Chapter 28
CHAPTER 28
B eckett
“You’re serious about staying in this town,” Mike said, scoffing at the decision I’d made. He’d been incredulous the night before, staring at me the entire time I’d been talking with the owner of the construction firm. At least he hadn’t been given a chance to try to talk me out of my plans.
Yet.
Now was his time.
I’d listen, but in truth, I didn’t give a shit. I’d already made up my mind and this time, there was nothing that would drive me away.
“I’m serious. What’s wrong with Stowe?”
“Well, everything.” He sat back in his seat, scanning the small bar where he’d asked that I meet him. It was dark and nondescript. I suspected the man was trying to hide our affiliation.
Bastard.
Hell, I guess I couldn’t blame him.
But he’d been good to me over the years, the only friend I’d managed to keep after everything that had occurred. At a risk to his own life.
Yet I kept in the back of my mind every nefarious possibility. Now wasn’t the time to allow my guard to fall. Not when I was about to enter into a new chapter of my life.
His anxiousness worried me. Was it possible he was capable of betraying me?
“That’s not fair. It’s beautiful here. The people are friendly, the mountains incredible.”
“You could live anywhere in the world, and have over the last few years, yet you come back here. It’s all about the woman you’re pining away for. Right?” Mike had a wife and kids, but that didn’t mean he had a penchant for family life. He’d learned early on what money could buy and he preferred the playboy life. Sure, he claimed to adore his son, but he was grooming the teenager to follow in his footsteps.
“Dr. McGregor is something special. Then there’s the reality about my son.” I watched his reaction. He seemed to understand although I knew looks could be deceiving.
“A son she made it perfectly clear she didn’t want you to have anything to do with.”
“Things change,” I told him with a smile on my face. I took a sip of my drink. There were significant decisions to make and for all the promises I’d made in the throes of passion, I wanted to ensure that I wouldn’t interfere with her life or Brady’s for that matter. Yes, he was my flesh and blood and I planned on ensuring he had a father figure. However, prudence and caution were still in order. “She’s warmed up to the idea.”
“You mean she’s warmed up to the money.”
I leaned over the table, my anger almost getting the best of me. “Not everyone is willing to sell their soul for money. You and I have been friends for a very long time, Mike. I’ve made you an extremely rich man over the years. I suggest you remember I’m not the kind of man you want to cross.”
I found it interesting he seemed slightly indignant.
“Is that a threat?” Irritation enveloped his expression and body language. The man knew he couldn’t best me, yet he often felt compelled to try to assert his manhood.
“That’s a reminder and nothing more. You enjoy your life in the Hamptons with kids you rarely see and three mistresses the last time I checked. I just find it curious how many excuses there have been.”
“You really think I betrayed you. Don’t you?”
“I’ll be honest, Mike. I don’t know what to believe. There’s something going on that I don’t know about, and I fear it’s going to take a personal trip to New York for me to find out.” I was tossing out a carrot to see if he’d bite.
His eyes opened wide. “I’ve done plenty of terrible things in my life, Beckett, but betraying you isn’t one of them. But you’re right. Something is going on.”
“Meaning?” I sat back, giving him the benefit of the doubt.
“Scuttlebutt around the Valenti organization, as if there’s going to be a resurrection. I’ve made some calls in an attempt to figure out if the Bratva or the Armenians have laid claim, which is entirely possible. You haven’t been out of the business for that long. They both have a stronghold and loathed the Valenti line.”
Who the hell didn’t?
Yet with all his pointed pontification, the man was nervous. I leaned closer. “Think about what I said, Mike. If you cross me, it will be the last fucking thing you do.”
He laughed at me, acting indignant. “You’re a piece of work. Does the pretty veterinarian know how many men you’ve killed over the years? Does she have an understanding in that intelligent head of hers that you enjoy torture and bloodshed?”
Now I was the one glancing around the room. What few customers were inside weren’t paying a damn bit of attention. “She knows enough. None of your business.”
“You made it my business when you trusted me enough to establish a trust fund. Also, when you continued to have me pay that woman off in fucking Wyoming.”
Instinctively, I wrapped my hand around his throat. The man needed a physical reminder of my superiority. “I made it perfectly clear I wasn’t to learn where she’s living. Why the fuck did you just say it?”
He threw up his arms, his face immediately turning red. “I’m sorry,” he choked. “So sorry.”
I dug my fingers into his skin. “Fine. If something is going on, I want to know about it. And get this. You’re going to figure out exactly what the hell is going down in the Big Apple.”
He coughed several times until I finally released my hold. When he acted as if I’d hurt his feelings, I gave him a stern look.
“Of course. When I get back, Beckett, I’ll obtain all the details. I’ll make it right.”
Right. I seriously doubted I’d determined what was right about any of this.
“You do that. Just keep Mallory’s name out of everything. She’s nobody to you. Got it?”
“Yeah, I got it. So you’re aware, I kept your story clean for her in hopes she’d accept the money like you asked, but from what I learned about her, she won’t like it if she learns just how far you went in your capacity as Underboss. I just don’t think she’d appreciate hearing the details. Now, do you?”
Underboss. Just a steppingstone to Lucian’s position, I’d been told more than once. It struck me at that moment the man sitting in front of me was jealous of what he perceived to be my ultimate success.
I found it strangely amusing since he’d been there through thick and thin, even encouraging me to find my true self after my betrayal of the Valenti family. Now that I’d done that, I sensed his discord. Perhaps he believed money would no longer be funneled in his direction any longer.
Whatever the case, I’d learned a long time ago the only person I could place one hundred percent trust in was myself. “I’m going to offer you a piece of advice, Mike. Take it or leave it. Doctor McGregor is off limits to you, your services, or your words of wisdom. She’s a special lady, but tougher than you think. She’ll eat you for breakfast if you dare try and interfere with her life. What I’ll do at that point you’ll never recover from. Am I clear?”
He snorted after attempting to stare me down. “I’ll heed your advice. Just remember that your past always finds you. That’s something to keep in mind, Beckett.”
“I do and I will, but there’s no one left to interfere.” Another test was tossed out like cookie crumbs. His expression softened.
“I hope you’re right. I have the details about the construction firm you want to purchase including the latest financials for you to look over. No red flags. Just a hard-working enterprise with good employees. Nothing like anything I ever thought you’d want to be involved in.”
“Yeah, well, perhaps you don’t know me as well as you think you do. I’ll read over the information when I get back to my room tonight. Tomorrow if all goes well, I’ll instruct you to make an offer.”
“Hot date?”
I was becoming more irritated by the minute. “Meeting my son.”
“Wow. She did change her mind.”
“Yeah, well, the lady is cautious. For tonight, I’m just a friend.”
“Mmm… How interesting.”
I glanced at my watch. “I should get going.”
“You’re really into her.” He powered back his drink, pulling out his wallet. The incredulous look remained on his face.
“Yeah, Mike. I am. What about it?”
“I don’t know, buddy. There’s talk about someone taking over the Valenti territory.”
An immediate red flag drifted into the forefront of my mind. “What are you suggesting?”
He shrugged. “Just something else for you to consider.”
“I’m no gangster, Mike.”
He lifted his head. “You sure about that?”
Fuck the man. If he didn’t heed my warning, he would learn how enraged I remained. “I’m finished with that life. You know it. Get it through your goddamn head.”
He shrugged and pulled out two twenties. “A shame. You could have everything you worked so hard to achieve. Including the woman if you wanted. There’s nothing in the rulebook that says you can’t take the wife you want.”
“That would be like selling my soul and guess what? Neither Mallory nor I are for sale. Get that out of your fucking mind. You got it?”
He threw his arms up as he stood. “Sure, buddy. I just wanted to keep you informed.”
Why he’d chosen to tell me that at this point in my life was beyond me, but I knew Mike well enough to know he always had an angle. I stood and for the first time in my life while being around him, his company left a bad taste in my mouth.
I followed him out of the bar, heading immediately to my truck. Jax lifted his head, glaring at Mike from the front passenger seat. I chuckled because his radar was obviously better than mine.
“You take him everywhere, don’t you?” Mike asked, acting as if fearful to get too close.
“He’s my right-hand buddy.”
As if making a point, Jax huffed and issued a single bark.
“I emailed everything regarding the construction firm to you,” he said and was suddenly right there on the passenger side of my truck. When he peered in, he burst into laughter. “Now that’s a stuffed bear.”
I glanced inside at the huge bear I’d stopped and purchased on the way over here. Nope. I didn’t know kids, had no clue what they liked.
“I can’t show up emptyhanded. I’ll call you tomorrow, Mike. Don’t piss me off.”
“Just remember, I’m leaving on a four o’clock plane. I don’t intend on missing it. Just like you, I have a life.”
“No problem.” I waited until he backed away, still staring at the bear I’d purchased for Brady. I had no idea about kids and what they liked, but that’s not what bothered me. Mike’s actions did. He believed the train wreck of my life was going to continue funding his extracurricular activities. Of course he had. I almost laughed at the realization. Nope. I could only trust myself.
And the sweet woman I planned on keeping as my own.
The drive was inconsequential, although I found myself glancing into the rearview mirror every so often. I was nervous, more so than I should be, but I’d never imagined myself being faced with a child of my own loins. Oh, wasn’t that Neanderthal.
I laughed as I pulled down the road leading to her house, hesitating briefly before turning onto the long gravel driveway. Before leaving four years before, I’d memorized everything about Mallory and where she lived and worked. Everything was familiar yet felt surreal.
“Well, buddy. Here we are. You know the place. I don’t. Not really.” Except for saving her the one night before all hell had broken loose.
He thumped his tail as he peered over his shoulder at me. I could tell how much he’d been itching to see Mallory again.
As I pulled closer to the house, I realized she’d done quite a bit of work on the place. Everything looked fresh, including the paint. There were flowers in pots, a beautiful flag hanging from one of the porch posts fanning lightly in the breeze. The moment I stepped out, I gathered a whiff of various flowering shrubs and plants. What a beautiful setting and it fit her personality.
Everything was neat and tidy just like I’d anticipated.
Jax bounded off the driver’s seat, woofing only once. I watched for a few seconds as he crisscrossed his way around the front yard, taking in various scents, including from her dog Sampson. When Jax finally peed on some bushes, all I could do was smirk. If only humans had such simple behavior.
After grabbing the bear, I headed to the porch, finding the tension I felt odd. I usually jumped into any situation with both feet. With two knocks on the door, I took a step back, pulling the bear more tightly against my body.
It wasn’t long before I heard footsteps, the door being unlocked and finally opened. Standing on the other side was Mallory in jeans and a tight tee shirt, her hair in a sloppy ponytail. She was telling me in no uncertain terms my presence wasn’t going to alter her life. And damn if she didn’t look hot.
Her eyes were pensive at first until she allowed her gaze to fall to the bear. “You brought a gift. A big one.” At least she was laughing.
Jax woofed, announcing his presence.
“Hi, big guy. I’ve missed you.” She crouched down, rubbing both sides of Jax’s face.
“I wasn’t certain what to bring,” I told her.
“Brady will love it. He loves all things squishy.” She stood, still stroking Jax’s fur.
Suddenly, Sampson came bounding out from another room, barking up a storm until he skidded to a stop right by Mallory. The two dogs stared at each other, Jax likely telling the visitor in no uncertain terms he was top dog.
A moment later, little feet resonated in my ears. Brady came bounding out from the same direction Sampson had come, his eyes opening wide as soon as he noticed the bear.
“Mean man,” the little boy said and I laughed.
“Not always,” I told him.
“Brady, this is my friend Beckett. He brought you something.” She crouched down, rubbing the little boy on his back. I’d agreed to her terms, including not telling Brady who I was until she believed the time was right.
“For me?” Every movement with kids seemed to be exaggerated. He pointed to his chest and puffed it out as he’d done the day I’d met him.
“For you.” I hunkered down, holding out the bear, which was several inches taller than he was. That didn’t stop the little boy. He grabbed the bear and giggled the moment he dragged it back by a few inches. “Come, Sampson.”
His command grabbed Sampson’s attention and both he and Jax bounded onto the porch, muscling their way outside.
“That will keep them occupied,” she said so quietly I had to strain to hear her. “Come in.”
It felt awkward coming into her home after everything we’d been through, but from what I remembered, very little was the same. Different paint on the walls. Different furniture. She was finally making it her own.
She noticed my gaze as she closed the door behind me. “I couldn’t stand the thought a dead man had been in my house so I changed as much as I could.”
“I don’t blame you.” Why did I feel so entirely out of character, tenser than normal around her? Was I trying to impress her? She led me into the kitchen and I was pleasantly surprised the room looked nothing like it had the night I’d broken the asshole’s neck.
We both heard little squeals and smiled.
“Lemonade?” she asked. She must have seen a strange expression on my face. “Don’t worry, it’s spiked. I just need to keep my private stash away from Brady. He’s at the age he’s into anything. I bet you were that way.” She grabbed a couple of glasses, filling them with ice.
“I have no idea. My mother had been able to handle anything at that point though.”
“And you were a handful.”
“I was.”
Another moment of awkwardness settled between us as she poured the drinks.
She didn’t look me directly in the eyes as she handed me the glass, but our fingers touched. Immediately, she jerked her hand away. “Maybe we can sit outside. It’s a nice day.” She didn’t wait for me to respond, immediately heading to the door leading from the kitchen.
I glanced around the kitchen, no longer surprised even the layout was completely different than the night I’d saved her life. She deserved an explanation of why her life had been turned upside down.
By the time I made it outside, she was sitting on an Adirondack chair, staring out at her beautiful garden. I took another one that was a few feet away.
While there were volumes to speak, the starting point wasn’t easy nor was it something I honestly wanted her to hear.
“When I was a kid, my mother introduced me to gardening. Flowers. Shrubs. She had a green thumb and we developed several small gardens so butterflies and birds would have a safe haven. Over the years even as I drifted into those rebellious teenage years, it was something we always did together. Even after I moved out, heading to college, she’d share pictures. I found out she was sick because she stopped sending them. After she lost her battle with cancer, Daddy just wanted nothing to do with the gardens or the house for that matter. It was their special place.”
Her words struck me hard. We’d both suffered significant losses.
“Anyway, I think I stayed away on purpose because I couldn’t stand the thought of reliving the memories. It was selfish and something I will always regret. Daddy wasn’t the type of man to talk about his health. He just faded away so quickly. I think he was heartbroken at losing my mom. Anyway, after he died, I knew I had to come home. I had nothing to keep me in Richmond. Damen’s parents weren’t kind to me after his death, as you might imagine. The last thing I’d wanted to do was to work on the garden, but I knew it was the only way to remember the good times. That’s important. You should remember that.”
With her elbow on the armrest, she leaned her head against her outstretched fingers. Seeing her in the waning afternoon sun, I was certain she was the most beautiful woman on earth.
“I try, Mallory. I had a few good ones of my parents when I was younger, and my brother before he became determined to fix the world in whatever country that called to him.”
“You could try and contact him.”
“I assure you that my brother wants nothing to do with me.”
She took a sip of her drink. “You might be surprised. Whatever happened to your father?”
“I heard he died of a heart attack. I didn’t go to the funeral.”
“How terribly sad.”
I sat up in the seat, shifting the glass from one hand to the other. “After I saved Tessa and her son, I learned the man I respected and looked up to had mandated the hit so his precious daughter could marry the son of another crime syndicate leader. He couldn’t have any scandal because of his business connections. I realized that the years I’d been groomed to follow in Lucian’s footsteps had been bullshit.”
“You loved his daughter.” She turned her head slowly, her eyes boring into mine.
“I did. Ava and I were very tight. I was certain we’d get married. Anyway, that wasn’t in the cards because even though I was going to eventually be Don, I wasn’t good enough for Lucian’s precious daughter. The thought that my once best friend didn’t care about his own flesh and blood just tipped me over the edge.”
“So you eliminated them.”
I half laughed. “As many as I could erase off this earth. I left Ava and Lucian’s wife to fend for themselves. They didn’t deserve to face my wrath even though I’d begun to think what Ava and I had shared was nothing more than rebellion against her father. By that point, I wanted out of the life and it didn’t matter what happened to me.”
Another moment of quiet settled between us. “I’m sorry you were disillusioned.”
“I assure you that everything I’ve endured I deserved, Doc. I’m not a good guy, but that’s not who I am any longer.”
“Then who are you?”
The question was a valid one. “A man longing to enjoy the simple things in life. A job, a house, time spent with friends and family. A good book. A nice movie. Hell, I don’t really know how to relax, but maybe it’s time I learned.”
“Oh.” Her tone held disappointment.
“I won’t lie to you, Mallory. You deserve better than me. I’m not good with this shit. I shut down so many of my emotions just to be able to survive. That’s what happens when you forget you have a conscience. A part of me wanted to stay away from you and Vermont so you could find peace and happiness. But I was selfish again and couldn’t do it. I think I came back here under the guise of selling the house hoping I’d run into you. You both deserve the best things in life, but more than anything, I’d like to have you and my son in my life at whatever level you feel is appropriate. I can understand if you can’t tolerate that and hate me for what I did. But I have a son and I refuse to disappear. He has the most incredible mother and you’re his role model, but I’d like to be in his world. I’ll do anything it takes to make up the time, the lies, the fact you couldn’t trust me. I’m not very romantic. I admit that, but I will do what’s in my power to make you happy.”
When I took a deep breath, I felt her eyes were still on me. I tilted my head, surprised to see her smiling.
“For a man who initially said few words, you talk a lot. As a matter of fact, has anyone ever told you that you talk too much and don’t know when to shut up?”
“Throwing my words back at me.”
“You bet.” She grinned. “You need to hear me and just shut up until I’m finished.”
I threw up my hands, almost spilling the drink.
She shook her head. “I don’t need perfection. I just need someone I can count on. That’s what your son needs as well. Trust me, when I found out I was pregnant, I had regular panic attacks because I was certain I was going to suck as a mother. But you learn if you allow your heart to lead you. You’re an amazing man who lost your way. You’ve been given a chance to find happiness. Don’t fuck it up.”
“Does that mean I can hang around occasionally?”
Mallory’s expression turned contemplative. “Maybe. Only if you continue bringing huge stuffed bears with every visit.”
There was a sudden commotion as both dogs and Brady came bounding out on the deck.
“Whoa, little man. Careful,” Mallory said as she caught him, tickling his tummy until the little boy was in a fit of giggles.
“Mommy! Hungwy.”
“You’re hungry, huh?” she repeated. “What for?”
“Pizza!”
“Then I guess we need to order some.”
Brady turned his little head, studying me as intently as his mom always did. “Can Beckett stay?”
“Well, I don’t know,” she demurred. “Beckett is a very busy man. Why don’t you ask him?”
The hopeful look on her face brought another round of emotions I wasn’t expecting.
Brady stomped toward me, giving me a stare down that could rival any monster. “Will you stay for pizza?”
There was nothing more that I wanted to do than to grab him in my arms, but I threw his mother another look. She was biting her lower lip as she did when she was nervous. “What kind of pizza is your favorite?”
He huffed. “Mama likes snawsage but I like puperoni.”
It was all Mallory could to do keep from laughing. “Well, then we might need to get one of both. Your mommy deserves to have the kind of pizza she likes. Right?”
The little boy tipped his head to stare at Mallory, finally nodding a few times emphatically. “Yeah. She’s been good.”
Now Mallory was close to choking, doing her best to hide behind her drink. I couldn’t keep a smile off my face.
“Brady, honey. Take the pups inside. We’ll be there in just a couple minutes. Okay?”
“O-tay, Mommy.” He called to the pups and I’ll be damned if the two dogs didn’t obey the kid right away, trailing behind him and inside.
She let out an intense breath as she stood. “I told you he’s a handful, but so damn intelligent. He’s going to be a doctor or lawyer or something. I just know it.”
“He’s going to be everything you teach him to be.” I rose to my full height, crowding her space just a little.
“Maybe he’ll be everything we teach him to be.”
“I’d like that, Mallory. I really would.”
She placed her hand on my chest and I sensed she was quivering. “I kinda blurted that out. One step at a time. Okay?”
“That’s a deal.”
“By the way, there’s a little carnival on Friday night. I promised Brady we’d go. Maybe you’d like to come. With us?” She lifted her head, the same hopeful look in her eyes.
“I’d love to go. Never been to a carnival.”
“You haven’t?” She laughed and my cock ached from hearing the sound.
“Nope.”
“Then you’re in for a treat.” We heard squealing coming from inside and both of us laughed.
“I think we need to order some pizza,” I told her.
“I think you’re right.”
She sidestepped me, but I jerked her back, incapable of letting her go that easily. “Hold on, Doc.”
“What?”
“I wasn’t finished with you yet.” As soon as I captured her mouth, I felt the very sense of peace she’d mentioned. She was everything I wanted and didn’t deserve, but I would do absolutely everything in my power to provide her with whatever her little heart desired.
No matter what that took or what I’d need to do to ensure her safety and happiness.