by Laura Acton
“Better now that you’re awake. Rest now. You’re gonna need all you can get once I start putting you through a Broderick rehab.” He kissed her again and when her eyes closed and her breathing indicated she slipped off to sleep again, Dan’s body slumped, releasing his tension. Fate didn’t screw me over this time. My beauty is alive, and she doesn’t hate me.
Secret No More
76
April 28
Toronto South Detention Centre – Sector B3 D – 2:00 p.m.
Machete eyed Pitbull as he stalked the area. His brother’s anger never abated. Witnessing their younger brother falling off the roof unhinged Diego and he no longer possessed the ability to shut off his emotion and think logically. The fact Two-shots was dead before he smacked into the ground gave neither of them solace.
Though the news reports never revealed which officer killed Two-shots, Alonzo had suspicions of who did it since they reported Pablo shot the female TRF officer. The blond cop, Broderick, appeared the likely candidate since Panther’s surveillance indicated those two partnered most often. If so, the pig would receive the death sentence he deserved. They wouldn’t need to waste resources plotting his demise, others seeking his death were now positioned to exact their revenge.
Alonzo focused his own fury on the one man who was at the root of all BDC trouble. The one he and Diego blamed for everything. Raymundo Palomo. Somehow, someday, they would have justice. With Ray already tried and convicted in their minds, they would wait for the scales to tip in their favor and Ray would be executed for crimes against the BDC and the Nores family.
He stood and ambled to Pitbull. “Patience. We will have our revenge. Starting with Raymundo. Some of the crew will be getting out in a year, and they are more than happy to gut some pigs.”
Wild rage shone in Diego’s eyes. “I want them all blown to bits. Nothing recognizable left of their bodies.”
Squeezing his brother’s shoulder, Machete said, “If that is what you want, then that is how it will be.”
Toronto South Detention Centre – Interview Room – 4:00 p.m.
Emilio Sanchez shifted in his seat, unable to find a comfortable position. The beating he received when guards conveniently forgot he was not supposed to be in the yard at the same time as the general population left him aching from the top of his head to his toes.
His life went to hell, and he decided to do whatever necessary to improve his lot. Emilio eyed his lawyer as he entered the room. The man appeared competent, though new, with only a few criminal cases under his belt.
Travone Tate took a seat. As the lowest man on the totem pole, he ended up with a caseload none of the other public defenders wanted. A dirty cop was not someone he chose to represent, but he would do his best. “I spoke with the Warden. You will be moved to a safer facility this afternoon, and an investigation into the actions of the guards is underway.”
Emilio nodded. “I want to cut a deal.”
His brows arching, Travone probed, “What kind of deal.”
“I’m tired of all the deceit. I’ll plead guilty to the charges, but I want the minimum sentence.” When Tate started to speak, Sanchez added, “I still stand by my claim I was coerced into helping them. I feared for my parents and sister. You can see how bloodthirsty that gang is … was. I have information which will prove useful in prosecuting Alonzo and Diego Nores.”
“Tell me about it, and I’ll see what I can do.” Tate prepared to take notes.
Lexa’s Home – 5:50 p.m.
As Lexa shuffled into the kitchen, Dan laughed and set the last bottle of beer into the cooler. “Do you realize you’re still wearing your Pink Power Ranger slippers?”
Lexa peered down at her feet and smiled. She enjoyed giving Dan a hard time about the footwear he bought for her, but secretly she loved them. He said he couldn’t find anything in her size except these, but she could use them as inspiration … wearing them, she could power through all obstacles. So, she wore the kid’s slippers for all the trips around the hospital floor, leaning heavily on Dan during the first few days. Quite a pair they made with him in his knee brace dragging her IV pole as she clung to his arm.
She was glad to be home for the past week, and agreed with Dan, hospitals suck. Mostly because if Dan spent the night with her, the nurses might’ve let the cat out of the bag to one of the team. But now at home, he stayed each night, and she slept much better.
“Yeah, well the guys won’t mind. It’s not like I’m going out anywhere with them all coming here. And I’m entitled to wear anything I damn well please on my birthday.”
“Yes, you can. But tomorrow when we go to Jarmal’s for a private birthday dinner, you should probably wear something else.” Dan gave her a lopsided grin, and she only shrugged.
The past three and half weeks had been fascinating. Lexa needed him and allowed him to help her. They managed to hide their relationship from the team by emphasizing he was helping her rehab. He possessed a wealth of knowledge in that area, so their teammates readily accepted their pseudo-ruse, because it was for the most part true.
Feeling happy, Dan swooped in close to Lexa, snaking his arms around her waist, careful of her wound, lifting her and pivoting before gently settling her on the island. Standing between her legs, he peered into her eyes. “Kiss me.”
“Dan! They’re going to be here any moment. Let me down.” Lexa enjoyed his spontaneity, but if he was not careful, they would be caught.
“Give me one kiss, and I’ll put you down.”
Lexa gave in. She draped her arms over his shoulders and tilted her face up to meet his as he leaned down. The passion sparked between them. They refrained from being intimate for a long time now … other than caressing one another and cuddling as they slept. Dan kept insisting he wanted to wait until she was fully healed, that he didn’t want to hurt her.
So engrossed in their kiss, neither one spotted Boss as he came to a halt in her kitchen entryway. Nick let himself in the front door … something he often did in the last week when he stopped by to bring Lexa dinner or to check on her. He stared, and his heart seized.
Only yesterday Lexa indicated to him she desired to return and all that stood in her way was another six to nine weeks of healing and rehab. Nick possessed no doubt she would make it back … her passion for the job would remove all obstacles in her path. Unfortunately, now he must deal with this prohibited relationship.
But not today. Nick wouldn’t ruin the mood on his daughter’s birthday. He started to back out so they wouldn’t spot him, but Loki’s eager voice calling out, “Knock, knock. I’m here. I brought the balloons and cake. I need a hand bringing them in,” separated the lovers. Nick froze for a moment as Lexa’s rounded eyes locked on his.
Shocked at finding Boss staring at them, Lexa read disappointment and concern in his typically warm and accepting hazel eyes.
Turning, wanting to give Lexa time to compose herself, Nick grabbed Loki’s arm before he reached Lexa’s kitchen and bustled him outside. “I’ll help.”
Lexa’s gaze met Dan’s. “He knows.”
“Who? What?” Confusion evident in Dan’s expression as he began to perceive trepidation in Lexa’s tightened jaw and stiffening posture. His own demeanor shifted as dread seeped in.
“Boss.” She slid off the counter and pointed at her entry. “He was there. He saw us kissing.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.” Lexa ran her hands over her hair as she turned in circles. Everything she worked for going up in flames in the images flashing in her mind. “What the hell am I gonna do?”
“We,” Dan corrected, his radar going up at her choice of words.
Lexa stopped her spinning and gaped at him. “What?”
“You said I. Isn’t it, what are we going to do?”
Further discussion halted as Loki bopped in holding two masses of strings in his hands, attached to balloons in every shade imaginable all emblazoned with the number thirty. “I decided we’re gonna redo your t
hirtieth birthday since you lied to me about your age. I don’t like deceit. And your decade needs to be celebrated appropriately.”
Unsure what to say, Nick followed at a slower pace, carrying a massive chocolate cake covered in fudge icing with Happy 30th Birthday Lexa written on it. The negotiator in him wanted to deescalate the situation, so he settled on behaving as if he had not walked in on their kiss. “Where do you want this?”
“On the island,” Lexa responded and cringed realizing she sat there when Boss spotted them. So many emotions swirled in her head, causing a headache to bloom. The last thing Lexa wanted was the team here now, but she couldn’t kick everyone out.
Loki grabbed Dan by the arm and dragged him into the living room as he said, “Dude. Help me put up all the decorations.”
Reluctantly, Dan followed after noticing a shift in Lexa’s eyes. They appeared shuttered as if trying to block him out. His worry amped up, but he figured they had time to sort things out … six weeks was a long time off. Perhaps they could prove to Boss they could be on the same team and still date … a longshot to be sure, but …
Once alone with Lexa, Nick shook his head when she opened her mouth to speak. “Not today. We can discuss later. Let’s enjoy the party.”
Lexa nodded, but she would not be enjoying tonight. Every insecurity she possessed crawled out of the dark crevices in her mind and frantically began rebuilding the wall around her heart.
Nick’s Home – 10:00 p.m.
Slamming his door, Nick found rage surging in him. He had been aware of their relationship since he witnessed Dan in the ICU room, but until now he had no proof the feelings went both ways. This would destroy his family. He would be forced to hurt Lexa and Dan, something he didn’t want to do.
Though irrational, Nick was less concerned about Dan and placed the blame for them crossing the line solely at Dan’s feet. Why he was unsure, but he did. Nick didn’t want to examine his motivations too closely now. What he wanted to do was drown his sorrows. The temptation to buy a bottle of Canadian Rye was strong, his only saving grace, the liquor stores were closed.
Instead, Nick lumbered to his bedroom. Four-thirty was only six and a half short hours away, and he must determine how he would act tomorrow. Part of him desired to pull Dan into conference room three and read him the riot act for violating protocol … for breaching the trust he put in him.
Nick wondered how long they had been lying to the team. The deceit burned him the most. Readying himself for bed, Nick rubbed at his ear as it buzzed and as he lay down, a tiny piece of his rational brain engaged and begged him not to act rashly.
Lexa’s Home – 10:00 p.m.
Stepping out of the shower, Lexa reached for her towel, forgetting not to overextend and ended up hissing as her shoulder screamed at her. Moving forward several more steps she pulled the bath towel off the rack and proceeded to dry off before taking the few paces to her sink.
Standing at her vanity, she stared at her image, focusing on her pinkish-red scars. She held back tears which threatened. They are only skin deep. Her hand went to the one on her abdomen, and her finger traced the line. Tears fell recalling the doctor’s explanation of the difficulties she would experience if she became pregnant.
“Not like I ever thought about having kids. Why am I crying? Children and my career don’t mix anyway.” A sob escaped. But now I might not have either. Waterworks freely flowed as she thought about the disappointment she read in Boss’ eyes. I let him down. I screwed up royally. I should’ve never broken the rules. It is highly likely I won’t have a job to go back to.
She wiped her eyes, trying to stem the pity party growing inside. As her hand moved to her toothbrush, she spied Dan’s green one sticking out of the blue cup she bought him. Fury unleashed with force as she picked up the ceramic mug and threw it into her tub, shattering it into pieces.
Glaring at his toothbrush at the bottom of her bathtub an image of Dan flooded her vision. “Dammit! You just had to kiss me! This is all your fault.”
Lexa stomped out of her bathroom to her dresser and yanked open the drawer she let Dan keep clothes in. She tossed each article on her bed as she screamed, releasing all the pent-up fear and fury over the prospect of losing everything she attained. All her sacrifices would be for naught now.
“Men! They always end up hurting me. I should’ve known better. I shouldn’t have let him in!” Lexa pulled on a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt before storming down the stairs to grab a trash bag. Upon returning, she shoved all Dan’s clothes into the plastic bag. As Lexa started to pull the tabs, she spotted the pink slippers. In a fit of temper, she grabbed them and stuffed them inside with the other items.
Taking the steps slower this time, the last time she aggravated her wounds, she marched into the kitchen and set the filled bag on the counter. Going down to her basement, she located a box which would work and returned to her island counter. She crammed the stuff into the box and sealed it with duct tape.
Exhausted by her efforts, with tears in her eyes, which she would claim were related to anger, Lexa shuffled back upstairs and crawled into bed. She curled up and let her tears flow in earnest.
Dan’s Apartment – 10:00 p.m.
Sagging against his wall after entering his place, Dan stood in the dark and closed his eyes. He would not be sleeping much tonight. His brain would not shut off. Lexa ignored him all night. She went out of her way to avoid him. So much so that Loki confronted him, asking why he pissed her off on her birthday. I can imagine the shock on his face now if I answered truthfully. I insisted on a kiss, Boss witnessed our lip-lock, and now our secret is out.
Dan slid down the wall, his knees bending, his left one twinging, still not one-hundred percent, not that he would make anyone aware of the issue. His mind raced through the entire evening. He caught the glances Boss shot him, but he couldn’t read them, primarily because he was afraid to peer too close. He also worried how the rest of the guys would react once they found out when he was kicked off the team or out of TRF entirely.
One kiss … one stupid kiss at the wrong time ruins everything. This one is not on fate. I screwed everything up with the passion of a single kiss, secrets, and deceit. What the hell am I gonna do? Will Lexa stick with me or cast me off? How will I survive if my beauty rejects me and I become an outcast again …?
Keep reading for a sneak peek
at Laura Acton’s ninth novel
in the Beauty of Life series.
Sneak Peek:
Outcast
Trust, Friendship, and Injustice
Available Soon
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May 7
Running in Toronto – 6:00 a.m.
Dan hurt. His shredded heart oozed with anguish, and his soul cried out for the beauty of his life. Endeavoring to outdistance his pain and clear his head, he ran. On autopilot, he followed his standard route through the streets of Toronto. His boots pounded the pavement at the pace set by angry, hard rock tunes blaring through his earbuds which also drowned out the world’s sounds allowing him to focus inward without distraction.
In the last week, his world started falling apart again as Lexa pushed him away. After canceling dinner with him at Jarmal’s restaurant on the twenty-ninth, she refused to discuss how to deal with Boss discovering their secret relationship, and quit answering his calls and texts.
Three days ago, events began unfolding which spun him around and twisted his mind so completely he didn’t know which end was up anymore. On the fourth, a package arrived containing all his clothes and the pink slippers Lexa had worn daily since he bought them for her. Its delivery was followed by a text from Lexa asking to meet with him after shift on the fifth.
He hadn’t needed an oracle to tell him what would she planned to do. His beauty would give him the kiss of death without ever trying to resolve the issue or attempt to negotiate with Boss to persuade him their dating didn’t affect their performance.
Lexa why? How could you do this to me? I thought
we shared a unique and beautiful connection. Did I read your signals all wrong? No, no, I pushed too hard too fast, and you weren’t ready. I got cocky and careless … blinded by love.
Dan’s mind rewound the conversation with his now ex-girlfriend which stemmed from one ill-timed kiss. Their short exchange the night before last at the coffee shop played on a torturous loop.
He fought hard to control his emotions when they met but failed miserably as his voice betrayed him when he asked, “What should we do?”
“I love you, Dan, but I have worked my whole life to be part of TRF. I’m not going to let anything ruin everything I value,” Lexa spoke coldly.
Almost losing his composure when her words implied she didn’t value him, raw pain imbued his gravelly voice, “You mean you’re not gonna let a relationship with me ruin what you value. Wow, didn’t think the first time you said you loved me you would also tell me I’m worthless too.”
Exasperated or annoyed she only responded with his name. Unable to take any more blows to his bleeding heart, viewing the resolve in her eyes, he said, “I understand. I do. TRF is your dream, and I’m not.” And he did comprehend, more than she probably grasped. He recognized what the team meant to her because they as a whole represented his salvation too.
Without them, he would likely not have survived the loss of Brody. This team, each of them helped pull him back from the edge of oblivion. His ivory-handled pistol now resided in a gun safe instead of being in easy reach on his nightstand. These five men and the woman across from him, this job, they all gave him a new purpose and his life became bearable again.
Lexa’s next words ripped into his soul. “If we want to continue dating, only one of us needs to transfer from Alpha Team.” Her tone and demeanor implied he should be the one to depart. Her knife plunged and twisted deep.
