"It is interesting to know that you do not remember the man you address as Godfather and who is equally as responsible as you are in your list of crimes, perhaps even more so." Valerie's lips twitched as she kept staring at the man in front of her. "Am I right, Jared?" She dropped all the honorifics, not giving him any respect, and why should she when the man did not deserve respect?

"What are you speaking about, Deputy?" Jared still did not break down. But the slight tremble in his tone had given away his predicament. "You must be mistaken. What the heck is a Godfather? Are we shooting a movie here?" He tried to calm down and steady his tone, regretting losing his composure a moment ago.

Valerie stayed silent for a few moments as she kept her gaze locked on Jared before she walked around, not stopping until she was right behind him. "You tell us, Jared. What kind of story are you trying to create here."

From her voice, Jared sensed her to be right behind him. But he did not turn around for he did not know if he could keep his face straight on meeting her questioning and intense gaze. He also did not look at the two men in front of them. They were no less than Valerie with the way they kept their eyes on him. He instead, focused his haze on his hands as he tried to form an answer to Valerie's question.

"Deputy, what are you trying to play at? Do you think you could trick me into accepting things I have never done?"

"Nah, Nah." Valerie shook her head as she folded her hands. She remained standing behind him as she studied his back. "I am not tricking you to accept the crimes you have never done. It is the other way round actually. I am tricking you to accept all that you have, Jared." She did not hide her intentions from him, startling him for a moment. But Jared returned to his calm self immediately, and this time, he even smiled as he looked up at Ryder and Preston.

His sudden change surprise Preston and Ryder. Even Valerie sensed his shift in demeanor and she raised her brows in wonder.

All of a sudden, Jared started chuckling and he turned in his chair to face Valerie. "I am impressed, Deputy. You were able to find a lot of things that nobody has been able to. But it is even more fascinating to know that all you have found out will not be able to punish me." He said with conviction, and Valerie narrowed her eyes immediately.

But she did not speak a word, waiting for Jared to continue and he did gladly. His smile widened and he gave her a challenging look. There was something odd in his eyes that made Valerie raise her guards against him. His eyes which previously held fear were now gleaming wickedly, and she could not comprehend what had happened for him to change this suddenly.

"Do you know, Deputy," Jared started, his smirk not leaving his face. "Who is a good player?"

Valerie frowned at his words. But she did not give him any reply and continued to stare at him.

"A good player reads his opponent's minds before he pulls his next move," Jared remarked, his face turning sinister at once. "And do you know who is a smart player?" He continued.

Again he got silence in return, and Jared gave her a mysterious look, one that Valerie could not comprehend. It was as though Jared had this all planned out and they were under his control, instead of it being the other way round. All of a sudden, she started to have an ominous feeling about it.

"A smart player plans his opponent's moves too." Jared laughed wickedly again, and this time, none among the three could react in time.

A chill went down Valerie's spine, and for the first time since Jared had been locked up in the Intelligence, Valerie found herself fearing him and she had no idea why.

"And Deputy, you have done the same thing I have wanted you to do all along." Jared leaned back on his chair lazily, his mere stance making Valerie want to slap him in the face.

"You were so busy in finding out about me that you failed to protect the country or that is how it will be after," Jared held her hand, and the moment he did so, both Ryder and Preston stepped forward, ready to protect their friend. "Two hours or even less."

"What do you mean?" Valerie frowned. Even Ryder and Preston could not control themselves any longer and their composure evaporated.

"You were quite successful in finding out about my Godfather and I will give all credits to Maggie. If not for her, you would not have found anything about me or the man who the world thinks to be the one in control."historical

Valerie's eyes widened in horror. She could not believe what she was hearing and for a moment, she stood frozen in her spot. Even Preston was stupefied to learn the truth and he too had a similar reaction to hers. Ryder was the only one who did not react much for he was yet to find out everything.

"Although I would like to tell you more, you do not have time Deputy." Jared changed his attack suddenly. "You have an important task to complete before that."

Valarie almost glared at him in anger and she had the sudden urge to put a bullet through his head. He was too infuriating.

"What have you done?" She gritted her teeth and Jared nodded lightly.

"This was the question I was waiting for all this time. I knew the Intelligence would come to me the moment Maggie escaped from my clutches. So, I was prepared." Jared smiled widely. "All your eyes were on me, and I presume even on the man who calls himself my Godfather." He spat in anger and Valerie sensed his anger towards the man from his tone.

"What have you done?" She iterated again.

"Nothing much, Deputy. I put my plan into action, the same plan which you foiled brilliantly when you arrested David Peters."

----------------------------------------

Hey guys,

Please vote for Whisper of Hearts instead of Falling in Love starting today. That book has entered the Warewolf and I competition and it would be helpful if you could read the book and give me your opinions. I would love to know your feedback.

So, please vote for Whisper of Hearts guys.

Thank you.