Chapter Fifty-Six

Reid

I’m on my way to the airport for my trip to Montana when one of the investors I met yesterday calls and wants to meet. He has another investor he needs to introduce me to who is leaving town in the morning. I can’t refuse, not with this Grayson deal in play and I change all my plans. By the time, I’m finally through with the meeting, it’s nearly seven at night when I reach the airport and board the private jet. The first thing I do when I’m settled into my seat is dial Carrie. “Hey, are you wherever you’re going?”

I read the question. She wants to know where I’m going, and I don’t want to lie, which is why I don’t offer it up. “Actually, I’m just leaving. One of the investors needed me in a meeting. The good news is we landed more money, and considering how vague I’ve been about this project, we’re looking good.”

“That’s wonderful and the vague thing is good. I don’t want the competition trying to put together a group of investors to beat us on this.”

I love how damn smart she is. “Exactly. Listen, baby, I’m about to take off. I’ll land really late. I won’t call you and risk waking you up. And I’ll be up early. I won’t likely have much of chance to talk tomorrow, but if you need me, call or text.”

“I will. Are you going to make it back for the meeting?”

“I’ll fly back late tomorrow night, in the middle of the night if I have to. Just remember that my silence means nothing, but I am trying to get back to you. Okay?”

“I’m okay. I’m going to listen to you and I’m not thinking of more reasons to doubt you. I did plenty of that on Sunday.”

“I’m working on a way to fix those doubts.”

“What does that mean, Reid?”

“When I get back we have a lot to talk about. No confessions. Don’t read into that. I haven’t done anything to confess. I’ll see you soon.” I disconnect and hope like hell my plan works.

***

I finally land in Montana, at nine local time, and eleven back home. Once I’m inside the rental car, I dial Royce, “What do you have for me?”

“I’m texting you the address where he’s staying. From what I can tell, he’s sleeping with a woman who inherited a horse ranch from her father, which just happens to set on top of oil. Obviously, he’s after the oil. She’s younger, pretty, and widowed. I’m not sure she understands the implications of the oil beneath her land or just doesn’t care. She’s all about the horses. What else do you need?”

“That’s all.”

“No dirt or ammunition?” Royce asks.

“No. I just need a sit-down with the man. I have what I need from there. I’ll be in touch.” I disconnect, and in a few minutes, I’m inside my shitty hotel, which is all this area had to offer. I’m exhausted, but now that I’m here I decide to find the address for where I’m going tomorrow. The drive is half an hour, and the ranch is gated and locked up. It’ll be open tomorrow for the ranch crew to go in and out and I’ll be here. It’s nearly midnight by the time I grab food and return to my room, crashing in the crappy bed. Tomorrow, I’m going to end this war once and for all.

***

I’m up at six, and already my phone is going off. At nine, I call Connie. “I need radio silence. If someone calls you, tell them I’m giving a presentation and will call them when I’m out.”

“What are you doing, Reid?”

“Is Carrie there?”

“Yes. Do you want to talk to her?”

“No. I don’t.”

“She seems good, Reid. She’s excited about whatever you’re working on.”

“As we all should be,” I say, not giving her that hint of what’s between me and Carrie that she wants. That’s for us to reveal, at some point. And I’m going to make sure that point exists. “I’ll call you later.” I hang up and an hour later I’ve had black coffee and some sort of pastry I could have done without but I’m at the ranch and the gates are open.

I drive down the dirt road, and when I reach the sprawling white mansion that is the main house, I’m greeted by a ranch hand who informs me that Mr. West is gone for the day. He won’t return until tonight. It’s clear he’s living here. Interesting. I tip the man a hundred-dollar bill, with the promise he’ll call me when he returns.

I drive to a diner nearby and pull out my MacBook. I want to call Carrie, but I don’t. She’ll ask where I am and I want to tell her about this in person after I secure a truce. I’m at the table a good two hours when West slides into the seat across from me. He’s my father’s age, late fifties, and he wears those years just as arrogantly and well. “Obviously my hundred-dollar bill to the ranch hand didn’t earn me any loyalty,” I say.

“This is my territory,” he says. “You had to have known that.”

I study West, search his eyes for some part of Carrie to connect with, but I see nothing that resembles the woman who has come to mean so much to me.

“What are you doing here?” he demands.

“She matters to me. We aren’t a part of your war.”

“You’re his son.”

“We had an agreement. I did what you wanted.”

“And I gave you what you wanted.”

“Tell her.”

“Never,” he says.

“Tell her I didn’t destroy you.”

“Never,” he repeats.

“What’s it going to take?”

“You will never be with my daughter.”

“Money? I’ll give you money. I’ll make you a rich man.”

“I am a rich man.”

“And yet you took Carrie’s money.”

“To make her more money. And my money is locked up and substantial. She’ll inherit well and you won’t see a dime.”

“I don’t need her money. I need her. What’s the number?”

“There is no number. I don’t want money. I want out. I want peace. I want this place and the woman who’s here.”

“And the oil under her land?”

He smirks. “Of course, you know.”

“Carrie wouldn’t want you to displace those horses for the oil. I’ll make you the money. Five million in two years.”

“This oil is worth four times that.”

“Is that the number? Twenty million?”

“There is no number. I won’t ever do business with a Maxwell. I hate your father. I hate the Maxwell name.”

“Why?”

“You signed away everything and he didn’t even tell you why. Oh, right. He didn’t have to. He put your name on the line with illegal activities you didn’t even know about.”

“You’re one to talk. We both know the lines you crossed.”

“Go home, Reid.” He stands up and walks away.

“I’ll give up everything and tell her,” I call out. “I can remake the money.”

He turns around and walks to the table, pressing his hands on the surface. “You won’t do that for Carrie.”

“Do you want to take that risk?”

“If I ruin you, your father ruins Carrie. If you really do care about her, you’re smart enough to know that, and you won’t do it. I’ve got you by the balls, and apparently, so does she.” He pushes off the table and walks away.

I sit there for a good twenty minutes, processing what to do next. I want his head. I want to hurt him. I stand up and go back to my room and change clothes. I go for a run. Once I’ve blown off steam, I go back to my room and pace. I dial Royce. “What can I do for you?”

“If I wanted to ruin him, do you have the ammunition?”

“Don’t do it,” he says. “She won’t get over that.”

“Thank you.”

“What?”

“I called you because I knew you’d say that. I needed to hear it.”

“Give me time to hand her a file with the research on her father. It’ll be hard for her to read, but it’ll do that for you.”

“You can’t get to the information I need you to get to.”

“You’d be surprised what we can get to,” he says. “And I’ll get to enough. Trust me. Come home before you do something you’ll regret.”

“I’m going to stay.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t want to be on a plane when I come up with a proposal he’ll actually listen to.”

I hang up.

I drag my hands through my hair and spend most of the afternoon into the evening coming up with nothing. Finally, I take a shower, pack and charter my plane for tonight. I want to be back in New York City. I need to talk to Carrie. I’m sitting in my rental car when I decide I’m operating without facts. If I know the core problem, then maybe I can talk to West again. I dial my father. “Reid,” he answers coldly.

“Why does he hate you?”

He doesn’t ask who I’m talking about. “At this point, I see no reason not to tell you. I fucked his wife.”

“As in Carrie’s mother?”

“Yes. Carrie’s mother.”

“Holy fuck. While you were married to mom?”

“Yes. That’s what started the war. I fucked his wife and he told your mom.”

“You’re such a bastard.”

“And you, son, are a chip off the old block.”

I hang up thinking of Elijah and decide I need to deal with him. Twenty years of two families destroying each other is a lesson I can’t ignore. I also decide that talking to West won’t matter. I need to hope Royce finds what I need him to find and tells Carrie. Right now, I’m worried about Carrie’s father getting to her before I do. I need to get home now, tonight.

I drive to the airport.