Roman's Heart

by Sharon Sala

  He made the call, again relieved to hear his eldest brother’s voice on the other end of the line.

  “Hello?”

  “Royal, it’s me, Roman.”

  “Where are you?” he growled. “I expected you to at least call after the break-in at the cabin.”

  “Didn’t Elizabeth tell you we talked?”

  Royal grabbed at a bowl of cereal and milk, just before Maddie pulled it off the side of the table.

  “Yes, she told me. Madeline Michelle, you sit! I’ll carry the cereal.”

  Roman grinned. As always, life with Maddie was never dull.

  “Tell my favorite niece I said hello.”

  “Not until after she’s through eating or I’ll never get a bite in her mouth.”

  Roman laughed. “Fair enough.” Then he got back to business. “About why I called. I need you to do me a favor.”

  “And that would be?”

  “Do you remember a couple of years ago when I gave you the combination to that big safe in my office?”

  Royal frowned. “Yes.”

  “Do you still have it?”

  “Somewhere,” Royal said. “Why?”

  “Get a pen and paper. I’m going to give it to you again.”

  Royal took down the numbers. “Okay, got ’em,” he muttered. “Now what?”

  “I need you to go to my office. There will be an armed guard from Texas Securities on the premises. I’ll call them ahead of time and clear you. There is a duffel bag in my safe. I want you to take it to the ranch. In the morning, Ryder will come and get you and fly you and the bag out here to Las Vegas.”

  Royal started backing up. “Las Vegas? I’m a parent, little brother. I can’t just walk off and leave Maddie at a—”

  “Casey is coming with Ryder. She’ll stay with Maddie until you two get back.”

  Royal sighed. “Fine. So, I get this bag. We bring it to Vegas. Then what?”

  “Ryder will tell you when he gets there. And the less said about the bag, the better. Put it somewhere where Maddie can’t find it. I don’t want her using the contents to cut out paper dolls.”

  Royal grinned. “What’s in the damned thing, anyway?”

  “A million dollars.”

  Royal cursed before he thought, then rolled his eyes when Maddie looked up with interest. This was great. Miss is-it-Maddie-oris-it-Memorex? probably wouldn’t forget a word of what she just heard. He turned his back on his daughter, lowering his voice so that only Roman could hear.

  “Is it legal?” he asked.

  Roman grinned. “I’m not sure. I’ll find that out after you get here.”

  “Oh, fine,” Royal muttered.

  “Will you do it?” Roman asked.

  Royal sighed. “Hell, yes,” he grumbled. “You knew I would when you called.”

  “Thanks,” Roman said. “See you tomorrow around noon.”

  Royal snorted beneath his breath. “I can hardly wait. What’s for dinner?”

  Roman’s grin widened. “I’m not sure, but it may be crow.”

  Royal hung up in his ear.

  All the way back to the house, Roman kept thinking of Holly and how she was going to play in the hand he’d just dealt. If he knew his lady like he thought he did, she was going to shine like a new penny. The secrets and lies within these walls were about to end.

  It was just after lunch when a cab pulled up to the front door of the Benton estate. Billy was downstairs in his wheelchair, and had been watching for it for some time. His nurse came hurrying from the powder room, clutching at her purse and giving her hair a last-minute pat.

  “I see our cab has arrived.”

  “Whose cab?” Holly asked.

  Billy turned, unaware that she was there, and then sighed. He’d planned on leaving without anyone’s noticing, but in a way, he was glad. It hurt to think that he would never see her again, but it was for the best. There never had been anything between them except what existed in his mind. To her, he was nothing but Gordon’s younger brother.

  “It’s mine,” Billy said, eyeing the white gauzy dress she was wearing and admiring the way it floated around her ankles, then clinging in all the right places. “Doctor’s appointment.”

  Holly frowned. “I’m sure we could have had a doctor come here. Are you certain you’re up to this?”

  Billy managed a smile. Just like Holly. Always thinking of everyone but herself.

  “Oh, yes. This was inevitable.”

  She thought nothing of his remark. Of course it would have been inevitable that one day he would be up and out of the bed. She had no idea he was referring to the split he was making with Gordon.

  “Well, then,” she said. “I hope your checkup is good, and you’ll soon be able to join us at the table for meals.”

  His expression stilled as he let himself look at her one last time.

  “Thank you, Holly Benton.”

  She smiled. “Why, you’re welcome, but whatever for? I didn’t do anything but wish you well.”

  “Yes, actually you did,” he said softly. “One day you’ll remember, but for now, let’s just say that you were always kind to me. I won’t forget it.”

  She laughed. “My goodness, you’re only going to the doctor, not the moon. See you later,” she said, and then waved them off as the cab drove away.

  She thought nothing of their exit until a couple of hours later when Gordon stormed into the library.

  “What the hell have you done with Billy?” he cried.

  Roman was sitting at her side, and when Gordon burst into the room, he instinctively stood, putting himself between the man and Holly.

  “Back off,” he said shortly.

  Still anxious, Gordon did as he’d been told. “I’m sorry, but Billy’s not in his room.”

  “Oh. today was his doctor’s appointment,” Holly said. “He and the nurse Left around—” She glanced at her watch. “My goodness, it was hours ago. I hadn’t realized it had been so long. It’s nearly five. They must have been delayed.”

  Gordon paled. Billy didn’t have a doctor’s appointment In fact, they hadn’t even connected with the doctor they’d been advised to see after Billy had been moved from Denver. Instead, the only medical personnel his brother had seen since their arrival was the nurse Benton had provided and a physician’s assistant who’d come by a couple of times in the beginning. And while he knew it was possible that Billy had done so on his own and hadn’t seen fit to mention it, he sincerely doubted it. Billy just wasn’t the take-charge type.

  He stuffed his hands in his pockets and then yanked them out, unintentionally scattering a handful of small change across the floor. Instantly, he was on his knees, gathering it up as if the coins were solid gold.

  Roman frowned. There was more to this than a brother’s concern. This man was about to come unglued, but why? Because they were a little bit late? He didn’t think so.

  “Why don’t you give the doctor’s office a call? I’m sure they can clear all this up for you,” Holly said.

  Gordon got to his feet. “Right,” he said, and dropped the coins back in his pocket as he bolted from the room.

  Holly frowned. “That was strange.”

  Roman stepped out into the hall, watching to see where Gordon had gone. A short while later, he saw a cab pull up, and then watched Gordon make a run for the door. Something was up, but what? As an investigator, he knew the best way to find out. Go see for himself.

  “Get your purse, Holly. We’re going for a ride.”

  “Maybe I’d better change,” she said, brushing at a nonexistent speck on the front of her skirt.

  He grabbed her hand. “No time. And never mind about that purse, either.”

  Holly didn’t stop to ask why. She could tell by the way Roman was moving that time was precious. Within moments of Gordon’s exit, they were in her car and heading down the driveway, following the yellow cab that was disappearing down the street.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

&
nbsp; “I don’t know,” Roman said. “But Gordon is in a panic about something, and I think it has to do with his brother. After everything that’s happened in the last few days, I’d rather know than guess.”

  She nodded, then grabbed her seat belt and buckled herself in as he turned a corner, tires squalling.

  . Gordon was alternating between fury and fear. He kept telling himself that Billy was at some doctor’s office, but his gut instincts were telling him different. He didn’t want to believe that he had actually acted upon his threat.

  A short while later, his cab pulled up at the bus stop. Leaving orders for the driver to wait, he bolted inside, staring at faces all the way into the ticket counter, hoping and praying he’d see his brother in one of them. But it wasn’t to be. And after a brief inquiry, he learned that no one named Mallory had purchased a ticket today.

  That left the airport. He glanced at his watch. It was getting late. He took a deep breath, telling himself to calm down. Maybe he’d just jumped the gun. Maybe Billy was back at the Benton estate already and wondering where he had gone. There was one sure way to find out. He headed for the phone.

  As always, a maid answered. Gordon wasted no time on explanations, he just blurted out what he wanted to know.

  “This is Gordon Mallory. Is my brother back from the doctor?”

  “Just a moment, sir. I’ll check,” she said.

  Gordon waited impatiently, cursing beneath his breath when someone ran past him, bumping his leg with a suitcase. He glared at the man who was standing in line behind him. If he wanted to use this phone, he was going to have to wait.

  “Mr. Mallory?”

  Gordon spun and then gripped the receiver a little tighter. “Yes? Who’s this?”

  “Your brother’s nurse.”

  Gordon went weak with relief. It was true. He had overreacted after all. He felt like laughing and crying all at the same time.

  “I was just checking on Billy,” he said quickly. “I’ll be a little late getting back and wondered how he was doing.”

  She frowned. “Why, I thought you knew! He’s gone, Mr. Mallory. I just came back to pack my things.”

  The relief in Gordon’s belly tied itself in a knot. Oh, God. I was right. It took everything he had to keep the tone of his voice at a normal pitch.

  “Gone? Did he say where?”

  “Why, no!” She started to worry. “Oh, dear, I felt bad about this all evening, but he was so insistent, and he said that you were aware of the trip.”

  Gordon managed a laugh, although if she could have seen his face, she would have known how insincere it really was.

  “Oh, sure,” Gordon said. “We were planning to leave all along, but I would have preferred that he wait for me. However, I should have known better. Billy has no patience, you know.”

  “Then it’s all right that I let him go?” she asked.

  “Of course,” Gordon said. “I just hope he made all the proper arrangements to get help along the way.”

  “He certainly did,” she said. “I heard him asking for wheelchairs and attendants at every stop.”

  “That’s good,” Gordon said, and then added as if it was an afterthought. “By the way, what flight did he take?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “But weren’t you at the airport with him until he left?”

  “Oh, no. When we left the Benton estate, we went straight to a travel agent. He made all of the arrangements with them. Of course, I was nearby, but I never overstep my bounds. Patient care and maintaining privacy are paramount in my book. I would never have eavesdropped.”

  “Of course not,” Gordon said. “I didn’t mean to imply—”

  “Excuse me,” she said. “But Mr. Benton is here now. Would you like to speak to him?”

  Gordon panicked. The last thing he wanted Davis Benton to know was that his brother had skipped out on him.

  “No, of course not,” he said quickly. “Just tell him not to wait on dinner for me.”

  “Yes, sir, and may I say, it was a privilege to take care of your brother. He has a very kind heart.”

  “Thanks,” Gordon said, then stood transfixed, listening to the buzz of the empty line, even after the nurse had disconnected.

  His shoulders slumped. The nurse was right. Billy was too soft for the world in which Gordon lived. And while it gave him a lost, empty feeling to know that for the first time in his life he was on his own, he knew it was all for the best. Billy would just hold him back. He hung up the phone and walked away.

  Half a block away, Roman watched from their car as Gordon came out of the bus station and got into the cab.

  “Wonder what he was doing in there?” Holly asked.

  “If he’s smart, probably getting a ticket out of town,” Roman muttered.

  Holly looked startled. “What if he leaves before I remember everything? What if I never remember? How will we ever figure out where the money comes in?”

  Roman waited a few seconds until the cab had passed them by before pulling out into the traffic behind it.

  “Unless I’m wrong, he isn’t going anywhere until he takes it with him.” Then he added. “Besides that, remember what I told you. By this time tomorrow, it will all be over.”

  She sighed. “I hope you’re right.”

  Roman glanced at her and winked. “Baby, it’s time you realized I’m always right.”

  She rolled her eyes. “What have I let myself in for?”

  Roman grinned. “If you’re lucky, about seventy-five years of a real wild ride.”

  She laughed. “Then I hope I have the stamina of a cat,” she said.

  “Why a cat?” Roman asked.

  “Well, they’re supposed to have nine lives, and I’ve already used up a couple of mine. With you around for that long, I’m pretty sure I’ll be needing more.”

  Up ahead, the cab was forced to stop for a stoplight. Roman reached for her hand as they, too, paused in traffic. There was a glint in his eyes as he lifted it to his mouth. Turning it palm up, he traced her lifeline with the tip of his tongue. He couldn’t say what he was thinking. Giving life to his fears was dangerous. He kept telling himself that even when she remembered, their relationship would still be the same. But it wasn’t Roman’s way to lie...not even to himself. So when the light turned green, he accelerated through the intersection, channeling his focus back to Gordon Mallory.

  Holly leaned back in the seat, for the time being, letting Roman do all the worrying about their future. It was after this mess was over that had her concerned. She didn’t want to wake up one morning and become someone other than who she was now. Daisy had fallen in love. Surely God wouldn’t be so cruel as to awaken Holly and then let Roman slip away.

  Chapter 16

  Gordon couldn’t sleep that night, and Roman wouldn’t. For the first time since coming to Davis Benton’s home, Roman had seen Holly to bed and then stayed in her room. He couldn’t get over the notion that Mallory was getting desperate. And desperate men had been known to do desperate things. With a million dollars at stake, anything could happen.

  Breakfast was a stilted affair. Davis Benton knew something was wrong, but no one seemed eager to talk. He’d thrown enough conversational tidbits into the silence around the breakfast table to have started a dozen conversations and had yet to get one going.

  Gordon was behaving strangely, and Davis had overheard the staff talking about Billy Mallory’s sudden disappearance from his home. Roman was pretending to eat, but Davis was no fool. The man was spending more time observing Gordon Mallory’s panic than he was chewing food. Added to that, his beloved Holly was pale and nervous. She’d dropped a spoon, as well as a fork, and at this point, had completely given up trying to eat.

  Davis took a deep breath and set his coffee cup down. By God, this was his house and Holly was his daughter. These two men were all but strangers to him, and their appearance into her life had brought about drastic changes he didn’t like.

  “I want to k
now what the hell’s going on.”

  His words shattered the silence in which they sat. Holly’s cup clinked against the saucer. Gordon’s heart skipped a beat, and he had a strong urge to run and never look back. Only Roman showed no reaction. Instead, he reached for a slice of toast and began buttering it as if Davis had never spoken.

  “What do you mean?” Holly asked.

  Davis glared. “Holly, I’ve known you for twenty-seven years, and you have yet, pardon the cliché, to pull the wool over my eyes. Something is going on, and I would very much like to know what it is. In fact, I think I deserve that much consideration, considering the fact that this is my house—and my table-and my patience that you are trying.”

  The urge to blurt out the truth about everything was strong, but now was not the time. She looked to Roman, silently begging for support, but he was spreading jelly on his buttered toast as if it had suddenly become the most important thing in his life. She wanted to scream at him. He had to know she was floundering. Why hadn’t he come to her aid?

  And then Gordon began to stammer and stutter, and glanced at Roman and then relaxed. Roman had known all along that, if for no other reason than guilt alone, Gordon would not be able to stay silent.

  “I’m terribly sorry,” Gordon said quickly. “I had no idea that my concerns were so obvious. It’s just that I was thinking about my brother.” He gave Davis a nervous smile and kept talking, almost without taking a breath. “We’ve been planning to leave, and soon. We couldn’t presume upon your kind hospitality forever, but Billy got impatient and left yesterday without me. I will, of course, be following shortly, but there are a couple of things I still have to attend to.”

  Davis leaned back in his chair, listening without bothering to comment. He’d sat in on too many boardroom meetings not to know fast-talk when he heard it, but this made no sense. Other than the fact that Roman Justice has stepped into the picture and Gordon had been moved out, there was no reason for the man to be nervous. Angry maybe. Nervous, no.

  “I see,” Davis said. “So, where did he go?”