Duplicity (Victory Lap Book 2)

by Mercedes Jade

  Bastion’s stepmother and father sounded like candidates for rich and heartless parents of the year. Tess would rather hold off meeting them as long as possible.

  She had her mother to focus on, and her younger siblings, too. The guys had involved themselves in her busy life, going to the hospital with her to visit her mother and taking her shopping to get groceries for the kids. What they hadn’t done was show her as much about themselves.

  They had been hiding things that came out on this trip.

  War had a business mogul for a father. Between the jet, the private island, and the mansion back home that War shared with Ruby, it was obvious War had a lot to live up to meet his father’s expectations.

  Tess hadn’t heard War speak badly of his father. Grayson had been polite and pleasant. It was just the way War glanced over at his father as Grayson conversed with his business guests. The slight tension in War’s shoulders when Grayson had mentioned the other side of the island as a more appropriate place for her to play, given her inadequate swimming skills.

  As if War should have known.

  It was the kind of detail that an organized type-A would have asked before taking someone on a beach vacation. Grayson was a go-getter that succeeded in business and it was natural he would want his son to share that attitude and success.

  Did Grayson know that War liked science? Or that he enjoyed pushing his body to its physical limits on the field?

  Tess could sit here and figuratively hide behind the guys the rest of dinner now that Grayson was done talking to her. He had done his two-bit, polite conversation with the girl his son brought along with him. Nothing too serious.

  She had been dismissed as a passing fancy, a girl War was determined to help right now because he was a good guy with sweetness in his heart.

  Or Tess could boldly stand up and interrupt the business conversation.

  Oh, damn.

  “Do you need to excuse yourself for the facilities?” Grayson asked.

  All of the men had shoved their chairs back and stood a few awkward moments after she had done so and said ‘excuse me’ to their startled looks.

  “No, I just... I wanted to say something.”

  War gave her a nervous glance, grabbing for her hand beside him, and then his eyes were back on his father.

  “Should we take a seat or is it more like a toast?” War asked, somewhat jokingly.

  Tess returned the laugh, lightly.

  “Not a speech, although I wanted to tell your father some nice things about you. I know we haven’t known each other long, but I figured your father would love to hear about your accomplishments while you’ve been studying overseas.”

  Grayson wiped his lips on his napkin, put it down on the table, and paid attention. She felt his serious grey-eyed gaze like a weight upon her shoulders. She should sit down as War had suggested.

  But nope.

  “I only met your son—all of these guys, actually—a short while ago, when I moved schools at the beginning of the new semester. War was one of the first friendly faces I came across in class. He has a bit of Ruby in him, if you don't mind me saying, sir. He put me at ease on the first day, made me smile and laugh. I think it's so easy to overlook his accomplishments because he makes everything appear simple. War is a top athlete and top student in the sciences. He could be a rocket scientist, but he would rather do something less flashy. Ruby said he wants to get involved in plant genomics to feed the world. That is the kind of legacy you can leave behind and be proud of for generations.”

  Everyone was quiet while she spoke. She felt a bit corny. One glance at War told her that he was also feeling uncomfortable with her praise.

  She retook her seat. Looking directly at Grayson, she waited for his response. This wasn't for War, even though it had been all about him.

  “Genomics, you say?” Grayson finally spoke, tapping his fingers on the table beside his napkin. He nodded. “Ruby said he had quite the scientist in him. Hockey too, although he's a big enough lad to do well in any sports.”

  “I wish my sons would pay attention in school. It’s almost a waste of money to send them to college. None of them can do much with sports, either. Cars and pretty gals are all they care about. No offence, Tess,” said one of Grayson’s guests.

  Michael, she thought. Definitely not Gerald. He had two daughters that like to lie down on the beach to sunbathe.

  “I am proud of him. He's my youngest, don’t you know, but he never settled for last place when it comes to accomplishments. Wants to forge his own path. I would put him in business, of course, but he would rather study seeds. Didn’t realize that he planned to tackle world hunger. It’s kind of amazing, son. You are more ambitious than any of us could ever realize on our own.”

  Tess glanced back over at War. He still looked uncomfortable, but she hoped it was more because he was hearing his father’s changed attitude than worrying about disappointing him.

  “Genetics is something I've always enjoyed, but meeting Tess gave my goals new meaning,” War said. “She’s been tutoring all of us, not because we're at the bottom of the class, but we did get complacent. She brings a new perspective and reminds us what it feels like to be curious and active learners. That's what science is really about, motivation to do something better, leading to innovation. I was going to talk to you about my plans for university before we left.”

  “I’ll meet you for an early morning swim and talk?” Grayson proposed.

  “Yes, sir,” War said.

  It might have sounded awkward if Tess hadn’t caught the look of pride Grayson shot his son before he returned his attention to his guests. Bastion cleared his throat quietly beside her. She turned to him in her seat.

  “Was that spontaneous?” Bastion asked.

  “Yeah,” she admitted. “Guess my mother isn't the only one with an impetuous side.” She smiled with a mischievous wink. “Better not introduce me to your evil stepmother. I just might turn her into a pumpkin. Not sure that will reverse at midnight.”

  She was making light of her own actions. They were all about what War had done, a recognition of his accomplishments. Her speaking of them was merely because it seemed like the rest of them were so used to War’s high-level performance that they didn't think to mention it. They were modest in a way.

  Except Keir. He likely would brag up himself or the other guys to any pretty girl.

  “Just what mischief are you thinking up now?” Bastion asked, catching her wandering in her thoughts.

  “Trouble was definitely on my mind,” she admitted.

  Keir perked up. “Do tell,” he said, leaning forward on the table across from her.

  “Kade, does he ever shut up?” she asked, looking over at his twin.

  “Never,” Kade said. “He even talks in his sleep.”

  “Do you have to deflate him at night to release some of that hot air?” she asked.

  Keir sputtered a response before his twin or Tess could malign him further. “I never speak anything but the truth. You do realize our father is an attorney?”

  “Someone that twists the truth and evidence to his version of the events all the time,” War said, catching on.

  “Candy twins is a misnomer as I told you,” Tess said. “Bet Keir started that one up.”

  Bastion laughed. “He didn’t, Pumpkin. That was the girls. Why do girls go gaga over twins? What is the appeal?”

  “I’m hearing a little jealousy,” Keir said. “Thanks for defending my honour, Bastion.”

  Not bastard?

  Tess quickly glanced over to the businessmen. They weren’t paying attention to their conversation, having one of their own, but Keir must have decided some caution was in order by being polite.

  She followed his lead, lowering her voice.

  “I’m not jealous,” Tess said. “Or gaga over twins. Although, I’m not opposed to a sandwich later when we go stargazing on the beach. I get hungry and I might need a midnight snack.”

  War laug
hed. “Oh, Kitten. You are asking for Trouble personally. Guess Bastion didn’t teach you anything earlier about the consequences for misbehaving?”

  Tess blushed, and quickly looked over the the businessmen again. Was Henry looking over at them or for one of the servers?

  “Let’s talk about something less stimulating until dinner is over,” Kade suggested. He shifted in his chair.

  Bastion trailed a soft foot along her leg and into the bottom cuff of her jeans. He pulled her legs slowly apart with his toed grip on her jeans.

  Shocking her, War used his napkin to dab at his lips and then dropped it onto his lap to join in. His closest hand to her followed the napkin and wandered to her other thigh. His fingers started exploring the opening that Bastion was creating at the apex of her legs.

  “Do you think Wilson’s going to put a new stumper up next week? Tess solved the last one on her first day. He’s never had two of them solved in one semester before. Guess he’ll have to email one of his university buddies for a real brain teaser this time,” War said, creating a casual, boring conversation about math problems while his fingers found the seam of her jeans and pressed.

  Tess shifted. The back of the chair stopped escape.

  Bastion tsked and pulled her thighs further apart. “Tess, are you ready for the main course?” he asked.

  “What?” she squeaked out.

  Bastion nodded to the waiting servers.

  They had held the food for all of them, keeping it warm while they talked. The businessmen and Grayson had already been served and were digging into what looked like prime rib mains.

  She could smell garlicky mashed potatoes and her stomach gave a grumble.

  “You should have seen Tess up there solving Wilson’s year end stumper like it was a homework problem she’d forgotten to prep and just made up the solution on the spot. His face dropped flatter than Jilly Carson’s chest when I popped the helium balloons she had stuffed in her bra,” Keir said.

  Grayson arched an eyebrow at them and then went back to his conversation with the other businessmen.

  Tess squirmed back in her chair as far as she could go.

  “Are we allowed to solve more than one year-end problem?” she asked, wiggling her jeans free of Bastion’s toed hold and snapping her legs shut on War’s fingers.

  “No,” Kade answered. “Are you okay? You look uncomfortable,” he innocently commented.

  He seemed to be the only one unaware of what was going on at their end of the table. Keir had a knowing smirk on his lips as he caught War retrieving his hand back to the tabletop now that she had closed her legs to his teasing game with Bastion.

  “I’m fine. Just hungry. Guess I should have decided on more than soup and sandwiches for lunch,” Tess said, happily sitting back so the server could put some delicious-smelling prime rib on her plate.

  They were carving it at the table-side, rolling it in on a silver trolley. A good dollop of garlicky potatoes followed and roasted green beans.

  “Scarf it down but leave room for dessert,” Keir said. “I want to watch you enjoy every last mouthful.”

  She broke off some tender meat with her fork and brought it up to her mouth, moaning contentment. It tasted wonderful and she really was hungry, but the moan was also deliberate to tease the guys back.

  “Don’t let Keir rush you,” War said. “Chew your food properly and enjoy. Just keep it quiet,” he added. “My Da is already eyeing us up. He’s gonna insist on double servings if he thinks we starved you at lunch.”

  Tess swallowed. “It’s delicious but I’m not used to big servings and definitely not doubles. This is more than enough.”

  She looked over to Grayson. “This is wonderful. Does Ruby like to cook?”

  Grayson smiled, swallowing his own mouthful of dinner.

  “She’s more of a baker. War loves apple pie. Ruby makes one where she boils up a spiced syrup and pours it into the top crust through the steam holes. Bakes up sweet and crisp.”

  “I’ve had it a couple times when Ruby’s made apple pie,” Bastion said. “Better than chocolate, Tess.”

  She laughed. “I believe you.”

  “Perhaps Ruby can show you how to make it one of these weekends when I come for dinner?” Grayson asked.

  “Sounds like a fine idea,” War said. “I’m all for supporting any efforts to bring more apple pie to the world.”

  Once Grayson turned back to his conversation with the businessmen, War let out a quiet little sigh.

  “He really likes you,” War whispered to her.

  “What do you mean?” Tess asked, trying a forkful of potatoes.

  “That was an invitation for more than pie,” Bastion said on her other side. “Lucky War. You’ve been given the parental seal of approval. I would bring you over to my house but my stepmother might offer you a poisoned apple instead. Nothing to do with you, just me.”

  She had already met the twins’ father and knew her unwelcome would be the same.

  “How about I learn to make Ruby’s apple pie for all of you to share?” she offered.

  “Sounds like a sweet deal to me,” Kade said.

  “Thank you,” Bastion whispered. “That was sweet, Pumpkin. Almost makes me feel bad for taking you over my knee—”

  Tess elbowed him. “Yeah, almost. Don’t get too caught up in the moment. I’ll make you regret it, if only to keep you on your toes.”

  War chuckled. “Perfect for all of us, Tess-girl.”

  Keir had been stuffing his mouth and scraped his plate clean of the last bite of potatoes. He swallowed, without need to chew, and gave her a look.

  “Less yapping, more eating,” he ordered her. “Soufflé won’t wait, even for a princess.”

  Just in case she got too full of herself, Keir would keep her grounded.

  She stuck her tongue out at him, after a quick glance at the businessmen to make sure they weren’t watching, and proceeded to eat with the same enthusiasm Keir had displayed.

  This had been quite different from the dinner the guys had shared with her and the kids at her townhouse, but it still had the same unmistakable feeling at its core.

  She was with family. People that cared about her.

  12

  War

  Just Desserts

  Dinner had gone much better than War anticipated.

  His dad seemed unsure about Tess when War first explained some of what had happened to bring them to the island seeking his resources.

  A girl with a troubled background wasn’t the problem. It was the guns, drugs, and motorcycle gang that had nearly kidnapped her that had Da upset.

  War had to convince his father that they would all play it smart. That meant not taking risks in order to get Jensen and clear Kade’s name.

  Tess was still an unknown factor, new to them, and skittish.

  War couldn’t blame her attitude given her father. He told Da the unvarnished version of their first meeting with the Wolf at gunpoint.

  War wanted hired men that knew how to deal with threats decisively. Hence, he presented the threat that darkened their doorstep.

  Da had looked shaken.

  It wasn't often that War saw his Da stumble, but that was exactly what appeared to happen when he mentioned the Wolf’s gunpoint interrogation. His Da dropped the heavy paperweight he’d been inspecting that Mum had asked War to bring as a gift.

  Da collected them. Simple, polished rocks with their hardness smoothed and hidden away.

  “This man held a gun at your head and you did nothing?” Da asked.

  War wasn't sure if that was a reprimand or confusion. Did his Da expect him to be hot-headed? He ought to know better.

  “Nah, it wasn't the right time to act. I had others to think about, at risk, with that gun waving about. Tess was doing her best to take her father's attention off us by lying through her teeth. I wasn't about to help her father kick those teeth in by acting heedlessly.”

  Da released a long sigh, clearly thinking.
>
  The beautiful rose and jade paperweight had dented the desk’s wood tabletop. It rolled towards where War was seated in front of Da on the other side. Stubborn rock hadn’t a flaw from the accidental drop. Hopefully the desk could be buffed.

  “Tell me what you wanted to do, War. Not what was smart or civilized. I want to know exactly what you would do if you had the freedom to act as you wanted in that moment.”

  “I would pummel him with my fists in front of Tess until she saw the beaten man under the Wolf. He failed her family. Had a taste for risk that he gambled their futures to keep feeding his selfish hunger. Perhaps there was an honourable man inside him once, but all that’s left now is a shell that I could shatter to prove to Tess he’s empty. She feels guilt, you know, over leaving her family. She thinks she’s selfish.”

  “She left?” Da asked, this time looking more confused.

  War rolled the paperweight back towards his father.

  “She was in a private preparatory school. Bursaries and scholarships funded all the way. Last year before university. She’s bright and motivated, Da. Her mother and her two younger siblings lived in our town while Tess was attending school on her own. Her father was supposed to be out of the picture, divorced, and with a new girlfriend. No custody.”

  “Tess told you all this? I thought you met her recently.”

  “Bastion hired an investigator. She did open up to us after Kade and Keir told her a little about their mother. Her own mother was very ill in Mum’s hospital. It helped the twins to bond quicker to Tess.”

  “You should have hired an investigator,” Da muttered.

  War picked up that honest disapproval. He deserved it.

  “I know. I didn’t have the same level of suspicion at first that Bastion carries on his shoulders like a damn cloak. You know how he is about letting new people into our circle of friends, and with what happened to the twins...”

  “You also should have told me more about that incident with Haunani sooner,” Dad said, definitely a reprimand. It was quiet, firm, and as heavy as the paperweight his mother had gifted him.