Chapter Fifteen
Drake was sitting at his desk when his phone rang. When he saw the name of his private detective, he quickly answered.
“Hey, Richard.”
“Hello, Drake, I have some news.”
Drake sat back and braced himself for the information. He heard Richard moving papers around before he spoke.
“I talked to contacts I had at the police department in the town where Camila’s family lives. It seems they have several open cases involving them.”
Drake’s eyebrows rose. “That’s interesting.”
Richard chuckled. “Yeah. The detective I spoke with discussed fraud, embezzlement, theft, and shoplifting. It seems that it’s just a matter of time before they’re all put away.”
“Good. I want to do everything I can to destroy them all.”
“I don’t blame you. Their house is up for foreclosure, and they’ve had one car repossessed.”
“I had something to do with that,” Drake said. “I knew they were having money problems, so I talked to the bank that had the mortgage. I told them I’d pay off what they owe, but they had to be evicted immediately.”
Richard laughed. “I love that. Now, what are you going to do with the house?”
“I’m not sure. I wanted to talk to Camila about it first.”
“Do you think she’ll want to keep it for any reason?” Richard asked.
“Hell, no. She’ll never want to see that place again.”
Richard grunted. “After the things you’ve told me, I don’t blame her.”
Drake wished he could just blow the house up but knew that idea wasn’t viable. “Was there anything else?”
“Yes. I found the men you wanted me to locate.”
“Have you talked to them?” Drake asked.
“A little. I told them you’d like to talk to them about that night, and they are more than willing. Do you want me to give them your number?”
“Yes. I’d like to talk to them together.”
“I think I can make that happen,” Richard said.
“Good. Keep me informed.”
“I will. The detective thinks the DA will press charges next week. I asked them if there was anything that could be done regarding the incident with your wife during her last visit, and unless they find sufficient evidence, he didn’t think anything could be done.
But I was thinking that maybe you could get the two men to talk.
I think the DA might be able to find something to pin on her family if they testify. ”
“It’s worth a try. I’ll ask them when they call,” Drake said.
“Sounds good. I’ll get back with you when I find out more information,” Richard said.
“Thank you.”
“No problem.”
Drake set down his phone and sat back. He went over the list of things to do about the whole situation.
He had Jeremiah coming later that day to go over Camila’s uncle’s will. When they found out the extent of what he left her, he’d back whatever decision she made.
He had been working for several hours when he heard a knock on his office door.
“Come in,” he called out.
“Jeremiah is here to see you, sir,” Paula said.
“Good. Send him in. Also, find Camila. She’ll want to hear this.”
“Yes, sir.”
His friend and lawyer walked in a minute later. They shook hands before the man sat opposite him.
Drake watched as Jeremiah pulled a thick file from his briefcase.
“The lawyer from Camila’s hometown and I went over everything and have completed the file and done whatever we can to protect everything from her family.”
Jeremiah glanced at him and grinned. “It seems they were evicted from their home. Do you know anything about that?”
Drake snorted. “Fuck, yes. I bought the place and had them kicked out that same day.”
“How did you get around the eviction laws?”
Drake shrugged. “It was a stipulation that if I paid for the house, they would be out, so the bank took care of the eviction for me. I guess they had been trying to get them out for months.”
“That’s great, but we have a problem,” Jeremiah said. “They’re trying to move into Camila’s uncle’s house now.”
Drake gritted his teeth. Fuck. He never thought they’d be so stupid.
Jeremiah interrupted his thoughts. “Don’t worry.
I’ve talked to the sheriff in the town, and he had deputies go and run them off, but he also told me that they would keep trying.
They’re still trying to act like they’re rich and happy, but they can’t if they have to move into an apartment or small house, and they don’t have the money to move away. ”
“Can you hire someone to oversee the place until Camila decides what she wants to do with it?”
Jeremiah nodded. “Yes. I already asked the sheriff. He says there is a deputy on leave because of an accident he had on the job. He’d be willing to move in until she decides.”
“I like that idea. If you can get his information, I’ll pay him directly.”
“Sure. That should not be a problem. I’ll get back with you when I get the information.”
“Great. Thank you.”
There was a knock at the door.
“Come in,” Drake said.
He smiled when Camila cautiously walked in. “Come here, love.”
She relaxed and walked to him, letting him pull her into his lap. “You remember Jeremiah?”
Camila smiled at the other man. “Yes, of course. How are you?”
Jeremiah smiled. “I’m fine. How are you, honey?”
Camila looked over her shoulder at him and grinned. “With this man as my dom, nothing can hurt me.”
“That’s right, love,” Drake said and kissed the tip of her nose, making her giggle.
“Baby, Jeremiah is here with news about your uncle’s will.”
Camila turned back to the lawyer. “Oh? What did you find out?”
Jeremiah slid a few sheets of paper across the desk to them. Drake lifted it and held it so they could both read it at the same time.
His eyes widened, and she gasped.
“My uncle was a millionaire?” she asked in shock.
“Yes. His investments and life insurance total three point two million. That’s not counting the house.”
“Has the house and land been surveyed?” Drake asked.
“Yes,” Jeremiah said. “The house is in okay shape, but it’s the land that’s worth the most. It’s over two hundred acres of prime land. If you decide to sell it, the county is interested in buying it from you, and that could add up to another nine hundred thousand dollars.”
Camila sagged against his chest before looking up at him. “What do I do with all of this?”
“Baby, you don’t have to decide anything right now. It will still be there when you’re ready. By the way, your family has been evicted from the house.”
Her eyes widened. “How?”
Drake cleared his throat. “Well, I bought it from the bank, but they had to move out within twenty-four hours.”
“Oh, wow.”
“Does that upset you?” Drake asked.
She thought about it for a moment and then shook her head. “No. They deserve everything they get.”
“We agree. Jeremiah told me that your family tried to move into your uncle’s house.”
She stiffened.
“Easy, love. They were already kicked out, and Jeremiah will talk to the sheriff. He has a deputy that can move in until you decide what to do with it.”
Camila nibbled on her lip. “What are you going to do with two houses?”
Drake snorted. “They’re your houses. I’ll help with anything you need, but I won’t make the decisions for you.”
He knew it was a lot to put on her, but he wanted to give her the closure she needed to finally move on with her life and leave those bastards in the dirt where they belong.