Chapter 56 Houston, Texas—Remy #2
Remy’s heart had settled into a steady rhythm, and the clammy sheen on his skin finally dried. Yet, a knot of pain still twisted in his gut. Was he scared? Hell yeah. The fear was a living thing, a shadow he couldn’t outrun.
On the way out, he made the requested appointments for the next day, scheduling their return for eight thirty. Satisfied with the next day’s arrangements, Remy sent Liam a text, a brief message signaling they were ready for pickup.
When Skye ducked into a restroom on the main floor, Remy seized the moment. He assured Darlene, their guide and gatekeeper, that they could easily find their way to the front door, a lie to buy time alone with Charlotte.
Remy leaned close, and his voice dropped to a murmur.
“I doan want Skye to hear this. I told Braham that if Capone’s safe was empty, I wanted him to slip some gold or gems in there and charge it all to my account.
I couldn’t bear Skye being disappointed.
” He searched Charlotte’s face. “Do you know if the gold in the safe belongs to Braham?”
“He converted his gold bars to nuggets and cash a few years ago,” Charlotte replied, her gaze steady and reassuring. “If there are gold bars in that safe, they’re Capone’s.”
“Perfect. That treasure will help Kaitlyn, Tony, and Skye adjust to a new way of life without the weight of feeling dependent on others. They deserve that dignity.”
Skye rejoined them with a genuine look of wonder. “That bathroom… It’s like our hotel, and it’s in a hospital, of all places.”
“They want patients, family, and friends to feel a sense of comfort, a touch of normalcy in a place of anxiety,” Charlotte said, a gentle hand on Skye’s arm. “No one would have much confidence in a healthcare facility with dirty bathrooms.”
“Oh, you’re right. Everything is so different,” Skye said softly, her voice laced with a wistful ache. “I wonder how long it will take to forget how simple life was in my time.”
“It wasn’t simple,” Charlotte countered gently.
“We’re just more advanced, and because we are, it makes life in the past look that way.
But your time saw significant advancements that transformed society.
And the scientific breakthroughs alone revolutionized medicine and patient care.
You gave us insulin, penicillin, vaccines, and vitamins. ”
“Well, I didn’t,” Skye said with a self-deprecating laugh. “But I understand what you’re saying, and thank you. It makes me feel… better.”
“Good.” A genuine smile softened the usual reserve in Charlotte’s eyes. She laced her arm through Skye’s, a gesture of unexpected warmth, and they drifted down the hallway. Remy lagged, watching them, captivated. He rarely saw Charlotte so unguarded, and he loved that about her.
Following their easy stride, Remy checked his text messages. Elliott’s two texts bordered on pleading, demanding an immediate update. Remy quickly replied that he’d call later, deciding to pass the task to Charlotte—he felt too emotionally drained to handle Elliott’s well-meaning anxiety tonight.
By the time they reached the entrance, Liam was waiting for them.
The instant Remy settled into the vehicle’s quiet interior, he reached for the whisky, giving everyone a generous pour, adding ice from the mini fridge.
He was so bone-deep tired, a weariness that clung to his very soul, and although he knew he’d been worse off, the memory of when escaped him.
“Thank you, Charlotte. I couldn’t have navigated the choppy waters today without you and Skye. I appreciate the preliminary work you did, and the strings you pulled.”
“I told you the other day you were like a son to me.” Charlotte’s voice cut through the weariness. “You’ll always have my time and attention. But don’t you dare doubt your own abilities. I did nothing you couldn’t have done if the tables had been reversed.”
“Maybe.” Remy let the warmth of the whisky spread through him, watching Houston’s skyline outside his tinted window.
He’d never explored the city before, and a spark of anticipation ignited within him at the thought of doing exactly that with Skye, just the two of them.
“If it’s okay with Skye, I thought we’d stay here until after the surgery, enjoy a few quiet days, but you should go home tomorrow, Charlotte.
Doesn’t Amelia Rose’s team have a volleyball tournament this weekend? ”
Charlotte’s brows knitted in disbelief. Her wide eyes locked on his. “How on earth did you know that?”
He loved the flicker of surprise in her eyes. “Amelia Rose asked me to be a tournament sponsor. The check is already in the mail.”
“Thank you,” Charlotte replied, though the words were tight, the slight peeved edge to her voice giving her away. “I wasn’t aware Amelia Rose was actively soliciting donations.
“I doubt she had to ask very many people,” he said, sensing her irritation. “Elliott and Meredith already donated. Apparently, they promised to build the volleyball team its own state-of-the-art gym.”
Charlotte’s eyes widened, and she threw up her hands.
“I’ve specifically asked Elliott not to do that for the kids!
They want to stand out because of their hard work and accomplishments, not because their grandparents are ridiculously wealthy.
But does he listen? Never. He revels in having his name emblazoned on buildings. ”
A soft chuckle escaped Skye. “Is that why you were so hesitant about him coming here? You thought he might strong-arm the hospital into accepting a new building?”
“He’s done that before.” Remy held up his phone, showing Charlotte and Skye a text message thread. “He chatted with the MD Anderson Foundation Relations team today about a massive donation to support cancer research.”
“That’s genuinely a good thing,” Charlotte conceded, a small, genuine smile touching her expression. “I can’t complain about that.”
“I think Elliott wants to help people and doesn’t have an ulterior motive,” Skye said.
Remy wanted to laugh, but the weight of the day held him back.
It hadn’t been a laughing sort of day. “You might not see it right away, but trust me, Elliott always has an ulterior motive. I’m not saying it’s bad, just that he’s always five steps ahead of everyone else, strategically thinking of how every action will benefit the family in the long run. ”
“How would his name on a small gymnasium benefit the entire family?”
Remy offered a cryptic shrug. “He’s five steps ahead.”
“Is that why he’s so good at chess?” Skye asked, a flicker of amusement in her gaze.
“It’s why he’s so annoyingly good at a lot of things,” Charlotte replied with a sigh, her fingers flying across her phone, scrolling through text messages.
“Yep. Amelia Rose’s text confirms it. He’s building a gym.
It’ll be located somewhere in an underserved area of Richmond.
Fine, I can’t complain about that either. ”
“How old is Amelia Rose?” Skye asked.
“Thirteen, Lincoln is twenty-three, and Kitherina is twenty-one.” Remy swirled the ice in his glass, the clink of crystal a contrast to the unfolding family history.
“Are Kitherina and Lincoln still in Richmond? I don’t think I’ve met them,” Skye pressed, leaning in slightly, her expression open and curious.
“Kitherina is deep in medical school at Johns Hopkins, and Lincoln is battling through his last brutal year at Harvard Law School.”
“A future doctor and a future lawyer? That’s impressive,” Skye said.
“Kitherina has known her path since she was a little girl, with an unwavering certainty.” Remy’s gaze grew distant for a moment.
“And Lincoln? The law is just a stepping stone. He’s consumed by politics, driven to follow in his grandparents’ footsteps and serve in the United States Senate. And maybe achieve what they couldn’t.”
“What’s that?” Skye asked, her own drink forgotten.
“Run for President of the United States.” The words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of destiny and power.
Skye gasped in disbelief. “Is that even possible?”
“Not only possible, but probable. Lincoln has a few years yet to figure out his strategy. The minimum age requirement to be president is thirty-five.”
“If that’s Lincoln’s goal, I’m sure he’ll reach it.”
They had barely finished their drinks when Liam stopped the black sedan outside the grand entrance of the hotel.
After Charlotte and Skye stepped out onto the curb, Remy addressed the driver.
“We won’t need the car tonight, Liam, but we need to be back at the hospital in the morning by eight fifteen. ”
“I’ll be idling right here by seven forty-five, Mr. Benoit.”
Remy handed the driver a perfectly folded fifty-dollar bill. Liam pocketed the generous tip with practiced discretion. Then Remy led Skye and Charlotte into the hotel lobby. “I think we’re all running on fumes. How about we order room service and have a quiet dinner together in our suite?”
“Thanks, Remy, but I have a stack of calls to return, and my head’s pounding.” Charlotte offered a weary smile. “I’ll have dinner sent up to my room again and try to crash early. If you’re crazy enough to join me for a run in the morning, around six thirty, text me.”
If Charlotte’s eyes mirrored the uncertainty swimming in his own, he knew she wouldn’t find sleep any easier tonight than he would.
Decisions made tomorrow could have life-altering ramifications.
He had to prepare his mind, steel himself for the inevitable reality of another trip into the heart of danger.