Enraptured Page 17

  Chapter Seventeen

  It was three weeks before Alex finally returned from his jaunt in Mexico. By then I was twenty-five weeks pregnant and had mercifully not experienced any more contractions, nor had I dilated or effaced. I credited this mostly to Millicent, who functioned as my own personal nurse. She focused on keeping me hydrated and calm, waiting on me hand and foot until both Jonathan and Max, and even Zoe, were prone to do likewise.

  This added to the royal treatment I was already enjoying from Cleo and Harrison, both of whom met seemingly any need before I even knew I had it.

  Likewise Drew was attentive and loving. He stayed downstairs in his study so that I could rest, but he would be close enough to be there if I needed him.

  I think mostly he didn’t want to return to our bedroom upstairs, where he had almost cost us our children from his drunken rage.

  He was so guilty he was willing to listen when I discussed the situation in Mexico. Silently he sat next to me as I pulled up some of the research I had done, particularly on money laundering. If I didn’t know any better, I could have sworn there was relief on his face as well when Alex finally walked through that front door.

  And while his safe return was a reason to celebrate, the information that he brought with him was far more serious than we realized.

  Within five minutes of his return, we understood why he had shared a room with Martina, who had gone along as a translator, and had accompanied Alex back to our home.

  Instead of the doe-eyed executive’s assistant we had thought her to be, she wore glasses and a stern, serious face as she reached a hand and finally, formally, introduced herself. “My name is Agent Martina Delgado, from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.”

  I saw Drew’s brow furrow. “What?”

  “We’ve been monitoring the situation in Mexico for about a year now, ever since Pablo Rojas took over Teton Tech. He’s been on our radar as an emerging King Pin for the cartel, and we were waiting for any opportunity to nail him on money-laundering and smuggling charges. All he needed was a company he could use as a cover, and we knew that had everything to do with Teton Tech.”

  Alex nodded. “They contacted me in January, while you were away on your honeymoon. They wanted to plant an agent, and they already knew from our complicated family history that I was their best bet.”

  “You hired a spy?” Drew asked.

  “Yes,” Alex admitted without apology. “We have too much to lose now, Drew. And if connecting the dots between Troy De Havilland and Pablo Rojas is what clears our family name and keeps our family safe, then that’s what I was willing to do.”

  Drew sat back in his chair as he stared between Martina and Alex.

  Alex continued. “Agent Delgado promised that if I was willing to participate in a sting operation, I could absolve FEI from any involvement with any criminal activity, and ultimately hand them the people that they really want to prosecute: certain high-profile members of EAL.”

  Martina nodded. “We aren’t out to nail some two-bit smugglers. We do that all the time and it only puts a finger in the dam. The next day there are more smugglers and more guns and more drugs, and we end up starting over from scratch. We want the people behind the money, even beyond the cartel.”

  “I know these men,” Drew pointed out. “I’ve met them and I do business with them. They’ve spent decades building powerful and unblemished reputations. Why would they risk it all on some dirty money?”

  “Because it’s a lot of dirty money, from many powerful allies,” she answered. “They’ve built a very powerful empire smuggling drugs into the U.S. and guns into Mexico. They let the little guy take all the risks while they pocket millions of dollars, influencing government officials on both sides of the border with their money and their power.”

  “And they’re willing to do anything to protect that power,” Alex pointed out. “Case in point: Dietrich Schonhorn.”

  My stomach dropped. For years I had dismissed the story around Dietrich Schonhorn and his daughter Elizabeth as conspiracy theories. Now there was a federal agent in my house, nodding as Alex once again invoked their names.

  “That was where we started to focus our attention on EAL,” Martina agreed. “Apparently it was a very successful threat. Until Alex, no one was willing to put their neck out.”

  “They play both sides of the fence,” Alex interjected. “People like the good senator ensure that penalties are steep for drug runners and illegal immigrants, as well as small-time users and dealers, to keep the focus on the more obvious criminal element, rather than the powerful wizard behind the curtain. Meanwhile they’re in bed with killers and criminals, to step in when the law won’t serve them. Their law-abiding, respectable images are all the result of smoke and mirrors, Drew. Troy used you to take over these companies so that he could ultimately install people like Rojas in upper management to do all the dirty work. Then, if things went south, you would be the one with dirt on your hands and he would have a pristine voting and business record.”

  I glanced at my husband, who had been leveled by these new revelations just as much as I had. Drew sighed. “So what do we do now?”

  “Protect your brother,” Agent Delgado answered. “Because Alex has proven the biggest obstacle in setting up these businesses in Mexico, there’s a mark on his head as big as Texas.”

  “And you let him go to Mexico?” I asked of her. “Even knowing how dangerous it was?”

  “That’s why I went with him. We’ve concocted this fabricated relationship to keep him safe, Mrs. Fullerton.”

  “I knew the risks, Rachel,” Alex assured. “They were worth taking. If I can uncover anything to link De Havilland and EAL to Rojas, we can finally prosecute these fuckers and be free of them once and for all.”

  “Now I need your help,” Martina told Drew. “I need to know every detail about your relationship with De Havilland, no matter how unimportant it may seem. Even if I get him on a technicality, I need to get him. It could save your brother’s life.”

  Drew sat quietly on the sofa next to me as he glanced between Martina and Alex. Finally he said, “Whatever you need.”

  I nearly wept for joy as I clasped his hand.

  “Good,” she said. “We’ll all return to the office and keep up the ruse to maintain the status quo. Whatever you do, you can’t let De Havilland know that you’re onto him. He’s not an enemy to cross,” she cautioned.

  We all nodded and she departed. Drew stood and faced Alex. “Obviously you can’t go back to the ranch,” he stated. “You’ll stay here with us.”

  Alex shook his head. “I can’t put your family at risk, Drew.”

  “You are my family,” Drew said quietly. Tears poured down my face as I watched Alex soften towards his brother at last.

  “Thank you,” he said, and I knew he meant it.

  When the boys returned later with Zoe, they were beside themselves that Alex had returned and would stay at the mansion with us. Since Millicent had virtually been hired on to be my personal nurse for the next few months, he could make some bullshit excuse about renovating the ranch while no one was living in it. But Jonathan, Max and even Zoe didn’t care what brought the family together. They all welcomed the change immediately.

  When Drew came to my room later that evening, I took him into my arms and hugged him tight. “I’m so proud of you, Drew.”

  He shook his head. “Be proud of Alex. He’s the one who threw himself on the grenade for this family. I honestly thought I would never see this day.”

  “He’s a Fullerton,” I said with a soft smile.

  Again Drew shook his head. “A Fullerton would have taken the money anyway, dirty or not.” Quietly he added, “My mother was right. He’s better than a Fullerton.”

  “It’s all about legacy,” I reminded gently. “Your father’s legacy doesn’t have to be yours, honey. You can create a new one at any time.”

  He smiled at me as he reached for a kiss. “Thank God for you, my
darling Rachel. Without you, none of this would have been possible. You’ve made better people of us all with nothing more than your love. And one day,” he promised as he stroked my tummy, “I swear to you that I will earn that amazing love.”

  I cupped his face with one hand as I kissed him gently. “You already did.”

  We curled together and cuddled close, in awe of the changes that were finally healing our broken family.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Within days, it was clear that Drew and Alex had tentatively moved beyond their bitter feuding to work together on taking down Troy De Havilland, a source they both realized had been poisoning their relationship for more than a decade. After Malcolm Fullerton died, Troy enjoyed a certain level of influence over Drew. Drew still needed his father’s approval, and Troy worked as a proxy to provide it. Their friendship was designed to wall Troy in Drew’s life as easily as it walled Alex out of it. As a result, Troy often held the strings over Drew’s decisions. It was quite by design.

  As Drew and Alex spent more time together, working to unravel all the knots tied into the association between Drew and EAL especially, I was heartened by the mutual respect that was now emerging between them. It was subtle, both at the office and at home. This was good. None of us knew how much influence Troy had over Zoe and what kind of information could get passed to him. I wanted to send her packing but it would have sent up a huge red flag and Agent Delgado insisted that we not make any drastic changes yet and draw anyone’s attention.

  So most of their progress was made behind closed doors, where generally only I bore witness to it.

  It was during one of these closed-door meetings that Alex dropped yet another bomb in our laps. “I’ve been giving this a lot of thought and I would like to amend my will so that you both get custody of Max should anything happen to me.”

  I held onto my stomach and shook my head. I wasn’t ready to have this conversation. Death had been dancing around our family since Max fell into the pool the year before. I wasn’t ready to face that it could drop the hammer and really claim one of our own. Not now, not while things were finally starting to improve.

  “What about Millicent?” Drew asked quietly.

  “Millicent is wonderful,” Alex agreed. “And I hope that she always has a place in his life, as a caregiver and as a grandparent. I just think Max would benefit from a two-parent home with all the benefits that come from Fullerton money. His medical care, his future living arrangements, it would be a life-long commitment.” He looked at me. “He needs a mother. And you are the only one he’s ever truly known. You were willing to face any fear and risk any danger to take care of him. I’ll rest easy knowing that he’s in your care.”

  “Of course we will take care of him,” Drew said quietly. “He should be with family. I would want the very same thing for my children if anything happened to me.”

  I wiped a tear away with a shaking hand. “We don’t need to be talking about this. Nothing is going to happen.”

  It sounded stupid even to my own ears, but I needed to believe it.

  I was still an emotional mess by the time Elise arrived the next afternoon to pick up Jonathan. The shrill sound of her yelling prompted me out of bed and I made my way toward the living room. The argument she was having with Alex dried up the instant I entered the room.

  “What’s going on?” I asked.

  “It’s nothing,” Alex assured. The grim expression on his face suggested otherwise.

  Elise glared at me from where she stood in her new expensive clothes, likely presents from her brand new boyfriend. “No, I think she should know what kind of liar and fake you are. You did nothing for years but poison me against Drew and the Fullerton family. Now you’re all playing house just become some fat, ugly gold-digger ended up pregnant? Exactly whose babies are they?” she wanted to know. “With all your bed-hopping it’s hard to tell.”

  “You would know,” Alex grumbled under his breath. “You did set the precedent.”

  “Fuck you,” she breathed as she glared at him. “You know what living in this house did to me. You played on my emotions to use me against Drew. You’re just like every Fullerton that came before you. In fact, you’re worse, because you lie to yourself that you’re so different. But you’re the same kind of self-serving asshole.”

  “This is not the kind of conversation to be having with children in the house,” I interjected.

  “They’re outside,” she spat. “With the new magical nanny. That’s the only reason he’s here, you know. It’s just another game between the two of them. Another round just to see which brother can get into her pants first.”

  “What goes on in this house is not your concern,” I told her in a calm, firm voice.

  “It is as long as you have my son,” she spat back.

  “Our son,” I corrected. Her face twisted into even more of a scowl. “Like it or not, this is his family. Whatever went on between you and Drew or you and Alex does not concern him, so leave him out of it.”

  “You have some nerve. You don’t even deserve to be here. Look at you. You’re common. You’re ugly. You have everyone convinced you’re the victim, even when you willingly jumped in the middle of these shark infested waters just to get a taste.”

  “You sure you’re not just talking about yourself, Elise?” Alex asked softly.

  She glared at him as words unspoken passed between them. “Get my son,” she instructed of me like I was the hired help. “And be forewarned. I will be petitioning the judge to get full custody of Jonathan. As long as you all are living in this sick, perverted arrangement, I’ll never consent to his staying here.”

  I nodded to Harrison, who stood nearby in case he was needed. Zoe brought Jonathan to Elise. She sneered at the younger woman. “Beware any apples they give you. They’re all poisoned.”

  Zoe glanced between Alex and me uncertainly as Elise slammed out the door with Jonathan. I finally sat down on the sofa and Zoe was dismissed to tend to Max. I glanced up at Alex, who perched on the arm rest. “I know it’s wrong, but I honestly have to fight every instinct I have to let her take him week after week.”

  “You should,” he agreed softly. My eyes opened wide at his about-face. It wasn’t that long ago when he would have done anything in his power to ensure Elise took Jonathan away from all of us for good. “She’s not the person I thought she was, Rachel. After losing Mother and then losing Nina, I guess I needed to see her as a warm, loving mother, someone to replace all that I had lost.” He wiped his eyes with one hand. “Instead, she’s just this bitter, superficial narcissist hell-bent on revenge. I can’t believe I ever fell for her act.”

  I was quiet as I studied his face. “What made you change your mind?” I finally asked.

  He sighed as he looked down at me. “She had a meltdown when you and Drew got married. She showed up at the ranch, hysterical that you might actually take her son away at last. She was ready to do anything she could to get Jonathan back, including marrying me.”

  My eyes opened wider.

  “I wasn’t surprised about any of that, of course. I knew she’d stop at nothing to get Jonathan. And it wasn’t even the first time she had brought up marrying me. After we slept together, she mused that it would be so wonderful if she could just escape Drew and be with me forever. It fed my ego, you know? Here was this beautiful woman who had been with the Fullerton Golden Boy, yet she still wanted me, the pitiful black sheep.”

  He got up and began to pace. “God, I was such an ass to believe it. All the while she was keeping me on a string she was using our affair to toy with Drew. Because I had slept with her, he had to jump right back in the sack and show her, literally I guess, who was boss,” he scoffed softly. “It was all part of her plan. I just couldn’t see it then, even after she ended our affair to go back to him. I knew it was right for Jonathan, but that wasn’t it at all. All she wanted was to be wanted, and because I had wanted her, Drew’s interest was renewed. For the first time in their marri
age, she wielded the power. I guess there’s nothing quite as heady as controlling one of the planet’s most powerful men.”

  I thought about the year before, when Alex and I had begun our affair, only for me to return to Drew in the end. Inevitably I had done what Elise before me had done, and didn’t even know it. It explained why he bolted when he did. He forced me out before I could leave him and once again reinforce that Drew was the better choice, rather than the only one.

  “I had convinced myself I was in love with her, that she needed me to save her. But deep inside I knew I was still competing with Drew, that it had less and less to do with her and more and more to do with me. I used her every bit as much as she used me.”

  “You made a mistake, Alex,” I assured. “You’re human. You’re entitled.”

  He didn’t look convinced. But then again, his story wasn’t done. “She even brought marriage up again after you first started to work for Drew, and I guess I still needed to hear it. I still needed to be chosen.” He glanced away. “I did some things I’m pretty ashamed of since you walked into our lives. Sleeping with her again was one of them.”

  I felt the knife twist in my gut. “When?” I squeaked.

  “That first day you sent us both away. You hadn’t even been hired yet, but you weren’t about to be railroaded. That’s when she realized how dangerous you were.” He sighed. “I was still reeling by how much you looked like Nina, and I knew Elise could see it too. One thing led to another,” he mumbled. “But even then, I saw your face when I made love to her. I couldn’t get you out of my head, not from the moment we met.”

  I glanced away. This wasn’t the kind of conversation we should be having now.

  But it was a conversation long overdue.

  “After you married Drew, and Jonathan spilled the beans that you were pregnant, Elise raced to the ranch to officially launch Operation Alex. She wanted us to marry so that she had a leg to stand on in court. We’d already established what kind of influence I had, and how the environment at the ranch had turned him around when he was in such trouble. But I knew it wasn’t the ranch and it wasn’t me. You were the one who saved him. When I said as much to Elise, she accused me of being in love with you. When I finally admitted that I was, she flipped out. She had already sent Derek packing because she was sure I would jump right into her bed.”