Page 54 of Finding Love in the Clouds

Squeezing Sophie a little tighter, Fernando replied, “Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind. Please pass along our sincerest apologies for this whole situation and express my desire for Sophie not to be involved in any power play they may decide would benefit me. All of this is my doing. I don’t want her to be scared by two protective males needing to make a point. They need to make it with me, not her. And yes, this is long-term. Her family will need to be included in all security plans, including… my future son.”

Chapter Fifty-Three

Julio sat back in his chair and let out a low whistle, “Son, huh? Either you move more quickly than I would have ever given you credit for, or I missed the best part of that transcript when the president called me. Do tell.”

“Sophie was, perhaps still is, married to the youngest son of the leader of the Reyes Cartel. A very powerful…”

“I know who the Reyes Cartel is, Fernando. I grew up on the streets, remember? Continue,” Julio urged. His voice had gone cold as ice.

“She was young and in love. Richard Reyes married her when they were eighteen. He said he made plans to leave town and the family business behind, but before they could do that, her family found out about the marriage and the baby and hid her in California.”

Julio interrupted, turning his ice-blue eyes on her, “Sophie, is this accurate?”

She nodded her head, feeling too overwhelmed by everything to speak. Her heart had calmed some after Fernando embraced her, but she was nowhere near her resting heart rate.

“I need you to finish the story and answer my questions. I need it all, including anything you may not have shared with my little brother,” Julio’s voice was calm, but she knew it was an order.

“I haven’t seen Richard since that night when he told me to pack a go bag and be ready. My brother took me away, and I never heard or saw him again. Richard sent a letter to my brother when we were at our first location, letting us know he knew where we were, but he was only providing financial support for us. We never heard from him again. I had facial reconstruction surgery, so if I crossed paths with anyone from my old life, they wouldn’t recognize me. My son looks just like his father, Richard, and he has since birth, so I have kept him hidden. I was just asking Fernando what I should do since he should start first grade this year, and he can’t have facial reconstruction done until he is almost an adult.”

Seeing Julio’s thoughtful gaze, Sophie continued, “I love Andy. I didn’t try to rope him into a relationship so he could help me protect my child. I’m very sorry for the danger my association has brought to your family.”

Julio reached across the table and placed a gentle hand on her arm. “That thought never crossed my mind. Fern is many things; a fool has never been one of them. Foolish at times, yes, like all of us. A fool, no. He is the best judge of character out of anyone I have ever known. A human lie detector. He knows good people when he sees them, even if they are acting downright rotten. See me sitting here? That is all because this little man wouldn’t give up on me no matter how many times I blacked his eye, busted his lip, or stole his food. If he stands by you, then that is good enough for me. My entire family loves you,though, and is cheering you on as the year for this pact ticks down. They will be surprised that the perfect Miss Sophie Williams comes with this kind of baggage, but they won’t love you any less or embrace you any slower. That is one thing about the BBC family: we are all in, no matter the damage or the danger.”

Clapping his hands and making both Fernando and Sophie jump, Julio stood and strode to the door. “Enrique was privy to this information long before I was, and his computers would have extracted the trigger words in the text and fed him the short and sweet version of all of this. No doubt he is already running all the algorithms to evaluate the threat level. This just got moved up to top priority for Braveheart, so as long as there isn’t another national security crisis this week, we will have answers by the time you get home. Now, due to your recent romantic conversation, I’m heading to Venice to interrogate a gondolier. Thanks to your overwatch, he’s already been taken into custody, which is good for you, but it means I missed out on the hunt.” Julio shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly, but it was clear from the sparkle in his eyes that he enjoyed that particular part. “With any luck, he kept his mouth shut and will live through it. Hopefully, no life-changing events occurred in the last week. It would be a shame to forget he proposed to his childhood sweetheart or the birth of his child.” Giving a two-finger wave reminiscent of a salute, Julio dipped out the door and disappeared.

Fernando’s security guard closed the door to their little compartment as Fernando and Sophie sat in stunned silence.

“Do you think he’s really going to erase that gondolier’s memory?” Sophie asked, wondering if she was in shock.

“With Julio, you never know, but I wouldn’t doubt it. Now that he’s gone, we can’t assume the jamming device or whatever he used to ensure our privacy is still in place. We should hold onto thisuntil… we get home. I’m sorry, Sophie,” Fernando said, resting his forehead against hers.

Sophie closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths, noticing on the final breath that Fernando had synchronized his breathing with hers as she performed her calming exercise. “I am equally responsible here. All we can do is move forward and do better for everyone. At least now your family knows, and your brothers are working on it. Maybe with their help, that January wedding will be possible after all.”

Before they were ready, it was time to gather their things and catch the next train. As they stepped off the train at Brig, the emotional weight of their recent conversation with Julio still hung heavily in the air. Their slower steps reflected their fatigue, yet they moved purposefully to the platform for their final train to Lucerne, driven by anticipation for what lay ahead.

They settled into their first-class compartment, stowing their bags and sinking into the plush seats. Despite their emotional exhaustion, they found comfort in each other’s presence. The scenery outside their window was a perfect distraction, offering a beautiful and ever-changing view.

As the train departed Brig, they were treated to stunning vistas of the Swiss countryside. Rolling green hills, dotted with charming chalets, gave way to towering mountains and pristine lakes. The landscape was a mix of lush meadows, dense forests, and dramatic alpine peaks, with small villages nestled in the valleys.

“Look at those mountains,” Sophie whispered, her head resting on Fernando’s shoulder. “It’s like a postcard.”

Fernando nodded, his arm wrapped around her. “It’s breathtaking. I can’t wait to explore Switzerland with you.”

They held each other close, the rhythmic motion of the train lulling them into a peaceful state. The scenery continued to captivate them –crystal-clear streams winding through the valleys, cows grazing in verdant pastures, and the occasional hiker making their way up a steep trail.

The train passed through tunnels carved into the mountains, emerging to reveal stunning views of Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, their turquoise waters shimmering in the afternoon sun. The serene beauty of the landscape helped to lift their spirits, allowing them to momentarily forget the unsettling conversation from earlier as they lost all track of time and enjoyed the comfort of each other’s embrace.

As they approached Lucerne two hours later, the scenery became even more picturesque. The town’s iconic Chapel Bridge and Water Tower came into view, along with the medieval architecture and vibrant cityscape nestled against the backdrop of Mount Pilatus.

Before they knew it, they had arrived in Lucerne. The train slowed to a stop, and they reluctantly left their cozy compartment, feeling a renewed sense of excitement for the adventures ahead.

Chapter Fifty-Four

Fernando and Sophie were met by their new tour director in front of the Lucerne train station, where Johann Schmidt stood beside a bus proudly emblazoned with their tour company’s name.

“Kinda hard to miss that,” Sophie quipped with a grin, nodding towards the bus as they approached.

“Gotta admit, it’s way better than a little sign with our names on it,” Fernando replied, echoing her amusement.

---