“Your mother is a good woman. She doesn’t deserve what he’s putting her through.”
Paige rested a hand on his bare chest, glancing up at him. “You don’t think he deserves a second chance?”
He knew her question applied to more than her mother and father. “What’s going on with your parents can’t be compared to what we’re working through. Neither of us cheated.” He thought of the women he’d been with since Paige left, feeling a spark of guilt, even though they weren’t together. “From what your mother has said, he has no desire to give their marriage another chance. You and I want to make this relationship work, move beyond what happened between us.”
Letting out a breath, he confronted his own part in her leaving. “It was my fault, too, Paige. I gave you no reason to believe you could come to me about problems with Paul. He’d burned too many bridges with me, used your generous nature for his own selfish reasons. Frankly, I was over his bull and manipulation. I also knew how much you loved him and your parents. Without knowing it, my actions forced you to make a choice.”
“And now we’re here,” she breathed out.
“Yes, we’re here, which isn’t a bad place to be.” Lowering his head, he kissed her, groaning when Paige rolled on top of him, straddling his waist. Reaching up, he threaded his fingers through her hair, drawing her back down to within an inch of his mouth. “I love you, Paige.”
“And I love you, Nesto.”
Chapter Fifteen
“Are you certain you want to look for a place to live in Fire Mountain, Mother? You haven’t been here a full day yet.” Paige sat outside the cabin, Irene next to her, each enjoying hot cups of coffee in the clear Sunday morning air.
Irene had driven her rental car to Nesto’s cabin early, unable to stay in bed, images of her husband ruining all her quiet moments.
Holding the cup with both hands, Irene took a sip. “I’ve already given it a great deal of thought, Paige. My life is no longer in Philadelphia where I could run into your father and his…” Her voice faltered before she continued. “Our friends know what your father has done. Most have chosen to ignore it, as if it isn’t an issue.” She glanced at Paige, her eyes haunted. “The women I thought were my friends seldom call. I’m the one being pushed out because they all perceive your father as the one with the money.”
Paige thought of her mother’s enormous trust fund, knowing her father had no access to it. The assets accumulated during the marriage would most likely be split between them, making her mother far richer than her father. On top of that, he might even be ordered to pay alimony since her mother had never worked. Paige hated the thought, but right now, she didn’t feel a bit of sympathy for him.
“As you know, I have my own funds, separate from your father’s. I don’t need much. Two or three bedrooms, two bathrooms.” Irene looked over the valley at the mountains. “A view would be lovely.”
Paige shook her head, chuckling. “Mother, you could afford to buy a good portion of the town. I’m sure you’ll find something suitable.”
“No, Paige. You don’t understand. I don’t want a showpiece, anything ostentatious. Something like this cabin, maybe a little larger, would be wonderful—and it would be mine.”
“Ladies.” Nesto walked outside holding a pot of coffee and tray with cream and sugar. “Refills?” He set the tray on the table before leaning down to give Paige a kiss.
“Thank you, Ernesto.” Irene held up her cup.
He filled both cups, seeing Clive and J.D. emerge from Paige’s cabin. “Excuse me, ladies.” Setting down the pot, Nesto walked over to meet them. “What do you boys have planned today?”
“Do you have a minute to come inside?” Clive asked.
Nesto nodded, following them into the cabin. “What’s going on?” He walked to the fireplace, turned toward them, and crossed his arms.
J.D. sat on the arm of the sofa. “I’ll let Clive tell you what we know.”
“I can’t tell you much, but we have some new information on Devil’s Sons and their association with Satan’s Brethren.”
“What can you tell me?” Nesto dropped his arms, taking a seat in a nearby chair.
“The DEA has information on the Brethren that could bring them down.”
“Have you told, Kade?”
Clive shook his head. “Not yet. We’ve been tasked with a couple meetings today. We’ll know more afterward. The problem is the boss isn’t too interested in sharing information with anyone outside the agency. We’ll tell you what we can, but it may not be much.”
“Understood. We’ll take whatever you can share.”
“J.D. and I will be back before dinner. We’ll plan to meet with you and Kade here at the cabin.”
Nesto stood, walking to the door. “I’ll let Kade know.”
Heading back to the cabin, he couldn’t help wondering what new information they had on Satan’s Brethren, a club into gunrunning, prostitution, drugs. He didn’t believe they had their hands in human trafficking, but their founder, Sonny Morgan, and his son, Robbie, weren’t adverse to any illegal activity, as long as it brought in a lot of cash.
Their ties to Devil’s Sons, a club requiring all members to prove their Hispanic blood, had surprised those in the DEA. The two had been at war for years. After Robbie helped strike a deal, the two gangs had gotten along relatively well.
Opening the door to his cabin, Nesto stepped inside, spotting Paige in the kitchen, Irene leaning against the counter.
“How about breakfast?” Paige looked down at what she had on the counter, then took stock of the ingredients in the cupboards. “Pancakes, eggs, and bacon sound good?”
A grin split his face. “Are you cooking?”
She placed her hands on her hips, raising a brow. “Is that a problem?”
Holding up his hands, he took a couple steps backward. “Not at all. I’ll set out the plates.”
Paige sat behind the wheel of her mother’s rental, Irene in the passenger seat as they toured Fire Mountain. They’d visited three open houses with four more still on their list.
“I think this next one might be exactly what I’m looking for.”
Paige looked out the corner of her eye at her mother. “That’s what you said about the last one.”
“The pictures must have been altered to make the rooms look larger.” Irene crinkled her nose. “The next one looks somewhat like Nesto’s cabin. Very quaint with a fireplace, garage, and view. I can pay cash for it.”
“Mother, you can pay cash for almost any house in town. Look for one you love, in good condition, in a nice neighborhood.”
They made a few more turns before Irene pointed to the For Sale sign. “It’s right up ahead.”
Paige pulled to a stop, looking across her mother and out the passenger window. “It’s beautiful.” Turning off the engine, she grabbed her purse. “Let’s look inside.”
Irene took a flyer from a box on the sign, reading through it as they continued up the walkway. “Everything matches what we saw in the internet posting.”
“Please, come inside.” A professionally dressed woman, who appeared to be in her late forties or early fifties, stood in the doorway, offering them a warm smile. “I’m Helen Henry, the agent for the seller.”
Paige and Irene introduced themselves, then stepped inside. They came to an abrupt halt when they saw the view.
Helen laughed. “Everyone has the same reaction. The home has an unobstructed view of Fire Mountain. The lot is over half an acre. Three bedrooms, three bathrooms, an updated kitchen, and a smaller room the current owners use as an office.” She looked at Irene. “Do you work?”
She shook her head. “No, but I have an idea of what I want to do. I just need the right home in the right town.”
Paige took a step away, cocking her head as she stared at her mother. Irene grinned when she saw the confused look on her daughter’s face.
“I’ve always had dreams, Paige. There are things I’ve wanted to do, but never
had time with all of your father’s commitments.” Irene looked at Helen. “May we look around?”
“Please.” She gestured with her arm. “Take your time. When you’re finished, feel free to ask me any questions. If I don’t have an answer, I’ll get one for you.”
Irene walked toward the kitchen, her gaze taking in the pine cabinets, granite countertops, and expensive appliances. The windowed breakfast nook continued the view from Fire Mountain north. The yard was small by her standards, but much larger than she hoped to find so close to downtown. Paige stepped next to her.
“This is very nice, Mother. The original town is three blocks away.”
Moving through the rest of the house, they made a few comments, then took a walk in the back yard, ending up in the living room with Helen.
“What do you think?”
Irene hesitated a moment before tilting her head. “It’s lovely. The kitchen is stunning, but the bathrooms need updating. I do like the entry from the garage into the kitchen, and the large fireplace.”
Helen picked up a piece of paper, writing down Irene’s comments. “The owners know the bathrooms need some work, but they have taken that into account in the listing price.”
Irene pulled the listing from her purse, reviewing the details. “The house three blocks over is a similar size with a view and is thirty thousand dollars less.”
Helen stepped up next to her. “If you’re referring to the house on Weber, it’s ten years older with only a partial kitchen remodel. And, in my opinion, this is a nicer neighborhood.”
“Perhaps.” Irene took one more look around, then extended her hand. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Helen. I’ll need to think about it.”
Pulling cards from her pocket, she handed one to Irene, the other to Paige. “Do you have an agent?”
Irene glanced at Paige, who shook her head. “Not yet.”
“Tell you what. Look at some other houses, think about it, and if you want to make an offer, I’d be glad to write it up for you. I’m able to work with both the seller and buyer, but can call in another agent if a conflict of interest arises.”
Irene nodded. “Thank you. I’ll consider it.”
Paige followed her mother outside and into the car, reconciling the broken woman who arrived last night to the strong, confident woman of today. An amazing transition in twenty-four hours. Driving away, she glanced at her mother.
“Did you like it?”
“I adored it.” Irene couldn’t wipe the smile from her face.
“Then why didn’t you make an offer?”
“Because buying property is like poker, honey. She knows I like the home and is also aware I think it’s overpriced. She’ll talk to the owners. By the time I call Helen in a couple days, they’ll be ready for a lower offer.”
“What if it sells? It seems the perfect house for you.” Paige continued to the next house on their list.
Irene grew quiet, then let out a slow breath. “I thought your father was perfect, too. I’m learning there’s no perfect house and certainly no perfect husband. If this house sells, I’ll find another. Or buy a piece of land and build my own. I’m an independent woman now, Paige. Like you, I have all kinds of options available to me.”
The last open houses didn’t compare to the one Irene loved the minute she stepped inside. Paige respected her mother’s opinion, feeling a surge of pride in the way she handled herself. Then again, she’d had years of practice moderating her behavior to appease her husband. Add to that all the times she’d negotiated with caterers, entertainers, and venues for the large fundraisers she’d chaired over the years. The thought triggered a question she hadn’t asked earlier.
“Mother, you told Helen you had dreams, things you still wanted to do. What are they?”
“I’ve so many, it’s hard to pick a couple.” Sighing, Irene glanced out the window as they pulled to a stop in front of the cabin.
Paige killed the engine, making no move to open the door. “Tell me one. When you’re ready, you can share the others.”
“Do you know I have a degree in business?”
Eyes wide, Paige leaned forward. “I never knew you attended college at all.”
Irene continued to stare out the window. “I met your father in college. Thank goodness I had only a few credits to complete or I may have dropped out to marry him. He stole my heart on our first date. Within a month, we were engaged. The Saturday after graduation, we married, then moved into a one bedroom apartment on campus so he could complete his master’s.” She glanced over at Paige. “He didn’t want me to work. Said he needed my support, which would be a full-time job. He was right. Now I’m fifty-two, will soon be divorced, and my one and only job was working in the college bookstore. I’m not sure how I’ll do it, but I’m determined to make it on my own.”
“You’ll never want for anything, Mother, so I’m certain this isn’t about money.”
“It’s about a new beginning. I’m excited, but also scared.”
Paige reached over, taking her mother’s hand. “I’m here for you, and so is Nesto. In fact, I guarantee you can count on every person on this ranch. Are you sure you want a home of your own? I know the MacLarens would find a place for you here.”
“Other than making the decision to leave your father, I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.”
“What is your gut feeling on this, Clive?” Kade leaned forward, resting his arms on his legs.
“You know I can’t tell you what’s in the works. What I can say is Robbie is in deep. He runs the chapters west of Texas. His father, Sonny, is still the national president. Right now, what the agency has points to Robbie and his club.” He looked at Kade. “I know you and he were close when you were undercover.”
Kade snorted. “As close as a cop can get to a thug like Robbie. I saw goodness and pure evil in the man. He was older, had his own tight circle, but I did learn a lot about him, including his desire to forge an alliance with Devil’s Sons. I heard it had happened, and wondered how long until it blew up.”
J.D. took a sip of beer, then leaned back in his chair. “That’s where it gets interesting. You already know Clive and I had a couple meetings today. Can’t tell you who was involved, but from what we learned, Satan’s Brethren hasn’t learned the extent of Javé’s latest adventures.”
“How can that be?” Nesto asked. “It isn’t as if Javé and his club have been subtle. They ride the roads as if they own them. Flaunt what they do, acting as if they’re above it all. How could this not get back to the Brethren?”
“I didn’t say the Brethren don’t know anything. They just may not be aware of what Javé’s trying to pull off with the MacLarens.” J.D. tossed down a folder.
Kade opened it as Nesto moved next to him to scan the pages, then set the file down. After a few minutes, they glanced at each other before looking at Clive and J.D.
“The information in that folder doesn’t leave this room. It’s all you’re going to get, so don’t even think of asking for more.” Leaning down, J.D. scooped up the file, tossing it into his open case. “There’s more, but you’ve seen the basics.”
Nesto leaned back against the sofa. “It’s enough to put a huge hole in the Brethren’s business.”
Clive nodded. “Yeah, but the boss wants to bring down the Sons and the Montalvo-Ortiz cartel.”
“He’s using the Brethren,” Kade mumbled, referring to the man who used to be his boss.
Neither Clive nor J.D. responded.
Standing, Nesto moved toward the door. “I expect Paige to hear from Paul or Javé tomorrow about the meeting. At least we know our guess about what the Sons are after is close.”
Kade stood, moving next to Nesto. “Too close.”
Chapter Sixteen
“It’s confirmed. Jace and I will meet with Javé this evening. Here’s the address. Do you know it?”
Nesto handed the information to Heath, who nodded.
“It’s an abandoned property w
e own on the old highway about twenty minutes from here.” Heath cast a concerned gaze at Jace. “I don’t like this. I thought he’d want to meet at a park, not some remote place.”
“It’s typical for a meeting like this one, Heath. Nesto will be with Jace. J.D., Clive, and I will be positioned around the location. Remember, Javé wants this to work. He needs the Double Ace distribution network to move the product, so he’ll make certain whoever he brings with him doesn’t lay a hand on either of them.” Kade hoped to reassure him, as well as Jace.
“Do you want to go over the specifics, Kade?” Nesto asked.
Nodding, Kade turned his gaze on Jace. “You’ll leave your phone behind. Expect them to pat you and Nesto down. They’ll do their best to intimidate you before, during, and after the meeting. Expect him to have his VP stay in the room, maybe his sergeant-at-arms. Don’t let them bother you. It’s all part of the game. Listen to what they want, ask the same questions you’d ask in any business meeting. No matter what Javé says, don’t let him get to you. Paige wore a wire in the bar with Paul. Totally unsanctioned and useless for anything other than having other ears on what Paul said. Since this is off the record, as far as the DEA is concerned, there’ll be no wires in this meeting. They’ll find them when they search you anyway. I’d expect everything to take no more than thirty minutes. Any questions?”
“None. I’m ready to get this behind us.”
Kade clasped him on the shoulder. “We all are, Uncle Jace.”
Paige toyed with her food in the café a few miles from the office, unable to summon up an appetite, even as her stomach growled.
“Are you going to just stare at your salad?” Nesto picked up his soda, took a swallow, then set the can down.
She didn’t answer, picking up a forkful of food, then setting it back down. “I’m worried about the meeting.”
Reaching across the table, Nesto settled his hand over hers. “There’s no reason for it. Javé isn’t going to harm Jace or me. There’s too much riding on him working out a deal with the MacLarens.”
Foolish Heart (MacLarens 0f Fire Mountain Contemporary Book 9) Page 14