Hidden Secrets

by Jannine Gallant

  “Are you okay? Talk to me.”

  “Yeah.” She coughed again and gasped, dragging air into her lungs. “Yeah, I’m okay.”

  “Thank God. Oh, thank God.” He brushed dripping hair off her face and kissed her, holding her tight against his chest.

  “Blaze seems okay. Do you need help?” Ryan called from above them.

  Quentin smiled at her, his eyes filled with infinite relief and love. “Do we need Ryan’s help?”

  She let out a long, shuddering breath. “No. We’ve got this. Together, we’ve got this.”

  “Damn right we do.”

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  After his meeting in the judge’s chambers, Quentin left the courthouse and hurried down the sidewalk with a lightness to his step he hadn’t felt in a long time. He truly was a free man since all charges against him had been officially dropped. As he approached the Poseidon Grill, he paused in the parking lot to look out over the cove at the three monolithic rocks guarding the entrance. The late afternoon sun sparkled off the breakers crashing on the shore. He wouldn’t let the knowledge of what those powerful waves had almost done to Paige ruin his pleasure in the moment.

  Pulling open the restaurant door, he entered the warm interior. The smell of the celebration prime rib he’d put in the oven earlier made his mouth water. Voices and laughter drifted from the dining room, and he couldn’t stop smiling as he headed past the hostess stand to join his friends.

  “Quentin!” Paige set down her glass and ran toward him. “How did it go?”

  He slid an arm around her and bent to press a kiss to her bruised cheek. Several abrasions marred her skin from smacking her face against the rock, and a nasty cut on one of her wrists was still bandaged. She was lucky she hadn’t sliced an artery. Even the thought of how differently that day could have ended made him feel a little lightheaded.

  “As my attorney promised, all charges were dropped. That nightmare is over and done with.” He squeezed her waist. “Have you been keeping an eye on our dinner?”

  Paige smiled up at him, her relief clearly visible as the tension eased from her body. “Nina’s in the kitchen checking on everything. She said something about tossing the salad.”

  “Then our meal is in good hands.”

  They joined Leah, Ryan, and Teague near the windows, and Quentin accepted a congratulatory hug and handshakes. When Keely showed him the picture she was drawing, he admired it and gave her a high-five.

  “Did you hear anything about the Stillwater brothers while you were at the courthouse? Have they been caught yet?” Ryan waited to speak until Keely went back to working on her picture.

  “Nothing specific, but the district attorney had quite a conversation with Chief Stackhouse while we were waiting to see the judge. The chief seemed pretty excited, if the way he was waving his hands and had to keep lowering his voice was any indication. Of course, it could have been an entirely different matter, but they looked my way a time or two during the discussion.”

  “They damn well better find those bastards.” Teague clenched his fists at his sides. “Before they hurt someone else.”

  “I never believed in an eye for an eye before this happened.” Leah reached over to give Paige a fierce hug. “But right now, I’d like to tie both those men to one of the Sirens out in the cove at low tide and leave them there to think about their fate for a few hours.”

  “I’d like to do worse than that.” When Paige’s cell dinged, she pulled it from her pocket and frowned. “Interesting. I wonder . . .” She typed a response then stuck the phone back in her pocket.

  “Who was that?” Quentin asked quietly.

  “Chris. He—”

  “Quentin, you’re back!” Nina hurried out of the kitchen and crossed the room to give him a quick hug. “Is it over?”

  “Yep. All the charges were dropped.”

  “Thank goodness. Now we really can celebrate.” She slid a hand over her stomach as she picked up a bottle of sparkling water sitting next to the champagne flutes on one of the tables. “Well, you can all celebrate with bubbly. Keely and I will drink milk with our dinner.”

  “Speaking of dinner, I should probably—”

  “Relax and enjoy yourself. I have it under control, but I’ll let you carve the roast beast.” Nina’s smile broadened. “That’s what Keely calls it.”

  Leah nudged her friend. “I hope you’re cooking a few vegetables back there for me.”

  “Don’t worry. I’ve got your vegetarian needs handled.”

  When the two women moved away, Quentin glanced down at Paige. “What did Chris want?”

  “I’m not sure. He asked where I was, so I told him.”

  “Is he going to crash our party? Maybe we should have had it at the house instead of here, but I wanted to give the new kitchen equipment a test run before I open the restaurant next week.”

  “I’m sure he won’t—” She glanced over his shoulder. “Or maybe he will.”

  Quentin turned. “Perfect. Just the person I most wanted to see.”

  “You can’t blame Chris for arresting you. He was only following orders. I’m prepared to forgive him since he didn’t hesitate to jump in and search for me when you called him.”

  “True.” Quentin raised a hand to wave the cop over when he paused in the doorway. “Hey, Chris. Come have a glass of champagne. We’re celebrating the fact that Paige isn’t fish food and I won’t become some criminal named Big Bubba’s girlfriend.”

  His lips curved slightly as he approached. “Charming. Actually, I came to give you an update on the Stillwater situation.”

  Paige drew in a sharp breath as the others broke off their conversations and gathered closer. “Did the police find them?”

  He nodded then glanced over at Keely, who was staring in their direction with laser focus.

  Nina held out a hand. “Let’s go check on the food, hon. Quentin baked a cake this morning. You can help me decorate it.”

  “Can I put on lots of sprinkles?”

  “You bet.”

  As soon as the two disappeared into the kitchen, Chris cleared his throat. “The brothers switched vehicles and left town the minute word broke that you and Blaze Campbell had been rescued. They stole a car from the garage where Justin works, which was how they got out of the area without being detected. Anyway, when they bought gas down in Northern California, an off-duty cop filling his tank recognized them from the photos we’d entered into the system.”

  “Did he arrest those bastards?” Quentin asked, his tone hard.

  “Jonas had a weapon in his possession, and he drew it on the officer. The cop shot and killed him at the scene. Justin was arrested. This all happened yesterday.”

  “And you’re only now telling me?” Paige’s voice rose. “I’ve been worried sick those two were still a threat.”

  “I’m sorry, Paige, but I couldn’t notify you any sooner. Justin is cutting a deal.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding.” Quentin clenched his teeth so hard they ached. “The man left two women tied up to die. Surely—”

  “Oh, he’s going to do plenty of jail time. But the DA agreed to reduce the charges in exchange for information. Jonas killed half a dozen women over the years, including Clea Merrick. Justin knew the names of each one and where the remains were buried. We figured providing closure for those families was worth taking a few years off his sentence.”

  Paige reached down to twine her fingers through Quentin’s and squeezed. “Definitely worth it. Honestly, I bet any decent attorney will use an insanity defense to get him off. My guess is Jonas had been mercilessly badgering his brother since they were young boys, telling him over and over that he had to stay loyal, no matter what. The psychological damage Justin was exposed to—”

  Quentin turned to stare at her. “Do you feel sorry for him?”

  “In a way, I do. I don’t think he’s inherently evil like his brother was, but I feel worse for poor Zeb. He shouldn’t have to face knowing wha
t his grandsons did.”

  “He won’t have to,” Chris said. “Zeb suffered a heart attack the day you were kidnapped. The officers who went out to the farm to search for the twins found him and called an ambulance. He’s been in intensive care for a couple of days, but I’m afraid he didn’t make it.”

  Paige released her grip on Quentin and pressed a hand to her mouth. Tears formed. “Oh, no. He was such a great guy.”

  Leah stepped closer and gave Paige a hug. “Maybe it’s better he didn’t have to learn the truth. I can’t begin to imagine how horrible that would have been for him.”

  “Zeb would have been just one more emotional casualty.” Paige swiped a hand across her damp cheeks. “So many lives lost. And everyone who loved the women Jonas killed will have to grieve all over again.”

  “It sucks, but better to know the truth than always wonder,” Ryan said. “Right, babe?”

  Leah nodded. “I agree. It’s good that Justin talked.”

  The cop regarded them with sober eyes. “Sorry to deflate the party mood, but I thought you’d want to know.”

  Paige wiped her eyes again and gave him a weak smile. “I’m glad you stopped by to tell us. Thanks, Chris.”

  “You bet.”

  As he turned to go, Teague stepped up beside him. “I’ll walk you out. You always seem to be the bearer of bad news in these situations.”

  “Let’s hope it never happens again. This town has been through enough.”

  As the two men crossed the room, Quentin wrapped his arms around Paige and rested his chin on her head, needing to hold her. “I have you safe beside me. Honestly, right now that’s the only thing I care about.”

  * * *

  “Sounds good, Mom. Okay, we’ll see you then.” Paige laid her phone on the counter, walked over to lock the front door, then flipped the sign over to ‘closed.’

  “How are your parents doing?” Quentin stepped across Leo, who was stretched out on the floor, napping.

  “Still a little frazzled. Thank God, they didn’t find out I’d been kidnapped until after it was all over, but my mom still feels the need to check on me daily. I told her we’d have dinner with them tomorrow night.”

  She paused halfway down the aisle to touch the horse weathervane she’d purchased from Zeb, and a sigh slipped out. When Quentin took her in his arms, she leaned against his chest.

  “What are you thinking?”

  “How happy I am that you’re in my life. How, despite everything, you make me believe in endless possibilities.”

  He tipped up her chin with one finger and kissed her. “That’s beautiful. You’re beautiful. Every inch of you, inside and out.”

  She threaded her fingers into his hair as she stood on her toes to kiss him back. “Since I’m still covered in bruises, I guess love really is blind.”

  He pressed his forehead against hers. “I was blind, all right. Blind not to see what has always been right in front of me. You’re my best friend and the love of my life. Thank you for being patient.”

  “I’m willing to slow down to make this work. We’re in this together, Quentin.”

  “No need. I’m finally up to pace.” He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her so thoroughly she melted against him.

  When he pulled back an inch, she was breathless. “Should we take this upstairs?”

  “Not yet, because if we do, I’ll forget the whole speech I planned.”

  “What the heck are you talking about?”

  He grinned down at her. “One step at a time. First, I had a conversation with Nina about her house.”

  “Oh, yeah? What about it?”

  “I want to buy it, so I made her an offer. No offense, but your apartment is on the small side. I want a place to call home in Siren Cove that will accommodate both of us . . . and then some.”

  Warmth filled her, and she couldn’t stop smiling. “That sounds awfully permanent. Leo will be thrilled to have a fulltime yard.”

  “This is where I want to be. Not in Seattle. Not anywhere else.” He stroked her cheek with his thumb. “Just here with you.”

  “What did Nina say about your offer?”

  “She said she’d give me a break on the price with one stipulation.”

  “No loud parties? No letting Leo pee on their lawn? Free babysitting service for Keely and the new baby when it arrives?”

  “Obviously, Nina didn’t think through all her options. No, she wants your name on the title, too.”

  Paige pulled back and frowned. “I’m going to have a talk with my pal about overstepping her friendship privileges.”

  “No, you won’t. I already agreed. Do you know what I want most?”

  “What?” She could barely force out the word.

  “I want our home to be the first thing we purchase together as husband and wife. You have your business, and I have mine, but a house should belong to us both, a place for our family.”

  Before she could say a word, he touched her lips with his finger. “I love you, Paige. I want to marry you and spend my life with you. I want to have kids and grow old together. I want it all.”

  Tears ran down her cheeks. “Are you sure? Really, really sure?”

  “Positive, and I could ask you the same question. Are you willing to take a chance on me?”

  “I gave you my heart long, long ago.” She smiled and blinked away the dampness. “Giving you my hand in marriage is a piece of cake. Of course I’ll marry you, Quentin.”

  “About that.” He gripped her fingers and brought them to his lips. “I didn’t buy a ring yet. Knowing you, I thought you’d want something old and unique. I figured we could search for a ring together.”

  “Oh, thank God.” She wiped away more tears. “Best call you’ve ever made . . . other than asking me to marry you.”

  “I’m not a complete moron.”

  “No, you’re not. You’re the only man I’ve ever truly loved.”

  “I plan to spend the rest of my life making you happy, Paige.” He bent to kiss her. “I promise.”

  “And I’m going to spend the rest of my life making sure you never have any regrets.” Her heart felt ready to burst with joy as she looked deep into his eyes. “Together, we’ve got this.”

  “Damn right.”

  If you enjoyed Hidden Secrets, be sure not to miss Jannine Gallant’s thrilling Siren Cove series, including

  LOST INNOCENCE

  Artist Nina Hutton finds a lottery ticket on the beach, stuffs the crumpled paper in her pocket—then forgets all about it. Distracted and shaken by a series of break-ins at her home, Nina turns to her handsome new neighbor for help and protection again and again.

  Since the death of his wife in a drive-by shooting, Teague O’Dell has moved from the city to the small town of Siren Cove, determined that his daughter will grow up in a safe environment. But when the intriguing woman next door is plagued by a mysterious vandal, he wonders if his new home harbors unexpected dangers.

  The winning lottery numbers have been revealed, and the owner will do whatever it takes to claim the prize. And the closer Nina and Teague get to each other, the closer they may get to exposing a horror that could cost them everything . . .

  Keep reading for a special look!

  A Lyrical mass-market paperback and

  e-book on sale now.

  Chapter One

  The day she’d dreaded had arrived. The roar of a diesel engine blasted through the tranquility of a May morning and sent the mother robin perched on her nest into flight. Nina Hutton dropped her paintbrush onto the ledge of her easel and scowled. Rarely did a vehicle venture down her dead-end street, let alone one emitting puffs of exhaust into the pristine coastal air and creating enough noise to frighten away the wildlife. Spinning on her stool, she rose to her feet and stared in the direction of the disturbance. Not that she could see squat from the seclusion of her backyard.

  Finally, the rumble of the engine died, doors slammed, barking erupted, and a high-pitched squeal pi
erced the sudden silence. “Daddy, look! Our new house matches my dress.”

  A deep male voice responded, too low for Nina to make out the words over excited yelps and the clatter of metal against metal. She softly swore. The For Sale sign planted in the yard of the run-down Victorian across the street had disappeared the previous month. Apparently, the new owners had arrived. So much for peace and solitude. . .

  Since the subject of her current painting was winging its way through the brilliant blue sky, there was little reason not to satisfy her curiosity as the voices faded in and out. Openly gaping at her new neighbors wasn’t an option, not when she could spy on them from an upstairs window. After cleaning her brushes and stowing her paints, Nina left the easel where it stood near the big madrone tree with its nest of baby robins, crossed the yard to the back deck, then entered her house through the open sliding door.

  Sunlight pierced the high windows in the main room, catching dust motes in the beams. She sniffed the aroma of beef stew slow cooking in the Crock-Pot as she skirted around the green suede couch and climbed the stairs to the second floor. Entering her bedroom, she dropped down onto the padded window seat, then adjusted the blinds to peek out.

  A big yellow moving van stood in the middle of the cul-de-sac with a loading ramp leading from its rear to the ground. Beyond it, a dark blue pickup was parked in the driveway of the house across from hers. Two men in uniform shirts struggled to haul a tall armoire up the steps of the wraparound front porch, while a third man wearing a black T-shirt stretched tight across his broad back followed them, carrying a large box labeled Books in bold red marker. A series of expletives from one of the movers—unsuitable for the ears of the small girl running in circles on the weedy patch of lawn, chased by a white and tan ball of fur—drifted upward on the breeze.