Secrets (Lords of the City)

by Alice Ward

  “The timing isn’t exactly ideal,” I admitted. “Drake’s still married to Alex. And if Rebecca gets her way, he could spend up to twenty-five years in prison.”

  “I think it’s fantastic that you’re doing it in spite of all that,” Stacey said, her voice firm. “And I have faith that we’re going to put a stop to Rebecca and Alex, once and for all.”

  She had a mischievous twinkle in her eye and I had a feeling she was holding something back. I raised a curious eyebrow and leaned forward.

  “What are you up to, Stace?”

  She smiled and darted her eyes toward her laptop. “I know Lindsey’s investigating all of the legal stuff. Ollie and I talked about it, and he explained that we need to leave that to her since she has a license. But with everyone else focused on clearing Drake’s name, I figured I could do a little digging and help him get a divorce.”

  I was overwhelmed by the fact that Stacey had taken on the task with everything else she had going on.

  “When have you had time to do this?” I asked, my voice hushed.

  She gave me a casual shrug and shifted Emma to her other arm. “This little one is sleeping for several hours at a time now,” she explained. “Honestly, it’s been nice to have something to focus on besides her monitors.”

  “Have you found anything useful?” I asked, a glint of hope in my voice.

  Stacey nodded. “I don’t have anything concrete yet, but I’ve stumbled onto some leads. I ran an in depth news search for links between Rebecca and Madeline Schwartz.”

  “The doctor who falsified Alex’s medical records… I didn’t even think to research her.”

  “The woman has a shady past,” Stacey confided. “Nothing like Rebecca’s, of course. But she’s been sued for malpractice dozens of times. I haven’t been able to figure out how she still has a license. I managed to get a look at her finances and she’s never received any payments from Rebecca, or any of the shell companies the defense team traced back to Rebecca.”

  “How…?” I was stunned at how much information Stacey had gathered.

  “Ollie’s been taking notes at the meetings,” she explained. “Anyway, my guess is Rebecca has something on Madeline and blackmailed her into faking the medical records.”

  I narrowed my brow, considering the idea. “I just assumed Madeline did it as a favor.”

  Stacey met my gaze with a hard stare. “I don’t think people like Madeline and Rebecca do favors. I think of what that woman has done to her son, and then I look at Emma. I really think Rebecca is a sociopath. It’s the only thing that explains how she could be so heartless.”

  “You’re probably right,” I agreed. I told her what Drake had said about how much he loves our family and tears sprang to her eyes.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, wiping her cheeks with the sleeve of her gown. “I’m looking forward to my hormones regulating back to normal. Dr. Vines said it could take another month or two.”

  “No apologies necessary,” I assured her. “When he said it, I wanted to cry too. That’s why I agreed to go off the pill. I want to give him the family he deserves. But I’m so scared, Stace. Every time we get close to having everything we want, it all falls apart. What if that happens again? What if I lose Drake for good this time?”

  “Of course you’re scared,” Stacey replied, her voice low and full of empathy. “We’re all scared, Chelsea. Oliver and I love Drake like a brother. I want Emma to have him in her life. And all of us want to see you happy. That’s why we’re going to do everything in our power to beat Rebecca at her own game. Not only am I going to find dirt on Dr. Schwartz, I’m going to figure out once and for all why Rebecca’s so dead set on keeping Drake and Alex together.”

  “Stace, I appreciate everything you’re doing. But I don’t want to get you into trouble. I’m sure some of what you’re doing isn’t exactly legal…”

  “Don’t worry about it,” she quickly interrupted, another smile creeping across her face. “I’ve already got that covered. Oliver and I met with Lindsey yesterday while your parents were here with Emma. You’re looking at her new apprentice.”

  “You’re becoming a PI?” I asked. I didn’t even try to hide my shock.

  Stacey nodded, her face beaming with pride. “I’ll have to take classes and work a ton of hours for Lindsey. And of course, I’m going to take things slow until Emma’s home. But I can take all of the courses online. My goal is to start freelancing around the time she starts preschool.”

  “Stacey, that’s fantastic. You’re so good at this; it would be a shame to let your talents go to waste. But I have to say, I’m a little surprised. I didn’t think you wanted to work and you certainly don’t need to,” I pointed out.

  “I’m happy to stay home and take care of Oliver,” she agreed. “And I’m even happier to have Emma. They will always be my first priority. But as you and I have grown closer, I’ve realized how much I admire you. You’re engaged to one of the wealthiest men on the planet. You’re the last woman on Earth who has to have a job. But you’re too passionate about what you do to give it up. I want that for myself. I want to show Emma that she can have it too.”

  “I’m happy for you. And I’m proud of you, Stace. Now speaking of Emma, can I have her back for a minute?”

  “Sorry,” Lisa, one of the NICU nurses, piped up as she approached us. “It’s time for us to take Emma to her CT-scan.”

  “Scan?” I asked, panic rising in my voice.

  “It’s standard protocol, Ms. Tyler,” the nurse assured me. “Dr. Lekberg just wants to get another look at her lungs to make sure they’re growing on schedule.”

  “She’ll be gone for about thirty minutes,” Stacey explained as she tenderly returned Emma to the incubator. “Want to run across the street for a cup of coffee?”

  “I’d love to,” I agreed as Lisa wheeled Emma through double glass doors. I followed Stacey into the hallway and cleared my throat.

  “Would you mind calling Oliver for an update? The meeting started hours ago. I don’t want to bother Drake, but the more time that passes without him checking in, the more nervous I’m getting.”

  “No problem,” Stacey agreed, pulling her phone from her pocket. Her jaw dropped as she stared at the screen. I stopped dead in my tracks and leaned against the wall.

  “What is it, Stace?”

  “I missed a text from Ollie. I’m so sorry, Chelsea. You’d better call Drake.”

  ***

  My taxi pulled to a stop at the curb and I rushed out onto the sidewalk, tossing a twenty-dollar bill to the driver. I pushed open the door bearing the storage company’s logo and stepped into a stale, dimly lit maze of hallways.

  “Drake?” I called out, unsure of which path to take.

  “We’re over here, Chels,” Oliver called back. I turned right to the sound of his voice and walked past door after door of units. Drake stepped out from a room near the end of the hall.

  “Baby,” I said, rushing into his arms. I held him tight to my chest and caressed his neck. “I’m so sorry. Are you okay? When did this happen?”

  Drake took long, even breaths and held my head against his heart. “Your dad got the notice halfway through our strategy meeting. As of eight a.m. today, everything but the beach house is now property of the federal government.”

  “Dad still feels pretty confident that he’ll clear Drake’s name before he’s indicted,” Oliver assured me. “As soon as the investigation is closed, they’ll have no choice but to return Drake’s assets.”

  Drake and I released each other and the three of us stepped in to the storage unit. The room was stacked with filing cabinets, portfolios, and dozens of cardboard boxes.

  “Matt rented a truck yesterday and gathered most of my personal items from the penthouse,” Drake explained. “There’s nothing of any real monetary value here, so even if the feds do track it down, Oliver won’t get in any real trouble for holding it.”

  I surveyed the room again, my heart sinking for Drake.
In a matter of hours, his extravagant, luxurious life had been ripped out from under him, stripped down to the few items he and Oliver had packed into the unit. And yet, a peaceful contentment seemed to radiate from his body.

  “Were you able to get any of your clothes?” I asked, my voice low.

  Drake nodded. “I never unpacked after I agreed to stay in the country. My bags have been at Oliver’s since the day your dad flew into the city. They’re in the car now.”

  “If you’re ready, I can take you wherever you want to go from here,” Oliver offered. “I don’t mind driving you out to Jersey, but you’re more than welcome to crash at our place.”

  “I appreciate that, Oliver. No offense, but I think your place might be a bit crowded at the moment. I’m sure my problems will be all over the evening news. I need to stay away from the penthouse and everywhere else the press would think to look for me. No one knows that Chelsea and I are back together. They won’t be looking for me in Jersey,” Drake explained.

  Shit, I didn’t even think about this hitting the news. I guess it’s a wonder the story hasn’t broke already. I hope Drake’s right about them not thinking to look for him at my place. But they’ll probably show up eventually, especially once they figure out he’s not in the Hamptons.

  “Good thinking,” Oliver agreed as we filed back into the hallway. He pulled a key ring from his pocket and locked the door behind us.

  “I’m not so sure you’re going to be safe in Jersey, though,” Oliver continued, bursting my bubble of hope. “I mean its public record that Dad’s heading up your legal team. The press is bound to put two and two together.”

  “It’s fine,” I insisted, pulling Drake’s arm to my side. “Let them show up. I’d be more than happy to explain what’s really going on to anyone who’s willing to listen.”

  “You can’t do that, baby,” Drake insisted as we stepped out onto the sidewalk. “The last thing we want is to piss Rebecca off more than she already is. And we don’t want her to know we’re coming for her,” he reminded me.

  Oliver nodded. “Dad went over this at the meeting, Chelsea. If any of us are approached by reporters, we’re to say ‘no comment’. And if the police want to question you, call Dad and keep your mouth shut until one of the lawyers gets to you.”

  “I can’t believe this is happening,” I said as I slid into the backseat of Oliver’s car.

  “I know,” Drake agreed, buckling in to the passenger seat. “But that doesn’t make it any less real. We knew this was coming. We just have to wait and trust that justice will be served.”

  Oliver climbed in behind the steering wheel and turned the key in the ignition. “Do you need to stop anywhere before we get to the apartment?”

  Drake turned around in his seat to look at me. “Has the money from the Cayman’s hit your account here?”

  I nodded. “The wire transfer came through the day before yesterday. Why?”

  “I was thinking we could call in an order to Vicenza’s. We’re going to be stuck at your place to avoid the press, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy a gourmet meal.”

  “The restaurant is on the way,” Oliver added.

  I shook my head. The eight hundred thousand dollars we’d moved from the island was more money than I’d ever dreamed to have in my account. But I knew it wouldn’t last long if Drake tried to keep his luxurious lifestyle.

  “We have no business spending two hundred dollars on dinner right now,” I insisted. “You have to adjust your spending habits, baby. Just until this mess is cleaned up.”

  Drake sighed. “You’re right. Thank you for being my practical voice of reason.”

  “You’re more than welcome, baby.”

  As Oliver navigated the city streets, I pulled out my phone and sent Piper a text to let her know Drake and I were on our way to the apartment. She replied moments later, warning that she hadn’t been to the market and the fridge was completely empty.

  We’ll have to either pick up takeout or go shopping. We have hours before the evening news. Maybe I can convince Drake to spend a little time out of the apartment while we still have a chance.

  “Is everything okay, baby?” Drake asked from the front seat. “You’re being awfully quiet back there.”

  I cleared my throat. “Everything’s fine,” I assured him. “I texted Piper. Seth has to go to a gallery opening in Brooklyn tonight. She’ll be home, but not until late. We’ll have most of the night to get you settled in.”

  I stared into Oliver’s passenger side mirror and watched Drake’s shoulder’s sink. “Do you think she’s any closer to forgiving me?” he asked, doubt gripping his voice.

  I reached over the seat and put a hand on his shoulder. “I don’t know. But I’m positive that she’ll come around eventually.”

  ***

  “I forgot how small this place is,” Drake said, pacing my living room. With his luggage covering half the floor, there wasn’t much space for us to move around.

  “I know. The entire apartment would fit in your living room with space to spare. But it’s temporary,” I reminded him, stepping into the kitchen. I opened the refrigerator and stared at the empty shelves.

  Piper wasn’t exaggerating. We’re completely out of food.

  I shut the door and surveyed the cabinets. We had a few boxes of pasta and a single sleeve of crackers.

  “Hey baby, we’re completely out of food,” I called into the living room. “Do you feel like going for a walk?”

  “Yes,” he quickly replied, stepping into the kitchen. “We have a few hours before the evening news and I think I need to stretch my legs while I have the chance. I’ll drag my bags into your room in case Piper gets home before we do.”

  I followed him into my bedroom and changed into tennis shoes while he stacked his luggage in the corner.

  “I’ll clean out a few drawers for you when we get back,” I offered with a smile.

  “You don’t have to do that,” he replied softly, his shoulders low.

  I crossed the room and wrapped my arms around his waist. He sighed and held me close.

  “I know this is hard for you,” I began slowly. “If you’d rather get a hotel, I completely understand.”

  Drake shook his head and pulled away from me. “No, you were right about us needing to save money. There’s no telling how long the investigations could drag on, or how expensive my defense is going to get. And if I’m convicted, that money will be all you have.”

  “You won’t be convicted,” I promised, raising a finger to his lips. He kissed it tenderly and took my hand in his. He had a sad, thoughtful look in his eyes and I knew he had more than the investigation on his mind.

  “Are you okay, baby?” I asked, my face calm and patient.

  He blinked and straightened his shoulders. “I’m fine, just hungry. Do you want to pick up something to go?”

  “Let’s go to the market,” I suggested. “Once the news breaks, neither one of us will want to leave the apartment. We need to stock up on supplies.”

  “Good thinking,” he agreed.

  I slung my purse over my shoulder and we made our way outside. The late summer sun radiated from a cloudless sky and a light, gentle breeze blew across my face. We walked arm in arm down the sidewalk and ducked into the corner market.

  “It’s been a long time since we’ve done this,” Drake pointed out as we filled our shopping cart.

  “I know… I’ve missed it,” I confessed.

  “Me too,” he agreed, diverting his eyes to a display of jam. “I’m going to go check out the produce. I’ll meet you up by the registers in a little bit.”

  I knew Drake would be depressed if he had to leave his home, but I wasn’t expecting it to be this bad. I have to make him feel at home at my place until all of this is over.

  I finished my shopping alone and met Drake at the register. He added his basket of fruits and vegetables to my selections and cringed when I swiped my debit card at the register.

  I
need to make sure he always has plenty of cash. It’s his money and I never want him to feel like he has to ask for it.

  Drake held my hand as we walked back to the apartment, but his mind was clearly elsewhere. His mood didn’t improve over our rotisserie chicken dinner and when he turned down a glass of wine, I couldn’t stay silent any longer. I pushed my chair away from the kitchen table and turned to face him.

  “Baby, I know you’re devastated right now. But we knew this was coming. The money and homes aren’t lost for good. This is a temporary problem.”

  Drake sighed and pulled me into his lap. “I’m not upset about the seizures,” he confessed. “I mean I am, but that’s not what’s weighing on my mind.”

  “What is it? Talk to me.”

  “When I got the call that I’d been locked out of the penthouse, all of this suddenly became very real to me. Not just the investigations, but what I asked you to do in the face of them. We know what comes next, Chelsea. Unless we pull off a miracle in the next few days, I’m going to be arrested.”

  “If that happens, it will also be temporary,” I reminded him, trying to turn around the conversation. I knew where Drake was going and I didn’t want to hear it.

  “We don’t know that,” he argued. “We don’t know anything. I’ve been spending so much time with your father. He’s been so good to me. And when I looked at him today, I felt incredibly guilty.”

  “Why would you feel guilty?” I asked, shifting my weight in his lap. I wrapped an arm around his shoulders and stared into his eyes.

  “He’s working so hard to clear my name. And I’m risking turning you into an unwed mother who’s ‘baby daddy’ is in a federal penitentiary. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I’d think your parents would want more for you than that.”

  I held his gaze and shook my head. “You’re wrong Drake. My parents want me to be loved and happy. I refuse to believe that you’re going to prison. But I’ve been forced to think about it enough to know that I want to keep trying for a baby anyway. I love you and you love me. Rebecca’s proven that she can take your money and strip you of your homes. And if you’re convicted, she’ll have proven she can keep us apart. But a baby… no one can take that from us. If we become a family, there’s nothing anyone could do to change that.”