The world caught up with them.
Not with violence.
With opportunity.
The President called.
He wanted Damien's help.
And Damien had to decide whether to say yes.
---
The call came on a Monday.
Damien was in his study. Reading reports. Bored.
His phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
He almost ignored it.
"Mr. Moreau?"
"Who's asking?"
"This is the White House."
He sat up.
"The White House?"
"The President would like to speak with you."
---
Damien was quiet for a moment.
"About what?"
"He didn't say."
"Then I'm not interested."
"Mr. Moreau—"
"I'm not interested."
He hung up.
Christabel was in the doorway.
"Who was that?"
"The White House."
"The White House?"
"They want me to talk to the President."
"What did you say?"
"I said no."
"Why?"
He looked at her.
"Because I don't trust politicians."
The phone rang again.
Same number.
Damien ignored it.
It rang again.
He ignored it again.
It rang a third time.
Christabel picked it up.
"This is Christabel Moreau."
"Mrs. Moreau, thank God. The President really needs to speak with your husband."
"He's busy."
"This is a matter of national security."
She was quiet for a moment.
"Then he'll call back."
She hung up.
---
The President called himself an hour later.
Not an aide. Not a secretary.
The President.
"Mr. Moreau."
"Mr. President."
"I'm sorry to bother you."
"You're not bothering me."
"I'm not?"
"I was bored."
The President laughed.
"You're not what I expected."
"Neither are you."
---
The President explained.
There was a new cartel. Worse than the others. More powerful. More ruthless.
They were recruiting from the same pool of desperate people Damien had saved.
They were using the same tactics. The same threats. The same violence.
And the government couldn't stop them.
"I need your help," the President said.
"My help?"
"Your resources. Your people. Your experience."
"I'm not a soldier,nor will i be a weapon to be used by government and then discarded of i work with you everything better be by the books"
Damien was quiet for a moment.
"What do you want me to do?"
"Help us build a program. Like the one you built for your lawyers. For people who are desperate. For people who are being recruited."
"You want me to save them."
"I want you to give them a choice."
"How much?"
"Whatever you need."
"I don't need money,am worth 5.5 trillion money lost meaning to me at some point"
"Then what do you need?"
Damien was quiet for a moment.
"Power and authority to chamge lives"
The call ended.
Christabel walked into the room.
"What did he want?"
"He wants me to help him fight the cartels."
"Are you going to do it?"
"I don't know."
"Why not?"
"Because I don't trust him."
"Then trust yourself."
---
That night, Christabel put Lena to bed.
Not Damien. Her.
Lena was full of questions.
"Mama, why is Papa on the phone?"
"Because the President called."
"What's a President?"
"The leader of the country."
"Like Papa?"
Christabel laughed.
"Like Papa."
---
Damien appeared in the doorway.
"She's asleep?"
"She's dreaming."
"Isnt she the sweetest she looks so cute asleep,still cant believe am a father"
He walked to her.
Took her hand.
"The President wants me to fight the cartels."
"I know."
"On a national level and its gonna be a national circus.
"I know."
"With government resources."
"I know."
"Should I do it?"
She looked at him.
"You already know the answer."
First Line of Chapter 178 (Teaser):
"The one hundred thirty-third week, Damien said yes. Not because he trusted the President. Because he trusted himself. And the war against the cartels entered a new phase."