At Wolf Ranch (25 page)

Gabe wrapped her in his arm and close to his side and walked her to the car. He slid in beside her. The agent closed the door and stood guard, though that didn’t deter the reporters and photographers from yelling out more questions and taking photos of them through the dark glass, since they were now well away from the FBI agents completing their arrests.

“He’s really pissed.”

“How’s your hand?” she asked concerned about his bruised and swollen knuckles. She pulled the makeup wipes out of her sister’s purse and wiped away the smeared blood.

“Not so bad. I’ll live. Unfortunately, so will your uncle.” Gabe flexed his hand, stretching and clenching his fingers before he settled it on her thigh. She covered it with hers.

“You have a real gift for breaking noses.”

“I got into a fight when I was about seventeen with this really big dude at school.”

“Let me guess, over a girl.”

“Can I help it if she preferred me to the dickhead? Anyway, no matter how many times I hit the guy, he kept coming at me. I punched him hard in the face, broke his nose, and it stopped him cold. Lesson learned. Someone comes at you, pop them in the nose. Hurts like hell and bleeds like a son of a bitch. Makes it hard to breathe with all that blood pouring out your nose and dripping down your throat.”

“Okay, yuck. Stop talking.”

“Good idea.” He turned into her, cupped her face, and leaned down, kissing her with such tenderness and love that tears stung the backs of her eyes. “I am so proud of you.”

“I’m not done yet. There’s still so much to do.”

“It’s getting late. Aren’t you tired?”

“We’re heading over to the penthouse once Sam gets here. He’ll execute a search warrant and try to find the evidence from Lela’s murder.”

“Your uncle is one twisted sick bastard.”

“Tell me about it. Want to see my house?”

“Is it anything like your ranch?”

“Our ranch. You own part of that now, you know?”

“I’m still getting used to it.”

“You belong there.”

Gabe went quiet on her. He always did when even the hint of their future came up, as if he didn’t want to say anything to upset the balance between them.

The look on his face when he saw the jet, the lights when they flew over New York City, the SUV and the man she’d hired to drive her. Just a small glimpse of her life and already he felt uncomfortable and out of place.

“The penthouse is nothing like the ranch. It’s extravagant, which is why Uncle Phillip loved it. My father used it to impress business associates. My mother liked to dabble in decorating. Lela and I grew up there and to some extent simply didn’t notice that we lived differently than others.” Gabe didn’t say anything. “You’ll like the staff—Mary, Lee, and Felicity.”

“You mentioned Mary.”

“She’s been with us for years. Amazing cook. Great listener. Doles out advice with dessert.”

That made Gabe smile. “Did you pour your heart out to her about boys who did you wrong?”

“Always.”

“Let me guess, she told you they were all wrong for you and if they didn’t like you it was their problem.”

“No. She told me to stop being so picky and orchestrating everything to my liking. Boys like to be in charge. I’m not very good at that.”

“I got that when you made me sign a contract for part of your ranch and told me to take care of the thousand head of cattle that started arriving this morning, along with my brother and the cattle I already bought.”

“Are you complaining?”

“Not at all. I got what I wanted, right?”

She nodded, but wondered why it didn’t sound like he was very happy about getting what he wanted. She wanted to ask him, but Sam opened the car door and got in.

“The detective is in custody and trying to make a deal before your uncle sells him out. We’ve got the lawyers who executed the update to the will in custody. They will make a deal and probably pay you a huge settlement for withholding information. We’ll have to wait and see if they get disbarred. Thanks to your evidence and IT guy, we’ve got several of your executive staff and a couple managers in custody.” The car pulled into traffic and headed toward Central Park. “Once we cleaned house, you’ve got fourteen employees we’ve linked to illegal activity connected to the embezzlement and another nine we found to be loosely connected, but they didn’t necessarily do anything illegal.”

“In other words, they followed directions from the fourteen when they should have questioned what they were asked to do.”

“In most cases, they went along in order to keep their jobs. They felt coerced to help.”

“Either way, they’re all fired.”

“That’s up to you,” Sam said.

“Great. I’ll take care of it. Probably need to bring extra security to the office and make some kind of announcement to the staff.”

“No doubt the press and paparazzi will be at your building before we get there,” Sam pointed out.

“Great,” Gabe said, not looking happy at all.

“I’m sorry. I should have thought about that.” Ella touched his arm and stared up at him. “Hey, you’ve punched out two guys today, why not a few more paparazzi to add to the mix.”

“You just love bailing me out of jail,” he teased back, making her feel a bit better that he was taking some of this in stride.

“I paid those lawyers a fortune. They should at least earn it.”

Gabe leaned down and kissed her. “How about we just ignore whoever shows up at your place and finish what we came here to do.”

“I don’t really want to go home,” she admitted.

Gabe hugged her to his side.

“Sam, I want to know everything that you find at Rose’s place.”

“Agents are on their way over with a warrant now. We’ll know soon.”

Gabe touched her cheek. “Do you think that’s why he didn’t get rid of your mother’s things when he moved in?”

“He’s one sick son of a bitch,” she confirmed. “Lela and I stayed clear of his room, so I assumed the stuff was still in there. I never guessed he had a real-life Barbie to play my mother.”

After that bombshell, everyone in the car remained silent for the rest of the ride.

Sam scanned the crowd in front of her building and swore. “Gabe, you ready for this?”

“Do I have a choice?”

“You get out first, followed by Ella. I’ll come out behind her and follow you into the building. The other agent will make sure no one follows us in. Keep moving through the crowd to the door. Don’t stop.”

“Got it,” Gabe confirmed.

“Okay, here we go,” Sam said.

Ella was used to photogs taking pictures of her out with friends, but this was altogether different. They shouted questions and crushed in on them the moment they got out of the car. Gabe kept a firm grip on her hand and led her through the throng of people.

She stopped on the steps and tugged Gabe’s hand to make him stop with her. Sam slammed into her back. “Wait.”

“Ella, this is not a good idea. This is an ongoing investigation. You don’t want to say anything that might compromise the case,” Sam said.

“I won’t, but they need to get one thing straight.” She turned and faced the crowd. Gabe stood at her back, giving her all the support she needed to do this one small thing for her sister.

The shouting continued. One question after another, no one really understanding what was going on, but speculating about the stunning scene she’d made at the press conference. Gabe let out a screaming whistle behind her and everyone shut up, stunned to silence.

One reporter she recognized from a local TV station, who hadn’t quite made her mark and reported on some rather mundane fluff pieces. Ella focused on her.

“Is it true your uncle orchestrated your father’s plane crash and killed your sister?” the reporter boldly asked. At least she was up to speed on what happened at the press conference.

“Yes. My uncle murdered my sister, Lela. He, law enforcement, and other key people covered it up and tried to frame me for her murder.”

“Where have you been? Why are you just coming forward now?”

Ella ignored the question of where she’d been, well aware of the interest everyone showed in Gabe. Several people shouted questions, asking about him over the reporter she spoke directly to.

“I returned home today with the evidence I uncovered over the last weeks. More facts will come out tomorrow, but I want people to know my sister was a beautiful, kind, gentle woman who didn’t deserve what happened to her, or the brutal way my uncle killed her.” Choked up, she turned into Gabe’s chest. He immediately wrapped her in his arms.

“Sir, what is your relationship with Ms. Wolf?”

Gabe stiffened. She leaned back and looked over her shoulder at the reporter who’d been interested in the facts of her sister’s murder, but knew viewers would want the dirt on the gorgeous man with her. “He’s my . . .” “Boyfriend” didn’t encompass what Gabe meant to her. He was so much more than someone she dated. Which they hadn’t really done. He wasn’t just a lover either. “He’s mine,” she said, looking up at him. His dark eyes narrowed with an intensity that made her breath catch. His arms pulled her tight to his big body and she melted against him.

The throng of paparazzi exploded with another round of questions, but Gabe pulled her through the front door of her building and into the lobby. The doorman, Sam, and the other agent stood in front of the doors, blocking everyone else from following her inside. Gabe hit the button for the elevator and held her close. She wiped the tears from her eyes. Ever the gentleman, Gabe let her enter the elevator first. She hit the button for the top floor.

The second the doors closed, he pulled her into his arms. This wasn’t a kiss. It was a devouring. By the time the elevator doors opened they were completely lost in each other.

Gabe wrenched away and allowed her to pass him and step out of the elevator. Her breath came as short as his. She led the way to her door. He stopped her with his hand over hers on the knob.

“Did you mean what you said downstairs?”

She smiled and looked up at him, placing her hands on his chest. “With my whole heart.”

He opened his mouth to say something, but stopped himself.

“Don’t worry, Gabe. It’s going to work out. I just need you to hold on longer.”

“Always,” he said, taking her hand.

Ella stepped into her home for the first time since she’d left. She stood in the marble entry with the bright crystal chandelier overhead and stared past the men sitting on the living room sofa drinking coffee, and Mary and Felicity, sitting in the two chairs adjacent to the closed library doors. She froze, the memories flooding her mind. She took a step back and slammed into Gabe’s chest. His strong hands clamped onto her shoulders and squeezed. His warm breath fluttered across her cheek and he whispered, “Breathe.”

She sucked in a ragged breath, and the overwhelming fear and anguish subsided.

“Your house is amazing, sweetheart. The view . . . there aren’t words.”

Ella stared across the room at the massive windows that overlooked Central Park. She stared at the stars and sucked in another breath, leaning back against Gabe, taking in the strength of him backing her up.

“Ella,” Mary said. “You’re home.”

Yes, where Lela died in that room. Gone. Forever. The tears came again.

Mary came forward with Felicity on her heels. They hugged her, despite the fact Gabe still held her hand. She took in their comfort, but couldn’t return it, completely lost in the misery of what happened.

Mary and Felicity stood back, staring at her. Gabe turned and stood in front of her, blocking her view of the room. His warm hands came up and cupped her face, making her look at him.

“You’re okay, sweetheart. Lela isn’t here. Your uncle is in jail. Breathe.”

She clamped her hands on his wrists and held tight. “I’m okay.”

“You sure?”

She gave him a quick nod. “Don’t let go.”

“Never.”

“Um, Ella, who’s your friend?” Felicity asked. The young woman had been on the household staff for several years. She kept the house clean and ran errands for her and Lela.

Ella never took her gaze from Gabe. “This is Gabe Bowden. I brought him back with me from Montana.”

Gabe smiled down at her. “Am I like a souvenir?”

“More like a dream come true.” Her words came out soft, just for him.

His gaze blazed down at her, and she felt the heat.

“Ms. Wolf. We’re with the FBI. Sam Turner asked us to meet him here with the warrant,” one of the men from the sofa stepped forward to address her.

“Ready?” Gabe asked, kissing her on the forehead.

Yeah, she was ready to keep going and get this done. She gave Gabe’s wrists another squeeze. He let her go, stepping back and allowing her to take the lead again.

“Felicity, our bags are down in the car. Please bring them up and put them in my room. Mary, Gabe and I haven’t eaten in some time. Please make him a snack and get him a beer.” She turned to the men waiting. “May I please see the warrant.”

Felicity went out the door. Mary rushed back to the kitchen.

She read the warrant. Sam came in behind her with several other people with forensics patches on the back of their jackets.

“Ella, can you get us into the safe?”

She turned for the stairs. “You bet your ass I can.” She marched up the stairs and down the corridor, only hesitating a moment outside Lela’s open bedroom door.

“Your room?” Sam asked.

“No. Lela’s,” Gabe said, taking her hand and leading her on. “Which one, honey?”

“Past my room at the end.”

With everyone focused on her, she stood before the massive ornate wood doors and closed her eyes, thinking of her parents’ room, the way it looked before her uncle came here, and remembered how she and Lela would run down the hall, throw the doors open wide, and run in and jump on their parents’ bed to wake them up. Each of them would be pulled down between their parents, hugged, and tickled. They’d giggle and laugh. She’d felt so loved and safe.

“Ella?”

“I haven’t been in this room since my parents died.”

“You can wait out here if you’d like,” Sam suggested.

“You can do this, Ella,” Gabe encouraged.