In To Blue: Book One Of The Blue Series (16 page)

                My plan is coming together nicely.  Vendetta L.L.C. has been quite busy.  I have managed to purchase a few parcels of land that Reese Walker has been eyeing.  I also acquired some very fine race horses he was after. 

I started a small horse ranch called Vendy Ranch L.L.C on the property I bought from Mr. Lewis.  Stella hired some ranch hands as well as security to take care of the horses.   Stella even took out a feed contract with Chance.  Chance gave her a great deal since she had sold him Mr. Lewis’s remaining feed contracts.  The hardest part has been not being able to visit those horses.  It could ruin everything if I was seen over there.  This horse ranch is only temporary.  Once I bury the Walker’s, I will transfer all of Vendetta L.L.C. holdings to Foster L.L.C.

I still run into Reese from time to time.  He continues to make threats.  He is very verbal and physical when he threatens me. I have had a few close calls.  Buddy has questioned me about some bruises on my arms and some redness in my cheeks.  Buddy and I fight a lot.  He doesn’t like me going to Louisville all of the time.  He says it’s because I usually come home upset.  I come home upset because I usually run into Reese when I am in Louisville.  It is just something I have to deal with until I finally take him down.

              Coy has been sending me letters from prison.  Telling me about our time together and what he has planned for me.  It makes me sick but I read every one of them.  I still blame myself for everything that happened.  I am not as strong as I thought I was.  I am afraid of Coy.  He has a hold on me and I feel helpless against him.  I’m not over what happened nor do I think I ever will be.  I know he will be released later in the year.  I need my plan in full swing before he is released.  I know he is coming for me.  I need to be prepared for him.   I worry I will be defenseless against him.    Cutting in to the Walker’s wallets will make it easier for me to see Coy coming. 

∞

It is January and racing season is finally here.  I was going to stay on the sidelines but I couldn’t not stand not being there for Sapphires first race in Queen’s New York. Reese would have a horse in that race and I wanted to see the look on his face when his horse loses.

The air around the races is electric.  You can feel the intensity in the crowd.  Sapphire is primed and ready to go.  Reese is running a horse named Coy’s Ambition.  I know he is trying to get my attention but he will not deter me from my plan.  Sapphire and Coy’s Ambition are running in the featured race which isn’t till later in the day. 

I decided to spend the day in the owner’s box.  It’s a very large private area where owners can hang out and mingle.  It is also a place where deals can be made and that is exactly what I’m after.  This would be the great place to get my hands on more of the horses that Reese wants.

I make some great connections and got some good leads.  I stalk Reese around the room approaching anybody and everybody he spoke to.    He noticed me several times but never spoke to me.  He knows it is not the time nor the place for us to have words.  It was strange but I felt almost normal.  I was working the crowd just like my daddy used to do.  He was all business on racing days. 

It was getting close to the featured race and I was getting excited.  I wasn’t nervous. I knew Sapphire would win.  I knew what she was running against and she was the fastest horse out there.  I make my way toward the front of the room and the glass walls so I can get a good look at the track.  I see Buddy and Uncle Rex down on the outside watching from afar.  They always watched from outside.  They wanted to be as close to our horses as possible. 

I turn to grab a glass of champagne from one of the waiters and a man standing in the corner immediately catches my attention.  My heart starts beating faster and my skin tingles as my body heat rises. It’s Grant.
 
What is he doing here
?
  I notice a hand slide along is shoulder and I realize the hand belongs to Vivian Stone.  She is standing right next to him. 

What is he doing with that bitch
?
  Our eyes lock.  I’m alone and in a moment I feel so vulnerable.  I take a sip of champagne and I turn back around and look out the glass window.  I feel Grant as he walks right up next to me.  “Hello Avery.”  “Grant.
”
What in the fuck are you doing here with her? 
 
“What are you doing here?”  “I had a hot tip on a fast horse that is running in the next race.  I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to place a bet on it.”  “A bookie could have done that for you.” I smirk.  “I don’t trust bookies.”  Just as he finishes his sentence Sapphire’s race is about to start.  I get as close to the glass as possible.  I can feel Grant watching me.  He leans in and whispers “I miss you Avery.”  My heart sinks as all of the muscles in my body relax.  I maintain my focus on the track.   The horses are ready.  The gates open and Sapphire takes off like a bolt of lightning. 

Grant’s Perspective at the Race Track

We made it to the track after racing had begun.  I wanted it that way.  I place my bet for the featured race and I make my way over to Lance.  We are meeting some potential business clients in the owner’s box.  I have been making contacts with some racing owners throughout New York.  I have been collecting information and assets that could be useful in my plot against the Walker’s.  I can’t let Avery find out what I’m doing.  I have already had one close call the night she came to my office in that coat.
 
Oh, that damn coat
.
  Just thinking about that coat drives me crazy.

Lance thinks we are here for some legitimate business deals.  However, I could care less.  I wasn’t there to business deals or to enjoy the races. I just wanted to see her.  I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her.

Only two things matter in my life right now.  I want Avery back and to bankrupt the Walker’s.  I will make the Walker’s pay for what they have done to her.  I have learned a lot about the Walker’s in these past several months.  There are things I know that Avery isn’t aware of.  They are scum and they need to be dealt with.  There is one thing in particular that I’m still working on getting all of the correct details.  If my suspicions are correct, Avery would be devastated if she knew the truth  

Buddy told me she would be here.  He and I have stayed in contact over the past few months.  I worry about Avery.  Being able to keep up with Avery through Buddy makes me feel closer to her.  Buddy told me she seems to be doing ok.  He has told me that she is still depressed and angry.  Her mood changes often.  I know she is still in pain.  I know keeping her feelings buried inside is only hurting her.  He said she does have good days but she is usually distracted.  Buddy also said she goes into Louisville all of the time.  When he questions her about it, her reason is always the same.  She tells him she has errands. 

Buddy doesn’t like her going to Louisville all of the time.  He told me she comes back to the ranch upset a lot.  Also, he told me she has lost her focus.  He said she has had some mishaps lately.  He has seen bruises on her.  The only explanation she gives him is that she has fallen off Blue a few times.  Buddy doesn’t believe her.  He said that Blue would never buck her off and Avery knows how to ride a horse better than anyone.  He told me, “Avery hasn’t fallen off a horse since we were kids.”  I’m so worried about her.

I’m very nervous.  I brought Vivian.  I have no interest in Vivian.  I just want to make Avery jealous.  I know that sounds childish but her jealousy could be the opening I need to get her back.  I know it is a huge gamble and could backfire.  It’s a chance I’m willing to take.  I haven’t been with another woman since Avery.  No other woman could hold a candle to her.  I’ll do everything I can to get her back. 

I notice Lance and Vivian keep making eye contact as if they are trying to send each other unspoken signals.  I know Vivian is fucking Lance.  Those two are up to something and I intend on finding out what it is.  I hope I can trust Lance.  I will need his help at some point with my plan.  Whatever is going on between Lance and Vivian will have to be dealt with later.  My sole focus is seeing the love of my life.  I told Avery if she left me there was no going back.  I lied.  I would take her back. I love her.  I have loved her since the day she saved me from her horse that got out of control at the polo match.

We make our way to the owner’s box.   My heart starts racing.  Lance immediately starts mingling with the potential clients.  Vivian is quiet.  She is just standing beside me taking it all in.  I scan the room and spot Avery.  I’m relieved to see that she’s alone.  She is as beautiful as ever.  The mere sight of her takes my breath away.  She is wearing a fitted blue long sleeve dress that hangs just above her knees with blue heels.  She is incredible.  The dress definitely shows her curves.  Her soft supple breast, those sexy hips and her pouty lips are driving me crazy.  Her hair down and straight.  My lips curl as she brushes some loose hairs off her face. 

Damn, I miss he
r
.  I miss her scent, her skin, her smile, and her touch.  I could go on and on..   This is going to be difficult.  I’m trying to maintain my composure.  I want her so bad.  I can feel myself getting hard.  She is working the room like a pro.  Thankfully she hasn’t spotted me yet.  I could watch her all day.

I notice over at the bar someone is watching her.  It is Reese Walker.   It is enough to make me come unhinged.
 
That fucker better maintain his distance
!
  I don’t like the way he is looking at her.  He eyes are all over her.  I need to keep my cool.  I don’t want to cause a scene and upset Avery.  If that son of a bitch goes anywhere near her I will stop him.  I won’t let him hurt her.  Reese and that piece of shit son of his has put her through hell.  I blame them for loosing Avery.  If she takes me back, I’ll make damn sure those two will never come between us again.

I have big plans for him and his son.  My first order of business is to get my hands on that parcel of land that I backed out on.  He sold it to a company by the name of Vendetta, L.L.C. for twenty percent less than my asking price.  I know he did that on purpose.  I am going to try and buy it back just to make a statement.  I really want that property for my multi-use facility.  Getting that project going in Kentucky is what I need.  I want to be as close to Avery as possible. 

I have concerns about Vendetta, L.L.C.  It is a brand new company and no one know who owns it.  I’m concerned there is a connection to Reese Walker.  The company has been buying some properties he was after.  I was going to buy them before Reese did but Vendetta, L.L.C. snuck in and bought them out from underneath both of us.  The business manager Stella Thomas was hired recently.  I seriously doubt she knows who she works for.  I need to dig up as much as I can about that company since I want to do business with them. 

I’m also worried for Avery.  I know Reese is still after her ranch and once Coy is released he will be after her.  I’m afraid that if Reese has a connection to Vendetta, L.L.C. then that company could be after Avery and her ranch as well.  I will do everything I can to protect Avery.    

The featured race is about to begin.  I can see Avery is getting excited.  She makes her way to the windows in the front of the room.  She begins watching the track.  Turning to grab a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, she sees me.   Her eyes are locked on me.  I can feel the attraction between us.  It is like gravity trying to pull us together.  I see the emotion in those gorgeous blue eyes of hers.  I hope it’s not too late for us.  She turns her attention to my right.  She sees Vivian who has placed her hand on my shoulder.  Avery takes a sip of champagne, turns back around towards the windows and focuses on the race track below. 

I quickly shrug off Vivian and walk right up next to Avery.  My palms start to sweat and my heart feels as if it could explode.  “Hello Avery.”  “Grant.”  She pauses.  “What are you doing here?”  At least she is talking to me.  “I had a hot tip on a fast horse that is running in the next race.  I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to place a bet on it.”  I was hoping she would smile but she doesn’t.  “A bookie could have done that for you.”  She smirks.  “I don’t trust bookies.
”
Damn.
 
This is definitely a lot harder than I thought it was going to be. 

Bringing Vivian was a bad idea.  I can feel as if an invisible wall is building between us.  She is so distant toward me.  I’m on the verge of panicking.  I need to say something that will get her attention without making me look too desperate.  The race is about to begin and her focus is on the track.  “I miss you Avery.”  Her body relaxes but her focus remains on the race.  I look down at the track.  The gates open and Sapphire take off.

The story continues in the second book of this series Still Blue. 

Still Blue will be released in the Fall of 2015

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