I sat down for a meeting with Larry. Larry and I huddled together, trying to devise a plan that would protect my unborn baby and Marvin. We agreed on a strategy that involved keeping the Martinez Gang at bay while I sought a way to dismantle the threat from within.

As the days passed and the threat from the Contractor continued to hang over our heads,

The plan was risky, but we had no other choice. I had to find a way to keep him safe without revealing my true identity. It was a delicate balancing act, and I knew that any misstep could lead to disaster.

The first step in our plan was to gain the trust of the Martinez Gang. I needed to be close to them, to have access to their inner circle, in order to protect Marvin and find a way to dismantle the Contractor's hold over us. Larry and I discussed the risks, and he reluctantly said that I had the gang's leadership. Though we were in the meeting together.

“I think they are all given into you because of Sancho and I think that support would last as long as Sancho. They would not want you to lead that gang,” Larry said.

“I am Deputy One and I am next in line. I do not care what they think,” I said.

“What I am saying is that, for now, they will follow you. So go ahead with your plan,” Larry said.

It was a risky move, talking privately to each table member, but it was the only way to ensure that the Martinez Gang didn't pose an immediate threat to Marvin. We had to keep them at arm's length, while I gathered the information I needed to unravel the web of intrigue that had ensnared us as expected from the Contractor.

“What do we do with the Contractor? You know he is going to come for blood soon. You have got the Martinez Gang ready. I think it is time you let Marvin know what is happening,” Larry pleaded.

“I don't want to put him at risk, no not now,” I said.

“He is already at risk and not telling him creates even a greater risk for him,” said Larry.

“Okay Larry, I will tell him this week,” I said.

Larry agreed with me that we have to take out the Contractor and the only person that has his location is the head of the Martinez Gang and that would be Sancho. We knew that having a meeting and reaching an agreement is one achievement, while getting Sancho to release the Contractor’s location is another achievement I could not wait to happen.

“You know you do not have to kill Sancho to get the location of the Contractor. You need Sancho if you want to succeed as a table member of the Martinz Gang,” Larry said.

“I never said I was going to kill him, Larry,” I said.

“I think by now you know I should know how you think. I was just making the obvious known. We need that leverage we had with the Martinez Gang,” Larry said.

Larry was right. It did cross my mind as an option because I did not see any other way yet. I hope Sancho will make it easy when I ask him so that we do not have to look at that option.

I will meet with him later and I hope when I do he will be able to help me. I needed to get to Marvin. It was time he knew the truth. I also hope he takes it well for both of our sakes.

I have come this far and I need Marvin as an ally. I needed his money to get a lot of things done and to put the gang in order. I had to quickly leave Larry to meet with Marvin.

Larry had also asked me not to reveal everything at the same time but to take things slowly with Marvin. Larry did not know that I had planned to tell Marvin everything and to tell him that day.

I was sure that the revelation about my true identity would come like a bolt from the blue to Marvin’s ears. I was edgy but this has to be done and done now to enable him to know what lies ahead. He needs to know I am pregnant for him too.

I had one of the ugliest surprises of my entire life. Ken was already there before I got there. I met Ken there, at Marvin's office, narrating how I faked my identity and who he thought I was. All the information was not correct but most of it was.

“Marvin," Ken began, "I need to tell you the truth about Cass or whatever her name is. She's not a cleaner or any of the things we thought. She's an assassin.” Ken’s voice was filled with anger and disappointment as we sat in Marvin’s office.

Marvin, she is an assassin by the name of Cassie. She was hired to kill you not protect you”. Ken continued.

I watched as Marvin’s facial expression changed from disappointment to anger, then to disbelief, before getting back to disappointment again. The grief on his face looked unbearable.

Marvin's shock was evident, and his gaze turned to me, a mixture of disbelief and hurt in his eyes. "Cass, is this true?" he asked, his voice trembling.

I was already going to tell him the truth anyway and he needed the truth to stay safe. I took a deep breath, my heart heavy with the weight of my secrets.

"Marvin, I didn't want to tell you because I was trying to protect you. I'm not here to kill you. I'm here to keep you safe," I said.

Ken chimed in, explaining how he and Officer Page had discovered my true identity through their investigation. My heart sank as I realized that my carefully constructed façade had crumbled, leaving me exposed.

Marvin's disappointment was palpable, and his voice was laced with hurt as he asked, "Cassie, how could you keep this from me? Why didn't you trust me with the truth?"

I struggled to find the right words, my voice trembling as I replied, "Marvin, I couldn't tell you because I knew it would put you in even greater danger. I'm here to protect you, not to harm you. If I wanted to kill you, I would have done it a long time ago."

The room fell silent as the weight of the revelation hung in the air. The secrets that had bound us all were unraveling, leaving us to grapple with the consequences of our choices. I knew that I had to find a way to rebuild the trust that had been shattered and protect Marvin from the looming threat that still loomed over us.