"Forgive her." The words rang repeatedly in his head. This was something he'd never perceived as possible and yet a strong sense of duty to his sister made him think again.
He expected this to happen sooner or later, Katherine would endeavour to repair the broken bond between the people that mattered the most to her. But being aware and being prepared were two different things entirely.
The look in Katherine's eyes however, wasn't the kind to say no to, "I'll try." He sighed.
He always knew how to set his emotions aside in order to do what had to be done and this had dramatically become one of those moments.
Katherine slowly pulled away from him. "Talk to her."
Dutifully, he strode over to her with no sign of hesitation. His very step was noticeable in whatever room he was in and his presence commanded the attention of whoever.
She felt the intense presence beside her but didn't bother to acknowledge it. She had seen him walk into gallery as well as his little show with the man who was trying to talk to Katherine, she even felt his gaze on her the moment Katherine must've suggested he made peace with her.
"Are you just gonna stand there or are you actually gonna say something." Just like the last time, Camile spoke first but still didn't turn to him.
"I was drawn by the art." His eyes were on her as he leaned on the very wall the art was hung.
"You care so much about the art but couldn't be bothered to arrive on time." She scolded him and he let out a little scoff, remembering how uptight she could be.
"We had a problem and I had to do something about it." He provided an explanation despite not thinking he ought to have.
"We?" His choice of words caught her attention.
"It involves Katherine and as much as I loathe it, by default it now involves you as well." She was taken aback by the honesty in his response.
He hadn't planned to inform her, but decided to use it as a gesture for making peace. A simple act of good faith if you must.
"What happened?" Camile however, found it worrying that he considered it serious enough to admit it to her.
"The ghost of her ex-boyfriend has come back to haunt us one more time." He put it vaguely enough to annoy her as different theories had started to fill up her mind. Like the police finding out that Katherine's involvement wasn't as minimal as they had led them to believe.
"What the hell does that mean?" Her brows furrowed, allowing him to pierce into her passionate green eyes as they brimmed with worry.
"He sold the blackmail to someone else before he died, and that person now happens to consider me an enemy." His answer didn't help quell her worry in any way because this was just as bad as the possibility she had feared.
"How the fuck could that have possibly happened?" She asked the only logical question that popped up in her mind.
"It's not uncommon for lowlives to flock together." His expression was neutral and gave away nothing as usual and that was driving her insane.
"This is serious Landon." Her tone was stern but her body language didn't say very much. Katherine was watching from a distance and she absolutely could not give her any hints about the problem Landon just landed on her lap.
"I'm taking care of it." He replied simply but it wasn't satisfactory to her.
"How?" She persisted and it was clear as day how much she cared about Katherine, it made him question everything he felt towards her and he didn't like it.
"The same way I took care of the last one." Once again his response infuriated her, this wasn't the time for being cocky.
"Yet here we are."
"I'm bored by this little talk of ours, I think It's time I left." Landon ignored the anger in her voice and turned to walk away.
She held her hand out and grabbed his arm gently which stopped him from walking away. Her action completely took him aback, it was the last thing he expected to happen.
His expression showed no hint of surprise however, he just stared blankly at her manicured hands which she then withdrew.
"Come over for breakfast tomorrow, Katherine would appreciate it, and I make the best pancakes in the city." Katherine suggested and Landon knew he couldn't say no because of his promise to Katherine.
"I won't dispute your claim but I'm not very good with mornings, I'm afraid I'll have to pass." Landon refused regardless, wavering in his conviction to do right by his sister.
"Dinner then." She persisted, knowing fully well she had to be the bigger person when dealing with Landon Archer. Besides, she had a duty to Katherine as well.
"Alright, see you at dinner." He couldn't bring himself to refuse twice. "You don't plan on killing me though, do you?"
She looked shocked and didn't know what to say in response to his question. "Why would you even think that?"
"It's those glasses you like to put on, they make you look some serial killer." She instinctively reached for them even though she didn't have them on.
"Goodnight Dahmer." He added and she scoffed at his childishness.
He bid goodnight to Katherine before walking out the door. Arnold stood waiting for him outside, dutifully holding the car door open.
"Is it done?" Landon asked as soon as they both got in the car.
"We tossed the house but came up empty." He reported to Landon who gave him a slight nod in response.
Landon had he and Marcus pay Noah Thomas's residence a visit earlier and Arnold didn't exactly know what the point of it was, even though he executed the order without question.
"I sent you there to send a message. That we know who he is, and we can get to him." He explained the point of the action but Arnold still didn't see how that was the right move, unable to see the bigger picture Landon, who's judgement he trusted in entirety, was seeing.
"Is threatening him really the best idea right now? I mean he could just release the images in a fit of rage now that he no longer has the comfort of secrecy." The concerned Arnold voiced out his doubts concerning their course of action.
"Releasing the images were never part of his plan." Landon said simply and Arnold got the car started at the push of a button.
"It's about using them as a means of control over me and to toy with me, that's what his broken ego needs and every other thing will pale in comparison to the satisfaction he will derive from having that power over me." He continued as Arnold began to drive through the city at night.
"So even now, he won't give up the leverage?" Arnold needed to know if Landon was absolutely certain.
"He can't, it's become an obsession to him." Landon said apathetically, leaning back languidly on the soft leather seats. "The next thing he's gonna do is call, lose the disguise and threaten me as himself because he's angry, and he still thinks he has the power."
"You ready boss?" Arnold asked as they got closer to their destination for a rather important meeting.
He nodded his head on reflex but his eyes looked spaced out, Arnold could see even though through a reflection in the rear mirror.
This meeting was the true reason why he had come back home, an opportunity he couldn't dare ignore had arose and even though it meant going across the world, he had to be here in order to sign this deal.
Arnold pulled up at the building and the both walked into the lobby. A huge sign posted on the wall read, 'The Martín Race Club.' next to a silhouette depiction of a classic race car and a large size black and white photos of iconic race cars hung on every wall, showcasing their immense history.
A man approached them as soon as they got past the huge sign, he was waiting for them and led them towards his boss who sat down by a mini-bar with an half-drank glass of rum and a lit cigar.
"Jorge." Landon called his name out in respect and held his hand out to shake the older man.
"Sit boy." The old man gestured for Landon to take the stool beside his. Both sent their man away to privately converse.
Arnold stood guard at the entrance alongside Jorge's number two.
He held his glass up to Landon, the dark amber liquid inside sloshed lightly. "Have you ever had Cuban rum?"
"I occasionally reach for a glass of The Havana club."
"This particular brew spends seven years in the white oak barrels, hence the darker hue." He poured a glass for Landon as he spoke highly of the beverage.
Landon stirred the glass and took a sip. "It's worth every damn year." His comment earned a chuckle from the man.
"Now, let's talk business." The man put his cigar down on an ashtray.
"I was surprised to hear of your desire to sell the club." Landon had gone serious, Jorge was a man he respected and his business was one he adored.
"A man must retire and spend time with the wife. Trust me, you get tired of hearing the shrieks of naturally aspirated engines in your sleep." Jorge's response earned a laugh from Landon this time.
"I'm sure everyone thought, one of your children would certainly take over from you, like you from your father."
"Not a single of them inherited the passion, they all forged their own individual paths and I cannot possibly wish to be any prouder." He explained and the words meant a lot more to him than anyone would think.
"But this, was the love of my life for so long and I refuse to sell to anyone who doesn't respect or understand the importance of what that history means to my family, and that's why I insisted we met in person, so I can look you in the eyes and shake your hand." Jorge took one last gulp of his drink and got up from his seat.
Landon stood up as well. "You've known me since I was just a boy, my father used to bring me up here to look at the cars every month. We'd go out on the track and watch ongoing races, I used to look forward to those moments." He had a small smile on his face as he shared the pleasant memory.
They began walking towards where the most vintage cars were showcased. "Caleb was stonecold behind the wheel, our races were intense." Jorge reminisced too.
"Family, art, history, these I have the deepest respect for." Landon asserted as he stopped to take a closer look at a particular car.
"A man who never comes home is either running from it or serves a sacred duty to it." Jorge said subtly referring to him and his absence in the life of his family.
What he was running from certainly wasn't home and as far as duty went, there was nothing sacred about his. "Everything has it's price, especially our choices."
"Speaking of price, we better get down to that quickly." Jorge said in a lighter tone, moving on from the heavy part of the conversation.
****
The men shook hands in agreement with mutual respect for one another.
A contract had been entered and Landon had acquired a new business. The true purpose of his coming to town had been achieved yet he couldn't leave.
Recent troubles had led to other problems that required fixing and a familiar bond needing repair.
Jorge's talk of duty intensified the burn inside him to dispel any force that threatened danger to his family. Noah Thomas was one of those forces and he couldn't be allowed to be any longer.
Landon was back inside the car and Arnold was driving him back to his high-rise apartment to retire for the night when his phone rang.
He picked up and a gravelly voice was heard on the other line. "Your stupid attempt to threaten me didn't work and you're a fool if you think I won't release that file!"
He didn't recognise the voice at first, but the rage behind it was impossible not to discern.
Speak of the devil.