by Livia Grant
The baggage claim carousel at DFW airport wasn’t the place to have that conversation.
It wasn’t until they were seated in the back seat of her father’s Cadillac SUV while his driver weaved through the heavy holiday traffic that the awkward silence fell over the small Stone family. Sam knew why she was struggling to make conversation, but then it hit her that her father wasn’t acting his normal self either. With each passing mile they drove, the silence dragged heavier. By the time her parent finally spoke, it startled her.
“Your uncle is at our house waiting for us. He is anxious to see you, too.” Sam heard the edge in his voice. He seemed as agitated by the news as she did.
“That’s too bad. I was hoping to have some time to catch up with you alone before we saw him.”
Her father scoffed, “Wouldn’t that be nice.” Her parent looked out the far window, avoiding making eye contact.
“Daddy. What’s wrong?” She knew there were so many things. He could take his pick where he’d like to start their conversation.
But he didn’t take the bait. Mayor Robert Stone sat frozen, watching the Texas skyline pass by as they made their way towards their little suburb where he was the biggest fish in the smaller pond.
When he finally spoke, his words were cryptic and confused her more than anything. “I’ve been thinking a lot lately. I want you to know that no matter what happens, I love you more than anything else in this world, Samantha.” Her parent hadn’t taken his eyes off the sprawling Texas landscape as he’d pledged his love. As she watched him, she could see him swallowing often as if he were choking back emotion.
“I love you too, Dad.” A sudden urgency to purge herself of her secrets overcame Sam. “How about we stop for a late breakfast and catch up… before we…” The words have to see Uncle William hung in the air. Talking to her father about Jonah would be hard enough. It would be ten times harder with her uncle there. The powerful judge was like a tornado to be around. He’d sweep in, leave his mark on anyone and everyone he encountered, and then be gone before you knew what hit you.
Sam didn’t know why she didn’t see it before, but in the back of that car, making eye contact with her father as he contemplated her request, she saw something she’d never seen before.
Fear.
Her father was afraid of his brother.
The elder Stone glanced down at his high-end watch before replying. “I wish we could, sweetheart, but I’m afraid we don’t have time.”
“Of course we have time. It’s Christmas Eve. Surely you’re taking today off.”
He looked uncomfortable and in that moment, she was sure he was hiding something from her.
“I’m not going into the office, no, but we do have some appointments we need to make.”
How different this visit was for Samantha. Gone was her childlike trust in her parent. She’d grown up in her months away. Had become a woman. It changed how she looked at everything, including… no especially in how she viewed the Stone men.
“Please, Dad. There are some things I’d like us to discuss in private.”
He answered with an air of resentment, “There is nothing we can’t talk about in front of your uncle. He knows everything that’s going on around him anyway, so there’s no chance of hiding anything,” his words sounded like a warning. A self-fulfilling prophecy.
He knows everything going on around him.
Her father had just told her the men knew she’d been reunited with Jonah. Why wasn’t her father pressing her for details?
“Maybe I don’t want to have Uncle William involved in everything anymore,” she retorted.
“Yeah, well we don’t always get what we want, Samantha. The sooner you accept that, the better off you’ll be.”
His cryptic words were a premonition. She fought the urge to order Miguel to turn around and return her to the airport where she could board the next flight she could find to Denver. Oh how she wished Jonah were there with her. It would be so much easier to tackle their problems together.
The twosome fell into another awkward silence. With each mile they drove, it became more uncomfortable until she wanted to jump out of her skin by the time they pulled through the security entrance of their gated community in Plano.
Samantha took a calming breath before exiting the SUV. She grabbed her carryon bag, unwilling to part with her phone and laptop, her only connection to Jonah. Miguel would bring the rest of her things.
The second she opened the front door, she was tackled by a fluffy puppy she’d never seen before. She bent down to lift the little fur ball with a laugh as her father stepped close and kissed her on her cheek. “Merry Christmas, Sami. I got you a puppy, among other things.”
“Dad! He’s adorable, but…” She had almost spilled the beans that she wasn’t sure she would be able to take a puppy with her when she went on the road with Jonah, but she bit her tongue.
He finished her sentence. “I checked with your apartment building in Georgetown and they said as long as he doesn’t get over fifty pounds, he’ll be allowed. I’ll feel better with you having a guard dog with you in D.C. I don’t like you living alone.”
Their eyes met. “Dad. About that…”
Her confession to her father was cut off by her uncle walking their way from the great room. He had his signature fat cigar in his hand as he moved towards them pouring out smelly smoke he knew full well aggravated his niece’s breathing.
“Samantha. You’re home. I’ve been waiting for you,” his aggravation at being kept waiting shone through in his tone.
After they’d exchanged their normal air kiss greetings, Samantha answered him. “Hello Uncle William. I see you’re still ignoring Dad’s request not to smoke in the house.”
She had to fight to hold back her grin as her powerful uncle registered her censure of his actions with a scowl. People rarely dared cross the district judge. Not even his family members. She certainly never had before, and she hadn’t planned to today, but in that moment, Samantha felt empowered. She’d had enough of being afraid; enough of being complacent. She had way too much to lose now and that meant she needed to speak her mind with confidence.
Her uncle wasn’t impressed. “I see D.C. has changed you. I’m not sure I like it.”
“D.C. did change me, but for the better. And yes, I’m pretty sure you’re going to hate the new me.”
The judge directed his dark warning glare her way. She’d witnessed it before, directed at others. She faltered briefly, but then took a deep, calming breath, staring right back. Her father tried to smooth things over.
“So what are you going to name this little guy?” Her dad had stepped closer, petting the puppy still wiggling in her arms. Their eyes met and she shivered, seeing he’d donned the icy cold mask he’d perfected when his brother was around.
“That’s a great question. Maybe I should name him, Truth. It feels like we are in need of a bit more of that around here.”
Samantha was playing with fire. She wasn’t sure why she’d decided to declare war on her uncle the second she walked in the door. Maybe it was because she was tired of the games of hide and seek they’d played with the truth since the night of her senior prom. Maybe it was the anger she felt at seeing her father’s fear in the car. More likely, it was her resentment that the men surrounding her were preventing her from being with Jonah and that was the only place she wanted to be.
Uncle William broke into an ugly grin. It was a warning to back down. Her father’s hand slid to her lower back, trying to direct her forward to the great room. She finally moved her feet, allowing herself to be ushered forward, away from the foyer and deeper into the Stone mansion she’d lived in her entire life.
Funny, it didn’t feel like coming home this time.
There were many topics to discuss, but Sam knew which one she needed to start with. She let herself be seated on the loveseat across from her uncle. Her father sat in the chair, half way between them, as if he wanted to play the role of
the arbitrator between the two sides forming.
She didn’t envy her father’s job. She wouldn’t be compromising. Not anymore.
Uncle William interjected, “I see your grades slipped a little bit at the end of the semester. You just squeaked out a B- in international law.”
Samantha was furious. “I took the final less than twenty-four hours ago. How the hell would you have my grades already? In fact, how would you have my grades at all?”
“Don’t be naive, Samantha. Thomas Horton is an old friend of mine from law school. Did you really think we’d let you go away to study with unknown professors?”
She was genuinely shocked that her uncle would go to such lengths to control her movement. She’d known he was controlling, but this exceeded anything he’d done in the past.
The irony that it had been her uncle’s old friend who had auctioned off the ticket that got her reunited with Jonah brought a wide grin to her face. She wisely didn’t share that little tidbit with the judge.
“You think this is funny, young lady?” She heard the cautionary tone in his voice.
“No, Uncle William, I don’t think anything that’s happened recently is funny.” She stared him down, refusing to be outwardly intimidated, even though her heart was racing.
“We at least agree on one thing then,” he glowered, taking a long drag from his cigar, blowing the smoke her direction as if to blatantly defy her request he stop.
Samantha buckled under his dark stare, turning to connect with her father instead. She was alarmed by the fear she saw in his every gesture. She took a deep, calming breath and then turned back to her uncle, recognizing her next announcement was for his benefit more than anyone else.
“Well then I’m glad I waited to share the news with Professor Horton.” She took a deep breath, blowing it out slowly before continuing as confidently as she could muster. “I’ve decided to drop out of law school. I won’t be returning to Georgetown after the new year.”
She felt the weight of the world fall from her shoulders the second the words were in the open. She’d lacked the courage to say them the year before when she’d been accepted. She chickened out when she’d wanted to quit earlier that year as she’d moved across the country. Finally, the truth was out.
Her father tried to make light of her announcement, “Very funny, Samantha.”
“No, Daddy, not really.”
Uncle William almost spat out his objection in a poisonous rant, “You are a Stone. We have a legacy to uphold. You have responsibilities to carry on. We have very important… prestigious… powerful clients. They expect your participation. Your cooperation.” He hesitated before adding, “Your obedience. The practice has made you a very rich young woman and now you will shut up, say thank you and do your duty.”
“See that’s where you’re wrong. It’s my life. My decision and I’ve decided I don’t want to become a lawyer.”
William turned on his brother, “I told you it was a fucking mistake to allow her to study away from Texas. You’ve lost control of her.”
Her father sat stoic, while his brother berated him.
She glared back at her uncle who was now looking down at his expensive watch as if he were late for an appointment. The pressure of going up against her entire family was weighing on her. For a brief second, she resented Jonah putting her in this position. He should be here with her, fighting for their future alongside her.
She pushed down her resentment, trying to focus on the moment.
“Robert, turn on the television. There’s a show I want Samantha to see. I’m pretty sure it will knock some sense into her.”
Television? Since when did her uncle stop an argument to watch TV? Alarm bells were going off, but she didn’t have enough information to put things together.
Her father moved slowly, but he did comply, using the remote to turn to the local news station. He was avoiding looking at her. Sam’s stomach rolled with dread. The eleven a.m. local daily news program had come on and her heart almost beat out of her chest at the sight of the first story.
A grainy picture of Jonah being surrounded by pressing fans filled the screen. She’d been so focused on the picture, she’d missed some of the reporter’s story at the start of the program.
“… Cash Carter, former resident of Texas, was ambushed by a crowd of pressing fans. WTNV’s very own, Ashley Johnson, was there to catch the event. Ashley?”
They cut away to a close up of a reporter. “Thanks. Cash Carter has found himself in the news often lately. First for jumping off the stage into the crowd at a concert in Washington D.C. just a few weeks ago. Rumors after that event had him linked romantically with the unnamed young woman at that night’s show, but I witnessed first-hand here in Denver last night that Mr. Carter is indeed reunited with Caroline Fleur, the actress who got her start starring in one of the Crushing Stone’s music videos and has since gone on to play a starring role in Cash Carter’s personal life.”
Samantha’s stomach was churning as the story droned on, the picture cutting away to a steamy kiss between Jonah and the actress who was more beautiful than Sam. More famous than Sam.
The anchor added intimate details Samantha didn’t want to hear. “The celebrity couple will be turning heads at a Christmas charity event being held here in Denver this evening. Sorry, ladies, but the rumor mill has it on good authority that Cash Carter is about to be off the market. Sources close to the band indicate he’s ready to pop the question to Caroline Fleur.”
She had to swallow several times to stop the urge to throw up. Her ears were ringing. She needed fresh air. She pressed to her feet.
“Excuse me. I need…”
“Sit back down, Samantha.” When she glanced at her uncle, he added a stern, “Now.”
She collapsed to the loveseat, more out of defeat than the desire to acquiesce. Even as she internalized the pictures on the TV, a tiny part of Sam was screaming at her to wake up. On the surface, the story was so damning, but she reminded herself not to take anything on the surface ever again. Not since she’d learned the Stone men had secrets. Secrets she’d get to the bottom of or die trying.
Sam looked over to her father for support. There was a new sadness in his eyes. She then turned to her uncle who looked equally victorious at her distress. It gave her courage.
“Why did you turn that program on?” she pressed her uncle.
His grin turned to an angry scowl. “Did you really think we didn’t know you’d whored yourself out to that delinquent? We just wanted to show you his true colors.”
His admission was as good as a confession to her. Her uncle never watched daytime TV. The fact that he’d turned the program on the very minute it was starting confirmed he’d made sure the story was planted.
Don’t chicken out now. Go for broke.
“Jonah said you’d be desperate when you found out about us,” she said calmly, refusing to let him see how terrified she was inside.
Her calm demeanor only angered the judge more. He pushed to his feet, yelling at her across the coffee table separating them. “Don’t believe a word out of that hoodlum’s mouth. He’s been a pain in my ass for too long. He’s damn near cost me a small fortune.”
His words confused Sam, but she pressed forward with a guess. “Jonah never took a penny from you.”
Her father surprised her by answering, “I’m afraid he did, Samantha. Like I told you back then, he took fifty-thousand dollars to stay away from you.”
She knew she’d get nowhere with her uncle so she turned to her father for answers. “I know there’s more to it. Daddy, what else did you do?”
“What I thought was best for you at the time,” he said softly as if he were ashamed.
His brother broke in to scoff, “Come now, brother, tell the truth. You did what you thought was best for you. You still are which is why you’ll shut the fuck up and just say thank you.”
Sam turned on her uncle, “This is none of your business,” she shouted.
<
br /> “That’s where you’re wrong. Everything that happens in this family is my business. It’s why you’ll be going back to finish your law degree. It’s why you’ll never see Jonah Carter ever again. It’s why you’ll be marrying Antonio Munis next summer.”
The man had truly lost his mind. She racked her memory, finding a vague memory of being introduced to her father’s business associates at the country club a few times over the years. She had to be remembering him wrong.
“Are you talking about the businessman from Columbia? He has to be forty years old!”
“Forty-two. He needs an American wife to get his citizenship and he’s ready to produce a few heirs. He had planned on letting you finish your law degree, but your fucking around has him nervous that we’re going to renege on the deal we cut over seven years ago.”
Samantha’s breathing was becoming labored. Between the cigar smoke and the panic gripping her, she was becoming breathless. She had to be misunderstanding something.
“You’re insane!” she managed to shout. She turned back to her father, “Daddy, tell him.”
Her parent looked miserable. “It’s too late, Samantha. The arrangements have all been made. You’re a Stone. You need to pay our debts with the Munis family. This was destined long ago. The cartel allowed you to wait until you finished your schooling, understanding how valuable it would be to have you get your law degree, but they’re getting nervous. They don’t want to wait for the wedding any longer. In fact they’re gonna be arriving tonight and you’ll be introduced to your fiancé over dinner. There is no backing out, honey. There’s too much riding on this deal.”
“Well then you assholes have a bit of a problem then, don’t you, since Samantha will be marrying me instead.”
It was Jonah! He was there.
In her living room.
In Texas.
When she turned, she almost wept with relief to see him there. “Jonah?”
He smiled her direction. “Come here, baby.” He held out his hand. It called to her.
Her father’s shout warned her, “Samantha! Don’t do it.”
Her uncle was screaming, “You’d really go to him? After what you just saw with your own eyes? Are you a fool? He has another girlfriend on the side. He’ll never be faithful to you.”
