Quiet Wealth by J.L. Drake

“Are you okay?” Mariano sat across from me in the town car that had just pulled up in front of the hotel.

“Yes,” I whispered. I only wished I could back up time and unsee what I had witnessed.

“Because you haven’t moved in the past ten minutes.”

I thought I nodded, and Mariano pushed a button and muttered something to the driver. I couldn’t make out what he said because of the dense fog that had set up camp in my head.

“What was it you were going to show me at the dockyard, anyway?”

“Just a spectacular view of the property…” He brushed me off and went back to his phone as I went back to my foggy state.

It wasn’t until the car stopped and the driver opened the door and got out that I allowed my senses to take in what was happening. Mariano got out of the car, and soon a hand reached inside for mine. I gratefully took it and stepped out, only to find that instead of Mariano’s hand, it was the driver who assisted me. Mariano was already walking up the steps to a house.

“Where are we?” I whispered to the driver, who seemed confused.

“This is Mr. DeSimone’s house, miss. He thought you might be more comfortable here.”

“What?” I shook my head, trying to keep up. “Why here? I don’t even have my things.”

“A second car is on its way now with your belongings. It shouldn’t be long, miss.” He smiled warmly and nodded for me to follow Mariano inside.

I walked up the steps and hesitated at the door then turned to scan the area around me. I spotted the lights of a house up a huge hill to the left. I could imagine the view they must have from up there, a good three-hundred-and-sixty-degrees that would take in this house and the surrounding area. It was an impressive looking place. It was too dark to see much more, so with a heavy chest, I stepped inside.

“Mariano?” I called into the dark entryway.

“Come in.” His voiced carried from somewhere. The uncomfortable feeling that swept over me earlier this evening returned, and I fought the need to leave.

“I was beginning to think you walked home.” He was still in his jacket and shoes as he sat on a stool rather than the comfy looking couch.

“Why am I here?” I blurted.

“You are upset. I didn’t want you to be alone in a hotel. I thought maybe you’d like to come here.”

I wanted to point out that he could have asked or at least he could act a little more inviting, because standing in his living room right now felt more uncomfortable than my hotel room. I was cold and uncertain about the whole evening.

“Here.” He set a clear drink down on the table. “Drink that.”

I slowly perched on the edge of the couch and took a sip of the drink. My throat burned, and my eyes teared a little as the vodka slipped past my tongue, but I went with it because I seriously needed a little help with my head right now.

“See,” he smiled, “better already.”

“Mmm.” I shook myself. This wasn’t exactly better.

“The guys should be back with your belongings soon. Would you like to stay up for a bit, or would you just like to go get some rest?”

My hand gave away my nervousness by tipping the glass over as I set it down. “Why don’t you show me around first?” I tried to recover.

“All right.” He jumped to his feet and motioned for me to follow along.

“Living room.” His finger twirled in a circle to indicate the room we were already in, and then he quickly moved down the hallway and kept talking. “Kitchen is over there.” He pointed to his left. “Bedrooms up there, and downstairs is an entertainment room.”

Well, that was a fun tour.

“And,” he pushed open a huge door and stepped outside, “this is where I spend as much time as I can.” He beamed back at me as I took in what he was referring to.

A small pool, a hot tub, and a full-on functional outdoor kitchen completed a lovely back yard.

“Do you want to swim?”

“No.” I didn’t miss a beat, not wanting to swim with him. “Thank you, but I think I’ll take you up on getting some sleep.”

“Your call.” He shrugged and led me upstairs to the first bedroom on the left. My palms were sweating, and my heart was unsettled, but the nerves faded away when I realized it was a guest bedroom and not his own.

He checked his watch as he opened the patio doors to let a cool breeze in. The house I had seen earlier glowed like a beacon on the hill above.

“What are your neighbors like?” I tried to fill in the silence.

“They’re nice.” He turned away and went to the bed and gave the pillow a punch then picked it up and reshaped it. “Sienna,” he paused in what he was doing, “I am sorry for today.”

I appreciated that he finally had addressed the elephant in the room. “It wasn’t your fault. I still can’t believe what happened, and I have so many questions.”

“I know.” He came closer. “But I am sorry. I can’t tell you much more except that my men are looking into it.”

“Thank you,” I answered in a small voice, pleased he was trying.

He suddenly leaned in took my hand and kissed the back of it. I blinked and stiffened at his touch.

When did we cross this line?

“I like you, Sienna.” I forced a smile, unsure how we got to this point. I remained polite and gave his hand a slight squeeze.

“Did we just get to first base?” he teased, and a small part of me tugged in the opposite direction to leave. Being broken was never something I wanted to be, and when someone joked about it, I pulled in tight to hide my scars from view.

“Well.” He cleared his throat. “Get some sleep. We have some things we should talk about, but we’ll wait until morning.”

“All right.” I dropped my hand away and spotted the driver at the door trying to get Mariano’s attention.

“Sir?” He held up my bag.

“Leave it there,” he ordered and walked toward the door then stopped as he reached for the handle. “I’ve never met someone quite like you before,” he said without turning.

“And what is it you see?” I felt how tired I was.

“Sexy but tame at the same time.” He shrugged at his wording. “It’s an interesting combination, but I don’t know how to steer you.”

“Steer me?” I nearly choked back.

“I mean steer around you.” He realized how he sounded and turned to face me. “Your body tells me you’re interested, but I think your head stops you.”

Does it, now?

“I need to get to know someone for more than a few weeks before I let my guard down.” I tried to follow his sudden swing in our relationship.

“There’s always tomorrow,” he said with a sardonic smile.

“True.”

“Good night,” he said briskly, and I gave a small wave as the door closed.

After a hot shower, two aspirin, and a warm bed, I tried to process the evening. As sad as it was to even think about, I was able to compartmentalize the shooting and tuck it away. Yet another trick the streets had taught me.

At seven a.m., my phone vibrated around the table, and I answered it, knowing he wouldn’t stop.

“Where are you? Don’t lie. I know you’re not home.”

“Morning, Wyatt.” I yawned. “I’m…” I stopped to think where the hell I was. “Somewhere.”

“Are you stuffed in the back of a trunk? What do you mean you don’t know where you are?”

“I’m at Mariano’s house.”

Silence.

“Did you?”

“No, God, no.” I rolled on to my side and stared at the house on the hill whose lights were a dim glow now.

“Sienna.” His tone changed. “Please promise me you’ll relax and let yourself have some fun while you’re working on this article.”

“I am.” My mind flashed back to last night and the bang of the gun, and a sudden chill went through me. I wanted to tell him about it, but Mariano’s words found me. I couldn’t bring my best friend into what I witnessed. “I promise I am.”

We spent the next twenty minutes talking about his sister’s wedding and how he would give anything for me to be there.

I felt tremendously better after my call. I forgot how much I missed his storytelling, and his hilarious view on the groom’s family, who apparently were one hundred percent hippy, had me laughing after I hung up. At least he liked the actual groom and was happy for his sister. His parents were often absent in his life, so I was pleased his new brother-in-law was great.

The smell of something yummy drew me to the kitchen, where I found Mariano on the phone in front of the window. As he spotted me, he pointed to the espresso machine.

I watched as he toyed with a file on the counter, and after another ten minutes, he ended the call.

“So,” he massaged the back of his neck as though he was stressed, “are you hungry?”

“I could eat.”

“Let’s take breakfast out back and talk.”

I followed him out and took a seat by the little table and looked out over the pool.

“Well, first, here.” He handed me a file and waited for me to open it. I flipped it open and read what was basically a summary of things he’d been sharing with me over the past few days. “I thought it would be easier for you instead of taking all those notes. You can just be there with me in the moment and experience it all.”

“That’s very thoughtful.” I looked up at him, completely blown away with his gesture to help me. I skimmed another page and noticed there was more information there than I would have remembered. “This is fantastic.”

“So, that makes you happy?”

“Yeah?” I laughed at his wording.

“Well, good, because I have a favor to ask you.”

“All right.” I tucked the file under my plate, so I could pick up my muffin again.

“I have this party for work tonight, and I really don’t want to go dateless. Would you come along as my escort?”

“Oh.” My mind flipped through the items in my bag. “How fancy is it?”

“Fancy, but,” he held up his hand, “I have a friend who owns a shop in town and will have everything you’ll need if you want to join me.”

I shifted my gaze away from him and took a deep breath. What the hell did I have to lose?

“All right, I think that would be fun.”

“Good.” He leaned forward for his phone and answered a call.

Here we go…