Drake (Men of Versteck Valley Book 3)

  DRAKE

  Men of Versteck Valley Book 3

  by

  EROSA KNOWLES

  Drake – Men of Versteck Valley - Book 3

  Erosa Knowles

  Copyright 2019 by Erosa Knowles

  First Edition Electronic May 2019

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, businesses, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental. All trademarks, service marks, registered trademarks, and registered service marks are the property of their respective owners and are used herein for identification purposes only. The publisher does not have any control over or assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their contents.

  All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from Erosa Knowles.

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  Drake – Men of Versteck Valley - Book 3

  Up and coming, Attorney Faith Gardner had finally reached a benchmark in her career when she opened her own firm. Before she could take a victory lap, a decision she made almost two years ago comes back to destroy her. Now she stood on the precipice of losing everything she worked so hard to build.

  Smart and handsome, Attorney Drake Sanderson worked as a partner in a small law firm and preferred cases that held an edge of danger or suspense. After leaving a lucrative career with a larger firm in the city, he was finally able to work the kinds of jobs he wanted. When a friend from law school sought Drake’s special skills to handle a potentially dangerous problem, Drake didn’t hesitate to operate in the gray areas of the law.

  When Faith recognizes she’s in over her head and needs professional help to handle her client’s needs, she seeks assistance from Drake’s firm. What she didn’t expect was his disregard for the letter of the law. Working together to find answers, will Faith’s steadfast belief in following the law at all costs be compromised by Drake’s preference in walking in the gray areas? In a race against time, Faith and Drake must find common ground to not only save her life, but the life of her client as well.

  <<<<<<>>>>>>

  This is the third book in the Men of Versteck series. Asher. Moses. Drake. If you like this series and would like more stories from this series, let me know!

  As always, I’d like to thank my family for their unwavering support and the women and men who write me asking for more stories. You keep me going! Thanks to Tristin, Karen, Michelle and the women who keep it real. Versteck Valley is a fictional town filled with extraordinary people. Enjoy!

  Erosa

  CHAPTER ONE

  The early morning sun beat across the glistening pavement still dewy from a recent light drizzle. Faith Gardner stepped into the posh restaurant and looked down at her new red and black Christian Louboutin heels. Drat. She bent forward to wipe off the drops while praying the expensive shoes didn’t suffer from the water. This was an important meeting, and she wore her designer, “special occasions only” red and black suit, with gold accessories. This morning she took special care with her shoulder-length bob haircut and make-up. She wanted this account so bad she could taste it and hoped to walk into her office later today with a contract in hand. Not that it would impress or move the old boys in the head offices, but it would take her one step closer to fulfilling her dream of building a strong enough client base to open her own firm.

  Déesse Noire was one of the best eateries in Silver Spring, Maryland with a five-star rating. It was the place to see and be seen. She and her sorority sisters used this venue to celebrate major events in their lives. The last time she had graced the marble foyer with her presence had been six months ago at a sorority luncheon. That’s when she met Francesca Blake, the owner and unbeknownst to her at the time, her soror.

  To say she had been surprised when the call came to her office three days ago asking for this meeting was an understatement. Francesca had been a legend at NC Central in undergrad as homecoming queen, valedictorian, and an activist in the community. When she moved to Maryland and opened her first restaurant, Déesse Noire, which means Black Goddess in French, everyone marveled at her success and applauded when she opened another restaurant in Virginia. Both five-star establishments served excellent food in elegant atmospheres, and their sorority made sure everyone knew Francesca was a part of their sisterhood.

  “I’m here to see Ms. Blake,” Faith told the petite Asian female who met her with a warm smile at the entrance.

  “Ms. Gardner?”

  Pleased, Faith nodded and kept her hands next to her side to avoid fidgeting.

  “This way, Ms. Blake’s expecting you.” The female turned and walked through the restaurant. Her long, inky-black ponytail slapped the middle of her back with each dainty step. Impressed with the blue, cream, and black decor, gorgeous artwork and soft jazz playing in the background, Faith moved silently behind her escort hoping Francesca provided snacks or lunch for this meeting. Not that it had been offered, but Faith would love a plate of calamari or conch fritter appetizers, two signature dishes.

  They stopped in front of a closed door and knocked.

  “Come in,” a low, husky voice said.

  Faith straightened and entered the room, closing the door behind her. Francesca stood behind a decent sized wood desk with all the trappings of a busy office. A large computer monitor took most of the desktop, along with an adding machine, papers, pencils, and stickies. In the corner was a small round table with four chairs and books stacked on top. A long, comfortable looking sofa that appeared recently used was pushed against the other wall. All in all, this was a serious workspace which made Faith think more highly of her sorority sister.

  “Hi Faith, I’m glad you’re here. Please have a seat. Can I get you something to drink?” Francesca’s warm smile put Faith at ease and eliminated the niggle of disappointment that they wouldn’t be eating.

  “No, I’m good, thanks.” She embraced the woman in a familiar sorority ritual before taking the offered seat in front of the desk. Francesca sat in the other seat and smiled. In her mid-40’s, Francesca was tall, toned, and gorgeous. Her brown skin glowed beneath the light. Long, mahogany ringlets fell across her shoulder and back, large dark eyes fringed with naturally long lashes lit with an inner glow as if she held several secrets. Dressed in a sleeveless, tangerine colored, dress that accentuated her curves and skin, Francesca was the epitome of the Black Goddess she named her restaurants.

  “I’ve been drinking tea, it’s good for my throat,” Francesca said taking a sip from her cup. She took her time replacing it on the saucer and turned slightly in the chair to face Faith. “I need the services of a good lawyer, someone who will be loyal and not sell me and mine out. Nothing I share with you can be repeated or shared with
anyone else, is that understood?”

  Faith was positive Francesca knew about attorney-client privilege and didn’t insult the woman with that information. She sensed Francesca needed more.

  “You have my word as a professional, and as your sister, I’ll never share anything you tell me unless you tell me too. All I ask is that you don’t put me in a moral dilemma by telling me you’ve broken the law and someone’s dead or suffering from your actions. I cannot agree to keep quiet about murder.”

  Francesca’s eyes widened. “I’m glad to hear it. I’ve never killed anyone although I’ve been in this business long enough to want to strangle a few people. Plus, there’s a few; I think the world would be better without.” She held up her manicured hand. “But no. Nothing like that.” She paused, glanced up at the ceiling for a few moments, and looked away.

  “Have you ever been in love, Faith?”

  The question caught her off guard. Rodney, her ex-boyfriend, and all-around fraudster flashed across her mind. “Yes, a couple of times.” She refused to think about the romantic disasters in her past. For the foreseeable future, she planned to focus on building her career and opening her own firm.

  Francesca’s long sigh pulled Faith back into the present. When their gazes met, Francesca’s eyes swam with tears.

  Alarmed, Faith looked around for tissues or something to offer the woman. Not one tear dropped as Francesca pulled herself together.

  “In order for you to understand what I want you to do I’m going to share things with you that very few people know. I took the time to have you investigated and asked questions about you.” Straight, white teeth flashed with a real smile when Faith gasped. “Oh yeah, this is some serious stuff that can impact a lot of people. I had to be sure you were the right person for the job. We have a lot of lawyers in the sisterhood, you know.”

  Still surprised, Faith, nodded. “A lot of really good, and high-profile attorneys.” Which begged the question, why did Francesca choose her? She had lost her first job, thanks to that low-life thief she dated and eventually got on with a more reputable firm.

  “Right. I asked around; your name came up a few times. You graduated in the top five percent of your class from Duke three and a half years ago. You’ve been with Allso, Hammers, and Yearson, a very prestigious firm for a little over two years, but you want your own. Am I right?”

  Impressed, Faith nodded. “Yes, I’d like to have my own firm one day.” Yes, I know the old boys won’t ever promote me to partner. No, I won’t ever play the games or lie or sleep my way to move ahead. Yes, I’m using those old boys as a stepping stone to take me where I plan to be.

  “Good. I’m glad to hear it and hope we’ll have a long, healthy, mutually satisfying relationship.” Francesca stood, drained her cup and waved for Faith to stand. “Come on; I’m ready to become your client. We need to go to the bank.” She stepped back; her long legs showcased multi-colored heels which looked amazing. Faith stared at them until they were out of her line of vision.

  “You’ve got to tell me where you’ve been shopping. I love those shoes.” Faith stood and slipped the strap of her designer purse up her shoulder.

  Francesca’s eyes twinkled as she looked down. “I got these on a trip to Italy a few years ago. I think the boutique is online. You can look at the designer’s catalog.” She pulled her purse and a set of keys from off the hook near the door. “Let’s go out the back. I’ll drive. My banker is waiting for us; this shouldn’t take too long.”

  <<<<>>>>

  Faith sat at the table in the small room where the banker placed Francesca’s safe deposit box. The metal container sat in the middle between them as the silence grew. Gone was the smiling, confident looking woman Faith had seen in the restaurant. Francesca’s eyes looked haunted, less luminous, sad, and afraid.

  The silence stretched. Time crawled, and even though Francesca would pay her for these lost minutes, Faith wanted to know what the woman wanted her to do.

  “Francesca?” Faith reached her hand across the table in an offer of camaraderie to let her soror and client know she wasn’t alone.

  “Yes. Sorry. Just never thought.” She straightened, closed her eyes and took another deep breath. “I’m madly, irrevocably in love.” She opened her eyes and met Faith’s gaze. Instead of joy, happiness and all the other adjectives Faith would ascribe to a person in love, Francesca’s gaze was filled with sorrow and pain. Faith wasn’t sure if she should react to the words or the emotions.

  “He’s married.”

  Faith couldn’t hide the shock and jerked as if slapped. The women in their sorority didn’t poach, didn’t need to. They believed in honesty and loyalty above all else. To cheat with another woman’s husband…not done.

  “We’ve been in a relationship for almost 17 years. I met him not long after I graduated from grad school and had returned from an internship in France. His wife is aware of our relationship; she’s been in long-term relationships with other men as well. We’ve taken trips together, and all get along. Don’t get me wrong, we’re not best friends, but if something comes up with…him like he gets sick or needs me, she’ll call me and make sure I’m there with him.”

  Stunned, Faith snapped her mouth shut and sat back in her seat. Never in her wildest imaginations had she heard anything like this. Why stay married? Why not divorce his wife and marry Francesca? The woman was beautiful, graceful, smart, and based on the brand new S-Class Mercedes she drove to the bank, Francesca wasn’t poor.

  “He’s a Senator.”

  Faith’s head snapped up. “What?”

  “You heard me; he’s a sitting United States Senator. We started dating before he won the office. If he hadn’t won…who knows? That’s the main reason no one can know anything about this. I’m not going to tell you his name or anything personal about him, either. He doesn’t know I’ve hired you and I don’t want him to know.”

  A Senator….There was only one black Senator, the guy from South Carolina, a Republican. Was he the one? Faith looked at Francesca through new eyes. How in the world could someone be in the second position for almost 17 years? What about children? A home? Hell, what about walking down the street holding hands enjoying the sunshine?

  “Please don’t look at me like that.” Francesca straightened in her chair with a narrowed gaze. “I knew he was married when we met, he told me. Initially, I walked away from him, but that spark that hit us both when we met was still there. I didn’t know he was running for office until he tracked me down and told me that was the only reason he remained married. Every day he called or came to the restaurant where I worked. Most days I brushed him off. I thought he just wanted the black experience or something like that.” Her forehead creased and then cleared.

  Not the black Senator, then.

  “To make a long story short, he never let up, never stopped telling me I was his soul-mate. Begged for a chance for us to get to know each other better. One dinner led to breakfast to lunch to dinner and breakfast. He was right; he’s my soul-mate. I love that man with every breath I take and cannot imagine life without him.”

  Faith sat forward. Whoa, she hoped Francesca wasn’t thinking of doing anything crazy.

  “I’m not going to hurt myself,” Francesca snapped, her eyes flashing. “Things have changed. Politics are dirtier now than they’ve ever been. It’s getting ugly, and I’m afraid he’s caught up in some things,” she said the last few words softly with regret.

  “This current administration has tested everyone’s moral center,” Faith said thinking of the new tax law that passed. Which one of those men belonged to Francesca?

  Francesca opened the large safe deposit box. “The reason I put your name, along with mine, for access on this box and on the bank account is to allow you to move quickly to get things done in case…if anything happens to me.” She met Faith’s stunned gaze. “I don’t expect anything to happen, but my mama didn’t raise a fool. In the beginning, I was cautious, documented everything.” She pul
led out two leather satchels. One red the other green. It was obvious they were specifically made for Francesca. The word “Deceased” was embossed on the red satchel. Missing was on the green.

  Confused, Faith looked at her newest client and hoped she wasn’t in over her head. “What do you want me to do?”

  “By the end of the week, next week at the latest, you’ll receive a set of contracts, I’ve already sold both restaurants. But am licensing the use of the name for merchandising and things along that line. Look over the contracts, make sure it’s a good deal before I sign them. The money isn’t an issue; I’m more concerned about the licensing clauses.”

  Faith hid her surprise that Francesca had sold her businesses, none of the sorors Faith hung around knew. Fortunately, she had experience dealing with marketing contracts and felt confident she could handle them. “I’ll go over them as soon as I receive them and send them back to you.”

  Francesca pulled an envelope from her purse and handed it to Faith. “This is a copy of my last will and testament. Hang onto it. Don’t open it unless…well, I’m dead.” She looked at the two satchels. “Understand I’m not expecting any immediate problems, but after almost two decades with this man, I know something’s wrong and want to make sure my business is handled. If I’m missing, come to this safe deposit box, open the green satchel. Inside is information that will help you search for me. Again, no one can know of this. Hire a private firm, keep it quiet, and use the information in here.” She patted the green case. “This is to search for me. Understand?”

  “How will I know if you’re missing?” This whole conversation was so bizarre and different from what Faith expected; she didn’t know what else to ask. Plus, it wasn’t as if they socialized together or saw each other often.