“That’s just the problem. What if this time next week, they’re still on this...this witch hunt? What if it’s even worse by then? They’re already damaging our brand, Gabe. A few of the hacks have started speculating as to whether our restaurants are overpriced. They’re questioning the quality of our business, whether we bribed our way into our last Michelin star. Can you believe that nonsense? It hasn’t affected our bottom line in any substantial way, yet, but I’m not prepared to sit back and watch them decimate our brand or our livelihood. Hell, a few of them are even wondering if with Harrison out of the way, I have what it takes to keep the business going. The utter gall of them!”
Gabe shrugged, still nonchalant. “Then give them something else to talk about.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Surely you don’t mean another scandal? If so, need I remind you that there are still questions about Harrison’s health?”
“Of course I don’t mean an exposé on Uncle Harrison. Come on, give me some credit. I meant give them something positive to talk about. Something that will either impress the pants off them or bore them out of their minds so they move to something or someone more salacious.”
Mariella took a few minutes to mull the suggestion over. Then she snapped her fingers. “That’s a brilliant idea, although I’m more in favor of impressing them, since apparently my daughter’s tasteful and beautiful wedding didn’t quite make the cut. We could throw a charity gala.”
Gabe’s nod was less than enthusiastic. “Or something more exciting?”
She tapped her forefinger on her bottom lip. “Well, it’s October. Halloween is almost here. Last year the Templetons threw a killer Halloween party that had everyone talking for weeks. But I know I can do it so much bigger and better...” Her finger tapped faster. “How about a masquerade ball somewhere attention grabbing? A-list invites only, of course. We sell the tickets and give the proceeds to charity. They can’t very well throw me to the wolves when there’s a worthwhile charity involved, can they?”
This time her nephew’s agreement was more energetic. “No, they can’t. And this could work very well. I have a few contacts in the media who owe me favors. I’ll make sure they’re invited. That way we’re guaranteed fair reviews.”
Mariella’s lip pursed, her hands back on her curvy hips. Against her stylish, off-white Chanel skirt suit, her perfectly manicured nails flashed an icy pale pink. “I don’t want fair. I want wow in capital letters and goddamn exclamation points.” She jerked her thumb at the discarded tablet. “I want those headlines to be wiped from everyone’s memory as soon as humanly possible.”
Gabe cracked a smile. “You ask for the world, Tía, and I will deliver it to you. Starting right now.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket.
Placated and less panicked now, Mariella even managed a small smile of her own. “You’re so good to me, querido. I don’t know where I’d be without you.”
He looked up from his phone. “I promise you, you’ll never have to find out.”
They shared a solemn, bonding look. Then a ringing phone shattered the atmosphere. It was her personal cell phone. Mariella turned and headed for the large wall cabinet where she’d dropped her purse. As she fished the phone out, apprehension gripped her nape.
Then she exhaled sharply when her fears were confirmed. “It’s the clinic,” she blurted, fear climbing into her throat and paralyzing her.
What if Harrison had taken a turn for the worse? Or, equally disturbing, what if he’d woken up? In that exact moment, Mariella wasn’t sure which scenario she preferred. Dios mío, was she a bad person to even wonder about that?
“Answer it, Tía.” Gabe was standing beside her, calm and composed as ever, his voice a touch authoritative. In that moment, he reminded her a little of her husband.
Her finger slid across the screen and she raised the handset to her ear. “Mariella Santiago-Marshall.”
“Mrs. Santiago-Marshall. I hope I’m not disturbing you—”
“You’re not,” she cut across the chief medical officer’s voice. “What is it? Is my...is there any news on my husband?”
“Oh, no. Well, yes, in a way,” Dr. Malone answered.
“Yes or no? Get to the point, please.”
“I have good news, Mrs. Santiago-Marshall. Dr. Aebischer, the doctor from Switzerland, just arrived at the clinic. He’s here to treat your husband.”
Mariella frowned. “But I thought he wasn’t able to work here—he said we’d have to transport Harrison to the clinic in Zurich?”
The administrator laughed. “Well, so did we, but it turns out his schedule has suddenly freed up and he is able to bring some of his equipment and materials. Much to our good fortune, wouldn’t you say?”
She wasn’t sure why the “good” news didn’t please her as it should. Her gaze darted to Gabe, who was staring back at her with those steady, inscrutable eyes. “Yes, it’s wonderful news. How soon can he start?”
“Right away, once you give your consent for him to examine Mr. Marshall.”
“Yes, of course. Give him immediate access.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Santiago-Marshall.”
Mariella lowered the phone, a little relieved at the readiness with which she’d given her consent. She wasn’t a bad person. She wanted the best for her husband. She wanted Harrison to wake up.
Although...
* * *
Gabe knew what was coming even before his aunt pressed End on her phone. Knew it and girded his loins against it. Mariella had grown suspicious of everything and everyone ever since she found out her husband hadn’t been as open and honest with her as she’d thought.
Suspicion was a good thing, up to a point. But he couldn’t afford for her to start probing too deeply into his affairs. He already knew she was obsessed with finding out who the Fixer was.
“Did you know that this Swiss doctor was coming to Santa Barbara?” came the predictable query. “According to Dr. Malone, he just turned up at the clinic,” she murmured.
He produced the shrug he’d been mentally practicing. “I all but ruled him out when he stormed off. But this is great news, right?” He smiled and ran his hand affectionately down his aunt’s arm. “Harrison now has the best care possible.”
Mariella returned her phone to her purse, straightened. When she smiled, it was genuine and a lot relieved. “God, yes. Finally, something is going our way. Can you believe it?”
“Sure I can. Uncle Harrison is a good man. He deserves only the best.” And he’d worked hard to make it happen. Dr. Aebischer now knew the consequences of saying no to the Fixer. It was a shame he’d had to find out the hard way.
A little carefully applied pressure, a hint of blackmail and a sudden investigation into his clinic’s practices by a particular medical board had seen the good doctor’s Swiss practice shut down for the foreseeable future.
Did Gabe care that several of the doctor’s patients in dire need of attention had been left in the lurch? Hell, no. When it came to his mentor and the only father figure he’d ever known, Gabe would breach the depths of hell itself for Harrison. And woe to anyone who dared stand in his way.
* * *
“Luc, the wedding planner’s here. Are you coming down?” Rachel’s voice filtered through from the hallway, preceding the sound of her footsteps.
In the bedroom, Luc clenched his teeth for a single second before he neutralized his features. He wished he could shake off the vile