Chapter 38: Evidence

Talia POV

Jareth nodded, reaching out to rub my arm where Gavin had grabbed it. A large red mark had formed. His movements softened considerably. "Does it hurt?"

I asked, "Not really. What do we do now? Until we root out the mole, our plans aren't safe. The police might get more core evidence next."

Jareth wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me closer. "Don't worry. Now that we know there's a mole, we can set a trap to draw him out. We can deliberately leak false meeting information and see who passes the message along."

I looked up at him. "What's your plan?"

He lowered his head, his nose brushing my forehead. "Simple. Tomorrow we'll hold another fake family meeting. We'll say we're transferring core assets to a specific Swiss account. Then we'll monitor Gavin and the Casa family's movements. Whoever leaks this information is the mole."

Just then, my phone rang. Vincent was calling. "Miss Hayes, police are here again. They say they need to search headquarters again. They claim they've found new evidence pointing to the family's overseas accounts."

My heart tightened. The mole was already in motion, and faster than we'd imagined.

Jareth had heard the phone conversation too. His expression darkened further. "Looks like we don't have time to wait. We need to root out the mole quickly. Come on, let's get back to the company to deal with the police search and set up tomorrow's trap."

I nodded, following Jareth out of the café.

As I got in the car, I glanced back. A figure seemed to flash in the shadows at the street corner. I had a bad feeling. The mole might already be watching us.

Jareth and I had just returned to the company, barely sat down, when Vincent rushed in urgently. "Miss Hayes, just got word. Gavin escaped from the basement. He's heading south toward Casa family territory based on his route."

Jareth sneered. "Good that he escaped. Saves us the trouble of watching him. Let him go fight with Aron. We'll just watch the show."

Third-person POV

South district adult club.

In a private room.

Gavin was shouting at Aron with red eyes. "Didn't you say you'd help me destroy Jareth? What exactly have you been doing?"

Aron sat on the sofa, glancing up at him. "A waste is a waste. No ability yourself, yet you dare question me? I help you because you still have some use. Not so you can throw tantrums at me."

Gavin tried to lunge forward but was held down by a nearby bodyguard. He said, "I leaked all the Camorra documents. Now the police are investigating so strictly. And the result? Jareth is fine. Talia still holds the power. Where's the money you promised me? Where's my chance to turn things around?"

Aron stood up, walked in front of him, and kicked him from his superior position. "What's your hurry? Jareth and Talia haven't fallen yet. Let me tell you, it's not me begging you. It's you begging me. Dare shout at me again, and I'll hand you over to Jareth right now. Let him skin you alive."

Gavin was kicked into a curled position on the ground but still wouldn't give up. "Then give me a straight answer. When can we take them down? I can't hold on anymore. The police are looking for me too. I don't even have a place to live now."

Aron crouched down, patting his face. "Can't hold on? Too bad. You still have to. I've recently discovered something interesting. Jareth's feelings for that Talia don't seem to be simple exploitation."

Gavin froze. "What do you mean?"

Aron sneered. "Jareth has never cared so much about any woman. Talia's just an outsider, yet he handed her the south district channels and Phantom Nightclub. He even locked up Serafina, his adopted daughter, because of her."

Gavin gritted his teeth. His heart inexplicably tightened, though he said stubbornly, "So she and Jareth are really together?"

Aron stood up. "The more Jareth values her, the more her life is worth. If we capture Talia, we'll have Jareth's weakness. Now go do something for me. Find a way to send Talia a message. Say someone with information wants to meet her, can tell her the mole's identity. Have her come to the abandoned steel factory in the east district. Remember, she must come alone."

Gavin's eyes lit up first, but that excitement didn't last two seconds before being suppressed by an unclear emotion.

He didn't immediately agree. Instead, he looked up at Aron, hesitating. "You want me to lure her there... After capturing her, what do you plan to do to her?"

Aron hadn't expected him to ask this. He frowned impatiently. "Do what? Naturally everything that can control Jareth. Is that your business? I tell you to do it, so do it. Why so much nonsense?"

Gavin's fingers unconsciously clenched. He said nothing.

Aron saw his reaction and laughed, leaning forward to stare at Gavin. "What? Don't tell me you still love that Talia? Things have come this far and you're still thinking about her?"

These words made Gavin look up sharply, growling, "Love? She went that far to hurt me. How could I still love her?I'm just afraid you'll mess things up and ruin our plan to destroy Jareth!"

Aron looked at him and couldn't be bothered arguing. "Better be that way. Don't play tricks. Go handle it now. If you screw this up, you know the consequences."

Gavin suppressed the churning emotions in his heart, gritting his teeth. "Fine. I'll do it now. Once we capture Talia, let's see how tough Jareth can be."

But as he said this, his heart felt extremely troubled. Still, he did as told.