by C. D. Gill
“We hoped it wasn’t some fancy video editing that kids do these days to humiliate other people,” Dad said.
“Maurice,” Mom said, a warning clear in her tone.
Ouch. Despite being shown the truth, Dad refused to believe him. Xander ran his tongue over his teeth, trying to steady his temper.
“What you saw was unhampered truth. I wasn’t there to force him into a confession, but it’s clear you still don’t trust me.” Xander shook his head and took a deep breath in hopes it filled him with courage. “Apologies are hard for you, aren’t they Dad? Being wrong isn’t in your reality. You must think not apologizing makes you untouchable. I came here hoping you’d changed. Hoping that you weren’t just inviting me over because you finally believed the truth since it came from someone else’s mouth, but because you loved me enough to reach out.”
Everyone was frozen. Linc’s eyebrows raised enough to crinkle his forehead, his eyes wide. Dad’s mouth was pinched in anger. Xander wasn’t here to dish out his anger. He needed to speak the truth and then leave before it went any further.
“Mom, I hope you’re feeling better after your mental breakdown. I’d love to know someday if it was me being in prison or the disgrace I brought to the family that triggered it. Dr. Cantella reassured me that physical distance doesn’t always mean that loyalty is severed which gave me hope that you wished to keep in contact with me, but that Dad pressured you into staying away. I hope you can find the courage to love me regardless of Dad’s mandate.”
At the mention of Dr. Cantella, Mom burst into tears and dropped into a chair at the table. When Xander rested his hand on Dad’s shoulder, Dad flinched. “I should go, but it doesn’t have to be this way, Dad. We can all forgive each other and move on. I am moving on. I hope you let the others in our family have a relationship with me, even if you don’t.” With a backward look, he gave Linc a small smile. “Linc has my phone number, if you want it. I hope to hear from you.”
Outside, the cooling air cleansed his lungs. His hands shook as he unlocked Chachi to get in. Why was the truth so painful to say? Before prison, he never would have had the courage to stand up for himself like that and rock the boat. But now, he only wanted to rebuild with the whole and good. If that meant he severed relationships that used to be lifelines, then so be it. That was a tyranny he could no longer bear to be underneath.
A thump came at his window as he started Chachi. Linc handed him a plastic container filled with food as he rolled his window down. A smile lit Linc’s face. “Here’s dinner from Mom. I love you and I wish I’d been there for you when you needed me most. You were there for me. I was too afraid, but not anymore. We’re brothers and that’s not something I’m willing to give up on. Ever.” He reached into his back pocket and handed him an envelope. “Season tickets to the family section in my games. I’d love for you to be there. Oh, and bring your hot girlfriend with you.” With a tap of the hood, Linc jogged back inside.
Xander had to swallow hard against the tightness in his throat. The strangest feeling swelled in his chest. It wasn’t anxiety this time. No, it felt a lot like…hope.
Chapter 28
A month passed since Gia arrived in New Orleans with Daddy. She spent her days working on her projects from Joey’s office space. In the evenings, she toggled between hiding and pretending to be obsessed with Bronc and Daddy’s business since Bronc thought she was taking it over someday. Bronc had called her nonprofit a hobby that she could play at if she’d like so long as her focus was devoted to the shipping empire.
As Daddy predicted, Bronc’s numbers in his presentation had been inflated. The second shipment arrived earlier in the week bringing the grand total to over a quarter of a million. Pushing off the wedding suited Gia beautifully, but Bronc’s abuse increased with each day. To subdue him about the lack of sales, Ma suggested having an engagement party so all their friends could come celebrate them. That party was in three hours and she dreaded it.
Since starting the farce with Bronc, her time at the driving range became mandatory and no one chose to be in the lanes next to her because of the amount of anger she tried to cleanse from her body with physical aggression she pushed through her clubs. She finished wrapping her glove and sauntered out to check the sign-in sheet to see if she could bribe anyone to compete with her. No one stuck out to her.
Gia popped her head in the office. “Hey Reg, want to take a break and hit the driving range with me?”
Reg sent her a death glare. “And face your fury? I gotta family to think about.” He motioned to his torso. “If I throw my back out, I can’t keep up with my kids.” Gia shook her head and laughed. “There’s a new guy at the end of the lanes. Try him.”
Fresh blood? Gia left the office but couldn’t catch a glimpse of the newbie’s face without approaching him. All he could do was say no, right? She tapped him on the shoulder. “Any interest in a friendly competition?”
“Yeah, I’ll take you on.” He turned to face her, taking off his cap and sunglasses.
Gia gasped. “Xander?” She pushed him behind the water station and threw her arms around him. He smelled of some type of manly soap mingled with laundry detergent.
Xander laughed and squeezed her tight. His nose settled next to her ear. “I’ve missed you. Golden is boring without you.”
“What are you doing here?” She pulled away to study his face.
He pressed his lips to hers. “I came in for the engagement party. Couldn’t let my girl pick another man without making sure she knew my hat was in the ring.” Xander walked her over to a bench and sat. He loosened her grip around his neck, his expression serious. “Also, Joey mentioned that you were picking fights at the driving range and no one could deal with you anymore because you were so stressed. I volunteered for the job of putting you in your place.”
Gia huffed. “Joey’s supposed to be on my side.”
Xander smoothed her hair with his knuckles. “He is. That’s why he called me. Abuse is a monster you don’t have to handle alone. I’m here to provide perspective and remind you what your future really looks like.”
The warmth in her chest propelled her forward, taking his lips with hers. After a couple of minutes, Xander pulled away and cocked an eyebrow at her.
She shrugged and grinned. “We haven’t gotten the chance to properly celebrate our relationship.”
He grabbed her hips and set her on her feet. “After your engagement party, we will. Come take me to the cleaners on the driving range first.”
They went back and forth for an hour. The sweat poured from every inch of her as Xander checked his watch and exhaled.
“Power round for the next fifteen minutes. No holding back.” He motioned to her. “Give it all you’ve got.”
Her focus clicked into place. Sympathies and care faded into the background. Over and over again, she connected with the ball, sending them soaring. Most went well past where Xander’s landed. When his timer sounded, they stopped and laughed as they wiped away their sweat.
A slow clapping stunted her happiness. “Brava, darling, but your short game is painful.”
Gia’s head jerked to the side to where Bronc stood with his arms crossed. Xander gave a low grunt and stuffed his club into his bag. “Thanks for the workout.” He slipped out on the opposite side from Bronc. What if Bronc recognized him? This whole thing would be blown. She stood paralyzed in place.
“We have a big party to attend in a couple of hours so imagine my displeasure when I heard you were still at the driving range. It’s all you seem to do these days. You play.” Gia gritted her teeth and grabbed her bag. “You dabble at architecture and then you come here and act like you’re practicing for the US Open. Someone’s going to get sick of you and your entitled attitude soon and put an end to your games.”
Gia nodded. There was no question in her mind that he would give himself that honor of ending her games as soon as the ink dried on a marriage license. She closed her eyes and counted to five. When she hit
three, a phone started blasting a pop song from inside a compartment in her bag. Xander, offering a musical caress.
She cleared her throat, whirled around, and went on her tiptoes to give Bronc a peck on the cheek. “I’ve been working really hard to keep my body in shape before the wedding. Gotta look good for my man. I’ll get cleaned up and see you at the party. I want you to be surprised when you see my dress for tonight.”
Anger melted into a heated desire in Bronc’s eyes. A shiver snaked up her spine. His visible lust sent chills across her skin. Without another word, she slipped into the women’s locker room and flipped the lock as quietly as she could manage. That look was the reason she lived securely in her parents’ house. There was no telling when he would grant himself permission to trespass on her property because she was his fiancé in name.
The only relief she had from Bronc’s constant abuse was knowing that Daddy would never put her through an actual marriage with Bronc.
She unlocked the front locker room door and crept out the back door to where she’d parked her car. Checking both directions, she dug around her purse for the keys as she approached her car. How did they always fall to the bottom? She shoved her hand around the bag. Suddenly, it clicked open with a beep. She turned in a circle and opened the car door to see Xander’s face peeking between the seats. She jumped in, slamming the door behind her.
“Do you like the adrenaline rush of stupidity?” Gia snagged the keys he dangled over the arm rest and started the car. Xander groaned, pushing himself so he lay flat on the back seat as she turned onto the main road.
“I had to make sure you were okay. Plus, Joey dropped me off so I don’t have a ride back.”
“Gutsy move.”
“You’re worth it.”
Gia stopped at the street light and caught his eyes in the mirror. “I’m not relaxed anymore.”
“I fought guys like him in prison. I could take him.”
That was not something she’d like to see Xander try. She shivered.
The range was a ten-minute drive from her parents’ house and they used the time to catch up in short sentences. In the driveway, she sent Xander an air kiss and ran into the house. At seven on the dot, she strolled down the front staircase to the foyer. Some guests wandered around the kitchen, but the majority were in the back garden where the evening sun gave the perfect backdrop for their lights and decorations. Xander faced the kitchen entryway with his shoulder against a wall, looking devastatingly handsome as he spoke with a shorter, thinner man. He caught her eye and gave her a wink.
Who was he talking to? She lifted a drink from the waiter’s tray and contemplated it as she sipped.
“Tonight’s the night, Ms. Carter.” To her right, Detective James raised his glass to her. “Cheers. To your engagement.”
Gia laughed at the bubble of happiness rising in her as she touched her glass to his. Her peace lasted a full minute before the smell of Bronc’s cologne preceded his hand pressed against her lower back.
“Darling, shouldn’t you be outside greeting the guests?”
She turned into him and beamed. “There you are, dearest. I was waiting for you so we could present ourselves together. This is, after all, our engagement party.”
He flashed her an indulgent smile and guided her to the patio door. She sneaked a peek at Xander who followed her progress with a dark expression. Outside she greeted and thanked people for coming. A familiar ponytail bounced into view.
“Lucy?” She squeaked as Lucy wrapped her in a bear hug.
“Your dad invited Tuck and I down with Xander,” Lucy whispered into her ear. “I’ve missed you so much.”
Gia didn’t bother introducing Bronc since he had wandered off to speak with his buddies as soon as they’d gotten outside. Daddy had rescued Tucker from being a jailbird. It turned out that Grant had talked him into doing some driving for Bronc’s illegal side business, but the FBI had instructed the local police to waive their rights in hopes of catching him in the act of their much bigger game. Lucy and Tucker were officially dating now and Lucy, of course, was pretty certain that Tuck already had a ring. He was just waiting for the right moment. Ma joined them, circling Gia’s waist with her arms.
“Giovanna, you look radiant tonight.”
Gia kissed Ma’s cheek. “So many people I love in one place at the same time.”
“I must say, you know how to pick them. That man of yours is a dream. A gentleman, handsome, well-raised, and unable to take his eyes off you.” Ma smirked and tilted her head in Xander’s direction. He was indeed staring.
Gia laughed. “He met me at the range and we competed for over an hour.”
Ma kissed her cheek. “So long as you love competing beside him as much as you love competing with him.” Ma looked over Gia’s shoulder. “Oops. Gotta go. Your dad is signaling me to rescue him. Be back soon.”
“You never mentioned how adorable your parents are.” Lucy squealed. “Or that Joey and Tommy would be here, see you later.”
The DJ faded out the music to announce a speech from Daddy. Gia took her place in the front. She stepped slightly in front of Xander so her shoulder brushed past his. Seconds later, Bronc appeared on her other side.
“Thank you all for coming this evening. Sophia and I are delighted to have so many of our daughter’s friends over tonight.” Daddy grinned. “I have to admit that tonight is going to be a bit unusual because this party is to honor our lovely daughter. Her mother and I have had the privilege of seeing her grow and develop into the gorgeous lady she is today. She’s selfless and cares so deeply for others. Recently, she had a bit of a rough time in Colorado. Her projects were vandalized. Her house was set on fire. Someone was killed outside her office. She was poisoned by a fruit basket. Her car was targeted and wrecked. But through all of that, she powered through, helped someone build a business from scratch and get back on his feet, served her clients well, and lent her time and space for those in need. Here’s to my baby girl.” He raised his glass and others followed suit.
Gia squirmed. Where was Daddy going with this? He wasn’t normally one to gush.
“We thought we’d take the chance to announce to you all that authorities have found the people who tried to destroy Gia and the life she’d built. Unfortunately for them, she’s tougher than they expected.” The crowd cheered and laughed as Daddy winked at her. “Will you all join me in celebrating the arrest of Daniel Marin and Grant Harrington?”
There was an audible gasp as police surrounded the yard and the detectives yanked Bronc’s hands behind his back. Across the yard, they did the same for Grant.
“There are bigger offenses these two have committed, but for tonight we’re going to celebrate that the government was able to apprehend these two international criminals and they’re looking at extended stays behind bars.”
Ma started the cheering and Lucy and Tucker joined in a second later. The whole crowd hollered and clapped as the police hauled the guys around the house and out of the party. Bronc looked particularly disgruntled. No doubt already threatening the cops with words from his lawyer.
“Let’s dance,” Daddy yelled into the microphone.
The DJ ramped up a song and Daddy grabbed Gia in his arms and they danced around the yard laughing until they couldn’t breathe. As the song finished, Daddy wrapped her in his strong arms and kissed her cheek. “Baby girl, I am so proud of you. Never forget that.”
*****
The cameras flashed in Xander’s eyes as he took his place behind the podium. Behind him, a video introducing his vision and products to the world set the tone for the audience. In the several weeks, Xander stayed in New Orleans, Gia’s parents surprised him by sending out a press release announcing Xander’s big debut for his nonprofit. Every day, Xander sat in meetings with Mr. Carter’s teams getting everything into place for his big company launch as well as the nonprofit side.
The lights brightened as the video ended, his cue to show the world what ingenuity and some ri
ch investors could do together.
“Statistics say that the United States alone is responsible for fifty-five percent of the 220 million tons of waste the human population generates. In an age where we consume without thought of the eco-system, Reclaim That wants to introduce varied product lines featuring upcycled materials that can be given a new life that doesn’t involve dumping into the ocean or building more landfills. For the first little while, our products will be sold in select retail locations, but our full product lines can be found and purchased on our website. In addition to saving the world through re-purposing, I’ve also established a nonprofit called The Upcycled Life where my team and I will seek to reduce the number of men, women, and children on the streets by teaching them to create and sell upcycled products to generate income for themselves and give them a chance to start fresh. Our circumstances aren’t always what we’d like, but we can pick ourselves up and remake ourselves. Our change will make our lives better as well as the world around us. Just like someone’s trash can be turned into someone’s treasure.” Loud clapping interrupted his thoughts. “I’d like to thank the Carter family for their support in my endeavor and believing in a world where everything and everyone deserves a second chance at life.”
Hands popped up all over the audience as Mr. Carter walked over to the microphone. “Before we end this meeting, Carter Corporations would like to be the first to donate to The Upcycled Life. Alexander, we believe in your mission to help others have a chance and we can’t wait to be a part of it. We’re presenting Mr. Alexander Reinerman with a check for two hundred and fifty thousand dollars to invest in training others. We hope you’ll join us in supporting these two life-changing organizations as a new generation’s answer to age-old problems.”
The clapping and cheering escalated to a deafening level. Xander’s throat constricted as he shook Mr. Carter’s hand and his executive team who presented the check. They posed for pictures and Gia joined him on stage for more pictures. Slowly the press filtered out of the room leaving only his parents, the Carters, and the Carter Corporation team. He absorbed the peace of the moment and the hope of a future.