“What’s all this?” she asked. There was a blanket on the ground along with several small white cartons and a bottle of wine with two glasses.
“Chinese food. You’ve got to eat.”
Even though they’d spent several evenings together at the office working, Matt had kept things strictly professional between them. Brianna wondered why the romantic gesture now. He sat there, grinning from ear to ear. Trying to appear stern and disapproving, she couldn’t keep a straight face and eventually smiled. “Okay, fine.” His expression turned smug as she sat down on the blanket and leaned against the office couch.
Matt poured them each a glass of wine. He handed Brianna a carton of orange chicken and then sat down next to her, opening his own carton.
“Oh hell,” Matt said, hitting his knee with his hand. “Today’s my brother’s birthday, and I forgot to call him.”
“You can call him now, I don’t mind.”
“No, it can wait,” Matt said. “When’s your birthday?”
“Why?”
“I obviously need to write it down on my calendar so I won’t forget. Besides, I want to know. What if your birthday’s tomorrow and I didn’t get you a present.”
Red flags went off and she immediately became suspicious. “Well it’s not tomorrow. It’s not until February. February twenty-first. When’s yours?”
***
Matt remembered seeing that date somewhere. It was in the DEA’s report on Christina, Salazar’s wife. That was the exact date of her murder. They’d tracked down the police report which stated a man supposedly broke into Christina’s home, killing her and a male friend. Christina’s body had been mutilated. The burglar was arrested and found guilty. Two weeks into his sentence, he was stabbed and killed. The autopsy said Christina had recently been pregnant.
Matt’s head pounded. This was a conversation he didn’t want to have with Brianna, but he needed answers. “What’s your mother’s name?”
“Christina,” she answered in between bites.
“If you don’t mind my asking, when did she pass?” Matt took a sip of wine while trying to act casual.
Brianna didn’t answer right away. Instead, her eyes sliced over to him, staring at him from the corner of her eye. She must be suspicious. Matt needed to tread carefully.
“She died when I was only a couple of months old,” Brianna finally replied.
“That’s terrible she died so young. What did she die from?” Setting down his food, Matt stretched his legs out in front of him.
“I don’t know. My father doesn’t like to talk about it. He just says that she was sick and died.”
If Christina was Brianna’s mother, then something was wrong. The dates weren’t lining up. Brianna was either lying or repeating false information. Richard had told the DEA Christina left Salazar, and court records prove she filed for a divorce about nine months prior to her murder. So how did Brianna fit into all of this if she was a few months old when her mother died?
In either case, Brianna was living with a murderer. If Salazar was capable of killing his wife, then what would stop him from killing his daughter? Brianna had no idea. Matt needed to find a way to get her out of that house so he could protect her.
Setting down her food, Brianna asked, “Are you close to your mother?”
Matt needed to be careful so she didn’t suspect he was fishing for information. “I am. My mom wants me married though so I can give her some grandkids. It’s sad since my father won’t be around to see it.”
“That’s interesting, I lost my mother and you lost your father.” Brianna finished her glass of wine.
“Yeah, but my dad didn’t die until I was out of high school.”
“What did he die from?” she asked.
“He was killed in the line of duty.” Matt wasn’t sure if he should be honest, but he figured telling the truth was the easiest thing to remember. It was also important to be sincere in order to gain her trust.
“Duty? Was he in the service?”
“No, FBI.”
Brianna’s eyes widened. “You didn’t want to follow in his footsteps?”
“Everyone wanted me to, especially after he died. They thought I should carry on his legacy. But I couldn’t do it. I grew up without a lot of money. My father worked crazy hours and was paid nothing. I didn’t want to work that hard and have nothing to show for it. So, I went to law school. Everyone was furious with me.”
“I understand what you mean by not wanting the same life you had growing up. So, you became an attorney. You followed your dream, despite what your family wanted?”
Matt leaned his head back against the couch. “Yes, and despite how well I’ve done for myself, they still give me a hard time.”
“You’re lucky you followed your heart.”
Matt smiled. In reality, he owed it to his family, especially his father, and that’s why he went into the DEA. “My mother would fall over if she even thought I was going to marry another attorney.”
“Have you dated many attorneys?” she asked.
“No, you’re the first. I, too, believe in not dating co-workers. When I met you, I changed the rules.”
Brianna laughed. “What type of girls do you usually go for?”
“I’ve been so busy that I haven’t seriously dated anyone in a long time. No one has been worth it. But then I met you.” He stared intently into her eyes.
“What’s the longest relationship you’ve had?” Brianna shifted sideways so she was facing Matt.
“Oh, I don’t know. Let’s see. Four months. Yes, I am thirty-two and the longest relationship I’ve had is four months,” Matt laughed, hoping to hide the lie.
“That’s pathetic. But I’m just as bad at three months. Of course I am only twenty-two years old. What’s your excuse?”
Matt inched closer to her. “I don’t waste my time. As soon as I know she isn’t marriage material, I don’t bother.”
Brianna’s face turned red. “So why are you wasting your time with me?” she asked, glancing down into her lap.
“Oh, I wouldn’t say that I’m wasting it.”
“Thank you for the food. I need to get back to work.” She tried to stand.
Matt held her wrist, restraining her. His eyes narrowed. “Why won’t you date me? Seriously date me?”
“Because.”
“Got a boyfriend I don’t know about?” he asked, pretending he was simply teasing her. He really wanted to know about Dominic and what her relationship to him was.
“What if I did?” Brianna asked.
Matt’s heart sank. Was she dating Dominic? Was that why she kept pushing Matt away?
Brianna moved to her knees then lifted one leg over Matt’s lap, straddling him. He prayed her bodyguards weren’t around because he planned on taking her right there in his office.
“Then I guess I’d have my work cut out for me,” Matt said, staring into her eyes.
“Meaning?” she asked.
“I would fight for you. You’re worth fighting for.” Matt lips slammed into hers.
Dominic stood in front of the mirror. The custom-made tuxedo fit perfectly. Sliding the velvet box out of his pocket, Dominic opened it, staring at Brianna’s mother’s ring. It was almost time for him to head over to Salazar’s house, and Dominic still had no idea what he was going to say to Brianna. With Claire, he hadn’t even thought about it; he knew it would come naturally. But with Brianna, he was tense and nervous. As much as he hated to admit it, something was off.
Snapping the box closed, Dominic grabbed his car keys and ran from the house. He drove toward Claire’s parents’ home, not entirely clear on what he hoped to accomplish. Parking across the street, Dominic felt stupid for being there and wondered if Claire had even moved back home. Probably not. He sat in the car, staring at the house, trying to imagine what Claire was doing. Not that it mattered. Still, it was strange to be a part of someone’s life for so long, and then have that relationship severed so abruptly. Perhaps
that’s why he couldn’t stay mad at her. There were too many unresolved issues.
The front door opened. Dominic sank down in the seat, thankful no one would recognize the Porsche. Claire’s father walked outside, then turned around and pulled a wheelchair with Claire’s mom from the house. She looked terrible. Her skin was bleached white, she didn’t have any hair, and her eyes were lifeless. Claire’s dad rolled her to the car and lifted her into the passenger seat.
Dominic couldn’t watch anymore. He knew Claire’s mom was battling cancer. It appeared she was losing the fight. How in the world was Claire holding up? Blinking away tears, Dominic slammed his foot on the gas pedal.
***
Late afternoon was Brianna’s favorite time of day. She lay on the lounge chair on her balcony, soaking up the sun. A slight breeze caressed her body. The rhythm of the waves crashing onto the shore below soothed her.
Brianna’s thoughts drifted to Matt. His adorable, sexy smile with the dimple on his cheek. His mesmerizing blue eyes. And his body—if he were there right now, she’d take him on this lounge chair, enjoying every single minute of it.
Her eyes flew open. Glancing around, she made sure no one was about. As if just having thoughts about Matt would get her in trouble with Salazar. She wished she could get away from her father.
Back when Brianna was a sophomore in high school, she decided to try and run away. It was after Salazar killed her dog as punishment for disobeying him. For months, she planned how she would get away. She plotted how she would escape from her bodyguards, how she would get to the airport, buy the plane ticket, where she would go, what money she needed to live on, and how she would survive on her own. The day came for her to make her big escape. She managed to get to the airport and board the plane. Then, while sitting in her seat, the flight attendant announced there was a problem and everyone needed to exit the plane. She knew, right then and there, that Salazar would be waiting for her.
She never did figure out how he found her, but he did. And Salazar was livid. He locked her in a room with no windows, no furniture, nothing. It was pitch black and silent. She had no idea how long she was locked in the room. Days, weeks maybe. The door was finally opened, a glimmer of light entered the room, and she was allowed out.
Salazar had made his point.
After that, Brianna thought she had come to terms with her situation. If she did what her father wanted, she was rewarded with small increments of freedom. If she didn’t, she was punished. Brianna assumed most people were a slave to their circumstances—that they had to do things they didn’t want to in order to survive. Brianna chose to obey her father and to maintain a loyalty to her family. Being in love never factored into the equation—not until now.
Her mind wandered back to Matt. There were millions of people on the planet who loved someone they could never be with. It didn’t mean their other relationships were doomed to fail. She would enjoy her time with Matt until she was married. Once married, she would be loyal to Dominic—she owed him that much. And Dominic was a nice guy. He would be a good husband and friend.
Her phone rang. “Bri, it’s me,” Matt said in a stern voice, his usual banter gone.
“Is everything all right?” she asked.
“I need to speak with you alone. Immediately. It’s important.”
“Okay.” Something was wrong, she could feel it.
“Can you come over?”
“Sure. I’ll just need to clear it with . . . I mean, yes. I’ll be there. Give me an hour.” She ended the call. She hoped, since they were working on Hector’s case together, going over to his house wouldn’t be a problem.
***
Every time Dominic came to Salazar’s place, he couldn’t get over the sheer size and beauty of the house. He was escorted down the hallway to the right. It seemed like he was walking in a castle, not someone’s home. The corridor was lined with a dozen archways. One was covered with a black iron gate, another one led to an indoor swimming pool, one to a wine cellar. The hall was dark, dimly lit by only a sconce in between each archway. When Dominic reached the end of the hall, he entered a large room with a movie screen. Salazar was sitting in one of the plush cushioned chairs, watching the old black and white film The Avenging Conscience.
Dominic cleared his throat, hoping to get Salazar’s attention. When Salazar waved his hand, the movie stopped and the lights turned on.
“Are you ready for the big day?” Salazar asked, standing up to face Dominic.
Not really, Dominic thought. Instead, he answered, “I am. I think she’ll be blown away.”
“Let’s go to my study for a celebratory cigar.”
They left the movie theatre and went down the hallway through which Dominic had just come. This time they entered a room on the right. The walls were covered with books, and the ceiling and floors were wrapped with dark mahogany. Two couches were arranged in the center of the room.
When they sat down, a servant entered carrying two glasses of cognac.
“I’ll pass,” Dominic said. “I’m too nervous. It’s not every day a guy gets to propose.” Dominic immediately thought of Claire and the last time he had seen her.
“It’ll help you relax. Besides, this is the best cognac in the world—Henri IV Dudognon Heritage. It costs two million dollars.”
Dominic’s eyes widened as he stared at the drink in front of him.
“Here’s to you and Brianna. May you have a long and happy life together.”
Dominic brought his glass to Salazar’s and then took a sip.
“I’m proud of you,” Salazar said, leaning back on the couch. “You’re rising to the challenge of taking over my business, and now you’re proposing to Brianna. I’m lucky you’re part of my family.”
It surprised Dominic to receive such high praise from Salazar, especially since the Stephan incident. “Thank you, that means a lot.”
After finishing his cognac, Dominic said, “I better get going. It’s almost time.” He walked over to shake Salazar’s hand, but Salazar reached across and hugged him instead. When Salazar released him, Dominic saw a flicker of something unrecognizable in Salazar’s eyes.
***
Brianna stepped out of the shower and was about to get dressed when she heard a knock on her door. She quickly threw on a robe. Opening the door, she found a large box with a dozen white roses at the threshold. Inside the box was an exquisite red, sleeveless, spiral gown. When she pulled the dress out to examine it, a note slid out. It read, Put this on for a night to remember. Brianna assumed this was supposed to be something romantic from Dominic, but she didn’t have time for him right now. She needed to get to Matt’s house to find out what was wrong. She’d never heard Matt sound so spooked before.
She threw the box on her bed and grabbed her phone, wanting to text Matt she was leaving in ten minutes. Hopefully she could get there and back before Dominic noticed. There was another knock on the door. Brianna set her phone down—she’d have to finish the text after she got the door.
This time Salazar stood there, exasperated. “Get dressed. I haven’t got all day.”
Brianna rushed to the bathroom and slid on the dress. She prayed Matt was okay. Maybe he was working on Hector’s case and found something. That’s probably why he wanted to see her so quickly. Hopefully that’s all it was. Brianna twisted her hair up and threw on some make-up. It would have to do—no one kept Salazar waiting.
“What’s all this about?” she asked as she came out of the bathroom. She couldn’t remember the last time her father had come to her room. Anytime he needed her, he sent a servant.
“Can’t you just pretend to be excited and blown away? Let’s get going.” Salazar led her out of the house and through the backyard. He stopped at the top of the stairs leading to the secluded beach below. “We’re almost there. Don’t fuck it up now.”
“Love you too, Dad,” she said under her breath.
He turned and left her standing there alone. Glancing along the stairs, cand
les cascaded down the rose petal covered walkway. Brianna wanted to run—she knew what was coming. But she had no choice.
On her way down the stairs, she took several deep breaths, trying to calm her nerves. If only this was a real proposal, instead of one designed by Salazar. By the time she reached the runner at the bottom of the stairs, she had managed to convince herself to pretend the situation was normal, and to try and enjoy the moment.
Two men stood dressed in tuxedos about thirty feet away. One of the men was Dominic, holding a single red rose. The other man held a violin and began playing Moonlight Sonata as she approached.
When Brianna reached them, she recognized the violin player was Yuzov Kamen—her favorite violinist. Her father really went all-out with this proposal.
Dominic got down on one knee. He looked handsome in the tuxedo. The black set-off his eyes.
“Brianna, from the moment I met you, I wanted you in my life.” Dominic’s voice shook and he sounded nervous. “Each day we share together only affirms my belief that we’re destined to be together. I can’t imagine my life without you. Please do me the honor of being my wife. Will you marry me?” He pulled a diamond ring from the rose.
It was her mother’s ring. Brianna didn’t know Salazar still had it. She blinked away tears. So, Salazar was capable of being sentimental. He never ceased to amaze her.
Dominic reached for Brianna’s left hand, waiting for her answer. She stood there staring into his dark eyes—there was something so familiar about them. The waves crashed onto the shore, the sun was setting behind Dominic, the sound of Moonlight Sonata filled the air.
Dominic squeezed her hand and she felt how tense he was. Picturing Matt kneeling on the ground before her, Brianna answered, “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
With shaking hands, Dominic placed the ring on her finger.
Sitting at her desk, Brianna skimmed through Hector’s file, searching for the brief. There was a knock on her door and she glanced up in time to see Matt enter.
The Power to See Page 17