Forbidden Legacy

by Mari Carr

  “Harrison.” Michael claimed his usual seat next to Price. Harrison was amused by the ease with which they all assumed their usual places. How many times had the three of them sat in this office, discussing current events, analyzing happenings in society and deciding the future of their members? He would miss these moments with them. “How are you doing?” Michael asked.

  “I know why you’re here, Michael. We can skip the greetings.”

  Michael leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “You have three months, Harrison. Cutting it a bit close, aren’t you?”

  Harrison laced his fingers together, resting them on the surface of his large desk. “I’m perfectly aware of how much time is needed to form this relationship.”

  Actually, he had less than three months. He needed to choose his partners and meet them at the altar one month prior to their formal bonding ceremony. All trios were given one month to get to know each other and put their affairs in order before they embarked on a lifetime together. Which meant Harrison needed to secure his partners quickly.

  Michael frowned, his face revealing his concern. Michael had no doubt guessed what was holding Harrison back from solidifying his future.

  Theirfuture.

  But his friend’s suspicions were wrong.

  Michael had never asked why Harrison hadn’t found matches for him. At forty-four, Michael’s days as a single man were about to come to an end as well. Harrison could only surmise Michael understood exactly why he’d been left unattached for so long. If that was true, it proved to Harrison just how solid their friendship was. Michael trusted him. Which made this all so much more difficult.

  Price was relieved by Harrison’s easy acquiescence. “Then we can assume you have found suitable partners for yourself? As I mentioned last year, there is a bylaw that states two senior members can choose for you if you so desire. Michael and I would be happy to step in and do that.”

  “And as I said last year, I don’t need help.” Even as Harrison spoke the words, he recognized the fallacy. He was sinking, was neck-deep in quicksand, and if he didn’t uncover the identity of the man trying to destroy him soon, he would be swallowed completely.

  He didn’t just need help. He needed a miracle.

  “Then we can trust you to set your affairs in order?” Michael’s tone let Harrison know he really didn’t want to have to issue this ultimatum again.

  “You can.”

  Price seemed appeased, but Michael didn’t appear as reassured. Regardless, both men rose, nodded and took their leave.

  When the door closed behind them, Harrison closed his eyes, releasing a long sigh.

  Then he imagined her face. For fifteen years, it had been her. Always her.

  The first time they’d met, Harrison had still been a professor in Harvard’s School of Medicine. He’d held that position a decade before stepping up to assume his current duties as Dean of Admissions. Alexis had walked into his classroom and claimed a seat in the front row, her gaze challenging him to teach her something, anything.

  Everything.

  He’d never met a more intelligent woman, one with the desire to learn, the drive to succeed and the heart to excel in her field. She was clever and compassionate, talented and poised—all wrapped up in one beautiful package. She was everything the Trinity Masters sought in their membership.

  Harrison had issued her an invitation to become a part of their society the night of her graduation from medical school.

  And she’d refused to join.

  Harrison had forced himself to accept her decision, ignoring his disappointment. His broken heart.

  Alexis was the woman he couldn’t have, couldn’t share with his best friend, even though it was what he desired more than anything. She was the forbidden fruit.

  Harrison knew his duty to the society and understood the importance of his role.

  But he also knew his heart.

  And, sadly, they were working in direct opposition.

  Chapter Two

  Harrison worked his way through the stack of papers needing his attention. While the Grand Master’s office was hidden within the depths of the Boston Public Library, unattainable to all but a select few of the Trinity Masters, the same didn’t hold true for his office on campus. As dean of admissions, it seemed as if everyone knew where to find him. And they frequently did. Board of trustees who constantly sought him out mentioning nieces and nephews who would be perfect for the school, professors who wanted to know how this idiot or that one had managed to make it through the screening process, and Harvard Fellows who were always looking for the best and the brightest. Everyone needed something from him.

  Ordinarily, he thrived on the importance of his work, but lately, he simply felt exhausted. Felt it all slipping away.

  He put his pen down, unable to concentrate, and turned his leather chair so that he faced the window. It was a beautiful, sunny day, but the brightness was lost on him. A week had passed since Price and Michael’s visit. And in that time, he still hadn’t been able to set his plan in motion. Now time had truly run out.

  He twisted his signet ring, a habit he employed whenever he was stressed. Glancing down, he studied the Trinity Masters’ symbol. The bastard gunning for him had discovered it and was using it to taunt him. The symbol had appeared in places all over town—carved on the desk in this room and in the tree directly outside his condo, graffitied on various objects around campus and near his home. The blackmailer had put it countless places where he knew Harrison would see it. To the modern passerby, it would mean nothing, but Harrison recognized the danger and the personal threat.

  Recently, the appearances of the symbol had escalated. Twice in the last month, his Harvard computer had been hacked and the symbol saved on his desktop with the words, I’m coming, Harrison, written below it. Then last week, he’d returned home to find his home computer had been compromised as well. The blackmailer had planted a virus that had the same picture popping up over and over until Harrison had unplugged the machine. It was a picture of the dead escort in Chicago. The words on the picture said, you’re next, and as always, the Trinity Masters’ symbol was there.

  In the past, the triquetra had always represented strength and commitment, kept him grounded. Nowadays, the sight of it made his blood run cold with fear. He’d spent the better part of the last year trying to uncover the identity of his stalker, but each time he’d run into a brick wall. Because of the threat looming over his head, he had put off choosing a triad for himself. He wouldn’t drag anyone else into his nightmare or put them at risk. Now, he was out of time.

  His ruminations were interrupted when his office door was flung open loudly. Only one person let herself in unannounced. And sure enough, when he turned around, there she was—Dr. Alexis Jenner—shutting the door with too much force before stomping across the room.

  “You’ve got to say something to that man before I kill him.”

  Harrison struggled to hide his smile, perfectly aware of which man was pissing her off. It was the same man she complained about almost weekly. Michael.

  “What happened?”

  Alexis dropped into the chair across from his desk and released an annoyed breath. “He’s making my life difficult again. Practicing politics in a fucking hospital. Forgive me, but the last time I checked, I was there to save lives, not bend over and take it up the ass from a bunch of paper-pushers at the pharmaceutical companies.”

  “You have a delightful way with words, Lex.”

  She scowled. Whenever her temper was piqued, she started dropping the F-word like a comma. “Fuck you, Harry.”

  “What have I told you about calling me Harry?” No one in his life had ever dared to use that nickname on him…except Alexis.

  “Probably the same thing I’ve said to you about referring to me as Lex. Always makes me feel like a ditzy blonde cheerleader shaking her big pom-poms at a pep rally.”

  He chuckled at her description, wishing it didn’t tempt him to check out her
pom-poms. Alexis was slim with an hourglass shape that had cost him countless nights of restless sleep as he imagined what it would be like to strip her out of her doctor’s coat and lay her across his bed.

  Regardless of her complaint, he had no intention of calling her anything other than Lex. That was what she would always be to him. Which meant he’d have to deal with being Harry. “So it appears we’re at an impasse.”

  She lifted one shoulder casually. “Guess so, Harry.” She drew out his name, putting extra emphasis on it.

  He grinned. “You really need to try to get along with Michael. He’s your boss.”

  Reminding her of the reason for her visit sent her into orbit once more. “Don’t feed me the boss bullshit. He’s a gigantic pain in my ass.”

  Michael was the CEO of Boston General Hospital, where Alexis worked. She was one of the best and most innovative pediatric oncologists on the East Coast, perhaps in the country. After her graduation, Harrison had introduced her to Michael, who had been only too happy to allow the talented, driven young doctor to fulfill her residency requirements at Boston Gen. Once she’d finished that, Michael had offered her a fulltime position.

  Since then, Harrison had been called upon to play referee between the two as they had a tendency to go head-to-head on most issues. Despite their differences, Harrison knew Michael had a special fondness for Alexis. It was hard not to. She was the most dedicated doctor either of them had ever met.

  Alexis practically lived at the hospital, sacrificing a personal life for her professional one. Harrison couldn’t recall the last time she’d gone out on a real date. He liked to tease her that he was her only steady date. They met every Thursday for lunch in the hospital cafeteria. Unlike her other dates, she’d never canceled on him, mainly because he wouldn’t let her. No matter what was going on, he insisted she meet him. As a result, they’d eaten more than a few lunches at ten p.m.

  “Tell me what happened with Michael, Lex.”

  “He informed me I have to stop using a particular practice we’ve been utilizing for years because the FDA has suddenly decided they need more trials run. I’ve done my research. No one has been hurt by this practice. More likely it’s someone’s attempt at justifying their job. This treatment is working with one of my patients. Why the hell would I take away something that’s helping because some idiot sitting behind a desk in Maryland realized they forgot to cross one T or dot an I?”

  “He’s only doing his job.”

  Alexis threw her hands up. “Oh really? Is that what he’s doing? Because in case you failed to notice, that’s what I’m trying to do too. Sometimes he’s just completely unreasonable. And lately he’s been walking around like a bear with a thorn in his paw, growling at everyone.”

  Michael had been down lately, and Harrison knew why. Michael was friends with Jonathan and he’d spent a great deal of time trying to help the man come to terms with his grief. Harrison had attended Sylvia and Janet’s funeral and since then, he had spent quite a bit of time struggling to understand the senseless and tragic loss himself. No doubt it was even harder for Michael.

  “Go easy on him, Lex. He’s had a rough couple of weeks.”

  “Why?”

  Harrison debated hedging, then decided it would be best to tell her the truth. “Do you remember hearing about those two women who were killed in a really bad car accident recently?”

  Alexis nodded, her eyes reflecting her sadness. Neither woman had survived, killed instantly in the fiery crash. “Yeah, I remember reading about it in the newspaper. They were best friends, right? Out for their monthly shopping trip to some organic farm in Winchester?”

  “Michael knew them.”

  “Oh. God. I’m sorry. I didn’t know that.”

  Harrison stood, walked in front of his desk and leaned on the surface. He felt the need to be closer to her. “I know you didn’t. It’s okay. He’s just having a tough time coming to grips with it.”

  Alexis gave him a crooked but compassionate grin. “So what you’re saying is the Tin Man has a heart.”

  Harrison chuckled. “Michael wouldn’t be amused if he knew you called him that.”

  Alexis waved away his concern. “I’ve said it to his face a hundred times. This morning, in fact, which makes me feel horrible.” She glanced toward the window and Harrison could read the guilt in her expression.

  “I wouldn’t worry too much about that. He never stays mad at you for long.”

  She lifted one shoulder, her face still troubled. “Unfortunately, I still need your help with my patient.”

  “What do you expect me to do, Lex? Michael is the CEO. He makes the calls at Boston Gen.”

  “Will you talk to him? He listens to you. Ask him if he can get a waiver from the FDA or see if we can get the parents to sign something granting me permission to continue with the treatment.”

  “How old is he?”

  Alexis bowed her head, and suddenly Harrison understood her agitation. She was fighting to save a child. “Eight. He’s dying.”

  Harrison’s heart broke at the desolation in her voice. He worried about Alexis. While she appeared tough as nails on the outside, he knew exactly how much she cared about her patients. She celebrated when children were healed and she mourned deeply for the ones who couldn’t be saved.

  “I’ll speak to him. See if something can be done for this little boy.” One of the Trinity Masters was the Director of the FDA. Harrison suspected he could get her I dotted quicker than she realized or perhaps they could even offer her another better solution. Several of the Trinity Masters had been making huge strides in cancer research and treatment. There was a drug currently being tested at the FDA that had the potential to eradicate several types of cancers. Harrison would place a call and see where they stood in the trials.

  Alexis smiled gratefully. “Thanks. So what deep thoughts did I interrupt?”

  “Pardon me?”

  “When I came in, you were looking out the window. You’re never idle. What’s wrong?”

  It was on the tip of Harrison’s tongue to say nothing. That was the smarter answer, but he couldn’t keep pushing this problem away. It was time to get the ball rolling, to set things in motion. “I’m getting married.”

  Alexis blinked once, twice. He watched her work overtime to school her features before she managed to say, “Oh. I see. Congratulations.”

  He crossed his arms. “That’s it?”

  She narrowed her eyes. “What else do you want me to say?”

  “Don’t you want to know who I’m marrying?”

  Harrison had to hand it to her. Alexis didn’t look away, didn’t seek to leave. This conversation was clearly tough for both of them, but she didn’t balk. “Not particularly.”

  Her sullen tone pleased him, but he was careful not to let his expression show that. For too many years, the two of them had skirted around their feelings, rejected what they both knew was there.

  He knew why they did it. She did too.

  But Harrison couldn’t go to the altar to pledge his life to someone else without trying one more time.

  No. That wasn’t true. Even if she rejected him, he wouldn’t step foot in that ceremony room.

  “You remember I’ll be taking two partners.”

  She winced, but he forged on.

  “It’s what’s expected of members of the Trinity Masters.”

  Alexis scowled. “You haven’t said those words to me in ten years. I thought that secret had to stay in the vault.”

  Alexis was truly unique, special. In addition to her talents as a doctor, her quick wit and her endless capacity for compassion, she was one of only a handful of people over the past two hundred years who hadn’t accepted an invitation to join the Trinity Masters.

  Due to the secret nature of the society, many legal forms were signed that ensured the Trinity Masters’ privacy in the event someone didn’t want to join. To reveal the organization would bring certain downfall to the person, discredit them, ruin
them. However, because potential members were vetted closely before being invited to join, it was unusual for someone to turn them down.

  Alexis had.

  Harrison left his spot at the desk and took a seat in the chair next to her. “I know we haven’t discussed this in a very long time, but I wanted to explain a few things to you more clearly. Things I never had the chance to expound upon before.”

  She turned to face him, crossing her legs as she did so. The movement drew Harrison’s gaze lower. She wore stockings beneath her skirt. He could see the faint impression left from the snaps in the material. Though Alexis eschewed relationships, dating and—for the most part—sex, her innate sensuality still shone through…in her wardrobe and the shiny lipstick she wore. The two of them never discussed their sexual affairs. He suspected Alexis had taken a few men to her bed over the years, but those encounters must have been brief without a hint of commitment or emotion attached.

  “Go ahead,” she prompted.

  “I’m a legacy. Did I ever tell you that before?”

  She shook her head.

  “It means I am one of a long line of Trinity Masters. My father and grandfather and several greats before were all members. My parents were part of a trinity.”

  She tilted her head curiously. “I’ve met your mom and dad. It was just them.”

  “No. It wasn’t. You also met my Uncle Edward.”

  He watched recognition dawn. “Oh. I see.”

  “I’ve been brought up from the cradle perfectly aware of what my destiny held. I believe in this society, in what it offers to the world. It’s my life.”

  “Why are you telling me this?”

  “I want you to understand that the Trinity Masters isn’t just some club to me. It’s shaped me, molded me, made me the man I am today. I wouldn’t be sitting in this office without them.”

  “Okay. I get it.” She reached out to take his hands in hers. “I know what it means to you. And I know that being a part of that group means taking two partners. If you’re afraid this will change our relationship, that I won’t want to continue being friends, you’re wrong.”