She’d have given anything to be a part of it. Tears welled in her eyes. Sam noticed.
“I’m sorry. You sure you want to hear this?”
“Yes.”
“I’d gotten trapped inside this organization so young. He preached all the time about me finding a life for myself outside it. I think,” he said, pulling her back to him, “he took me in after my dad died to make up for not being there for you.”
“What do you mean?”
“I think he thought he could somehow make up for the time he lost with you, by saving me. He saved my life. You were all he talked about when we were alone. When he asked me to keep you safe if anything happened to him, I gave him my word.”
She stepped back. “He talked about me? That’s not possible. He never called, never wanted me …” Kirin’s voice cracked. Sam reached out and pulled her back and held her.
“I promise, it’s true. He adored you and regretted his whole life that he had to leave you.”
Tears pooled in her eyes. It infuriated her that her father’s approval still held so much power.
Sam kissed her forehead.
After pizza and slow dancing to eighties music, Kirin decided it’d be best if she went home. Sam protested, but she couldn’t stay. Her morning would start way too early to drive to Atlanta and meet Kidd.
He finally gave in stating he’d only get a few hours of sleep before heading to the airport anyway. As she gathered her purse and sweater, Sam scooped her into a desperate, goodbye-like hug. Kirin pulled away and eyed him. “You’re coming back to me, right?”
“Sure.”
“And this wasn’t a dream, right?” Kirin closed the gap and laid her head on his chest.
“Yeah, it was a dream. Tell me when you wake up, okay?”
Kirin pinched him, and he growled.
“You sure you can’t stay?” He leaned down to kiss her.
“No, I gotta go,” she said, squeezing him one last time before he walked her to the car.
“Wait, are you gonna follow me home?” Guilt ran through her.
“I always do.” Sam smiled.
“See you.”
“Not if I see you first,” He said, shutting her car door. She glanced up at her rearview mirror and found him gazing at her. It took all she had not to turn around and go back.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The first pitch was to be thrown at one o’clock. Kidd said they’d meet after the third inning. The plan was she’d buy food in the mezzanine, and he’d find her. They’d joked he’d be easy to spot since he’d be wearing his favorite Philly’s hat, and she’d have on an orange University of Tennessee baseball T-shirt in a sea of Braves red and blue.
The drive wasn’t bad, three hours from Knoxville to Atlanta if there wasn’t any traffic. There were a host of things she was good at but having a natural ability for navigating interstates wasn’t one of them. So, she gave herself four full hours to get to Atlanta, find the stadium, park, and run inside.
As she drove, her mind wandered to the night before. She couldn’t believe how she’d fallen for Sam overnight. It was so natural being around him. Her face turned hot as she remembered making love to him. What was she thinking? Stacy would be proud, though. She probably wouldn’t tell Laura even though Laura wouldn’t judge. She never did.
At Turner Field, she lucked up and found a space in the Green lot. It was the closest parking to the entrance, but still several hundred feet away from the gate. She took a Braves bus to get to the front entrance to pay. Looking around, her idea to wear a UT shirt was not her brightest. People stared at her as if she was special, and not in a good way. Most everyone else was decked out in Braves attire except her. Oh, she’d be easy to spot all right.
Kirin walked through the giant wrought iron gate and bought her ticket. She navigated the sea of people and found her seat. A real MLB baseball game, but not her first.
Memories flooded back. She’d forgotten her dad took her to a Braves game once when she was six. As soon as they’d entered the gate, she’d thrown up. Too much junk food and excitement on the drive to Atlanta she guessed. She smiled reliving the memory. A partially good memory, for once. She remembered little about the stadium since she only saw the entrance, but the field was more vibrant than she’d imagined it would be.
The first pitch was thrown. The sun beamed down on the stadium, warming her skin. She squinted even with sunglasses on, trying to follow the game. It was the first inning and fans were still filling the empty chairs around her. When the second inning kicked off, Kirin’s stomach rumbled. She trotted up the steps to grab a pretzel. She could always eat a hotdog in the third inning. Halfway to the top two recently-familiar faces caught her eye to the left of the stairs.
Shit. You’ve got to be kidding me? She kept her pace steady and glared as she ran up the steps. Fear flew out the window and only anger filled the space. Scar had his head down texting, but Babyface looked up. Their eyes locked.
Kirin scowled. “Morning,” she muttered, loud enough for everyone to hear. Babyface looked stunned. And then it hit her. Oh, no. If they followed her to get a hotdog after the third inning, she’d never find Kidd. Kirin turned and sprinted into a store filled with Braves swag. Time to devise a plan.
She’d ditch her current seat, make sure she wasn’t followed and find a new seat on the other side of the stadium. She hoped Scar was still texting and Baby Face hadn’t followed her yet, but somehow sensed they were outside the shop. She bought a Braves T-shirt and hat, stuffing them and the receipt inside her purse, then sauntered as if she had nowhere to be, toward the bathroom as if it was an afterthought.
Like it was a race, she changed her shirt and pulled all her hair inside the cap. She crammed her sweater and UT shirt inside her purse and walked alongside a gaggle of drunk women giggling on their way out of the bathroom. Her two goons leaned against a wall and eyed the bathroom door she’d gone into, never noticing as she crept out the other door.
Now, to search for Kidd. He wouldn’t be able to spot her without her UT gear. Feeling like an idiot, she stared at every older man with a hat on. When she’d reached what she thought must be the other side of the stadium, her stomach growled again. She spotted a hotdog stand. Thank God for food. Standing in line for a hotdog, her phone buzzed.
Sam.
Crap. He’d hear the roar of the crowd and know she wasn’t home. She couldn’t answer. She winced and hit ignore shoving the phone back in her pocket. It immediately buzzed again. She squinted, afraid to look, then clicked the message,
“Where the hell are you? I intercepted a text. Tell me you’re not at a Braves game?”
Her phone dinged again. “Woman. Answer.”
Shit. The two goons had ratted her out. She kept forgetting they believed Sam was on their side. Time to face the music. Kirin’s phone rang again.
“Hello,” She answered, trying to sound cheery and not like a teenager who got caught after curfew.
His voice was low and deceptively calm. Calmer than his texts had been. “What are you doing?”
“What?” Her voice was high and innocent, “I’m watching a Braves game, of course.”
“Kirin Lane, you listen to me. I can’t protect you if you lie and don’t tell me where you’re going. Shit. This was easier when you didn’t know I followed you. Why are you there? I want the truth.”
Kirin took a deep breath. She trusted him. Knew him. He wouldn’t put her in harm’s way, so she told him. “I’m meeting someone here, Sam. Someone who has a page in the book. He was a friend to my family.”
The phone went silent, “You still there?”
He blew out a long breath, and when he yelled, his voice shook with anger.
“Damn it, Kirin! It’s a trap. When I tell you to stay put, stay put!” His rapid breath told her he paced the floor. “Shit, Shit, Shit. How am I gonna get you out of this?”
“Sam,” Kirin interrupted, “he has a page in the book.”
“Everybody
knew about that damn book. Vigilantes have even been paid handsomely to get it, no matter the cost.”
“May I help you?” The lady behind the counter asked as Kirin moved up. Her hands shook as she looked over the menu sign.
“Can I get a hotdog with relish and mustard, and a medium Dr. Pepper, please.”
No sooner had she spoken then the man behind her whispered in her ear, “I thought you’d order popcorn.” Then he said to the cashier, “Double that order, please and I’m buying.”
Kirin twisted around to find a kind-faced, white-headed senior citizen smiling at her. He wore a Philly’s cap way back on his head and a Mr. Rodgers cardigan. Kirin shoved her phone, still connected to Sam, into her pocket. She hoped he could hear the conversation. Her purse was crossed tight over her body and she knew from his bent stance she could outrun him if she had to. She must have looked terrified, he stepped back and apologized.
“I’ve startled you, haven’t I? I’m sorry. Good God, Kirin, you look exactly like your mama.” He smiled and put his hand on her shoulder.
This wasn’t a menacing man. And she didn’t feel threatened. She had to believe he was on her side at least for now.
The lady behind the counter said, “Twenty-four dollars, please.” Kidd reached around her and put twenty-five dollars on the counter. Kirin was grateful she didn’t have to dig around for money and expose the book.
“Thank you,” she said.
“Wanna go find a table?”
Tall tables without chairs lined the common area for fans to grab a bite during the game. They picked one near the exit. Kirin snuck her phone out face down next to her. She hoped Sam was listening to ease his worry. As soon as they were both settled, Kidd motioned for Kirin to take a bite. She picked up her hotdog and took a bite larger than she meant to, coughed a little, and peered at him through watery eyes. His smile reached up to kind pale blue eyes as he leaned forward and whispered fast.
“I’ll get right to it. The book in your possession contains information that will shut down an organized crime ring to which your dad and I unwillingly belonged. Kirin…” He hesitated, then scrubbed a hand over his wrinkled face. “You have to believe me when I say, your dad and I had no idea what kind of business we were getting into. On the surface, the business helped young women with little fortune flee from poverty, slavery and war in other countries and brought them to the U.S. But underneath, it was much worse.”
He sighed heavily, then his gaze darted around them. He lowered his head and continued, “There’s more than one set of operatives here looking for you. Your dad and I had been friends since the Marines. And I want you to understand, we were both drafted into this club. We had no choice, nor did we know the truth.
“Your dad placed clues in that book that will shut down the entire existence of The Club. Good men, forced as we were, would love to get out but can’t find the way without endangering their families. You are the way. You alone can crush it. Your dad loved you, Kirin, but Saul enacted the wives’ and daughters’ clause. And this was why he was forced to leave you.”
Kidd looked around again, then nodded at her. Kirin closed her gaping mouth then took another bite, smaller this time.
“See,” he continued, “if someone had attributes the boss wanted, but they were reluctant to join or didn’t cooperate, he’d go after the females in that man’s life. Wives, daughters, and in some cases, moms. Sometimes he ordered for them to be kidnapped and tortured and sometimes terminated. If the man had a son, he’d coerce him into service too.
“If someone ratted them out, disobeyed an order or disappointed Saul, their wives or daughters were dead. Nobody crosses Saul.”
Kidd swallowed his last bite, took a deep breath and reached out for Kirin’s hand. Without hesitation, she gave it to him. “That’s how your mom died, Kirin. Your dad refused to move to California and be Saul’s money man. Oh, Saul covered it up and said it was an accident, but we all knew the truth.”
Tears pooled in Kirin’s eyes at Kidd’s touch. She squeezed them shut for a moment. Finally, the truth about her mom. A slow burn of hatred for Saul flamed low in her gut. When she opened them, he continued.
“Your dad knew the truth. He decided right then he’d protect you from all of it, even if it meant he couldn’t be in your life. He couldn’t take losing you, too.
“They know you felt abandoned. And they know you hate him. The Club is counting on those feelings to make you toss the book and the secrets it holds, aside. Saul thinks he’s won because you don’t know how your mama died and you don’t care about going on some silly journey for the truth to defend a man you hated.
“So I’m here, risking my life, to tell you your dad loved you more than I can describe. I hope by finding the truth about The Club, you also rediscover your love for him.”
Kidd let go of Kirin’s hand and swooped up his drink. His eyes darted back and forth as he sucked down half his Dr. Pepper before speaking again.
“Your dad was my best friend. I owed him my life on more than one occasion. I couldn’t have called myself his friend if I didn’t come here today to speak to you. You’ll find if you dig far enough, the corruption and crime go deep.
“Saul ordered several murders, Kirin, and your dad had proof. You gotta figure out whatever information he had and get it into the hands of the authorities. You’ll need hard evidence and proof to bring Saul down.”
He stopped for a minute and glanced behind her. Fear flashed in his eyes. When they locked eyes again, his softened. “I won’t be returning home.”
Kirin’s jaw dropped and Kidd clearly noticed. He smiled. “I’ll be fine young lady, don’t you worry. Your dad talked me into buying a retirement place out of the country. I’m all packed. It’ll be much harder for them to find me once you blow this story wide open, which Kirin, is what we all desperately hope you’ll do.”
With that, he walked around the table, kissed the top of her hat and pointed at her phone. “And that’s the reason your protector hasn’t ever gotten close to people. He didn’t want to lose a wife or a daughter. I hope together you two can bring down the establishment and be happy. You both deserve it.”
He never looked back as he ducked down the ramp and disappeared into the crowd.
Far off, as if in a dream, the crowd roared, and the announcer droned on about the 4th inning. She sat in frozen, stunned silence. Kidd was gone. She didn’t get to ask a single question, but she knew way more than she had. Her father loved her. He didn’t want her to suffer her mother’s fate.
And Saul had her mother killed and forced her father to abandon her. He’d ripped her happy little family from her when she was eight.
She would destroy him.
Chapter Twenty-Three
“Kirin!” Sam’s voice rang out on her upside-down phone. She picked it up and held it to her ear. “I’m here.”
“My God. Was that Kidd? How in God’s name did you find him? Nobody knows his real name.”
“He found me,” she answered, “and then I found his name in my Dad’s book and contacted him.” She closed her eyes. “Sam?” Her voice held remorse.
“Yeah?”
“I’m sorry I lied to you. I had to know the truth.”
“You got lucky. He could’ve been someone sent to hurt you to prove a point.” He exhaled. “We gotta stick together, Kirin. And you gotta trust me enough to tell me what’s going on. I heard … he told you about your mama, didn’t he?”
“Did you already know?” she asked, harsher than she’d meant.
“I knew the rumor. I didn’t want you to know. I’d hoped we could give the book back, and he’d leave us alone. Kirin,” Sam pleaded, “you’ve gotta get this outta your mind. I know how stubborn you are, but now is not the time to get even. Let’s get all of us out of this mess and go on with life. We can’t beat him.”
Watch me.
“Listen to me. I’ve got a plan that might work, so we’re all safe. But I need time and for you to trust me
.”
“Was Kidd right? Was that why you never got involved?”
“Mostly. And because I didn’t have you. Seeing other men grieve, I made a vow never to be in that situation. They used my mother against me once …” Sam went silent, then continued. “I never planned to bring anyone into this mess. I tried hard not to fall for you. Convincing myself standing you up was the right thing to do. I knew then, I was in too deep.”
“What changed?”
“The idea you’d find someone else. And knowing you were supposed to be mine.” His voice was still tight and strained, but her heart did a little happy dance as the corners of her lips curved.
“I am sorry I worried you. I promise I’ll never do it again.” Her grin widened.
“Sure you will. Woman, it’s part of your DNA to worry the shit out of me.” His voice turned serious again. “My meeting didn’t go to plan so I’m coming home. Think I could drop by the house tonight?”
“I’d like that.”
“Be careful, please.”
“Always.”
He laughed as the phone disconnected. She glanced around at the sea of red and blue Braves fans, snatched up the rest of her hotdog and drink, and jogged back to her car.
~*~
Driving home, Kirin’s mind kicked into gear like the cogs of a clock on steroids. She knew what she had to do. She had to put her all into solving this puzzle and defeating this man.
She had to do it for her mom, her dad, and all the people who’d been hurt or killed by him and his organization. But most of all, because she’d never have peace, or a relationship not based on fear with Sam until that shadow was gone from their heads.
Kirin dialed her Uncle Dean’s cell about halfway from Atlanta to Knoxville, hopeful that he’d deciphered the code. “Hey, how’s Dollywood?” Carnival music played in the background. They were still inside the park.
“Hey there, honey. Oh, it’s a blast. How was the baseball game?” God love him, he sounded tired.
Entangling: Book One of the Kirin Lane Series Page 18
