Fast Track

“Besides, you can’t go anywhere as long as people are trying to kill you. Right?” Sophie said.

  The reminder was given in such a blasé voice, Cordie began to laugh. “Right,” she agreed. “But that will be resolved soon.”

  “You sound confident,” Regan remarked.

  “What about the Summerset . . . ,” Sophie began.

  “If I’m already in Boston, I’ll fly back for it.”

  “Where’s Aiden?” Regan asked the question and looked around the room as though she expected her brother to pop up from behind a chair.

  “He’s not here,” Cordie said. “So you can stop looking for him.”

  Her comment set them off, and Alec, Jack, and Aiden walked in to the joyful sound of laughter. Jack carried a stack of pizza boxes from Tony’s Pizzeria. Alec had beer. Aiden was taking off his tie. He took a bottle of beer from Alec, opened it, and took a long swallow.

  “Where’s Spencer?” Regan asked.

  “Meetings,” he answered but didn’t embellish. “How are you feeling?” he asked Cordie.

  “My arm’s a little sore, but I’m fine, thank you. You should go get Walker.”

  “He’s busy.”

  “Doing what?”

  Her question made him smile. She’d sounded so suspicious. “He’s just busy.”

  “He loves Tony’s pizza. You should take him a couple of slices.”

  “Cordelia, he’s with someone, a female someone.”

  She didn’t understand why, but the realization that Walker was entertaining a woman embarrassed her, probably because Aiden had to spell it out for her.

  “Oh.”

  Aiden laughed. “You’re blushing.”

  “Cordie,” Sophie called. “Alec brought Kelly’s root beer. I know you love it.”

  Kelly’s was a locally owned company, and their root beer was hugely popular. Jack opened a cold bottle for Cordie and handed it to her.

  “My boss, Mr. Bitterman, is addicted to the stuff,” Sophie said.

  Aiden followed Cordie to the table. “When is Liam calling?” he asked Alec.

  “Ten o’clock. I’ll set up the computer so we can see him.”

  “I don’t need to see him,” Aiden said, his irritation obvious in his voice. “I want to know what the hell he’s doing.”

  Cordie understood Aiden’s frustration. “Maybe he’ll have made some progress.”

  “Some progress? I want to hear that there’ve been arrests and confessions.”

  “Aiden, you should be more patient,” Regan said.

  “The hell with that. Has Jenkins said anything yet?” he asked Jack.

  “Not yet, but he will.”

  “How can you be so sure?” Cordie wondered.

  Alec answered. “He’s being charged with attempted murder. We’re letting that fact settle in his mind, and when we next talk to him, we think he’ll want to make a deal.”

  “You mean, he’ll give you Simone for a lesser charge?” Cordie asked.

  “Something like that,” Alec said.

  Aiden knew that Alec and Jack were excellent at what they did. They had the commendations to prove it, but he still wanted to take over and tell them what to do. None of his suggestions were legal, though, but in his mind, after seeing that bastard’s hands on Cordelia, he didn’t think that mattered.

  “Cordie, where’s your sling? Shouldn’t you be wearing it?” Sophie asked.

  “It was torn up when Jenkins . . . you know.”

  “I’ll get you another one,” Aiden promised. He had his phone to his ear as he walked into the bedroom.

  Dinner was relaxed. There was no more talk of Simone or Jenkins, and Cordie was thankful. She ate two slices of veggie pizza and listened to Alec as he enthusiastically explained how he was going to remodel the basement of his and Regan’s new home. It seemed the only thing he wasn’t putting in was a basketball court.

  “Have you signed the papers yet?” Sophie asked Cordie. “Because if you haven’t and you still own the house, Jack and I would like to make an offer to buy it.”

  The stunned look on Alec’s face made everyone laugh.

  Sophie patted his arm. “I was just teasing.”

  “We really ought to get things moving and transfer the money,” Regan said. “The papers should be ready tomorrow afternoon. If you could go with us to the bank . . .”

  Alec shook his head. “We’ll bring the papers to you, Cordie.”

  “When do you get the cast removed?” Regan asked her.

  “A month.”

  “Oh, that’s perfect. Since you have to stay to see your doctor, you might as well go with us to the Summerset Ball.”

  “I’ve heard there are doctors in Boston,” Cordie said.

  “You should stay,” Sophie urged. “You shouldn’t bounce around from doctor to doctor.”

  “If I have to go to that ball, you should have to go,” Alec said.

  “You look so handsome in a tux,” Regan told her husband. “And you love going. You . . .” She sighed then. “Okay, I can’t sell it.”

  Alec laughed. “I go because it’s important to you, sweetheart. And that’s why Cordie will go.”

  “We’ll see,” Cordie said in the hope her friends would be appeased.

  She felt trapped, trapped in paradise, and she was beginning to feel sorry for Aiden. He would go nuts if she continued to stay in the suite after arrests were made and the threat was over. She didn’t want to think about that now. Her friends were here. She was having a wonderful time, but fatigue was beginning to take over and her arm was starting to throb. She excused herself and went into her bathroom to get a Tylenol. When she opened the door, Aiden was waiting in her bedroom with a new sling.

  “Where did you get that?” she asked.

  “It was just delivered,” he answered. “Stand still and let me fix this thing.”

  Once the sling was in place, he moved her hair out of the way. His hands stayed on her shoulders as he stared at her. And then he said something that shocked her.

  “You’re beautiful, Cordelia.”

  She didn’t know how to respond. He kissed her then, but once wasn’t enough. His mouth covered hers again, and he pulled her into his arms. The kiss wasn’t at all gentle, but raw, carnal in its intensity, and she was so aroused that, when he pulled back, she desperately wanted to rip his clothes off and fall into bed with him.

  Sophie’s laughter from the living room pulled her back to reality. Cordie realized her hand was on the zipper of Aiden’s jeans. She jerked back and took a deep breath. She wagged her finger at him, patted her hair as though that would straighten it, and all but ran into the living room. She tried to ignore him the rest of the evening.

  A few minutes before ten, Alec looked at his watch. “It’s almost time to hear from Liam.” He went to get Aiden’s computer and set it on the coffee table so everyone could see.

  Liam checked in at ten on the dot. He appeared on the computer screen wearing a T-shirt that said Bob’s Beer and Babes Bar on it. The background wasn’t in focus, but it appeared he was sitting on a deck or patio with waves lapping at the shore behind him. He asked who was there, and Alec identified everyone and quickly introduced him to Regan and Sophie, who stepped away from the computer screen and mouthed the word wow to each other. Liam’s good looks had obviously impressed them, because they gave Cordie the why-didn’t-you-mention-how-hot-he-was look. She shrugged in response.

  Jack watched the silent exchange. Fascinated, he whispered to Sophie, “What are you doing?”

  “Talking to my friends,” she answered.

  Liam greeted the group. His demeanor was courteous and businesslike, and it irritated Aiden that he could be charming and polite to Sophie and Regan, but he’d been a lecherous flirt with Cordelia.

  Alec had already talked to him about
Jenkins’s attack on Cordelia, and Liam wanted to see for himself that she was all right.

  She stood in front of the computer screen. “I’m okay,” she said, smiling.

  “Do you have any more information for us?” Alec asked.

  “Hold on,” Aiden interrupted. “What about the other man who was with Simone? The one who tried to drag her out of the hotel?”

  “Charles Kendrick.” Alec supplied his name.

  “Where is he?” Aiden asked.

  “He’s still here in Sydney,” Liam said. “We’re watching him.”

  “Anything to report?” Jack asked.

  “As a matter of fact, I do have something interesting. Documents,” he said. “I’ve e-mailed them to you, Alec. I think, once you’ve read through them, you’ll understand why I can’t stop smiling.”

  “That good, huh?”

  Liam nodded. “Yes, that good. It’s dry reading but worth it. Just don’t ask me how I got them.”

  As soon as Liam ended the call, Aiden suggested that he, Jack, and Alec go down to his office to print out the e-mail and start reading.

  “This will probably take a while,” Jack told Sophie.

  “The hotel limo driver will take both of them home,” Aiden offered.

  Jack and Alec kissed their wives good-bye, then waited at the door for Aiden, who had crossed the room to Cordie.

  “Don’t you dare leave this suite,” he ordered.

  “What?” She acted shocked. “But we were going pole dancing.”

  “That’s not funny. I mean it, Cordelia. You stay put.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  And he was gone.

  “Your brother is like a general. I know he means well, but he’s beginning to get on my nerves,” Cordie said.

  “He’s been on my nerves for years,” Regan said.

  Sophie spoke up. “I love him. He can do no wrong as far as I’m concerned.”

  “We all love him,” Regan conceded. “Cordie and I just recognize his flaws.”

  Sophie was in a nostalgic mood. “I never told you what happened to me when I was nine years old. It was pretty awful. Aiden became my champion.”

  “What happened?” Regan asked.

  “My dad was in trouble with the law . . . again. I was home with the housekeeper when two scary-looking men with guns and badges came in and took me to the police station. I was so frightened. This one detective kept threatening to put me in foster care, and no one would ever know where I was. He’d make sure of it.”

  “Why was he threatening you?”

  “He wanted me to tell him where my father was. I didn’t know the answer, but even back then, if I had known, I wouldn’t have told. He also wanted to know if there was a safe hidden in my house. The questions went on and on. To this day I don’t know how Aiden found out what was happening. Maybe the housekeeper called him. I asked her, but she insisted she hadn’t.”

  “What did he do?” Regan asked.

  “He saved me,” she said. “When I saw him, I started crying and ran to him. He put his arm around me and told me everything was going to be all right. He brought a couple of attorneys with him, and he threatened the detectives with all sorts of things. He swore if they ever came near me again, he’d have their badges, and from the way the attorneys were backing him up, I think he could have done it.”

  “Why didn’t you want us to know?” Regan asked.

  “Back then it was because I cried, and I thought you two would think I was a baby. Time passed, and I just never got around to it.”

  “Do you realize how young Aiden was? He couldn’t have been twenty yet,” Cordie said.

  “I wish you had told me when it happened,” Regan said. “Talking about it would have been therapeutic.”

  “I knew,” Cordie said.

  “How?” Sophie asked, surprised. “Aiden promised me he wouldn’t tell anyone, so I know you didn’t find out from him.”

  “We were having a sleepover at Regan’s house, and back then I had such a crush on Aiden. Remember?”

  Both Sophie and Regan laughed. “We didn’t know,” Regan said. “Not then. Not until you told us.”

  “I heard the housekeeper tell Aiden he had a phone call from his family’s law firm. I was such a worrier, like you two were, and I thought Aiden might be in trouble, so I listened to the conversation. That’s how I found out.”

  “Why didn’t you say anything?” Sophie asked.

  “I don’t know. I guess I figured that if you wanted me to know, you’d tell me.”

  “The driver will be here in a minute. Why don’t we help you get ready for bed before we go,” Regan suggested.

  Cordie appreciated the help, and while they were in her bedroom, they continued to chat.

  “What’s the deal with Liam?” Sophie asked as she turned down the comforter.

  “He and Alec have been friends a long time,” Regan said. She opened a drawer and brought out a pair of pajamas. “I think Alec arrested him once. That might be how they met. I still haven’t gotten the whole story.”

  “Cordie, don’t you think he’s gorgeous?” Sophie asked. “Did you notice how he smiled at you and how his voice softened when he was talking to you?”

  “No, I didn’t notice, and yes, he is good-looking.”

  “I love his accent,” Sophie said.

  “He lives in Australia. Would you like me to move there so I can go out with him?”

  “Of course not. Make him move here. You’re worth it.”

  There was a knock on the door.

  “There’s our driver,” Regan said. “Let’s go, Sophie.”

  The friends gave Cordie a hug and left.

  Cordie was exhausted. She settled into the soft bed and turned on the television. She scanned a few channels and found Fishing with Larry on one of the cable stations. Cordie thought the show would put her to sleep, but she actually became interested. An hour later, she decided Larry was turning her into a fisherman.

  She heard the outer door open and the men laughing as they came in. Curious to find out what was going on, she got out of bed. It took her a few minutes to put on her robe and sling, but by the time she padded barefoot into the living room, they were opening beers and toasting one another. Aiden dropped a stack of papers on the table in front of them.

  “What’s so funny?” she asked.

  All three looked at her and smiled.

  “Do you want to tell her?” Jack asked Alec.

  Alec pulled out a chair for her to sit. “As it turns out, there’s more than just a scandal driving Simone to get rid of you.”

  They started laughing again. “Aiden, you explain,” Alec suggested.

  He pushed the papers toward her. “When we’re done with the Taylors and the Rayburns, you’re going to own their company.”

  TWENTY-SIX

  You’re the firstborn,” Aiden explained.

  “What does that mean?” Cordie asked.

  “When you turned twenty-one, you inherited twenty percent of the Merrick company stock. It was in Merrick’s will.” He shook his head and continued. “I’ve never seen anything like it. I can’t imagine why Merrick set up his inheritance this way. I guess we’ll never know.”

  “Twenty percent doesn’t sound like much,” Jack said, “but in fact it’s huge. It’s worth millions. Simone inherited her shares of Merrick Enterprises from her mother, Alice. Simone wanted the perks, but she didn’t want the responsibility, so she handed over the management to her father. According to the will, you now own twenty percent of her share, which is just enough for her to lose majority control.”

  “And that’s why Simone or someone else in the Rayburn family wants you out of the way,” Alec reasoned.

  “Someone else in the family? No,” Cordie said. “Simone wouldn’t have told anyone about
me. She used a fake name when she married my father. She was Natalie Smith back then.”

  “She was pregnant with you when she married your father, wasn’t she?” Jack asked.

  “Yes.”

  “You’re lucky she didn’t try to abort you,” Alec said.

  Cordie sat on the edge of the chair, her back ramrod straight, with her right hand fisted in her lap. Thinking about Simone made her sick to her stomach.

  “She told me she wanted to get an abortion, but she was too far along. She was past five months.”

  No one said anything for a long minute; then Alec commented, “It’s a good thing she didn’t stay around while you were growing up. I can’t imagine what your life would have been like.”

  “I don’t understand why your father couldn’t see what she was,” Jack said.

  “He wore blinders, I guess,” Cordie replied. “He loved her almost to the day he died.”

  “Sounds more like an obsession,” Jack remarked.

  “Simone’s sons seem to adore her,” Cordie said. “And she doted on them when they were at the ball.” She smiled when she added, “Until I ruined her night.”

  Aiden laughed. “You did do that.”

  “The sons are still in their teens, but they’re already being groomed by the patriarch, Julian Taylor,” Alec said. “Obviously he thinks the older one is the firstborn.”

  Jack tapped on the printed pages lying on the table. “The way I’m reading this convoluted document—which, by the way, reads like it was written in the Middle Ages—when you turned twenty-one, you not only rightfully owned part of the company, you completely changed the power structure.”

  “But am I a legitimate heir, since she was using a false identity when she married my father?” Cordie wondered.

  “There’s no stipulation for it in Merrick’s will,” Aiden told her. “Firstborn simply means the first child born to Simone.”

  “Her sons don’t inherit it?” she asked.

  “Nope,” Jack answered. “I’m sure they’ll get property and a lot of cash, maybe other assets, but no Merrick stock.”

  “You can’t sell it or give it away,” Alec told her. “You’re stuck with it.”

  “What if I don’t claim it?”