Ruby Ink (Clairmont Series Novel Book 1) (26 page)

“Am I to assume you went out for a drive, perhaps to see Tandy? It’s quite late.”

“Why? Are you having me followed?

Stefan was seated on the suite sofa. It seemed as if Abstract Enchantment paperwork and Ruby’s life were strewn about him in equal proportions. “No. I hardly thought it necessary, considering what’s at stake.”

“Glad to hear that at the very least, I’m not your prisoner.”

“Far from it. Ruby, you should try and look at this from another perspective. Despite our
odd circumstance
, I’ve grown strangely fond of you.”

She felt her brow and brain knot, as if that might help her comprehend his perverse thinking.

“You could do worse than being married to me.”

“How so?”

Stefan shrugged as though a list of answers were evident. “For one, you could have ended up like Tandy. Lucky for me, I only had to rescue you from loneliness and despair.”

She laughed, uninterested in perusing topics that included Tandy. Ruby wasn’t sure how much blame to put on a desperate drug addict. She stayed on point. Being in a room with Stefan was a finite thing. “I have a question.”

Stefan removed his reading glasses, granting her his complete attention.

“If I agree to this—”

“It’s not a negotiation,” he said, his brow arching.

“There’s always suicide. It removes me, the slam-dunk component in your grand scheme. Aaron still suffers, but not at your hands.”

There was a contemplative frown. “True. But suicide isn’t part of your personality make up. While you will sacrifice yourself to save him from extenuating misery, you won’t leave Aaron Clairmont—not like that.” He tapped the reading glasses against his teeth. “Shall I assume it’s safe to discount a Romeo and Juliet scenario?”

Ruby’s arms folded, offering him a sour look.

“Well, I doubt the two of you would take it that far.”

Even so, Stefan was right. He had this from every angle. She refocused on realistic outcomes. “If I marry you, then what? What guarantee do I have you won’t continue to go after Aaron or his family?”

“For one, I’m a man of my word.”

“Seriously?”

“Seriously. And you should know this. It took me years to realize the proper punishment for Aaron Clairmont. Aaron doesn’t give a damn about incarceration. It’s you, Ruby, who can’t bear to see him languish in that setting. Conversely, Aaron’s only real concern is you… and his family. Taking away his freedom was a minor discomfort. It may have satisfied the state, but it did nothing for me. However, taking away you, so permanently, so publically… Well, I dare say it’s better than waterboarding. As for the rest of the Clairmonts… I’ve nothing against them. Whether or not they become part of Aaron’s debt is completely up to you.”

“Fine,” Ruby said, fighting a reflex gag. “I’ll do it. On one condition.”

He pointed the eyeglass frame at her. “You’re in no position to bargain. But go on. I’m curious to hear how you plan on getting out of this.”

“I don’t,” Ruby said. “My request is that I don’t want to wait until Saturday. I want to marry you tomorrow.”
Before Aaron has a chance to react…

It had been more than seven years since Aaron slept so well, so deeply. Only a bold ray of sunlight finally penetrated the peaceful night. With his eyes closed, he breathed deep. The scent of Ruby was everywhere, on him, on the sheets. He reached. The space was empty, the sheets cool. Aaron opened his eyes, seeing nothing but a piece of paper beside him.

He read the letter once in bed, a second time as he drove to his brother’s apartment, and a third time to Alec, who stood in his kitchen. “I don’t understand. Everything was fine last night. Everything was going to be okay.”

Alec took the paper from him. Jess was also there, first fiddling with her cell phone but eventually drawn into the conversation. “Can, um… Can I get you both some coffee?”

“You can get me a fucking bullet,” Aaron said. “It’s either going through my head or Stefan Gerard’s.”

Alec held up a hand. “Thanks, Jess. We’re okay.”

“Okay? Nothing is okay,” Aaron said, batting at the letter. “Ruby says last night was good-bye—that if I saw it as something else, she’s sorry. She says she’s going to marry that son of bitch today. That I should accept her decision and move on. Alec, this makes no sense! No sense whatsoever.”

Alec ran a hand through his thick dark hair. “I have to agree, man. Ruby wouldn’t do that—spend the night then ditch. And I’d say the Mach speed on that wedding is your biggest clue. So ask yourself why? What would push her into making a rash decision that makes zero sense based on her, um,
actions
last night?”

“Just a thought from the non-partisan roommate.”

Both men turned toward Jess.

“There’s plenty of ways around the circumstance, but everyone’s different. Is... Well, is there a chance Ruby’s pregnant? Would something like that force her into a choice she didn’t want to make?”

Aaron was glad he hadn’t had any coffee. As it was, the thought made him want to vomit up toothpaste. He shook his head. “Her father, Dante, was strict Catholic. Never even considered himself unmarried, even after his wife ran off. But no. I don’t think that’s it.” He squeezed a hand to his forehead. “God, I hope that’s not it.”

“Sorry. I was just reaching for plausible scenarios,” Jess said. “You know, from a girl’s perspective.”

“A girl’s perspective,” Alec said. “That’s a good point—you are one.”

Jess tilted her head, making a face at him.

“What else, from a girl’s perspective?”

“Well, it sounds to me like Ruby’s not being honest because it benefits Aaron somehow. To make a simple analogy,” she said, smirking at Alec, “remember the total fab lasagna you polished off last week?”

“And that relates to this how?”

“I, um… well, I suppose it’s worth confessing… I made it
for
you, Alec, purposely never mentioning the kale-cottage cheese filling.” Alec narrowed his eyes, and Jess smiled wider. “So sue me for attempting to keep your heart in working order—at least as it applies to basic physiology.”

“But what you’re really saying is you duped me because you didn’t want the argument,” Alec said. “Just the end result.”

“Exactly. Maybe, on a much bigger scale, Ruby’s doing the same thing.”

Both Aaron and Alec moved toward Jess, who spoke wisely for a woman wearing fuzzy slippers and a tussled fresh-out-of-bed look. “Keep thinking, Jess—like one of your investigative pieces.”

“On the surface, I heard the same as you, somebody saying good-bye. What I perceived differently was Ruby’s why. Not to stereotype, but men do tend to take things at face value.”

The two brothers glanced at one another.

“I didn’t hear Ruby saying good-bye because she didn’t want something. I heard good-bye because it served a greater good. Sorry… that probably doesn’t make much sense—especially when you toss in the lasagna.”

Alec put the handwritten letter on the breakfast bar so Jess could reread Ruby’s explanation.

“There’s got to be more,” Aaron said.

Jess picked up the paper, her eyes moving across it. “There’s really not much else here, even in between the lines.” She looked squarely at both men. “So go outside the lines.”

“Meaning?” Alec said.

“Is there someone else who knows Ruby? Sometimes girlfriends know more than boyfriends, particularly when it comes to this kind of situation.”

“Tandy,” Aaron said. His arm swinging and making contact with Alec’s. “Ruby said Stefan had helped Tandy and Ruby reconnect. I didn’t put much emphasis on it at the time. But now… Now that’s something I want to know more about.”

“Sounds like a start,” Alec said.

Aaron took the letter and stuffed it into his back pocket. He looked at Jess. “Thanks. That was helpful. I, um… I’m glad you were here. And you’re right—somebody ought to be looking out for Alec’s eating habits, if nothing else.”

“Happy to help,” Jess said, smiling. “Oh, I’m sure out there somewhere is a girl crazy enough to put up with your hard-ass brother.”

“If his hard-ass brother had any interest in relationships marked permanent,” Alec said, glancing at his watch. “Hey, aren’t you going be late for your flight?”

“Actually, no,” Jess said. “I was texting with my editor when Aaron came in. Change of assignment. The piece on the Miami horse-racing scandal is shelved. I don’t have the new gig details yet, but he’s got a hot prospect for a story in Colombia. My flight leaves tonight.”

“Colombia?” both men said at the same time.

“Yeah… why? Don’t care for the remote location? Don’t worry, I travel with snake repellent.”

The Clairmont brothers stared at her.

“Guys?”

“It’s, uh…” Alec cleared his throat, shook his head. “Near Colombia, that’s where the plane crashed that our parents were on. They, um… the plane was never found.”

“I had no idea. I’m sorry,” Jess said.

“Nothing to be sorry about. It’s just that around here, the mention of Colombia… Well, it pushes a lot of buttons.” Aaron looked at his brother, an image as close to Sebastian Clairmont’s as his own. Maybe closer at the moment.

“Aaron, you’d better get moving. Time isn’t on your side today.”

“Right,” he said, heading out door. “Thanks again… both of you.”

On the drive to the LaCroix house, Aaron compiled a list of what he recalled about Tandy: a freckle-faced brunette, razor-sharp tongue, poor, easy—a casual but steady drug user by the time she left Nickel Springs. That was the basic 411 on Tandy LaCroix. Of course, there was also the fact she had no love for Aaron. In the chaos of the past seven years and seven days, he’d almost forgotten that. Tandy and Ruby, they were Nickel Springs’ version of the Good Little Girl and the Bad Little Girl. After Tandy had burned enough bridges, fucked the majority of age-appropriate men (and a few who weren’t) she’d left. The story went that she’d enrolled in art school in New York. Aaron hadn’t questioned it back then, but he did find it curious. Tandy’s family didn’t have two nickels, never mind money for art school. He did recall the last time he saw her. Tandy had blamed him, loudly, for an ever-growing gap between herself and Ruby. While Aaron had never considered it a competition, Tandy saw it differently. She’d left town defeated, feeling as if Aaron had won the Ruby contest.

With that reminder, Aaron tapped cautiously at the LaCroix front door. There was shuffling, rumbling from inside, and Aaron pressed his ear to the door. It opened, and he jerked to an arrow-straight stance.

“Oh, well, would you fucking look at what our weak judicial system blew in. Why the fuck you aren’t in a cell until your balls bleed beats me.”

“Nice to see you too, Tandy. Got a minute?”

“For you? Not likely.” The door started to close, but Aaron’s fist rammed into it.

“How about you find one?” He looked over her pasty appearance, a red nose and glassy eyes obvious. Prison and the DEA. He knew a junkie when he saw one. “Or maybe you’d like it if the local DEA paid a visit instead of me.”

“Isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black? Besides, who’d listen to an ex-con like you?”

“You might be surprised who’d listen to me.” Aaron hoped he didn’t need to make good on the threat—the
branch
of the DEA he’d abandoned wouldn’t want anything to do with him, never mind the real thing. But the threat was enough as she backed down, opening the door. With his fists punched into his pants pockets, Aaron took a turn around the living room. From what he remembered, this was a huge improvement. It seemed like better times had befallen the LaCroixs. New furniture, new everything. Then he looked at Tandy. Shit. Better times clearly did not extend. If there was money, she was putting a lot of it up her nose, in her arm—whichever. He heard noise coming from a back bedroom.

“I got company. So make it quick. What do you want?”

“I, um… I just want you to know that I’m quitting Abstract Enchantment. I’m guessing Ruby told you I work there.”

“The world is full of bad surprises, and you just keep ’em coming.” Tandy backed up a step. She wore no bra, which was apparent—just a long T-shirt… and a G-string. Aaron looked away as she bent to pick up throw pillows in her path. “And you came here to tell me because…”

“Because you’ll see Ruby later. You know she moved the wedding date up to today.”

“She…” Tandy’s eyes didn’t move off Aaron, like he might swipe the silver. If there was any silver. She shuffled right and snatched her phone off an end table. He spied a drawer, partially open. “Looks like I missed a text from Ruby… a few from Stefan,” she muttered, dragging her fingers across the screen, then through a mop of streaky highlighted hair. “You’re right. They’re getting married this afternoon.” She blinked at him as if he wasn’t quite in focus. “Ruby must be looking for me. Guess I need to get over there.”

Guess you’ll need to sober up in a big hurry… And why is Stefan texting you?

Something that seemed like a clue snapped into place.

Aaron cleared his throat, forcing a humble look. “I don’t want to cause Ruby anymore pain. So could you do that? Figured it would suit you, to tell her I won’t be around. She can go on with her life.”

“What makes you think she gives a shit whether you’re around or not?”

“Just trying to make amends. Isn’t that part of the program?” he said, chin cocking toward the fresh and old needle marks on her arms.

Tandy folded them tight. “Something like that. It can be a bitch, you know? Getting straight… getting hooked again. You think it’s easy?”

“I think letting go of something you need that badly is a hard thing to do. We agree on that much.”

“Then we agree that Stefan is good for her,” Tandy said. “He’s a smart dude, lots of connections, lots of ideas.”

“Sounds like you know him pretty well.”

“We hit it off.”

“When you first met… in New York?” Aaron said, fishing for information.

“How do you know…” She shrugged. “So we met in New York. Big fucking deal.”

“Did he help you get clean, Tandy? Did he come find you?”

“So what if he did? Helping somebody get clean… Most people consider that a good thing.”

“Depends on their end game. I’m just trying to understand how far Stefan’s helping hand goes.” Aaron glanced around the messy but newly furnished house. “It must have been a plus, having you on his side. Does Ruby know about that?”

Tandy narrowed her eyes.

“Or was your clandestine friendship more about how you could help each other?” Aaron took a step closer. “She wouldn’t like that, would she, Tandy? Ruby wouldn’t like it one damn bit if she knew you bullshitted her about how you met Stefan and why.”

“Like she’d believe anything you said to her.”

“I think she’d be willing to listen. Just so you know—Ruby showed up at my house last night. From there, it didn’t take long for her to end up in my bed.”

“No way,” Tandy said, her gaze running hard over him. “Ruby wouldn’t do that—fucking screw you and marry Stefan the next day.”

“Not unless something was forcing her into it. Something you might have an inside track on.” Aaron reached over and yanked open the drawer to the end table. Inside was a junkie’s treasure trove. “That’s some pretty good-looking stuff, Tandy. And this house,” he said, glancing around. “It’s looking good too. Is that the exchange? Your loyalty and influence for Stefan Gerard’s assistance—rehab, nice new shit, a better life?”

She stormed toward the door. “I don’t have to tell you anything. Get out,” she spat. From the bedroom, a man wearing only underwear wandered out. Between his state of undress and wobbly high, it took Aaron a moment to recognize Tully Weeks, Stefan’s general contractor.

“Aaron. Jesus, what the fuck are you doing here?” His face was a mix of a drug-induced high and dizzy confusion. Tandy hurried to where he stood. “Hey,” he said, nudging Tandy’s shoulder. “This isn’t like a waiting line, is it? Is he banging you too? I thought you said you quit that shit when you left New York. I told you, I got no problem gettin’ high, but I don’t sleep with fucking hookers.”

“Shut up,” she hissed. “I told you. I just wanted to party.”

“Take it easy, Tully,” Aaron said, realizing how far Tandy’s problems went, how desperate she must have been. “I needed to talk to Tandy—nothing else. I didn’t know you two knew each other.”

“Yeah, Tandy came around now and again before you started at Abstract Enchantment. She’s tight with the boss,” he said, slapping her ass. “Not a bad person to know.” His hands shot up as Tandy’s swatted at Tully’s gesture. “’Course she wasn’t fucking Gerard if that’s what you’re thinking. I don’t need that kind of trouble. I need my job, Aaron.”

“Uh, right. I hear you, man. Like I said, my being here doesn’t have anything to do with you. So Tandy, you’ve made some trips to Abstract Enchantment over the past few months.”

“Hell, yeah, she has,” Tully said, going for the shift in subject. “Whad’ya call that job again?”

“Will you shut the fuck up?” Tandy glanced sheepishly at Aaron. “Liaison… Special liaison to the CEO of Abstract Enchantment.”

“No shit?” said Aaron, his half-smile wanting to push full. “Isn’t that interesting information?”

“Yeah, for whatever it’ll get you, which is nothing,” Tandy said. She and Aaron traded death stares. The only sound was Tully, swiping a hand across his nose. “And now I think you were going.”

Tully, underwear and all stepped forward. Crossing the room, he slapped a hand on Aaron’s shoulder. “Hey, uh… private business is private business, man. But I’d appreciate it if you didn’t mention this to anyone, like Stefan… or my wife.” He opened the front door. “I’m supposed to be in New Paltz picking up a slab of granite.”

“Yeah, I hear you, Tully. Not my business. But, uh… but you might want to give that wife of yours some thought.” Aaron motioned toward Tandy, the door having closed enough so she was out of earshot. “She’s bad news—for a lot of reasons. Doesn’t matter how tasty Tandy candy is.” Aaron inched forward. “So, um… so you’re sure she’s not into the boss? Drugs or doing him?”

“Fuck no,” Tully said, his jelly belly quivering as he laughed. “Hey, don’t get me wrong, Tandy’s hot tits, tight ass, and a good time—gives awesome head.” His brow cocked. “I’d guess she’d have to, considering her past occupation. Believe me—I was freakin’ surprised when she let that slip. But she ain’t doing Gerard, no way. Not in his league.”

“Yeah, I guess not.” Aaron nodded, ready to back off the step.

“Besides, Stefan’s too busy tapping that private piece of ass he brings up from corporate—Vanessa Trudeau.”

Aaron nearly lost his footing. “He… Is that an opinion or a fact?”

“Absolute reality. I outfitted the entire romper room he built in the old carriage house. Among other things, Stefan had me roll the bill of materials into the budget for public Abstract Enchantment suites.”

“Stefan, he’s got a regular thing with Vanessa?”

“I’d say more than that. I listen. I watch. The redhead’s got it bad for him. Shocked the shit out of me when it turned out he was marrying somebody else. But I guess it explains why he keeps his relationship with Vanessa on the QT.”

“I guess it would.”

“That smokin’ little number he’s marrying, I don’t think she has a clue. But dudes like Stefan, do you really think they’re gonna spend their life doin’ one piece of ass? And that Vanessa, she’s way more than that.”

“How so?” Aaron asked.

“Vanessa Trudeau knows every piece of business that guy does—shitty and above board.”

Aaron nodded at the information.

Tandy called from the living room. “Gotta go,” Tully said. He looked Aaron over. “I swear, this is the last time—you know, with her.”

“Right,” Aaron said, listening to Tully Weeks’s only lie.