Ty’s knuckles turned white against the wheel. “He pulled some strings and had Hunter taken out of our house.” Ty flipped on the blinker. “There’s a rest stop coming up in half a mile. I’ll pull over so you can go.”
“Thanks. Digger will need it, too.”
Silence followed, and she knew Ty was avoiding finishing his story. “What happened next?” She needed to know.
“Hunter was sent to a state-run group home.”
Lacey’s eyes filled with tears and guilt clogged her throat. She’d been so caught up in her own survival, she hadn’t thought about her uncle’s reaction to her disappearance. Even later, when she had, she’d never considered that there was anything he could do to the people she’d loved and left behind.
And she had loved Hunter, as a best friend and as a brother. He’d been so vulnerable back then, though he tried to hide it. And he’d emulated Ty, needing that guidance to keep him from acting on his emotions and not common sense.
“How bad was it?” she whispered.
Ty shrugged. “You know how Hunter was. Without one of us there to temper him, he ended up in one fight after another. It took a mentor program with inmates at the local correctional facility to set him straight.”
Lacey shivered. Reality was far worse than she’d ever imagined. “I could kill my uncle,” she spat.
“Just showing up alive might do the trick.” And to her surprise, Ty laughed.
She appreciated his attempt to lighten the mood but couldn’t bring herself to feel anything but anger and contempt for her uncle, sadness and pain for her friend.
Yet she recalled Ty telling her Hunter was a lawyer now, which lightened her spirits. “How did Hunter get from delinquent to attorney?”
Ty met her gaze. “With a lot of damn hard work. He set his sights on a goal and worked hard to get there.” Pride tinged Ty’s voice.
Lacey understood, admiration for Hunter filling her, as well. “Tell me more.”
“There were some things Dumont couldn’t control. Hell, maybe there were things he forgot to care about over time because Hunter lucked out. He had no juvenile record other than misbehavior and he was able to get his paperwork sealed when he turned eighteen. He put himself through college and then law school. He owes more in student loans than he makes in a year, but he’s a damn good lawyer.”
“Thank God he pulled himself together.” Lacey realized she was rocking back and forth and stopped the movement. “What about you? What was your story after I left?” she asked Ty.
“Since we’ve been sitting outside of this gas station for a good five minutes, I think you’ll want to run inside.” Ty pointed to the full-service rest area. “I’ll walk the dog.”
She hadn’t even realized they’d come to a stop. She lowered her legs and grabbed her purse. “I’ll be right back. But don’t think you can avoid the subject again,” she warned him.
“My story is nothing as dramatic as Hunter’s. Or yours.” His gaze drifted away from hers.
Lacey shook her head in disbelief as she finally understood what bothered him about himself. “You feel guilty about it, don’t you?” she asked. “Because you didn’t suffer the same way, you feel guilty. That’s why you avoided discussing it last night and you almost threw me out of the car without answering me now.”
Ty ran a hand through his hair. “You’ve been gone ten years. You have no right to think you still can read my mind,” he said, his words suddenly turning harsh and biting. “Especially since I’m not someone who was even worth mentioning to your friend Alex.”
His tone hurt, but she obviously had read his mind, and he hated knowing she could still see inside him. She’d bet he felt she’d belittled him by never having discussed him with the man she was involved with.
She reached out and touched his hand briefly, enough to grab his attention before pulling back. “Some things, some people are too important to mention aloud.”
Instead, they were to be held close to the heart and treasured, she thought, feeling a lump rise to her throat.
“You saved my life, Ty.” Without second-guessing herself, she reached into her shirt and pulled out the locket he’d given her. “And when I crossed my heart, I meant it.”
His gaze settled on the small gold piece he’d bought with his own money, his eyes opening wide in surprise. “That was a long time ago,” he said gruffly.
She’d embarrassed him with the reminder. But she’d also eased the slap he’d felt over her conversation with Alex, and that was all that mattered.
“This got me through some really tough times.” She delicately fingered the treasured piece around her neck. “You got me through.”
That long-ago night, she’d sworn she’d never forget him. And she realized now that no matter where she went or who she was with, she’d always had him with her—his strength, his courage and his caring.
She reached out and touched his cheek, forcing him to meet her gaze. “I never forgot you. Cross my heart,” she whispered, before she turned and ran for the safety of the rest stop.
Ty and Lacey met up with Hunter at Ty’s place as soon as they hit town. They entered through the back entrance off the bar. There were no awkward hellos when Hunter saw Lacey for the first time, Ty thought, watching stiffly as she bolted across the room and into Hunter’s arms.
“It’s so good to see you!” Her voice rose in an excited squeal.
Hunter pulled her into a tight hug. “You, too.” He pulled back, looking at her with a grin. “You’re still as gorgeous as ever.”
She laughed and punched him lightly in the shoulder. “You’re looking pretty good yourself.”
“He works at it,” Ty muttered.
He hadn’t received such an easy greeting, and rationally he understood why. She hadn’t expected to see him, so she’d been caught off guard. Once she adjusted to his presence, he’d dropped one huge bomb about her uncle.
Ty knew he was consoling himself with platitudes and tempering his jealousy, neither of which sat well with him. He was normally a guy who went about his business with few highs and lows. Man, things had changed.
Ty cleared his throat. “Hey, you two, break it up. We have some planning to do.”
Lacey turned toward them. “That sounds like old times. So how do you want to handle things?”
Ty stepped toward her. “I suppose the first order of business would be looking into the terms of the trust and finding out exactly what you need to do in order to claim the money.” Ty glanced at Hunter. “Am I right, lawyer man?”
The other man nodded. “You’re right. And I’ll look into that as soon as possible. I’m going to need some help because I’m a criminal attorney.”
“That’s amazing,” Lilly said, her eyes glowing with pride in what Hunter had accomplished.
Ty felt the same way.
“What kind of cases?” she asked.
“A little of this and a lot of that,” he said and laughed.
“Don’t be so modest,” Ty said. “Hunter’s well known around town. He’s one of the biggest trial lawyers in the state. His clients are pretty high profile even for upstate New York standards.”
Hunter actually flushed at the complimentary description. “I take those cases to make money so I can afford the pro bono ones for people who couldn’t otherwise afford decent representation.”
Lilly wrapped her hands around her forearms and nodded in understanding. “And I am so proud of you! I should have known you’d end up helping people.”
His cheekbones flushed even redder. “Ty’s the one who played savior while I went along for the ride. I guess I learned from him.”
“Well as far as I’m concerned, you’re both the best.” She grinned at them both. “Thanks for looking into things for me,” she said to Hunter. “I can’t afford to hire anyone without depleting my savings.”
“Which won’t make a difference once you get the trust fund away from the bastard who calls himself your uncle,” Ty said.
/> She nodded. “Still, having a friend to depend on is so much easier.”
“I’ve got an important trial next month, but I have some time now and I’ll handle it for you.” Hunter hoisted himself onto the kitchen counter, making himself at home, which, considering how often he came by, he was. “So, what will you do while I’m researching?” he asked Lilly.
Ty raised an eyebrow and glanced at her. “I’m curious about that myself.”
She shrugged. “I thought I’d reacquaint myself with my hometown. I need to relax and maybe feel like I belong here again.”
“I understand how you feel.” And he sympathized. “But you can’t just go walking around in broad daylight and risk alerting your uncle to your reappearance. You need to be discreet, at least until your uncle’s been told that you’re alive, well and intend to be rich.”
“Man, I wish I could see his face when he finds out he’s waited ten years for nothing.” Hunter rubbed his hands together, his anticipation of the other man’s downfall as understandable as it was shared by everyone in this room.
Lilly laughed, but Ty heard the shakiness in her voice. For all her strength, she wasn’t quite ready for the reunion. A few days of breathing room would do her some good.
“So how do you think we should let him in on the secret? I can’t just walk up the front steps, ring the doorbell and say, Hi, Uncle Marc, I’m home!”
Ty grinned. “Maybe not, but I’d pay good money for tickets to that show.”
“We’ll have to go about this in a more subtle manner,” Hunter said.
“And I take it you have the answer?” Lilly walked up beside him and leaned, one hip propped against the counter.
He nodded. “That I do,” he said, cryptically. “But I’m not ready to explain just yet. In the meantime, you should lay low and relax.”
“I think I can handle that. Starting now. I’m going to walk around out back. It seemed quiet enough. Digger, come,” she called to her dog, who came running from her spot on the floor.
After hooking Digger to her leash, Lilly gave both Hunter and Ty an obviously forced smile. Then she walked out the front door.
Ty started after her, intending to catch up.
“Let her go.” Hunter placed a restraining hand on Ty’s shoulder. “We can’t begin to imagine what she’s feeling. Give her some time to deal with things.”
Ty clenched his jaw as he turned around to face his best friend. “When did you turn into an expert on Lilly?”
“When did you turn into a jealous son of a bitch?” Hunter asked.
Ty groaned. “Is it that obvious?”
“Only to someone who knows you.” Hunter ran his hand through his hair. “You have no competition from me. No matter how I felt about her once,” Hunter said, shocking Ty by laying his feelings out there for the first time.
“Once and no more?”
Hunter nodded.
“Is that because you don’t want to compete with me?” Ty asked, not comfortable with the direction the conversation had taken.
Hunter shook his head. “I may have felt that way once. Back when we were kids, I knew there was no way I could win against you. I’d never have even tried.” He slapped Ty on the shoulder in a brotherly manner. “But those days are gone. If I had those old feelings, only our friendship would stand in the way. Not my insecurity.”
Hunter’s admission shocked Ty. He gave his friend credit for knowing his mind and admitting the truth aloud. “So what gives?” Ty asked.
Hunter grinned. “My focus is on someone else.”
And Ty knew who. “Molly?”
“The woman’s said no so many times I’m lucky I still have an ego left,” he said, somehow managing a laugh. “But I keep asking her out anyway.”
“Mind if I ask why the hell you haven’t pushed her harder to say yes to a dinner?”
Hunter scratched his head. “Because until now, she was sending vibes that warned me to back off. And now that she seems more open to exploring the chemistry we have, Lilly’s back and I have an ulterior motive for wanting to spend time with Molly.”
Ty shrugged. “Explain the situation. Maybe she’ll understand.”
“Sure. And hell will freeze over and maybe she’ll tell me why she’s said no all those times when her body language was saying yes.”
Ty tipped his head back and laughed. “Which means you’ll never figure it out on your own. No sane man can read a woman’s mind, no matter how much they think we can.”
Hunter smiled. “Now that’s the truth,” he said, his smiling fading. “But by the time I get finished pumping Molly for information about Dumont, she’s not going to want to give me the time of day.” He walked to the refrigerator and opened a can of Coke.
“But you’re going to do it anyway?” Ty asked.
“Yeah.” Hunter downed half the can in a long gulp. “We’re the three musketeers. I just keep telling myself that where Molly’s concerned, I can’t lose what I never had. Not that I won’t give it a shot…. But let’s just say my expectations aren’t high.” He finished the can and slammed it against the counter.
Ty felt for his friend. The guy hadn’t had any long-lasting relationships in his life, though like Ty, he had his share of women. And now the one he obviously could get serious about, he might lose. “Hey, man, how about we find another way to get information on Dumont and leave the field clear for you and Molly.”
Hunter shook his head. “If she was that interested, she’d have gone out with me long before now. Lilly needs us and that’s that.” Hunter started for the door, then paused and turned. “But when it comes to anything other than my help, when it comes to Lilly, you’re the man.”
Ty groaned. Sometimes Hunter still showed signs of being the idiot kid who spoke up and thought later. Which was why Ty loved the guy like a brother.
He glanced at his friend. “Actually, there’s another man in Lilly’s life, and his name is Alex.”
Hunter frowned. “Well, damn.”
“Exactly.” And since Ty wasn’t one for deep conversation, he had no idea what to say now.
Hunter glanced at his watch, a gold Rolex he’d bought after winning a huge case for a wealthy guy accused of murdering his wife. It was his first step toward becoming a stuffed shirt hired by the hotshots.
“I need to get going.”
“Molly?” Ty asked, figuring it was a rhetorical question.
He nodded. “I guess she’s the best person to tell about Lilly being alive. I have no doubt she’ll break it to Dumont. We can go from there.”
“Think she’ll just hand us the trust fund agreement?”
Hunter shrugged. “Who knows. Hopefully she’ll tell us which law firm does have it.”
“Good luck. You know where to find us when the deed is done,” Ty said.
“You said us. Lilly’s staying here?”
Ty nodded. “I didn’t think she could afford a hotel. Besides, I didn’t think she’d want to be alone.”
“There you go again. Playing the hero. Making decisions for others. Except in this case, it’s the right thing. The two of you under one roof ought to give you a chance to revisit the past and see what could have been. What still might be.”
Ty shook his head. “Not a chance.” Lilly had been a sweet girl who needed him. Now she was a grown woman who needed no one and had a life and another man waiting for her in the city.
“You know what they say. Never say never,” Hunter said before walking out the door and slamming it behind him.
Hunter paused in the hallway outside Ty’s apartment. He needed a minute to pull his thoughts together.
Lilly was home and looked better than ever. Ty was as sucker punched as he’d been way back when. And Hunter, well, his questions were answered. He’d been damn glad to see her, but only as a friend.
A friend he’d do anything for, not just for old times’ sake but also because, as a lawyer, he’d become an advocate of the underdog. Faced with Dumont, Lilly was the und
erdog and Hunter wouldn’t mind sticking it to the man who’d caused him untold pain. He just didn’t want to cause Molly any grief in the process.
From the day they’d met, Hunter and Molly had been on parallel paths that just couldn’t ever seem to cross. Back in law school, Molly barely took time from studying to do much of anything else. Hunter had been the same way, focused on succeeding. He’d been determined to graduate and make something of himself, mostly because his father had told him he never would. Once Hunter had done a one-eighty in juvie he’d decided to prove everyone who ever said he’d never be anything wrong. And he had, despite the father he’d run away from, and the mother who just didn’t want him. And despite Dumont, who’d pulled Hunter out of the only home he’d ever known.
Despite it all, Hunter had succeeded. And he resented like hell the fact that Dumont would once again cause him to lose someone he cared deeply about. He and Molly never had a chance before, and tonight Hunter’s actions would ensure they never would. It wasn’t that he put Lilly and Ty above Molly—he just could never betray his family. They were all he had.
He stopped at The Tavern and picked up a variety of things for dinner, including a bottle of wine, before showing up on Molly’s doorstep. He walked up the driveway.
Just as Hunter had anticipated, Anna Marie, the court clerk and Molly’s landlord, sat on her porch swing. Her graying blond hair was pulled up in a bun. Wrapped in a sweater, she enjoyed the cool September night air—along with the ability to scour the neighborhood for good gossip. Which Hunter knew he was providing.
Still, he strode up the walkway, stopping outside Molly’s door. “Nice night out,” he said to Anna Marie before he rang the bell.
“It’s getting cold. There’s a chill in the air.” She pulled the heavy knit sweater tighter around her.
“Why don’t you go inside then?”
“I might miss—”
“A shooting star?” Hunter asked.
“Something like that.” The older woman winked at him and eased back in her swing. “What are you doing in town this late in the evening? I thought when you weren’t in court or at work, you preferred your swanky apartment in Albany.”
Cross My Heart Page 6
