Sex, Lies and Valentines

by Tawny Weber

  “Failure to solve this case will be a smudge on your record. Failure for Gabriel means our father will be locked up for the rest of his life.” He paused for a sip of coffee. Danita thought it was for effect at first, then she saw the tension in his fingers clenched on the mug. He was just as worried as Gabriel. Maya must be as well. Danita’s heart clenched. As contentious as it might look from the outside, this was a family that all loved each other very much.

  “So you might be mad that he took a few extra steps, hedged his bets, so to speak. But consider his reasons.”

  She understood them. She could even accept them.

  But she also had to accept the fact that they were proof-positive that she and Gabriel had no future. That he operated on the opposite side of the law.

  It wasn’t her pride that was aching, she realized. It was her heart.

  “When we initiated this investigation I didn’t realize he cared about his family,” she said quietly. “Not at first. He cut ties, walked away. Our reports show you’ve all been estranged for almost a decade.”

  “We’re a stubborn bunch,” Caleb agreed. “But that doesn’t mean we don’t care, a hell of a lot, about each other. Just because Gabriel was trying to prove something, that doesn’t mean he doesn’t love our father.”

  She nodded. “I realized that. After we got here. After I saw all of you together.”

  “Then you shouldn’t hold his actions against him.”

  “You wouldn’t be trying to convince me that Gabriel would have been all up-front and honest, laying all his cards on the table, if his father wasn’t the suspect?”

  Caleb’s smile was wider than his brother’s. Edgier, with a hint of wicked where Gabriel’s was pure charm. But the way it lit his eyes was exactly the same when he laughed.

  “Oh no. Like you said, lying is an art form in our family. It’s a part of the job.” The look he gave her was pointed and painful. “You should know that. I’d say you are pretty skilled in that department yourself.”

  “I didn’t lie to Gabriel,” she snapped before she could stop herself. “He knew, from the beginning, what my job was. What I was here to do. He was aware that we suspect your father, and he was clear on the parameters of this case.”

  “And you were clear on his.” Caleb gave her a long look, then with a deep breath said, “We don’t know who’s behind this. My father pulled strings to get Hunter, and in turn you, involved in this case. He says he did it to clear his name. He’s good enough that that, too, could be a con. But I have to believe it isn’t. And I know Gabriel, even though he knows we lied to him, will have to believe that, too.”

  Caleb surprised her with a friendly pat on the shoulder before he turned to leave.

  Danita dropped into the chair she’d vacated earlier. She didn’t know how long she stared at the blurred computer screen after the sound of the closing door signaled Caleb’s departure. His words, spoken and unspoken, rang through her mind.

  She had a choice. She could give in to the aching demand of her heart. Or she could be true to herself and follow her career.

  But could she live the rest of her life loving someone who operated on the wrong side of the law? Someone who epitomized everything she’d sworn to fight? Even if he gave it all up, could she trust him? What did they really have between them? Hot sex and a quirky cat?

  She loved Gabriel. There was no question of that. But how long could she live with him if she gave up her job, her beliefs and her future?

  And how long could she live with herself if she didn’t?

  Tears tracked, unchecked down her cheeks as she struggled to accept the truth.

  She couldn’t spend her life with him.

  But she could make his life a little easier. She’d clear his father, give him his family back. And then she’d say goodbye.

  Blinking away useless tears, she sucked in a shaky breath and got to work. She finished typing up her last report and added it to the FBI case file. Now she needed to check on the money.

  She called Hunter.

  “What protocol would you prefer I follow with the bank? Do you want me to maintain cover?”

  “We don’t have time. I’ll run the bank owner for security clearance. Wait for my go-ahead.”

  In typical Hunter fashion, she had the go-ahead text within ten minutes. She left the sheriff’s department to take the short stroll toward the bank. It was doubtful anyone would be stupid enough to make that large a cash deposit. But still, she’d cover all the bases.

  “I’m Agent Cruz,” she said twenty minutes later, introducing herself once she’d reached the privacy of the bank president’s office. She went on to explain the situation—stressing the need for confidentiality—before requesting access to the bank’s cash vault. Like any good banker, Waxman, the president, first called the sheriff for verification, then the local FBI office as well. A half hour later, he gave her access to a small ATM vault and that morning’s deposits.

  “Why don’t we start back here? It’s quieter and less obtrusive,” Mr. Waxman said, gesturing to a small room. “We haven’t sorted our night deposits yet. Please, don’t take offense, but I’ll stay with you as you make your inspection.”

  “Of course,” Danita agreed with a cool smile as she took a seat and pulled the first deposit bag toward her. Thirty minutes later, she’d learned to block out the sound of Waxman’s fingers tapping “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” on the table.

  Not even seeing the denominations any longer, her eyes blurred as she flipped through the serial numbers. This was such a waste of time.

  Then something caught her eye. She pulled a twenty out of the rubber-banded stack of bills. Eyes narrowed, she inspected it. Pre-1998 currency redesign, the bill was soft with age. The color was perfect, as was the artwork. But there, just on the edge of the four in the serial number, was a pale line. As if the printing plate was missing ink.

  Excitement zinged.

  “Mr. Waxman, can you tell me which account this is?” she asked, indicating a large vinyl envelope. “The slip indicates an account number, but no name.”

  He glanced at the slip, and obviously a credit to the small town, didn’t even have to look up the account number.

  “That’s the Forever in Joy account. Our local wedding planner, Lisa Duffy.”

  Wedding planner? Danita’s stomach pitched. Biting her lip, she held the bill up to the light, confirming the slight tell Gabriel had warned them of.

  And she remembered Maya explaining why Cassiopeia had gone overboard with pre-wedding parties.

  Because Tobias was covering all of the wedding costs.

  NOW AT YET ANOTHER freaking wedding party, this time the rehearsal celebration at his father’s, Gabriel was going crazy. He’d known she’d be pissed over his sidestepping her in the case, but he hadn’t thought she’d close him out completely.

  It’d been a day and a half since he’d seen Danita, except at a distance. When he’d returned to the manor her bags, and the cat, were gone. He’d heard later that she’d checked into the inn using the public excuse that they’d had a tiff. Caleb said she’d agreed to close the case and stay undercover, but had told Hunter that she needed distance.

  Distance, hell. She was plotting to arrest his father and didn’t want him watching. Or, he sighed, Hunter’s arrival had reminded her that she was a Fed and Gabriel was criminally off-limits.

  “Anger like that’s gonna eat your insides up.”

  So focused on his tiny world of misery, Gabriel hadn’t heard his father come up behind him. It was a sad state of affairs that pouting over Danita had put him in a heartbroken fog.

  “I’m not angry,” he denied, trying not to wince at the possibility of being struck down by lightning for lying right to his father’s face.

  Tobias arched one brow and waited.

  Gabriel shrugged, then blurted out, “More stressed than angry, I guess. I’m committed to a game that’s out of control and I’m on the wrong side of the odds.”

&n
bsp; “Son, let me give you some advice.”

  Despite the heaviness weighing on him, Gabriel grinned. When he’d wanted to play guitar, he’d been advised to consider the necessary hours of practice required to play “Stairway to Heaven.” When he’d been considering how he’d get sweet Anna McGee to offer him his first taste of heaven, he’d been advised to worry more about her hearing angels than himself. And when he’d told his old man he was through with him, that he was leaving home and wouldn’t return until he’d proved himself the better man, he’d been advised to be careful what he wished for. Because all wishes came with a price.

  “Go ahead, Dad. Give me some advice,” he invited.

  “Sometimes the hand we’re dealt is a challenge. It pushes us to level up, to risk more. Sometimes a questionable hand is a warning. It gives us a chance to rethink the game and our direction. And sometimes,” he added with a look that saw straight to Gabriel’s heart, and quite possibly through to his soul, “sometimes it’s just time to find a new game.”

  Gabriel set his beer aside and shoved both hands into the front pockets of his slacks. His heartbeat sped as he worked to keep his expression calm. This was it. He’d have plenty of times in the future to change his mind, but he knew, in his heart, that this was the crossroads.

  “I guess it’s time to get out of the game,” he finally said. Unfamiliar shame and a sort of melancholy rolled over him. He’d failed. He’d left home vowing to be a bigger con, a better criminal than his father. He’d never held a real job, had no actual training. And he was quitting? Was he insane?

  He met his father’s discerning gaze with resignation.

  Failure wasn’t a good feeling.

  “I’m proud of you, Gabriel,” Tobias said quietly. So quietly, Gabriel cocked his head and wondered if his ears were playing tricks.

  “Beg pardon?”

  “That’s a hard decision to make. Given your talents and brain, you’re walking away from something with a huge potential. And you’re doing it for the right reasons. That’s a hard thing to do. You make me proud.”

  “Well.” Stumped, Gabriel had nothing to say. It wasn’t every day an overachieving father congratulated his son for being a quitter.

  Before he could fumble his way through the emotions clogging his throat, there was a commotion at the entry to the living room. He was grateful. Right up until he saw who was causing the ruckus.

  Shit. He’d been waiting and hoping. But now he wasn’t ready to see her.

  “Some women take your breath away,” Tobias said, observing Danita’s entrance on Hunter’s arm. “You got yourself a nice one there, son. Worth giving up the game for.”

  Gabriel winced. Caleb was in the know because of his job as town law. But in typical close-to-the-vest Black fashion, he’d clearly kept that knowledge to himself. And Gabriel had been too busy licking his wounds to admit to the family that his true love was a total fake. That Danita was only playing the loving fiancée in hopes of slapping the cuffs on his father.

  “I’m not doing it for her,” he said with a grimace. Because he knew damned well he would have. But she wouldn’t have him, either way. And he couldn’t have a woman whose life ambition was to ruin his family.

  Even if he wanted her more than he wanted his next breath.

  “Interesting, her showing up with Caleb’s old college buddy,” Tobias contemplated.

  Shit.

  “They know each other,” was all Gabriel could say.

  Shoulder to shoulder, he and his father watched Danita and Hunter approach the happy groom-to-be. Gabriel frowned at the intensity on her face. Closed, professional with just a hint of chill.

  Something had broke.

  All he needed to see was Caleb’s wince to know that it was something big. Three pair of eyes cut to Tobias, but Gabriel kept his attention on his brother. There was pain in his face. Tension in his shoulders. And a sadness that made Gabriel’s stomach pitch.

  This wasn’t going to be good.

  His stomach, already in his throat, tumbled toward his belly as Caleb and Hunter made their way across the room. Danita waited at the entrance. Whether she was standing guard or preparing to run was anyone’s guess.

  “Hello,” Tobias greeted Hunter with a handshake and a big smile. “Glad to have you here to support Caleb’s big day.”

  “Dad, the case is breaking,” Caleb murmured.

  Gabriel frowned. What was going on? Had his brother actually filled their father in on the case?

  “We’d like to use your study, Mr. Black,” Hunter said, his tone as formal as his stance. “If you’d come with us, we can keep this from disrupting the party. And—” he cast a quick glance and wince toward Cassiopeia, who was holding court in the corner “—we can avoid upsetting the bride-to-be or her mother.”

  Gabriel and Caleb shared a smirk, both remembering the warning that Cassiopeia would curse whoever messed up the wedding.

  Tobias’s eyes circled the group, the look in them sharp. He gave a short nod, then waved his hand toward the hallway.

  “Go ahead. I’ll be right along.”

  “I’d rather you came with us now,” Hunter insisted, a hint of apology in his tone.

  “I’ll be right along. I need to get Maya.” Without waiting for a response, he turned away and melted into the crowd.

  Hunter looked like he was going to follow, but Caleb shook his head.

  “No. Maya should be here. She needs to hear this, too.”

  When Hunter didn’t object, the sinking feeling in Gabriel’s stomach turned to lead.

  Needing a few seconds, he didn’t wait for the rest of them. Instead, fists in the pockets of his slacks, Gabriel took the familiar path down the hallway toward his father’s study. He felt Danita’s gaze on him from across the room, but didn’t look her way. And she just messed up his head in all sorts of ways.

  He stepped into the study. It’d barely changed. The walls were lighter. The couch new. But the pictures on the wall were the same, an ode to his childhood. There, on the Chippendale executive desk, was a clumsy ceramic ashtray Maya had made in Girl Scouts, Caleb’s T-ball trophy. And, Gabriel noted with a long sigh, the World’s Best Dad mug he’d given Tobias one Father’s Day.

  How lonely was it, sitting in here with the memories of his family and nobody to share them with?

  Gabriel told himself not to feel guilty. He’d had a solid reason for leaving. Just as Caleb and Maya had. It was a waste of time and energy to regret choices made long ago. But the one he’d made a week ago? To bring Danita and the FBI into his father’s house? That choice was eating at his guts.

  Before he could sink too far into the stress of it, she stepped into the room. His family and Hunter quickly followed, with Hunter shutting the door behind him.

  In typical fashion, Tobias took his seat behind the desk. The center of command, in the room, in the house and in the lives of his family.

  “Danita,” Hunter said once everyone had settled. “Please report.”

  Gabriel sighed. At least whatever horrible news she was about to share would overshadow the fact that Danita was about to blow the cover on their fake engagement.

  Grief surged as he watched her sever that last, fake tie between them.

  “I was instructed to discover the mastermind behind the crimes being perpetrated here in Black Oak,” Danita said to the room at large. She continued in that same distant tone, laying the groundwork of what her job was and the FBI’s purpose for sending her. Gabriel ignored the looks his family sent his way, instead focusing completely on Danita. What did she know? And why the hell was she taking so long to tell them?

  “The counterfeit currency Gabriel used to set up the criminal boss surfaced at the bank yesterday,” Danita continued in a neutral tone. “We followed the deposit.”

  The room felt like it was charged with electricity as everyone waited while Danita paused to take a deep breath. She clenched both hands together before unlacing her fingers and lifting her hands in a ha
lf-shrug. “The money was deposited by Forever in Joy. It was used in payment for the Easton-Black wedding.”

  In a shot, Maya was on her feet, her protests loud and passionate. Caleb grabbed her arm with a warning not to make them regret bringing her in. Hunter leaned against the door, watching.

  Tobias simply steepled his fingers, elbows propped on his desk as he watched the show with interest.

  “That’s crap.” Gabriel’s quiet words did more to calm her sister than any of Caleb’s threats. “You’re trying to pin my brother now? Or, what? Cassiopeia?”

  “No.” Hands now grasped behind her back, Danita paced in front of Tobias’s desk as she finished reporting. “Pandora told me that Tobias is paying for the wedding as his gift. So all of the funds should be traceable directly to him.”

  “That’s bullshit,” Gabriel said, anger clear in his tone.

  “Actually,” Danita said quietly, slowly as if she were tiptoeing her way through the words to make sure she didn’t step in the wrong one, “there’s more.”

  “More?” Maya hissed, sounding like a furious cat ready to pounce with claws bared. “How much more damage do you need to do? You were supposed to come here and clear my father. Now you’re trying to arrest him?”

  “Wait,” Gabriel said, raising his palm toward Danita to stop her defense. “What do you mean, she was supposed to clear Dad’s name? What do you know about this, Maya?”

  His sister winced, then lifted her chin and pressed her lips together. Fury was an edgy layer over the worry and frustration already roiling in his belly.

  He didn’t bother looking toward his father. He’d get nothing there. Instead his gaze shot to Caleb. Almost as inscrutable as Tobias. Still, there was a hint of something in Caleb’s eyes.

  “This was a setup?” Gabriel’s glare shot between his brother and Hunter. “All of you? You were all in on it? What the hell was the point? Do you all just lie for the fun of it now?”

  “Don’t jump to conclusions,” Caleb warned.

  “Did you know that Hunter was involved in a case against Dad before I came home?” Gabriel asked directly. Caleb was hell on wheels with prevarication. But a direct lie? Harder between brothers. “Did you know Danita was FBI when we came to town?”