Devastating Secret: Book 2 - Secret Series Read online

  Noah clenched his jaw; his first instinct was to retaliate, but her words had stopped him.

  “What do you mean he chose Welker?”

  “It doesn’t matter anymore.” Eva said pointedly. “He’s dead. They’re both dead.”

  “Just answer the fucking question, Eva!” Noah ordered.

  “Cooper showed up to collect me.” Eva began, “He’s been acting strange since we got married – have you not noticed this? -what am I saying? Of course, you haven’t. Cooper resented our marriage. He wanted what you had.”

  “I don’t think you’re such a prize.” Noah interrupted dryly.

  “Anyway…” Eva narrowed her eyes at him but continued, “He wondered why the plan couldn’t involve him instead of you.”

  “Why didn’t you just choose him?”

  “Are you really that dumb?” Eva questioned. “The same reason I wanted no part of Antonio.” She informed him. “He was in too deep and wanted too much. Despite what he told you, Cooper loved the lifestyle he got from what he was doing…”

  “He said he did it to impress you.” Noah countered.

  “Impress me? Please!” Eva huffed. “He did it for himself! His dad died a year before he met me. He never told you anything and never made plans to get out. He had your unfailing trust and never thought to ask you for help, but you expected it of me, the woman you interrogated every chance you got!” Eva reminded him “I told you I know Cooper’s type, I saw it Daddy … and I see it in me.” She finished softly.

  “You had a helluva list of followers didn’t you Eva?” Noah remarked bitterly. “Cooper, Richard, Antonio even Winters…”

  “Winters never felt that way about me. It was always just business with him…”

  “Too bad he’s dead.” Noah commented dryly. “I would’ve loved to know his secret for not falling under your spell.”

  “He was a psychopath and a sadist. Care to try that?” Eva asked him.

  Noah’s face soured at that response and stated simply “You couldn’t be with someone from that world could you.”

  “Neither could you.” Eva said sadly.

  “Why didn’t you help him get out then?” Noah wondered.

  “Then I wouldn’t have been a virgin and he’d be dead a whole lot sooner.”

  “You could’ve helped him Eva!” Noah accused.

  “You think I didn’t try!” Eva shrieked at him. “He was too busy being jealous of you to listen to me. Even when he realized I wasn’t faking what I felt for you. I told him, you needed him. But did he listen? NO! Then the fool sides with Daddy to bring you down!”

  “Why would he think you were faking?” Noah asked puzzled. Even he didn’t think that after all this mess.

  “Because that’s what I told Daddy.” Eva retorted. “I wasn’t supposed to have sex with you until after I got you to commit to the idea and I most definitely wasn’t supposed to…to love you.” She licked her lips and took a deep breath as she continued, “Our marriage was supposed to be fake. A sham…kinda like what it is now. I guess Daddy got his way after all.” Eva chuckled darkly.

  Noah turned away from her after that, glancing out the window. Tomorrow they would begin his presidency officially and this bitter woman across from him would be his First Lady for the next four years. For the sake of his daughter and his unborn child he had to bear her presence in public, but not in his bed. There was no way he was touching her after what she did, no matter her justification for it. She was still a murderer in his mind, plain and simple.

  They returned home for their final night at home and slept in separate rooms. His mother would use their home for the next four years with the maids and the Secret Service to keep her company.

  3

  President In Chief

  The demands of the Presidency, Eva’s own itinerary and her pregnancy kept them apart. A foolish part of him missed her. It craved her at odd times. Just like Cooper, he had gotten used to her by his side and it killed him to admit it.

  He sat in another meeting listening to another fool drone on and on about something. Honestly, he should start paying attention to everything that was being said, but it was just so hard to listen to some stuffy old fool talk absolute rubbish about a life he never lived and his plans to make it better when in fact all the fool wanted was to line the pockets of himself and his contributors. Noah wanted to get up and punch the man.

  Instead, he said menacingly, “Shut up.” Normally, such words would go unnoticed in the clamor around him, but he had yet to contribute since his inauguration, so it brought absolute silence. All eyes turned towards him and he stood continuing in that same tone “We are not going to do that. It’s stupid. Get outside, talk to some actual sick people without a camera following you then make a meaningful contribution. Until then sit down and shut up!” Looking around, he asked, “Anyone else has something that we can get to the point in under five minutes.” Silence reigned as everyone looked at one another. “No? Then Eric, Theresa, Wayland come with me. Have a good day ladies and gentlemen.” He told them as he quit the room leaving the others to follow.

  Once they were in another secure room Noah rounded on them. “No wonder the government can’t get anything done! I just wasted another two hours of my life listening to those assholes! I need results, not meetings!”

  “Everything needs to be vetted first before we take it to the House. We explained that, Noah.” In public, they were Wayland and Mr President or Sir. In private, they became uncle and nephew again.

  “I know that, but do they vet these things in their heads first before they open their mouths? That guy was my Secretary of Urban Development. What the hell does he know about being poor? Or is it he thinks I’m too stupid to know he’s trying to pull a fast one on me.” Noah argued.

  “I think it’s the latter.” Theresa piped up. “They think your lack of political acumen equates to a lack of basic common sense.”

  This is why he was glad Theresa was on his team. She was his Chief of Staff and spoke plainly and she knew their game better than they think she did. Along with his uncle, she helped him double-check all their suggestions. They were also drafting a few bills of their own. The adjustments to the bill for the protection of women that his uncle wanted to be named after Eva’s mother, was one Theresa was pushing to get passed first.

  One negative of Theresa was that she and Eva had become fast friends almost on sight. They had too many similarities not to. They both went riding together by Montgomery stables. Eva bought horses from her for both herself and Amelia. They went shopping together, had coffee meetings and spa dates. He really wished they didn’t get along so well because with his current paranoia he thought Eva had enlisted her to spy on him.

  “Well, send a memo out, next crappy meeting only ideas that truly benefit the American people. No longer than five minutes with step by step outlines of how it’s going to be done. These meetings are now to be held once a month. My itinerary is too full, and I think my daughter is beginning to forget what her daddy looks like.”

  They snickered as he said the last and Eric reminded him “Tomorrow is your first foreign trip remember.”

  Shit! Noah thought. He was going to be stuck in a foreign country with Eva and no Amelia between them. “Are you coming as well, Uncle Wayland?” Noah prayed.

  “No, the trip is just to the Vatican, Noah then to the capitol, Rome. You wouldn’t even need a translator. Besides, I have a few ruffled feathers to smooth while you’re gone thanks to your outburst in there.” Wayland reminded him.

  “You think they sound stupid now,” Eric stated. “wait until they have to debate a bill!”

  “Oh, God!” Noah groaned then had a thought “Can I restructure the government?”

  “No, Noah.” His uncle teased, “You cannot turn a democracy into a dictatorship, people tend to go to war for that sort of thing.”

  “What if I promise to be a benevolent dictator?” Noah promised jokingly.

  “Still no.” Ther
esa laughed.

  “I have the military.” He pointed out.

  “Let’s not turn the US into a military state.” Eric joked.

  “Really?” Noah pleaded. “I now feel a certain kinship with dictators. When you deal with idiots all day, it’s just easier.” He moaned.

  “The complex functioning of a democratic government is necessary to prevent such things,” Wayland informed him. “Could you just imagine the chaos is something were to happen to you in a dictatorship? If another leader who wasn’t so benevolent took your place?”

  Noah could well imagine the man that took his place wouldn’t last long in his position unless he added Eva to his hit list. For all she’s done, he knew without a doubt if some unlucky fool was stupid enough to put a scratch on him, she would retaliate. Strangely, it made him aroused just thinking about it.

  “I knew that.” Noah griped, “but still, it was nice to think about.

  “Sometimes, I too have those thoughts,” Theresa admitted. “especially when you hear some of these so-called intellectuals. It’s enough to pray for a gag order.”

  The men laughed, and Noah laid out their plans “Theresa and Eric will keep an ear out for the true patriots that could help us, even on the other side. Uncle Wayland will see if we need to trim the fat in our own team. Use the Secret Service and CIA if necessary. Any questionable ties anywhere or deals made, flush them out. We are the United States and we are going to act like it.”

  “Oh!” Eric praised. “Tweak that and we’ll use it in a speech.”

  “Already noted E.” Wayland stated smugly.

  “You two,” Noah pointed at them. “are sick.”

  “Enjoy your trip, Sir,” Theresa told him. “It’s Eva’s first trip to the Vatican. You’d think she’d gone already since she was in a nunnery.”

  Maybe that had to do with her not pushing her luck, Noah mused. “Check with Uncle Wayland, we’ll meet when I get back.”

  They nodded as they left, leaving him alone with his uncle.

  “What’s going on between you and Eva?”

  “What do you mean?” Noah evaded.

  “Did you do something?”

  “Why do you assume it’s me?” Noah questioned.

  “Are you two, okay?” Wayland asked again, watching him carefully.

  “We’re fine.”

  “That sounded just like Eva when Ana asked her.” Wayland told him seriously then advised him “The presidency is for four years; your marriage is supposed to be for the rest of your life. Be a good President, but a better husband and excel at being a father.” Noah nodded in understanding and Wayland added, “When you need to talk, just say and I’ll clear my schedule and we’ll talk.”

  “Not about this we can’t,” Noah whispered.

  “There isn’t anything you can’t talk to me about.” Wayland countered hearing him.

  “Trust me.” Noah voiced earnestly, “You can’t help me with this.”

  “Is it the pregnancy?” Wayland asked, concerned.

  “No, she’s fine.” To get him off the topic Noah lied. “It’s just the presidency and we hardly see each other that’s all.”

  “Oh,” Wayland exclaimed, his relief evident. “I’m sure Eva’s more understanding than that. She’ll be by your side in Italy. You two should talk things out and I’ll have Ana remind her she can’t throw punches at you in public.” He smirked.

  “That would be bad.” For the Secret Service, Noah finished internally. “We can be civilized you know.”

  “I still remember that shiner, Noah.” Wayland chuckled. “I don’t think as your Press Secretary even I could explain another one.”

  “You won’t have to, I promise.” Maybe murder, Noah added internally.

  “Alright. Give the girls my love.” Wayland said as he left. “We should have a family brunch at the White House. It’ll give us a chance to be together again.”

  “Not anytime soon, if you want me to attend.” Noah griped.

  “In the next two months, Eva is due, and you’ll be due for some downtime as well. We’ll do it then.”

  “Ok,” Noah agreed as his uncle left him alone with his thoughts. Solitude was another thing that was scarce in his life. Even now the Secret Service agents stood outside the door. The first time they followed him into a public restroom when he had to take a dump he blew a fuse. Noah called in their boss and raged, he told him was sure he could kick their asses, so he definitely didn’t need watching so closely. They had to make some serious adjustments after that.

  As per his demands, they could check a room before he entered, but he was to be left alone. Noah left with his shadows as he dubbed the team that followed him. He called them by number even though he knew all their names and went over all their files before their assignments. Shadow One was always the door opener with Two at his back and Three directly in front of him. He sat in the Presidential limo and read over his notes for his next two hours of boredom.

  4

  Please Forgive Me

  The tension on Air Force One was tangible as Eva stared him down. Noah knew she was watching him, but he refused to turn in her direction. Eva glanced at the staff and agents and suddenly they were alone. She really must teach him that trick, Noah mused.

  “What is it?” Eva asked him.

  “You’re the one doing the staring, you tell me.” Noah responded, still not looking at her.

  “You can get a divorce you know.”

  Silence

  “Noah, we can’t go on like this,” Eva admitted.

  More silence

  “I know you need time to assimilate it all and grieve…”

  Noah chuckled darkly.

  “People are starting to notice. Something has to be done and you not sharing a bed with me is just stupid.”

  A deep breath.

  “Say something. Please, Noah.” Eva pleaded.

  Silence

  “I can’t live like this,” Eva muttered.

  “At least you’re alive,” Noah muttered finally.

  Eva changed seats after that and made no more attempts at conversation for the flight.

  The President and First Lady arrived in the Vatican with much pomp and ceremony and Eva’s natural command of their language made her an instant favorite of everyone she met. She conversed with everyone from the layman in the street to the Pope who made sure to take the time to bless her and his unborn child.

  On the surface she was the wife every man would be proud of. A true helpmate – the Pope’s words, not his – the type woman every man should have at his side. And because of her time in the nunnery she was able to quote scripture in Latin for the Pontiff and his cardinals. Noah thought she was just showing off.

  The real creepy part came when Noah chatted with the Pope without Eva and the cameras. The man stared at him for a bit then asked, “What troubles you, my son?

  “What?”

  “Not what you were expecting?” He asked in halting Italian. “Maybe I should rephrase that, what do you have on your mind? What troubles your soul?”

  The words poured out before Noah could stop them, “My best friend was killed by my wife.” Shock covered Noah’s face and he stuttered, “I-I-I …”

  “You are a good soul, I see this.” The Pope told him. “So is your wife.”

  “Didn’t you hear me?” Was the Vatican that tied to the Mafia, Noah thought.

  “Yes, I heard, she committed a grave sin. She has committed many grave sins as do all lost souls sometimes do, but you give her hope of a better life.” When Noah continued to look confused he continued “I know all about your wife, Noah. When I heard she stayed with us a bit, I looked into her past. What happened to her shouldn’t happen to any child. It takes strength to survive such.” Noah’s eyes narrowed at him.

  “She hasn’t gotten to me as you think. I know many souls from that sort of life. Does the name Marchesi mean anything to you? I’ve had a few requests to see me. They want me to absolve them from their crim
es, some you know will never change. Damaged or cursed, sometimes it’s both. Only God himself can save them. Others, like your wife, are just trapped wanting to be out.

  They make bad choices and your friend was not so innocent if she killed him, not that I’m making excuses for her, but both were in sin. Live by the sword and all that. How would you feel if it were your wife dead and your friend killed her? Ah, I see your rage, you would have killed too then yet she is still alive and not in jail. Is it for your unborn child or your pride? You too are not so clean. Let God judge your wife, in the eyes of the law you are already guilty, and you know this, so why not forgive her and fulfill your marriage vows as you should.”

  “Shouldn’t I just tell the FBI and be done with it?”

  “Is that what you want to do? If you wish, you may, but ask yourself what would it benefit the world where a good President goes to jail for something his wife and friend did.”

  “You’re telling me to lie!” Noah gasped.

  “Lie to who? I doubt anyone would be asking if your wife killed your best friend anyway but what I’m asking you to do is forgive. Forgive your wife, forgive your friend, and forgive yourself.”

  “I’m not comfortable…I feel like my life is a lie.”

  “Did you cheat to become President?”

  “No!”

  “Are you intending on abusing the office?”

  “No.”

  “Then it’s your wife you are worried about.”

  “Yes!”

  “Before you knew this did you trust her?”

  “Yes, but she never trusted me it seems,” Noah whispered.

  “Strange the murderess doesn’t trust the honest man. Why is that, you think?”

  “She doesn’t trust anybody.”

  “Not even the man she loves.”

  “No,” Noah whispered.

  “She has no faith that you would protect her. Why is that?”

  Noah just shook his head; he had no answer to that really.

  “You are a good man, but you are a prideful one. You are not really concerned with their sins just how it reflects on you because if you really did you would have told the truth by now. You judge her, yet you do now want to condemn your friend. How long was he your friend and she your wife?”