Chapter Fifteen
Lilly West leanedback against the rattan chair, lifting a highball glass to her lips, but Fallon knew the amber liquid was iced tea.When she’d teased the other woman, Lilly had laughed.“Those boys of mine complained to the dads because my friends and I had a margarita party a couple of months ago down in Austin.Okay, it got a little out of hand, and a couple of us fell off one of the bridges down on the river walk.Holy hell, that water was cold.”Waving her hands as if they would erase the memory, she giggled before continuing.
“I don’t know how they got their damned hands on that blasted security tape, but they did.I’m telling you former Special Forces operators must get some sort of infusion of super sleuth they never outgrow.Their network of friends is so huge it’s positively alarming, and a bigger group of tattletales you’ll never encounter, I promise you.Anyway, after they whined to my husbands, I’ve seized every opportunity to feed their hysteria just to make them look ludicrous.It’s so much fun to make them look ridiculous when Del and Dean can tell I’m perfectly sober when they come to rescue me.This is the third time this week I’ve had a chance to mess with my sons’ over-the-top meddling.When the others show up later, I might go for four and set a new record.”
Fallon burst out laughing.It was easy to see why Lilly and her mother had been friends.They were both completely aware of their power over the men in their lives and had no qualms about using it.At the same time, everything about Lilly West screamed honesty.On the few occasions Fallon met her, Lilly always radiated beauty from the inside out.More importantly, the other woman had always been as genuine as anyone Fallon had ever met.
Sensing Fallon’s need to move their conversation along, Lilly reached over to pat Fallon’s hand.“I know you want answers, Fallon.And you deserve them.I hope I can help.”Taking a deep breath, Lilly didn’t seem to choose her words as much as she was letting go of any lingering feeling she was betraying a long-held confidence.“Your mom knew I only agreed to protect their secrets as long as you were safe.I made it clear before she ever confided in me, nothing was sacred if you were in danger.”Fallon was sure she hadn’t done a good job of hiding her surprise because her mother’s friend grinned.
“I have paperwork for you, Fallon.Insurance policies I’m sure you don’t know about, assets that wouldn’t have shown up in any of the court’s searches.I know you’ve started to suspect your parents’ jobs were cover stories, and you’re right.They worked for multiple agencies in various countries.Keep in mind those groups often have competing agendas.They eventually landed too high on a hit list to escape the consequences.”
“How?Why?”Fallon felt like someone had pulled the rug out from under her… again.“Was anything they said the truth?”
“Their love for you was as real as any I’ve ever seen.They tried to get out of the business a few times when you were young, but they were too valuable to let go.I was listed as your mother’s sister on all their paperwork, so you’d have come to me immediately if anything happened to them.When it became clear, the danger was ramping up as a result of their attempts to retire, they reluctantly agreed to stay, but I knew they’d lost faith in what they’d always seen as their mission.”
Fallon’s head was spinning.When she realized there were black dots dancing in her vision, she took a deep breath, hoping to bring herself back to an even keel.Pulling in another deep breath, Fallon felt Lilly’s hand brush away a strand of hair that had blown over her face.
“I’m sorry.I tend to blurt out information when I know it’s going to be unpleasant.I supposed it comes from spending so much time surrounded by alpha men.They all seem to believe ripping off the bandage in one fell swoop is better than nudging it gently away from tender tissues.Just so we’re clear, I’m absolutely throwing them under this bus.”Fallon felt her heart melt.Lilly West was a mother to the depths of her soul—she was doing everything she could to make things easier for Fallon, though the task seemed impossible.
“Do you have any idea what they were working on before their accident?”An accident Fallon had questioned.Local authorities had been quick to assure her they’d thoroughly investigated the incident and found no evidence of foul play.
“I’m not sure it’s relevant, but your mom mentioned they were working domestically for the first time in several years.When I asked her how it was going, she didn’t seem enthused about working closer to home as I’d expected.She made a vague reference to price-fixing among pharmaceutical companies, but I got the impression that wasn’t the only issue.”Lilly paused, lost in thought for several seconds before the cloud of a sad memory passed.
“I want you to know how much I appreciate you extending your friendship with my mother to include me.”Fallon felt her cheeks heat with embarrassment.She hadn’t intended to make the confession, it just slipped out before she could hold the words back.
“Oh honey, it’s my great honor and privilege.You were the apple of your parents’ eyes despite their poor career choice.They adored you, and it’s easy to see why.Your mom and dad were so proud of your success.”Leaning close, Lilly asked, “Do you have any idea what your dad might have put inside the puzzle?”
“No.To be honest, I hadn’t thought about it until my conversation with Tobi.I brought it with me… I brought everything that I considered important.The car I bought wasn’t huge, but it was large enough to hold what little I had.It wasn’t like I’d had time to collect much.My apartment was rented furnished, most of my college textbooks were digital, and I kept very little of the personal possessions I found in my parents’ house.”She grinned, “Our tastes never seemed to align.They bought unusual items from around the world, but most of those mementos were what I would call trinkets.Knowing what I know now, I wonder if all those cute but useless things were bought more to look like tourists than anything else.”Lilly didn’t respond right away, giving Fallon time to sort through her thoughts.
Sorting out her parents’ meager belongings after their death was a hazy memory Fallon pushed to the back of her mind as quickly as possible.Now she knew she’d been incredibly naïve.Her mom and dad had both worked as long as she could remember.Maybe it should have seemed odd they didn’t have more material possessions, but it hadn’t.Some of the things she remembered as a child had been missing, but she’d assumed her clutter-phobic mother had gone on one of her purging binges.After everything she was learning about their secret life, Fallon realized she was questioning everything.
“Don’t question their love, Fallon.”She was startled to realize the other woman had practically read her mind.“Don’t look so surprised, dear.It was written all over your face.My sons are secretive as hell with the contract missions their team takes on.I didn’t know they were doing contract work for a long time.”Lilly looked off into the distance, and Fallon knew they’d made a connection she hadn’t expected.The older woman had obviously felt left out of her son’s inner circle of confidence.Lilly was no stranger to the uncomfortable feelings Fallon was experiencing.It was a strange mixture of loneliness while surrounded by others and betrayal.
Shaking her head, Lilly flashed a smile and shrugged, “I decided that making lemonade was a waste of my skill set.Now a lemon launcher?Much more fun.As part of their penance, I made sure Kent and Kyle included me in their weapons training classes.I danced for joy when they hired a demolitions specialist.I can’t tell you how therapeutic it is to blow something up.”For the next half hour, Lilly regaled Fallon with stories about explosions and weapons.
It hadn’t taken long for Fallon to understand the younger Wests’ concerns about their mother’s wild west mentality.It was hard to imagine the elegant and always posh-dressed woman who’d been her mother’s friend as a crack shot.In the end, Fallon had been mopping her eyes, the tears from her laughter doing wonders for her spirit.She’d spent so much time during the past couple of years worrying about trying to stumble her way blindly through life as she struggled to work her way through the mind-numbing grief, Fallon had somehow forgotten how important it was to live—really live in the moment.
Laughter rang out over the grassy area between what Tobi called the Forum Shops and the spacious gazebo.The sound of their giggling friends drew Fallon and Lilly’s attention.Before they were inundated with chattering women, Fallon took Lilly’s hand in her own.“I’m grateful for your help, Lilly.I know this conversation wasn’t easy for you, and I appreciate how open you’ve been with me.”As they stood to greet the approaching group, Lilly hugged her close and discreetly slipped an envelope into her hand.
“The boys agreed to turn off the sound equipment while we were alone, but they insisted they be able to see us at all times.I didn’t want you to feel you had to share everything with them until you were ready.”Fallon noted Lilly shifted her position, so her back was to a camera Fallon noticed earlier.“Never underestimate the skills of the Prairie Winds Team, Fallon.They are the best at what they do, and that includes lip-reading.This is the information I mentioned earlier.”Wrapping her arms around Fallon in a fierce hug, Lilly whispered, “Give Carson and Silas a chance.They’re wonderful men and have been waiting a long time for a woman to love.”
Before Fallon could respond, they were swarmed by more laughter and greetings than Fallon could track.Names were thrown out along with their connection to Tobi, Lilly, or the club.She noted two women quietly admitted they were new members of the teams.Ordinarily, Fallon was good with names, but the buzz of energy along with the rapid-fire information was overwhelming.
“Oh, hell, I’m never going to remember every one of your names.Please don’t be offended when I ask you again later.I swear I’m not usually this disconnected.”Juggling multiple tasks and projects simultaneously was something she’d always taken pride in, but today it felt like her life was spinning faster than her mind could process.
“No one will mind, I promise.We’re a lot on anyone’s best day, and from what I’ve heard, you have a lot going on.Enjoy the margaritas while you can because the next batch will make your liver want to run and hide.Tobi’s mixes on the curve.”Fallon recognized the pretty Latina as Tobi’s friend and business partner, Gracie.
“Curve?There’s a curve for mixing margaritas?”Fallon snickered at the unusual reference to teaching.
“It’s a damned steep curve, too.She knows the men won’t leave us alone for long, so it’s important to ramp things up quickly.Heaven forbid anyone would walk out on their own.I swear she enjoys winding up the Doms.”
“What the hell is that?”A woman Fallon remembered introducing herself as Jen pointed at a speck on the horizon.Fallon didn’t know what it was, but it was damned impressed Jen had spotted it while it was so far away.Squinting, Fallon noted whatever the other woman saw, the damned thing was moving rapidly in their direction.
“Oh shit.The guys are going to be pissed.There’s a no-fly zone over this entire area high enough you’ll run into the pearly gates before you can glide over the compound.”Fallon watched several of the women reach for various pieces of jewelry they wore.She focused on Jen’s fingers, watching her depress a recessed button hidden in one of the chain links of the diamond-studded piece.The other woman must have noticed her interest.Grinning, she gave Fallon a saucy wink.“Sometimes our men seem over the top in their attempts to keep us safe, and then things like this happen, and I’m grateful for their care.”
Fallon raised a brow in question, but it was Tobi who answered the unspoken inquiry.“All of us pressing our alarms at the same time… oh hell to the yeah.Watch and see, it’s going to bring every member of the Prairie Winds team flying in here like a legion of avenging angels.”
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