I had started to believe the forceful pull I felt toward Wesley wasn’t a coincidence. Deep down, I felt familiarity, comfort. It was the only explanation for the instant attraction I felt. The immediate desire to speak with him, be near him. Once I took one glance in his direction, my marriage felt irrelevant. The only thing I wanted in that moment was the attention of the sexy man dressed in an impeccable suit who stood at the railing, looking down at the people below him in a strangely distant way. Those eyes seemed troubled but strong, determined to conquer whatever stepped in his way.
I should’ve walked away then, walked down the spiral stairs to join Avery on the dance floor. It would’ve been the logical thing to do. Instead, I strolled in the direction of a man who intrigued me for reasons I still couldn’t fathom. Everything else evaporated around us, leaving only me and him to do things together I knew were sinful, illicit. I walked the path with him with no care in the world…until the moment I noticed my husband on the screen in his office. Then things got interesting. Beyond my control.
My mind began to wonder what that meant. How could you feel something for someone in an instant, having no idea why the feeling surfaced, but not having enough strength to resist? It was that tempting, having the power to alter your mind. I had also begun to realize not everything tempting and sweet was necessarily good for you. It could be something poisonous disguising itself in the form of something extremely attractive. Tall. Dark. Handsome. Beautiful.
I let this knowledge mend together in my brain, trying to place the pieces in the right order, but they continued to shift out of place, forcing me to start over.
I had started to believe I was overanalyzing everything when my attention was brought back to the familiar voice of the man outside the door. It seemed louder. Who was he? Why did he frighten me? He’d done nothing to me. Not when he drove me to Avery’s. Not when he stood guard outside the door. Still, the fear was there. I knew this man. Was he someone from my past? He fit right into the category of people I couldn’t trust. The ones I needed to distance myself from.
I swallowed as I crept closer to the door, hearing words that brought to light all those coincidences…memories…nightmares.
“Stinson wants the girl,” he whispered. “He’s informed everyone to pay close attention, and the reward is quite generous.”
I heard the clearing of a throat before another man spoke softly. “And your loyalty to Wesley? Are you willing to jeopardize that, Michael? You’ve known him since you were children. He’s always made sure to take care of you. Even when others didn’t.” There was disappointment in the man’s voice. “You should think long and hard about this. If you take that leap, you won’t be able to turn back.”
“I’m aware of what he’s done for me. Those choices were his own. I don’t owe him anything.” His voice was cold.
I tried to calm my breathing as several things sank in. Someone wanted me, it seemed I was in the middle of a pending battle, and the only time I had ever heard the name Stinson was the last time I saw my father.
I felt myself slowly sinking into the muddy waters of my past, still not quite understanding what everything meant. There was something going on here that had to be far more significant than I imagined. I wanted to turn back the clock. Go back to Louisiana and forget all of it. My marriage. Wesley. Being grateful I was spared all those years ago. But I couldn’t. I was finally close to getting some answers, but the clarity had become hard for me to bear. I was in the middle of a group of sharks circling, with no weapon to defend myself.
I moved away from the door and walked back into the kitchen. My mother’s words of wisdom played repeatedly inside my head.
“Don’t let them win, Alyssa.”
Still, it was hard for me to see through the fog. What did my mother know that she didn’t tell me? Or couldn’t tell me?
***
Ten minutes later, as I was pulling on a pair of jeans and one of the blouses the woman had brought me earlier, I heard the front door open. I moved to the bedroom door and quietly cracked it open, seeing the woman looking around for her phone. I considered casually walking out to greet her, acting surprised that she had come back, but stopped myself. It would only leave room for her to question me, possibly even show concern again. She was clearly as lost as I was in this situation. The shock covering her face. The shame of voicing her opinion about my husband’s character and what she believed he was capable of.
I thought I heard her footsteps come toward the bedroom, but just as quickly heard them retreat and the front door close. Maybe she didn’t assume I used her phone to my advantage. Or maybe she had left it on purpose. Her gift to me in order to help. With how it had happened, I came to the conclusion my last assumption might be right.
Chapter Nine
Wesley
I SPED OUT OF the driveway, my anger deflating the farther I got away from the house. Going there in the first place was a mistake, and I made a mental note not to do it again. My father was baiting me. Trying to figure out a way to manipulate me into telling him what he didn’t know. Unfortunately, he realized I knew a hell of a lot more than he did concerning Mia and the information I provided him was minimal at best.
I called Calvin, preparing myself when his voice blasted through the Bluetooth.
“I take it the meeting didn’t going according to plan?” he stated. I heard the sound of traffic on his end. “I haven’t spoken with you this much in the last ten years, Wesley. I must say, this is a record for us.”
I didn’t disagree. He was right. Our businesses had grown, which meant we had other people deliver our messages. Not to mention the fact we tried to avoid each other. We made sure to keep our distance, but things had taken a turn recently. I was starting to see, with the exclusion of one person, family did come first in most cases.
“It’s never too late to mend our relationship,” I informed him, but Calvin was a person who read in-between the lines.
“Although I want to believe you, we both know this has all come about for a very different reason. Let’s reevaluate your suggestion at a later date and get to the purpose of your call.”
I laughed to myself. “Agreed.” I pressed my foot down on the gas, enjoying the empty road that led me back to the highway. “I think Stinson is up to something.”
Calvin barked out a laugh. “When isn’t he? You’re talking about a man who uses his children, regardless of the circumstances, to succeed in business.” He cleared his throat. “I think you and I both know our father is a master manipulator. It’s how he built his empire...” He paused, “among other things.”
I pressed my foot harder on the gas, going well over the speed limit. “Well, knowing and being on the opposing side of one of his schemes is different.”
“Enlighten me. I’ll try to act surprised.”
I considered my words before speaking. I wasn’t sure who I could trust anymore. “He claims Fredrick Hall contacted him directly.”
Calvin let out an expletive. “That’s a tough one. If he is lying, what would be the point?”
I had a few reasons why my father would choose to lie about communicating with Fredrick. One, he wanted me to confess to something he already assumed. Or two, he was aware of my complicated betrayal and knew I wouldn’t budge on it, which required another tactic. Manipulation.
“He’s digging,” I replied. “I don’t think either one of us can disagree with the motivation behind it.” I picked up speed. I needed to get to Mia. Needed to make sure she was okay. I had been on edge since my father shared the news. “He knows something’s up. He just isn’t quite sure of the extent of it.”
“What’s your plan then? If our father is even remotely aware of the truth, how long do you think it will take until he gets the answers he’s seeking?” I heard him grunt on the other end. “When it comes to him, the loyalty we believe we have is irrelevant. In the end, Stinson will always worry about Stinson.” He paused, as if not wanting to continue. “It might be wiser
to admit to him what you’ve done. Things might play out smoother that way.”
After hearing his suggestion, I figured I needed to remind him of our past so he would realize admitting what I had done was far from the right decision. I needed to keep the information at bay for as long as I could.
“Do you not recall the reason behind my distaste for him?”
I finally turned onto the on-ramp to the highway. The drive had been long, but the knowledge of being within my father’s grasp made the visit worse. I had enough of his suffocation while working with him, even though we rarely occupied the same space.
“He set me up on two occasions, Calvin. My first lead assignment, then when he took the only thing in the world that made me feel a slight amount of humanity.” I sped onto the highway, not losing speed. “Now you’re suggesting I go back to him concerning the one person who’s granted me that feeling once again?” I gave a short laugh. “I won’t give him the satisfaction.”
I swallowed, thinking back. My concern for Mia grew by the second, knowing what my father was capable of. I would protect her with my last breath. Her hold on me had steadily grown stronger, so I intended to do everything in my power to make sure she was safe. Even if it meant risking exposing my truth. I knew my father wouldn’t hesitate to out me if it meant he would come out on top. The aftermath of his decisions wasn’t something he considered important. He was a man who lived in the moment. A man whose primary goal was to succeed above everything else. I inherited that trait, that desire.
On the other hand, I knew a man could be distracted, pulled away from what he thought would keep him fulfilled. I caught glimpses of me making decisions based upon another–specifically Mia.
After a haunting past, I was fortunate enough to start caring once again. I felt the effects cracking through, trying to break free of the constraints of my known reality. Her identity was dangerous, but I intended to accept it with open arms.
“I’ll find a way to deal with him. Maybe throwing a few distractions his way will suffice for the time being, buying me some time to consider my limited options.”
“Now that I can agree with. Your options are indeed limited, considering you’ve put your trust in the people surrounding you.” Calvin hesitated. “Those people who really aren’t there to protect you. Their only purpose is to make sure you stay in line.” I considered every word he spoke. Unfortunately, I needed it. “Our father only wants us to believe we have power, Wesley. Throughout the years of working with him, I’ve learned my true role is nothing like I thought.”
When he finished, neither of us spoke. My eyes had started to open, and I cursed myself for being so blind. I had been so concerned with Mia, I never thought to pay attention to my surroundings. I never took the advice I gave Alek. I never actually considered the advice my uncle shared with me at the bar.
“Watch what you say around here.”
Then my own words. “The truth can be stretched very thin.”
“You think I also have a traitor among my closest men, Calvin?”
I didn’t want to believe it, but I wasn’t naïve. It could happen to anyone. I had been the main one who said it was a possibility. To Alek. To Calvin. Still, how close could a traitor get without me knowing? How much could I have missed? I thought about the conversations with Jarrett and Michael. They were the only two who knew things that others didn’t. But what would cause one of them to betray me? How much bribery would convince them to cave to my father’s manipulation?
When I thought back to what it took for me to do the same in a different situation, I picked up speed, going well over one hundred. My Maserati didn’t hesitate as I switched lanes, passing the other cars on the highway.
I heard my brother clear his throat.
Annoyed he didn’t answer my question, I tried again. “How close do you think the traitor could be?”
I knew everything that spilled out of Calvin’s mouth usually had a story behind it, but he was known to be vague. His hesitation made me believe he had heard some news, or at least had a hunch.
“How…close?” I repeated, my patience thinning with each second. I was still a few minutes away from Mia.
Calvin sighed. “I recently received word that he’s let the dogs out. He’s desperate, Wesley. A desperate man is reckless. A desperate man is also ruthless. I hate to say this, but you might have already lost this one.”
I sucked in a breath, fear consuming me once again. If my father went as far as releasing his highest power, I was fighting a losing battle. It was only a matter of time before word spread, and my father was generous when it came to getting what he wanted.
I ended the call with Calvin without a word, not yet acknowledging my defeat. I still had time. I called Michael.
“Boss,” he answered. “Is everything okay?”
I hesitated before responding, thinking of a reason to explain my call without giving my suspicions away.
“Is everything okay, Wes?”
I cringed when I heard it. The possible treachery in his tone. The worry of being discovered. He was on edge. Everything in my body told me he betrayed me. He’d caved to the one person who’d given me nothing but disappointment my entire life. I wanted to ask why? I even considered calling him out on it, but he was too close to something I cherished. I wouldn’t put Mia in the middle of our feud. I would play it out until she was under my protection.
“Everything’s fine,” I responded, working to keep the anger out of my voice. “I’ve just been given some bad news, but nothing that can’t be fixed. How’s she doing?”
“She’s been normal, considering the circumstances, but you and I both know we’ll eventually have to take a different approach. It’s risky to leave her here.”
I clenched my jaw as I listened to his faux concern. I didn’t believe a single word of it. Michael was playing a dangerous game I had no intention of entertaining. I would cut it short as soon as I got the chance and collected my proof.
“Yes, I’m aware of that,” I informed him. “Her arrangements were only meant to be temporary, but we still have time.”
“Of course. You call the shots, Wes.”
I’d expected him to disagree.
I turned into the condo complex and let out the breath I hadn’t even been aware I was holding. The men were still in their assigned spots, and nothing appeared out of the ordinary. Maybe I was overreacting. However, a person could never be too cautious. I felt comfortable keeping Mia at these particular condos because Stinson wasn’t aware of them, but I had somehow slipped up on whom I could trust, which meant she was no longer safe. I needed to arrange to get her out without alarming the ones against me.
I drove into the garage, circling my way up to the roof. I parked my Maserati in its designated spot, then quickly strode into the elevator, waiting impatiently for the doors to open again.
What I saw the moment I stepped off on the penthouse floor caused me to halt.
Chapter Ten
Wesley
CORRUPTION… A WORD I was familiar with. I was born into it. In every breath I took, a small amount of corruption was released. It surrounded me. It followed me. It was me. I was a man with many faults, which meant judgment of others was never justifiable–at least not with my track record.
I tried to tell myself that as I took in the scene in front of me. Michael stood by the closed door, a man lying in front of him, bleeding onto the spotless wooden floor. Face down, I couldn’t see who it was, but Michael stood there, unaffected.
“What is this? What happened?” I questioned, walking over. “You didn’t think to inform me about this over the phone? You didn’t consider this important?”
He shrugged. “He was against us, Wesley. I did what needed to be done. Like I always do.”
I studied the man on the floor for a few seconds before stepping over him and walking up to the door. Michael’s statement didn’t go unnoticed. He was right, but it was also his job…when we were both in agreement. We weren
’t at the moment. I was now wary of every move he made, every word he spoke. Normally, I wouldn’t question him, but Calvin reminded me no one could be trusted, and with all the trouble that had been thrown my way recently, I considered everyone against me. Sadly, someone I had known for years was currently my number one suspect.
I looked at him cautiously. “I need this to disappear without a trace. Are we understood?”
I felt the tension in the air. The way his jaw clenched, his face developing a hint of agitation. However, he nodded without a word.
I reached for the doorknob, then paused. “Afterward, you’re dismissed, Michael. I’ll take it from here.”
As I made my way inside and closed the door, I wondered what had been necessary and what could’ve been avoided. Had I been given the right information when it came to Mia? It was ironic how I couldn’t ask the source. Her back was to me as she gazed out the window.
I walked over to her, already familiar with every inch of her face–her blazing green eyes, perfect nose, and luscious lips.
“They’ve increased the reward for my recovery. It appears I’m more valuable to Alek than I initially thought,” she whispered, turning to face me. “If they only knew the truth… Then again, they can only analyze what they’re given, and all I’ve ever given them was a lie.”
I wiped the few tears from her face with the pad of my thumb, looking into her eyes for answers. I felt her pain. Her confusion. I also didn’t miss how she said Alek’s name. I’d cringe every time she’d say “my husband”, but things were different now.
“I would do the same if I were in his shoes. A proud man will pay millions in order to reclaim what’s his.”
I pushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear, trailing my fingers over her lips. She leaned into my hand, and when those gorgeous eyes met mine, I knew I was lost. I would do anything for her. She had me on my knees, and I wasn’t even ashamed of it.
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