by Неизвестный
His phone buzzed on the nightstand where he’d discarded it while shucking his clothes off to get naked with Brianna yesterday. The insistent and intrusive sound had a dim impact on his overall relaxed state. Time spent with Brianna filled moments he’d cherish from this day forth regardless of their future together.
He picked up his cell phone and answered, “Yes.”
“I’ve got news,” Matt said in a low voice.
“Bad news?”
“Most of it.”
Alex pushed out a long sigh. Shit.
Beside him, Brianna stirred. He didn’t want her to hear any part of this conversation if it was going to be all bad news.
“I’ll call you right back,” he whispered.
“I’ll be here.” He hung up.
Alex carefully extracted himself from bed. Rafe had left them almost an hour ago to tend to something on the ranch. Save the trip out the window and the visit to the barn, Brianna hadn’t seen much besides the ceiling and bedspread in her new room. Alex hoped beyond hope that she’d get to stay without inciting an all out war, but he was prepared to do just that.
Beams of sunshine sneaked in around the blinds on the west wall window, making him smile at yesterday's unexpectedly delightful day in bed. Not to mention that being in bed at this hour of the day was a rare occurrence for him. He liked it.
He pulled his clothes on quietly, exited to his den on the other side of the house, and called Matt.
“Tell me the good news,” he said before Matt could even say hello.
“I didn’t say there was any.”
“Make something up. I don’t want my good mood ruined yet.”
“Who are you, and what have you done with Alex Drakestone, the hardass in rancher’s clothing?”
“I’m happy. Get over it.”
“The only moderately decent news is that the contract for her nuptials hasn’t been filed yet. They must need her to sign a new agreement.”
Alex released a long breath. “Good. That means she has a choice.”
“Not necessarily. I still haven’t seen a copy of it yet. Maybe they haven’t filed it because she’s missing.”
“I doubt it. They must need her to sign a new one, like you said.”
“Will she sign it?”
“No. She won’t.”
Alex heard another phone ring in Matt’s office. “Hold on, I’ve been waiting all night for this call.”
There were some rustling sounds before Matt said, “Yes. Uh huh. Really? The bench warrant? Already? For what, specifically?” There was a very long silence. Then Matt whispered, “Shit.” More silence. And then, “Right. Yep. Thanks, Beau. I’ll meet you out there.”
“Who’s the bench warrant for?” Alex asked before Matt offered the information.
There was a long sigh, as if in resignation to more bad news. “Brianna Lancaster.”
Alex mashed his eyes shut and asked, “What’s the charge?”
“Breach of contract for alienation of affection. And they’re serving it today.”
“Today?” His eyes popped open wide. “He’s crazy.”
“As a shit-house rat.” Matt finished.
“Can she be arrested for that?”
“No. But it gives him the right to converse with her to straighten their dispute out, even if the argument is only one-sided. He names your ranch in the warrant because that’s her probable location, so you’ll be involved. The only good news is that along with the warrant, we’ll get to view the contract in question.”
“How long do I have?”
“They’re already on their way. I’d say anywhere between ten minutes and half an hour. No more. I’m leaving now. Tell them you’re waiting for council. They have to let you. I’ll be there within the hour.”
“Thanks, Matt.”
“Yep. See you in a few.”
Alex hung up, pocketed his phone, and went to Brianna’s room. It was empty. He shouldn’t be surprised. The first colors of dawn had long past lit her room up. Where would she go? He checked the window she’d exited from the day before, but it was still shut tight and locked from the inside. The bathroom was empty, too. He swiveled back the way he came and started searching the house. He found her a few minutes later in the kitchen.
“There you are.”
She turned and smiled. “Did you think I escaped through the window again?”
“It was the first place I looked, as a matter of fact. Are you hungry? I could make you a snack.”
“You could make me a snack, or I’d be the snack?” Her dimpled grin told him she was in a playful mood.
“Either works for me, but I wanted to let you know we’re about to have some unwanted company.”
She stiffened and came half out of her chair. Alex closed the short distance between them. “Hold up. I promise I’ll do whatever you want, but please tell me you plan to stay with Rafe and me for the time being.”
Her furtive glance went to the window beside them before resting on his face. “Yes. My current plan is to stay with you.”
“And have you signed any document with Cody or Simon?”
She frowned. “No. Of course not, but I was never offered one, either.”
“Good. Then the warrant they have for you is bogus.”
“Warrant? What warrant?”
“They’re claiming breach of contract and alienation of affection. They’re on the way here with the sheriff.”
Brianna huffed indignantly. “Those monsters! Can they do that? Make me leave with them?”
“I won’t let you leave with them.” And he meant it, too.
Alex put his hands lightly on her shoulders. “They are allowed time to speak with you, but if you want, my attorney, Matt, can join you as your council. Or I can.”
She stared over his shoulder as if pondering her options and future.
“Would your lawyer then tell you what I said?”
Alex paused a half a second before answering. “No. He could be your lawyer in confidence. But I’d like to think we don’t have secrets between us.”
“But we do. The truth is, you don’t know me very well at all.”
Alex slid his hands down her arms, grabbed her around the waist and leaned in close. Just short of kissing her, he whispered, “I know you in all the important ways. Don’t doubt it. You can trust me. And Rafe.”
“You’re very sweet, Alex, but I’ve got a few confidential things going on in my life that I’m not prepared to share with you or your brother right now.” He didn’t tell her that he already suspected he knew exactly what her secrets were. He was prepared to wait for her to trust him with the information.
“That’s fine. I have no problem if you keep all your secrets forever. Just stay with us. Please don’t leave.”
He gently touched his lips to hers. Just a soft kiss of affection. To his surprise, a single tear surfaced in one lower lid and spilled over and slid down one cheek.
“I wish you’d always want me to stay.” Another tear escaped and fell. She swiped it away and sniffed.
“Already true.” He pressed his body closer to hers wanting to reassure her.
“But if you knew my secret, you’d probably kick me out or help me to Cody’s car.”
He squeezed her tighter. “Not true, Brianna. Never will be true.”
She stepped away and shook her head. Before he could comfort her further, Rafe burst into the room.
“The sheriff’s here with Cody and Simon. Says they’ve got a warrant for Brianna Lancaster and want to speak with her before it’s served.”
“Too fucking bad. Go out and tell them we’re waiting for her lawyer to show up.”
Rafe’s brows furrowed. “Who’s her lawyer?”
“Matt.”
The sudden grin on Rafe’s face made Alex feel better. “Excellent. I’ll tell ‘em to cool their heels outside until he arrives.”
“Perfect.”
Rafe started to leave, but twisted back, crossed the room, and p
lanted a firm kiss on Brianna’s lips. “Relax. All of this will work out fine. Just wait and see.”
“I hope so.” But she didn’t look at all convinced. Alex thought he knew her secrets, but given her apprehension, perhaps he’d be surprised. Regardless, Cody and Simon weren’t leaving with her.
Not now, not ever.
* * * *
Brianna knew the reckoning had finally come. The next hour would decide her ultimate fate and the course of her future. Now more than ever before, she wanted to reside right here on this ranch. Once the matter of the contract was settled, she’d beg them to help her find her brother. And she prayed she wasn’t too late.
Forty minutes after Rafe had come in, he returned with the news that Matt, the lawyer, had arrived.
As she walked to the front door hand in hand with Alex, Brianna felt the knots in her stomach tighten. She had a very bad feeling in the pit of her soul. Cody wasn’t going to be easy to beat, and she dreaded Alex and Rafe finding out what she’d done.
They walked across the wide porch and down the planked wooden stairs to the bricked walkway. It led them to the assembled vehicles in the front yard. The sheriff had two vehicles at the ready. Cody and Simon stepped out of the back of a large black SUV parked behind the second patrol car.
At the end of the procession was a blue jeep. A tall, attractive man in a nice business suit stepped out carrying a briefcase in one hand and a sheaf of paper in the other. He marched past Cody and Simon and went directly to the sheriff. They began speaking in low tones that Brianna couldn’t hear. The man in the suit nodded and turned away abruptly before heading in their direction.
He walked straight to her, stopped, and handed his briefcase to Rafe before sticking his hand out to her. “Hi, I’m Matt Drakestone. I’m assuming, since you’re the only female in the vicinity, that you’re Brianna.”
“Yes.” She shook his hand “Are you another brother?” They didn’t look alike at all.
“No. We’re distant cousins, but don’t let that worry you. I may have the name, but I’m not in line to inherit any of this land even if they never have any kids. I promise, there’s no conflict of interest at all.”
But still, he was family, and Brianna wasn’t sure she wanted to divulge her secret to anyone with even a distant relationship to Rafe and Alex.
“Don’t worry. You can trust him.” This from Rafe.
“Let’s go inside and chat, shall we?”
Brianna allowed Matt to lead her back inside to the foyer. They left Rafe and Alex outside guarding the door.
“The warrant is based on the assumption that you’ve signed a contract with Cody and Simon already. Is that true?”
“No. I never signed anything with them.”
“Okay.” He started to go back outside.
“However, I signed a document with his predecessor, Dylan.”
Matt turned to her. “Did you sign a new one adding Simon when you arrived here?”
“No. I was only here a day before they left on a business trip. I think I was supposed to do so upon their return, but I ran instead.”
His brows furrowed. “Where did they go? Do you know?”
She shrugged. “To some big important land deal. I think they went to Texas.”
“Funny that they had you rush out here only to leave you alone for several days.”
“I thought so too. They summoned me in New York right after Dylan’s funeral and had me on the first flight out here practically in the middle of the night, but then they departed a day after I arrived. Left to my own devices, I explored the house and I found a disgusting film of them having sex with and whipping a woman.”
“Really.” Matt looked concerned. “And you exited their property after watching it?”
She nodded. “Yes, but I didn’t watch very much of it.”
“Where is it?”
“Back in my room there. Why?”
He pondered that for a while then shook his head as if he had too much more important information to consider. “Never mind.”
Matt rummaged in his briefcase for awhile and handed her a stapled set of paper. “This is the official agreement Alex and Rafe would like you to sign.”
“I signed a temporary agreement with them the first day I got here.”
Matt held up a familiar sheet of paper. “Right. I have that, but this is the formal typed up, official one that I’ll scan to be filed in court.”
“And it says the same thing?”
“Pretty much. It’s a standard contract stating that you are free and willing to be their bride. Further, you agree and stipulate that the contract is null and void if after three years you are unable to produce an heir for their land legacy.”
“Three years? I thought the temporary contract was for ninety days.”
Matt’s eyes widened a bit. “They had me change it. If you were to marry without this condition, you’d have to prove fertility in ten years. It is a much shorter time span.”
“Still very generous though.” Her heart pounded in a hopeful rhythm for the first time in weeks. She had longer than three or four months to get pregnant. She could stay with Alex and Rafe. A weight lifted off of her soul.
“They like you a lot. I can tell. Truthfully, I’d be surprised if they let you go even after three years. The terms can certainly be renegotiated.”
“Can I sign this adjusted agreement right now?” With three years to get pregnant, Brianna wanted the contract validated as soon as possible.
“We have to go out and deal with the warrant and Cody’s bogus contract, then I’ll have you sign it.”
“Okay. Then what happens?”
“When we go back outside, Cody and Simon have the right to speak to you semi-privately, regarding the warrant they’ve filed. However, as your lawyer, I’m allowed to be present, if you wish.”
“I do.”
“Great. They will likely try to threaten you or in some way coerce you to sign their document and leave with them.”
“I don’t want to leave with them.” She wanted Alex and Rafe and this life with them. Her perfect life was so close within her reach.
“Well, I’ve been duly informed that Alex and Rafe won’t allow it anyway,” he said with a grin. “Whatever they’ve got planned to convince you to leave with them, don’t believe it. I’ll be available to advise you accordingly.”
“Thanks.”
“No problem.”
They walked outside again along the same path she and Alex had traversed minutes ago. She was cautiously optimistic. She’d never had a lawyer before and found the sudden acquisition gave her a huge sense of relief. After all this business, she planned to ask him about getting custody of her brother transferred into her care.
She smiled at Alex and Rafe on the way by to stand before Cody, Simon, and the Sheriff.
“I’ve been worried about you, Brianna,” Cody said.
“So worried you swore out a warrant for my arrest? Your concern is touching.”
An evil smile appeared. The expression on his face was one she’d seen before. When Dylan was still alive and he’d been added to the contract, he’d had the same look. Like he’d won something. The first tendril of apprehension dissolved her good mood. Why was he so sure of himself?
“We need to speak in private, Brianna. Dismiss your lawyer.”
“No.”
"Very well." Cody cocked his head to one side. “Do you remember a mutual friend of ours named Dr. Nicholson? He’s the doctor we have on hand at our ranch property. I believe you met him at our home before you left for New York after Dylan’s funeral. Also I understand you spent quite a bit of time in his company while we were gone on business this past week.”
Bastard. How did he know that? She thought she’d been so careful not to be seen with the doctor.
Matt watched her carefully. “Who is Dr. Nicholson?”
Cody continued as if Matt hadn’t spoken. “He told me the most extraordinary thing about your health, Brian
na. He had to treat you while we were gone. I hope you’re feeling better.” His gaze darted to Matt.
“Are you sick, Brianna?” Matt asked. Shit. She sent an evil glare to Cody, trying to silently compel him to keep his mouth shut. Her urgent message said, “Don’t you dare tell him what you know.”
“Do you want me to share this private medical information with your lawyer?” Her insides liquefied in terror. No, I don’t want you to share, you sick fucking bastard.
Brianna turned to Matt, amazed she was able to stay on her feet without collapsing. “I need to speak to Cody alone, after all. Thanks for staying with me up to now.”
“I’m not leaving you alone with him.” His expression was dead serious. He turned to Cody. “Cancel the warrant and produce the contract she supposedly signed, or get off this property.”
“Fine. I’ll leave, but I have one more thing to say.” Cody smiled wider. “I wanted to tell Brianna that I contacted Kyle and his father recently. As a matter of fact, they are back at my ranch.” The fake smile faded to a sinister frown. “Waiting for you.”
“What? How is that possible? He’s with my step-father back in New York.” She almost added the word “hidden” but decided against it.
“I have more good news,” Cody said with confident zeal. “Your step-father and I have come to an agreement regarding Kyle’s future. I’ve named him as successor to my ranch and entire estate in case you aren’t able to produce any legal offspring for me and Simon.”
“Who’s Kyle?” Matt grabbed her arm gently and held on as if he was afraid he was losing her before his eyes. That wasn’t far from the truth.
Cody turned to Matt and answered before she even took a breath. “Kyle Lancaster is Brianna’s half-brother. Even though they had different biological fathers, I understand they’re very close. If you want, I’ll leave you here, Brianna. Kyle probably won’t be upset. Although, thirteen is such an awkward age, but not to worry, Simon and I will raise him up right regardless of your decision.”
“If I sign your contract, what happens to Kyle?” She imagined any number of tortures they’d hold over her head in order to get her to comply. But she wasn’t ever leaving Kyle with Cody and Simon. She’d have to leave to protect him and demand that they let him go back to New York with her odious step-father.