Chapter 38
ALEX
Usually, I avoided my father’s country club like the plague unless someone was actively dying. Unfortunately for me, Douglas Westwood counted boredom as a medical condition that might lead to his imminent demise, and as such, he had insisted on Nate and me meeting him today.
So here we were, walking into a building that smelled like cigars, expensive cologne, and the ghosts of drunken business deals gone bad. Nate was at my side, his posture as tense as my own as he sighed.
“Just remember, we promised we’d be on our best behavior.”
“I’m always on my best behavior,” I said. “It’s everyone else that tends to get sensitive when I open my mouth.”
He groaned. “Maybe you should try not opening it unless you really need to.”
“You know as well as I do that I’m going to need to as soon as we get in there. I haven’t seen any of them since I got married. What do you think they’re going to want to talk about?”
“Just be nice,” he said, sounding like he was resigning himself to a root canal treatment. “The sooner you answer all of their questions and tell them how awesome life has been with your wife, we can leave.”
I doubted it would be that simple, but we were already approaching the sitting room. All the usual suspects were posted in leather chairs in front of a fireplace, waiting for us with drinks in their hands and probably trading the same stories they’d been telling since Reagan had been in office.
Dad sat in the middle of it all like the king of the retirees, looking smug in that way you only seemed to manage once you’d successfully outsourced your responsibilities to your children. He and Uncle Harlan had both perfected that look recently.
Assholes.
“There you are, boys,” he said when we walked in, beaming at his friends like our appearance was a victory. “Alexander. Nathaniel. Come. Sit.”
The chorus started immediately as we shook hands, the commentary of the day, predictably, all about my status as a newlywed.
“How’s married life treating you, Alex?”
“You’re looking very settled.”
“You lucky bastard. What a catch.”
One man clapped me on the shoulder hard enough to bruise. “You won the lottery with that one, son.”
I smiled tightly. “So I’ve been told.”
Nate and I sank into two vacant armchairs in their circle.
Bourbon was pressed into our hands almost immediately by a server so efficient, I hadn’t even seen him before he’d brought over our drinks.
As we settled in, I accepted the compliments, fielded the questions that weren’t too intrusive, and finally exhaled when their attention shifted to my brother.
“So, when’s it your turn?” John asked Nate like his nuptials were a foregone conclusion. “You’re up next, right? Any ideas who the lucky lady will be yet?”
Nate nearly choked on his drink. “Excuse me?”
“You can’t let Alex have all the fun,” Masterson chimed in. “You’ll need to find someone from a good bloodline. Someone with good connections.”
I shoved a hand into my hair. “Jesus Christ. The ink isn’t even dry on my paperwork yet. Let’s give him a chance to get over being the best man before we turn him into the groom.”
Dad laughed. “Nah, it’s best to strike when the iron is hot. The ball is rolling now. Why slow it down?”
“Bloodlines? Are we talking about women or horses?” Nate shot me a look that said help or get me more bourbon.
I lifted my glass to my lips. “Relax. I’ll find someone for him. No problem.”
The older men laughed, but Nate leaned over and scowled at me. “I will never forgive you for this.”
“Sure you will,” I said lightly. “I have excellent taste.”
I turned back to my dad and his friends, who were finally moving on to a different topic, and I chimed in on occasion with my opinion about whatever market predictions or impending deals they were talking about.
After another thirty minutes or so of small talk and large egos though, I excused myself and headed outside with my drink, desperate for air that hadn’t been filtered through a Cuban cigar.
I was halfway through a breath of crisp, clean oxygen when heels clicked on the stone behind me. “Alex Westwood.”
My shoulders went rigid before I’d even turned. I didn’t recognize the voice, but it was female and syrupy sweet, laden with a poisonous edge that told me whoever she was, she hadn’t approached me just to chat.
Unease slithered down my spine like a snake. I finally made a slow turn and Mallory Foundry stepped into my line of sight like she owned it. I’d only seen her that one time at the gala, but I remembered her.
Once again, she had perfect hair, perfect posture, and a smile sharpened to a blade. She’d stepped around the group of women she must’ve come outside with, making a beeline directly for me.
“This is a surprise,” she said with an odd tone of familiarity in her voice. “I was hoping I would run into you at some point, though.”
“I’m sorry,” I replied flatly. “Have we met?”
She cocked her head at me like she thought I was being cute. “You know who I am, Alex. Don’t play dumb with me.”
“I’m not. I’ve simply never met you and I don’t want to. What are you doing here? This is a members-only establishment and I happen to know most of the members. You’re not one of them.”
She laughed, unfazed by the sting in my tone and my clipped words. “Oh, my husband is inside. He’s a very generous donor and he loves these old boys’ clubs.”
I took a slow sip of my drink, eyes cold on hers. “You need to stay away from my wife.”
Her smile didn’t falter. “Straight to business then, huh? I’ve heard that about you, that you’re a straight shooter. I like that.”
“I don’t care what you like,” I said. “You will not approach Jane again.”
Mallory studied me for a beat, the friendly veneer edging into something harder. “She always was a smart girl. I knew she’d marry well.”
I rolled my eyes. “Don’t talk to me like we’re friends. You’re not going to get anywhere with me.”
Her eyebrows lifted. “Her parents underestimated her. Everyone did, but not you.”
Yeah, I’ve had enough. I stepped closer, deliberately crowding her space. “This is your final warning. You will not contact her. You will not run into her. You will not breathe in her direction or I will find out about it, and when I do, you won’t like my reaction.”
Mallory suddenly looked beyond pleased. “You’re very protective.”
“I’m also very serious.”
She held my gaze, then smiled slowly. “Are you aware of my husband’s line of business?”
My lips pressed into a thin line. “I’ve seen his taste in women. I have no interest in any business he would choose to be involved with.”
“He’s big in manufacturing overseas,” she said as if I hadn’t spoken at all. “We have diversified interests. He’s been looking at domestic expansion.”
My blood ran cold. It didn’t happen often. I prided myself on being unflappable, but this slid under my skin and stayed there.
“Is that supposed to impress me?” I asked.
“No,” she said sweetly. “I just thought you should know.”
Jane’s face rose unbidden in my mind, calm, determined, and trusting, but whenever she spoke of this woman, there was pain, heartbreak, and misery. I curled my hand into a fist around my glass.
Whatever game Mallory thought she was playing, she’d just made one thing very clear. This wasn’t over and I had a very bad feeling about how hard she was trying to make it personal.
I should’ve walked away. That was the smart move, but I didn’t. I just watched her smile at me with that same catlike confidence, her voice pitched low and intimate like we were co-conspirators instead of enemies.
“In fact,” she crooned, “I’m here because a little birdy told me Thayer was looking for a buyer.”
Every muscle in my body locked as she swirled her champagne and kept looking intently into my eyes. “My husband is a man of means, and with my insight into the company, it was very easy to persuade him to take a look.”
I glared at her, the noise of the club fading into a dull roar. “You need to stop talking.”
She smiled wider. “Why? I thought transparency was so important in business.”
I leaned in, close enough that she couldn’t pretend this was banter. “You’ve done enough to ruin that family. My family. You need to leave. Now. Or I will make your life hell.”
She laughed softly. “Oh, Alex.”
“You think Nora pushing for charges is the worst you’ll face?” I spat at her. “Jane’s money only goes so far with the lawyers, sure. But mine? My money and influence go a whole hell of a lot further.”
For the first time, something different than pleasant aloofness flickered across her face. Not fear necessarily, but calculation perhaps. “You really do love her.”
“Yes,” I said. “You should be very afraid of what that means for you.”
Mallory stepped closer instead of backing down. “You’re adorable when you’re threatening.”
She leaned in, brushing her lips near my cheek in a mockery of a goodbye. “Good luck, Alex. I’ll see you soon, I’m sure.”
Then she was gone, her heels carrying her away like she hadn’t just lit a fuse and walked off smiling. I stood there with my drink clenched in my hand and jaw tight enough to crack my teeth.
I didn’t know why the fuck that woman was so obsessed with my wife’s family, but I was entirely convinced that ruining them five years ago hadn’t been enough for her.
When Jane had told me that Mallory had fled after her father’s arrest, I’d wondered why she’d return now, knowing what Court’s lawyers were trying to do.
After that little exchange, I finally had my answer and it wasn’t good news. She’d come to pick the bones of the wreckage she’d left behind, and for some reason, she was confident that she would be entirely untouchable by the law while she did it.
There weren’t many things in this life that scared me, but her casual nonchalance about the potential consequences of her presence in this very country, and the way she’d approached me to share her intentions? That sure as hell did.