Keeping Secrets (The Castaways Series Book 3)

by Alexa Land

  “He is. Just about everyone here is gay or bi.”

  After a pause, he asked, “Do you think a man like Lorenzo would want someone like me? I mean, he did great with your bombshell and even offered up that story about posing nude, so do you think he’d be okay with the fact that I’m a prostitute?”

  “Lorenzo is a kind-hearted, wonderful human being, and I’d be shocked if he held that against you.”

  Will’s slender, graceful hands fidgeted with his lapel, and he didn’t look at me as he said, “I don’t date much, because the job’s always a sticking point. I’m sure you know what that’s like. I’m afraid to even get my hopes up.” He glanced at me and added, “You would have told me by now if he wasn’t single, right?”

  “He’s a widower, so my advice is to take it slowly. I don’t know if he’s ready to get back out there yet.”

  “Oh believe me, slow is definitely the plan here.”

  When we returned to the lobby, it was full of laughter and upbeat conversation. Ezra and Isaac were playing Jenga, Colt and Ren were concentrating on a chess board, and Vee had somehow gotten Elijah and Cassidy up off the couch to join him in a game of Twister. Everyone else was playing poker. Odette looked smug as she put her cards on the table, and her companions groaned and slumped in their seats. Meanwhile, Ezra’s four dogs had joined CJ and Madame Leota in front of the fireplace, and Gerald the ranch cat sat on the reception desk beside the parakeet, judging everyone with cool indifference.

  As I looked around, I told Will, “I can’t even tell you how happy it makes me to see everyone relaxing and having a good time.”

  We put down the trays of snacks, and he said, “You know what it reminds me of? My parents used to send me to camp every summer, and when it rained, we’d get to stay in the rec room and entertain ourselves. I was never outdoorsy, so I loved rainy days.”

  “I never went to summer camp, but I desperately wanted to. If only there was such a thing for grown-ups.”

  “Oh totally. I’d sign up for that in a heartbeat, especially if it was geared toward the LGBT community.”

  A light bulb went off, and I said, “We should do that, right here at the ranch. It would basically just involve planning some fun activities and a menu, then getting the word out, right?”

  Will exclaimed, “Oh my God, you have to make this happen! I’ll help with the planning. I’ll also be your first customer.”

  “Let me grab a computer,” I called, as I ran toward the office. “I already have a bunch of ideas.”

  Ren and Colt abandoned their chess game to join Will and me by the fireplace, and pretty soon everyone stopped what they were doing to be a part of the planning session. Over the next three or four hours, we brainstormed ideas, took notes, and created a fun and colorful ad. Meanwhile, my uncle updated our website with information and a registration form, then placed a call to his lawyer to address licensing and insurance.

  Finally, we all decided unanimously to go for it, so I uploaded the ad to four LGBTQ+ publications, two in L.A., two in San Francisco, and told my friends, “I hope this works, because I just spent a bundle on advertising.”

  “It’s true what they say, you have to spend money to make money,” Will said, as I closed the laptop and set it aside.

  I nodded. “You’re right, and thanks for all your help with this. You had a lot of great ideas.”

  He seemed pleased by that and told me, “It was fun.”

  I stood up and stretched before saying, “Thank you everyone! I’m really excited about this camp idea. If it takes off, this could be a great thing for the ranch.”

  “When it takes off,” Vee corrected.

  “Yes, when,” I amended. “I’m going to go make us all some lunch. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  When I reached the kitchen, I spread out two loaves of bread on the prep station and started assembly-lining sandwiches for a crowd. Gabriel came in a minute later and began helping me by loading up one of the room service carts with drinks, plates, and napkins.

  Although he’d been working at the ranch for about a year, I didn’t know him very well, because the only person he really hung out with was his friend Tracy. He glanced at me and fidgeted a bit by pushing back the sleeves of his off-the shoulder black sweater and adjusting the printed scarf that tied back his long, dark hair. Gabriel referred to his style as gender-fluid, and he always looked elegant and pulled-together.

  I started dealing slices of cheese onto the bread like playing cards. After a moment, he turned to me and said, “I, um, wanted to talk to you about what you did this morning. When you came out as a prostitute, I mean.” I paused what I was doing and met his gaze.

  He broke eye contact before admitting, “I used to turn tricks when I lived in the Bay Area, and I carry around a lot of shame because of that. But you were so matter-of-fact about it, and…well, I guess I just wanted to say thank you for destigmatizing it. You made me feel like maybe I don’t have to keep that part of myself a secret from everyone here at the ranch.” He glanced at me from beneath his dark eyelashes and added, “Not that I’m going to announce it like you did, but I felt like I could tell you, and you’d understand.”

  “I definitely do. Thanks for confiding in me.” He gave me a shy smile before turning his attention to finding some potato chips, and I went back to the sandwich assembly.

  When Gabriel and I returned to the lobby with lunch, everyone thanked us and helped themselves to the food. After a few moments, Lee took my hand. I noticed he was carrying a plate loaded up for two, and he announced, “I’m going to steal Beck for a while.”

  We decided to eat on my balcony, and once we finished the meal, we sat side-by-side, holding hands and watching the rain. After a while, he asked, “How are you doing?”

  “Pretty good, actually. That brainstorming session was just what I needed today.” I glanced at him and asked, “Are you and Dante still planning to travel to L.A. this evening for that meeting with Harris? Not that meeting is the right word for it.”

  He nodded. “A helicopter has been reserved, and we’re planning to fly over after dinner. I’ll also be sitting down with Rus and my people, so we can begin to figure out what’s next for us. I’ll need to reassign everyone who was involved with my gambling operation, now that I’m shutting it down.”

  I asked, “Are you sure you want to do that? It seems like that decision was made under duress.”

  “It’s time for a change, for a lot of reasons. First and foremost, that business brought me in contact with a lot of dangerous individuals. Now that we’re a couple, what I do affects you, and I’m never going to put you in harm’s way again. I also really don’t want to run the risk of getting arrested and locked up, because I couldn’t stand being separated from you.”

  “Those are good reasons to retire, although those conjugal visits we discussed would have been fun.”

  He grinned, but after a moment, he grew serious and said, “Rus messaged me while you were making lunch. Douglas Poulos has been found, and my people are holding him for me.”

  “Wow. That was quick.”

  “Harris voluntarily gave up Poulos’s location last night. He probably figured he’d earn himself some leniency if he cooperated with us. He’s wrong about that, but I’m glad we don’t have to spend a lot of time and resources tracking him down.”

  I asked, “What are you going to do with Poulos, now that you have him?”

  “First and foremost, I want to talk to him and get some answers. I need to understand why someone I considered family sold me out.”

  “And then?”

  “I’m going to ruin him financially. Those wheels are already in motion. I made him rich, so it only seems fitting to take it all away after what he did to me.” Lee glanced at me and asked, “Were you expecting a different answer?”

  “I thought you might beat him up.”

  “All he ever cared about was money, so that’s the way to hit him where it hurts. We’ve cut off his cash fl
ow and resources, and no one will hire him and risk crossing me or my allies. That means he’ll be dealing with the repercussions of his disloyalty for the rest of his life.”

  I asked, “Now that Poulos has been found, is this truly over?”

  “Almost. Since all of this went down so recently, there’s a chance not all of Harris’s associates are up to speed,” he said. “So, some people might still be looking for me.”

  “Damn it,” I muttered. “I was so happy today, thinking all of this was behind us.”

  “It probably is. But until Harris is released and makes it known far and wide that this feud is over, there’s a slight chance that not everyone knows to stand down.”

  “Can I come with you tonight?”

  He said, “Please don’t ask me that.”

  “But I proved to be helpful when those thugs raided the hotel.”

  “You were. In fact, my men and I would probably be dead if it wasn’t for you,” he said. “But yesterday was the worst day of my life, because you were in danger, and I was so afraid of losing you. I can’t stand the thought of putting you in harm’s way again, even if there’s just the slimmest chance of something happening. Please, Beck. I’ll beg if I have to. Sit this one out.”

  He was so sincere that it seemed cruel to make him worry about me. “Okay. But you have to promise to check in a lot and come right back here as soon as you’re finished.”

  “I will.”

  “You still have a few hours before it’s time to go,” I said. “What do you want to do in the meantime?”

  He drew me onto his lap and held me securely. “This.”

  We stayed on the balcony all afternoon, talking, kissing, and just enjoying each other’s company. Eventually, Vee messaged to tell us it was time for dinner. Tracy and Gabriel had cooked a huge pot of chili and baked cornbread, which was the perfect thing on that cool, rainy evening.

  After we ate, Lee, Vincent, and Dante changed into suits and prepared to fly to L.A. Just before it was time to depart, Lee received a text, then turned to me and said, “I have a surprise for you, so you should come with us to meet the helicopter.”

  I couldn’t imagine what that would be, but since he’d said it was a surprise, I obviously couldn’t pepper him with questions. Instead, I donned a baseball cap and a jacket, then got behind the wheel of the ranch’s Jeep and drove Lee and the Dombruso brothers to the same makeshift helipad they’d used before.

  This time, a big, six-passenger helicopter was making its approach. We stayed in the Jeep until it landed and cut the motor. Lee seemed a bit nervous as he glanced at me and said, “I hope this gives you some closure.”

  Lee took my hand, and we crossed the parking lot in a light drizzle. When we’d nearly reached our destination, Rus slid the door open. He then grabbed a handcuffed figure and threw him out of the helicopter before hopping out and grabbing him by the collar of his denim jacket.

  The man landed at my feet, and when Rus dragged him to his knees, he looked up at me. I stared into the terrified face of my ex-boyfriend and blurted, “Hal Andriessen?” Then I turned to Lee and asked, “What’s going on?”

  “I promised I’d track down that fucker and make him pay for what he did to you. I think you’re right that the police didn’t put a lot of energy into looking for him, because he was remarkably easy to find.”

  Rus handed me a thick envelope. When I glanced inside, I was surprised to find it was stuffed with cash. “That’s to pay you back with interest for what this piece of shit stole from your grandmother,” Rus said.

  Hal struggled to his feet and cowered as he stared at me in disbelief. It probably helped that I was flanked by Lee, Dante, and Vincent. Not only were they huge and dressed like straight-up mafiosos in their dark suits, but their faces were set in matching expressions of pure malice.

  Rus shook Hal like a cat with a mouse and prompted, “What did you want to say to Mr. Medina?”

  Rus had obviously coached him on the way over, because Hal immediately stammered, “I’m so fucking sorry, Beck. I’m sorry I stole from your grandmother and lied to you, and I’m sorry I hurt you.”

  Rus gave him another shake and prompted him with, “What else did you want to tell him? Just like we rehearsed, and make it good.”

  “I’m a pathetic, worthless piece of shit, and I was never worthy of you. I’m so sorry, Beck. God, I’m sorry! Please don’t kill me!” He joined his cuffed hands in a gesture that looked like he was praying.

  I glanced at Rus, who smiled pleasantly and said, “There’s a whole lot of Pacific Ocean between here and the mainland. Want him to go for a swim?”

  I was pretty sure he was kidding, but Hal didn’t know that. He started crying and begging for mercy, and I let him squirm for a minute before saying, “Nah. He’s not worth it. Put the trash back where you found it.”

  Rus said, “Suit yourself, boss,” which was a nice touch.

  I started to turn away, and Hal stammered, “Is that it?”

  I turned back and punched him in the jaw, hard. He fell backwards onto the wet asphalt, and I leaned in and said, in a low voice, “You prey on innocent victims because it makes you feel like a bigger man, but you’re pathetic and weak, and that’s all you’ll ever be. And now you’re wasting my time.” I straightened up and told Rus, “Get him out of here, and make sure he knows that if he ever sets foot on Catalina again, I’m going to let you cut his balls off.”

  Rus looked delighted as he picked Hal up and threw him back into the helicopter, then climbed in after him. Dante and Vincent followed. I turned to Lee and kissed him before saying, “Thank you for that. Be safe tonight, and remember to check in a lot.”

  “I will. See you soon, psychi mou.” His sweet expression hardened when he turned toward the helicopter and caught a glimpse of Hal. I knew Lee wouldn’t kill him, but I also knew my ex was going to have a really miserable return trip to L.A., and I was just fine with that.

  Once I was back behind the wheel of the Jeep, the helicopter started up again. Moments later, it lifted off and soon disappeared into the clouds. Only then did I shake out my fist and mutter, “Ow.”

  I turned on the overhead light and counted the money I’d been given. Rus hadn’t been kidding about the ‘with interest’ part. The envelope contained twenty-two thousand dollars. Hal had stolen around fourteen thousand, which was the amount I’d paid back to my grandmother.

  Right then and there, I decided to donate the money to a charity I knew of that helped foster kids find permanent homes. It just seemed like some good should come from all of that.

  When I returned to the ranch, I sat in the driveway for a while, lost in thought. Sometime later, I jumped when someone knocked on the window. Ren was standing there, using a folded newspaper as a makeshift umbrella since the rain had picked up again. I got out of the Jeep, and he asked, “Is everything okay?”

  We crossed the courtyard as I told him what had just happened, and he asked, “Do you feel a sense of closure now?”

  “I will, in time. Right now, I’m still trying to process everything. I’ll say this, though. All of that was deeply satisfying.”

  “This calls for a cocktail.”

  As I held the lobby door open for my uncle, I said, “It calls for a whole pitcher of them.”

  Ren, Colt, Lorenzo, and Will (and a dog and a cat) kept me company while I waited for Lee and the Dombrusos to return. We all changed into our most comfortable sweats and pajamas and sat in front of the lobby’s fireplace, getting drunk while talking about nothing of importance. At one point, Lorenzo rested his head on Will’s shoulder while patting Madame Leota, and he murmured, “This is the best I’ve felt in a very long time.” When Will met my gaze across the coffee table, his expression could really only be described as optimistic.

  Lee was true to his word and messaged me often, but I was still worried. Finally, at around one in the morning, the trio returned. I raced across the lobby and grabbed my boyfriend in an embrace, and I kissed him
before asking, “How did it go?”

  “Really well. Harris and his men fell in line, so we let them go with the understanding that we won’t be nearly as forgiving if we catch even a whiff of trouble in the future. Harris is so terrified of the Dombrusos that I don’t expect any more problems from him.”

  “That’s great news.” Lee nodded and took off his suit jacket as I asked, “What did Poulos have to say for himself?”

  Lee looked tired as he leaned against the back of a chair and sighed. “Apparently he has a lot of resentment toward me, and it’s been festering for the past twenty years. He told me he was tired of always playing second fiddle to an arrogant prick, when by all rights he should have been the one to take over the business when my uncle died. Never mind the fact that I’d made him a very wealthy man, or that he himself had been the one to encourage me to take over the business, since I had a knack for calculating the odds, and he really didn’t.”

  “What did you do after you spoke to him?”

  “I left him on the street with an empty bank account. The arrogant prick giveth, and the arrogant prick taketh away.”

  “Well done.” I took my boyfriend’s hand and said, “Let’s go to bed.”

  We said good night to our friends, who all headed off in opposite directions. Will tucked his cat under his arm and fell into step with us as we climbed the stairs, and I asked Lee, “Did you beat up Hal on the way back to L.A.?”

  “Better. I dangled him out of the helicopter and make him piss himself with fear. After that, I dumped him at the L.A.P.D. with a list of confessions to crimes spanning nearly ten years.”

  Will said, “He had it coming. Shit, now that song from Chicago is instantly stuck in my head.” That made me chuckle.

  We said good night when we reached our room, and my friend and his cat continued down the hallway. After we got ready for bed, Lee slid under the covers and exhaled slowly. “Hell of a night,” I said, as my boyfriend rested his head on my chest.

  “It really was,” he murmured. “I can’t even tell you how glad I am to be home.” Hearing him refer to the ranch that way made me so happy.