Legacy

by HELEN HARDT

  “This is your home,” Brad said. “Damn it! I won’t be chased out of my own home!”

  “I’d advise getting a security system installed right away,” Officer Grant said.

  “Out here in the middle of rural Colorado? My father never believed in anything like that.”

  “We live in a different time now, Mr. Steel. You’ve had two threats to your child tonight.”

  “I want to leave,” I said again.

  Brad nodded. “First thing in the morning. I’ll have something top of the line installed.”

  “Good. That will help. Mrs. Steel, is there anything else you can tell me that might help us?”

  I shook my head.

  “All right. If you think of anything, call me right away. I left several of my cards on the table in the kitchen. We’ll be on this.”

  “Th-Thank you,” I stammered.

  My baby. My precious baby.

  I’ll protect you. I’ll die protecting you.

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Brad

  Fear sliced through me like a butcher’s knife through a tender cut of beef.

  But the rage outshone the fear.

  I was angry.

  Really angry.

  Angrier than I had been when someone killed Murph at my wedding, and I was raging about that.

  Whoever the fuck was messing with my wife and child had incurred more than my wrath.

  They’d incurred my unadulterated hatred.

  This was beyond even Wendy’s capabilities. She was a mess, but she wouldn’t threaten a baby.

  Who would?

  Who hated me that much?

  I had no idea.

  But someone was fucking with me.

  Once more, I missed my old man. Not because he and I were ever close, but because he’d know how to handle this. George Steel knew how to get his hands dirty and then clean them to sparkling before anyone was the wiser.

  I needed to be George Steel.

  I’d vowed to protect Daphne. I’d promised Jonathan.

  I could take care of her, take care of Jonah. I had the money to give them whatever their hearts desired.

  But could I truly protect them from some outside force that seemed determined to haunt us?

  I hadn’t been able to protect Murphy, and he’d paid with his life.

  I walked around the bedroom. Shards of glass lay over the carpet. Grant had taken the rock with him as evidence.

  But he’d find nothing. Already I knew this in my gut. Whoever was behind this had covered their tracks.

  Which made my job all the more difficult.

  “Baby,” I said to Daphne, “you and little Joe need to sleep somewhere else tonight.”

  “I’m not sleeping anywhere but next to you.”

  “Of course. I’ll sleep with you. I need to move his cradle. Okay? Until we get this glass fixed, we can’t sleep in here.”

  Where I slept tonight mattered little, because I wouldn’t be sleeping anyway. I’d lie awake all night and watch over my wife and child.

  They would never be harmed on my watch.

  By noon the next day, I’d contracted someone to install bulletproof glass in all the windows in the main ranch house and the guesthouse, I’d ordered a state-of-the-art security system to be installed as soon as possible, and I’d hired a bodyguard for my wife and son. Cliff would arrive soon. He’d stay in one of our guest rooms and would be part of the household. He’d also be Daphne’s driver.

  She’d balk at the intrusion, but their safety was paramount. Until I neutralized whoever or whatever was threatening them, they’d be watched and protected at all times.

  Now, I perused the files in my father’s cabinet. He’d whispered the combination to his personal safe to me before he died. In the safe, I found the key to his always-locked file cabinet.

  Since his death and little Joe’s birth and everything else that had occurred in the last month, I hadn’t had the time to look through the files. Now? I had to find any secrets my father might be hiding. The Future Lawmakers were not behind this attack on my child. I didn’t believe it for a minute. They were young and greedy, but they weren’t killers. They no longer needed my money, and none of them would hurt a baby. Not even Wendy.

  I’d given it a lot of thought. They were businessmen, first and foremost, and hurting an innocent child would not result in any profit.

  But someone had made the threats.

  I’d always known the Steels had a few skeletons in their closet. Now it was time to unearth them.

  These were my father’s personal files.

  All the ranch files were in three other cabinets, none of them ever kept locked.

  This cabinet had always been hands-off to everyone except George Steel.

  What are you hiding, Dad?

  I opened the top drawer. It was stuffed with hanging file folders housing thick manila files. This cabinet had four drawers. Did my father truly have this many personal files?

  Apprehension gripped me as I let my hand hover over the sea of manila. Which one should I grab first? And would it lead me down a dark path from which I could never escape?

  Didn’t matter.

  My wife and son were depending on me to keep them safe, and if knowing what hid in these files could help accomplish that, I had to look at them.

  I had no choice.

  I’d turn twenty-three in a month. Not even a quarter of a century old. But I felt like I’d already lived a lifetime of threats and fears.

  I had to suppress the fear.

  My old man hadn’t been afraid of anything—especially not losing someone close to him.

  Why? Because he’d never gotten close to anyone.

  He loved my mother once, and in his own way, he loved me. He would have loved Jonah, too.

  But not the way I loved Daphne and my child.

  George Steel hadn’t been capable of that kind of love. I’d learned that kind of devotion from my mother.

  Take a file, Brad. You’re procrastinating.

  I sucked in a breath and grabbed a file folder.

  None of the folders were marked, so I had to look inside to see what the file contained.

  I opened the folder…and nearly lost my footing.

  This file was all about me.

  Chapter Forty-Four

  Daphne

  Little Joe had gone to sleep after his noon feeding, and I sat in the family room watching game shows. I didn’t want to think about anything serious, so Bob Barker and The Price Is Right were a nice distraction.

  My mom had gone to the greenhouse with Mazie. Mom had really taken to the greenhouse. I wished she had one at home. I enjoyed the greenhouse as well, but I hadn’t gotten out there since Joe had arrived.

  Belinda puttered in the kitchen.

  I jerked when the doorbell rang.

  “I’ll get it, Miss Daphne,” Belinda called.

  I wasn’t expecting anyone, but I shivered anyway. I hadn’t been expecting anyone last night either, when that message had arrived.

  I peeked into Joe’s bassinet. He was sleeping soundly. Then I walked upstairs to see who was at the door.

  A large man—a very large man—stood in the entryway with Belinda. I froze in my tracks.

  “This is Clifford Danes,” Belinda said. “He’s here to see Mr. Brad.”

  Clifford Danes nodded at me. “Are you Mrs. Steel?”

  I swallowed. “I am.”

  “Nice to meet you. Seems I’m your new bodyguard.”

  I lifted my eyebrows. “My…what?”

  “Your husband hired me.”

  “He did?”

  “I’ll get Mr. Brad,” Belinda said. “Have a seat, Mr. Danes.” She motioned to the formal living room.

  I stood in the foyer for a few minutes. Was I supposed to talk to him? This bodyguard? A bodyguard I didn’t want?

  Or did I? I’d do anything to protect my child.

  So instead of sitting down in the living room, I walked back through
the hallway to the family room where Joe slept in his bassinet. That was where I belonged—watching over my baby.

  I sat down and glued my eyes back to The Price Is Right.

  I’d let Brad handle this bodyguard business.

  I hadn’t slept well last night after all the commotion. Whenever I nodded off, Joe woke up. I closed my eyes.

  “Baby?”

  I jerked my eyes open. Brad stood over me, nudging me.

  “I’m sorry to wake you, but there’s someone you need to meet.”

  Right. My bodyguard. I peeked into the bassinet. Joe still slept soundly. “I can’t leave the baby.”

  “Okay. I’ll bring him down here.”

  A minute later, Clifford Danes stood over me. He was a few inches taller than Brad and even more muscular. The man was a mountain.

  “We met,” I said.

  “Cliff is armed with two weapons at all times,” Brad said. “He’s also a third-degree black belt in karate and a champion kickboxer. He’ll be living in the guest room across from my office.”

  “Not right next to our room?” I said incredulously…and a little sarcastically.

  “I thought you might want more privacy than that.”

  “Thanks.” I resisted an eye roll.

  Really, this was sweet of Brad to get protection for me and the baby.

  “He’ll be your driver, as well,” Brad continued. “You and the baby aren’t to go anywhere without Cliff.”

  I was too tired to argue. I simply nodded.

  “Good. I’m glad you agree. Cliff, I’ll show you your room, and you can get settled in.”

  I checked on Jonah. He was making those baby oinking sounds that were so cute. I laughed out loud. I’d have to tell Patty. She’d know if it really sounded like oinking. That meant he was waking up, and he’d probably be hungry. I pulled him out of the bassinet and kissed the top of his head. Then I inhaled.

  Had anything ever smelled as sweet as baby Joe’s head?

  Never.

  Even the most fragrant flower in Mazie’s greenhouse couldn’t compare.

  I unbuttoned my shirt and settled him in for his feeding.

  The phone rang again.

  “Miss Daphne, it’s for you,” Belinda called. “It’s Ennis Ainsley.”

  “Okay, tell him to hold on a minute.” I situated Joe so he could still nurse and then got up to grab the extension in the family room. “Hi, Ennis.”

  “Hey, love. Patty’s not back from shopping yet, so we may be late for dinner.”

  “Wow. Is it dinnertime already?” I looked at my watch.

  “We’re due at your place in a half hour, which means we need to leave now. She took off after lunch to shop.”

  “Snow Creek isn’t that big.”

  “You know Patty. She’s got the shopping bug. I expected her back at the hotel by now.”

  “I’ll tell Belinda you might be a little late,” I said. “Let me know when you’re on your way.”

  “Will do. Thanks for understanding.”

  “Patty dragged me out shopping a couple days after I first met her. She’s a born shopper. See you soon.”

  I hung up and sat back down, settling Jonah in for more of his feeding. “Belinda!” I called.

  “Yes, miss?” She stood at the top of the small staircase.

  “Ennis says he and Patty are going to be late for dinner. She hasn’t returned from shopping yet.”

  “Okay. Not a problem. Keep me posted.”

  “I will. Where’s Brad?”

  “He’s in his office with the new bodyguard. They’ve been in there awhile.”

  “Okay.”

  Jonah had nodded off to sleep. I set him in his bassinet and buttoned up my shirt. Then I walked to the office to let Brad know about Ennis and Patty. I knocked.

  “Come in.” Brad’s voice.

  I opened the door. The bodyguard stood next to Brad, perusing papers on his desk.

  “Hey, baby,” Brad said.

  “Ennis and Patty are going to be late for dinner.”

  “Oh? I forgot they were coming.”

  “I guess you’ve been preoccupied,” I said.

  “Just bringing Cliff here up to speed. He comes highly recommended.”

  “I’m sure he does.”

  “You and your baby will be safe on my watch, Mrs. Steel.”

  “Please, call me Daphne.”

  “Whatever you prefer,” he said. “I’ll try not to intrude on your day-to-day activities any more than I have to.”

  “I understand.”

  “Thank you for being so understanding about this, Daphne,” Brad said. “I just want you and little Joe safe.”

  “I understand,” I echoed myself. “Will you be staying for dinner, Mr…?”

  “Danes. Call me Cliff, Mrs. Steel. Er…Daphne.”

  I nodded.

  “Cliff will eat in the kitchen with Belinda,” Brad said.

  I nodded again numbly.

  I hated feeling numb. Numbness made me feel colorless, like those pale-green blooms in Mazie’s greenhouse. One day I’d have to remember to ask her why they were her favorite.

  “I’ll let you know when Patty and Ennis get here.” I left the office, closing the door behind me.

  I returned to the family room to check on Joe. He was sleeping soundly. Mom and Mazie came bustling in from their trip to the greenhouse.

  “Hey, honey.” Mom kissed my cheek. “I’m going to take a quick shower before dinner. Mazie and I did some transplanting, and I’m filthy.”

  “Take your time,” I said. “Ennis and Patty are going to be late.”

  Mazie was in the kitchen chatting with Belinda. Now, while I had it on my mind, I’d ask her about the pale-green tulips.

  “Hi there, Daphne,” Mazie said. “How’s the baby?”

  “He’s good. He’s sleeping.”

  “Good. I’ll go take a look at him.”

  I smiled. Or tried to, anyway. Smiling was difficult after last night’s events. “I want to ask you something first.”

  “Sure. What is it?”

  “Why are those pale-green tulips your favorite?”

  She lifted her brow. “That’s an interesting question.”

  “Brad told me, and I just wondered, because to me they seem so…sad.”

  “I suppose they do seem a little sad next to the brighter colors. Brad told me the yellow are your favorites.”

  “Yeah. They remind me of the sun.”

  “So they do.”

  “The pale-green ones remind me of the moon, which reminds me of…” I stopped. I’d been about to say darkness. Did Mazie even know about my junior year?

  “They’re called green spirit. Maybe it’s the name I like.” She smiled wistfully. “But I like the color as well. I don’t see sadness when I look at them. I see something that reminds me that the darkness has its own beauty.”

  I dropped my mouth into an O. Her words spoke to me, offered me something about the flower—and myself—that I’d never considered before.

  “When you embrace darkness,” she continued, “and learn not to fear it, you can begin to see it in a different way. After all, only the most beautiful stars shine in the dark.” She laughed. “Am I making any sense at all?”

  “Actually, yes,” I said. “I never thought of it that way.”

  “Most people don’t. Most people fear the darkness. But the darkness has a lot to teach us. I should know.”

  Was that an invitation to ask what she meant? Belinda stood at the counter, ripping lettuce for our salad.

  “Don’t fear it, Daphne,” Mazie said. “It’s part of you. It’s part of everyone. Now, I need to clean up before your friends arrive.” She left the kitchen.

  Part of me.

  My junior year was part of me, part of my history. Had Brad told Mazie about it?

  I’d never forget what Mazie had said. I vowed then to learn from everything in my life, find the stars among the darkness, the roses among the thorns.


  But I still liked the yellow tulips best.

  Chapter Forty-Five

  Brad

  After Cliff got settled in his room, I returned to my office.

  I hadn’t had a chance to look through my father’s file about me.

  On top was my birth certificate. Of course I’d seen it before, and of course my father would have a copy of my birth certificate. Not a huge deal. So why was this file so fat?

  I pushed the birth certificate aside. Copies of my report cards from grade school through college, except for the last semester that I’d just completed. Dad had died before then.

  After those, my medical records. I was healthy as a horse and up-to-date on all my vaccinations. Okay. What was the purpose of this file?

  I moved the medical records out of the way and—

  The Future Lawmakers Club.

  One page. A simple list of all the members and the names of their parents. That was it.

  Okay. Strange.

  Next page: See separate files for more information.

  My heart sped up a little…but only a little. I wasn’t overly surprised that my father had kept files on the Future Lawmakers.

  The rest of the file on me consisted of invoices and ledgers.

  The fucker had kept a file on how much I’d cost him over the years. Seriously.

  Had he really been upset that he couldn’t have more children? Seemed the one he had was nothing but an expense to him.

  I perused the ledgers. Man, every diaper was accounted for. Even my part in the food bill over the years.

  Then—

  “Oh my God,” I said out loud.

  My father had an account of every payment I’d made to the Future Lawmakers. Out of my own accounts. His name hadn’t been on them since I turned eighteen. How would he have—

  This was George Steel.

  He didn’t follow the rules.

  He got what he wanted no matter what, and apparently what he wanted was to keep very close tabs on how his only son spent his money. Not just my investments in the club, but every other payment I’d made over the years since I turned eighteen.