“That’s not very reassuring.”
“I’m not exactly happy about this situation either. I thought you were safe now.”
Irritated to be reminded of that world yet again, she snapped, “What the hell would they want with me?”
“Let’s hope we’re both jumping to conclusions.”
She tried to lighten the darkening mood. “Maybe they just want the Rocky Road I picked up. It was the last one in the freezer case.”
“That’s because you’ve bought them out the last couple of weeks.”
“You ate just as much as I did.”
“I still can’t get licking that drip off your breast out of my mind.”
The memory made her smile. “You made me spill it in the first place.”
“All part of my dirty plan to get you out of your shirt.”
“And everything else.”
“Ah, you’re on to me.” She pictured his wicked grin.
Though she appreciated Dawson’s distraction, she still kept a wary gaze on the SUV now closing in behind her. “They’re getting closer.”
“Increase your speed. Don’t let them pull up beside you and run you off the road. If they hit you from behind, don’t slam on the breaks. Try to keep the car steady and straight.”
Two more curves and a short straightaway and she’d be home. “I’m almost there. I just passed where we saw that beautiful gray wolf the other night.”
“When you get here, stay in the car and keep your head down.”
“Dawson, I don’t like this.”
“I’m not thrilled either, but I will protect you.”
“Dawson?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you.”
“I love you, too. You’re going to be okay.”
“I’m pulling in now.” The soft turn into their driveway allowed her to punch the gas and speed up the long driveway and into the yard. She did as Dawson asked and parked with her door facing the front of the house. If they fired on her, she’d be able to slip out and use the car as a shield.
Dawson kneeled on the porch, rifle at the ready resting on the railing. He had a gun holstered at his side and another handgun on the floor by his knee. She’d never seen him in work mode, but he didn’t break his focus or concentration to spare her a look. He kept his steady gaze on the driveway behind her.
She sank down in her seat and spied the black SUV pulling into the driveway in the side mirror. The car rolled to a slow stop. The two men in the front seat wearing nearly identical black suits and white dress shirts got out with their hands raised. They moved to the front of the vehicle and stood side by side next to the driver’s fender. Another man got out of the backseat, shielded from Dawson by the two guards.
“Special Agent King, I’m here to speak to Miss Cara Potter.”
“Who the hell are you?” Dawson barked out.
“Fernando Rios.”
“What is the cartel’s lawyer doing here?”
“Miss Potter’s father sent me.”
Dawson swore. “Tell your men to lay their guns on top of the hood and move to the pasture fence at the back of the vehicle.”
A tense silence stretched for fifteen seconds. Finally, Señor Rios gave the order. “Do as he says.”
The guards complied and left Señor Rios holding his briefcase and standing in the open in Dawson’s sights.
“Come on out, sweetheart.” Dawson leaned the rifle against the railing, picked up the gun at his knee, and stood with it aimed at the three men in front of him. “You guys move, I’ll shoot you.”
“Agent King, this is unnecessary. I come with information only.”
“When the cartel shows up at my house, a gun is necessary.”
“I am not here on the cartel’s behalf. I am here representing Mr. Potter.”
“That doesn’t ease my mind.”
Cara understood Dawson’s anger and suspicions. “Señor Rios, what do you want?”
He held up his briefcase. “I have something for you. Your father’s last request.”
Dawson shook the gun at Señor Rios. “Whatever he wants from her now, you can shove it up your ass.”
Señor Rios frowned and shook his head. “His last request is that I dispense her inheritance.”
Cara held up her hand to stop Dawson from talking for her again. “I don’t want his drug money.”
“He knew you’d say that, so spent the better part of his life amassing a fortune in legitimate investments.”
“How?” Dawson asked. “The money had to come from the money he earned from the cartel.”
“Well, while it’s true he bought a small stake in a startup brewing company, upon his death, his share in the company was donated to a nonprofit halfway house for ex-con rehabilitation and vocational training.”
“What?” Cara had no idea her father would even consider helping people less fortunate than him.
“He thought it fitting, seeing as his daughter”—he pointed to her—“you, spent the last few years doing the very same thing.”
It touched her that he’d support others in finding a better life because she’d shown him the way.
“He took the profits he earned from that legitimate business and invested. Just like in his life, he understood that the higher the risk, the better the rewards. Though of course he suffered some losses, overall he built quite a nest egg for you. Upon his passing, as per his instructions, all his investments were divested. I am here to deliver a cashier’s check made out to you, his daughter, and one and only heir.” Señor Rios waved his hand to the chairs on the porch. “May we sit and I’ll go over everything with you?”
Stunned, she stood there staring at him, completely taken off guard by his news. “What about all the money he made working for the cartel?”
“If you want it, it’s yours. If not, your father instructed that the sum be divided amongst several nonprofit vocational and scholarship programs for minority students.”
She couldn’t wrap her brain around any of it. “I don’t understand. This doesn’t sound like the man I knew.”
“Maybe it sounds like the man you wanted your father to be,” Dawson suggested, understanding the complex relationship she had with her father.
Señor Rios approached her and the steps to the porch. “Please, Miss Potter, let’s sit and I will show you everything.”
Señor Rios held his hand out to indicate she precede him up the steps. She did and sat in the chair closest to Dawson. He would want Señor Rios facing him and in his line of sight the whole time. In fact, Dawson moved closer as Señor Rios sat down and opened his briefcase on his lap, making sure to do so with it sideways so Dawson could see there wasn’t a gun or something worse inside.
Señor Rios took two folders out, closed the briefcase, and set them on top. He opened the first one and held a check out to her. “The money from the legitimate investments.”
She held the check between her two hands and stared at the figure. “Six million, two hundred ninety-seven thousand, four hundred twenty-seven dollars, and thirty-six cents.”
“The full amount less penalties for withdrawing from certain investments, the brokerage fees, and my payment.” Señor Rios handed over the open folder with a statement and the full accounting of the money. “Everything is in order. The taxes have been paid. That is yours to do with as you please without any guilt that the money came from illicit activity.”
“How do we know you didn’t fabricate those documents?” Dawson glared at Señor Rios knowing it was probably something he did for the cartel all the time to launder their money.
“You’re DEA, able to investigate and validate all the information I’ve provided. If you don’t believe me, perhaps Cara will believe her father.” Señor Rios handed over a sealed white envelope. “He entrusted this to me a long time ago. It thrilled him to no end the way you scolded him and went after him for being a bad man. He admired your principles and ideals, your spunk and fortitude. He knew whatever ha
ppened in your life, you had the strength to conquer and endure.”
Tears pricked her eyes and clogged her throat. She didn’t know what to say. She never expected this from her father. Maybe if she’d set aside her resentments and anger, she might have seen past what she thought she saw in him and who he truly was before it was too late.
“Now, the cartel held your father in high regard. Loyalty, trust, these things are paramount to them. For his service, they asked me to do one final thing for you.”
Dawson took a step forward, both guns still at his sides, but his looming presence made Señor Rios glance up and wince at the fierce look on Dawson’s face.
“Uh, we understand the insurance company has delayed and balked at paying out your claim on the restaurant. I contacted them and persuaded them to do what is right.”
“I’m sorry, you did what?” Cara touched her fingertips to her spinning head.
“They heard my arguments against them delaying further and have issued the amount owed to you.” He handed her the last folder. “All the information is inside, along with the check paying out the claim.”
Cara glanced over the check and the letter from her insurance company stating the claim was paid in full and the case closed.
“Now, you still own the property. If you wish to keep it, great. If not, the cartel is willing to pay you for the property at a better than fair price.” At this, Señor Rios glanced back up at Dawson.
“For what purpose?” Dawson held Señor Rios’s gaze.
“To make things easier for Miss Potter. It’s unlikely she’ll rebuild now that she lives so far away. It’s a desirable piece of real estate with the gas station and truck stop. A restaurant or motel would be just what the area needs.”
Cara looked up at Dawson. “I didn’t plan to keep it or ever go back there.”
“We’ve talked about you finding work in town or opening your own business. I support whatever you want to do, so long as it makes you happy. You don’t have to decide right now. Take your time and think about it.”
“I want it to be done.”
“If that is the case . . .” Señor Rios took another folder out of his briefcase. “I’ve taken the liberty of drawing up the papers. Sign and have them notarized and returned to me and I will transfer the funds to your account or cut you a check. Whichever you choose.”
Cara accepted the folder.
“Are you sure?” Dawson asked.
“If I put it on the market, they’ll only buy it under some shell corporation.” She confirmed her suspicions with one look at Señor Rios’s guilty eyes. “Let’s just keep this simple.”
Señor Rios stood and held his hand out to her. “A pleasure to meet you, Miss Potter. You are, in fact, as your father asserted on many occasions, an extraordinary woman.”
She stood, set the folders on the chair behind her, and took his hand. “Thank you, Señor Rios. I appreciate you coming today to deliver all of this.”
“And you won’t be back, right?” Dawson eyed Señor Rios.
“Our business is concluded,” Señor Rios confirmed.
“And the cartel will leave Cara alone from now on,” Dawson ordered, the two guns at his side a warning that they didn’t want to mess with him.
“The cartel wishes you well in your new life.” Señor Rios nodded to her in goodbye and made his way down the stairs to the SUV. The guards by the pasture fence moved forward at a cautious pace. They retrieved their guns from the hood of the car with their fingertips as to not provoke Dawson or make him think they were a threat. The men piled into the car and drove out of the yard and down the driveway. Not until they were out of sight did Dawson relax his stance or stop watching their retreat.
“I think it’s okay to put the guns down now.”
Dawson finally turned to her, his gaze soft and filled with sympathy. “Are you okay?”
The weight of the past evaporated. “It’s finally over. There’s nothing left tying me to that place or that world anymore.” She glanced down at the folders. “I can do whatever I want now.”
“What do you want, Cara?” Dawson never said anything but he’d been paying attention to her these last weeks. She’d existed in a state of suspension in her life, neither moving forward nor truly letting go of the past. She hadn’t made plans beyond moving in with him and doing what he asked and making this place their home.
“Did you know there’s a space for rent two blocks from your office?”
“No.”
“It used to be a sandwich shop.”
“Oh, yeah. I think I went there once but it was overpriced and not as good at Mickey’s down the street.”
“Exactly. And how many times have you complained the last few weeks that you wished there was a decent place to get a burger or something closer to the office?”
He smiled. “Are you going to cook me lunch every day?”
“I was thinking about it. I mean, how many people work in your office? There are several other businesses close by. The rent is a bit steep, but I think I can swing it.” She pointed to the folders.
“Will you still make those amazing donuts?”
“You’ll have to convince me.”
“My favorite thing to do.”
“I have to say, you’re incredibly sexy when you’re pissed and armed.” She swept her gaze over his broad chest, bulging biceps, the guns in his strong but gentle hands, and the intense look in his eyes that told her one thing: I want you.
She walked up to him, rubbed her hands up his chest, over his shoulders, and around his neck. She didn’t need to wait for him to dip his head for her kiss. He met her halfway. The guns rested against her bottom as he held her close. “You should put those guns down and put your hands on me.”
She kissed him again, then reluctantly backed away and smoothed her hands over his hard chest. “Come inside with me.”
“Don’t you have groceries in the car?”
She let her head fall back and stared up at the porch light overhead. “Shoot.”
“I wanted to, but I thought you’d had enough of that.” His sexy grin tied her belly into knots.
She laughed. “Definitely. You put the guns away. I’ll get the groceries.” With one more kiss, she released him and jogged down the steps to her car, hoping she was in time to save the ice cream.
She put away the perishables, left the other stuff on the counter, and went back out to get the papers Señor Rios left with her, including the letter from her father. It tied her stomach in knots. She wanted to know what he had to say after all he’d done for her but a part of her told her to leave it be.
Curiosity won out. She sat on the sofa in the living room, stared up at the photos of her and her grandparents she’d added to the photos of Dawson and his family on the mantel.
She opened the letter and caught the stack of photos that fell out. She didn’t look through them all, but stared at the picture of her much younger father holding her as a baby in his tattooed arms. The smile and love in his eyes as he looked down at her caught her breath and made tears gather in her eyes.
She took a deep breath to brace herself and read her father’s final words to her.
Cara Bear,
A tear slipped down her cheek. She’d forgotten the nickname he’d used so long ago when he came to visit and tried so hard to make her understand that he had to leave again even though he didn’t want to leave her ever.
Resentment and bitterness had made her forget, but now she let her fond memories flow.
I wasn’t always the man I became. You know why I had to give you up even if you didn’t want to accept it. Your safety and happiness remained my number-one priority, though doing the first meant you couldn’t seem to find the second. I hope now that I’m gone you finally have both. Find someone who loves you with as much capacity of love as I’ve seen you show others, including me, though you did so reluctantly. That is where you will find true happiness.
The money I’ve left you is my attemp
t to show you that some of the man who once held an angel in his arms still existed, if only for you. Do whatever makes you happy from now on. Never let anyone tell you who you are or what you should be.
Where you come from is not the place you have to end up. Spread your wings. Fly. Because if anyone can, I know it’s you, my sweet Cara Bear.
Though I didn’t say it enough, or show you the way you deserved, I always loved you.
Love, Dad
“Cara, sweetheart, are you okay?”
She reached out, took Dawson’s hand, and pulled him down beside her on the sofa. She leaned into his side, his arms around her, his love in the sweet kiss he pressed to her lips when she stared up at him, and he wiped her tears away with the gentle sweep of his thumb.
“I am loved by an amazing man.”
Dawson fanned the pictures of her and her father on her lap. “It’s easy to see in these how much he loved you.”
“That’s not what I meant. Yes, he loved me. I know that now. I believe it. But he’s not the man I was talking about. Because of you, I’m better than okay. I have everything I ever wanted. You love me.”
“Yes, I do.”
She set the photos on the coffee table, turned to Dawson, and held his handsome face in her hands. “And now we can leave the past behind and look forward to our future together.”
His sexy smile just might kill her, but the heat in his eyes promised she’d die happy. “You, me, and a whole lot of this.” In his kiss, she found the promise of a lifetime of heaven.
Epilogue
Cara loved Sunday. It had become the one day of the week she and Dawson kept for themselves. And six months of Sundays proved that true love grew each and every day. She’d never been this happy or fulfilled in her whole life.
Everything had changed for the better. Burger Addict, her new restaurant, had become the hot spot. With specialties like the Southern Comfort, a smoky barbecue burger, and Pacific Bleu, a burger with avocado and blue cheese dressing, she pleased and tempted every burger lover. Dawson loved the Border Patrol that included avocado and a spicy salsa she made from scratch. She did pretty well with the various chicken burgers and salads that rounded out the menu. But people also came just for dessert. Dawson’s favorite donuts, cherry tarts he sometimes made for her just for old times’ sake, other sweets from her grandmother’s old recipes Crossroads Coffee had become known for, but she’d added thick ice cream shakes. The real stuff, just like Dawson liked.
True to You Page 29