by Ciana Stone
"Not long."
"Liar. You tossed and turned all night." She lay her head on his chest.
"I've got a lot on my mind. Foremost, is the meeting with Dr. Lawson this afternoon."
"I know. We've got a lot riding on what she has to say."
He didn't comment, and she raised her head to look at him. "What?"
"Nothing."
"No, it's not nothing, I can see it on your face."
"Fine. You know I'm more grateful than I can adequately express for the way you stand with me. And I appreciate your family's support. But…"
"Oh, I get it." She sat and scooted off the bed. "I said we have a lot riding on what Dr. Lawson has to say and you felt like I was trespassing. It's your life, and naturally, I have nothing to lose if you're sent to prison. I get it and let me apologize for thinking that we're in this together."
With that, she turned and marched out of the room. Cici walked through the living area and out onto the balcony. What the hell was wrong with her? She wasn't the kind of woman who got upset and cried, and yet here she was, fighting back tears.
A touch on her shoulder had her jumping and whirling around. Kal stood behind her. "I'm sorry."
"No need to apologize for how you feel. I was just caught off guard since I thought we were a team."
"We are, and again, I'm sorry if I made you feel otherwise. It's not how I see things. We are a team. No, we're more than that. It's you and me against everyone and everything else that stands in the way of us having a life together."
"Are you sure about that?"
"That ring on your finger isn’t just a pretty bauble to me, Cici. It means you and me forever, and I take that very seriously."
"So, do I."
"Then will you forgive me?"
"If you can forgive me. I seem to be on some weird emotional binge since this all started. I cry over shit I'd never cry about, and the least little thing sets me off. I guess this is what happens when you let yourself love someone so much?"
"I think that's the most romantic thing you've ever said to me."
It had to be the strange emotional roller coaster she was riding because that struck her as funny. "I love you," she hugged him.
"I love you, and please don't get mad, but I have to ask. Do you think it wise that Dr. Lawson is going to be staying at Heritage?"
"I don't think it will be a problem. She's Naomie's friend, remember, and she'll want some time for them to visit and catch up."
"I know and I don't have a problem with that, but do you think your family is going to want to be included in the meeting we have with her?"
Cici hadn't given the matter any thought, but now realized she should have. "Well, I doubt Mace will be there. He's busy at Heritage South, and Nash has his hands full as well. Gigi is back here in San Antonio. I know because Delaney drove down and picked Gigi up and has been staying at the house with her."
"And what about your father?"
"Do you worry about what he'll think, or do you just not want him to know? You must realize that she just might be the one to clear your name, right? Would you not want him to know that?"
Kal ran his hand through his hair. "Honestly, I don't know what I want. For all this to be over. That's what I want. To win your father's respect so that he's happy about you marrying me and not just trying to make peace to keep you in his life."
"Do you think that's what he's doing?"
"Maybe. I don’t know. I think I'm letting Ed get into my head."
"Ed? Edward?"
"Yeah."
"What do you mean? What did he say?"
"Just that if Russell isn’t in favor of us getting married, he may be playing me, just to keep from alienating you, and the moment he thinks I look guilty he'll bring all the emotional weight he has to bear on you and turn you against me."
"What a horrible thing for him to say!" Cici was furious. Edward was really starting to overstep the bounds of friendship as far as she was concerned. She hadn't told Kal the things Edward said, things that had insinuated doubt in her mind about Kal. Now she couldn't help but wonder. What kind of game was Edward playing?
"So, you think he's wrong?" Kal asked.
"I know he is. My father is a lot of things, but he doesn't play games. If he wanted to split us up, he'd be quite clear about it, and he'd do it to your face. You should know that."
"You're right. I do know that, and I apologize. I guess you're not the only one on a weird mental or emotional wave right now."
"Well, then, why don't we take our screwed-up selves back to bed for a while and see if we can't stir up some emotionally good waves?"
"Hmm," he reached to wrap one arm around her waist and pull her close. "What did you have in mind?"
"You. Me. Naked. Any way and as many times as you want."
"Oh baby, you're speaking my language."
"Then take me inside and have your way with me, stud."
She squealed as he swept her up in his arms and headed back inside. They would, no doubt, have a stress filled day to face, with questions to be answered, and strategies to be planned, but they could delay that for a few hours. There were times when love needed to come first.
*****
Naomie spilled coffee down the front of her shirt, set the cup down and raced for the front door to see why someone was pounding on it.
"Goddamn it, this shit needs to end." Russell stood at the door, as mad as she'd ever seen him.
"What's happened?"
"I need you to come with me."
"I have to change my shirt," she headed for the bedroom, "and where?"
"To one of our feedlots in the south," he followed but stopped and turned his back as she stripped off her shirt.
Naomie grabbed a tank top and pulled it over her head, then grabbed a button up shirt and the stained top. She left the bedroom, tossed the coffee-drenched shirt into the sink in the laundry room, then unzipped her jeans to tuck in the tank top.
"Why?" She asked.
"More trouble."
"Shit." She'd hoped all of that was in the past, and the fact that it wasn't concerned her on multiple fronts. First, it meant that whoever was out to hurt Heritage wasn't finished and second, they waited until Kal was out of jail before doing anything.
It would make the Walkers suspicious of Kal again. After all, nothing had happened while he was in jail. Naomie slid her arms into her shirt and then hurried to the kitchen for her phone. "Okay, ready."
"The chopper's waiting."
They went out to his SUV, idling in the driveway. "You do remember Harley's coming in today, right?" Naomie asked once she was in the vehicle.
"But not until later in the afternoon."
"Correct."
"We'll be back in time, and I'll send the chopper for her."
"Great, thanks. Now, what exactly has happened?"
" A crop-duster unloaded on the feedlot."
"Then stop at my lab. I need my kit."
Russell didn't argue and Naomie wasted no time when he pulled up in front of the building housing her lab. Five minutes later they were climbing into the helicopter. Naomie could see the anger on Russell's face and decided the best thing she could do was keep her mouth closed until he decided he wanted to talk.
That didn't happen for nearly twenty minutes, and when he did speak, what he had to say didn't come as a surprise. "Call me whatever you want, but you have to acknowledge the fact that when Kal was in jail, we had no trouble. Now, he's been out what, two weeks? And already we've got a major situation on our hands."
"I agree completely."
The way his eyes narrowed spoke volumes. "You want to elaborate?"
"Of course, sir." She reverted to a former version of their relationship, and one she'd found to be of use in such situations. Right now, Russell didn't need a friend or someone who loved him. He needed someone to be straight with him, even if it meant challenging what he believed.
"Whoever is behind all of this obviously isn't
the brightest bulb on the strand," she said. "If they'd thought it through, they'd have realized that to stop the trouble while Kal was in jail and then pick it back up when he's released is an amateurish ploy. It's too obvious. If they were smart, they'd have known we'd see through it. Not to mention it would be monumentally stupid for him to do anything like this now."
"Explain."
"Okay, again, it makes no sense for him to be part of this sabotage, and in examining the situation, he's in a far more vulnerable position than Heritage and stands to lose more."
"I guess so. But this feedlot is on land that doesn't come close to his."
"Then it looks like you and he are battling a common foe, someone who either hates the two of you a lot or someone who wants what you have."
"Our land?"
At that moment it hit her, and she could have smacked herself in the head for not thinking of it sooner. "Or what is on the land."
"On his, there's nothing."
"Okay, let me rephrase. What about what's beneath the surface? I know there was a big oil boom in Cray County and it was only halted because of a fracking accident. Still, the oil is there. The question is, does it run beneath your or Kal's land?"
"I don't think so, and even if it did, I'd never sell."
"Then maybe it's not oil. But it must be something, so I think we need a geological survey and–"
"Let me guess, you have a friend?"
"Wow, you must be psychic."
Russell smiled for the first time since she'd opened her door and found him on the doorstep. "Naomie have you ever met anyone who didn't end up being your friend?"
She considered the question and answered honestly. "Yes. Once."
"And why did that person not qualify?"
"He turned out to be a bad man."
"You know, I want to hear that story one day."
"One day. Maybe," she hedged. The last thing she wanted to talk or think about was that man. She wished she could forget that Aleksei Petrov existed. Or better yet, receive news that he didn't exist anymore. She shook off those thoughts and turned her attention back to Russell's problems. "Right now, we have other, more important things, to think about."
"Yes, I suppose we do. Will you get in touch with your geologist friend for me?"
"I will. His name is Adam Randolph. He's in his late fifties and is brilliant. You'll like him. His wife, Sandra, is also a geologist and they have three children, all grown, and five grandchildren. Adam hates leaving home these days because he and his kids all live in the same town, Asheville, North Carolina and he loves being a grandfather."
"I can't blame him for that. I'm starting to wonder if I'll ever have another grandchild."
"Oh, I'm pretty sure you will."
"What makes you so sure?"
"I just figure Mace and Bailey will eventually decide they want to commit and he'll want a child. He'll adopt Minnie, and she'll be his and yours, and she'll wrap you around her finger. Cici and Kal are likely to have children, and who knows? Nash could marry and have more. I expect Dillon and Josie to start their family soon and I would bet that when Delaney marries, she'll want children. Which reminds me, why doesn't she date?"
"You're asking me? I'm the last one to know why my daughters do anything."
Naomie chuckled. "I should ask DeLyn, I suppose."
"She'd come closer to knowing than me. And speaking of Mama, how do you think she's doing?"
"I think she's sad and being alone in that house in San Antonio does nothing but make her sadder because everywhere she looks there's a memory of Robert. One day those memories might make her smile but right now, they break her heart."
"Well, what do you think I should do?"
"Ask her to come live at Heritage. Think about it. It was her home when you and Richard were growing up, and while it's filled with memories of Robert, it's also a busy place. And Rusty is there. She and Rusty are so close, you have to know that. She loves being with him and with all Nash has on his plate, having her close would be a help. More than that, helping take care of Rusty would give her purpose, and we all need purpose."
Russell was quiet for a few moments, and she remained so as well. He turned away from her and gazed through the glass at the passing landscape below. "I know what you say makes sense, and I want to do right by her, but I have to be honest and tell you that I'm not sure it would work out."
"Why?"
"Honestly? We're a lot alike in some ways. We like to control things. And she's spent the last fifty years basically controlling my father. Since she doesn't have him, she just might want to turn that on me, and I don't think that will make for a happy home."
"Oh, I didn’t realize. Well, how about one of the cottages, like mine? There are some empty ones, and she'd be close by enough to help with Rusty, but still have her own space. Oh, I know, she and Delaney could redo one of the cottages. They'd both probably love that."
"Now, you might be onto something. Let me talk with Delaney and see what she has to say."
"Could I ask a favor of you?"
"Of course."
"Don't say that until you hear what I want, because it's big."
"Bigger than hiring another of your friends?"
Naomie smiled, knowing his question was a tease. "Yes, bigger even than that."
"Then ask."
"Okay, if Harley examines all the evidence and is convinced Kal isn't the shooter, will you, on behalf of Heritage, issue a public statement of support for him?"
"That is a big ask and before I say one way or the other, I'd like to know if this comes from you or my daughter?"
"Me. Cici has no idea I'm asking."
"Then why are you?"
"Because Kal's reputation is slowly swirling the drain right now. He's had one investor already pull out and his best friend, Edward Altwell is making noises like he might as well. Kal has over seventy-five percent of his fortune invested in this venture and if it goes south, he won't be a poor man, but he'll darn sure be a lot less wealthy. And his reputation will be blackened."
"How about this? Let's give your friend, Dr. Lawson time to go over the evidence and all the reports and hear what she has to say. Then I'll decide."
"I guess that's fair."
"It's as fair as I can be right now."
"Okay." She was disappointed but reminded herself this was Russell's family and their legacy at stake, and she was just an employee. Well, maybe a friend, but she wasn't family and couldn't expect her opinion to be treated as such.
Naomie turned her attention to the matter at hand. Depending upon what type of pesticide was dusted, Heritage could be looking at a lengthy quarantine on the feedlot they were headed to inspect. The logistics were something Mace and Nash would handle, and she was confident they would take care of it expediently and efficiently.
The thing that gnawed at her was the reason behind the sabotage. With each passing hour that feeling inside grew stronger that the answers they sought lay beneath the surface. She couldn't wait to speak with Adam and convince him to come to Texas because together they were going to find the answers.
Chapter Seven
Cici was surprised when Edward showed up. She hadn't scheduled a meeting with him and even if she had, she wouldn't have planned it so that he came to the penthouse. She considered him a friend, but not one who frequented her home. At a loss on how to deal with it, she buzzed him up and met him at the door. "Edward, what brings you here?"
"I need to speak with you. It's important. Is Kal here?"
"No, he had some things to take care of at his office, but he'll be back soon."
"Good, since this is business, I'd prefer confidentiality."
"Then come in. I'm preparing to leave in an hour but I can spare a bit of time."
"Thank you."
She led him into the living area. "Can I offer you something to drink?"
"No, thank you." He took a seat and waited for her to sit before continuing. "I'm going to get straight to the poi
nt. I'm wondering if it might not be wise for me to pull out of the venture with Kal?"
"What would make you think that?"
"Cici, darling, he is on trial for murder." He sat ramrod straight and seemed uncustomarily nervous.
"He's innocent."
"Yes, of course, or at least we all hope that's the case, but what if he is proven guilty and sent to prison? Do you have any idea what that would do to the venture? I know of one investor who's already pulled out and a few others are worried."
"Edward, you know Kal, and you know he didn't do this. Today we're meeting with one of the foremost forensic experts in the world, and I believe after she examines the evidence, her findings will be enough to have the case dismissed."
"You can't know that you can only hope."
"Fine, then I hope that’s what happens. "
"As do I, but I have to admit that I'm quite nervous."
"Edward, you’ve known Kal almost your entire life, and have invested in every one of his resort cities. It's increased your wealth exponentially."
"Yes, that's true. But Cici, if he's found guilty–"
"He won't be."
"You can't know that."
"Okay, how about this? Give it a week, just one week. Within that time, Dr. Lawson will give her expert opinion, Kal's attorneys will present the evidence to the DA and the judge, and with luck the case will be dismissed. Surely, as his best friend, you can give him a week?"
"I suppose. However, you know a person can lose a lot in a week."
"Indeed. Including a friend." She was starting to feel that he was trying to convince her that it was wrong to trust Kal and she didn't like that.
He sighed. "Yes, I hear you and I certainly don't want that. But only one week and I expect you to keep what's said here confidential."
"You know I will. You're my client, and whether you realize it right now or not, I have your best interest at heart."
"I hope so."
"You know so. Have I ever let you down?"
"No."
"And I'm not going to start. Now, I need to get ready, so unless there's something else?"
"Just one thing. I'd like you to look over a contract for me. I'm considering investing in a mineral exploration company that's being headed up by Aleksei Petrov, a powerful Russian oligarch who has invested heavily here in the States."