by LR Potter
She opened her father’s television cabinet and inserted the DVD into the player. She grabbed the remote and turned on the TV and the player. Skipping through the disk, she paused at the same pictures she’d received on her phone with her father and Alex Masters. She was close. She skipped and let it run quickly through hours filled with an empty room.
She slowed it again when she saw her father sitting at his desk with a brandy in his hands. He was leaned back in his chair lost in contemplation. She heard a knock on his door.
“Come in,” he said loudly.
While she couldn’t see her, Trinity heard Ms. Gibbons’ voice. “Mr. Drayton to see you, sir.”
Her father rose and the back of Rush’s form filled the screen. She gasped at the truth she’d always known.
“What are you doing here, Drayton? Don’t you think you’ve done enough already?”
She heard Rush’s humorless laugh. “Me? What have I done?”
“Well, as my daughter is lying in the hospital, I think the answer is obvious.”
“My family had nothing to do with what happened to Trinity. I don’t know how much longer I can keep my grandfather reined in. He wants that information and he will stop at nothing to get it.”
Trinity could see her father as he contemplated Rush. “And what do you want?”
“Me? The same as my grandfather. I want to know who put the hit on my father. The call came from your office. Was it you?”
Her father gave a small chuckle. “No. And I think you know that already.”
“You’re right. I do know that. So who was it?”
“Even if I knew, what makes you think I’d tell you anything?” her father asked derisively.
“Because, I happen to have a little piece of evidence of my own,” Rush answered.
Her father’s mouth twisted wryly. “Oh, pray tell. What would that be?”
“Tiko Mars,” Rush answered.
“Oh yes. You’ve mentioned him before. I’m sorry but I don’t know who that is, I’m afraid.”
“But I know for a fact that you do. Combine him with the information my father uncovered regarding you, Tiko Mars, and the Embassy Fund, and I’d call that the winning trifecta.”
She saw her father tense suddenly, but then tried to smooth his expression.
“Oh, yes. Your father and the investigation into the Embassy Fund. That’s quite a blast from the past. And not the good kind, either.”
“It took me some time, but I was able to round up not only Tiko Mars, but all four of those who helped perpetrate your heinous crime. Tell me. Was the whole point to kill your wife?”
She gasped at the same time she heard her father do the same.
“How dare you! I loved my wife. My dealings with the Embassy Fund were legitimate. Your father never uncovered anything about that because there was nothing to find!” he declared.
“What about the connection between you and former Judge Franklin?” Rush asked.
“My daughter’s godfather and I go way back. Of course there’s a connection.”
She heard Rush’s chuckle filled with mirth.
“You know, my grandfather never could understand why my father would turn his back on the family business to pursue a meager job in the District Attorney’s office. But I will tell you one important thing I learned from my father’s time there. He told me over and over… follow the money, Rush, always follow the money. So I followed the money in your case, and it was funny how that trail led me straight to you, Judge Franklin, and former ADA Martin Lord. It seemed the only one in your office not involved was my father.”
“What makes you think he wasn’t involved?” her father asked.
“Ah, good question. Unlike the rest of you vultures, my father didn’t need the money. We have plenty.”
She saw her father study Rush intently, obviously tiring of the game.
“What do you want, Drayton?”
“What I said. The name of the man who called the hit that took my father’s life.”
“And if I actually had that information, what would I get in return?” her father asked.
“Well, lets just say, your secrets will remain your secrets,” Rush answered.
“What about my daughter?”
“What about her?”
“I want her off the table,” her father said.
“She will be,” Rush answered.
She took a haggard breath. She saw her father give Rush a speculative glance.
“Did you pursue Trinity for the sole purpose of obtaining this information?” her father asked.
Exhaling deeply, Rush answered, “Trinity was pursued to gain your attention.”
“Well, you certainly have my attention. So what you’re saying is, I give you the information you want and you will… what?”
“The connection between yourself, Franklin, Lord, and the Embassy fund remains forever broken.”
“And what about Trinity?” her father asked.
“What about her?” Rush asked.
“If I give you what you want, I want you out of her life… for good.”
Trinity gasped. She’d been so stupid… so very stupid. She watched the back of Rush’s head as he nodded.
“Okay,” he answered softly.
“She won’t take it well. Are you sure you’re up to it? You know she fancies herself in love with you,” her father mocked.
Trinity couldn’t stop the stain of shame which crept up her neck at her father’s derisive statement.
“She’s young. She’ll move past it in time.”
“You’ll guarantee her safety?” her father asked.
“I will.”
Her father stood. “Come back tomorrow and I’ll have the information you request.”
Trinity hit the pause button, as she could not longer see the screen through her tears. Rush had only pursued her to gain information from her father. It was never about her at all. She’d given herself to him and he’d taken what she’d offered and thrown it aside as if it were nothing. Was it his family that had her attacked in the alley? His family who hired the hit-and-run driver? Pain as she’d never felt before flooded her. She wanted to strike as she had been stricken.
Moving quickly, she withdrew the disk and gathered the whole box of disks. She rummaged through her father’s desk until she found the keys to his SUV. She grabbed them and hurried to her room. She grabbed her suitcase and began slinging items into it. She packed all she could as she struggled to hold her emotions back. She snatched up the case and moved speedily through the hall. She stopped abruptly and turned back around. She set her case down and moved swiftly back to her room to grab her mother’s picture and the box of disks. She shoved them into her oversized bag. Retrieving her suitcase, she went out through the garage and loaded her case into the SUV. She slipped into the front seat and snapped the seatbelt securely over her.
She drove quickly, intent on reaching her destination. She wheeled into the downtown business district and parked. She stood outside the DrayCo building for several minutes, looking up at the mammoth structure. As she struggled to breathe, she walked quickly through the building’s lobby and found a huge directory sign posted by the elevator. Rush’s suite of offices were, of course, on the top floor. Stepping into the elevator, she pressed the button which would take her to the fifteenth floor. The movement of the elevator caused her stomach to become queasy again and she struggled to keep from gagging against the pressure.
As she stepped from the elevator into the elegant headquarters of DrayCo International, she gasped at the sheer beauty of the surroundings. White marbled floor tile was met by smooth, shiny grey marbled wall tiles. The building was surrounded by windows which let in so much natural light it almost hurt her eyes. Plucking up her courage, she walked to the reception desk.
“I’d like to see Rush Drayton, please,” she told the pretty brunette at the desk.
The brunette smiled at her politely. “Do you have an appointment?”
<
br /> “No. Can you ask if he’ll see me anyway, please?”
“I’m sorry, ma’am, but that’s not how we do things here,” she replied.
Tears of frustration gathered in her eyes. Her chin wobbled and her lips trembled. “Please, just call him,” she begged.
The woman eyed her for a long time. “What is your name?”
“Trinity Grace.”
“Please have a seat and I’ll see if he is available.”
Trinity moved to a seating area and sat down on the edge of a black leather couch. She began to shiver. She was so cold. She didn’t think she’d ever be warm again. She was digging in her purse for a tissue when a door opened. She lifted her head and saw Rush moving quickly towards her. He looked tired. Her heart twisted in her chest.
As hard as she tried, she couldn’t stop her chin from continuing to wobble. She stood to her feet as he approached. Her chest was heaving with the need for air. The room started to become oppressive and her head swam. Her legs were trembling and her face drained of color. As Rush reached her, her eyes rolled back and she slumped down just as she had at the charity ball. He caught before she hit the floor.
Chapter 12
She was lying on a slick, red leather couch when she regained consciousness. As she fluttered her eyes open, she saw Rush’s concerned face above her. Her heart clenched in her chest and tears sprang into her eyes. Within seconds, her memory of the DVDs cascaded back into her mind. She jerked upright and the movement caused her head to swim. Springing to her feet, she swayed a little unsteadily. He rose with her and grabbed her arms to steady her.
“Careful,” he murmured, concern marring his beautiful features.
She swung her right hand as hard as she could and slapped him across the face. “You bastard!”
Shock crossed his features, then confusion.
As tears began to streak down, she bunched her fist and launched herself at him, intent on inflicting as much pain on him as she had clawing at her on the inside.
“You sick bastard. I hate you. How could you do that to me? No matter what my father had done, I was innocent. I didn’t do anything but love you and you’ve taken it and twisted it into something sordid and wrong!”
She beat her hands ineffectually against his stone-hard chest as she wailed. He stood still and allowed her to do it. Eventually, she ran out of steam and slumped to her knees as her anger ebbed away, leaving her empty. She wrapped her arms around her middle and rocked herself as she cried.
“Tell me why? Please tell me why?” she sobbed.
He sank to his knees as well and gathered her in his arms. She tried to pull away from him but he just tightened his grip. He pressed his lips against her head and whispered words of comfort to her. “Shh. Calm down. Everything will be okay,” he murmured.
Sobbing, she cried, “No, it won’t, you bastard. I don’t know what to do anymore. Nothing is real. I believed in you. I believed the words you said. I defended you. And it was nothing but lies.”
He was silent throughout her tirade. He just continued to hold her and rock her soothingly. Eventually, she calmed and he helped her up and sat her on the couch. He walked to a side bar, which included several decanters. He poured bottled water into a glass and handed it to her. She took it from him, numb now… numb and frozen.
She sipped the water and studied the glass. He sat beside her and ran both hands through his hair.
“Trinity, what’s going on here?” he finally asked.
In an emotionless tone, she asked without looking up, “What’s the Embassy Fund?”
She felt him tense beside her. “The Embassy Fund?” he questioned.
Her lips trembled. “Do NOT lie to me anymore. If you ever want to see your child, you will stop with the lies!”
He exhaled deeply and leaned back on the couch. “The Embassy Fund was a fund set up by the federal government. The monies for it were secured by using funds seized during illegal gains, such as drug busts and things like that. The fund was set aside for use by families who were negatively afflicted, such as in cases of kidnapping due to their high-profile position… such as your father.”
“Did my father have my mother killed?” she whispered.
He rose to his feet and went to the window to stare out unseeingly. “No. I don’t believe so.”
“What did you find out between my father and James Franklin?” she asked.
He remained silent for several minutes. “Your father was the District Attorney and James Franklin was the sitting Judge. My father and Martin Lord were both Assistant District Attorneys in your father’s office. Martin Lord somehow came upon the fund and talked your father into this elaborate scheme of kidnapping and ransom. As they needed a Judge’s signature to obtain the fund for the ransom demands, your father turned to his old friend, James Franklin. I think the original plan was a simple kidnapping, secure the ransom, and then return you and your mother. But something went wrong and your mother was killed.”
“How did your father become involved?” she asked.
“Because there’d been a death, the Governor requested my father investigate for any improprieties or signs of malfeasance. Unfortunately, my father found the link. Before he could turn in his findings, Judge Franklin had him picked up for allegedly consorting with prostitutes.”
“Was it James Franklin who ordered the hit against your father?” she asked.
Rush shook his head, still staring out the window. “No, I think his intent was merely to ruin my father’s credibility. Martin Lord was the one who made the call.”
“How can you be so certain?”
“Your father had captured the call on a security camera. Martin Lord, in an attempt to throw any possible blame from himself, made the call from your father’s office. Your father kept the tape for insurance,” he replied.
Her lips began to tremble as she took in all the information. While her father’s intentions hadn’t been to kill her mother, his actions ultimately led to her death. If she closed her eyes right now, she could still feel the ropes binding her to that damned chair in that empty room where she’d been held captive for days. Didn’t he care what kind of damage that would do to her?
She glanced at Rush standing as he had been for the last fifteen minutes. Her chest burned with hurt and humiliation. Just like with her father way back then, she’d only been a pawn for Rush Drayton. He’d never intended to have a relationship with her… and now she was pregnant by him. She chocked back a sob. On unsteady legs, she rose and began to walk towards the door. She paused when she got to it.
With her back to his, she asked with hurt dripping on each word, “Did you try to have me killed?”
“God, no!” He moved from the window and strode to her quickly.
She flinched at the touch of his hands on her shoulders. She began to open the door, but he reached over her and placed both of his hands against it, effectively keeping it closed and her captive.
“Was it all a lie?” she whispered.
“No,” he whispered roughly into her hair, as he pressed his body up against hers.
“How can I believe you now?” she asked raggedly as she leaned her forehead against the door.
“I did everything in my power to keep you safe, you have to believe that! My grandfather was very determined to find my father’s killer. He’s been obsessed for years. A thug who’d shared a cell with Lars Thorn, the man who’d stabbed my father, contacted my grandfather about six months ago. He told him he had information for a price. It was then we began to put all the pieces together.”
“Why me?” she whimpered.
He pressed his face into her hair. “I tried to detour my grandfather but he wouldn’t let it go. When I heard about the attack on your father, I confronted my grandfather but he denied having any part of that. I was afraid of what methods he would begin using to pressure your father, so I agreed to get close to you. But from the very beginning, no matter how hard I fought against it, I found myself drawn to y
ou. That first night we were together, when I realized just how innocent you really were, I tried to stop it then. I pleaded with my grandfather not to involve you in his vendetta, but he wouldn’t listen. I thought as long as I pretended to go along with him, you’d be safe. And while I didn’t want you involved, I couldn’t stay away from you. But when you came back from Vail and your office was ransacked, I knew it had come from my grandfather.”
“Which is why you flew back… not because of me,” she said as tears slid down her cheeks at the loss of that tender memory. She’d been so stupid! She’d actually believed he’d cared so much for her that he’d dropped everything and ran back for her.
“But it was for you.”
“Stop,” she whimpered, not wanting to hear any more lies.
“It’s true! You weren’t at all what I was expecting. I thought you’d be a product of your father, but you were warm and funny, and so incredibly beautiful,” he ended on a whisper.
She stiffened at his words. Her heart began to jump in her chest. But they were all lies… had been lies from the very beginning. She tried to shove the door open again, but he was just too strong.
“Please let me go,” she whimpered.
“I can’t. I tried, God, I tried. But you’re in my blood… in my heart… in my very soul,” he murmured brokenly.
“Who attacked me in the alley?” she asked, trying to harden her heart against him.
He exhaled sharply. “I don’t know. I confronted my grandfather but he denied it. I… just don’t know. But I couldn’t risk you being hurt anymore, so I went and saw your father to beg, if necessary, for the information. He was willing to give it to me if I agreed to stay away from you. I couldn’t refuse. I had to end it before you got seriously hurt... or worse.”
With her heart tattered into small broken pieces, she asked, “What about the hit-and-run?”
She felt his neck muscles move up and down as he swallowed. “I don’t know who was responsible for that. My grandfather already had the information he wanted by that time so he had no reason to do it. Maybe it was the same person who took a shot at your father… the ones who have been threatening him.”