Page 99 of Stone
“You tell me, Commander. Who the fuck is Matis Garnier to both Bradford Vale and to my father?”
“I have no clue what in God’s name you’re talking about,” Gray insisted.
I almost broke the glass in my hand from the pressure used. “I think you do. I wondered why in the fuck Bradford insisted I be the one to save Dani. I mean, let’s face it, the man still hates me. He got his way and forced me out of his daughter’s life. Why invite me back in? That didn’t and still doesn’t make any sense. At least it didn’t until tonight.”
“You’re losing me.”
“You knew my father was in prison. I learned from the great vice president himself that he not only knew my father well, but they were friends. But years later Bradford treated my dad like he was some murderer. There’s a story there, Commander. A cover-up. I can feel it in my bones.”
Gray was more befuddled than I’d ever heard him. “I don’t know what you’re looking for.”
“The goddamn truth!” I took a deep breath, throwing a gulp of whiskey into my mouth. “The fucking truth. My father was covering something up for Bradford. Wasn’t he? MaybeBradford was involved in whatever happened that sent my father to prison. It’s like there’s a great big cover-up. Am I right?”
“You’re not making any sense.”
Now I laughed until my sides ached. “You’re hiding something from me and let me guess. It’s because Bradford is requiring that you continue with his lies. I get it, but I don’t. Why lie for the man? Is he hoping he’ll make president one day?” When he said nothing, I huffed. “That’s what this is partially about, although his guilt is eating at him since his daughter wants nothing to do with him. I know he has other secrets he’s been determined to keep in his locked box, but that’s backfired on him.”
“Stone. I’m going to say it one more time. You aren’t making much sense. Calm down.”
“Calm down? How in the hell am I supposed to do that? I need to know what the fuck my father and Matis have to do with Bradford. There is a connection and you will find that out for me.”
“Fine. I’ll see what I can do.”
“And I have one more question.”
Gray was obviously exasperated. Well, so was I. “What is it?”
I allowed a momentary pause.
“How long have you known I had a son?”
When he didn’t answer right away or offer surprise or even confusion, I knew the answer. I’d trusted almost no one in my life. Doing so had kept me alive. But I’d trusted him, the one man I though was above reproach. Now I knew my entire life had been embroiled in one lie or another.
“How long?” I demanded.
“Not long.” His voice was laden with despair.
And I didn’t give a shit. “Not long. You lied to me. Bradford lied to me. He lied to his own daughter. He told her our son… Let me repeat, our son was dead. Dead. Do you have any idea what that’s done to Dani all these years? Do you realize what that fucking monster has done? To his own daughter.” I was close to hyperventilating.
“Stone, you need to calm down. At some point, I’ll be happy to tell you what the fuck is going on, but you need to take a deep breath.”
“At some point? What? When I sign a nondisclosure agreement? Is that it? So I won’t dare expose the dirty little Vale secret? Hear me, Commander.” I leaned forward, twisting the glass in my hand as the moonlight sent a cascade of shimmers across the dense crystal. “What’s done is done. And you can give your good buddy Bradford Vale a message for me. Tell him even if it takes the rest of my goddamn life, I will ruin him. One last thing. If he ever comes close to Dani or to my son, I will kill him.”
CHAPTER 27
Dani
“I’m sorry, Daniella. Your child died. There was nothing we could do.”
My child. My son. My baby boy.
I’d never forget the coldness in the doctor’s voice. Never. I’d become hysterical, demanding I see my baby boy since I’d heard him cry. They’d refused. They’d told me I was too upset. They’d given me a sedative. They’d fucking lied to me.
I closed my eyes, controlling my breathing as I concentrated on the soothing sound of the high tide.
There was something utterly perfect about an early morning sunrise. Not just because the dawn meant a new day, a new sense of urgency and opportunity, but because this time of day was the most peaceful.
I used to wake up purposely early just so I could catch the sunrise cresting over the horizon, often being rewarded withstrings of vibrant colors. I’d sit for thirty minutes doing nothing but sipping coffee and marveling at the beauty surrounding me. Often, I painted with the sunrise in the background, feeling more energized and alive.
