Betrayal (60 page)

“You really think this is a good time to announce a senate bid?”

“I don’t think I have much of a choice in the matter,” O’Brien answered.

“I have to say I am surprised with the timing.”

“What timing?” the congressman asked.

Nicolaus Toles sipped his glass of bourbon and stroked his chin. “You mean, you don’t know?”

“Know what?”

“Your ex-wife and my daughter…”

“The whole world knows that, thank you.”

“I guess you didn’t make the guest list either,” the older man laughed.

“What the hell are you taking about? What guest list?”

Alex’s father shook his head and patted the congressman’s hand. “Seems my daughter is making a…well, an honest woman out of your ex-wife.”

“What?”

“Oh, don’t worry, Congressman. I’m sure it will have no bearing on your future. If they want you in, you have nothing to fear. I’ll get your funding. They’ll engineer the votes.”

O’Brien rose to his feet. His voice dropped as he battled his rising anger. “Are you trying to tell me Cassidy is getting married?” Nicolaus Toles raised his glass in a mock toast. “What the hell is she thinking?”

“Oh, my daughter can be quite persuasive, Congressman.”

“Are you attending this debacle?” O’Brien asked.

“No.”

“What are you going to do about it?”

“Marriages are not part of my obligations,” he answered.

“What exactly are your obligations, Mr. Toles?” O’Brien inquired with disgust.

“Above your pay grade, O’Brien,” he responded, rising to take his leave. “I suggest you worry more about your campaign and less about Alexis’ love life with your ex-wife.”

“Bitch,” he muttered.

Nicolaus Toles stopped abruptly and grabbed the congressman by the collar, lifting him off his feet. “Let me make something clear to you, Mr. O’Brien. I may not approve of many of my daughter’s choices. She is many things, many things… and all of them…you listen to me,” he tightened his grasp, “all of them put you to shame. You are a weasel, O’Brien. Tread lightly. You have no idea who you are dealing with.” He set the man down, straightened his suit and smiled politely. “Just do as you are told,” he said as he turned to leave. “I’ll be in touch.”

Alex walked into her parents’ house as Dylan regaled her mother with another story. The day had been far more enjoyable than she had imagined. There was something comforting about being with her mother. Alex hated that she would have to deceive the woman even in the slightest sense. She reached in her pocket and pressed a button on her cell phone. “I have to take this,” she said as she lifted the phone from her pocket.

“Go ahead,” Helen said. “I’m going to walk Dylan across the street and introduce him to Mrs. Montgomery.” Alex looked at her mother inquisitively. “Oh, Alexis, you know Carol. She’s seen you all on the television.”

Carol Montgomery was ninety-five and had been a fixture in the neighborhood since Alex and Nick were young. Alex nodded her understanding as her mother scuttled Dylan though the front door. If she hadn’t known better she would have sworn that her mother was deliberately giving her space. She shook her head to clear that notion and made her way to her father’s study. As she expected it was locked. She reached in her jacket pocket and pulled out a pen. She twisted the bottom, removing the small curved torsion wrench and placing the pick into the lock before leveraging slightly to release the pin. She sighed in relief as the door opened.

Alex stopped momentarily to scan her father’s study. She memorized the room inch by inch as quickly as she could. She noted where there were books, shelves, awards and pictures and then made her way to his desk. She wondered how brazen her father might be about leaving information accessible. She spent a few moments looking at the desktop then popped the lock on his file drawer and thumbed quickly through the files. One caught her attention immediately. She retrieved it, pulled the small camera from her pocket and quickly photographed all of the pages. Nothing screamed at her. She closed the drawer and shook her head.

Alex knew her father. She hated to admit they were alike in many ways. If he had placed calls or emails, or even kept files here, he would be reticent in their protection. As she prepared to leave, an object on the corner of the desk captured her attention. She lifted it and allowed her hand to trace the faces hidden behind the glass. It all seemed so long ago, a different lifetime. She went to set it down and noticed the cardboard backing of the frame was bulging slightly. Gently she slid the back from the photograph and retrieved the paper that resided within. It was folded crisply, but appeared rather worn. She opened it and studied it for a moment. She closed her eyes and folded it again. She did not place it back in its home, opting instead to place it in her pocket. She stopped briefly to commit
her surroundings one last time to memory before leaving the room. She hadn’t found what she had come for, but she had found something. What it meant, she wasn’t certain. She hoped Krause might be of help and she prayed that Brady and Taylor would find the shipment bound for Northern Africa in time.

“Cassidy, it’s beautiful,” Barb complimented. “What’s wrong?”

“Honestly?” Barb nodded. “I don’t know, Barb. Part of me just wishes we were doing this alone, no real festivities.”

“Any particular reason?”

Cassidy gave a sad smile. “Dylan, mostly…but, I don’t know. I know it’s small…it’s selfish of me. No matter what Alex says I know she really wants this.”

“I think all Alex really wants is you,” Barb offered gently.

“I know, but I do know her. She gets this glow about her when the subject comes up. I would never deny her that.”

“Maybe that glow is because she thinks she is doing it for you.”

Cassidy chuckled. “Partly, only partly.”

“Is Dylan upset about something?” Barb asked.

“No. He just wants to be with Alex…you know.”

“Umm, I think I do,” Barb conceded and took hold of Cassidy’s hand. “Cassidy…”

“I know. I’m being silly.”

“No, you are being human.”

“I guess,” Cassidy sighed. “You really think she will like this?”

Barb laughed. “Sorry, the idea of Alex wearing a wedding ring; just not something I ever pictured.” Cassidy nodded. “If you really want it to just be the two of you, just tell her.”

“No. This really does mean something to her. You should have seen her bouncing this morning, trying to get Dylan to move it.” Cassidy shook her head in amusement. “It was adorable.”

“Adorable? Alex, adorable?” Cassidy winked. Barb looked back at the simple platinum ring. “She’ll love it.”

“Barb?”

“Yeah?”

“There’s something else I need to ask you, before my mother gets back.”

“What is it?”

Cassidy sobered. “I have to tell you something and this isn’t how I planned it, but…”

“Cassidy, what? You can tell me anything.”

“I know that.”

Barb squeezed her friend’s hand in encouragement. “I can’t tell you everything, but…Chris, he isn’t…he’s not Dylan’s father.” Barb stared blankly at Cassidy. “Okay…say something.”

Barb gathered her thoughts for a moment. “Good?”

“Good?”

“Yeah, good. No offense Cassidy, but I hate that guy.” Cassidy laughed. “You don’t have to tell me anything ever, but you can tell me whatever you need to. I hope you know that.”

“I do. I do know that. The reason…I have an appointment with my lawyer Monday. I haven’t told Alex. I want to talk to him about custody and Dylan. If anything were ever to happen to me,” Cassidy’s thoughts trailed off as she saw her mother approaching with the clerk. “Well, I would want Dylan with Alex.”

“I understand.”

“Barb, his father is not an option. If anything ever….given everything that’s happened…”

“You don’t even need to ask. You know Nick and I love Dylan. I swear he and Cat are more like brothers anyway.”

Cassidy had already expected that response, but hearing it lifted an enormous weight off of her shoulders. Since her abduction and Alex’s injury, she had been doing a great deal of thinking about Dylan and his future. It didn’t seem to her that this was the right time to try and explain his paternity to him. He was
only seven. While she hated feeling that she was being dishonest, she did think he needed to mature at bit before he could fully understand the situation. She was prepared for the conversation if it needed to happen sooner and she feared it might.

Her conversation with Alex the night before about Dylan’s name and Dylan’s response to all the changes in their lives only solidified her decision. She would need to challenge Christopher O’Brien on Dylan’s paternity if she and Alex had any hope of gaining full custody. That was no longer a choice. There was no trust left to exist in the man she had once shared her life with. She hated to imagine what Christopher O’Brien might do in response. That could not deter her. She was fully aware that Dylan had not just accepted Alex; he had invited Alex into his life every bit as much as she had. He wanted Alex to be his parent. Cassidy intended to make that a reality in every way she possibly could for both her son and for Alex. She would not risk her ex-husband’s continued interference. “Thanks,” she said softly as her mother returned.

“So?” Rose asked. “Is it a winner?”

Cassidy smiled and looked back at the ring. “It is.”

“Good, we still need to find you a dress.” Cassidy rolled her eyes. “Something that will knock the knickers off that agent of yours.”

“What decade are you in?” Cassidy quipped.

Barb could not contain herself and looked at Rose. “Oh, I’m pretty sure with all their tomfoolery her knickers will be off by the first toast.”

“Don’t encourage her,” Cassidy warned her friend. “And, tomfoolery? Really? What have you two been doing? Watching old reruns of Ozzie and Harriet or something?”

“I think we already know what Miss Preggo here has been up to,” Rose laughed.

“What?” Barb cracked back.

“Mm-hmm…and
I
actually have been watching
The L Word
; if you must know,” Rose offered slyly.

“You have not,” Cassidy said pointedly.

“And why not?” Rose answered in kind. “I was curious.”

Cassidy covered her face with her hands as Barb broke out into a hearty laugh. “I really don’t want to know,” Cassidy cringed.

“I do,” Rose poked.

“Mom!”

Rose patted her daughter’s back. “You are so easy.”

“Yeah, well,” Cassidy shook her head. “I don’t know why anything you say surprises me.”

“Neither do I,” Rose winked. “So, dresses then a glass of wine?” she suggested.

“I think at least one of us will be forgoing that,” Cassidy put her arm around Barb.

“Yes, well, it appears I will be the designated driver on this adventure,” Barb interjected. Cassidy opened her mouth to say something and Barb held up her hand. “No, no…I assure you, you will get to return that favor in the future.” Cassidy arched her brow. “Yep. I think we will leave Auntie Alex with babysitting duties; you know…prepare her. You can drive Rose and me while we baby shop for
you
. And then we will toast
my
day of freedom while you sip seltzer and chauffer.”

“Have this all planned out; do you? Or are you psychic and didn’t tell me?” Cassidy laughed as her mother smirked.

“I don’t need a crystal ball to see that future,” Barb responded as she headed for the door. Cassidy just rolled her eyes. “I’m so glad everyone seems to know my future.”

Rose put her arm around her daughter as she accepted her bag from the clerk. “I told you; you are easy.”

Cassidy just laughed. “Let’s go. I think I need that glass of wine.”