Chapter 14 #2
I realized as soon as I walked inside that he was packing up his things. I’d driven him away after all these years. I said nothing for a few seconds, uncertain of what to say to him.
He finally turned, snorting when he saw me. “I assure you that I’ll be out of your life this afternoon.”
“That’s not what I want, Robert. I think you know that.”
He tossed a few things in one of the boxes placed on his desk. “Yeah? Well, you have a funny way of showing it. However, I did want to talk to you before I left.”
“About?”
“The board of directors. They won’t wait to see changes for long.”
I almost laughed. “Do you want to tell me which one of them is on Prescott’s payroll?”
“I don’t know if any of them are. They have a right to be concerned.”
“Of course they do. I’ll handle them, Robert.”
“I’m sure you will.” After grabbing another picture and placing it inside, he stood back, gazing up and down the length of my body. “Are you okay?”
“Just some sore ribs and cuts and bruises. I’ll be fine.”
“I’m sorry about what happened. I really am.”
“Yeah, so am I. I can’t force you to stay, Robert, but we’ve been in business together for a long time. I hate for it to end this way.”
“Is that your way of apologizing?”
“It’s the best I can do,” I said quietly. While I was doing my best to sound apologetic, what I was really doing was fishing. I moved closer, offering a fake smile.
He continued to study me for a full minute. “I need some time away, Montgomery. I can’t work under the conditions that you’ve enforced on all of us. I know your heart was crushed, but you can’t run an operation this way.”
“I know that. Things are going to change.”
“You know? I really do hope so. You’re a good man, almost exactly like your father. Anyway, maybe we’ll talk.” He grabbed one of the boxes, heading for the door, walking past me without saying another word.
“I have a question for you, Robert, before you go.”
“Okay.”
“Are you afraid of the dark?” I leaned in his doorway, planting a grin on my face. When he turned around, the look in his eyes was haunted.
“What the hell does that mean?”
Exhaling, I took a few seconds before answering. “That means monsters really do exist. Be careful, my old friend. Betrayal is a nasty beast.”
While he said nothing, I could tell his entire body was shaking. Perhaps that would send a message to Prescott.
The asshole had fucked with the wrong man.
After a few seconds, I headed toward the window in his office, studying his actions as he loaded his car, finally grabbing his phone. I could only imagine who Robert’s first call would be.
As I unlocked and walked into my office, I was surprised the darkness that had nearly suffocated me had lifted.
At least to some degree. I wanted the winery to succeed.
I’d enjoyed every second of Aspen’s presentation, giving her the go ahead, but only if she promised to take care of herself.
I couldn’t help but smile. She would always be a handful.
I headed toward the window in my office, staring out at the gorgeous afternoon sky.
My father had once told me that the only people you could trust in your life were family.
I’d forsaken that far too easily. Maybe it was time to change not just my behavior but decisions that I’d made a long time ago.
A smile crossing my face, I reached for my phone, hesitating only briefly before dialing a number I’d refused to remove. When the call was answered, I sucked in my breath. “Jackson. It’s time for us to talk.”
“What do we need to talk about?” His voice was filled with anger.
“The winery. Our family. What happened between you and me.” I could hear Jackson’s hesitation.
I didn’t blame him for being leery of my call.
Given what had occurred on the mountain, I’d forced myself to take the two days to think about everything that had happened.
The discussion with Bryce had been more eye opening than I’d originally imagined.
To think he’d been working with the FBI for months, maybe years was…
I rubbed my jaw as I thought about the possibilities and what that could mean.
Of course Prescott was cagey with his business practices.
I’d found out just how much as I’d pulled every string, calling in every favor in order to gather the information I had.
It would seem Prescott had several local officials in dire straits. From what I’d learned, he’d either used basic threats or blackmail in order to achieve his goals. And everyone was afraid of the man.
Except for me.
Up until two weeks ago, I would have said I had nothing to lose in taking him head on. Now I knew better. I needed Jackson by my side in order to fight this.
And I had to get the monkey off my back in order to live the kind of life I hungered to do. With Aspen by my side.
“Fine, Montgomery. Where would you like to meet?”
“I’ll leave that up to you.”
He took his time answering. “How about sharing a cup of coffee?”
“The little coffee shop you always loved?”
Jackson finally laughed. “You remembered.”
“Of course, I did. You’re my brother. Fifteen minutes?”
“I’ll be there.”
I’d kept tabs on him even though I’d done everything to push my brother out of my life. I knew he’d found a little house and was working for another winery. Grunt work. But he was working and had been for a few months.
As I drove to the little shop in town, I thought about everything he and I had gone through as kids. We’d been inseparable for so long, pretending we were kings preparing to take over the world. If only things wouldn’t have gone so badly.
I found a parking spot only a block away, enjoying the short walk.
It had been one hell of a long time since I’d even bothered to enjoy the area surrounding the winery.
I’d stayed cooped up, except for required meetings.
I’d become nothing more than a hermit. I laughed as I walked into the shop, the odd time providing some privacy given the lack of customers.
He stood, walking two feet away from the table he’d already selected. He’d even purchased a cup of coffee for both of us. He held out his arm, hoping for a handshake.
I stood in front of him for a few seconds, staring into his eyes. He was a younger version of myself, but somehow during the time we’d spent apart, I could tell he’d grown stronger than I was. I yanked him into a bearhug, slapping him on the back. “It’s good to see you.”
Jackson was stiff at first then wrapped his arms around me. “I didn’t think this would ever happen.”
I pulled away, easing onto the chair. “I know. That’s my fault.”
He held up his hand, shaking his head. “No, that’s my fault, brother. I was a fucking mess and I took it out on you.”
“Yeah, well, I certainly didn’t give you the kind of help you needed.” I fiddled with the cup, finally taking a sip, grinning after doing so. “And you remembered what I liked.”
“Of course, dumbass. We are brothers after all.” He laughed genuinely, his eyes twinkling. We could be twins except his eyes were a shade lighter than mine. He appeared happy and healthy, and I hadn’t noticed before, but he’d put on a solid thirty pounds of muscle.
“That we are.”
“I also heard about the wreck. You’re damn lucky to be alive.”
I nodded, the crumpled mass of steel remaining in the forefront of my mind. I’d never felt so damn helpless in my life. “Just another tragedy in the making.”
“Like your damn brother.”
“I didn’t say that, Jackson. Our entire family had issues, a dark abyss that constantly tried to drag all of us into hell.”
“You’re right about that.” His smile faded as he glanced around the shop.
“Just so you know. No one could have helped me. I fell into the kind of darkness I wouldn’t wish on anyone.
I just couldn’t get myself out, but I was the one who needed to do that.
When I realized I’d lost everything I cared for, I gave it up and never looked back. ”
Darkness. The word would forever haunt me. “I’m glad to hear that and I understand more than you know. I’ve been there myself.”
“I can’t tell how sorry I am about Carmine and that I wasn’t there to help you through something so horrible.”
“You had your reasons.”
“No. I didn’t. I was selfish. A prick,” he offered.
“Okay, yes, you were.” At least we could both laugh easily. “Look, I need your help.”
“My help?”
“You’ve heard the rumors about Prescott Westfield. I’m certain you have.”
Snorting, he shot another look around the coffee shop then lowered his voice. “I don’t think there’s anyone in town who hasn’t heard what the bastard is planning. The problem is no one can seem to stop him. There’s nothing concrete to go on, just rumors.”
“Yeah? Well, that’s not entirely true.” I allowed another grin to form.
He narrowed his eyes. “You’re a cagey one. What do you have?”
I took a deep breath before telling him what I knew, sharing more details than I had with the good sheriff. When I was finished, I sat back, twirling the cup.
“You’ve been busy, brother,” he said with a sly smile on his face. “I can’t believe the board is honestly thinking about selling stock. That’s insane.”
“I know.”
“Buy up every last one.”
“You know I can’t do that.”
Jackson grumbled under his breath. “Yeah. I know why. The same honor our father had. That doesn’t mean it can’t piss me off.”
“Trust me, brother. I’m furious and have been for a long time. I refuse to allow Prescott to get away with destroying lives any longer, including ours. If Sheriff Sanchez is on the up and up, great. But if he’s not, I’m prepared to do what it takes. Do you want to be a part of it?”
“Hell, yes. I would love nothing more than to take that bastard down. I know what he did to our father.” Jackson sighed. “And I know the asshole was responsible for our father’s death. He didn’t have to pull a trigger in order to do so.”
“Good. I’m glad you’re as pissed as I am. I have a nice villa for you to stay in if you’d like.”
He cocked his head. “I kind of like my little house. Let’s just take it a step at a time.”
“Works for me. And Jackson, I’m glad to have you back. I’m sorry we wasted so much time.”
“We both did that. I do have a question for you.”
“Of course.”
“Why haven’t you said more than a few words about this new hire of yours that I’m going to be working with?”
I could feel the heat rising on my face.
Laughing, he placed his hand over his heart, his damn face beaming. “My God. You’re in love with her.”
“Keep your damn voice down.”
He couldn’t stop laughing. “I am thrilled. Way to go, brother. You need to tell me everything about her.”
“Uh-huh. Not so fast, lover boy. We have work to do.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll find out every detail.”
“Always the womanizer,” I teased, a heavy burden lifted off my shoulders. Our banter was just like it had been so long ago. “Now, I have a question for you.”
“Well, shoot.”
“Did you slide death threats under my office door?”
“What the fuck are you talking about? You and I had our differences, but I would never do something so egregious. What the hell haven’t you told me?”
When his eyes opened wide, I knew the answer and it was one I wasn’t certain I could stand. However, at least my instincts had been right.
After a few seconds, I squeezed the edge of the table. “Then you and I need to make some plans. It’s time to eliminate our family’s enemy.”
“I agree,” Jackson snarled. “Whatever you need me to do, just ask. I do mean anything.”
I took a deep breath, contemplating the next steps. One thing was certain. Keeping the winery moving forward was necessary. I couldn’t wait to see what Aspen could do.