The Soldier's Seduction

by Jane Godman

  “I knew my bosses had to be complicit in the cover-up. For a few weeks I didn’t do anything. I’m not proud of that, but like I said, I needed that job. Then one day I decided I couldn’t live with it any longer. The thought of those twelve dead workers—and the others who could no longer work because of their injuries—was keeping me awake at night. I went to see my boss, one of the partners in the firm. I told him I had some concerns about what had happened in the Walter Sullivan case.”

  Todd’s initial acceptance of the outcome of the court case had made him appear weak. This new revelation reversed Bryce’s first view of him. He looked across at Steffi, who had been sitting still as a statue as she listened to Todd’s story and saw his own surprise reflected back at him. “I’m guessing your visit wasn’t a welcome one?”

  Todd’s smile dwelt on a memory. “Hardly. He told me I was imagining things. Said I was overworked and suffering from stress. Suggested I take a few days off to recover. That night we got a visit from Walter at home.”

  Steffi lifted a hand to her lips as she looked first at Todd and then at June. “Did he hurt you?”

  “No. He oozed charm. All the threats he made were subtle. June was recovering from an operation, and he inquired after her health, said how sorry he was that she was unwell. He hoped she wouldn’t suffer a relapse.”

  “Oh, that bastard.” Steffi’s voice shook with outrage.

  “Nothing he said was explicit. There were just little hints about how powerful he was. Once or twice he mentioned my hands and my eyes, how important they were to a lawyer. I should look after them, he said. How terrible would it be if I had an accident and couldn’t use my hands, or I couldn’t see? He knew June’s medical history, knew we couldn’t have children and we were struggling for money.” Todd closed his eyes briefly. “By the time he left, I had caved. Walter offered to help, and I accepted. That was it. From that day on, I was in Walter Sullivan’s pocket.”

  “You mean you worked for him?” Bryce asked.

  “No, I never did any legal jobs for him. I left the firm I had been employed at soon after and took a lower paying job at the district court. At least I could look myself in the face each day I was there. But I’d taken handouts from Walter. He owned me.”

  “And that’s why you adopted me?” Bryce would have given anything to have been able to take away the note of anguish from Steffi’s voice. “Because it was what Walter wanted?”

  “My God, Steffi.” June turned to face her, tears beginning a slow progress down her cheeks. “How can you think that? You were the most precious thing in the world to us...”

  “But the circumstances of your adoption were controlled by Walter.” Todd’s voice was contrite. It was as if, now he had started this purge, he needed to confess every part of his past dealings with Walter. “We had only recently begun the adoption process, had barely finished completing the forms, when he came to see us and told us about you. He said you were the daughter of a friend of his who had died in tragic circumstances and, while he couldn’t take care of you himself, he wanted to be sure you went to a family he could trust. We explained that we would be well down the adoption agency’s waiting list, but Walter told us to leave it all to him. Within weeks a family who had planned to adopt both you and Greg together had dropped out and you were to come to us.”

  “There was someone who wanted both Greg and me?” Steffi’s voice cracked in the middle of the question. “We could have stayed together?”

  “We told Walter we would take you both.” June’s tears flowed faster. “He said no.”

  “Even though we knew Walter had used bribery or coercion, we wanted you so badly, we ignored that. We thought we could put it behind us for the sake of a child of our own.” Todd’s lips twisted into a bitter, little smile. “But guilt has a way of prodding at you when you least expect it.”

  “Walter didn’t interfere in your life, but he did send presents and money. And when we knew acting was in your blood, he paid your tuition fees. It was too much, really. We always thought you’d wonder where it all came from,” June said.

  “I did. I just never knew how to ask you about it.” Steffi toyed with her coffee cup, her hands not quite steady. She took a breath before lifting her head to look at Todd. “But all this talk of a child of your own didn’t matter just lately. When Walter asked you to get me to come to San Francisco, you were ready to hand me over to him, weren’t you?”

  “God, no!” There was no mistaking the genuine revulsion her words provoked. Todd’s already pale face blanched and his jaw went slack. “Is that what you thought? Walter did get in touch with us and he told us what had happened. We knew before you called us that Greg and the girl he was with had been killed and that you had gone on the run. Walter suggested I should get you to meet me in San Francisco. He said he could arrange for us to be private and spend some time together without there being any danger that the police would find you. But I wasn’t going to meet you with him. You’re my daughter. I would never do anything to hurt you.”

  Bryce felt sorry for Todd in that moment. The man genuinely believed what he was saying. Even though he had been on the receiving end of Walter’s manipulation for the last twenty-five years, he still thought he could hold out against him. Bryce wasn’t sure whether that made Todd weak or strong, smart or stupid. All he did know was he could picture how things would have worked out if Steffi had agreed to meet Todd in San Francisco. He was willing to bet Walter would have been in control of that meeting. Would Todd even have lived through the encounter? Bryce guessed Steffi’s adoptive parents had always been disposable, surviving only so long as they were useful to Walter.

  Steffi’s next words were almost an exact echo of Bryce’s thoughts. “Okay. I’ll believe you were naive enough to think Walter would let us meet alone, but how did he know we were going to Nancy and Tanner’s house on the day I asked you for their address?”

  Todd looked stunned. “Did you know anything about that, June?”

  His wife hung her head. “Walter has been calling every day, asking how we’re holding up, if we’ve heard from you, how you are. That day he called just after you did and I said he should stop worrying—at least that day you would be with people who would look after you. He asked what I meant and I said you were going to visit Greg’s parents. But I never would have given away your whereabouts if I thought he was going to harm you. You have to believe me.”

  Todd turned to Bryce. “When you said Walter would kill any one of us if we stood in his way, I said I wasn’t sure that was true. I believe the only exception to that is Steffi.” He took Steffi’s hand carefully as though he was scared she would snatch it away. “For some reason Walter cares about you. I don’t know what it is, but I don’t believe he would harm you.”

  “He has threatened to kill me and sent his thugs chasing after me,” Steffi said.

  “Walter likes to make threats. It’s what he does best. Would he act on them where you are concerned? I’m not so sure. But what happens now?” Todd looked from Steffi to Bryce. “Walter is a dangerous man.”

  “We kind of figured that out already,” Bryce said. “As for what happens now—” he looked at Steffi “—we get a good night’s sleep before we confront Walter.”

  A faint smile touched her lips. “And maybe a shower and a change of clothes?”

  “How can you talk about this so calmly?” June asked. “After everything that man has done...all the lives he has ruined?”

  “Easy.” Bryce drained his coffee cup and got to his feet. “The only life being ruined from now on will be Walter’s. And he can’t bribe or coerce his way out of it this time.”

  Chapter 18

  “Take my advice. Don’t go home.” Bryce’s voice left June and Todd in no doubt of the seriousness of the message he was giving them. “Get in your car now, drive somewhere you’ve never been befor
e and stay there for a few days. We’ll call you when this is over.”

  “You think he would come after us?” June looked nervously over her shoulder as though she expected to see Walter lurking there.

  “I think he would do anything it takes to get Steffi to hand over the cell phone,” Bryce said. Steffi had told them about the recording. In this new, no-secrets relationship, it seemed important that June and Todd should know everything. “If that includes threatening you, he’ll do it.”

  June turned to Steffi, taking her hands. “Can you forgive us?”

  Listening to the story of how the people who had raised her had been Walter’s puppets hadn’t been easy, but Steffi couldn’t blame June and Todd for what had happened. They were weak and misguided, but they weren’t bad people. There was only one person in this whole sorry story who was evil. Walter Sullivan. Bryce was right; it was time to cut the puppet master’s strings.

  “There is nothing to forgive.” After twenty-two years, she was finally able to say the word she knew June had always longed to hear. “Mom.”

  June gave a convulsive sob and closed the distance between them in a hug. Coming around the table, Todd placed an arm around each of them and held them close. Maybe there was no such thing as too late, Steffi decided. Sometimes the perfect family was the one you had...and you just didn’t know it.

  “We’ll talk soon.” Her voice was husky as she broke free of their embrace.

  She watched with Bryce from the window as Todd drove his familiar Ford car away from the restaurant. There was no sign of Alexei and Erik and she guessed that, following their expulsion from the restaurant, they had gone to report back to Walter. It meant her parents were able to drive away without being followed.

  “You okay?” Bryce took her hands.

  “I’m stunned, tired, smelly—” she grinned “—but you know what? I am okay, and I’m ready to kick Walter’s ass.” Something had happened during that hug with her parents. Like the first stretch of the morning, a tightness deep inside her had eased. And Bryce was part of that. He had paved the way for her to open up to her feelings. Without him, she would still have those barriers around her heart. She only wished she could tell him what he had done for her. Heroes don’t just fight bad guys, burn drapes, climb trees and throw themselves onto roofs. Sometimes they also make you look at yourself differently. Bryce had done all those things for her.

  He returned the smile. “Let the ass-kicking commence.”

  Cameron and Vincente had to have dozens of questions as they accompanied them out into the parking lot, but they managed to keep them to themselves.

  “My place?” Cameron asked.

  “Yes, but—” Steffi knew Bryce hesitated because he was thinking of Laurie. It would be unfair to expect a police officer to tolerate the presence of a wanted murderer in her home.

  “We’ll deal with the Laurie issue once we get there,” Cameron said.

  Steffi joined Bryce and Vincente in the cab of the truck while Cameron followed in his car. It would be too much to say that she felt safe, but having the three Delaney brothers watching out for her was about as close to that sensation as she was able to come, given the circumstances. It felt, for the first time, like the balance of power was shifting in their favor. Having Bryce on her side had been a huge relief, but it had still felt like the odds were stacked against them. Now it really did feel like they were taking this fight to Walter. They had already gotten under his skin. But this wasn’t just about prodding the rattlesnake; they had to step into its nest and destroy it.

  Cameron and Laurie were renovating an old ranch on the road that led out of Stillwater toward Park County. Vincente pulled off the main highway and down a quiet track. As they approached the property, Steffi could see exactly why they had chosen to make their home here. Encircled by majestic mountains, the natural stone and golden wood ranch house lay within a circle of verdant green. From the front porch, the view was breathtaking, with grass and wildflowers in the near ground rising up to meet a pine-topped ridge and snowcapped mountains in the distance.

  Laurie was waiting on the porch as they pulled up. Her first words made it clear that Cameron had called ahead. “I’m going to fix dinner while you shower and change.” She spoke directly to Bryce. “Don’t talk in front of me. If I don’t hear what you say, I don’t know anything.”

  “Thank you.” His voice was filled with genuine gratitude.

  Cameron led Steffi and Bryce to a large guest bedroom. The thing that interested Steffi most was the bathroom and, as soon as Cameron had closed the door, she was tugging off her clothes and heading for the shower. Hot water had never felt so good. And Laurie had great taste in toiletries. Steffi returned to the bedroom clean, scented, moisturized and wrapped in a huge, fluffy towel.

  Bryce regarded her with a smile. “You are incredible.”

  She laughed. “What prompted that?”

  He came to her, gripping her upper arms and drawing her close. “After the day you’ve just had, most people would have crumbled. But you’ve kept going, kept fighting.” The light in his eyes warmed every part of her. “Walter doesn’t know what he’s up against.”

  Steffi rose on the tips of her toes to press a kiss onto his lips. “We’ll show him.”

  “We need to talk to my brothers, plan how we’re going to do this.” He slid a hand down her spine. “And I need to shower. Much as I want you right now, I’m not going to inflict my sweaty body on you.”

  “You can inflict your body on me anytime.” Steffi gave him a mischievous look.

  “Stop it,” he groaned, pressing his forehead to hers. “I need to be able to think straight.”

  She sensed his reluctance as he let her go and made his way to the bathroom. He was right, of course. It was tempting to stay holed up in this cozy room, but they had too much to discuss. Tugging the last clean outfit from her backpack, she regarded the items with displeasure. Jeans and shirt were both equally creased. She shrugged. Wrinkled or not, it felt like heaven to be clean again after that epic car journey. Who would have thought that, after the privileged lifestyle she had once enjoyed, her idea of luxury would be the day when she didn’t have to wash her underwear in a hotel bathroom?

  Once Bryce had also donned fresh clothing, they went through to the large family room that overlooked the mountain view Steffi had seen on their arrival. Cameron and Vincente were awaiting them there. They both held half-empty bottles of beer and Cameron raised his in Bryce’s direction without speaking.

  Bryce nodded. “And keep them coming.”

  “Steffi? What can I get you to drink?” Cameron asked as he rose to get Bryce a beer.

  “Just soda, please.” She was so tired she knew the first sip of alcohol would knock her out.

  When Cameron returned with the drinks, the four of them sat on two large, squishy sofas that had been placed to make the most of the views. While Bryce drained half his beer in one long, grateful swallow, Steffi sank back against the cushions. She was enjoying the feel of being in a proper home for the first time in many months. Don’t get too comfortable. That little warning voice inside her head spoke up. This fight isn’t over. The hardest part is yet to come.

  “I’ll admit I had a hard time believing what Vincente was telling me,” Cameron said. “But while you were freshening up, he played me the recording. It’s pretty conclusive.”

  “How are you going to get close enough to Walter to find out what you need to know without placing yourselves in danger?” Vincente asked.

  Bryce looked at Cameron. “For our plan to work, we’re going to need your help.”

  Steffi sat up straighter. Whoa. They had a plan? She thought they were going to march up to Walter’s front door and fire questions at him. Now it sounded like there was a strategy involved.

  “Whatever you need.” Cameron’s voice was reas
suring.

  Steffi could see why people voted for him. He had been Stillwater’s youngest-ever mayor, and he had just been returned to office with a hugely increased majority. Aside from his good looks, he was charismatic, but he also conveyed a strong sense of knowing what he was doing. Although Bryce had similar qualities, he had an edge his older brother lacked. Bryce liked to bend the rules, even break them. Politics would never be for him. He was a maverick who would never be able to conform for long enough to work within someone else’s restrictions.

  “Tomorrow night’s fund-raiser. That’s the place where we’ll confront him.” Bryce waited while the impact of what he was saying sank in. He took both Steffi’s hands in his. “Do you trust me?”

  Her heart rate kicked up a notch. There was no hiding from the look in his eyes. He had asked her that question so many times, and she had never been able to give him a straight answer. This time there was no hesitation. Only truth. “I trust you with my life.”

  “Good. Because I think it’s time for Anya Moretti to come out of hiding.”

  * * *

  “I told you, I don’t want to hear anything,” Laurie grumbled as Cameron escorted her into the family room. “If you tell me something and I think you’re breaking the law, I’m going to have to report it.”

  “Laurie, please sit down and listen to what we have to say.” Bryce patted the seat at right angles to him and Steffi.

  She regarded him with a trace of stubbornness, but did as he asked. “Dinner will be ready in ten minutes.” It was one final attempt to get herself out of the situation.

  “This won’t take long,” Bryce said. “I didn’t introduce you to my companion this afternoon for a reason.”

  Steffi had removed her glasses and Laurie regarded her thoughtfully. Even as Steffi began to speak, she could see the other woman trying to process where she had seen her before. It had happened to her many times. People had seen her face so often on-screen they thought they knew her. “My name is Steffi Grantham, but you may know me better by my stage name... Anya Moretti.”