Before any comment was passed, Jackson entered the room and handed Jake a piece of paper. Reading it in silence, he looked at his father before passing it to Jason who in turn passed it on to Josh.
“Who is this guy and can we trust him?” Jason asked his father.
“From what I can tell he’s Diana’s go to man. I say we test whether he can be trusted,” Jackson replied.
Chapter 29
The reporters had been gone for three days, and MacKenzie was relieved they were no longer camped outside the gate. At least now the Kingdoms could go about their business without having to face flashing cameras every time they left their home.
MacKenzie had also begun to think that maybe it was time for her to return to her own home. Having voiced as much to Jake, he had refused. Although she hadn’t taken kindly to his dictatorial refusal, she picked up that something was still afoot. Her numerous questions to gather information had failed. In the end, it was just easier to stay because, in all honesty, she enjoyed being in Jake’s company.
During breakfast, MacKenzie couldn’t help but feel that the men were up to something. She thought it probably concerned Diana. On the occasions, she questioned Jake about his mother; she had been told not to worry as Diana was no longer a threat to any of them.
Left to their own devices for the day; MacKenzie, Aviva and the baby were all in the garden when Ronson the family butler, approached and spoke to her.
“Miss, you have a visitor.”
“Me... who?” MacKenzie asked in surprise.
“He gave his name as a Mr. Ernesto,” Ronson said, his usual formality in place.
“Please show him in, Mr. Ronson.” Aviva stepped in when MacKenzie remained silently stunned at the mention of Carlos’ name.
When the butler was out of earshot, Aviva turned to her friend with a worried look. “Just try to stay calm, okay.”
MacKenzie didn’t bother to answer her. Her mind was already flooded with all the things she had stored up to say to Carlos. When he finally stood before them and removed his sunglasses, MacKenzie was shocked. The man looked terrible. His eyes were sunken and blood shot, and there was a gaunt look to the planes of his face that hadn’t been there the last time she had seen him.
“MacKenzie, Aviva,” Carlos greeted them with a nod.
Aviva responded, what she said; MacKenzie had no idea. All her concentration was taken up with his appearance.
“I’m going to take the baby inside so you guys can talk.”
It wasn’t a question, so MacKenzie didn’t answer. As Aviva walked away holding her daughter; that Carlos hadn’t paid Noelle the slightest bit of attention wasn’t lost on her.
Taking a seat, MacKenzie indicated that Carlos should do the same. When he finally sat facing her, she allowed the silence to deepen and stretch on. MacKenzie refused to clear a path into the conversation. He had behaved disgracefully and she owed him nothing.
“I don’t know where to begin.” Carlos began in a low voice.
He had only spoken one sentence and already he was getting on her nerves. “For a start,” MacKenzie told him, “Do not spout one more damn cliché in my direction!”
Carlos blinked his bloodshot eyes as though he was surprised at her anger. “It’s like that, is it?”
“Yeah, it’s exactly like that,” she threw back.
“I suppose I should have known you wouldn’t make this easy for me.”
“Easy for you... are you kidding me?! Why should I make anything easy for you? You’ve put me through hell, and I should make this easy for you. Boy, you must have lost your damn mind!”
“You need to cut me some slack here, MacKenzie,” Carlos whined.
“I don’t have to do a damn thing, but I’m going to. I’m going to listen to what you have to say. I want to understand what possessed you to behave like such a jerk. So start talking!”
“Have you met, Diana?” Carlos asked.
“No I haven’t, and what does she have to do with the disgusting way you’ve behaved towards me?”
Taking a deep breath, Carlos grimaced before he began to speak. “This mostly has everything to do with Diana. She found out something about me and threatened to expose it if I didn’t do what she wanted.
It seems that Diana wanted to cause the Kingdoms as much trouble as she could. Your relationship with Jacob Kingdom meant that by association, she had the tools to blackmail me–”
MacKenzie cut him off. “You’re not making any sense at the moment. You need to stop talking in circles!”
“This isn’t easy for me, MacKenzie. Please, just hear me out and let me tell this in my own way, okay?” Carlos pleaded.