by B. B. Reid
“What makes you think I’m hiding something?”
“You’ve been off. Do I need to be worried?”
I wasn’t about to tell him the truth, so I stuck with a version of it. “I’m worried about finals and my grandmother settling into a new place.”
He searched my face for the longest time, but I was sure he would find nothing. He seemed to realize it too because the next instant, his hands were on my face and his lips took hold of mine. We were moving backward, and then my back was against the wall. His hips moved against me, and I couldn’t help but voice my pleasure for the way he commanded my body.
Sometimes I was sure I hated him as much as I craved him.
“I need to protect you,” he mumbled against my lips. “Can you understand that?”
The only answer I could muster was to whimper. He swallowed it and me whole. I wanted to be consumed by him.
“Pay attention.”
“I can’t. You’re kissing me.”
I shouldn’t have said that. He pulled away from my lips but kept the length of his hard body against mine. Without the drug of his kiss, I was forced to face the raw emotion consuming the gray of his eyes. “I need to trust you.”
“You can.”
“Can I?” I was hurt by the doubt in his gaze but then reminded myself I deserved it.
My nod came slowly as I fought the lump in my throat. What did he want me to do? I needed to protect him as much as he needed to protect me. If our roles were reversed, I had no doubt he would fill my shoes the very way I did.
“Forever, Lake. I’ll love you.”
“Forever,” I whispered back, ignoring the guilt that ate at me for what I planned to do.
When he left, I breathed a little easier because if he had stayed a second longer, he would have broken me. I stood against the wall contemplating if the road I took tomorrow would doom me forever.
Get a grip, Monroe.
How hard could killing one man be?
* * *
I sent emails to my professors bright and early, excusing my absence, and arrived at the rehabilitation center later that morning. Little sleep and a long drive had done nothing to settle my rattled nerves. All night, I had battled my conscience and the nagging thought that this wouldn’t end well.
Keeping my head low, I made my way to the back exit I’d noticed employees use for a smoke break during my grandmother’s intake. Unfortunately, it was locked from the outside.
Checking to make sure the coast was clear, I ducked behind the dumpster close by and waited. It wasn’t long—twenty-three minutes to be exact—when the first employee burst through the door with a lit cigarette already in hand. He had his phone to his ear cursing whoever was on the line and didn’t see me as I stealthily caught the heavy door and slipped inside.
The smell of the center was similar to Red Rock, so at least, my grandmother had that. I resisted the strong urge to visit her. Her Alzheimer had progressed over the years making her less lucid and less my grandmother each time she saw me. Pictures and other memorabilia no longer helped. It seemed we were destined to lose her one way or another. The part of my heart she held had already broken and was ready to let her go. I only wished I knew which part was selfish.
Brushing off thoughts of my grandmother, I took a deep breath and followed the direction Sheldon reluctantly had given me. When she questioned why I needed to know his room number, I hadn’t known myself, but I stored the information anyway. I only told her it was to keep a safe distance. Over two weeks, I slowly let the idea of what I had to do take root until I couldn’t see any other solution.
Mitch had to die.
Since I entered from a back exit, it wasn’t as easy to find his room, but eventually, I stood in front of room 216. The center was a pretty large one-level building with the dying tucked far away from recovering survivors. This corner was left deserted except for the residents confined to die alone in their rooms. On the other side of the building, I knew nurses and family members roamed.
Here, no one cared.
Those dying were left for dead.
It was only because of the fear of death and the need to avoid it I was able to slip into his room undetected. The room was lit only by a slither of sunlight to keep the room from being completely shadowed by darkness. There were no pictures or memorabilia to overburden the small room. Nothing to testify that the form lying still on the bed meant something to the world. Mitch Masters would leave nothing behind but a legacy of nightmares and greed.
“I knew you would come back for me.”
The voice that traveled from the other side of the room was a far cry from the man who kidnapped and held me for ransom four years ago. He didn’t look capable of killing anyone, much less his son.
“Hello, Mitch.” His head turned to face me, and I knew he was searching my voice out in the dark. I imagined his eyes would be wild with fear and uncertainty.
“Who’s there?” He tried to sound unfazed, but it lacked the luster from four years ago. All I heard was desperation to know who had intruded.
“Or is it Mr. Martin? You favor false identity if I remember correctly.” If I weren’t so alert to my surroundings, I would have missed the way his breath caught.
“Impossible.”
“Oh?”
“Why are you here and not my son? He got you doing his dirty work for him now? Didn’t think he had it him,” he answered before I could. I detected a hint of pride among the malicious intent of his taunt.
“He doesn’t know I’m here.” It was hard to catch, but a smile slowly spread across his withering face.
“Bad mistake, little girl. I admit, I don’t know my son well, but a blind fool could tell he likes control—most of all, of you. You lied to him.”
“I did.”
“I’m flattered.” His voice was bitter when he spoke again. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?”
“My presence will be anything but pleasurable for you.”
“My, my, how you’ve grown.” He was smiling again. “He has sunk his claws into you, hasn’t he?”
“This isn’t about me, Mitch.” I felt the pain from my teeth grinding and bit down harder, doing anything to keep him from making me run.
“On the contrary, pet. It has everything to do with you. You’re here, and he doesn’t know it. You snuck away to see me. Do you think my son will give a damn what your purpose is?”
“He won’t find out.”
“He will. I’ve kept eyes on him long enough to know where his obsession lies. I wouldn’t be surprised if he has eyes on you right now. Come here, girl. I’ll make this worth the pain you’ll feel when he finds out you betrayed him.”
But it wasn’t betrayal. I was here to protect him. If not me, it would be Keiran standing in this room. Mitch would already be dead, and Keiran would face the rest of his life in prison if he were caught.
I inched closer to the bed watching Mitch warily. His bloodshot eyes came into clear view as he watched me, too. His skin was pale and too weathered for even his age. He was no longer the strikingly handsome man he once was.
“I hear my brother died.”
“Yes. I’m sure you had something to do with that.” I blinked away tears for John. Tears that Keiran failed to shed for his uncle. I shifted from one foot and then quickly shifted to the other. Each minute that passed, I drew closer to getting caught. I should have already been gone.
“I won’t deny it,” he smugly drawled. I sucked in a breath and hated that he noticed. “Though I regret to inform you my involvement was… indirect.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The man who I’m sure killed John was hired by me for a different job.”
“What job?” He didn’t need to answer, though. I realized the answer as soon as I voiced it and felt rage transform my body. I welcomed it and channeled it to my mind. I needed to go through with this.
“My grandniece.” His eyes sparkled with a sick sense of
pride over what he’d done.
“Or your grandchild,” I corrected. Just as quickly, the light in his eyes was extinguished, and he was glaring back at me with the same disdain I showered on him.
“So I’ve heard.”
“You’re pathetic,” I blurted.
“I never asked for him. He is worthless to me! I already had my meal ticket until his whore mother stole it from me.”
“He’s a person. Your son. He’s not the answer to your sick perversion of happiness.”
“You think money is a perversion? Have you ever had millions upon millions, little girl? Anyone would have done what I did if given the chance.”
“Keep telling yourself that. But where has it gotten you? You’re dying, and there’s no amount of money that can change it. Chances are, if you had succeeded, you would have gambled it all away by now, and you’d still be dying.”
“I no longer find the fight you found from dating my son endearing. I’d tread carefully.”
“How did you do it?”
“Do what?”
“Hire three men to kidnap an innocent child with no money?”
“Who says I don’t have money?”
“The string of bad debts trailing you.”
“You shouldn’t listen to gossip, girl. I have money. What I don’t have is enough of it. I don’t have enough to pay all my loans with interest.”
“And you still want to use your son.” I shook my head with barely constrained disgust. “Where did you find those men?”
“As it turns out, there are people who owe me.” His voice took a harder edge despite his frailty.
“Who are they?” The last thing I expected to hear was that there were more people out there who wanted to hurt Keiran.
“That would be telling but not to worry, pet. They aren’t interested in my son. I merely fed their guilt and collected.”
“These people paid you money to hire those men?”
“Not quite.”
“I’m sick of riddles.”
“Then ask the right questions. Did you really think I’d make it easy for you?”
“It doesn’t matter. I didn’t come here for answers. I came for your life.”
“Oh?” Rather than appearing frightened, his lips twisted with amusement. He and I both knew I wasn’t a killer, but I was desperate. I was tired of waiting and wondering when I’d lose Keiran to the grave or prison. “You think I’d let you kill me, girl?”
“You’re weak. You can’t protect yourself and there is no one here to protect you.”
“Or you,” he countered.
“Your henchmen? Vick and Freddy?” I felt my lips curl with disdain as I delivered the blow. “They’re dead. You have no one,” I reiterated slowly.
“And the third? I believe my son hospitalized him, but he isn’t dead. Where is he?” I faltered because what else could I do? Greg was the missing link to John’s death that hadn’t been obvious until now. “Do you know why I am able to die so easily, girl? Because I’ll die knowing my son will eventually lose. He’s got more enemies than men twice his age.”
The truth behind his words caused the well holding my emotions to overflow. “It’s all your fault,” I gritted. I tasted my tears. They ran freely over my lips and down my chin, escaping into my mouth.
“Maybe.” He shrugged his thin shoulders. “But his temper doesn’t exactly help, does it?”
No, it does not.
“You know what fuels my son’s rage, dear girl?” I didn’t answer, but I didn’t need to because he smiled a deathly smile. “Guilt.”
“He’s got a lot to be guilty for. That’s hardly news.”
“But only one in particular that keeps him awake at night.”
I hated him. I hated the smug look on his face. I hated that he wasn’t already dead. I forced air into my lungs and promised myself I would rectify that soon. But first, I needed to let Mitch inject whatever poison he could into me. The hatred only made this easier.
“You know something.”
“I know that my son isn’t as fucked up as he thinks he is, but I must say, thinking you killed your own mother would do that to you.”
I felt my body shudder violently and didn’t hear anything he might have said after that. Something like a waterfall, or maybe the blood rushing from my veins to my brain had drowned everything out.
“Wait—”
“I haven’t said anything more, my dear.”
“But you did say Keiran thinks he killed his mother. What does that mean?”
“He was only eight and they had already bred him into a killer. Like any slave, Gabriel was willing to do anything to gain his freedom—until that bitch opened her mouth.”
“What did she say?”
“She told him she loved him.”
And to a little boy who’d never experienced a tender touch or loving word...
“I knew the moment he couldn’t do it so...” He shrugged his frail shoulders.
“You killed her.”
A coughing fit prevented him from answering, but I saw it in the sick pleasure in his eyes. He was barely alive and still able to torment anyone in his presence.
“I was standing behind him where he couldn’t see,” he said when his coughing ended. I was disappointed that he hadn’t choked to death sparing me the trouble. “I’m sure he’s questioned it as he got older—wondered if he pulled the trigger. It’s been fifteen years now. A child’s memories are unreliable, and I’m sure with his amount of self-hate, he’s convinced himself he’s guilty.”
“Only because you and those sick fucks did this to him!” I hadn’t realized I had shouted until my voice bounced off the walls and echoed around the room. Mitch lifted a shriveled finger to pale lips mockingly. I didn’t feel my tears anymore, but I knew they were there. For once, I didn’t begrudge them but let them fall freely. I needed the pain.
He took in my face and cackled. “You’ll lose him. It’s only a matter of time.”
I didn’t hear my cry. I didn’t feel my feet move. The knife I had hidden under my shirt dug into the skin of my fist when I gripped the handle, ready to make my move.
Chapter Three
KEIRAN
PRESENT
“What the fuck just happened?” Sheldon whisper-yelled as she descended the stairs from putting Kennedy back to bed. She had become hysterical after seeing Lake hauled away and guns pointed at me. I felt guilty for allowing her to see. She was only four, and she’d already seen too much.
“Say, you can’t just black out like that. You have too many strikes against you,” Dash scolded. I bit back a sarcastic retort, knowing now wasn’t the time to fight. It was normal for him to hold me accountable, but we weren’t kids anymore, and this was different. This was my woman in trouble. As soon as I got her out of this shit, I would wring her neck until I had answers.
“Kennedy saw that. You’re going to have to answer to her in the morning,” Keenan added.
I sucked as much air as I could into my lungs and then released it all in one spell without tearing my gaze from the window. A part of me was hoping she’d appear safe and this had all been a bad joke.
“I’ll talk to her in the morning,” I reassured. I looked over at Willow, who was now seated and looking nauseous. “You okay?” I let the apology in my tone speak for itself. She simply nodded and turned to Dash, who placed his hand on her cheek.
“I’ll get the lawyer on the phone. We’ll need to get ahead of this and get her out before they start interrogating her. If she did do it—”
“What do you mean if?” Willow demanded. It was the first time she had spoken since Lake was driven away. “She didn’t do it.”
“We need to be prepared in case she did.”
“She doesn’t kill people,” Sheldon argued.
“You’d be amazed what someone is willing to do for love,” Di murmured. She had been sitting back quiet and a little too calm.
“You saying you know something I don’t?”
I was stalking her position on the recliner and promising retribution if she lied before anyone could anticipate my move.
“Keiran, calm down.”
I gritted my teeth, sick of Dash trying to handle me, and kept my glare fixed on her.
“Well,” I prompted when she kept her mouth closed. Her mouth twitched as if she were fighting back a grin, and I swore to fuck if she lost that battle, nothing would keep me from knocking her teeth down her throat. Lake would never forgive me for even considering such a dick move, but I found nothing about this shit funny.
“Only what you failed to see.”
“Explain,” Keenan demanded. His eyes flashed with irritation, mirroring my own.
“You made a monster out of her.” She sat up and let a ghost of a smile fall across her lips. “Think about it. Someone like you and someone like her should never have crossed paths much less be together. She’d have no choice but to adapt just to survive you and keep you.”
I felt myself flinch but ignored it. “I haven’t hurt her. I wouldn’t.”
“But someone wants to hurt you, and every time you knock one down, another pops up. You’re no stranger to danger, mister. You embrace it even with so many strikes against you like the dumb male you are.”
“What does that have to do with Lake killing Mitch?” Dash asked before I could.
She sighed as if exasperated. “You’ve got too many eyes on you. Your enemies, the law,”—she ticked off on her fingers—”and as soon as someone breaks a fingernail because of you, even if they are trying to kill you, you’re going down. You can’t watch your back and keep your freedom. She figured that out.”
“She wanted to protect him,” Willow whispered.
I couldn’t process this—Lake believing she needed to or could protect me. I’d never given her a reason, but she would give me answers. First, I needed to get my hands on her.
“Fuck this. How do we get her out?” I glanced at my best friend, knowing the answer before it was spoken.
“We need my dad,” Dash replied with gritted teeth.
