Drake (Men of Versteck Valley Book 3) Page 25

  Senator Bloom nodded.

  “Carola. He worked for a man named Menendez and took on his organization after Menendez died. The man with his back turned is Kipling. He was meeting with Carola working another deal. After being blind-sided before and selling her restaurants, Francesca was more alert and watchful.” Asher showed them another photo, this time Kipling was looking in the direction of the camera frowning.

  “This meeting happened three weeks ago,” Asher said.

  “I’ll kill him,” Senator Bloom growled, his hands balling in fists and cheeks reddening.

  “Did Davina know about it?” Faith asked finding her voice. This was too much. Discovering her client was a spy, someone whose home she had been in, Audrey baked scones for goodness sakes. What kind of killer does that?

  “I believe Davina was the go-between. They’ll have more luck getting Davina to break than Audrey, she’s better protected. Hardcore. Even busted her own nose to get Faith to go into the restroom with her. I think she planned to shoot you and leave you in the stalls, maybe run outside and have the guard come in and then leave with the rest of her team.” Asher shook his head. “They don’t know much either. They needed Audrey to get to you; otherwise she doesn’t get directly involved.”

  Faith wondered how Asher got all that information but didn’t ask. Some things she didn’t want to know.

  “One thing, Faith,” Asher said looking at her.

  She met his gaze.

  “The case with Harold Sessoms was legitimate, he was really stalking her,” Asher said. “I’m surprised she didn’t have him taken out.”

  “Kept me in the dark, that’s for sure,” Faith said, disgusted by the whole sordid mess.

  They left the room. Faith and Drake brought up the rear.

  She placed her hand on the Senator’s arm and held him back so they could talk privately. “Senator if you’ll come with me, I’ll take you to Francesca,” Faith said.

  His head snapped up. His eyes wide as saucers. Lips moving without sound. “She’s… she’s alive?” he whispered as if he dared not say the words aloud.

  “In a coma, but yes, she’s alive,” Faith said. “I’m sorry but only you for now. After she’s awake, the two of you can make any decision you want.”

  He wiped his eyes and swayed on his feet.

  Drake reached out to steady him. “Careful now.”

  Senator Bloom nodded and ignored the police who looked at them. “We’ll go down the back elevator,” Munns said, his eyes held a question for Asher who shrugged.

  “Tell the Commissioner I said thank you,” the Senator said to the Police Chief.

  “Will do, Sir.” They stepped aside and watched the five of them head toward the elevator.

  When they reached the garage, the Senator followed Faith and Drake. “I’m going with them,” he told a surprised Munns. And with no explanation, he slid into the back seat of the car with Faith and Drake.

  Minutes later they returned to the Culligan and entered through a private, secure entrance. Using a special card, they took the elevator to the top floor. When they exited, Franco and two other security guards were in the hall.

  Drake stopped in front of Franco. “This is the only person permitted into the room for now. Make sure the others know that when you rotate shifts. All meals and supplies are to be handled by you. No room service or cleaners go inside. Is that clear?”

  “Yes, Sir.” Franco nodded and stepped aside.

  When they reached the entrance, Drake keyed in the code, handed the card with the codes to the Senator and opened the door. He and Faith entered the room after the Senator who ran toward the room where Francesca lay with medical equipment around her. Maggie placed the tablet she had been writing on to the side and answered his questions.

  The Senator removed his jacket and tossed it aside as he pulled up a chair to sit. He never took his gaze off Francesca while Maggie explained everything.

  Faith and Drake sat in the living area on the sofa. “Audrey,” Faith whispered. “I did not see that coming.”

  “No reason you should have. She had been a plant since the money laundering. They assumed Francesca would talk to her girlfriends and Audrey could warn them beforehand of any problems,” Drake said squeezing her shoulder.

  “She played me, that’s for sure,” Faith said.

  “But you never talked or discussed your clients with anyone, so they had no idea what information Francesca left behind.”

  “That’s no reason to kill me,” she huffed.

  “It was all the reason they needed.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “How long do you plan to stay here?”

  “At least until after dinner, I heard the food here is great.”

  “You’re still not sure?” he looked down at her.

  “Almost a hundred percent sure,” she said watching the Senator lay his forehead on Francesca’s chest.

  Maggie walked out of the room teary-eyed. “I’ve never seen anything like that.”

  The last ball of tension in Faith unraveled and she had peace about releasing Francesca to the Senator’s care. “It’s rare, that’s for sure.” She didn’t look at Drake while she picked up the menu.

  “I wouldn’t say rare,” Drake said. “You haven’t seen Asher and Mya together or Moses and Taylor. I’d say they have the same level of commitment, wouldn’t you, Maggie?”

  “Asher and Mya for sure. Those two together are magic. Same with Moses and Taylor although their personalities are so different. Must be something in the blood, huh?” Maggie teased. “Seems like when the men in Versteck commit they can’t do things half-way, right Drake?”

  He pulled Faith close and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Definitely. We know how to hold on to a good thing when we find her. We claim our women fast and forever.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Three Months later…

  Mya and Asher danced beneath the twinkling lights in the outdoor tent on Drake’s mom’s new courtyard. The weather had cooperated, and the wedding was perfect. Dressed in a form-fitting white gown Mya glowed and Asher couldn’t keep his eyes off her. Colin had written a poem to Asher, telling him how much he loved his new dad.

  There hadn’t been a dry eye in the place when Colin finished. Asher had picked up his son, kissed and hugged him tight before drawing Mya in for a family hug. The minister politely waited to continue the ceremony.

  Moses and Drake both stood as Asher’s best men which surprised Drake. Asher swore he told Drake before, but Drake couldn’t recall and was proud to stand with the two men he would give his life for. Rather than have a bachelor party, the three of them spent hours last night reminiscing over their teen-aged goals and making plans to expand their business.

  “I’m glad you were able to make it on time to see Mya walk in,” Drake told Faith who sat with Gavin, Taylor and her brother Travis. Now that the formalities were over, Drake pulled up a chair, pushed Gavin in the shoulder to get him to move and sat next to Faith.

  Gavin laughed and shook his head. “I keep saying you’re wild, man.”

  Drake took Faith’s hand and kissed the back of it. “How’s your dad doing?”

  “Much better. The medication for his high blood pressure made him woozy and caused him to fall and break his hip,” she announced to the others at the table. “Betty, his new wife, wasn’t sure what to do, and since my brother moved out of town with his new girlfriend, she wanted me there when he came out of surgery. Otherwise, I would’ve been here earlier this week.” She leaned over and placed a chaste kiss on Drake’s lips.

  He growled low in his voice.

  Taylor laughed. “Can’t take him anywhere.” She looked up and smiled at Moses as he strode to the table and extended his hand. Taylor placed her hand in his, her large diamond engagement ring flashed as she stood.

  Drake threw up his hands and covered his eyes. “Can’t see, the bling from that ring is blinding me,” he teased.

  Taylor looked at her ring before lookin
g up at Moses and grinned. “Yeah, I told him it was a bit much, but he wanted people to see it from a distance. Anyway, it was our compromise. I’ll wear the big ring and have a small wedding next year. Fiona talked to your mom last week.” Taylor rolled her eyes. “They’re not listening to us, not yet.”

  “But they will,” Moses said tugging his fiancé toward the dance floor.

  “Excuse me, my date’s here,” Travis walked toward a short, curvy female who stared up at him as if he hung the moon in the sky.

  Gavin leaned back with his hands on his lean belly. “Both of you can thank me, now.”

  Drake knew this was coming and had warned Faith when they learned Gavin would be at Asher’s wedding.

  “Thank you, I really appreciate you asking me to help Faith with that case. Things turned out better than any of us could imagine. Francesca woke the day after the Senator went to her. She’s got some health challenges, memory loss and is in physical therapy learning to walk again. She and the Senator got married the day after his divorce was final and live in a home in Virginia. She remembered what happened and will testify in court against Scott, Audrey, Kipling, and Davina. All of them have been charged for the murders of Gaspers and Huhn. Audrey was also charged for attempted murder against my Faith,” Drake said with his cowboy twang and tipped his imaginary hat.

  “That’s right,” Faith picked up. “Thanks for your insight in hiring Asher’s team and Drake to help me. Once my clients learned about Audrey, the rest of them dropped me except Francesca of course. So I closed my firm and am relocating to Versteck to work with Laura since Drake’s heart isn’t really into it and Laura’s vision is similar to my original vision.” Faith made several faces as she spoke as if she was about to weep in gratitude.

  “Man I don’t know how to thank you for introducing me to this incredible woman. You should’ve seen her in court when Harold Sessoms attorneys tried to break her down, she made them look foolish, and Harold got the maximum time. In the end, she felt sorry for Zelda and didn’t press charges but that’s what I love about her, she’s fair and forgiving.” Drake made a face and placed his hand on his heart as if he would start singing.

  Gavin laughed so hard he put his hands up to get them to stop making comical faces and talking like simpletons. “Alright, I should’ve known you two wouldn’t be humble.” He laughed a little more. “But on the real side I’m glad the two of you found each other, you’re good together.”

  Faith kissed Gavin on the cheek. “You’ll be my maid of honor.”

  Gavin stopped laughing and looked horrified.

  “You’re my best friend,” Faith said with a sly grin.

  “Yeah…but no,” Gavin said.

  Drake pulled Faith close. “Thanks, I’ve already told you this woman holds my heart and everything else. Glad you introduced us.”

  Faith brushed her lips against Drake’s. “Really glad.”

  “Faith when did you get in?” Drake’s mom asked.

  Drake pulled Faith’s hand and stood to head to the dance floor.

  “A few hours ago, just before the wedding,” Faith said over her shoulder as Drake placed his hand at the small of her back to get her moving.

  “Alright, we’ll talk soon,” Drake’s mom said as she sat next to Gavin.

  “Rude young man,” Faith said with a slight smile as Drake pulled her close.

  “Mama’s going to start hinting wedding plans, and I want us to plan our wedding together whenever you agree to marry me,” he said.

  “We said we’d talk about it next week when all my things arrive.” She kissed his cheek.

  “You missed my lips,” he said near her ear.

  Turning, she kissed him on the middle of the dance floor in front of all his family and friends.

  “That’s what I’m talking about,” he whispered when they broke apart.

  The End

  Hi!

  Wasn’t it great seeing Gavin again? He really shines in this story and is the bridge to bringing these two together. My proof-reader asked if I would write a story about him. What do you think? Should Gavin have a story? Let me know and thanks for your support!

  Erosa

  Check out Book 1 in the Men of Versteck Valley Series.

  Asher

  CHAPTER ONE

  The gigantic gray rock broke the blue skyline in craggy peaks as the mountains rose in the distance with an interesting halo that looked like an unstarched collar around the tips. After living in Tulsa where everything was flat, seeing the mountains filled Mya with joyous pleasure. She wished she could stop the car and stare. But there would be time for that later. Still, she continued stealing glances at the majestic sight of the massive protrusions from the earth.

  A sliver of excitement slid down Mya's back as the reality of what she had done hit hard. She had left home. The naysayers who predicted she would never do anything with her life could officially shut the hell up. Unbeknownst to most of her extended family and neighbors, she had returned to school, albeit an online university, and gotten delayed degrees in Psychology and Sociology.

  Smiling with satisfaction, she thought of the members of her mom's church and the pleasure her mom would receive telling the old biddies about this new job in Colorado. Would Mama wait until Sunday? Mya doubted it.

  She pressed the gas to pass the slow car in front of her on Interstate 70. Her late silver-gray model Honda moved with ease and continued traveling from Tulsa to Denver, actually northwest of Denver to Versteck Valley. She had read a little of the town's history, it was fascinating.

  Versteck was built from the ashes of an old silver mining town located between a few mountains, with a town square, library, restaurants and lots of those artsy shops with custom jewelry and artwork. She liked the idea of living in an area with old west history and today's modern facilities. The photos she had seen of her rental home and surrounding neighborhood assured her that her needs for modern comfort would be met.

  Soft jazz kept her company as she gazed straight ahead with occasional longing glances at the mountains. Half-aware of the world outside the confining comfort of the car, she glanced in the rear-view mirror at her son, Colin, smiling as he turned the page in the book he read. Books worked better than pacifiers or anything else for him, always had from the time he could focus on colors on the page. He had no problems sitting in a corner or in the middle of the room as long as the pages in the book held his interest.

  Initially, it had been bright colored picture books, and now he read elementary school level books even though he was five. The three teachers whose classes he had been in had no idea how to deal with him because he was more advanced than the rest of the class. One of them suggested he get tested, not because he was so smart but because she thought his lack of interest in sports or running on the playground was strange. At first, Mya had been offended, but after discussing it with her mother, they had him tested.

  As suspected, he scored extremely high on the IQ test. Turns out, he simply wasn't interested in sports or running around with the other kids outside. She counted herself blessed that he was such an easygoing child, as long as he had something to read or a puzzle to solve all was right in his world. For a five-year-old with a short attention span, she made sure he had a variety to choose from within arm's reach for this move across the country.

  "How's it going, Colin?" she glanced at him again, unsurprised he hadn't answered. Chances are he didn't hear her while under the spell of whatever he read. Her mom and Jefferson, her brother, said it was unnatural in a child so young. They also believed he shouldn’t be in a car seat because of his age, despite the fact he hadn’t reached the weight or height requirement for a booster seat. Mya disagreed with and ignored them on both points.

  As she neared Denver, traffic slowed. A distant rumble made her jump and stare in the rear-view mirror. She sent an unanswered prayer that Colin hadn't heard the sound. His gray, wide-eyed stare said he did. She looked up at the clear skies and took a deep breath. />
  His lower lip trembled, but he hadn't panicked. Not yet. Please, please hold on until we reach this place, she prayed as the traffic eased and she started forward. The phone beeped, and she groaned. "Not now, Mom."

  The GPS told her to turn off at the next exit. Thinking they were close she took a deep breath and relaxed until she saw they had another 48 minutes to go. The map showed twisting backroads into a rural area of the state.

  She glanced at Colin. He had returned to his book. The idea of being in a car with Colin in full break-down mode scared her. Should she turn around and get a hotel room in Denver? Or take her chances and continue to Versteck Valley? If the weather worsened, Colin would melt-down, unlock the car seat and climb into her lap, moving traffic or not. Few things in life bothered her resilient son, but thunderstorms spooked him to the tenth degree. He did not handle them well.

  Her mom called again.

  She pressed the phone button on her steering wheel. "Mom?" she answered as she came to a stop sign.

  "How's the trip coming along?"

  "Okay. We just drove through Denver, Versteck Valley is another 45 minutes, but I'm thinking about turning back and getting a hotel room for the night."

  "What? Why? You're supposed to report to work tomorrow or something like that. That's the reason you couldn't wait for me to ride with you," her mom said, sounding suspicious.

  "Orientation is tomorrow, and that's at one in the afternoon. I can make that, but it looks like a thunderstorm and I'm scared to chance it," she whispered and glanced at Colin in the rear-view mirror. Thankfully, he was reading again.

  "I didn't see anything about rain in the forecast, did you?" her mom asked.

  "No. But I heard some rumbling a few minutes ago that sounded like thunder." She frowned as she took a brief look up at the clear skies. "The sun's shining, and it doesn't look like rain or anything."