Chapter 31: Ethan's Parents
Jack drove his sleek black sports car down the busy city streets. The engine purred smoothly, and the wind whipped through his hair as he deftly maneuvered through traffic.
After a few minutes, he pulled over to the side of the road and parked the car. With a grin, he hummed a tune as he skillfully located several tiny bugs and locators. Jack plucked them from the car and tossed them into a passing truck with a casual flick.
He chuckled to himself, imagining the surprise on the faces of the CIA or Secret Service agents who might be watching. They may be skilled, but Jack was a true master of his craft.
Jack pulled out his phone and checked his messages as he drove off. Ethan had sent a few more updates on their upcoming heist.
"Next, I'm going to England to trade with Max on a train. You must participate in the action if you want the 5 billion dollars. I need your help to make a deal. You need to guarantee its safety. If you need my cooperation in your actions, please contact me in advance so I can make corresponding plans." Ethan's message read.
With a smirk, Jack replied, "Just follow your plan. I'll meet you on the train in Wisconsin."
After a few moments, Ethan replied, "Wisconsin? What are you doing there?"
Jack deftly weaved through traffic, his eyes scanning the road ahead as he typed out his response. "You don't think the CIA will just let this slide, do you? Your parents are in Wisconsin if I'm not mistaken."
Ethan replied quickly, "They won't really do it."
Jack shook his head, "They may not, but they'll arrest your parents and make it public. That's the only way they can be sure you'll see it."
"But how?" Ethan asked skeptically.
"They would either arrest them for drug trafficking or for terrorism. Those are the easiest way to blow up this in the news. They will do that, forcing you to obey their terms."
Ethan paused before responding, "What will you do to stop this?"
Jack grinned wickedly and ended the message by saying, "I have a few tricks up my sleeve. Don't worry. I'll take care of it."
Ethan hesitated, his mind racing with thoughts of what might happen to his parents. The idea of his parents being stigmatized and thrown into jail was a nightmare he couldn't bear.
"If something happens to my parents, they will pay," he muttered. He knew that the CIA wouldn't physically harm his parents. Still, the emotional damage they could inflict was just as terrifying.
As he paced around his room, Ethan felt his heart racing with fear and worry. He loved his parents more than anything, and the thought of them being hurt because of him was unbearable.
Suddenly, his phone rang, and Ethan jumped in surprise. It was Jack who had contacted him earlier.
"So, will you bust out my parents from the CIA?" Ethan asked, his voice shaking with emotion.
"Please don't sound like a bandit. I'm a legal entity with certificates," Jack replied, slightly annoyed. "This should be called—legal use of the powers given to us by the federal government."
Ethan took a deep breath and tried to compose himself. He knew he had to be careful with his words, or he might say something that could make the situation worse.
"How powerful is the IRS?" he asked, hoping to get some insight into Jack's plans.
"As long as they are tax evaders and we have evidence, we can catch them all," Jack replied confidently. "And we can intercept them from the hands of the FBI or CIA!"
Ethan couldn't believe what he was hearing. The situation was more serious than he thought, and his parents were in danger.
"I don't care what you plan to do, but you must ensure that they are safe in the end," Ethan said firmly, trying to sound more confident than he felt.
"I can guarantee this, of course," Jack replied, his voice softening. "We're on the same side, Ethan. We both want what's best for your parents."
Ethan felt a wave of relief wash over him. Maybe Jack wasn't so bad after all. Maybe he could trust him to do the right thing.
"Thank you," Ethan said, grateful for Jack's reassurance.
"You're welcome. It's a happy cooperation," Jack replied, sounding pleased with himself.
"It's a happy cooperation," Ethan echoed, feeling awkward.
After closing the phone, Jack drifted and parked the car in the yard. Although Ethan's words in the text message seemed a little rude, there was nothing wrong with it. Otherwise, he wouldn't have received such a friendly response from Jack. After all, it was Jack who had threatened Ethan first.
In the world of adults, there are no fairy tales, no happy endings, and nothing is ideal. Jack knew this better than anyone else.
The most suitable way for Jack to protect Ethan's parents in Wisconsin was to arrest them in advance or catch them after the CIA did. Either way, the result was the same - Ethan's parents would fall into Jack's hands.
Compared to falling into the hands of the CIA, the only difference was that Jack wouldn't make this incident public. He didn't want to create unnecessary attention.
Originally, Jack and Ethan were in a business relationship, and there was no trust. So, of course, Ethan could see through Jack's intentions. He knew Jack told him to cooperate obediently and not interfere with his plans.
This was a different kind of threat that wasn't spoken out loud, but both understood it. Jack knew he wasn't a saint but had to protect his interests. He had to make sure that he didn't lose out.
It was true that Ethan was the protagonist, but their relationship wasn't great. How could Jack guarantee that Ethan wouldn't choose to do the right thing and hand over the 5 billion at the last moment? Therefore, if there was something Jack could grasp as a guarantee, he would choose to grasp it.
Ethan also understood Jack's reasons for doing this. He knew that Jack just wanted a guarantee. At least they didn't become enemies, and if they still cooperated, this was just a guarantee. Compared to the direct threat from the CIA, Jack's guarantee was, of course, more worthy of choice.
So, after Ethan got a guarantee from Jack, he thanked you again because he understood that if the cooperation between the two was successful, Jack's behavior could be regarded as simply protecting his parents once.
In just a few sentences, although the brief talk between the two may not seem like much, the amount of information conveyed was more than enough.
"My lawn!"
Just as Jack contemplated the implications of their conversation and how he could best protect Ethan's parents in the future, the villa's door suddenly swung open. A man's anguished cry echoed through the air.
Jack: "..."
Jack's eyes widened in surprise, and he quickly turned toward the commotion. He wasn't sure what was happening, but it didn't sound good.
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