Addelaine all but floated out, the old woman willowy and thin. Hair long and silver. Grayed, blue eyes keen.
“Lillith, child,” she murmured through a tender, wrinkled smile. “It’s so wonderful to see you.”
Immediately, I went to her, wrapped my arms around her frail body, and hugged her close. She smelled like baby powder and cotton, the way she always had.
“Addelaine,” I whispered.
For a long moment, I clung to her before I forced myself to untangle from her familiar warmth. Even still, I reached out for one of her weathered hands. “Tell me how you’re holding up? Has anyone been harassing you? Have you received any more letters?”
Softly, she smiled. “I couldn’t be better.”
A frown pulled at my brow. “You don’t have to pretend for me, Addelaine. I can’t imagine the type of stress this has put you under.”
She touched my cheek. “Hmm…child…why do I get the feeling it’s you who is the one who is stressed? I told you before, whatever will be, will be.”
“And what will be is you staying put, right here, where you belong.” The words were out, strength behind them. I wouldn’t allow myself to fathom another outcome.
Her chuckle was slow as she worked her way back around the counter and began to sift through the orders she would start that day. “With you on my side? I have no doubt about that.”
“They come in tomorrow.” I glanced around the space. “The people who are trying to steal this building from you.”
I knew she wanted to hide it, but I saw the resigned fear that flashed through her features. “It’s going to be a fight.”
“A fight we will win.” I took an emphatic step forward. “We’re fighting for what’s right.”
Her smile was sad. “I’m the one who got myself in this mess, Lillith. How many years am I behind on my taxes? And now the mortgage has gone late? I’m the one who hasn’t been holding up to my end of the bargain. I took out that second mortgage thinking I’d be able to repay it, and you and I both know I just can’t. Sometimes it’s better to admit it’s time to let things go.”
If I had enough liquid cash, I would pay it off myself. But between the second mortgage and back taxes, the total was much more than I’d been able to get together. So, I’d settled on the one thing I could do—fight the battle through legal channels.
“Your family has been in this building for eighty years. You grew up here,” I told her.
Meaningfully, she looked across at me. “And so did you.”
I gulped around the emotion that threatened to seize my heart. “Yes.” I took a pleading step forward. “You saved me, Addelaine. You took me in when I had nowhere else to go. And I won’t stand for someone taking your home away from you, too.”
I fumbled over the counter and took hold of her hand again. “I promise you, I will do whatever it takes to ensure that doesn’t happen.”
She squeezed back, her eyes raking my clothing, my dress pants and heels. But most of her attention was on the coat I wore. The thick, red material sewn to become something solid.
A patchwork of healing.
I could still feel the pain in my fingertips as I’d struggled to work a needle into the coarse, heavy material when I was fifteen. I could still hear Addelaine’s voice in my ear as she’d coaxed me through it. Telling me all goals were achieved through some amount of pain.
When she’d whispered about growth and strength and had slowly but steadily helped to mold me into the woman I’d become.
She patted the back of my hand. “You’re a good girl, Lillith. You will always be the granddaughter I never had. Whatever happens, know you have made me proud.”
And that was exactly why I would do absolutely anything to make sure I didn’t let her down.
Chapter Three
Broderick
“What do you think?” James asked. He was my partner and my closest friend, and truly the only person in the world who I trusted wholly and without question.
“It looks solid to me.”
“You’re still confident?”
“Of course I’m still confident,” I returned without hesitation. I was sure he already knew the answer. I was always confident.
“Your father is going to be pissed.”
I scoffed. “When isn’t he pissed?”
“Touché.” James laughed quietly, and I could almost see him nodding. “All right then. Keep me posted after the meeting tomorrow. Good luck and let me know if you need anything.”
“I will.” After ending the call, I stuffed my cell in my jean’s pocket and slowly ambled down the bustling street of downtown. Fairy lights were strung between the buildings, crisscrossing the busy road in the downtown area that ran the edge of the lake.
It was an area that had been reinvigorated over the last ten years. Life pumped back into its veins after the mill and cannery had shut down in the eighties.
A new kind of energy thrummed the street.
Vigorous and buzzing.
This was exactly what I hoped to achieve with the revitalization project just three miles away in the old town square that had once been the focal point of this city. The one mile radius was downtrodden but bursting with possibility.
And I was a guy who was all about possibility.
Pair it with opportunity, and my visions were unstoppable.
Earlier today, I’d driven through the area, checking out the exteriors of the building we still needed to acquire.
Excitement had burned like a fucking flame as I’d taken in the untapped potential.
Then I’d checked into my suite up the block, shed my suit, and redressed before I’d headed out into the approaching night. I wanted to take in the vibe of the locals out casting aside their day-to-day cares or maybe grumbling about them.
Sit back and watch. Get a read on exactly what we were working with.
I checked my phone again, a little disappointed that I hadn’t gotten a reply from Ms. Redd after I’d invited her to meet me for drinks and whatever other activities that may arise.
Not that I’d expected her to accept.
I’d just been hoping she’d tell me to go to hell.
Maybe spar with me some more.
Amp me up to go toe to toe with her tomorrow afternoon.
My stomach tightened in anticipation. Fuck. I couldn’t wait to be in a room with her. I’d forced myself not to look her up and, instead, let my imagination run wild, envisioning everything from a ditzy Elle Woods to an older hard-assed Diane Lockhart.
I just couldn’t help myself. Sue me.
Just as I was approaching the intersection, my attention caught on a busy bar sitting on the corner. It was two stories high with an upstairs terrace. People leaned on the railing as they chatted and laughed, taking swigs of their beers and sipping their cocktails.
It was exactly what I was looking for.
Roughing an easy hand through my hair, I pulled open the door and stepped inside, gaze quick to scan the area.