When Fate Isn't Enough

by Isabelle Richards

  Before I have the chance to answer, he stands. “Don’t know about you, but I need a refill. You’re going to love this one. Hot chocolate, tequila, Kahlua, and Grand Marnier.”

  I laugh. “Jesus, Max. You’re pretty serious about keeping me incapacitated.”

  A few minutes later, Gavin comes out with my refill. “If the law enforcement thing doesn’t work out, Max can switch gears and become a bartender. This is brilliant.” He joins me on the sofa and pulls me close.

  I take a sip and put it back down. It’s good but strong.

  “Are you okay, luv?”

  “I’m sloshed before noon. I’m not sure that qualifies as okay.”

  He threads his fingers in mine. “How are you feeling about everything Max told you?”

  “I’m petrified. I just don’t get it. I’m not that interesting. You’d think they’d have bigger enemies to go after.”

  He sighs and speaks with a quiet, somber tone. “You damaged their reputation. Your story has gotten out. You got away, you pulverized one of their men, and you snuck into their turf and snatched someone they were about to make a play for. You keep making them look bad, and they can’t handle that. They think you snitched on them, and they cannot tolerate betrayal. Going after you will set precedent.”

  “Criminal psychology a hobby of yours?” I ask.

  He tucks a lock of hair behind my ear. “This is part of my job. I help people fight bad guys, so I have to understand how the bad guys work.”

  I fiddle with my cross. “I keep forgetting about that. You don’t talk about your job too often. Conceptually, I know what you do, but I really have no freaking clue. I always thought it was more communication technology. Walkie-talkies and whatnot. ”

  He laughs. “It’s more complicated than that. We do make communication products. Very fancy walkie-talkies. We have a whole division that develops medical products to be used in the field. The bulk of what I do is top secret, so I can’t discuss it. Just know that there’s no one on this planet who can keep you safer than I can.” He kisses the tip of my nose. “You just have to let me.”

  I wink. “My own personal James Bond, huh? You do look mighty fine in a tux, Mr. Edwards.”

  “I’m being serious, luv. This situation is a colossal clusterfuck. It has gotten completely out of control, and you won’t be able to dodge it alone. We have to hit this head on, and that makes it way out of your league. Promise me you’ll let Max and I take care of things. I know you don’t like anyone else running the show, but you have to let go. If not for you, then for me. I’ll never recover if something happens to you. So for my sanity and your safety, please do as we ask.”

  Between the spiked hot chocolate and the heavy conversation, I don’t have the strength to fight him. I hate being a sitting duck. If someone’s coming for me, I’d rather fight them head on. But that is a conversation for another time.

  “We need to get Liam out of here,” Gavin says when I don’t argue. “It isn’t safe here. With all the press you’ve been getting, our address is public knowledge. In a few days, I want to move you to the country house. The property records are in the name of the estate. Even if someone comes looking for you, it’ll take some time before they figure out I have property there. I’m installing additional security, and as soon as they’re ready, I want you out of here.”

  I snort. “Another wonderful upside of being on baby watch.”

  “In some ways, it’s another level of protection. It’s hard to get to you through a gaggle of photographers,” he replies.

  I laugh. “I can see one of the paparazzo taking out a hit man just because they think he’s trying to steal the better shot. Those guys are vicious. The cartel better watch out!”

  “Sad but true,” Gavin replies. “Do you think Em can help get Liam home?”

  I shake my head. “I don’t think Liam or Max will be speaking to Em anytime soon.”

  He sips his hot chocolate. “Do I even want to know what happened with them last night?” he asks.

  I shrug. “Typical Em. Making everyone fall for her but remaining perpetually unattached.”

  “Ah,” he says. “I thought she and Liam were different. I thought there might be something real there.”

  “With Em, you can never tell. I’ll call James. It’s the perfect excuse for me to check on him without being too obvious.”

  He narrows his eyes. “Why would you need to check on him? What else did I miss?”

  “He went home with O,” I answer.

  Gavin shakes his head. “I love James as a brother, but I’ll never be able to save him from himself. Liam’s a big boy; he can get home on his own. I’ll go kick him in the arse and get him in a cab.” He kisses me on the forehead. “I’m going to go check in with Max.”

  I grab his elbow. “Hey, Lorenzo gave me a bunch of stuff for my go-bag. What the hell’s a go-bag?”

  “A bag with everything you’d need to flee. Money, identification, passport, important documents. When you leave with a go-bag you don’t plan on returning.”

  I run my cross along my necklace. “Do I need one?”

  “I’ve heard of worse ideas.”

  Max and Gavin stay squirreled away all day, plotting and keeping me drunk enough that I can’t contribute. I throw in a few suggestions like, “Let’s just nuke the fuckers,” and “What if we dress up as ninjas and kill them all in their sleep?” Nothing productive, but they’d make excellent ideas for a movie. By sundown, I’ve been drinking all day and fall fast asleep. With the amount and crazy mix of liquor I’ve had, I could sleep for a week.

  *******

  “Lily, wake up,” Gavin whispers. “Come on, something important is going on. I know you may still be knackered, but you have to get up.”

  I cover my eyes to block out the light. “Urg, what time is it?” I groan.

  “Two thirty in the afternoon,” he replies.

  “What day is it?”

  “Monday. You’ve been asleep for almost a full day.”

  “Holy crap.” I jump up. “Wait! Did Max drug me to make sure I don’t interfere? I’ll kill him.”

  He laughs. “No, luv. You were just really blitzed and over-tired. But there’s a major situation we need to discuss.”

  “Okay, okay. I’m up,” I reply. “What’s going on?”

  Gavin looks tense, like he’s dreading this conversation. Gavin doesn’t dread anything, so that furrowed brow makes me very nervous.

  He takes a deep breath. “Lily, do you have a child?”

  I rub my eyes. “What? No, Gavin, I don’t have a child. Don’t you think you would know if I have a child?”

  “I know you don’t currently have a child, but did you ever have a child?” he asks.

  The worry in his eyes breaks my heart. He really thinks I would keep something this monumental from him.

  “Oxford, I’ve never, ever been pregnant. Never even had a scare. What is all this about?”

  He drops his head back and releases a deep sigh, I’m guessing of relief. I’m pretty sure I hear him mumble, “Oh thank heavens,” but I can’t be sure.

  He grabs me by the neck and pulls me in for a fiery kiss. “Greene called. Your condo was broken into and trashed. There was a note that said they were going to find your son.”

  “My son?” I can’t imagine who they’re talking about. Gavin rattles off some more information about the damage to my condo, but I’m not really listening.

  It isn’t until later, while I’m brushing my teeth, that it clicks.

  “Gavin! I shout.

  He runs into the bathroom. “Luv?”

  I put my toothbrush back on the charger. “Did they say my kid or Ash’s kid?”

  “I don’t know. Why?” he asks.

  “Ash had a kid with that stripper, Crystal. I mean, we don’t have a DNA test, but the kid looks just like him. I don’t know what happened to him after she died. That’s the only thing I can think of.”

  “That’s an idea. I’m going b
ack to the office to see Max. I’ll keep you posted.” He kisses me and runs off.

  I hope I’m wrong and that they haven’t drug that poor boy into it. He’s already been through so much. He lost his mother and his good-for-nothing sperm donor of a father. Guilt wells up inside me. How have I not thought about him? When I saw his picture at Crystal’s apartment, I knew what Charlie had done to her and that the boy was probably all alone. I should have done something. I’ve taken on all of Ash’s debts and responsibilities except for the most important one. So many innocent lives are at risk because of Ash, and as much as I want to, I can’t blame it all on him. I’ve done a masterful job of endangering the lives of everyone around me because I was sure I could take care of this on my own.

  I spend the rest of the afternoon sulking and brooding. I’m making brownies, a much needed accompaniment for my pity party, when my phone plays “I Think I Love You” by the Partridge Family.

  “Hello, James,” I answer “I’ve been worried.”

  “Lily, I’m stuck, and I don’t know what to do.”

  I can hear the agony in his voice.

  I put the pan in the oven, and set the timer. “Start from the beginning. What’s wrong?”

  “I’ve been with O since Saturday. When she’s lost it like this in the past, it just takes her a few hours to snap back. But not this time. I can’t get her to eat or sleep. All she talks about is how she has to get Gavin and get rid of you. Half the time she doesn’t make any sense; she just rants and raves endless nonsense. Seriously, Lily, I’m worried. She’s gone completely mad. What if she hurts herself… or someone else? The way she talks about going after you…”

  I sit at the table while I process what he’s telling me. “Jesus,” I say quietly. “With Daphney’s history, it’s something we need to consider. Have you spoken to her parents?”

  “Her parents left for holiday after the gala. I can’t reach them. I’m scared to leave her alone. I don’t know what to do.” He’s quietly sobbing.

  “You need to call her doctor. Sounds like she needs a sedative and maybe some antidepressants or something. I’ll talk to Gavin; maybe he has some ideas. You need to get some rest too. Does she have any other friends or family who can stay with her?”

  He clears his throat. “Her cousin’s on her way over. I have a business trip tomorrow, so I need to go home and pack. I’m just scared.”

  My heart breaks for him. “James, I can’t imagine what you must be feeling. It sounds like the situation has gotten out of hand. Please call her doctor,” I say.

  “I’ll call him right now.”

  “I wish I could help you more, but if I get involved it will probably agitate her more. Keep me posted.”

  “Of course,” he says as he clicks off.

  Gah! I feel as if we’re stuck in this cyclone of catastrophe. Everyone and everything in my life is an unstable disaster. I pray to God something lets up, and soon!

  Chapter Thirty

  Max and Gavin don’t get home until after midnight, and they plan on being back in the office before sunrise. Even though I slept for almost a full day, I’m exhausted. Excessive drama drains all the life out of you. My life has been pure chaos for over a week, and my nerves, brain, and heart just can’t keep up.

  Max is still trying to locate Crystal’s son. He found out that the kid went into foster care after Crystal’s death, but that’s as far as he’s gotten. Everyone agrees that the boy is most likely who the cartel was talking about. If they think he’s my kid, he could be in real danger.

  I talk to Gavin about O, and he promises to reach out to her parents and family in the morning. I know I shouldn’t waste a moment’s thought on her, but I can’t leave this all on James. My biggest fear is that she’ll try to kill herself to get Gavin’s attention. Her sister will forever be in Gavin’s heart because of her suicide, and I wouldn’t put it past O to give it a try. She loves herself way too much to actually harm herself, but she’s bat-shit crazy enough to make it look convincing.

  After our short chat about O, I’m out like a light. When I come to the next morning, Max and Gavin are gone. Gavin left a note telling me to pack and be ready to leave for the country house this afternoon. I’m going there indefinitely, so I pack up everything. When I applied for my visa, I hired movers to go to my condo, pack up the rest of my clothes, and ship them to me. I still don’t have very much, but I might as well take it all.

  I’m deep in Gavin’s closet when I hear a noise. “Gavin? You home?” I call out.

  It’s barely noon, so I can’t imagine he’s back already. Maybe this time he’ll ask if my parents are really dead. Or if I have a long-lost evil twin. Everything else in my life feels as though it’s from a melodramatic soap opera, so who knows what’ll pop up next.

  More crashes come from down the hall.

  “Oxford, I’m not cleaning up whatever mess you’re making.” Gavin doesn’t really make messes. Oh, I bet it is Max.

  I storm out of the closest and into the hall. “Maxwell McCarthy, you had better not—”

  The distinct sound of a gun being cocked catches my attention. “Hello, Lily.”

  I turn around. “Olivia. How did you get into my house?” My eyes are focused on the gun in her hands, but I can’t help but notice the changes in her appearance. When James said was planning on coming after me, I didn’t expect this.

  “Gavin’s house!” Waving the gun around she says, “None of this is yours. This isn’t your life; this is my life. You’ve just hijacked it. I’m here to take it back.” She steps toward me, glass crunching beneath her feet. It appears she threw all the framed pictures of Gavin and me on the floor.

  “You went blonde, huh? And either you’ve hijacked my dry cleaning, or you’ve been trolling through my online shopping receipts. I really wouldn’t put either past you. Is that part of taking your life back, because it seems like you’re just trying to steal mine.” I should know better than to be a snarky bitch to someone holding a gun. But every single time it happens, I just can’t seem to help myself.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Gavin

  Traffic’s jammed up again. I’m not sure why it still surprises me. It’s raining cats and dogs, so of course traffic’ll be a bitch. I waste so much bloody time stopped on the motorway. With all the different directions I’m being pulled these days, I don’t have the time to spare. Perhaps it’s time to break down and hire a driver.

  I finally arrive at the SIS Building thirty minutes late, but nothing ever starts on time at the Secret Intelligence Service. After going through security, I’m escorted to a briefing room, where I’m told to wait. Typical.

  My mobile rings whilst I’m waiting. Olivia’s cousin? What could she want? Over the last few days, I’ve gone back and forth with her and James, but there’s nothing I can do to help O this time. They need to sort it out themselves. “Eleanor, this is not a good time. Can I ring you back?”

  “No! O’s missing.”

  Bloody fantastic. More theatrics, courtesy of Olivia. “Slow down, and tell me what’s going on.”

  She takes a few deep breaths. “She said she was taking a kip. She hasn’t been sleeping, so I thought a long sleep would be good for her. I went upstairs to see if she wanted lunch and she was gone. The doorman said she pulled her car out hours ago! I’ve rung her mobile, but I just get her voice mail. I’m worried, Gavin. She isn’t well. She shouldn’t be driving.”

  I run my fingers through my hair. “Eleanor, I empathize, but I’m not sure what I can do. I’m heading into a meeting.”

  “What if she does something? She’s not stable. She reminds me of Daphney before…”

  The gentlemen I’m meeting with come into the room.

  I lower my voice and say, “I pray she doesn’t. I have to jump off, my meeting is starting. Keep me posted, please.”

  Icing on the bloody cake.

  SIS is buying a piece of counterintelligence technology from us, but they’re making us jump through ho
ops. After years of working with them, I’m used to their process, but today, I don’t have the patience for it. I would have delegated this meeting, but I need to check in with a friend at SIS, so it made sense for me to come in person.

  Leo’s in charge of Latin America and has been keeping his ear to the ground for all things cartel-related. He sent me a text this morning about losing two in the murder of crows. I’m sure if I thought about it, I could decipher his meaning, but I’m just too damn tired for cloak-and-dagger bullshit.

  Max and I have been burning the candle at both ends trying to get a handle on Lily’s… situation. The civil war within the cartel makes it difficult for us to figure out who’s on which side, who’s a threat, and who could be an asset. Between Max’s and my connections, we’re making some headway, but every time we think we get a handle on things, they start killing each other. After each showdown, we have to start all over again.

  As soon as the meeting wraps, I head up to Leo Goldstein’s office. I’ve caught him in the middle of a late breakfast. Leo looks as though he’s been in the espionage game too long: rumpled clothes, thinning hair, pudgy around the middle, and deep creases on his face from too many years of stress, bad diet, and all night stakeouts. He may not look like much, but he knows every in and out of every organized crime syndicate from Mexico to Argentina.

  “I lost my secret decoder ring, so I have no idea what your message meant.” I sit on the chair in front of his desk. “Enlighten me.”

  He puts down his bagel and wipes the cream cheese from his chin. “I’m glad you came by.” He gets up and closes the door. “Your boys made some major waves yesterday.”

  “They’re not my boys, but go on.”

  He sits back down. “That target list you showed me?”

  Max and some of the others on his task force had put together a list of potential targets. As soon as he brought me into the loop, I took the list to Leo.