Chapter 28
BIT
TWO WEEKS LATER
“How’s it going?” Brix asked when he walked into the Stonehouse, as I now called it, with his wife and their baby.
“Almost ready,” I said, climbing down from the ladder where I was replacing a bulb in the strung lights. I walked over to the stroller and knelt down. “She’s gotten so big,” I said, reaching out to stroke the baby’s cheek with my fingertip.
“Reagan is going to miss her Uncle Bit,” said Addison.
“You don’t have to return to Mexico, you know.”
They’d been in town since little Reagan was born but had announced, the night before, they were leaving for their ranch in Alamos, which was adjacent to Tryst’s.
“Uh-oh, somebody’s hungry,” said Addy when the baby started to cry. She leaned up and kissed Brix’s cheek. “I’m going to take her to the cottage. We’ll see you later.”
Since Cru and Daphne were living in the house that used to belong to Brix, and Eberly and I were spending most of our time at Poppy Hill, the cottage had served as their base while they were in California.
No doubt, our mother would’ve preferred they stay in the main house with her, but I got that Brix and Addy would prefer to be on their own with their daughter.
“I got a call from Decker. He said he’s been trying to reach you,” said my brother.
“I’ve been busy getting this place ready for my date with Eberly tonight. I figured I’d return his call in a few days.”
“Understood, except I think there’s some urgency in what he wants to discuss with you.”
I scowled. “Eberly is my priority—”
“It involves her, Bit.”
That got my attention. The last few weeks had been hard for her and her father, trying to figure out how to save their house.
She was willing to use money from her trust fund to pay off the loan, but her dad, along with the rest of the caballeros, was reluctant to allow her to do it, given there was still a case to be made that the loan was fraudulent.
“I’ll call him.”
“He’s on his way here now.”
I sighed. “I don’t have time for this.”
“Sure you do,” said Snapper, who’d walked in, in the middle of our conversation. He wasn’t alone. Cru, Kick, and Alex were with him.
“Mom’s on her way,” said my sister. “So are Justine, Saffron, and Felicity. While you guys have your secret meeting, the girls and I will finish getting the place ready for tonight.”
As hard as it was for me to let them do it, if whatever Decker wanted to talk to me about involved Eberly, I had to hear him, get it over with, then return and finish setting up.
“Look, I know you want everything to be perfect,” said Alex, putting her arm through mine. “Once your meeting is over, you can inspect our work and tell us everything we did wrong.” She winked.
It dawned on me then that she’d said “secret meeting.”
“Is Decker meeting us in the caves?” While that was the way I chose to phrase the question, what I was really asking was if he was being invited to meet with Los Caballeros.
“I spoke with the viejos, and they agreed,” said Brix. “What he has to tell us affects Malcolm Warwick as well as Lucas Hope.”
I glanced over at Alex.
“What? Do you really think I haven’t known about Los Caballeros most of my life? I still don’t get why you don’t have any female members.” She huffed.
“Caballeros, not caballeras,” muttered Brix.
Alex rolled her eyes. “Yeah, whatever. Be on your way so Bit can get ready for his big date. Eberly bid a lot of money for it. He owes her.” She winked.
What Alex didn’t know was that what I’d planned for tonight wasn’t as much about my little dove’s auction bid as it was the rest of our lives.
Rather than meet where we usually gathered, we set up in one of the larger rooms inside the caves.
“Decker’s here,” said Brix. “Do you want to meet him outside and bring him in?”
“I can do it,” Cru offered.
I shook my head. The more I walked past where I’d been left for dead, the easier it would be each time I had to do it. “I’ll be okay.” My eyes met Tryst’s.
“Yes, you will be, Bit,” he said.
“Sorry to waylay you from your big plans tonight,” Decker said when I met him at the caves’ entrance.
“Yeah, well, make it quick.” I scowled and he laughed.
“Typical Bit.”
I led him to the room where the rest of the caballeros waited.
“So this is the inner sanctum?” he joked, looking around the space that was used for larger wine dinners.
“Nah, we can’t allow you in there,” said Brix, squeezing his shoulder.
I glanced over to where Eberly’s father sat and walked over to take the empty seat beside him. I knew the man was plagued with guilt in the same way I would be in his shoes. I hoped that whatever Decker had to say would be good news in terms of the house, if not the winery.
“Thanks for allowing me an audience,” Deck said once we were seated.
I didn’t hear sarcasm in his words, only respect.
“I’ve come to you to help me determine the best use of the reward money offered for the capture of the Devaneys.
” Before I could ask what he was talking about, he continued.
“As we know, it wasn’t only Christopher and his son who were on the FBI’s and NCA’s most-wanted list. Liam Devaney, Miranda and Patrick Boyle, and James Dunn were too.
Each of them had reward money offered for their capture.
Five million from the FBI and another five from the NCA.
Given it was dead or alive, the total amount the US and UK governments are willing to pay out is over sixty million dollars since part of that is in pounds. ”
“Why are you asking us?” I spoke out.
“Because if it weren’t for you, Bit, they never would’ve been taken out. They wouldn’t have even been on our radar.”
“It wasn’t me alone.”
“No, it wasn’t, which is why I’m not suggesting all sixty mil be handed over to you.”
Those in the room chuckled. Decker did too, then his expression turned more serious. “I have a proposal I’d like you to consider.”
“Go ahead,” said Tryst, who was standing near the rear of the room.
“We establish a fund used to purchase the wineries put out of business by the consortium.”
The room turned quiet until Malcolm cleared his throat. “While that is very generous, it isn’t fair. My winery was failing long before the consortium entered the picture.”
“As was mine,” said Lucas Hope.
“There were four Central Coast wineries driven out of business by the Wine Consortium,” said Tryst, stepping forward and standing next to Decker. “I move we vote to use the reward money to purchase the four wineries and deed them to their original owners.”
“Anyone want to second that?” asked Brix.
“Hang on.” Malcolm stood. “There were more than four of us. A few small enterprises in Napa were affected as well.”
“From what I remember, none of them aided in capturing of the Devaneys,” said Decker, who’d turned to face Malcolm. “And while I’m sure everyone in this room appreciates your humility and graciousness, my understanding is there’s a motion currently on the floor.”
Baron Van Orr stood and turned toward Malcolm. “I second the motion.”
“All those in favor?” prompted Brix.
Every hand went up besides Malcolm’s and Lucas’.
“Opposed?” Brix continued. No one raised a hand.
“The motion carries by majority vote. The two abstentions are noted.”
The meeting was adjourned, and as anxious as I was to return to the Stonehouse, I waited when Malcolm and Lucas approached Decker, Tryst, and Brix.
“I truly don’t know what to say,” said Malcolm, extending his hand to shake those of all three men. “It doesn’t feel right.”
“It’s what Los Caballeros does,” said Tryst. “We help those in need, sometimes without them ever knowing it. Why wouldn’t we do the same for our brothers as we would for strangers?”
“I don’t mind seein’ the government’s ponying up for it,” said Decker. “Two, in fact.”
“You’re entitled to that money as much as anyone else is,” I said to him.
“Yeah? Well, what the hell am I gonna do with it?”