Trey

Mandy doesn’t shed a tear as we turn and make our way down to the creek. In fact, it seems as if today has given her the sense of closure that she was lacking. This place will belong to her for as long as she wants it, so she will be able to spend time out here whenever she needs it.

“You might want to get rid of your shoes and socks,” she says, flipping hers off into the grass. “Just in case you slip.” She then steps onto a rock that’s about two feet from the shoreline and begins to zigzag her way across the shallow creek. Within seconds she is standing on the other bank. “It’s pretty easy, I haven’t fallen in since I was little.”

I simply nod, not wanting to say anything that might jinx me. Once barefoot, I jump onto the first rock and wobble fiercely before deciding just to go for it. “I don’t care if I get wet,” I declare as I jump from rock to rock until I reach the other side.

“That was really good. I’ve done that a million times, so I had an unfair advantage,” she says with a mischievous look.

“Yeah, I could tell that wasn’t your first time.” I glance back at the rocky little path, amazed that it held up under my weight.

We make our way up a small hill and after going over the top we come to a small landing on the other side. “Isn’t it gorgeous up here?” she asks, taking my hand and leading me to the flattest spot. “We’ll spread out the blanket here.”

“Yeah, this is great,” I reply, looking across at the trees that stand just beyond the sparkling clear stream. “It feels like we are the only ones around for miles,” I add, just as my phone begins to buzz.

“Please don’t pick up,” she says with pleading eyes. “I’ve been waiting all day to get you out here alone.” She reaches inside the lapel of my shirt and gives it a light tug.

“Its just Mom, checking in.” I toss the phone to the corner of the blanket. “I’ll call her back in a little while.” I slip a finger inside the waistband of her shorts and pull her closer. “You’re not the only one who has been waiting for this. Those gorgeous legs of yours were driving me nuts the whole flight here.”

“Well, you were pretty much ignoring me, so I retaliated with my short shorts.” She snickers, shooting me another devious smile.

“Oh, I knew exactly why you changed into those.” I slip another finger into the other side of her waistband and slide them down her legs. “No underwear either? You were thinking naughty thoughts weren’t you.”

“I told you I’ve been waiting all day,” she coos, grabbing the bottom of her tank top and pulling it over her head. “You need to get rid of these though,” she adds, grabbing hold of my belt while I quickly unbutton my shirt.

“I like this side of you,” I tell her as she quickly sheds my pants and briefs. “Nothing like being one with nature, huh? Have you ever done this out here before?”

“No, but I’ve always wanted to.” She turns away, allowing me to unhook her bra and ease it down her arms. “I’ve been thinking about being alone out here with you ever since the first time we were here. I can’t tell you how much this place means to me.”

“I’m just glad that it makes you so happy,” I assure her. We both stand there for a moment soaking in the beauty. The sun is streaming through the trees at just the right angle to make the creek shimmer and sparkle. “The beauty of this place is so unique, I didn’t want to see it ruined by a development. Places like this are becoming so rare.”

Mandy

Listening to Trey express his appreciation for my little slice of heaven has me feeling things that I’ve never felt in my entire life. For any man to truly steal my heart, he needs to have an appreciation for the simple beauty in life. I can’t help but think about how much his attitude has changed in the past weeks. That first day in Geneva, he seemed to have little appreciation for all the dramatic beauty that surrounded him. Maybe all of the drama has left him with a greater appreciation for the little things. He turns to me and leans in, kissing me passionately while we lower ourselves to the blanket.

“I can’t believe we’re actually doing this out here.” Feeling a burst of exhilaration I roll on top of him, taking control for the moment. “Please, don’t ever change,” I beg, looking down into his deep brown eyes.

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t quit doing thoughtful things, don’t stop appreciating simple beauty… don’t stop loving me.” I feel tears well up in my eyes just at the thought of my life changing back to the way it used to be.

He reaches up, placing a hand on each side of my face and locks his eyes with mine. “Some people will think we’re moving way too fast. Others, like Anthony, think we’re just acting like a couple of sex crazed teenagers. But honestly, since getting to know you I’ve come to realize what I truly want in my life. My heart aches at the thought of going through life without you. No one else could fill the void.” He lifts his head from the blanket to give me a kiss. “For the first time in my life, I don’t have an empty space inside. I feel content and at peace. Without you, all the Xanax in the world wouldn’t have gotten me through all that has happened.”

Tears stream from the corners of my eyes, rolling off my cheeks and landing on his. I too have found all that was lacking in my life. It’s not the money, his good looks or his perfectly sculpted body. It’s much deeper than that. “I always thought that knocking your family down would make me happy, but I see now that nothing could be further from the truth. Nothing makes me happier than simply being with you.”

Trey

Mandy pushes back against me, so I move my hips just slightly giving her the proper angle. It feels amazing to make love to her in the sunshine beneath the trees with nothing but nature all around us. Even though not enough time has passed for most people to agree, I know without a doubt that I love her with every bit of my heart. She is witty, beautiful, sassy and fun, but most of all… she has a heart of gold. And that is something that I know will never change.

We continue to kiss passionately while she moves in an easy and relaxed motion. My heart is full and she is the only thing on my mind. There should be a dozen other things demanding my attention, but none of them matter. The years of longing, the endless stream of hurt feelings, the unfulfilling one night stands and all the conflicts with my father have all faded into the distance.

Rolling her over, I feel the sun beating down on my back and a gentle breeze teasing at my skin. My mind is completely clear, focused only on this woman who I have grown to love more deeply than I could have ever imagined. Each stroke that I deliver is a pure expression of all that I am feeling deep inside. It’s unlike anything I have ever felt before and it’s forcing its way out of me, not only in thoughts and words but also in physical intensity.

“God, I love how you do that,” Mandy whispers, her breath growing more jagged and choppy.

Without a word, I continue to slowly thrust myself as deeply as possible within her. I can feel her muscles contracting each time I move. “God, that feels incredible,” I whisper, breaking my silence while continuing the rhythmic motions.

“You are driving me crazy,” she murmurs as she once again shows signs of losing control.

Since driving her crazy is my goal, I take her hands and pin them to the blanket while continuing to make love to her with long, firm, deep strokes. I tap into all of my strength and every bit of my will to last long enough to send her into an utter state of bliss. Once we both reach that frenzied peak, I once again bury myself deep within her and kiss her more passionately than I ever imagined possible. I then release her hands and take her into my arms; holding her close as the birds chirp and all the sound of the rushing creek and the surrounding forest come back into my consciousness.

“That was pure heaven,” she whispers softly. “I never want this feeling to end. I love you, Trey,” she adds, looking at me with utter sincerity.

“I was just thinking about how much I love you too. It’s more than I could’ve ever imagined,” I reply, squeezing her tightly in my arms. “Thank you for making this day incredible.”

My phone begins to buzz again, interrupting the most magical of moments. I begrudgingly reach over to pick it up and glance at the screen. “It’s Anthony this time.”

“You better answer,” she says, giving me a shrug. “It must be something important, otherwise he would’ve waited until we got back.”

“What’s up Anthony?” I answer, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible.

“I’m sorry to bother you two, but it appears that Tommy is fleeing the country just like you thought he might,” Anthony informs me. “Since you didn’t have the tracker, I thought I better let you know.”

“Okay, thanks Anthony.” I give Mandy a wink. “We just put Maggie in her resting spot, so we’ll be coming back to the farm in a bit.”

“Sounds good, we’ll figure out a plan once you get here.” The phone goes dead, so I look at the screen and realize he simply hung up on me.

“Tommy is on the run,” I tell Mandy. “That son of a bitch isn’t going to offer to pay back any of it. I guess deep down I knew it would turn out this way.”

“Anthony and I were discussing the fact that he has no conscience.” She rolls her eyes and reaches out to retrieve her shorts. “So, I guess now we get to track him down?”

“Yeah. I was just starting to relax.” I get up on my knees and slip my shirt back on.

“Don’t worry. Once this is over, there will be plenty of time for us to relax,” she replies, leaning into me with a kiss.

“Yes. I’m going to make sure of that.”

Getting back in the car and heading toward the farm, I pull out my phone and click to call Mom back, since she never leaves a message.

“You’re in Tennessee?” she asks upon answering.

“We’re just heading out to Ray’s farm actually,” I reply, surprised that she actually mentioned the correct state instead of her usual Kentucky or wherever.

“I went over to talk to Vanessa this afternoon, but she had apparently packed up and left without saying a word to Tyler or me,” she says, sounding a bit hurt.

“Someone must have talked to her,” I reply, knowing that Crusher and Bolt were still hanging out there.

“She told Crusher that she had to leave and not to worry about her; that she would be fine on her own,” she elaborates, sounding s little irritated and perplexed. “I’ve tried to call her several times, but she won’t pick up.”

“Well, Anthony just called and told us that Tommy is headed to the airport, so…” I hesitate, leaving my thought unfinished.

“So… you think she’s leaving with him?” she asks sharply.

“Do you have a better explanation?” I ask, wanting her to come to her own conclusion. “You should grab Tyler’s key and go see if she’s there. Take Crusher with you though.”

“I’ll do that,” she replies softly, choking back her emotions. “She better not be going anywhere crazy with my grandchild.”

I hesitate for a moment, but this is definitely the right time to tell her. “Mom, the baby isn’t Tyler’s,” I say softly, trying to ease the shock. “That’s one reason why you two were supposed to talk. She promised to tell you.”

“That little cheating, conniving bitch!” she snarls. I can picture her facial expression as her concern instantly turns to rage. “I was wondering why she’s been acting so god damn weird this whole time. That little bitch,” she repeats. “Crusher and I are going over there right now!”

“All right, just be careful,” I remind her.

“I’m taking Crusher with me for Christ sake,” she scoffs. “I don’t think I’ll be getting involved in any altercations myself.”

“Okay… but still, be careful,” I repeat, feeling a weird vibe. “Who knows what you’ll run into? The Ghost is still on the loose somewhere.”

“Are you trying to scare me? Knock it off,” she retaliates. “I’ve heard enough stories about Crusher that I assure you, I have nothing to worry about.”

“I know, but we are so close to ending this whole thing,” I tell her in a calming voice. “I just don’t want anything to happen to you now.”

“Thank you, Trey,” she says, after taking a deep breath. “I’m touched that you would be so concerned. You two take care as well. Now, I’ve got to go see what that little bitch has been up to. This is going to break Nana’s heart. She was so looking forward to having a great grandbaby.”

“I know. It’s really a shitty situation, but at least this all came to light now. Before…” I find myself pausing mid-sentence once again.

“I know, I know… you don’t have to say it,” she replies, obviously on the same page as me. “I’ll let you know what I find.”

“Okay, later Mom.”

“Vanessa is gone,” I tell Mandy after hanging up. “I have a feeling she’s leaving with Tommy.”

“That’s what I gathered from listening to your side of the conversation,” she replies with a smirk. “I can’t believe you were so hung up on her for so many years.”

“Believe me, this isn’t the girl I grew up with,” I reply, completely blown away by how everything is panning out. “I don’t know what happened to her.”

“Well, no parental guidance and choosing to date a guy who didn’t treat her very well might have been part of it,” she replies bluntly.

Is it really that simple? I have to wonder if she would’ve turned out differently had she chosen me instead of Tommy and Tyler. I was so in love with her that I would’ve treated her like a princess. But, she chose that path for herself… c'est la vie.

Mandy

Trey remains quiet for the rest of the ride. Regardless of how he feels about Vanessa at this point, it’s not easy seeing someone who you once loved falling into a death spiral. I can’t help but think about whether or not Silvia felt bad when Dad lost everything. She doesn’t seem to be the sentimental type, but Trey claims that she was much different when they were young. I truly hope I never have to go through anything like that.

I glance over at Trey, sensing that he is staring at me. “I’m really glad things worked out exactly how they did,” he says, reaching over and placing his hand on mine. “Vanessa wasn’t the one. I just didn’t have any frame of reference at the time.”

“I’m glad things worked out this way, too,” I reply as we pull up to the old farmhouse. “Time to go see what these two have been up to. We must be having Dad’s favorite meal for dinner,” I deduce after detecting the lingering smell of charred beef in the air.

“It’s a good thing we never dropped off your stuff at the B&B,” Dad informs us as we join them in the kitchen. “You guys can just bunk here for the night. Anthony wants to get an early start.”

“Yeah, it’s going to be another long day,” Anthony adds. “Tommy took his personal jet and he appears to be headed for Belize. Romeo is stationed at the airport. There’s only one runway at the Belize City airport, so if he lands there he won’t be hard to detect.”

“Have you talked to Agent Mitchell?” Trey asks, still seeming a bit preoccupied.

“I did and he never got a chance to meet with Tommy this afternoon. He was already gone by the time he arrived at his office,” Anthony confirms. “Right now there isn’t any evidence they can use to pursue a case against him anyway. They have money transfers from an untraceable account in Belize, that didn’t belong to him, which were sent to another untraceable account in Eastern Europe. So even though you and I both know that account probably belongs to The Ghost, it would be a real challenge to prove it. It would take a team of lawyers endless hours to get around the international trust laws and even if they were successful, its most likely Carly’s account. And she is either dead or missing.”

“I know,” Trey replies, pushing his hand through his hair. “It all drives me nuts because he set everything up to fall on her shoulders and now she’s disappeared. It’s all too damn perfect.”

“It happens more often than you think, especially when you’re dealing with a creative mind like Tommy,” Anthony replies, slapping Trey on the shoulder. “That’s why so many people hire us to bring justice to otherwise unresolvable situations.”

“Tomorrow, will be our justice,” Trey declares, sitting down at one end of the kitchen table.

“In the meantime,” Dad interjects. “Do you like your steak medium rare or medium rare?” He laughs, holding a platter of beef in front of Trey.

“Medium rare sounds perfect,” he replies, piercing a slab of meat with his fork and hoisting it onto his plate.

“Amanda likes vegetables with her meals, so I’ve got pickles, olives and ketchup.” He laughs, setting them out on the table. “Anyone like a slice of bread?”

“Nah, why ruin perfection with unnecessary accessories,” Anthony replies with a laugh. “Let’s face it… no one goes to the steakhouse for the baked potato and steamed broccoli.”

“Exactly!” Dad concurs, pointing at me as if a higher authority has suddenly validated his lack of meal planning skills.

“Pass the pickles, please?” I ask Trey, shooting him a smile. It’s good to be back home, even if it’s only for a night.