Page 38 of Home to Me (The Andrades 2)
Alessandro sighed. “That’s a shame. I really liked her.”
Nick turned back toward his uncle and said, “I do, too. In fact, I fell in love with her, but that’s not why I’m here. We need your help.”
With a bold wave of his hands, Alessandro said, “Anything. What do you need?”
“My mother has threatened to share certain photos of Rena and me in compromising situations. There is nothing I can say to stop my mother, but I’m hoping there is something you can.”
Shaking his head, his uncle stepped back. “I haven’t spoken to your mother in years.”
Nick advanced and said, “But you knew her well when she was younger, didn’t you? There has to be something she doesn’t want people to know about her. I used to go crazy asking myself why my mother was the way she was. I don’t care anymore. All I care about is protecting Rena from her. If you know something, Alessandro, you have to tell me.”
Alessandro leaned back against the stone railing and seemed to be weighing something in his mind. Finally he said, “What happened to your mother is not my story to tell, but I will speak to her. You’re right. There are things Patrice doesn’t want anyone to know and it’s time she discovers that someone does. Tell Rena she’ll have nothing to worry about when it comes to Patrice. I should have stepped forward and confronted Patrice years ago, but I had no idea how dark her heart had become.”
Nick grabbed his uncle’s arm. “You’re honestly not going to tell me?”
Alessandro laid his hand over Nick’s. “There are truths that bring families closer together, and there are others with the potential to tear them apart. This is one that finally needs to be put to rest—but not before it stops your mother. I promise you that.”
Before Nick had a chance to ask another question, his aunt joined them. “So this is where the two of you are hiding. Are you hungry, Nick?”
Chapter Eighteen
Before heading back to work, Nick stopped at Skal. It wasn’t open yet, but he merely had to say four-one-one to the man guarding the door to be let in. It was Serge’s little joke. Four-one-one meant: For your information, I’m someone you open the door for without question.
He found Serge behind the bar counting bottles.
Serge saw Nick and exclaimed, “Where the hell have you been? I’ve missed you.”
Nick sat down at the bar and accepted the club soda Serge poured him. “Working.”
“So, how is being a big businessman? Better than the party life?”
Nick swirled his drink and considered both before answering. “You know, I won’t lie to you, being wild and carefree was definitely easier. But I feel good about what I’m doing, and happy—even though half the time I don’t know if I’m doing any of it well.”
“You’ll get there, Nicky. Should I ask about . . . you know who?”
Nick took a drink of his soda. “You were right and you were wrong, Serge. I did end up wanting the house and kids. Ridiculous, right? Me? What I didn’t count on was, when you’ve built up a reputation for not taking love seriously, it tends not to take you seriously back.”
Serge put a bowl of nuts in front of Nick. “There will be other women, Nick. There always are.”
Nick picked up a nut, tossed it in the air, and caught it. “I don’t think so, Serge. This was the one.”
“Did you sleep with her sister?”
Nick laid the nut down on the bar in front of him. “She doesn’t have a sister.”
“You know what I mean.”
“No, I was completely faithful.” Nick pushed the rest of the nuts away. “I’m not even attracted to other women anymore. I mean, I still know they’re beautiful, but there’s only one woman I want to be with.” He spun the peanut before him.
“Have you tried telling her that?”
Nick slammed his hand down on the nut. “Words mean nothing, Serge. People lie every day. I could buy her flowers and talk her back into my bed, but I want more than that. I want her to believe in me. And she doesn’t. Words can’t change that.”
“You really love this woman?”
“I do.”
Serge picked up a handful of nuts. “Then you need to believe in her, too.” He popped the snacks in his mouth. “She’ll come around.”
Nick looked up and smiled. “That’s pretty optimistic for a jaded old coot.”
Serge shrugged. “Get back to that office of yours. I’ve got a business to run.”
Nick stood. “Thanks, Serge.”
Serge picked up Nick’s glass and wiped a cloth over where it had sat. “Whatever. Go on, get out of here.”
Nick paused outside the building to look at it in the harsh light of the day. He’d gone there for more years than he could remember. Once he would have said it was the quality of the music and the free-flowing booze that kept him going back.
Amazing that neither had been there during this visit, and it hadn’t made one damn difference to how good he felt when he left. He didn’t want to return to the life he’d once lived, but it was nice to know that some of his friendships from that time would remain.
Right there on the sidewalk, he rang his mother.
“Hello?”
“Hello, Mother.”
“Nick, I was hoping you’d call. I’ve missed you.”
A wondrous feeling washed over Nick. He wasn’t confused anymore. “Mother, I want you to know that Alessandro Andrade will be coming to see you. I sent him.”
“I don’t understand what you’re talking about, Nick. Why would you send your uncle here when you know how badly he’s always treated me?”
“He’s coming to give you a chance, Mother, your last chance to stop. I know what you said to Rena.”
His mother sputtered, then said, “I don’t know what lies that woman told you . . .”
“It’s over, Mother. We see you for who you are. All you have left is whatever goddamn secret Alessandro respects you too much to tell us. But if one photo of Rena leaks out, if I hear that you called her or even said her name, I will not stop until I expose you and that secret to the world.”
“Nick, you need me. Who is going to look out for you? You think your brothers will?”
“I know they will. You know why? Because they’re Andrades, and to an Andrade, family is everything.”
“You can say that to me? Nick? Your mother? Even while you’re threatening me?”
“I can. You’re a Stanfield. You always have been. You never wanted to be one of us. Now you won’t be.”
“I am half of who you are, Nick.”
“Yes, Mother, and that’s exactly why you should be afraid of me. Don’t call me again. We’re done.”
***
It was late afternoon when Rena rounded a corner at Cogent and walked straight into Nick. He steadied her with a hand on either arm, then released her. “Sorry,” he said.
Everything Rena had planned to say to him flew out of her head. She studied his face. He looked tired. She wanted to ask him why, but she wasn’t sure how. There was so much she felt she had to say before that. “Nick.”
“Yes?”
“I—”
A man from marketing walked by, stopped, and asked, “Mr. Andrade. I wanted to thank you for giving me credit for the social media campaign idea I had for Easton. It landed me a promotion.”
Nick clapped a hand on the man’s back. “You came up with the idea, Ben. I’m glad it worked out for you.”
The man shook Nick’s hand. “Anytime you need anything, I’m right downstairs. I even have an office now.”
Nick nodded. “I’ll make sure to drop by.”
After the man had left, Rena couldn’t help but say, “Looks like you’re building a loyal following here.”
Nick shrugged and leaned in. “He told me his idea while we were in the men’s room a few weeks ago. Thankfully, it was while we were washing our hands. He was a nervous wreck, but what he said made sense. We had been trying to break into the Easton area, and public opinion about o
ur project improved after we made the campaign more personal. It was a good idea.”
Rena froze. The feel of Nick’s breath on her ear sent her thoughts scattering again. She wanted to turn her head and kiss him with all the emotions swirling within her. She dropped the folder she was holding, causing its contents to scatter across the floor.
