Page 22 of The Forbidden

“Your father owes Mr. Rafferty a case of the Mardraggon 1921 Shadow Reserve Barrel. We’re here to collect it.”

My eyes widen in shock and I can’t help but laugh. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“Your father bet that case in a high-stakes poker game with Mr. Rafferty. Your father lost and has yet to pay the debt. Mr. Rafferty believes you are the best person to deliver. You have one week to hand it over.”

“You’re fucking crazy,” I growl at the men, my eyes cutting between the two. “My father isn’t a gambler. He doesn’t believe in wasting hard-earned money.”

I’m stunned when Bellamy says, “Your father had a severe addiction to horse gambling and later found a love of poker, although he was quite bad at it. We have a marker for the case of bourbon.”

“That’s a shame then because my father doesn’t own the bourbon you’re talking about therefore he couldn’t have given you a marker. It belongs to the company.”

Kravitz nods as if he understands but his smile is chilling. “It’s a good thing you’re the new chairman of the board then. Like I said, you’re the best person to ensure it gets delivered in satisfaction of the debt.”

“I’m sorry you came all this way, gentlemen. I have no intention of turning the case over to you.” The Mardraggon 1921 Shadow Reserve Barrel was a single case of high-quality, rare bourbon that our distillery produced in 1921. Bourbon doesn’t age or change once it’s bottled, unlike wine, so its shelf life when unopened can be quite long. The key factors for maintaining its quality over years or even decades are proper storage conditions, away from direct sunlight and at a stable, moderate temperature. Therefore, an unopened bottle of bourbon, especially if it’s a rare or vintage variety, can remain good to drink for many years.

Only twelve bottles were made and expertly stored. The case itself is valued at over two million dollars. It’s not something that would ever be sold nor would it be gambled away in a poker game as it is a physical representation of our family’s legacy. “I would like you both to leave my property and not come back again.”

Neither man seems offended and Kravitz is blasé when he says, “You have one week. We’ll be back.”

They turn to walk toward a dark Suburban with tinted windows parked on the other side of the circular driveway and I feel compelled to make myself clear. “You can come back, but there won’t be any bourbon here for you.”

Bellamy turns, his eyes sparkling with the promise of violence. “If the bourbon isn’t here, there’s going to be pain. We’ll start with your father.”

They could beat the shit out of my father for all I care. I don’t say that though. I don’t say anything because it’s clear these two men don’t have any authority to negotiate or stop whatever train my dad has set into motion by his poor choices. I most certainly have no authority to produce the case of bourbon they claim is held by a marker, nor would I want to if I had the ability. Mr. Rafferty is shit out of luck, but my dad has enough money I’m sure he can cover the cost of the marker, regardless of how bad his gambling debts are.

I don’t respond and patiently wait for the men to leave, the Suburban disappearing down the long driveway. I walk back into the house to gather my briefcase and Sylvie’s presents. The excitement of seeing my niece has me forgetting all about the unpleasantness of that visit.

I don’t even try to analyze that a part of me is excited to see Kat as well.

CHAPTER 9

Kat

Looking around my small apartment, I wonder what memories this will evoke for Gabe today. It was so different when we were using it to sneak around back in college during the summer months, all bare bones living for transient employees. Now it screams Kat Blackburn with all my redecorating, but I’m not sure Gabe really knows who Kat Blackburn is anymore.

We agreed to let Gabe and Sylvie have time here today rather than at the big house. While the police have let our family know that their investigation into both Gabe and Rosemund has confirmed that Lionel acted alone, Ethan is still tense about anything dealing with the Mardraggons and it’s best to keep the men separated. Ideally, we’d spend some time outdoors because the end of May in Kentucky is beautiful, but it’s been raining steadily all day.

So it’s going to be me, Gabe and Sylvie in my little seven-hundred-square-foot apartment that holds the ghosts of memories of my time with Gabe.

For over a year, we kept our relationship secret and met up here on school breaks and summer vacations. It’s above one of the smaller tack rooms out near the retirement pastures and can’t be seen from the main house. It became a special place for us because the more time we spent together, the harder we fell for each other. It wasn’t all the time but it was enough that I can see Gabe in nearly every corner of this place.

Sylvie is at my small kitchen table that only seats two, finishing up her homework. I watch as her pencil flies across her math problems, her brow furrowed in concentration. I’m surprised she can focus because she’s been nearly beside herself with excitement that her uncle is coming over.

It nearly broke my heart when she said, “Gabe is proof the Mardraggons have good in them.”

She really needs to believe that. The betrayal of Lionel in attempting to kill her, and the further betrayal of Rosemund who has stuck by his side, rattled my niece something fierce. But Gabe loves her, has shown he will protect her, and this is evidence to Sylvie that the last connection she has to her mom is a trusted family member.

Personally, I wouldn’t trust him as far as I can throw him, but that’s not for me to say to Sylvie. At this point, no one wants to give her doubts and she needs security in the knowledge that we all love her. That includes Gabe.

The sound of a vehicle coming up the gravel lane approaches and Sylvie’s head pops up. “He’s here.”

Yes he is, and my heart thunders within my chest. There was a time when Gabe could just look at me and I’d feel faint from the thrill of it. Now my traitorous heartbeat has more to do with the confusing circumstances I find myself in, having to deal with a man I once cared a great deal for and then had more reason to hate him than any long-standing feud could deliver.

The reason it’s complicated is because even though we snipe at each other, I saw something in Gabe yesterday that I thought I’d never see again.

Care.

Lying in the dirt, the breath knocked out of me from my fall off Shadow, Gabe came into view and I saw genuine, deep-rooted fear etched on his beautiful face. Not just concern for another human being, but terror for my well-being, and it told me that while things ended very badly between us, Gabe still cares about me.

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