RED NOTES AND KISSES
Chapter 131: FRIDA - 131

Chapter 131: FRIDA: Chapter 131

The tension in the room was palpable as Laz leaned over the documents, his sharp eyes darting across the incriminating evidence. Frida sat silently on the bed, her knees drawn to her chest, watching as her boyfriend pieced together the puzzle of Evelyn’s empire. The weight of their actions hung heavy in the air, but beneath her apprehension, a spark of determination began to grow.

"What’s the next step?" Frida finally asked, breaking the silence.

Laz glanced up, his jaw set. "We need someone who can authenticate these documents and make them public. But we have to be careful. If Evelyn catches wind of this before we’re ready, she’ll bury the evidence—and us—before we have a chance to act."

Frida nodded, her brow furrowing. "What about Mina? Can she help?"

Laz considered this for a moment before shaking his head. "Mina’s good, but this is bigger than her. We need someone with serious connections."

"Like who?" Frida pressed.

Laz smirked, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "I have someone in mind."

---

The next morning, Laz and Frida found themselves in the bustling heart of Las Vegas, weaving through a crowd of tourists and street performers. Laz led her to an unassuming café tucked away in an alley, its neon sign flickering weakly in the sunlight.

"This is where your contact works?" Frida asked skeptically as they stepped inside.

"Not works," Laz corrected. "Operates."

At a corner table sat a woman with short, platinum-blonde hair and sharp, calculating eyes. She wore a tailored suit that seemed out of place in the casual café, but the air of authority around her was unmistakable. As Laz and Frida approached, she looked up from her laptop, her lips curving into a sly smile.

"Lazarus," she greeted, her voice smooth and cool. "I was wondering when you’d show up."

"Leona," Laz replied, sliding into the seat across from her. "I’ve got a job for you."

Leona raised an eyebrow, her gaze flicking to Frida. "And who’s this? Your new partner in crime?"

Frida bristled at the comment but held her tongue. Laz reached for the bag at his feet, pulling out the documents and USB drive. "This," he said, placing them on the table, "is everything you need to take down Evelyn Michaels."

Leona’s eyes widened slightly as she sifted through the papers. "Evelyn Michaels? You’re going after her?"

"She’s a threat to both of us," Laz said firmly. "And I know you’ve been looking for a way to cut her down."

Leona smirked, closing the folder. "You’ve got guts, Lazarus. I’ll give you that. But this kind of operation isn’t cheap—or safe."

"I’m not asking for charity," Laz replied. "You get half of whatever we recover from her accounts."

Leona leaned back in her chair, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Tempting. But if we’re going to do this, we need to move fast. Evelyn’s network is vast, and she’ll come after us the second she realizes what’s happening."

"I figured as much," Laz said. "That’s why we’re here. Can you do it?"

Leona’s smile widened. "Oh, I can do it. The question is, can you handle the fallout?"

---

Back at the hotel, Laz and Frida began preparing for the inevitable retaliation. They contacted Mina, instructing her to secure safe houses for the children Laz had rescued from Evelyn’s network. Frida watched Laz work with awe, his resourcefulness and determination shining through despite the risks they faced.

"Why do you do it?" she asked one evening as they sat together on the balcony, the city lights twinkling below them. "Why go to such lengths to protect people?"

Laz turned to her, his expression softening. "Because I know what it’s like to be powerless," he said simply. "I’ve seen what people like Evelyn can do, and I refuse to let her—or anyone like her—win."

Frida reached for his hand, squeezing it tightly. "You’re incredible, Laz. And I want to help."

"You already are," he said with a smile. "Just by being here."

---

The next phase of their plan required Frida to confront her past head-on. Laz and Leona had uncovered evidence linking Evelyn to a secret offshore account, and Frida’s access to the family estate was crucial for retrieving the passwords and key codes.

"I’ll go in alone," Frida insisted as they reviewed the plan in their hotel room.

"Absolutely not," Laz replied, his tone leaving no room for argument. "It’s too dangerous."

Frida placed a hand on his arm, her gaze steady. "Laz, this is my fight too. I can do this."

He hesitated, his protective instincts warring with his respect for her determination. Finally, he nodded. "Fine. But you’ll wear this." He handed her a small, discreet earpiece. "If anything goes wrong, I’m coming in."

Frida nodded, her heart pounding as she slipped the device into her ear. "Let’s do this."

---

Sneaking back into the Michaels estate was easier than Frida expected. With most of the staff busy tending to Evelyn’s public appearances, the house was eerily quiet. She made her way to the study, her hands trembling as she unlocked the door.

Once inside, she moved quickly, searching for the safe Laz and Leona had described. Her fingers brushed against a hidden panel in the bookshelf, and with a soft click, the safe was revealed.

"Found it," she whispered into the earpiece.

"Good," Laz’s voice crackled in her ear. "The code should be 7-4-1-9-2. Try it."

Frida punched in the numbers, holding her breath as the safe beeped and clicked open. Inside was a stack of documents, several USB drives, and a small black notebook.

"I’ve got it," she said, grabbing everything and stuffing it into her bag.

"Get out of there," Laz instructed.

But as Frida turned to leave, the door swung open, and Evelyn stepped inside. Her eyes narrowed as they locked onto Frida, and a cruel smile spread across her face.

"Well, well," Evelyn said, her voice dripping with venom. "I was wondering when you’d show your face."

Frida’s heart raced as she backed away, clutching the bag tightly. "You can’t keep getting away with this, Evelyn."

Evelyn laughed, the sound cold and hollow. "Getting away with what, dear? Protecting what’s mine? You’re delusional if you think you can stop me."

"I’m not alone," Frida shot back, her voice steady despite the fear clawing at her throat.

Evelyn’s smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered. "You’ve always been naive, Frida. Do you really think Lazarus can save you? He’s just as expendable as you are."

Frida’s grip on the bag tightened. "We’ll see about that."

Before Evelyn could respond, a loud crash echoed through the house. Laz’s voice crackled in Frida’s ear. "Change of plans. I’m coming in."

The chaos that followed was a blur. Laz burst into the study, his presence commanding and unyielding. Evelyn’s guards swarmed the room, but Laz and Frida fought back with a determination fueled by years of oppression and anger.

When the dust settled, Evelyn lay unconscious on the floor, and Laz pulled Frida into his arms. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.

Frida nodded, tears streaming down her face. "I am now."

Sneaking back into the Michaels estate was easier than Frida expected. With most of the staff busy tending to Evelyn’s public appearances, the house was eerily quiet. She made her way to the study, her hands trembling as she unlocked the door.

Once inside, she moved quickly, searching for the safe Laz and Leona had described. Her fingers brushed against a hidden panel in the bookshelf, and with a soft click, the safe was revealed.

"Found it," she whispered into the earpiece.

"Good," Laz’s voice crackled in her ear. "The code should be 7-4-1-9-2. Try it."

Frida punched in the numbers, holding her breath as the safe beeped and clicked open. Inside was a stack of documents, several USB drives, and a small black notebook.

"I’ve got it," she said, grabbing everything and stuffing it into her bag.

"Get out of there," Laz instructed.

But as Frida turned to leave, the door swung open, and Evelyn stepped inside. Her eyes narrowed as they locked onto Frida, and a cruel smile spread across her face.

"Well, well," Evelyn said, her voice dripping with venom. "I was wondering when you’d show your face."

Frida’s heart raced as she backed away, clutching the bag tightly. "You can’t keep getting away with this, Evelyn."

Evelyn laughed, the sound cold and hollow. "Getting away with what, dear? Protecting what’s mine? You’re delusional if you think you can stop me."

"I’m not alone," Frida shot back, her voice steady despite the fear clawing at her throat.

Evelyn’s smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered. "You’ve always been naive, Frida. Do you really think Lazarus can save you? He’s just as expendable as you are."

Frida’s grip on the bag tightened. "We’ll see about that."

Before Evelyn could respond, a loud crash echoed through the house. Laz’s voice crackled in Frida’s ear. "Change of plans. I’m coming in."

The chaos that followed was a blur. Laz burst into the study, his presence commanding and unyielding. Evelyn’s guards swarmed the room, but Laz and Frida fought back with a determination fueled by years of oppression and anger.

When the dust settled, Evelyn lay unconscious on the floor, and Laz pulled Frida into his arms. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.

Frida nodded, tears streaming down her face. "I am now."