Caught Up (Indigo Vibe) (4 page)

“Help me and I’ll help you.”

“I take care of my own. Always have. Always will.”

“We can put her into witness protection.”

Placing Rosa in protective custody would be the same as taking her freedom. He held the drawings close and closed his eyes. He’d kept Rosa’s identity secret this long, he wouldn’t ruin it now. In a few days he’d be gone, and his baby would be safe.

“Do you believe in fate?” Samson asked.

David heard Samson but didn’t answer. His fate was sealed; he was a dead man and would never have the chance to tell his daughter that he loved her. If he could replay his life, he’d be thirty-two again and raise his child on his own as a legitimate businessman. He’d have the guts to be Ernesto.

Samson touched the drawings. “Rosa needs you.”

He handed over Samson’s ink pen, certain Samson didn’t know about the visit from Harriet yet and that Harriet had covered her tracks. She’d never risk losing the money he promised. “I’m tired and ready to die.”

“Okay, I’ll drop it. Think about what I’ve said. Officer,” he called.

David watched Samson as he waited by the cell door. He and Rosa would make a good couple. Maybe he should make another call and set up meetings between the two for after he died. He dismissed the idea as insane.

The officer escorted Samson out. At times, David didn’t know what to think. All he knew was he couldn’t stand being caged much longer. The sound of Samson’s long stride faded. He did look forward to their visits. They helped maintain his sanity.

* * *

Samson stared out the window of their cramped office onto the parking lot a few floors below. It was raining outside and people darted to and from their cars.

What is David running from?

The terror in David’s black eyes when he mentioned Rosa threw Samson. He’d caught him off-guard on purpose, but David’s reaction was past shocked. Core-shaking fear had gripped him.

Alton drew his hands through his brown hair. “Are you out your damned mind? You want me to waste the little time we have finding Rosa Shields? You’ve gotten too buddy-buddy with him. I’m trying to bring down a cartel, and you want to play matchmaker.”

“You didn’t see him. When I mentioned her name, he turned from a black man to a white ghost. He’s protecting her. Finding Rosa is our only chance.”

Alton knocked a stack of folders off his laptop onto his messy desk. “Fine. I’ll do it.” He pushed piles of papers about. “Have you seen the adapter to my laptop?”

“Clean your desk.” He unplugged the power adapter from his laptop and handed it to Alton. “How long do you think it’ll take you to find her?”

“Too long. But we don’t have anything else. Ernesta Wells covered her tracks too well.”

“I can’t believe I didn’t think of Rosa before. David’s been acting strange for the past few weeks. He’s been obsessed with flowers.”

“If she’s alive, I’ll find her. Hell, you’re probably right. I’ll lay odds she knows who his partner is.”

CHAPTER FOUR

Rosa jumped at the chance to leave Chicago for Miami. Ever since Harriet acted up at the party, Rosa had needed a break from her mother. She unzipped her garment bag and hung its contents in the hotel closet. She would have stayed at Ernesto’s, but the hotel was only a few blocks away from the work site. Opening a second office in Miami looked better every day. In the past three months, she’d picked up nine new clients in the area, and traveling expenses were climbing. She usually sent a technician to conduct estimates, but she would take this opportunity to visit Anna.

She might need to crawl on the floor to see portions of the current computer network configuration, so she kept a pair of dark brown twill slacks and a gold cotton blouse to wear.

Hackers had attacked this client’s network three times. Word of her firewall protection had spread like wildfire, and this customer contacted her firm.

On the flight, she’d read through the list of software the company presently used and discovered an incompatibility that made the company’s network vulnerable. As she organized the closet, she organized her day’s schedule.

Thoughts of cramming a two-day job into one tired her out. The day being Friday made matters worse. No one wanted to work on Friday, including Rosa. But if she finished early, she could spend the weekend with Anna until Ernesto finished working, then they could all enjoy a family outing. After the way Harriet had shown her butt, she thought her and Anna could use some special time. Recollections of Ernesto telling her that women needed their alone time came to mind. At the time she felt like he was trying to get rid of her, but now she realized he was correct. She’d enjoyed her times with Anna and prayed someday she could enjoy her time with her mother.

* * *

Thoughts of Ernesto’s impending doom had Harriet giddy. She’d been waiting years for this moment and could barely contain her excitement. Showered, perfumed, and dressed in her normal designer attire, she strutted into his Miami office as if she owned the place.

Ernesto pointed the remote control at the wall across from him. It was tiled with flat screen televisions, each playing a different news channel. “What do you want?” He lowered the volume on the one he’d been listening to.

Afraid of heights, she stood in the center of his office. His back wall was floor to ceiling windows. Even though she was at least ten paces away, she felt as if she’d fall. Lightheaded, she lowered herself into one of the leather armchairs in front of his desk. The only reason she selected her high-rise condo was because it was the most expensive; thus in her opinion, the best.

As a child, she’d had nothing but the abuse of perverted men because her no good father only stuck around long enough to get Harriet’s mother pregnant twice. Her mother had to beg men for money to keep food on the table, clothes on their backs and a roof over their heads. Harriet had fought her entire life to be on top. And now, thanks to her visit with David, she’d be rich and Ernesto would fall. He’d fall for all of the men who had used her mother. He’d fall for every man who had tipped into her room while her mother was passed out drunk in the living room. He’d fall for taking her daughter from her. He’d fall.

He shoved his suit sleeve up slightly and checked his Rolex. “Already 2:30. Of course, you’re drunk.”

“I haven’t had a drink all day,” she snapped. “I’m here to apologize for my behavior the other night.” She drew in several deep breaths, then went over to the wet bar, sure to avoid the lovely fifteen-story view.

“You should be apologizing to Rosa and Anna, not me. Now what do you really want? If it’s money, forget it. I give you more than enough.”

She poured herself a cola, wishing it were brandy. With Ernesto out of the way, Rosa would need a sober mother. “Why must we always fight?” Memories of some of their better times brought a lazy smile to her face. “We were so good together in the bedroom. Why couldn’t we take it elsewhere?”

“I’m not sleeping with a drunk.”

* * *

“Hello, Mrs. Walker.” Rosa liked Ernesto’s assistant. The middle-aged woman always had a genuine smile and funny stories about her family to share.

“Well hello there, stranger. You’re early. It’s only 2:53.” She waved Rosa fully into the front office.

“Want me to leave and come back?”

Mrs. Walker giggled. “You sound like your father. I hear you had a birthday.”

“I’m thirty years old. All grown up,” she said with pride.

The assistant’s clear blue eyes opened wide in feigned surprise. “The big three-O? Congratulations!”

Rosa tilted her head graciously. “Thank you.” She headed for the large wood doors across from Mrs. Walker’s desk.

“Two things before you go back. First, Ernesto wants you to apply the new patch to the network.”

Rosa plopped her hands on her hips. “I hired a perfectly good system administrator to do these things. It’s just an upgrade, not a big deal.”

“Talk to your father. You know how he is.”

“You’re right. I’m sorry. I’ll install it from his office.”

Ernesto barely allowed anyone to touch his networks besides Rosa. She blamed herself. Her time in college as a hacker had him paranoid. She laughed at herself, thinking she’d shown him things no “normal human” should see. At the time, he hadn’t found her hacking funny and made her find legal outlets for her abilities.

A few years ago, she’d linked the Bolívar International network to the computer at her home, so she could apply patches and updates and fix problems when possible. Working as Ernesto’s lead system administrator and running her own business was like having three full-time jobs. She shook her head.

No wonder I don’t have a love life.

“What’s the second thing?”

“You’re mother’s in there with him now.”

Shoulders slumped, Rosa asked, “Has she been drinking?”

“I don’t think so, honey.” Mrs. Walker pressed the button to unlock Ernesto’s door. “Why don’t you peek in and see if it’s safe?”

“Good thinking.” Rosa gently cracked open one of the large oak doors.

“You were a good lay,” Harriet said. “But nowhere near as good as David Martín.” She giggled and shook her body as if a shiver had gone up her spine. “I still tingle from his love-making.”

Rosa had heard the name somewhere before. Trying to figure out why the name was so familiar, she closed her eyes. He was obviously one of the men her mother cheated with, but this felt more recent.

“Then have him pay to support you.”

“You’re just jealous because he’s Rosa’s father and not you.”

“What?” Rosa burst fully into the office and went straight to her mother. “What are you talking about?”

Harriet released the cola as she drew her hands to her face. “Oh my God!” She looked around the office as if for help. “I…I…I didn’t mean…” She stumbled on the spilled ice as she rushed past Rosa to one of the chairs in front of Ernesto’s desk and grabbed her purse. “I’m sorry,” she cried as she ran out.

He’s Rosa’s father and not you,
her mother had said.

Rosa felt faint. Ernesto quickly rounded his desk and helped her to a couch in his office. He encouraged her to lie on the sofa.

She stared blankly into his light brown eyes a long while, trying to figure out what just happened. “David Martín is my father?” she uttered.

“I’m your father.”

“This doesn’t make sense. Why would Mom say you’re jealous of this David?” The picture taken of her and Ernesto on the Odyssey was displayed on the end table, mocking her. “Oh my God,” she gasped. “Why don’t I look anything like you or Mom?”

“He was nothing more than a sperm donor.” He wrapped his arms around her. “I’m so sorry you found out, baby. I’m so sorry for everything.”

As always, she felt secure in his arms. But her life had just spun out of control, and she needed answers, not to break down. “Who is David Martín, and why did you lie to me all of these years?”

“I was protecting you. I’m about to ask the impossible. Pretend you never heard of David Martín. Times have changed. I have changed.”

She focused on the wall of flat screens, and it clicked; she recognized the name. “He’s that drug lord guy, isn’t he?”

She shot up from the couch and crossed the room to Ernesto’s desk. She grabbed the remote and surfed the channels on the wall. Sure enough, there was a report about the reputed drug lord David Martín’s execution.

She’d always flipped the channel or ignored the reports about David, but now she stared at his picture and saw her eyes, her hair, her complexion.

Ernesto slowly stepped behind her and caressed her back. “Breathe, baby, breathe.”

She gazed over her shoulder into his worried eyes.

He gently shook her. “Breathe, Rosa!”

She crossed the room and turned the two leather armchairs in front of Ernesto’s desk to face each other, then sat in one and motioned toward the other. Emotions replaced by disassociation, she asked, “Why do you know this man? And how did you end up with his child?”

Ernesto took the second seat. “Drop this, baby. You’re better off not knowing.”

“No more lies. No more secrets. I can’t live like that! I won’t.” Staying detached was impossible; this wreck was her life. She softened along with her voice.

He leaned forward, taking her hands into his. “I’m not perfect. I’ve made so many mistakes.”

“I never expected you to be.” No matter how hard she tried, the reality of what she’d just learned was too difficult to grasp, to accept.

After a long pause, he said, “As foster children, the only constant thing David and I had in our lives was each other. We were best friends.” He took on a far-away look. “He even saved my life. He needed me, and I couldn’t turn my back on him. A life for a life,” he said proudly, then lowered his gaze into his lap.

The guilt in his eyes scared Rosa. She couldn’t imagine what he’d done to honor the life for a life pledge. She prayed raising David’s child was all, but knew there was more.

“I’ve made so many mistakes. Back then, I felt I owed him my life. In a way, I wanted to be David. He had this presence…” He sighed. “I can’t explain it. I was trapped by the allure for a while, but I’ve changed.”

“Is Bolívar International a front for his drug cartel?” Though her faith in her father cracked, her voice didn’t. “I’ve heard of legitimate businessmen doing that sort of thing.” That she could even consider Ernesto was a criminal sickened her.

Without missing a beat, he lifted his head and calmly answered, “No,” then lowered his head. “I’m ashamed of my past. I want to leave it there.”

Relief washed over her. Though she didn’t agree with him, in a way she understood why he hadn’t told her about David. The important thing was Ernesto was her father, the man she loved, respected, and adored—not some lying, conniving criminal. “We all make mistakes. Mom’s a mess, but because I know the truth, I can deal with it. Not knowing will drive me crazy.”

It tore her heart out seeing Ernesto so defeated. She really didn’t want to hear anything that would shatter the image of her perfect father. But, the one lesson she’d learned from Harriet was that hiding from the truth did more harm. She’d sworn to stop enabling Harriet to hide from the truth, and she had to do the same with herself and Ernesto. Still not ready to consider that someone else was her father, she went on. “If you two were so close…did you do anything illegal?”

“Leave the past in the past, Rosa. The here and now is what’s important.”

“Daddy, please. Did you do anything illegal?”

“I used to launder money for David.”

Breathing had become almost as difficult as comprehending what was happening. This was all too much, too fast, too unreal.

He walked over to the window and looked over the city. “I know I was wrong. I’m a different person now.”

Mind racing a thousand places with no destinations in site, she silently prayed for the strength to pull herself together. “How did you end up with me?” Afraid of the answer, she watched the giant of a man—who now looked minuscule and beaten—she loved as her father.

Eyes closed, he leaned his head against the glass. “Harriet cheated on her husband with me.”

Rosa choked on Ernesto’s words. “What?” She rushed to his side. “Mom was married before you?” Her world spun out of control. She held onto Ernesto for balance, but he couldn’t balance her. Not as before. She no longer knew who her parents were. “How could you sleep with a married woman?” was the best question she could muster.

“I didn’t know she was married at the time. I also didn’t know she was screwing my best friend. Your mother divorced her husband and married me. I loved her, but a few months into the marriage, I found out she married me for my money.”

Rosa hated to admit it, but this sounded like something Harriet would do.

“I didn’t find out Harriet was sleeping with David until you were born looking like him. To make a long story short, David and I had a huge argument and decided to go our separate ways. He couldn’t raise a child, and throughout the pregnancy, I’d thought you were mine. Our last act of friendship was to do what was best for you. I loved you as mine.” He caressed her face. “I love you as mine. You are mine.”

There was no doubt in her heart that Ernesto loved her. And no matter what the DNA said, he’d always be her father. Yet, she couldn’t reconcile him being a money launderer—a criminal. He didn’t fit the image. He’d instilled in her how important the rules of society were and had a no tolerance policy on crime. He’d even threatened to call the authorities on her for hacking into networks.

“You were actually friends with a drug lord.”

“I was young, dumb, and had a skewed sense of honor and friendship. When David slept with my woman, I knew we had to end our friendship. He’d crossed the line.”

“Why did you stay with Mom?”

“Knight in shining armor complex, I guess. I loved her and thought I could save her. That’s why it hurts me so much to see you doing the same. We can’t save Harriet. Only Harriet can save Harriet.” He paused. “I thought if I gave her everything her heart desired, she wouldn’t stray; but she was unappreciative and became disrespectful. The last straw was when she had an affair with a lawyer friend of mine. He told her to divorce me, and they could live off the alimony and child support.”