Knowing His Secret (14 page)

Monday night Mom called to give me an update and let me know that they had decided to return to the city a few days earlier.

"Your Tristan has been a godsend. For some reason he seems to be the only person your father has met in years who's able to break through that man's pigheadedness."

"I wouldn't call him 'mine', Mom. But I'm glad he's on our side."

"His private detective has been up to see us and debriefed us on what he's learned about the men who attacked Don."

"And?"

"They're bad business. I wouldn't say your father is scared, because other than the time you girls got lost in Manhattan I've never seen him scared, but he has accepted that this is something he can't just handle with his fists and maybe a wrench."

"So, what's the plan?"

"Tristan's man, Kwan--what a nice young fellow--has gotten a couple of his associates who'll be staying with us until we're satisfied that the threat has been 'neutralized' as they put it. I guess that means arrested."

"That's one thing it means."

Mom chose to ignore the implications. "Tristan has had a company 'secure' the house in Park Slope. I guess I'll find out what that means when I get home."

"Well, I've been telling you for years to put bars on the street level windows so I hope that's part of it."

"I hate bars."

"So, you feel pretty safe?"

"Yes and no. All of the fuss has made me realize that this is a serious situation."

"Better to know rather than have something more or worse happen to Dad."

"You're right. Without Tristan's help and Mr. Archie we'd be much easier targets."

I thought it was a good time to bring up my trip with Tristan. "Mom, Tristan and I are going away for a few days after the play closes. Is that okay with you?"

She laughed. "Since when do you ask my permission to go off somewhere?"

"Since I found out you are in danger, that's when."

"You go. There's nothing your presence is going to do to help. In fact, you'll be one less body to worry about."

"That's what Tristan thinks, too."

"Where are you going?"

"It's a secret…but Tristan told me to bring my passport."

"That sounds exciting."

"With Tristan, pretty much everything is."

***

The lights at Teterboro airport spread out below us. I was on the second helicopter ride of my life. The thrill hadn't worn off.
After we landed a speedy little golf cart dropped us off at Tristan's plane. Once again, I wasn't quite prepared for what awaited me. He told me we were taking his jet, but I hadn't really been expecting to climb stairs into a plane the size of a commercial airliner.

Tristan had also been very specific about the fact that I was to bring nothing with me other than my passport. Nothing at all.

"This trip marks a new beginning and I want everything fresh and perfect," he had said. "Will you trust me to see that you're properly taken care of?" When I opened my mouth to protest that it wasn't about trust, he continued. "Tell me you'll take the risk…"

It wasn't about the clothes or the make-up I would leave behind and he knew it. He knew how vulnerable a woman would feel getting on a plane to an undisclosed location without her
things
. He wanted that vulnerability handed to him. He was testing me and testing himself against me.

The plane had a spacious salon, dining area and open kitchen. It was furnished in a sleek, modern design and reminded me a little of a high end recreational vehicle, which I suppose it was. Only this RV was bigger and it flew.

He gave me the grand tour and I tried very hard not to act like a bedazzled child. Of course I knew it was
possible
to have a full sized bedroom and a Jacuzzi tub on an aircraft. I just never thought
I'd
be standing at the foot of a king-sized bed getting ready to take off into the night sky with a man who was literally changing my life in the most dramatic possible way.

The pilot announced that it was time to take our seats.

"You mean that even on a private plane like this you have to buckle up?" I asked as we settled into one of the dove gray leather sofas and found the belts.

"I always want to keep you safe. You know that, don't you? There are so many things that we can't control. So many unknowns. Even a small danger can create a big risk." He tightened the belt low on my hips and I saw a flash of sadness cross his face.

I took his hand in mine. It was my turn to ask for his trust. "I'll stay safe, Tristan. I won't desert you. Nothing will happen to me. I'll be here…for you."

The lights in the cabin dimmed and the plane roared up into the star sprinkled sky. As our lips met I knew we were sealing an unspoken bargain that was yet to be truly defined. It was a promise to share something, but the
'something' had soft focused edges. There were still secrets that hid behind fleeting shadowy boundaries of the new born
us
.

No matter what the future held for us, Tristan had forever altered what I thought I was capable of feeling about a man, what I was capable of doing with a man. He had changed my world in ways subtle and profound. I didn't know our final destination and
perhaps that was a good thing. I thought maybe it was true about the importance of the journey. As the plane reached higher in the sky, I promised myself I was going to enjoy the ride.

***

Just Released!

Taki
ng his Risk

(
The Year of the Billionaire Part 2)

By K.C. Falls

Keeping His Promise

(The Year of the Billionaire Part 3)

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