CHAPTER 5
“Holy shit. Zane Alexander, is that you?”
What now?
Zane’s back stiffened.
As if two wedding events on the same weekend weren't enough, it seemed he was destined to keep running into people he knew from his past.
He pasted on a smile he didn't feel and spun to face the man who'd addressed him.
Who he saw had him smiling for real.
Brent Hearst, another boarding school chum and another descendent of a family fortune made during the long past Gilded Age.
Unlike his feelings about Harvey, Zane actually liked Brent.
How could he not? Brent was down to earth and grounded. Amazing, since his family had wrestled with publicity worthy of books and movies—and there had been both, books and movies, based on his family starting with the infamous robber baron William Randolph.
Zane liked Brent even more for rising above it all. For keeping his head down and living his own life on his own terms in spite of his family, just as Zane had done.
“Brent. Holy shit is right. I didn't know you would be here. Shame you weren’t at the wedding last night. Harvey Durst was there.”
“Harvey? Yeah, glad I missed that reunion.” Brent cringed. Zane laughed at that reaction as his old friend Brent continued, “Luckily I wasn’t invited to that one too. I flew in late last night for this shower thing.”
“Well, I'm glad you’re here today, man.” Zane took a step back to include Missy in the conversation. “Brent Hearst, this is Missy Greenwood.” Zane turned to Missy. “Brent and I were in school together.”
“I know. I remember some of the stories you used to tell.”
Brent's brows rose high. “Oh really. Telling stories about me, were you?” He laughed and extended a hand to Missy. “Nice to meet the saint who puts up with this guy.”
She smiled. “Nice to meet one of the only friends he bothered to make while in school.”
Brent barked out a laugh. “Sad but true.” He looked at Zane. “She knows you well.”
“I guess she should. We grew up together.”
“Ah, so she knows where all the bodies are buried, so to speak.” Brent nodded.
Missy smiled. “There was a decade in the middle there where we lost touch, but if you need to know anything from the years before he joined the Navy or since he got out, I'm your girl.”
“Good to know. I'll keep that in mind.”
Zane saw Missy's mother waving not so subtly from across the room. “You'd better go over before she dislocates her shoulder.”
She let out a short laugh. “No kidding. Nice finally meeting you, Brent. If you’ll excuse me, my mother seems to be waving me down.”
“Nice meeting you too.” Brent nodded to her. After she was gone he turned to Zane. “So the rumors I heard were true. You did go into the Navy.”
Zane dipped his head. “Yup.”
“It was like you fell off the face of the earth.”
No, he'd just disappeared from the world he used to live in and chose to live in a different one.
“Well, I'm back now.” For better or worse.
That fact had been more than proven this weekend with him running into not one but two old classmates from that life he'd tried to leave behind. He was most definitely back in the world that surrounded his family and the circles they liked to run in.
“I'm glad you're back. I've missed you, you cocky bastard.” Brent grinned.
“Yeah, I missed you too.” Zane hadn't realized how much until seeing him again.
“Your parents here?” Brent glanced around the room.
“No, they begged out of this shower thing but they’ll be at the wedding.”
Brent dipped his head. “So what are you doing with yourself now? You working with your old man in the family business?”
“God, no!” The vehemence of Zane's reply had Brent laughing.
“Good to see you haven't changed over the years.”
“Oh, I've changed plenty but not when it comes to that subject.”
Brent laughed. “Got it. So what are you doing?”
“Actually, I opened my own company.” Zane reached into his pocket for his wallet and pulled out a business card.
He handed the embossed card over. Brent took it, running his fingers over the thick linen paper.
Zane had to go behind Jon's back and order the expensive cards instead of the cheap ones.
Judging by Brent's expression, he was impressed. The increase in cost had been well worth it. The company needed to look like it was worth the prices they charged.
“Protection services. Nice.” Brent read the card then slipped it into the inside breast pocket of the jacket of a suit that Zane knew had cost more than most active duty SEALs made in a month.
Zane didn’t hold that against him.
“Thanks. We're doing well. In fact, we'll be opening another office here in D.C. soon. We get a lot of government work. Contracts for politicians. Close personal protection. Security system analysis and design. And . . . other things.”
Things not even all government officials, and even fewer civilians, had clearance to know about.
“Very impressive. What's your father think about it?”
“He hates it.”
Brent grinned. “Even better.”
“Man, I really have missed you.” Zane laughed.
They'd drifted so far apart he didn't even have Brent's email address. Maybe now that his rebellious streak had been tamed—a little bit anyway—he should stop shunning all things from his past.
Feeling nostalgic, Zane said, “Now that you have my number, let's keep in touch.”
Brent nodded. “Definitely.”
“You ever on this coast? I know your family castle is in California.”
“You know Hearst Castle is a public museum, you ass.” Brent made a face as he rolled his eyes.
“I do. Just as I know your family still uses great-granddaddy's old Victorian on the property that's not open to the public, since I've had the pleasure of attending one of your epic parties there.”
“That was pretty epic, wasn't it?” Brent grinned. “Anyway, my parents are here on the east coast and I'm actually living in New York and running a small publishing company.”
“Now that makes sense.”
The guy always had been bookish. Reading, studying, publishing his own underground and very controversial newspaper at school, much to the administrators chagrin.
“I wish the rest of the family thought so. All I get is grief because the office is across the bridge in New Jersey. I fully expect to be disowned for choosing the wrong side of the river.”
Zane let out a snort. “Why are families such problems all the time?”
“I wish I knew.” Brent shook his head. “It's probably why I'm still single. Don’t want to drag anyone else into my hell.”
Zane blew out a breath. “You and me both.”
Brent glanced across the room to where Missy was with her mother and some older people. “No plans?”
“No. We're taking things slow.” Zane noticed Brent's gaze remain on Missy a little too long. “And don't let that give you any ideas. She's mine.”
Brent brought his attention back to Zane, smiling wide. “I only stole one girl from you while we were in school. And it was way too easy so that tells me she wasn't really yours to begin with.”
“Well, this one is truly mine. And in the time since we were in school together, I've been trained to kill with my bare hands so keep that in mind.”
“I most certainly will. But if I were you, I'd lock that one down sooner rather than later.”
“She knows how I feel.” He looked back to Brent and saw his brows raised. “What?”
“Nothing.” Brent lifted a shoulder. “It's just that I grew up as the only boy with a bunch of sisters, remember?”
“And?”
“And what women say and what they think aren't always the same.”
Zane looked back to Missy. He'd been having that suspicion himself. “One day I'll seal the deal. But not this year. If I have to attend one more damn wedding—even my own—I might lose it.”
“Right?” Brent's eyes popped wide. “It feels like everyone I know is suddenly getting married.”
“Try dating the senator's daughter. Half the invitations are from people I don't even know. It's nuts.”
“But there is one good thing.”
“What's that?” Zane asked.
“Besides tipsy bridesmaids in low cut dresses, which I intend to enjoy even if you can't, there's the fully stocked bar.”
Zane laughed at how Brent and he thought so much alike. “I think now is the perfect time to swing by that bar.”
“Never been more perfect.” Brent flashed his billion dollar smile and Zane noticed more than a few of the bridesmaids in the room stare.
Even with seeing Brent the heart breaker on the prowl again, Zane didn't miss being free and available one little bit.
They bellied up to the bar and ordered. Whisky for Zane—on the rocks instead of neat in deference to the early hour—and a Manhattan for Brent—since they didn't have any craft beer. Brent always had been picky about his cocktails.
Once they were armed with alcohol and Zane had staked out a spot off to the side of the room where he could be out of the fray but still observe, just the way he liked it, Brent turned to him.
“So, you ever take investigative jobs?”
Zane lifted a brow. “Depends. What kind of investigation we talking?” He'd rather declare bankruptcy and close than see GAPS start tailing cheating spouses.
Brent pressed his lips tight and looked reluctant, which had Zane curious.
Finally, Brent said, “It's a delicate matter.”
Turning to face him fully, Zane said, “You know you can trust me. Nothing you say will go any further.”
“It's just with my family—the press would eat it up if they even got a whiff of this.”
“Understood.” What the hell could have Brent looking so concerned? His happy-go-lucky friend was worried. Zane could see it. “This thing is that serious?”
“I'm not sure. That's what I was hoping you could find out. God, I hope it's not what I think but I'm afraid it might be. If it's what I fear . . .”
Zane saw the pain in his friend's face and said, “Whatever it is, I'll handle it personally.”
His schedule was already packed but for a friend, and for something that was apparently serious and weighing on Brent, Zane would make the time. Even if it was—God forbid—tailing a cheating girlfriend. For Brent, he'd do it. He wouldn't like it, but he'd do it.
“Thank you. I'd really appreciate it.” Brent's gratitude and relief was evident in his expression and the way his shoulders lifted just a bit, as if the weight of worry had been lifted.
“No problem. I'm assuming you don't want to talk about this here. Can you meet with me tomorrow? The earlier the better.”
“Sure. Just name the time and place.”
This would be the perfect time to have that satellite office set up. If only these damn wedding events would end so he had some time free again. Tomorrow Zane would call and get over to see that property he'd talked to Mr. Moskowitz about.
Until then, he needed a place to meet with Brent. “How about we meet by the fountain at Dupont Circle. Zero-six hundred. Wear your running clothes.”
A laugh burst from Brent. “All right. If you insist.”
“Wow. You must be desperate. You're allergic to mornings, if I remember correctly.” Zane laughed.
“You remember right. But seriously, I do appreciate your making time to meet. I know you're going out of your way and doing me a favor. I owe you one, brother.”
“Yes, you will owe me one. And don't think I won't collect.” Zane shot Brent a warning glance.
Brent paused with his drink halfway to his mouth and laughed. “Never thought that for a moment. I know you too well.”
Zane cocked his head to one side, his lips twitching with a smile because he couldn't deny Brent's words. “Touché.”