Chapter 34
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Atlanta—Present Day
“How did it go?” Siobhan asked.
The expectant faces of his family, gathered around the wide island in Cara's kitchen, all seemed to hold a collective breath.
“I couldn't find it.” Frustration swelled in him again.
“Damn it! You looked in the study?”
He leveled a look at his mother. “Of course, I did. The room hadn't changed at all. It was a time capsule.”
Declan didn’t share how he’d imagined the faint scent of his father’s cologne and cigars still lingered in the air. The same cologne they now knew Chris and Courtney had used to poison David Bloom.
Conscious of the fact that security guards patrolled the estate and could discover him any minute, Declan didn’t indulge in the nostalgia. The moment he stepped over the threshold, onto the royal blue carpeting his father loved, years of memories washed over him.
The last time Declan had been in the room was for the reading of his father’s will. As soon as the terms were explained, Courtney ordered her new security team to remove all of them from their home.
Declan quickly searched the study and all the other main rooms before moving to the bedrooms upstairs. The urn wasn’t there.
Declan didn’t tell Cara that her bedroom, still full of many of her belongings on the day of the will reading, had been emptied.
Anne, Luke and James’s mother, slumped in her chair. Her husband, Bruce, squeezed her shoulder and stroked a hand over her back. “I really thought this was going to work,” Anne said.
“As far as we know, the bitch threw them out.” Siobhan glowered.
“We’d have heard if she had a memorial... I mean, she wouldn’t just… would she?” Cara’s fearful eyes sought Declan’s.
Cami put her arm over Cara’s shoulders and gave her a side hug. “At this point, I think Courtney might be capable of anything. Look at the two absolute psychopaths she raised. But if she disposed of the urn, Trey would have mentioned it when he was spilling his guts to me. He would have praised her for planning ahead.” Cami’s lip curled.
James rubbed a hand over his jaw. “That's true. On the tape, he bragged about how brilliant his mother was. So, most likely, the ashes are still out there… somewhere. We just don't know where.”
“You should have Vincent follow her. Maybe there's a safe deposit box or something,” Cara suggested.
“She’d need a big box to fit a whole urn in,” Luke responded.
“She might have put the ashes in a plastic bag.” Cara persisted, narrowing her eyes at Luke.
Siobhan turned to face Declan. “What’s happening with the lawsuit all those charities and former employees filed? The ones who were also excluded under the new will.
“That was my other news. As of yesterday, the courts have frozen all the assets that they could identify as having been distributed under the will. Most of it was still in the accounts and trusts our father set up. I don’t know why Courtney didn’t immediately move the funds, but it was a break we needed. It’s also a good sign that the court thinks there’s an argument to be made that the last will was a fake.”
“The only evidence we have is two taped confessions—Dr. Keller’s and Trey’s—but neither one is admissible,” James argued. “You can only twist a judge so far Dec. Even one of your judges is going to have to point at some case law to support his decision. Courtney will appeal, and this will never be over.”
“But there are two confessions.” Dahlia’s brow furrowed. “That has to count for something .”
Luke shook his head, his expression grim. “Not really. There were no third-party witnesses to verify the statements.”
Siobhan slammed her glass on the counter. “This is unacceptable.” She pointed a finger at Declan. “Something has to be done.”
Declan inhaled slowly through his nose. What did she think he’d been doing?
“Without the thallium to prove he was murdered, Courtney is going to get away with it.” Cara stared morosely out her kitchen window.
“She is not going to get away with anything,” Declan promised. “Neither of them will. I would have already dealt with both of them, except I want the Bloom fortune and shares back.”
James’s jaw was tight when he asked, “What’s the next move?”
“The annual shareholder meeting. I’m going to call for a vote of no confidence to have Chris removed as CEO. The young woman—the surviving witness of the car accident—has agreed to go to New York and tell her story. Between that and the two taped confessions, the board shouldn’t hesitate to remove him.”
“Excellent,” Siobhan beamed.
“That doesn’t mean they’ll choose you,” Luke pointed out.
“I’m going to offer them a streaming device that has the potential to explode their bottom line at no cost.” Declan braced himself for the comments he knew were to come. “One of the largest shareholders has promised me support.”
Cara’s lip curled. “You mean you’re selling yourself to Fiona Carrol’s father.”
“The topic is not open for discussion.”
“But—”
“No.” The word snapped like a whip into the already tense air. Declan looked at his brothers. “I appreciate everyone wants to help, but it’s time for you all to step back. I’ll handle it from here.”
James immediately began shaking his head. “I told you before, I wanted us to do things legally?—”
“I tried it your way. It didn’t work,” Declan said icily.
James’s jaw worked. “I also told you that when the time came, and if the justice system didn’t work, I’d be there with you.” His eyes locked onto Declan’s. “He was my father too.”
“Ah, that’s lovely,” Siobhan said.
“Siobhan. You realize what they aren’t saying, right?” Anne frowned.
Siobhan kissed Anne on the cheek. “I understand exactly what they are talking about.”
Anne pressed her lips together unhappily but didn’t say anything else.
“I know you think because you’re the oldest, you are responsible for all of us,” Cara said softly. “You never let us get too close because you’ve convinced yourself that you’re protecting us. I appreciate it… everything you do for us. But, Declan, you are not alone, and I don’t want you to do something you might not be able to live with.”
Cara’s meaning was clear on her face, and emotion swelled in him. He hoped she never discovered the things he had done. What he was more than happy to do again, to protect the people he loved.
Striding to where she stood in front of the sink, Declan pulled her into a tight hug. “Thank you, Car-bear. I’ll be fine. Promise.” He pressed a firm kiss to her head, and when he pulled away, he avoided his brothers’ eyes, afraid of what they would see in his. He wasn’t about to tell them that this wasn't even going to be the first time he’d killed someone to protect his family.
“Not to change the subject, but we ran into your friend this morning at breakfast.” Dahlia drew the word out meaningfully.
Fuck me. Declan mentally thanked Olivia for giving him the heads up.
“Olivia was buying muffins for the office, which we…” She exchanged looks with Cami and Cara. “Thought was really sweet. We like her.”
Declan’s jaw clenched.
“Who is Olivia?” Anne asked, looking confused.
“She's the CFO of the company Declan bought here in Atlanta.” Cara’s smile was suspiciously innocent. “Olivia’s kind and smart, not to mention stunning. You’d like her, Anne.”
“Cara,” Declan’s voice promised retribution.
“Watch your tone.” Wes glared darkly at him from where he’d been observing silently.
“I’m definitely missing something,” Anne’s eyes bounced between him and Cara. “Is she not those things, Declan?”
“Olivia is extremely intelligent,” Declan said through gritted teeth. He wasn’t about to fall into the trap of mentioning how beautiful Olivia was.
“She smells absolutely incredible,” Cara added in an off-hand tone, but Declan felt her eyes boring into him.
“Did you sniff her?” Siobhan teased.
“She did actually,” Dahlia snorted.
Luke shook his head. “Who raised you?”
“Olivia didn’t mind. She told me where to find it on the internet. It’s a French perfume—Wild White Rose. Apparently, she’s always worn it.” Cara’s eyes were still on Declan, and she’d over enunciated the name of the perfume…
The pressure in his chest grew. There was no possibility Cara knew about Ireland. Yet the way she was looking at him… The others in the room were picking up on the tension between them.
“Her perfume is important, why?” James frowned at his sister.
Declan stared back at Cara, unblinking. Silently imploring his sister to not reveal whatever it was she believed she knew.
Cara’s face cleared. “It's not important. I just thought it was interesting. I might order some.”
Declan’s shoulders relaxed, as Wes kissed his wife’s cheek. “Don’t even think about doing away with my honeysuckle, you little weirdo.”
Cara tipped her head back to smile at her husband. “You love that I’m a weirdo.”
“I do,” Wes agreed, kissing her on the lips this time.
“Gross,” James muttered.
“Didn't we put rules in place about what forms of affection are allowed in front of us?” Luke folded his arms over his chest.
“Shut up.” Dahlia pinched his side. Luke laughed and leaned down to kiss her.
Anne beamed at the happy couples, but Declan could feel his mother watching him.
Fantastic.
Declan was the first to leave, and his mother walked out with him.
“Are you sleeping with her? Is that what your sister was insinuating ? How will that affect things between you and Fiona?” Siobhan asked. “If Bloom Communications is what you want, don’t let yourself get distracted this close to the end.”
“When have I ever allowed myself to be distracted?” Declan demanded. “When have I ever let my personal wishes get in the way of what needed to be done for this family?”
Siobhan’s face was troubled. “ A stór , if this isn’t what you want any more, you don't have to pursue it. It's all right to let it go.”
Declan's blood simmered, and he reminded himself not to shout at his mother. “I am rightfully the CEO of Bloom Communications. I was raised to be the CEO. You made sure of that,” he hissed. “It’s a little late to ask me what I want. What I want has never been a factor in anything .”
His mother’s eyes grew wide. “Perhaps I made a mistake sending you to live with your father. I wanted you away from the troubles at home, and your father convinced me… But maybe it was the wrong choice. If you honestly believe that you never had a choice… that it was all you could ever do…” His mother clasped his arm. “ A chroi , there is more to life than work.”
Angry frustration buzzed inside him. He wanted to explode.
How could she say that to him now… After a lifetime of reminding him of his responsibilities .
Keeping a tight rein on his anger, he bit out, “That would have been great to hear years ago. It’s too late now.” Declan opened her car door.
“It’s never too late. I want you to be happy.” To his horror, his mother’s eyes glistened. Declan had never seen his mother cry, and he instantly felt guilty.
“I’m Irish. Tragedy is in my blood,” Declan deliberately misquoted Yeats as he kissed her forehead.
“You’re only Irish when it suits you,” Siobhan said tartly, and then slammed her car door.
When Declan turned to walk to his own car, he found Cara, arms wrapped around her stomach, waiting for him.
“Go inside. It’s freezing out here, and you don't even have a coat on.”
“It’s her, isn’t it?” Cara’s voice was so solemn, chills ran down Declan’s spine.
“Who?” He infused the word with as much menace as he was capable, warning her not to go there, but Cara wasn’t intimidated. She never was by him.
“You don’t remember telling me, do you?”
Declan’s heart raced, and he forced his breath to stay even. “Telling you what?”
Cara closed the distance between them, and he saw the goosebumps on her arms. She was shivering. “Go inside, Car-bear. It’s too cold.”
“Then tell me the truth quickly.” Violet eyes identical to his sparkled up at him. Cara softened her voice. “You told me a story—about your tattoo.” Her gaze fell to his chest where his heart had stopped beneath the flower she couldn’t see. “The only time you ever mentioned it.”
Declan’s ribs closed tight over his lungs.
“You were drunk,” Cara continued, oblivious to the panic roaring to life inside him. “Extremely drunk. It was about four years ago. Do you remember?”
A vague memory stirred. Cara trying to push him into a seated position, threatening to call Mrs. Woodson, their father’s housekeeper.
Four years ago. The day he'd seen Olivia's picture in the file and discovered she was married. The last kernel of hope that he had held on to crushed. She loved someone else. She'd made a life with someone else.
“See you.”
“Maybe.”
He’d gotten blackout drunk with no memory of how he’d ended up back in his room at his father’s estate. Fuck! Cara had been there.
“ I have no idea what you're talking about.” His voice sounded weak even to him. “I don't remember.”
“ You do.” Cara was firm. “Declan, you were lying on the floor of the library with books scattered around you. I was home from college, and I found you because you were singing and reciting poetry at the top of your lungs.” Her lips lifted at the corner. “I didn't even know you liked poetry.”
Her humor disappeared just as quickly as it came. Declan waited barely breathing, terrified of what Cara would reveal next.
“ You told me that if I ever fell in love, I needed to do whatever it took to protect it. To keep it safe. Because, and this is a direct quote, Declan—'True love only comes around once in a lifetime.’ I was more than a little freaked out seeing you like that.
“ You were always so in control, and I could see how devastated you were. I didn’t know what had caused it or what to do, so I teased you about all the models I'd seen you with. I'll never forget that moment… You ripped open your shirt and showed me the tattoo. You pointed at it and told me you had lost your wild white rose. You kept saying it over and over. ‘I’ve lost her forever. My wild white rose.’ I've never seen anyone look so sad, Declan. It breaks my heart to think about it even now.”
“Cara,” Declan choked out .
She shook her head hard. “I know you. You're going to deny it and say that you don't remember.”
“ You said I was drunk.” Declan heard the desperation in his voice and grabbed for his control. “It doesn’t mean anything. I might say anything when I’m drunk.”
“That's not true.” Cara shook her head again, her eyes flashing. “On the rare occasions you get drunk, you tell stories and laugh. It’s the only time you ever let go. This was different, Declan.”
“What do you want from me?” The ache in his chest grew, creating a hollow, concave space where his heart should be. Reminding him of all the things that he would never have.
“I want you to admit it. It makes total sense now… The way you looked at her in New York, the way you swooped in and carried her out. How many times in life do you think someone is going to say those words—Wild White Rose—to me?”
“You don't understand.”
“You should have?—”
“Cara!” Her eyes snapped to his. “You can't mention this to anyone . Including your husband.”
Cara’s face folded. “I don't understand. If Olivia is the woman you were talking about, why?—”
“I can't tell you.” Declan covered his face with one hand. “I can't tell you why, Cara. Just trust me.”
“You can talk to me,” she said, reaching out to hold his free hand. Her fingers felt like ice against his. “I can help.”
Declan pulled his hand free and dropped the other with a long exhale. “You really can’t.”
“You have always taken care of us, always been there when we needed something. It’s time you let us return the favor. We love you.”
Declan kissed his little sister on the forehead. “You've grown into a remarkable woman, Mrs. Evans. I’m proud of you.”
“Olivia?” Cara persisted.
“Is my past. Some things can’t be fixed.”
Cara took a step back, and Declan was surprised by the recrimination on her face. “The Declan Bloom I know has never given up on something he wanted. If Olivia is who you want, don’t waste your chance to have her. If this is about Fiona, we will find another way to get the company back. Someday you're going to face a choice—yourself or what you think you still need to prove to our father.”
She whirled and entered the house, slamming the door behind her. Declan stared after her, his breath rapid puffs of white in the frigid air.
A small ember of hope took flame inside him.
Was there a way he and Olivia could be together?
Would he still be able to keep her safe if everyone knew she was his biggest weakness?