Drake (Men of Versteck Valley Book 3) Page 10

  “Hey, Faith. I know you said you’d come see the old man next weekend. Any chance you can make it this weekend? I need to go and take care of a few things,” her brother said.

  This weekend her sorority were volunteering to work in the community to help the elderly. She would be more hands-on helping her elderly father. “Yes, I need to change a few things, but I’ll come. How’s he doing?” she asked feeling slightly better at the prospect of going home and seeing her dad.

  “Much better which is the only reason I’m leaving this weekend. Some of the guys are going fishing and invited me,” he said.

  She didn’t believe him, not for a minute. “Have fun and bring back some fresh fish to cook.”

  “Will do.” He chuckled, sounding carefree, something she hadn’t heard in years. “When will you get here?”

  She looked at her watch. “It’s four now, and I’m wrapping things up. I’ll let you know when I’m on my way. What time are you leaving?”

  “First thing in the morning, but I’d like to spend the night with a new lady friend tonight. It’d be nice not sneaking someone inside the house or keeping quiet when I have company,” he said.

  “Older sister here.” She held up her hand. “Too much information, little brother.”

  He laughed. “Younger, but not little by a long shot.”

  She snorted. “You’re wrong for that.”

  “What? I’m six-one, you’re just a bit over five feet. Like I said, not little.” He chuckled.

  “Boy, I’m’ five feet over five feet, and I hope that’s what you meant earlier.”

  “Get your mind out of the gutter older sister.”

  “Older, nothing old around here but clothes and money,” she said with a slight smile realizing she missed their back and forth banter. When had they stopped? When their father stopped talking? Or when Alex stepped up to take care of him?

  “And on that note, I concede. Should’ve known better than to argue with an attorney,” he said. “Send me a text when you’re on the way, and I’ll send you a text when I leave the house so daddy won’t be alone long. I think he’s planning to go to church or something, he’s not saying.”

  “Has his girlfriend been back to the house?” she asked.

  “I think so. Like I told you the last time we talked. I’ve been looking for a job and am gone sometimes during the day. She could’ve come over then.”

  “How’s the job hunt going?” she asked.

  “Good, got a couple of prospects,” he said.

  She waited for additional details. When he didn’t say anything, she hoped he didn’t get into trouble but didn’t push. “Great, I’m wrapping things up here and will send that text soon.”

  “Thanks, that’s why you’re my favorite sister.”

  Faith rolled her eyes and snorted. “I’m your only sister, dork. Bye.” Smiling she disconnected and looked up. Drake stood in the door.

  “Sorry I haven’t had a chance to get with you regarding that conversation we were supposed to have.” She glanced at her watch to calculate the time it would take to get packed and on the road, to make it there at a decent hour.

  “No worries. You’ve been busy.” He walked in with a long, easy stride. “Any problems with your system last night?”

  She thought about the additional cameras, new steel doors, and window shutters, she shook her head. “None. From what I can tell everything worked perfectly. Not that Asher would allow anything less,” she teased.

  A ghost of a smile rose on his lips. “Will you need the driver this weekend?”

  Faith had forgotten about security and stared up at him. “I’m…I planned to visit my daddy this weekend.”

  Drake frowned. “You said there was a local community event…”

  She nodded. “Yes, I know. But my brother just called and needs me to stay with my father this weekend.” Faith explained how her father hadn’t talked for years after their mother’s death and had been housebound. Now that he was lucid her brother wanted to take a break, and she wanted to help. “I’m sorry I didn’t even think about the security guys,” she said watching him.

  “Or me. I’m your personal security,” Drake said while typing into his phone.

  “Personal?” That sounded iffy.

  “Yes. If there are any meetings or someplace you need to go, I’m your escort. The fact I’m an attorney makes the cover easier to use,” he said without looking at her.

  “Nothing’s going to happen this weekend…Asher’s men haven’t found anything,” she said fighting her irritation over the limitations caused by the situation.

  Drake looked at her. “You’re saying you don’t want security assistance this weekend?”

  Faith thought about it. “I think this is the last free weekend I’ll have for a long time, don’t you?” She wanted him to tell her she was right, that there was no danger lurking in the immediate future.

  “Are you willing to stake your father’s safety on that thought?” he asked instead of answering her question.

  She jerked as his words made an impact. “Not at all. I can’t believe my father or brother is in danger because of Francesca…that’s a stretch.”

  Drake continued to look at her and didn’t say anything.

  “I want to spend this weekend with my father, how do we make that happen?” she finally asked.

  “I need to tell the guys to prepare for a road trip. Asher will make the other arrangements. From now on, he’ll need 24 hours’ notice.”

  “What?” she said growing pissed.

  “Right now, we have a small team, next week there’ll be more people to coordinate, and he’ll need more time to orchestrate things. Get people in place. For instance, if he knew you were going to see your father this weekend, a team would already be there checking out the area to discover if your father’s been under surveillance or if anyone’s been in the area asking questions about you. We won’t have that information this weekend and will go in blind,” he said.

  Stunned, she stared at him. None of that ever occurred to her. “You’re serious?”

  “Very.” His gaze hardened. “Asher’s extremely good at what he does. Gavin asked me to work closely with Asher for this job to keep you safe and find Francesca because we all understand the possible dangers.”

  She stiffened. “And I don’t?”

  “Criminal law isn’t your thing. That’s one reason the seriousness of the situation hasn’t sunk in yet. It will.” The way he said it sounded like a promise she didn’t want to be kept.

  Rather than argue the point, she conceded. “It’s a three-hour drive. I’d like to get started as soon as possible. How much time does everyone need?”

  He held her gaze a few moments longer. “We can leave in an hour if you’re ready.”

  She nodded.

  “Think how you plan to introduce three white guys hanging around your father’s house for the next two and a half days. We have to be back here by Sunday, Asher’s coming in for a meeting and bringing more staff.”

  Faith hadn’t recovered from the shock of the first part of his comments, let alone another meeting with Asher. “Introduce? Are they coming in? I thought it’d be like here.” She waved her hand, realized how out of control it looked and stopped.

  Drake crossed his arms over his chest and faced her. “Here? At your office? They are inside most of the day and periodically check outside. We have cameras everywhere, and they monitor those. There are no cameras at your father’s house. Nothing to monitor. How can they mimic that?” He didn’t raise his voice. He didn’t need to, she got the message, and sensed his frustration.

  A part of her wanted to cancel the trip because of the optics. The neighbors would have a field day when she arrived with a driver who took her everywhere. That couldn’t be helped. But having the men inside and walking around the yard? They would stick out like flies in cream in her father’s predominantly Black neighborhood. The neighbors would call the cops in a heartbeat if the men sat out
side watching the house in a car.

  But she really wanted to see and talk to her father. Good thing Alex wouldn’t be home, and they could use his bedroom.

  “What if I told him the truth?” She watched Drake.

  “If asked who was with his daughter last weekend, what would you want him to say?” Drake asked.

  Faith was beginning to understand how things worked. “I’d prefer if he told the nosy person none of your business, but I see where you’re going.” She pursed her lips. “I’ll tell him the security guys are with you.” Pleased she wouldn’t be telling a direct lie she met his gaze.

  “Good one. Now why am I there?” he asked, his brow cocked.

  “Working on a project together and you agreed to go with me so we can get it done.” She averted her gaze to avoid seeing his ridicule of her wild statement. The only reason her father might fall for it was his past health problems. Alex would not.

  “That works for me if it works for you.” Drake turned to leave. “Make sure you bring something for us to work on or it won’t be…um, believable.”

  She heard the laughter in his voice even though his back was to her. “Will do. I’m ready to go home, is the driver here?” She shut down her computer and cleared her desk.

  “He’s in that office you set up watching the security feed. Asher will have someone else monitor it this weekend. I’ll meet you at your home in an hour,” Drake said and walked out.

  She rubbed her forehead. “Thank goodness this day is almost done.”

  <<<<>>>>

  Faith slept most of the drive and woke as Paul pulled into her father’s driveway. Drake had been working on his laptop most of the ride which was why she had fallen asleep. She took a moment to look out the window at the house. There were a couple of lights on. Alex had left an hour ago saying their father was in the den watching television and had been told she was on the way.

  Nervous, she glanced down at her jeans, sneakers and tee shirt before opening the door hoping her father wouldn’t remark on her boyish attire. He had a definite opinion on how women should dress and act. She looked back at Paul and Franco who looked up and down the street, looking as if they were sizing up the area for a hit or something.

  Leaning toward Paul, she whispered. “Could you not be so obvious? I’m not telling my dad the real reason you’re here. He’s been sick for years, haven’t been able to talk, and this is my first time seeing him when he’ll actually know I’m here.”

  Paul stared at her a few moments. “I have to do my job, Ma’am.”

  “Please don’t say that. Don’t Ma’am me around here. People are going to talk as it is, but I’d like to keep it down to a minimum,” she said, frustrated by the whole cloak and dagger thing. Surely, all of this wasn’t necessary. It was just a quick visit to see her dad, not some fling in the city.

  When he looked unmoved, she placed her hand on his shoulder. “This is my father’s home. We’re going to be his guests for a day and a half. I don’t want him to be uncomfortable while we’re here. I don’t want him worrying about me and my job. Can you understand where I’m coming from?”

  His gaze flicked to Drake who stood somewhere over her shoulder. Faith refused to look or give up without Paul and Franco’s agreement to chill and try not to look so official.

  “I’ll do my best, Ma’— Faith,” Paul said, catching himself. He looked at Franco, engaged in some silent communication and looked at her again. “We’ll bring in the bags.”

  Pleased they would work with her, she nodded and headed toward the porch. Drake walked behind her and held open the storm door as she unlocked the metal door behind it.

  Home.

  The small living room was filled with memories, photos, and knick-knacks from her parents’ travels. Her mother’s favorite chair remained in the same spot it had always been, with her knitting bag on the seat as if waiting for her to return from some errand to finish the piece. Her father refused to put any of their mother’s things away. Despite not speaking for all those years, he noticed if the smallest thing was out of place and would yell incomprehensible words of displeasure. For peace sake and to avoid seeing and hearing him in that condition, they left everything the way he wanted. Maybe he would allow her to clean and pack things away tomorrow. One could only hope.

  The place smelled musty from being closed all the time. Alex wasn’t a meticulous cleaner like her so she wouldn’t throw stones. Instead, she opened a few windows for a cross-section of air to freshen things a bit. In the background, she heard the television from the den and headed in that direction as Paul and Franco came inside. Faith needed to check the condition of the bedrooms before offering them to guests.

  Her father sat in the same oversized, recliner that he always sat in while watching the large flat-screened television on the wall.

  “Daddy?” Excited, Faith moved cautiously to stand in front of him. Their gazes connected. Water filled her eyes as she read recognition in his for the first time in years. Throat tight, she forced a greeting. “Daddy I came home to see you. How are you doing?” Her fingers itched to hug him, to smell that unique scent that had always been his alone.

  “Faith? Is that you?” he asked, his voice scratchy as he leaned forward extending his hand as if needing the solidity of touch to be sure.

  “Yes, Daddy.” She wiped her eyes and moved forward as he pushed up from the chair, wrapped his arms around her and held her close.

  Drake watched the reunion from the door and stepped back into the shadows to give them the illusion of privacy. Asher had been really clear. Things were moving. One of the five men searching for Francesca reported he believed he was being watched. It was possible he had pulled a trigger. That could be good or bad news. Good if it meant Francesca had been in that area and they were close. Asher had sent three other men to assist in searching that area thoroughly. Bad if the trigger caused the immediate elimination of Francesca or sent the men after Faith which was why Asher was bringing reinforcements. He and Gavin believed others were aware of Faith’s involvement with Francesca and would soon know about the safety deposit box. From now on, Drake would be glued to Faith’s side until Francesca reappeared in one form or another. Asher would be breaking the news that Drake would be moving into her house during the meeting. He could imagine how she would react to that.

  “Daddy, I’ve brought a business partner with me to work on a project this weekend. I hope that’s alright,” Faith said holding onto her father.

  “Yes, of course. Bring anyone you’d like.” He turned, saw Drake and his smile froze. “Is this who you’ve brought home?” He didn’t sound happy.

  A lot of people had problems with interracial relationships, didn’t matter if it was business, or friendships or romantic associations. Biases and prejudices were everywhere. Over the years, Drake, his brother, Moses, and Asher squashed the idea of dealing with people based on things they couldn’t change. If a woman preferred short or bald or dark-complexioned men, Drake wasn’t the man for her. She wasn’t wrong for liking what she liked, and he didn’t hold it against her. Drake chose to deal with people with similar moral codes of ethics as him. Color, race, and nationality didn’t come into it unless the other person made it an issue which disqualified them for any kind of serious affiliation. In his book, either he clicked with a person, or he didn’t. No skin off his back either way.

  “Yes. Drake this is my daddy. Daddy, Drake. We work together and need to finish a project before I go home Sunday,” she said.

  Her father frowned as he stared at Drake. “Working over the weekend?”

  Faith didn’t look at Drake but looked at her father instead. “Yes. I wanted to see you. Alex wanted to go fishing, but I have to work, you know that.”

  Frowning, her father looked down at her. “Why? What do you do?”

  Pain spread across Faith’s face before she cleared it and straightened. “I finished law school. I’m an attorney. A lawyer. I have my own firm.”

  A smile inch
ed slowly up his face as he stared down at her. “My baby’s a lawyer? You went to law school?” He frowned. “I don’t remember. Why don’t I? How’d I forget that?” He rubbed his forehead. “So much happened that I missed. The world done changed,” he murmured and looked at Drake. “The whole world done changed except using phones and laptops to get work done.” He looked down at her. “Even legal work. Now tell me who is this you’ve brought home and why is he in my house?”

  Silently, Drake applauded the older man. Based on the pictures in the living room, at one time her father had been a tall, burly man with a head full of dark natural hair and a large smile, something he passed onto his daughter. The man scowling down at Faith was still tall, although somewhat stooped. Grief and time had ravaged his features. His skin sagged beneath his jaw, arms and probably other places from where he’d lost weight. His dark chocolate skin held an ashy tint as if it lacked natural moisture or nutrients. Although he wasn’t as opposing as he had been when she was much younger, Drake believed Faith still saw the man her father had been and would respond to that version instead of his current state.

  Drake waited for her response.

  “Alright,” she sounded irritated. “This is my boyfriend, Drake. I didn’t want to tell you because I didn’t want you to be disappointed.”

  She flashed Drake a look he couldn’t decipher. Why would her father be disappointed? In Drake? Or that she had a boyfriend? The conversation just became more interesting. Drake straightened and waited for his cue to say something or move.

  “Disappointed? That you’re dating a white boy? That what you mean?”

  Faith visibly cringed but avoided Drake’s gaze. “Daddy,” she whispered. “Don’t call him that.”

  Her father looked at Drake. “I didn’t mean to offend you.”

  Drake held up his hands. “No problem, I’m fine.” Watching Faith respond to her father as if she was still in her teens proved interesting. Where was the firebrand who caused Gavin to pull out all the stops to keep her safe? The woman Gavin feared wouldn’t listen to reason? Maybe Gavin should’ve had Faith’s father talk to her and tell her what to do. Drake smiled in anticipation of Gavin’s response when Drake said all this to him.