and started to write me a check. It was the first time in a really long time that I felt like my father actually looked me in the eyes. At least I could thank Captain Bastrop for that. I had longed to see respect in my father’s eyes, and I welcomed every moment of it.
“How much do we need, son? How much to get this creep to leave you alone?”
“Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars,” I said quietly.
“Chase, I know you are a businessman. I know you want to do your own thing. I just wish you would have come to me to borrow the money instead of this criminal.”
“Dad, you cut me off. I hadn’t been respectful to you and your money. I knew that it wasn’t the right time to come to you for money. I’m sorry.”
“Chase, you did good by turning that man in. That showed some real guts. If you want the company, I would be more than happy to give it to you. Maybe a couple of the guys from the board could stay on as your support when I retire.”
It was the offer I had waited on for years. That moment was what I had dreamed about since I had started to work at my father’s company. But I didn’t want to accept it just yet. I didn’t want to accept it until Jordan and I had finished what we needed to do. There was no future for me with his company or with anything, if I didn’t get out from under Escabar’s control.
“Thanks, Dad,” I said as I hugged him. “Do you mind if I think about it for a little bit?”
I saw the shock in my father’s eyes and then a bit of a smile as he looked at my hand intertwined with Jordan’s. Something about his look showed me that he understood I cared about Jordan and I wanted to do right by her.
“Certainly, you two take your time and discuss things. We can talk in a couple of days.”
“Thank you, Mr. Foster,” Jordan said.
“Thanks, Dad. I’m sorry I didn’t come to you first.”
“I’m still proud of you, kid. It takes a lot of guts to turn in a bad guy like Escabar. You did the right thing.”
My father leaned in and hugged me before he turned and made his way to the car that was waiting for him.
It was a different kind of hug than I was used to. This hug seemed filled with real emotion. Real genuine emotion, and I almost started to choke up when I let go of him.
Being a Foster son had never really been that easy. I always had to live up to what my brothers were doing and never felt like I was good enough. I still didn’t really feel like I was doing that great at life, but hopefully once everything was settled with Escabar I would be able to move forward.
I could only imagine how perfect life would be with me in charge of Foster Industries and Jordan by my side. Maybe we would even have some babies or something like that. It was fun to fantasize about that kind of life, although I had never really done so in the past. Meeting Jordan had me thinking in a whole different way.
Jordan and I made our way out of the parking garage and drove around town as we discussed our plan.
“I’m scared, Chase,” she said.
“I know, but I think this is really going to work. It’s our best shot at ending this whole thing. And if we do it right, I won’t even have to pay Escabar back his money.”
I couldn’t help but smile at the thought of not giving Escabar $250,000. I had technically already paid him back all the money I owed him, through his crazy high interest payments that he required over the last six months. I really didn’t want to hand over any more money to the man.
“Well, I’m ready if you are,” Jordan said.
“I’m ready.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Jordan
“Do you think Ramos will actually show up himself?” I asked Chase, as we pulled up to the park where we had planned to meet up with Salina and Salvador.
“No, he’s got to be suspicious of us. We will talk to Salina and Salvador first and get them to take the message back to Ramos.”
Chase and I held hands in the car while we waited for Salina and Salvador to show up. I felt my heart pounding. I couldn’t help but think we were being watched. My eyes looked around outside the vehicle as I tried to see whoever it was that I felt watching me.