And the way she’s looking at me, like I’m the answer to her problems, only makes the tug of attraction between us stronger. Or maybe that’s in my head?
“I’m just sorry things got so out of hand that you need me here,” I say as I sit.
“I didn’t expect that. I’d had this problem in California, where my son’s father ruined more lives than mine. But now that he’s gone…I seem to be the next best target. I never imagined these people would follow me across an ocean.”
Since I have no idea who her son’s father was or what’s going on, I have to ask. “I hate to make you tread old ground, but do you mind clueing me in? When Trace called me, he was short on details. To protect you, I need to understand the threat.”
She gives me another of those oh-so-polite smiles. “I figured this was coming. Do you know who Barclay Reed was?”
“Sorry. No.”
“Head of Reed Financial. He was an investment broker to a lot of wealthy people. I was his assistant for a couple of years, starting right out of college, though I’d known him most of my life. Our fathers were, I thought, the best of friends.”
“Your father?”
“Douglas Lund, head of Colossus Investment Corporation.”
I’ve never heard of him either, but clearly she grew up wealthy. “Go on. And Barclay Reed fathered your son?”
“Yes.”
If he was her father’s best friend, how much older was this guy? “I see.”
“Just like I see you doing the mental math. Everyone does. I was twenty-four when I got pregnant. Barclay was fifty-seven. How it happened is a long story. I won’t bore you.”
A long story…how? “Did he rape you?”
She presses her lips together. “You’re not the first person to ask. No. Unfortunately, I was naive and very willing.”
I can’t imagine how or why this beauty would have allowed a man more than twice her age into her bed, but it’s none of my business. I’m here because she and her son are in danger, so I shelve my curiosity—and my more than vague sense of annoyance that this guy touched her.
“What do the attacks have to do with Barclay Reed?”
“In a nutshell, he swindled all of his clients out of their fortunes and was arrested for it last June. He left them all virtually penniless. I had no idea what Barclay had done. When the FBI raided his offices, I was recovering from childbirth. But Barclay had let me go months before that. Shortly after I told him I was pregnant, in fact. Still, I’d been his most recent mistress, so when he was arrested, the media had a field day with our ‘salacious’ affair.”
“He was married at the time?”
“Yes. He had been for nearly thirty-five years.”
She doesn’t bat an eye. Doesn’t blink. In fact, nothing Amanda says tells me how she feels, but disillusionment and heartache simmer under her surface. She cared about Barclay Reed. Despite the fact he stole from others, cheated on his wife, and used her, she had feelings for the scumbag.
Why?
I don’t understand, but it’s not my place to judge. I need to stop letting this sudden, stupid interest blindside me and do what I promised.
Amanda sends me a tight smile. “I see what you’re thinking. It’s what everyone thinks. How could you sleep with a married man your father’s age? I had my reasons. They’re my own. I also have sins I’ll have to live with for the rest of my life. And if I had a do-over, no. I wouldn’t change a thing because Barclay gave me Oliver. He’s my world now. But I would like the peace of mind of knowing I can keep my son safe.”
“Of course. I’ll make sure nothing happens to either of you. What does this mob want?”
She shrugs. “Revenge, I guess. Barclay’s oldest daughter, Bethany, worked as his right hand. She didn’t know anything, either. She’s already returned all the money to his former clients since she recovered it, so these people aren’t after cash. And I don’t have any information to give them. They assume that Barclay’s secrets were our pillow talk, but he told me almost nothing. And the few things he did say were lies. I shared what I thought I knew with the FBI. When they were done laughing, they dismissed me.”
Every word carries a brittle edge. She made some bad decisions. The man she trusted betrayed her. Then life chewed her up and spit her out. I’ve had a shitty few years, too, but hers have been far worse. I’ve also got a dozen years more experience handling bullshit. She was barely a young adult when her world blew up in her face.
“I’m sorry.”
She softens and shakes her head. “I apologize if I seem bitter.”
“How do you think the angry hoard found you?”
She sighs. “I should have guessed this was the first place people would look. Nia is my half-sister; we share a father. Long story. But that’s not the only connection. Evan, her husband, and Oliver are both Barclay’s illegitimate sons.”
Not only was the thief a habitual cheat, but her own father couldn’t keep it in his pants, either? Nice. “Since you have connections to both Mr. and Mrs. Cook…”
“People assumed I would come here after leaving California.”
I make a mental note that any safe house for Amanda can’t be with family—on either side. “We’ll get you to safety soon.”
“Thank you. But I can’t hide forever. I won’t. I hear you’re a firearms instructor.”
“Yeah. I owned a range in Colorado for about ten years. I’ve taught for longer than that.”
“You don’t own the range anymore?”
I shake my head. “Sold it when I filed
