A Sip of You(19)

We just sat there for a minute, not talking, as his story began to sink in. Finally, I said softly, “My heart breaks for you, William.” And it did. I couldn’t imagine the kind of loss he endured. Even Jace’s death didn’t compare with this.

He rose and ran a hand through his hair, staring toward the dark shape of the mountains. I missed the physical contact with him immediately.

“The first year was the worst,” he said, still looking away. “But it got better.” He looked at me then, and my heart twisted. I tried not to ascribe any significance to his words and that look, but it took all I had.

“My aunt and uncle tried to protect me. I started a new school in Lake Forest, where I didn’t know anyone. Unfortunately, everyone knew who I was. I’m sure you know that my family’s tragedy and my survival was all over the news for months.”

I had Googled him and read some of the articles about the plane crash, but I nodded noncommittally. This was his story to tell.

“The media dubbed me the poor little rich boy. That was when I learned money could be a curse as well as a blessing.” He began pacing, at first walking slowly without purpose, but picking up speed as he spoke. “Do you know where my money came from?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “Originally the Lambourne family owned a coffee and tea business that my great-great-great-grandfather grew into the largest institutional food supplier in the United States. My great-grandfather sold it all to a huge conglomerate and since then, the only thing the Lambourne family has made is money.” He sounded almost ashamed of this, but I couldn’t see his face because he paced away from me.

“My father was particularly gifted in investment and financial management. He took his inherited wealth and grew his portfolio via his firm, which is my firm now. He was a very wealthy man when he died.”

I wondered what constituted very wealthy to William Lambourne. I had a feeling it was more money than I could imagine.

“I inherited that wealth. I was the sole heir. That wasn’t how it was meant to be, but that’s what happened and everybody knew about it.” He stopped pacing and turned to face me. “And the first extortion attempt came when I was a freshman in high school.”

“Extortion?” I gasped, all but choking on my wine. “I don’t understand.”

He gave me a sad smile. “That’s what I love about you, Catherine.”

I blinked, telling myself he hadn’t said he loved me, just that he loved something about me. Not the same thing. I set my wine glass down and stared at him. “What do you mean by extortion?”

“I mean a threat used to elicit payment. My Uncle Charles, who also happened to be my father’s lawyer, received a series of letters from a woman who claimed to be my father’s mistress. She also claimed to have had an illegitimate son with my father and she wanted her child to receive his rightful portion of the Lambourne fortune.”

“Oh my God.” A sick feeling of revulsion rose in my throat.

“There was an investigation,” William said, crossing to me and taking his seat again. He refilled his wine glass and I noticed his hand shook slightly. “Her story was easily discredited, but that was hardly the last attempt to get my money.”

I reached for his hand, wanting to comfort him. I’d never seen him so vulnerable. It scared me.

“Less than a year later, a man was caught outside my aunt and uncle’s house with a taser gun, rope, handcuffs, a hood, duct tape—all sorts of goodies.”

I shook my head as though I could make any of this go away.

“He also had three loaded guns on him and a ransom note. He had intended to kidnap and then ransom me for five million dollars. Security was increased, but that didn’t stop the Wyatts.”

I frowned at him, confused.

“At least three different men—or their, shall we say, representatives—have made contact through the years, all claiming to either be my brother or to know where Wyatt is. Their stories as to how Wyatt miraculously survived the plane crash have varied, but the motivation has been the same.”

“Money.”

He nodded, his mouth twisting into a wry smile. “Exactly. Wyatt Lambourne could be produced for the right price. All of these men were discredited and one of them was arrested after we discovered he planned to kill me if I didn’t pay him. You’ve asked me about George before, Catherine. This is why I need him. He worked for my father and stayed on as head of my personal security detail. He has been involved in every investigation. Every single one.”

His lips grazed my knuckles. “After high school, I was sick of living my life in the shadows, but that didn’t mean I could disregard security. I had to agree to certain…measures to protect myself. And George is part of that protection.”