Runaway Wolfes of Manhattan Three - Helen Hardt Page 0,58
my arms would be around her while she did it.
Damn it, I would not let her bear this alone. Why was she so determined to cut me out? Nothing could be that bad.
Nothing.
Eventually, two people I recognized walked through the lobby. Rock Wolfe and his wife, Lacey.
I stood. “Hey, Mr. Wolfe!”
They walked toward me swiftly.
“Rock, please. Mr. Wolfe doesn’t suit me.”
His wife smiled. “It certainly doesn’t.”
“Why didn’t you come back to the wake?” Rock asked.
“It was a family affair. Besides, you heard Riley. She didn’t want me there.”
“Look, man,” Rock said. “Riley… She’s been through some serious shit.”
“I got that impression.”
“So you may want to just let her…” He raked his fingers through his hair. “Let her go, man.”
Lacey whipped her hands to her hips. “Let her go? Seriously, Rock?”
“Lace, I’m trying to help him.”
“Look at him. He’s clearly in love with her.”
Rock’s jaw nearly dropped onto the marble floor. “Huh?”
I didn’t have the strength to lie. “I am. I love your sister.”
“How is that even remotely possible?”
“Beats the shit out of me.” I plunked back down on the plush couch. “I’ve never felt this way before. She struck me like lightning. Got under my skin.”
“I think you might be able to relate, Rock,” Lacey said.
“Yeah. yeah. But this is my baby sister.”
“She’s a grown woman,” Lacey reminded him.
“She is, but she’s been through so much.”
“She has,” Lacey agreed.
“Wait a minute.” I stood back up. “She mentioned demons. What the hell are you talking about?”
Rock sighed. “I’m afraid she’ll have to tell you that when she’s ready. If she’s ever ready.”
“I came two thousand miles to find her,” I said.
“You did. And don’t take this the wrong way, but are you looking for her money?”
My right hand curled into a fist and I had to stop myself from punching Rock Wolfe’s smug nose. “I’ll let that go, friend, but only because we just met and you don’t know me. But if you knew where I came from, you’d know that money doesn’t mean a damned thing to me. I have a great life, though a modest one.”
Rock let out a low chuckle. “Brother, I do know where you came from.”
I nodded.
“Montana’s an amazing place. Big sky country. As close to heaven as you can get. It will always be my home, no matter where I’m actually living. Lace, you mind a quick trip to the bar? I want to buy Matt here a drink.”
“You go ahead,” she said. “I think I’ll go back to the suite. I’m exhausted.”
Rock kissed her lips. “Okay, babe. See you in a few hours.”
“Nice to meet you, Matt.” Lacey waved
Rock turned to me. “Let’s get a drink. I’m going to tell you my story.”
“I still have my cabin,” Rock said. “And not a day goes by that I don’t miss the fresh air and sunshine. Not to mention riding those hills on my Harley. It’s freedom, man. Pure freedom.”
“So why’d you end up back here?” I asked. “I mean, New York has the Met and all, but it sure doesn’t have fresh air and sunshine.”
“It’s a long story,” he said.
“Okay, then. How did Riley end up in Montana? And why was she calling herself Chloe Mansfield?
He widened his eyes. “Who the hell is Chloe Mansfield?”
“Riley’s alter ego, apparently. She has a driver’s license in that name. Chloe L. Mansfield. That’s how I knew for sure she’d been lying to me. When she first told me her name was Riley, she said it was her middle name. I happened to see her ID, which showed that her middle initial was L. It wasn’t until the florist in town showed me a spread in a fashion magazine that I figured out who she actually was. But I already knew she wasn’t Chloe L. Mansfield.”
“That fucking bastard,” he said under his breath.
“What? Who?”
“I’ve told you all I can, man.” He finished off his bourbon. “The rest is up to Riley.”
“You’re really going to leave me hanging?”
“I don’t have a choice. Riley has her secrets. We all do, but not from each other. At least not anymore.”
“What family doesn’t have secrets?” I asked. “Seems pretty normal to me.”
He scoffed. “If you heard this family’s secrets, you’d realize most other secrets are harmless in comparison.”
“Rock—”
“Listen.” He signaled the bartender for the check. “Our father was murdered. You already know that. What you don’t know is that…”
“What? For God’s sake, what?”
“It’ll be common knowledge before long. The police won’t be able to keep it under wraps. All of us are suspects,