Travis pushed aside thoughts of Camille and India and went into the house. He did his last sweep. Nothing was out of order. All doors and windows locked, security system ready to be armed as he left. He’d checked before putting the bag in the car, but he couldn’t help himself. He remembered all too well how easy breaking into someone’s house had been when he was a teenager trying to prove himself. His house wouldn’t be easy pickings if he could help it.
His doorbell rang right as he finished checking everything. “Who the hell is that?”
He pressed his hands together and looked up, sending a quick prayer Camille hadn’t returned to talk about the breakup.
He took a heavy breath and glanced out his peephole. His uncle Mitch stood on the other side. Travis’s hand tightened on the door. His uncle had never come to his home. Hell, his parents had never visited him there. To say a family member was the very last person he expected was an understatement. He’d be less shocked to find the British prime minister at his doorstep than his uncle.
Travis opened the door. The hard look on Mitch’s face said this wasn’t a social call. “What do you want, Mitch?” He didn’t bother to sound welcoming. Not after his last visit when Mitch hadn’t cared about his son pulling a gun on Travis.
“The trial starts the week after next,” Mitch said in a deceptively casual voice. His eyes were obsidian hard. His body tense as if he were waiting for an excuse to go for the gun-like bulge on his side.
“I know.”
“I’m giving you one last chance to do right by your family.”
Travis clenched his teeth. He took a slow breath in through his nose. Tried to tamp down the rampant frustration bubbling beneath his skin. “I’ve never done wrong by the family.”
Mitch raised one bushy brow. “Oh really? You don’t think working for that bastard Grant Robidoux wasn’t the start of you doing wrong by the family?”
“No. I don’t. Grant kept me out of jail when he didn’t have to, gave me a job and a means to improve my life.”
“Yeah, guilt can make a man do things like that.”
Travis tilted his head. What the hell was his uncle talking about? “Guilt? He had no reason to feel guilty for helping me.”
Mitch sucked his teeth like a smart-ass teen and sneered. “But he had every reason to feel guilty for the way he double-crossed your dad.”
“My dad? They barely know each other.”
“They knew each other. Grew up together. Were friends. Where do you think Grant got the land he needed when he wanted to expand his damn tobacco fields?”
“A tax sale,” Travis replied immediately. He’d heard the story from Grant a dozen times. He’d needed more acres. When the land went up for back taxes, he outbid everyone in the county, including other tobacco farmers, just to get the land. That expansion helped him start Robidoux Tobacco’s special selection of tobacco that they used in the high-end cigars. That expansion had given the company the boost needed to survive the decline in cigarette sales.
Mitch’s eyes narrowed. “So, you know.”
Travis hadn’t thought it was possible for Mitch to sound even more disgusted with him, but he’d been wrong. “Did I know that someone didn’t pay taxes and Grant legally bought the land? Yes, I knew that.”
“And who do you think didn’t pay their taxes?”
Travis glared. “How the hell am I supposed to know?”
Mitch rolled his eyes and sneered. “That was your dad’s land. Grant Robidoux stole the little bit of property left in our family.”
Travis’s head jerked back. “Grant bought our family’s land?” Disbelief filled his voice. He shook his head. “He would have told me.”
Mitch’s laugh was mocking. “He went behind your dad’s back after promising to help him save it. He didn’t give a damn that me and your dad had plans to eventually try to work the land again. All he cared about was making more money. Now do you understand why you working for him, marrying one of his daughters and being a puppet in that family is a slap in the face?”
The words hit Travis and knocked him speechless. He’d never understood why his dad was so against Travis taking the assistance Grant offered him. His dad’s animosity toward Grant made a lot more sense now. He’d always called Grant a liar and a thief. A no-good bastard that was only out to get his. He wasn’t surprised his dad had left out the details, or wouldn’t acknowledge that failing to pay the taxes gave Grant, and anyone else, the right to purchase the land.
His head spun with the new information. Had he been a pawn in Grant’s feud with his father? He’d looked up to Grant. Admired him, tried to be like him and married Elaina after Grant accused him of knocking her up and ruining her chances at a better life. To think Grant had only helped and guided him as a way to further antagonize his father felt like a betrayal.
He met Mitch’s eye. Recognized the pleased satisfaction in his uncle’s expression. He wanted to make Travis mad. Mitch probably assumed spilling this information would make Travis feel the need to do something good for the family. Something like fail to defend Zachariah King.
Just like when he was in the courtroom and hit with unexpected information, Travis schooled his features and filed away the shock of his emotions to process later. Right now he needed to get Mitch off his doorstep. “I have nothing to do with what happened between Dad and Grant.” He gave no hint of the doubt and confusion churning in his belly.
“Is that your excuse for working with Grant?” Mitch asked. “Because it came before your time, you don’t care?”
“Because the problems between my dad and Grant are separate from me defending Zach King.” He brought the conversation back to the real reason his uncle was here.
“Tell yourself that, but when it all boils down, it’s the same. You going against the family.”
“I won’t go through this with you anymore.” Travis didn’t want to have to toss his uncle off his porch, but he was sick of this conversation and ready to get the hell out of town.
“Then I don’t have to tell you again that if you don’t make sure the man who killed my son goes to prison, then I’ll make sure he pays. And you along with him.” Mitch looked Travis up and down before he turned and casually walked back to his car as if he hadn’t just threatened Travis and his client.
Travis stood there and watched as his uncle got in his car and drove away. His heart pounded like an electrocuted rhino. The adrenaline that flooded his system in anticipation of having to defend himself from his uncle pulsed. He wanted to shout, hit something—shit, smoke a blunt like he would have done at fourteen.
Why hadn’t Grant told him? Why hadn’t his dad elaborated instead of just calling Travis a sellout for working with the family? Would Travis have done anything differently if he’d known? Would he have turned down Grant’s assistance if it meant saving the miniscule amount of affection his father had thrown his way before he’d worked for Robidioux Tobacco? His life had gone from complicated to fucked in the space of two days.
For years he’d been split between the loyalty he’d felt for his father and the man who’d treated him like a son. Eventually he’d chosen the path Grant laid out for him. While his father’s ideas of what Travis should have done with his life wouldn’t have landed Travis where he was today, he damn sure wouldn’t be dealing with a threat from Mitch that was deadly serious.
He gripped his keys, locked the door and hurried to his car, now even more anxious to get out of town and process everything. He had a feeling once everything was said and done he may not come out of any of these situations unscathed.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
THE CHIME OF the bell on the door of Ashiya’s consignment shop greeted India. Several women browsed the various selection of high-end fashions. India was amazed at her cousin’s success. Not because she didn’t think Ashiya could be successful, but because she’d always known her cousin want
ed her own business, and seeing Ashiya not only achieve her dream but thrive at it filled India’s heart with pride.
“Welcome to Piece Together,” the young girl behind the counter called out.
India smiled at her and another woman ringing up a patron’s purchase. She did a quick scan of the shop for Ashiya but didn’t see her cousin. She looked back to the counter.
“Hi, Lindsey, is Ashiya in?”
Lindsey pointed toward the back of the shop. “Yeah, she went in the office to take a call. You can go on back.”
“Thanks,” India said.
She maneuvered her way through the various racks of dresses, blouses, pants and everything in between. On her way to the office, a garnet dress hanging on the wall caught her attention. She’d have to check that out before leaving.
She and Ashiya had made plans to go out later that day, but India needed to get not only out of the house but also out of town. Everything irritated her. Elaina’s cool confidence, Byron’s jubilation over being up in the polls, the pep in her dad’s step now that he was marrying his former mistress. They all were so sure of themselves and their space in the world. Whereas she was twisted in a dozen knots.
Travis wanted her. He’d kissed her! She wanted him, too.
In any other situation, those three things would be perfect, the start of a new relationship filled with all types of possibilities. Yet, there was nothing about her situation that said she should jump in headfirst. Not only was there the potential to cause a rift in her family over this, but despite her excitement, a part of her was afraid to believe Travis wouldn’t hurt her again.
Does anyone have to know?
The one thought that had crept into her mind dozens of times since Travis kissed her taunted her. What if what was between her and Travis was just a whim? An itch they needed to scratch and nothing more? Why couldn’t they indulge and then put everything behind them without anyone knowing? Without risking her heart with promises of something more?
She tried to push the thought aside, but it lingered. Always there. Always tempting in its weird sort of logic.
That’s why she had to get away. She needed time to think. Time away from her family, the campaign and expectations. Time away from Travis. The last thing she needed was to run into him again while these thoughts held her good sense hostage.
“I’m not going there with you again. You started seeing someone else. I don’t play runner-up.”
The sound of Ashiya’s voice carried from the open door of her office. India hesitated. Her cousin sounded angry and hurt. Was she talking to Stephen? The other week when she and Ashiya had talked about men, her cousin hadn’t said anything about Stephen seeing anyone else. Anger seeped into India’s blood. This was why Ashiya needed to leave Stephen’s trifling ass behind. She walked up to knock so Ashiya would know she was there. She didn’t want to eavesdrop.
“Don’t give me that,” Ashiya snapped. “Stephen doesn’t matter. I’ve told you that.”
India’s hand paused as she started to knock on the door. That was interesting. Not Stephen. Then who was Ashiya seeing?
“You didn’t just date someone else, you were with—”
Ashiya looked up, caught India’s eye and clammed up. Guilt made India’s face burn. She lowered her hand. No need to knock now. She’d hesitated long enough and had been caught listening.
Ashiya dropped her gaze but waved India in. “I’ve got to go,” she said in the phone. She ended the call and tossed her cell on the desk. “India...what are you doing here?” There was a tremble in her cousin’s voice.
India entered the office and pushed the door shut. “I decided to stop by on my way out of town. To see if you’re okay with rescheduling our outing tonight.”
Ashiya rubbed around the neckline of her shirt. A nervous gesture India hadn’t seen in years. “Sure, I’m cool with that.”
“Are you okay? Who was that on the phone?”
She met India’s eyes and the embarrassment in her gaze slowly gave way to relief. Her hand dropped from her neck. “No one important.”
She’d already heard enough. No need to pretend as if she hadn’t. “It wasn’t Stephen. Are you two still together?”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Ashiya said firmly. She took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, then smiled the placid Robidoux-family, let’s-not-go-there smile. “Out of town? Why are you leaving?”
More questions bubbled in India’s throat. She decided not to pry. She had her own messy situation to clean up. No need getting mixed up in Ashiya’s. “I just need to get some space. The fish fry was a lot, and I feel like I’ve done nothing but focus on the campaign. I’m taking a few days to clear my head.”
“And think about why you kissed Travis?”
India’s heart fell to her feet. Then hopped back up and ran a race in her chest. “What?”
Ashiya shrugged. “Don’t worry. I’m not outing you or anything. I just didn’t realize there was something going on with you two.”
India hurried across the room and gripped the back of the red leather chair in front of Ashiya’s desk. “It’s not like that.”
Ashiya raised a brow. “I saw him kiss you Saturday.” Ashiya’s voice was smug in a gotcha sense without being judgmental.
India opened and closed her mouth. A dozen excuses ran through her head, but none of them came to the surface. “You saw that.”
“I saw it. No one else did,” Ashiya answered. She looked at her discarded cell phone and sighed. “Your secret is safe with me. I’m not one to judge.”
Based on that conversation with not-Stephen, India had to agree. “There hasn’t been anything between me and Travis in years.”
Ashiya leaned forward. “Are you saying there was something before?” Her mouth fell open. “While he was married to—”
“No!” India shook her head emphatically. “I wouldn’t do that to Elaina. Though, what I did do wasn’t much better. It was the night of my birthday the year after mom died. You know I didn’t go to the party with you.”
“Yeah, you bailed on me and I had to hang out with Marlena Gore all night,” Ashiya said with a grimace. “She left me behind once the fight broke out.” Her eyes narrowed, and India bet if Marlena was in that room, Ashiya would have cursed her out again for leaving her stranded.
“I bailed because Travis overheard me saying I would go,” India explained. “We hung out that night instead. He figured something bad would pop off and offered to help me celebrate my birthday instead. We talked, drank way too much whiskey, and one thing led to another.”
Ashiya slapped a hand over her heart. Her eyes wide as silver dollars. “You slept together! Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because we didn’t have sex,” India shot back. “He stopped before it got there. I didn’t tell anyone, and two weeks later he proposed to Elaina.”
“Oh.” Ashiya’s face twisted into a look of distaste. “That doesn’t explain the kiss on Saturday.”
“I can’t explain the kiss the other day. I’ve felt something for Travis for years. It’s why I agreed to hang with him on my birthday. I knew he and Elaina had fought and were supposedly broken up. I’m not saying it’s right, but I wanted him to be with me. When he married her, I tried to get over it, forget it, ignore it, and everything in between. I didn’t think he felt anything either. Ever since I got back, he’s acted as if we’re just good friends and that night didn’t happen. Then...he tells me he shouldn’t have married Elaina.” She said the last in a rush. She still couldn’t believe the words she’d suspected and longed to hear for years.
“I think we all know that,” Ashiya said in a dry tone.
“Ashiya!”
“Come on, everyone knows they shouldn’t have gotten married. Your dad pushed the engagement because Travis was going to law school and rumors were starting to fly about Elain
a hooking up with the hoodlum Grant took under his wing. Uncle Grant needed to clean everything up and marriage was the best way.”
“How do you know that?”
“How do you think? Mom told me,” Ashiya said with a shrug. “She tells me everything that goes on in this family. You didn’t know?”
“I never asked.” Was it true? More questions filled her head than before. Elaina had never indicated their dad played any role in her marriage to Travis. Even though Travis said he shouldn’t have married Elaina, he also hadn’t mentioned her father. Why would her dad push the marriage? He’d been irritated by Elaina hooking up with Travis, but would he have pressured matrimony to “clean things up”?
In a hot minute.
The answer was clear. No one told her anything, and in typical Robidoux style, if there was a secret to keep, then no one outside of the people who knew was told. If their dad wanted people to believe Elaina and Travis got married because they cared about each other and not because he believed the rumors were getting too hot, then that’s what people would believe.
That didn’t change her decision today. Grant pushing the marriage back then still didn’t make it okay for India and Travis to explore the desire simmering between them today. Did it?
“Look, I don’t know what is or isn’t going on between you and Travis anymore. And I swear I’m the worst person to give relationship advice but be careful there.” Ashiya’s eyes were serious. “Elaina isn’t very forgiving in most situations. I doubt she’ll forgive you if she finds out about you and Travis. Make sure you know what you’re doing before you tear the family apart.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
GETTING AWAY WAS just what she needed. India had arrived in Asheville the night before and headed out early the following morning to tour some of the many art galleries downtown. The area was alive with music, laughter and conversation. Outside the galleries, craft and food vendors lined the streets. The multitude of people, sights and indulgences for the senses occupied her mind. Almost enough to keep her from obsessing about Ashiya’s revelations and words of warning.
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