The Ramseys Boxed Set

by Altonya Washington

  “Tell me about this trip,” she asked Quest but kept her gaze focused past the windows. “Is it more business about the weapons division?”

  “Partly,” Quest sighed, resting his head back against the seat and closing his eyes. “It’s complicated.” He remembered the call he’d made to his brother the previous afternoon. The discussion revolved around Quay’s conversation with Smoak Tesano.

  Michaela had turned away from the passing view. When Quest looked at her face he knew its complicated had only stoked her inquisitive juices. A deeper explanation would most certainly be required.

  “We’re going to see Pike Tesano.”

  The curiosity in her eyes mixed with intrigue. “Is he as gorgeous as his name?” She emphasized her question with a saucy wink.

  Quest propped his feet to the booth opposite the one he occupied. “Isak’s his first name. Pike- his nickname and don’t get excited. He belongs to Belle.”

  Now, thoroughly intrigued, Mick folded her legs beneath her on the bar car booth. “Details, man! Quick!” She leaned across the table and slapped his arm. Her husband’s cousin Sabella Ramsey had never mentioned a thing about Pike Tesano in all the time they’d known each other.

  “They were married.” Quest shared, earning another incredulous stare from Mick. “It fizzled. One day she just told him they’d never work.”

  “Why?”

  Quest smiled having anticipated the question. “No idea.”

  Mick leaned against her side of the booth and chewed her thumbnail.

  “Quay always blamed Pike for what happened and told me I was just blind because he was my frat brother.” Quest shook his head finally opening his eyes to stare out at the passing scenery. “That wasn’t it. Pike was a fool for that girl. Loved her to obsession. He would’ve never screwed that up.”

  “I wouldn’t be so quick to say that.” Mick smoothed her hands across the long sleeves of her clover polo top. “People aren’t always the same as the image they portray for the public.”

  “True. But I know my cousin.” Quest shrugged. “I know back then she was always on edge…worried she’d never be able to keep him.”

  “I remember Belle telling me once that she’d struggled with her weight- was that a reason?”

  Quest was nodding before Mick asked the question. “She went through a lot because of it.”

  Mick raised her hand for emphasis. “Maybe Pike got disillusioned with her.”

  “You’ll never convince me of that.” Quest’s smile was a mix between humor and pity. “The man asks about her every time I see him- which hasn’t been for quite a while. I know he was going to every play he discovered she was working on and I know that because he told me.” He folded his arms across his pine BOSS sweatshirt. “I think the reason he told me was because everyone else would’ve thought he was a fool to still be caught up over a woman who up and left without giving him a reason.”

  Mick propped her chin to her fist and watched him thoughtfully. “So in addition to business, you’re going to have to soothe a broken heart? Sorry.” She added when her husband didn’t appear to appreciate the jibe.

  “Nah, you’re fine.” Quest winced. “Like I said, I haven’t seen him in a while. Who knows where his head is at over Belle.”

  “Then what is it?”

  “You know I spoke to Quay last night.” He waited for her nod. “He got a call from Smoak Tesano. Pike’s brother. Smoak and Sabra had a highly…dramatic relationship that ended just as dramatically.”

  Mick nodded, recognizing the name of Quest’s other cousin Sabra Ramsey.

  Quest was massaging his brow as he recalled the fireworks of the ill-fated match. “People contacted her, said they were looking for Smoak. My concern is why they’d contact her and mention Smoak to her when they haven’t been in touch in years.”

  “And you’re sure of that?” Mick dragged a hand through her curls. “Sabra’s out in Vegas. She doesn’t keep the family informed of all her escapades, you know?”

  “It was bad with Smoak.” Quest massaged his jaw as he thought it over. “I think she’d let somebody know if it was back on between them. The fact still remains that the jackasses called her.”

  “Hmm…perhaps trying to draw him out, put their minds on one another?” Mick’s brainstorming juices were in full gear. “Contacting Sabra…it’d get back to Smoak that they did this. His reaction to that could tell them if-”

  “She still means something to him.” Quest sounded as if he’d come to the conclusion long ago.

  “You think they’ll try to use her to force him out?”

  Quest shook his head. “I can’t say.”

  Mick laid her hand palm up on the table and fixed her husband with a cool look. “Couldn’t you be over reacting here?” She stifled herself from saying overprotective. “I mean these people were probably just covering ground, I don’t think there’s anything to worry about. If there’s one thing I’ve realized watching you handle business over the last week is that these people take their work very seriously. Theatrically serious-if Jacques Cuary’s scene is any example. But I don’t think it’d go any farther than that.”

  A muscle danced a wicked jig along Quest’s jaw and he debated only a second before leaning across the table to take both Mick’s hands in his. “Daphne didn’t kill Houston or herself. My aunt and uncle were killed to persuade the return of the card keys.” He shared the information and ignored the horror filtering his wife’s brilliant stare. “Those keys held finger print and photo information on various…high-powered figures- many with political and government connections. The keys were to the house Cufi Muhammad kept in Nice.”

  Mick gasped, trying desperately then to tug her hands free of Quest’s. He prevented it.

  “Those keys were in Nile’s possession. That’s right,” he confirmed the question in her eyes. “That’s right. Taurus’ new wife. She gave them to us. We gave them to the authorities.”

  “But Quest what- when they find out, they-”

  “Shh…shh…Smoak assures Quay they aren’t looking to tangle with us.”

  “But Houston and Daphne-”

  “Smoak says the whole family wasn’t in agreement on it.”

  “And you believe that?”

  “No choice, but I think it’s safe to believe it…for now.”

  “Hmph. I’m so sorry that I can’t share your sense of contentment.”

  “Hey,” Quest came around to share the seat with Mick. He pulled her close and squeezed until her tremors subsided. “I honestly believe we’re alright, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t taken every precaution. We’re safe, trust me.”

  Mick kept her fingers curled into the neckline of his sweatshirt. “That takes care of us in Seattle. But what about the rest of your family? Sabella, Sabra…”

  “The main reason we’re heading into France now.” Quest wound his fingers in Mick’s curls when her head fell to his chest. “My good friend’s family is about to go to war with itself and I don’t want my cousins in the middle of it.”

  ***

  Seattle’s chilled air and bleak skies matched Nile’s mood to perfection. God what a mess, she thought recalling all that was happening with her mother not to mention the explosive news her husband shared with her over a week ago. Learning the truth about Michaela, Nile was close to asking Taurus to forget bringing counsel in to help Yvonne- better known as Evette Sellars.

  How could she do such a thing? Nile pondered. Regardless of what Yvonne had been part of with Cufi, Mick was her own child- a part of her. How could she leave her own little girl to fend for herself against God knew what evil?

  Still, this was the same woman who had taken care of her. Nile thought tugging restlessly on the pin-striped lavender cuffs of her blouse. Yvonne Wilson had come to her rescue, loved her and protected her against countless evils. What madness was it that would drive a woman to leave her own child to raise another?

  Contentment showered her suddenly and Nile knew that Ta
urus was there long before he smoothed his hands down her arms. She relished the feel of his lean, powerful frame. She absorbed his strength-revitalizing herself with it.

  He gave her time and simply held onto her for a while. “Claire’s here,” he said finally and waited until his wife was strong enough to turn from the towering windows in their penthouse apartment. “You up for a talk?”

  She nodded. “I’m fine.” She said, knowing he wouldn’t believe it unless she spoke the words.

  Taurus’ bright deep-set gaze scanned her face for any sign to prove otherwise. Finding nothing that gave him cause for real concern, he brushed his thumb across her mouth and helped himself to the taste of her kiss.

  Nile moaned instantly and eagerly matched the firm thrusts of his tongue. Taurus had to force himself back knowing he was seconds from disappearing upstairs with his wife.

  “We’ll make this fast.” He spoke into her neck and chuckled when Nile smacked the back of his head.

  She pushed him to the door and only waited a few moments before Claire Boyer was stepping into the living room.

  They all took their seats and exchanged pleasantries before Claire got right to the point.

  “I’ve seen your mother. I did most of the talking but she didn’t ask me to leave. She seemed calmed by the fact that you sent me.” Claire’s brown eyes softened as she recalled the hope on Yvonne Wilson’s face. “She seemed to be actively listening. Before I left…she told me she’d cooperate on one condition. She wants to see you.”

  Nile instinctively reached for Taurus’s hand and held on for dear life.

  Claire bowed her head, momentarily shielding her plump face by the clipped locks of her bobbed hairstyle. “I know things ended ugly between the two of you- perhaps she wants to apologize.”

  “Did she say that?” Nile asked.

  Claire focused on the tent she made with her fingers. “She said there were things she had to say to you- things she could say to no one else.”

  “May I think about it and let you know?”

  “Of course,” Claire scooted forward on the sofa to pat Nile’s hand. “Just call once you’ve decided.”

  Taurus showed Claire to the door once the meeting had ended. When he returned, Nile was once again standing before the windows in the living room.

  “I want to see her.”

  Taurus closed the distance between them. “You positive?”

  “There are things I want to say to her as well.”

  It didn’t take Taurus long to figure the meaning of that. “Be careful,” he urged. “You know Yvonne doesn’t know about Mick- last thing we need is to have her pop up with Mick unaware- unprepared.”

  “It won’t be like that.” Nile vowed, reaching out to toy with the zip front of the gray fleece hoody Taurus wore. “I don’t need to accuse her of anything. These are just idle questions.”

  “About Mick?”

  “Most definitely, but within reason,” Nile promised. “I have no intention of leading my mother to the child she abandoned, but I do have questions.” She looked blindly at the zipper she toyed with.

  “About why she came to be my mother,” Nile frowned once the words left her tongue. “Why did she stay when she knew what my father was?” Nile let her hand drop from Taurus’ chest. “Why didn’t she just take me with her and run before…”

  “Shh…” Taurus could sense tears on the horizon and pulled Nile close. He rocked her slow reaching beneath the silky black of her hair to massage her neck.

  Speaking no words, he simply offered her the nourishment of his embrace and she wholly accepted it.

  ***

  Carcassonne, France~

  “Please tell me you don’t own this.” Mick said to Quest as she gazed upon the walled city that housed one of Europe’s oldest citadels.

  The almost perfectly preserved medieval structure was as magnificent there in the twenty first century as it must have been centuries earlier during the time of knights and maidens.

  “Well I don’t own it.” Quest assured his wife and chuckled when he noticed the relief on her face. “Do you have a problem being rich?” He asked, tilting his head as he fixed her with a playful probing look.

  Michaela kept her eyes on the structure. “Being rich is one thing. Buying things for the sake of boasting you own them is another.”

  Laughing heartily, Quest planted a hard kiss to the top of Mick’s curls. “God, I love you.” He gave her a quick squeeze and urged her forward.

  While her husband not owning the intimidating beautiful piece of architecture made her feel loads better, Mick knew no one earning less than a six figure salary could afford a night in the hotel nestled inside the citadel. She could only imagine how incredible the place must look from a distance at night- a glowing oasis in the midst of the darkened expanse of land surrounding it.

  By day the loveliness was almost staggering. Hotel de E’spirit was accessible by car, train or ferry. Those with more romantic notions in mind opted for horse and carriage rides. Michaela was stunned her husband hadn’t thought of that and gave him an elbow to the ribs when he informed her of how expensive they were.

  Checking in was done with such ease it might have been imagined. No time was wasted on such petty things as trips to the front desk or the swiping of credit cards. Payments were handled well in advance of a guest’s arrival. The only hotel employees a guest had to see first off were the baggage clerks and greeters who escorted them to their suites.

  Mick studied the invigorating beauty while Quest spoke with the gentleman who was to lead them to their room. Though there was a definite chill in the air, the sun beamed down wonderfully upon the green of the countryside.

  “You wanna head on up?” Quest asked having noticed Mick shiver. “It’s fine, Henri’ll show you.” He smoothed a hand at the small of her back while nodding toward their greeter.

  Mick graced Henri with her loveliest smile. “What about you?” She asked Quest.

  “I need to talk to Pike first. Besides, his parents are here but set to leave tonight and I need to see them too.”

  Amber eyes bright with curiosity, Mick clutched his wrist. “I’d like to meet them. Do you mind if I tag along?”

  Quest shrugged. “You heard her Henri.” He took the pad from Henri’s hand and signed off on a generous tip for the greeter and baggage clerk.

  “So how often do you stay here?” Mick was asking once Quest pulled her hand through the crook of his arm and led her deeper into the hotel.

  Quest was smug. “What makes you think I’ve stayed here before?”

  “Oh please, judging from the way you’re leading me around, you know the place well.”

  “Good eye,” Quest commended though he expected nothing less of her. “I got back from a trip here just before I met you.”

  “Ah…pleasure?”

  “Of course,” his reply was cool, “it’s always a pleasure staying here but the reason I came was for business.” He qualified, grinning when her elbow nudged him again. “Ask Quay if you don’t believe me. He was here.”

  “Forget I asked.” Mick groaned knowing ‘pleasure’ was synonymous with the name Quaysar Ramsey.

  “Just as well, we didn’t spend much time together anyway. I wasn’t as interested in sampling the French cuisine as he was. I think that was around the time he started referring to me as a stick in the mud. You probably heard him call me that a time or two?”

  Mick ordered herself not to laugh. “A time or two,” She admitted quietly.

  Quest led them to an express elevator that opened up right in the middle of paradise. A terrace lounge encompassed the entire southwest corner of the rooftop and offered yet another provocative view of the unending landscape. Michaela would’ve thought the place closed for business had it not been for the three people occupying a round table at the edge of the terrace.

  Actually, a man and woman occupied the table while a second man observed the view from his leaning stance against the terrace rai
l. He turned to laugh at something the woman said- it was then that he noticed the couple approaching from the elevator. After a moment, he threw back his head and laughed.

  Mick hung back a bit as Quest walked on to meet the man who headed toward them. She noted that he was as tall as her husband and when he came into view, she noted that God must have been having a very good day when he created the two men she stood practically staring holes into.

  Isak ‘Pike’ Tesano extended a hand and caught Quest’s as the two fell into a hearty hug.

  “What the hell is this?” Quest whispered in exaggerated surprise and slapped a hand playfully against the light beard his friend sported.

  Pike shrugged. “It happens when one becomes a man,” he cocked his head in a teasing fashion. “I see you still know nothing about that brotha.” He reciprocated with a slap against Quest’s flawless cheek.

  More boisterous laughter and pleasantries were exchanged; yet once Pike glanced past Quest, his tone grew hushed.

  “This is Michaela?” He asked, though there was no need for confirmation. “Jesus,” he breathed and brushed past Quest en route to greet Mick. “Isak Tesano. Your husband and I go way back.”

  “I heard.” Mick’s light eyes shifted between her husband and his friend in unmasked awe. Gorgeous as gods was a truly inadequate description but it was the best she could manage just then.

  Pike’s grin sparked double dimples just visible beneath the shadow of a beard darkening the lower half of his bronzed complexion. His eyes were deep set and dark as crude oil. They matched the heavy brows and black waves of hair that almost brushed the broad shoulders beneath the cinnamon brown shirt that hung outside the cream trousers he wore.

  “Have you eaten?”

  Mick spared a scowl in Quest’s direction before responding to Pike. “He wouldn’t let me- said the food here was to die for. I hope that’s true since I’m about starved to death.”

  Pike and Quest’s laughter filled the air with sounds that were full-bodied and honest.

  “I like her Q!” Pike said even as a hint of melancholy sobered his expression. “How’s Bella?” He asked when Quest was near.