Secrets (Lords of the City)

by Alice Ward

  “I’m glad we understand each other,” Oliver laughed, pulling Drake into a one armed hug.

  “I was a little surprised to find you here,” I said as Stacey settled into her bed. “I thought you may have already moved into the NICU.” She leaned back against the pillow and yawned.

  “This is the longest I’ve been out of bed in weeks. Dr. Vines came to check in on Emma and insisted that I get some rest. As soon as I’ve recharged, I’ll be right back down there. She’s so amazing, Chels. The nurse laid her on my chest and she just stared up at me like she knew exactly who I was.”

  “Of course she knows who you are,” I assured her. Having to stay away from Emma had been devastating for Stacey. I knew she was harboring guilt, even though she’d done what was best for her daughter.

  “Stacey, if you need to rest, Chelsea and I can come back at a better time,” Drake offered.

  “Thanks, but I have a better idea,” she replied with a twinkle in her eye. “You haven’t visited since we’ve been allowed to hold Emma. Why don’t you head down to the NICU and introduce yourself to your niece?”

  Drake widened his eyes, caught off guard by the suggestion. “You wouldn’t mind?” he asked with a hint of apprehension in his voice.

  “Mind?” Stacey asked. “I’d be honored. You’re the reason she’s doing so well, Drake. And holding her is the best feeling I’ve ever had. Go enjoy some of it while Chels and I catch up on girl stuff.”

  Drake met my eye. “Do you mind?”

  I shook my head, my cheeks sore from smiling. “Go, hold the baby. I’ll visit with Oliver and Stacey for a little while then come take my turn before we head home.”

  He kissed the top of my head and then set off for the nursery.

  “I’m going to go across the street and get some coffee,” Oliver announced. Clearly, he wasn’t interested in the details of mine and Drake’s reunion.

  “Will you bring me an iced herbal tea?” Stacey requested.

  “Of course. Sis?” he asked, turning to me.

  “I’m good, Ollie.”

  He nodded and left the room. Stacey shifted her legs to the far side of the bed and patted the mattress.

  “Tell me everything,” she insisted, her eyes nearly glowing with eagerness.

  I settled down beside her, my heart racing with joy.

  “The entire world has felt surreal since the last time I saw you,” I began. “First of all, you’ll never believe who I ran into when I went looking for Drake.”

  Stacey raised an eyebrow. “You’re guardian angel?”

  I nodded. “I stopped by St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Turns out, Peter is one of the priests there. I was lighting a candle and he came up behind me. We sat and talked for a while, and as usual, he gave me the perfect advice. He assuaged the last bit of doubt I had about whether or not I could truly forget Drake’s past. While I was sitting in the church, Frank called to tell me Drake was home. When I got there, he was drinking in the dark. At first, he didn’t seem happy to see me.”

  Stacey nodded. “His assistant gave me the impression that he was hoping to get out of town without notice. Did he explain what that was all about?”

  I hesitated, biting my lower lip. Drake didn’t want to bother Stacey and Oliver with his problems, but it was hard to not confide in Stacey. She picked up on my reluctance and raised an eyebrow.

  “What is it, Chels?”

  I took a deep breath and began. “Rebecca has struck again,” I explained. “For reasons beyond anyone’s understanding, she’s determined that Drake and Alex stay married. The woman is so fucking conniving. She planted a spy in Drake’s office five years ago, just in case she ever needed real leverage over her son. When Drake insisted on filing for divorce with or without the post-nup, she pulled the rug out from under him. Drake’s being investigated by the IRS and the SEC.”

  Stacey gasped and her eyes widened. She brought her hands to her mouth and her shoulders sank back. “I can’t understand how a woman could do that to her child,” she said, tears springing to her eyes.

  “If there’s one thing I’m sure of, it’s that trying to understand Rebecca is a complete waste of time. What we have to focus on is a plan to stop her. Drake didn’t want me to tell you any of this,” I confided.

  “I won’t let on that I know,” she promised. “Can I tell Ollie? I’m sure he’ll want to help.”

  I nodded. “I suggested that for now, it might be in Drake’s best interest if we let Rebecca think she’s getting her way. His personal and business accounts have already been frozen, so he’s basically dependent on his family’s money. I told him we should keep our distance and he should move back home until we found a way to prove Rebecca’s been orchestrating against him. But he flat out refused. Drake says he’d rather get thrown in prison than move back in with his parents.”

  “I can’t say that I blame him,” Stacey confessed, folding her arms over her chest. “But surely it won’t come to that.”

  “I hope not. If Drake ends up in prison, it will be my fault. He was going to run, that’s why he closed the office. He has an account in the Caymans that the feds can’t touch. He was packing when I woke up this morning. I convinced him to stay and fight the charges.”

  I was thrilled that Drake had decided to stay with me in New York. But the weight of that decision was growing heavier by the minute. I knew Rebecca would stop at nothing to get what she wanted. If Drake ended up incarcerated, I’d never forgive myself.

  “Drake’s been running from his mother his entire life. It’s about time he stood his ground,” Stacey insisted. “Speaking of time, he’s been down at the nursery for a while now. Want to check in on them?” She shifted her laptop toward me with a twinkle of mischief in her eye.

  “Absolutely,” I agreed.

  Stacey tapped a few keys and the video feed from the NICU filled the screen. Emma was in Drake’s arms, her eyes fixed to his face while he spoke.

  “You know sweet girl, you and I have something in common. We’re both brand new to the family,” he told her, his voice animated and carefree. “And we’re both incredibly lucky, because our family is awesome. Your mommy, daddy, and Aunt Chelsea are the best people I know. They’re the kind of people who fight for the ones they love.”

  My heart melted and I clutched Stacey’s forearm. “Have you ever seen anything more adorable?” I asked.

  Stacey smiled. “I’m a bit partial to Ollie and Emma. But this is a close second.”

  “You’re quite the little fighter yourself,” Drake continued, unaware that Stacey and I were watching. He bounced Emma in his arms and gently rocked back and forth in the chair.

  “You know when you get bigger, your mommy and daddy are going to tell you about your unexpected arrival in this world. They think I saved you, but you and I know the truth, don’t we? You’ve pulled through because you’re one tough little girl. I know you’ve had a rough start, Emma. But we all love you so much. And we’re all going to do whatever it takes to make sure you have the best this world has to offer.”

  Drake kissed the top of Emma’s head and Stacey squeezed my hand.

  “You did good, Chels. Drake is going to be a fantastic uncle. Now, go take your turn with Emma and then the two of you get out of here. A hospital is no place to celebrate your reunion.”

  ***

  I stepped into Nelson’s Diner and spotted Pete already waiting at the counter. I slid onto the stool beside him and signaled the waitress for a cup of coffee.

  “Thanks for meeting me, Pete,” I said as he swallowed a bite of his BLT. He washed it down with a sip of water and brushed his mouth with a napkin.

  “Of course, Chelsea. What’s this news you need to tell me?”

  I blushed and lifted my left hand. “I know that my personal life has been a rollercoaster lately. And I know it’s affected my work far too much. I wanted you to know that’s over now. Drake and I have worked things out, but there will be no more drama.”

  Pete raised a
hesitant eyebrow. “What does this mean for your job? Am I losing you again?”

  I shook my head. “No, I have every intention of coming back to work. I’d still like to take a few more weeks off, to deal with family issues.”

  “Of course,” Pete replied with a wave of his hand.

  The waitress delivered my coffee and refilled Pete’s. I took a long, warming sip while Pete spun his mug on the counter.

  “Look, Chelsea, I’m not going to judge your personal life. Yes, your involvement with Drake has caused a few headaches in the office. But in the long run, the society’s come out ahead. He’s been more than generous and if the two of you have worked things out, I’m happy for you. How are Stacey and little Emma doing?”

  “Stacey’s going to be discharged any day now. Emma’s getting stronger every day, but we’ve got a long road ahead of us before she gets to come home. I can’t thank you enough for the extra time off, Pete. It’s helped more than you know.”

  “I’m happy to do it,” he insisted.

  The waitress stepped in front of us and asked if I was ready to order. I told her I was fine with coffee and Pete gave me a quizzical stare.

  “Did you have an early lunch?” he asked.

  I shook my head. “I have early dinner plans,” I explained.

  Pete nodded and took a bite of a ketchup drenched French fry. “Well, while I have you here, let’s talk about The Albergo. I have several different contractors lined up to bid on the restoration. I called Drake’s office to see if he had any recommendations, but the line was disconnected. Did he change his number?”

  Dread curled in my stomach as I wracked my brain for an explanation. I’d just assured Pete that there would be no more drama. I didn’t want to tell him that Drake was under investigation, and that was why I wasn’t ready to come back to work. I decided to feign ignorance.

  “I have no idea. I never call his office line. I’ll talk to him tonight and see if there are any restoration contractors he’d recommend,” I promised.

  Pete tossed his napkin onto his empty plate and signaled the waitress for our check. “I appreciate that, Chelsea. I’d also appreciate any input you might have on the project. This was your baby, after all. I know you have your hands full at the hospital. But if you have any ideas, jot them down in your free time and email them to me.”

  “I will,” I promised as I rummaged through my purse.

  “Coffee’s on me, Chelsea,” Pete insisted, taking the paper ticket from the waitress. “Give your family my best and I’ll talk to you soon.”

  ***

  Two hours later, I arrived at Drake’s penthouse. Frank let me upstairs, where I found Drake in his office, bent over a drafting table.

  “Hey, baby,” he greeted me as I pushed open the door.

  “Hey… what are you doing?”

  He sighed and laid down his pen. “I needed something positive to focus on, so I’m brainstorming ideas for the building I’m going to start once my name is cleared. But I’m having a hard time concentrating. What have you been up to today?” he asked, pulling me into his arms.

  “I met with Pete and he’s still fine with me taking extra time off of work,” I explained. “He tried to call your office. He was wondering if you could recommend a good contractor to oversee the hotel restoration. He asked why your work line was disconnected, but I managed to dodge the question.”

  Drake sighed again and pulled me into his office chair. “Everyone in the city will hear about this soon enough. I should probably have a statement ready when the news breaks. That would be easier if I had the slightest idea how we’re going to prove my innocence.”

  “I’ve been working on that. That’s actually why I’m here. Your new defense team is assembled and waiting at the café down the block,” I announced.

  A puzzled look crossed Drake’s face. “What do you mean my new defense team?”

  “Just trust me,” I insisted, rising to my feet. I grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the door. “We need to get going, everyone’s waiting.”

  Drake let me lead him out of the apartment without any more questions. We walked down the block, where my father was waiting outside the café.

  “Mr. Tyler,” Drake said, extending his hand. “It’s good to see you. But what are you doing here?” He looked from me to Dad, his brow furrowed in confusion.

  “Chelsea called last night and told me everything,” Dad replied, accepting Drake’s hand and pulling him into a hug. “Melinda and I took the first plane out this morning. We’ve been planning a trip up anyway, to meet our granddaughter. Mom’s at the hospital now. I promised we’d meet everyone there when our meeting is over.”

  “You’re my new lawyer?” Drake asked. “I thought you were retired.” Surprised relief crossed his face as Dad patted him affectionately on the shoulder.

  “My license is still valid,” Dad assured him. “Look Drake, I’ve obviously had problems with you in the past. But Chelsea assures me that you’re a good man, and I learned a long time ago to trust her judgment. She also told me how important it is that you have a team of people you can really trust. I’ve assembled some of my old colleagues. I can personally vouch for the fact that none of them would accept a bribe from your mother.”

  “Jake, I don’t know what to say,” Drake replied, his voice low and grateful. He blinked a few times as his eyes turned red.

  “You don’t have to say anything, son,” Dad assured him, choking a bit on emotion. “Melinda and I know what you’ve done for Emma. You’ve more than earned your place in this family. And we take care of our own. Shall we go meet the rest of your team?”

  Drake nodded and held open the café door while Dad and I filed inside. Dad’s colleagues were easy to spot. They were all dressed in business suits and seated at the far corner booth.

  “Everyone, this is my daughter Chelsea and her fiancé Drake Waters,” Dad said as we reached the table. He took a seat on one side of the circular bench while Drake and I perched on the other. Dad introduced Matt Tyson, Larry Silver, Parker Hamlin, and Lindsey Brewer. Matt and Larry were lawyers; Parker was an accountant and Lindsey specialized in private investigation.

  “Chelsea emailed all of the relevant information to me last night. This morning, I filed paperwork with the courts listing myself as your attorney of record. I’ve gone over the case with everyone here. I hate to break it to you Drake, but this is going to be almost impossible to win.”

  Drake rested his elbows on the table and held his head in his hands as a waiter approached the table. Dad ordered a round of scotch and an appetizer sampler for the table and the waiter disappeared again.

  “I said almost impossible,” Dad continued. “If we can find a link between your mother and Kevin, we’ll have reasonable doubt if the case makes it in front of a jury.”

  Drake met Dad’s eye. “Would it be alright if we stop referring to Rebecca as my mother?”

  “Absolutely,” Dad agreed as the waiter reappeared with our drinks. I took a quick sip of the burning amber liquid and braced myself to hear my father’s opinion of Drake’s chances.

  “Ideally, we’ll be able to prove Rebecca’s behind all of this before the feds issue a formal indictment,” Dad continued. “But we need to be prepared for the fallout if that doesn’t happen. Chelsea says you have money in the Caymans. As I’m sure you know, the government would seize it the moment you tried to transfer it to the states. To get around that, I suggest that you open a second overseas account in Chelsea’s name. You can transfer the money to her and she can have it wired to her account here in New York.”

  I shifted nervously on the bench. “Would you be okay with that?” I asked, searching Drake’s eyes. They softened and a gentle smile creased his face.

  “Of course I’m okay with that. Everything I have is yours too, Chels. You know that.”

  “If you two will give me your account numbers, I’ll get the ball rolling on this right away,” Parker offered.

  I pulled a dep
osit slip from my checkbook and passed it to him. “Will this work?”

  “Yes,” he agreed with a nod.

  “I’ll email my info to you as soon as we get home,” Drake promised.

  “No, no email or any electronic trail,” Parker said.

  Drake nodded. “Alright. I’ll call you then.”

  He accepted the business card Parker gave him.

  Drake turned to my father. “I’m in uncharted territory here, Jake. What should I expect if this plays out the way Rebecca intends?”

  “I’m going to cut it to you straight, Drake. It’s only a matter of time before the rest of your assets are seized. Typically, the government will let you retain your primary residence. I’m assuming that’s your penthouse?”

  Drake shook his head. “The beach house.”

  Of course, Drake’s going to want to save the home he built himself.

  “That will make things a bit problematic, logistically,” Dad warned.

  “If the feds take the penthouse, Drake can stay with me when he needs to be in the city,” I insisted.

  Dad nodded. “That would probably be for the best. You need to stay out of the public eye, Drake. In addition to the asset seizures, you need to be prepared for an arrest. I should be able to get you out on bail, but it’s likely you’ll spend at least one night in lockup.”

  “Which will happen first, the arrest or the asset seizure?”

  “Probably the seizure,” Matt answered. “The government can file a civil forfeiture, pending the outcome of the investigations. If you have any items of personal significance, you should stash them now. I suggest you use a storage unit in someone else’s name, perhaps Oliver?”

  “Do we really have to bring Ollie into this?” I asked Dad. “I could rent the storage unit.”

  Dad shook his head. “That won’t work. As Drake’s fiancé, you’ll be under just as much scrutiny as he is. The government won’t be able to touch your finances, but you should expect them to file search warrants for any property leased under your name.”

  “You mean they’ll search my apartment?” I gasped.

  How bad is this going to get before it starts getting better?