“Pretty much.”
I shook my head. “I know he’s your brother, but he’s really messed with my mind. I don’t even know what I’d do if he showed up today.”
“That makes two of us,” she said quietly.
“Do you know what makes me the most upset?” I asked her.
She shook her head and leaned on the counter.
“That I actually let myself believe in a happily-ever-after. I knew I shouldn’t have trusted those damn Disney movies.”
I remembered Luke kissing me in the middle of Disneyland like it was yesterday, and my cheeks flushed at the memory. The way he looked at me, the way he held me, had to have meant something. I thought it meant something.
“Happily-ever-afters do exist,” Mia corrected.
“Are you sure about that?”
Mia’s twisted her mouth as she thought about what exactly to say.
“I’m positive. It just might not happen when or with whom you expect.”
Luke
I woke up with a pounding headache and was nowhere closer to finding Viktor. We’d been in Edinburgh for seven weeks and there had been no sign of him anywhere. We’d chased several dead-ends, which had landed me in the Ukraine, Finland, and Paris. Last night I took out my frustration on a bottle of whisky and this morning the whisky had returned the favor. Was this what I gave up being with Hannah for? To sit in a hotel room across the globe chasing down leads that might be better never uncovered was where my life landed me.
Hannah hadn’t handled things any better from what I’d heard, but that didn’t make me feel any better. It made me feel worse. I was grateful to find out she’d started attending school, but that was where my gratitude ended. With every day that went by, I was more certain than ever before that I’d made the biggest mistake of my life, but it had to be done.
And there was no turning back.
“It’s me,” Alex called out, while knocking on my door.
I threw off the covers and pulled a shirt over my head. I was wearing my jeans from the night before. I really was a wreck. Opening the door, I found Alex grinning and holding up a printout.
“We got him.”
“Viktor?”
“No. Big Bird. Come on, man. You’ve given up a lot to find this man. Get back in the game. Make your sacrifices worth something.” Alex walked into the room and took a seat at the table, while I grabbed some clothes and tossed them in the bathroom.
He was right. My decisions could lead to two very different endings, and so far I was choosing the wrong one. I turned on the shower and stepped in, taking one of the coldest and quickest ones of my life. In my business, opportunity didn’t present itself often, and when it did a person had to act or risk failing at the mission. I couldn’t afford failure.
As I was buttoning my shirt, an email came over from a past client, a politician who’d tried to keep some very kinky skeletons in his closet. I couldn’t help but laugh. A lot of people had things in their life they might not want out there, but why in the world would a person run for a public office if they knew they had some doozies? I forwarded the email to Kimberly and asked her to push it to one of the other guys.
“You know, it’s interesting just how many people aren’t who they appear to be,” I said, buttoning the last button on my shirt.
“That’s just now coming to you?” Alex asked.
“Better watch yourself,” I joked.
Alex nodded. “Listen, I know this is hard on you. And leaving Hannah…”
“It had to be done,” I interrupted.
Alex neither agreed or disagreed, he just stared at me. “Let’s see what this Viktor character can tell us and we’ll go from there.”
I stood up and grabbed my holster, knowing how this would end.
As I walked out to the van with Alex, I wondered if I’d ever get to see the end of this or would my life forever be in a holding pattern? I hopped into the van, staying quiet as I tried desperately to shift my thoughts away from Hannah.
“ETA is less than thirty,” Alex said, bringing me out of my fog.
“Good to hear,” I said. I needed to get back in the right headspace.
But I wasn’t sure I could.
Alex jumped in the driver’s seat and pulled into the traffic and led us away from the heart of the city. It was a beautiful place to be, like a storybook. Old and new architecture jostled for importance throughout the city, but the medieval structures stood tall throughout. It was impossible not to think of Hannah and how much she would love seeing it over here. I knew she had loved Paris and couldn’t wait to go back. I had planned on surprising her with another trip there before...
Before she was captured.
Before everything.
Before my world was torn apart.
“Here we are,” Alex said, giving me a sideways glance. “It’s the third one down on the right.”
I wasn’t sure what I expected for Viktor, but this wasn’t it. The ultra modern building looked completely out of place sitting between the Georgian townhomes.
“He’s still inside,” Alex confirmed, looking at his phone. “And by all accounts, alone.”
I opened the van door and felt the customary rush of adrenaline spike inside. Soon I would have answers, or at the very least, resolution.
Shutting the door, I glanced over at Alex who was watching the residence carefully. The customary excitement ran through me as we walked along the sidewalk and up the steps. Any person who went to such great lengths to hunt my family down, surely would have cameras announcing our arrival. Standing in front of the door, I scanned the siding and trim around the door. I spotted the camera and stared directly into it as Alex rang the doorbell. I was the bait to get him to the door. This was what he wanted all along and now he had me.
It didn’t take more than a minute before I heard the lock turning. I stepped to the side and joined Alex with my pistol raised as Viktor opened the door.
“I’ve been expecting you,” he said, smiling. He held up his hands in submission.
I gave a slight nod to Alex as he frisked Viktor and signaled that he was clean. Before Viktor knew what hit him, Alex had him on the floor in the entry. I stepped inside and locked the door, glancing around the living space. The interior was as modern as the exterior. Viktor didn’t strike me as a minimalist, but I’d been wrong lately about quite a few things.
“Do as we say, and we’ll make your future less painful,” Alex said, hauling him up by the wrist restraints he’d secured on Viktor.
“Where would you like to go to answer a few questions?” I asked.
“Right here is fine,” Viktor replied, tilting his chin toward the couch in the living area.
Alex walked him over and threw him onto the couch. I watched Viktor attempt to right himself, and it took everything I had not to kill him right here. He was such a smug bastard. The man sitting in front of me was responsible for so much loss in my life, and I had the chance to make him pay with a simple pull of a trigger.
“What is it you want from me?” I asked him.
“Revenge is a funny thing,” Viktor began.
He was far too confident for my liking. I glanced at Alex and signaled for him to search the home. Viktor wasn’t going anywhere.
“Yes, it is.”
“It makes a person blind at times. Wouldn’t you agree?” he asked.
I wasn’t going to humor him any longer. I closed our gap with one step. Leaning down I whispered, “Tell me what you want and I’ll make your death quick.”
I stood back up and waited for his reply.
“I’ve been dead for a long time, Luke. The moment your parents killed my family, I died. I only resurrected to ensure they felt the same pain I did and that time is getting near.”
I didn’t say a word. I just kept my gaze on Viktor.
I knew my parents had created enemies working for the bureau. I had prepared for that. What I hadn’t prepared for were the enemies they created in their other life, and I had no i
dea which life Viktor fit into. I wasn’t sure it actually mattered.
Looking into his eyes and seeing the hatred stir inside of him made it hard not to kill him right this second for what he did to Hannah.
“I was worried I wouldn’t be able to get you and your sister together for the finale, but I realized that the killings didn’t really have to be at the same time to get the point across….”
He was insane. I’d let a madman ruin my life and the life I’d so desperately wanted with Hannah.
“Why are you after me?” I asked, ignoring his statement.
“It’s complicated.”
“I’ve got time.”
“I was working alone, but I learned pretty quickly that your parents made a lot of enemies, a lot of wealthy enemies. I have several clients who are hoping I can get them what they’re looking for. It doesn’t matter, really. I know you don’t have it anyway,” he laughed. “Your parents do. But your death will lead me to them.”
I narrowed my eyes on the bald man as Alex walked back into the room. He signaled that all was clear, and I saw that he had the drive for the cameras.
“What will lead to who?” I asked, unable to follow Viktor’s logic.
“Killing you will lead to your parents. Your parents have what my clients are looking for.” He sat there smugly, and without hesitation my fist landed in his gut. He let out a loud grunt and started coughing to gain his breath again.
I felt slightly better watching him squirm.
“I’m afraid you missed your opportunity. My parents died a long time ago, but you already knew that,” I said. “Now why don’t you start telling me the truth before I get tired of you.”
“Are you that naïve?”
I really hated this back and forth banter.
“Enlighten me then.”
“Your parents are very much alive. Where is anyone’s best guess…”
“They were murdered.”
“By your aunt and uncle? How convenient,” he snarled.
A seed of doubt sprouted about my parents’ death, but I remained emotionless.
“Do you know whose bodies were inside your home? Do you know who was really murdered?”
“What are you talking about?”
“My parents worked with yours and your parents tricked mine, led them right into a trap. Your aunt and uncle murdered my parents in cold blood because the opportunity presented itself.”
“That’s impossible.”
“It’s not impossible. It happened. You’ve read the reports. You’ve seen the pictures. The bodies were so badly butchered they were unrecognizable.”
“That’s ridiculous,” I said, my blood icy with uncertainty.
“There was no reason for anyone to believe it wasn’t your parents. It happened inside their home. Your parents were missing. They were upstanding civil servants working for the FBI. Why would anyone think otherwise?”
“DNA,” I sputtered.
Viktor shook his head. “Widespread testing wasn’t done unless there was a reason for them to doubt the identity, and there was no reason. It was unfortunate for my parents that they were close enough in appearance to yours.”
It felt as if the room was spinning, and my world was crumbling from all directions. I didn’t want to believe this man. It made no sense. None of it.
“What reason would my parents have to kill?” I asked, my voice hoarse.
Viktor’s laughter was maniacal as he shook his head. “You’ve been asking the wrong questions all along. What reasons did they have to stay alive? They were going to be slapped with so many charges they’d never see the light of day, and they never made good on delivering the stolen art.”
“You’re mistaken.”
“I wish I was, but I’m not. So you can imagine how happy I am to finally be able to resolve this once and for all. I’ll get my revenge when I watch your body fall to the floor and my clients will be happy because I’m certain your parents will make a misstep when they learn of your death. My guess is that they’ll try to contact your sister and that’s when my clients will get what is owed to them.”
“You’re really mistaken.”
“About what in particular?” Viktor’s brows furrowed.
“My parents’ character. They won’t come out of hiding just for their children.”
Viktor looked agitated as the truth finally dawned on him.
“So who are your clients?” I asked.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Oh, but it does,” I replied.
“And why’s that?” he asked.
Viktor reached his hand under the cushion as he brought the pistol up. I fired my pistol and the bullet hit him at the same time his own fired into his temple.
Within seconds Alex and I were outside walking quickly to our van. If we were lucky, this situation would take care of itself. But never one to believe in luck, I dialed Sam’s number as we pulled away from the scene.
I knew it was only the beginning, but I was one step closer to finding the answers my family deserved.
And I was finally strong enough to hear the truth about the life I thought I had.
Hannah
The professor finished her lecture early and dismissed the class. I tried to stay focused by taking copious notes to stare at later so the time had actually flown by. I was having good days and bad days. Yesterday was a good day. Today not so much.
“Almost done with the assignment?” Jenna asked, stuffing her laptop in her bag.
“I’m completely stuck on the ending of the paper. I wrote the conclusion too soon and now I have nothing else to say.”
Jenna laughed and swung her bag over her shoulder. Her auburn hair was naturally curly and today it was fighting a ponytail she’d attempted to wrangle her strands into. She was wearing a knit skirt that touched her ankles and an oversized sweater.
I’d met Jenna on the first day of class. She’d started a semester earlier than I did, and she had already had this professor and loved her, which made me feel immensely better about getting through the course. It was a good sign to see survivors at the end of a semester and who were willing to go through it again with the same professor.
“Wanna grab some coffee and we can look over each other’s papers?” she asked.
“Totally.” I followed her out the door and into the hallway.
I actually had wanted to go home and zone out for the afternoon, which was what I’d spent a lot of time doing lately. But I was trying to move on. Going out for a study break was definitely the healthier option. And I was trying to be healthier. Some might call it sane.
“I never should have signed up for an extra class this semester,” Jenna said. “I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“That you wanted to get out of here quicker.” I’d barely started and I already felt that way.
“Yeah. That was probably it.”
We walked over to one of the coffee shops on campus. It was lively and most of the seating was taken up by sprawled out backpacks and open textbooks.
“Go grab that table before someone gets it, and I’ll get your drink. What do you want?” she asked.
“An iced chai,” I called to her, as I scrambled to reach the last two remaining places to sit.
I set my book bag down and took a seat. There was a couple to my left who couldn’t keep their hands off each other and obviously didn’t care about the open books in front of them. To my right a guy looked very pained as he stared at his laptop intently. His brows were scrunched so tightly they almost touched. I certainly didn’t want to take what he was studying. It was nice to be out and people watch. I hadn’t done much of it since I started school. I tended to go to class and head right for home.
I heard laughter behind me and turned to see a guy who was trying to explain something to a group of people. They seemed enamored with him. I turned back around in my seat and scanned outside. I didn’t see Mitch anywhere. When I first started classes, he was hovering at an arm’
s length everywhere I went. Now he was willing to lay back a bit. My guess was that Luke had told him something that made them less worried about my safety. Or I’d become less of a concern for other reasons.
My stomach clenched at the last thought, and I rolled my eyes just as Jenna appeared with our drinks.
“Geesh. That’s wasn’t quite the reaction I thought I’d get.” She grinned, pushing my chai in front of me.
“Sorry. It wasn’t at you. An old boyfriend popped into my head.”
She pretended to shiver. “Makes sense now.”
The tension in my body slipped away slightly. I’d never once referred to Luke as an old boyfriend or a past tense in a casual way before, and it just rolled off the tongue. Things were slowly starting to get easier. Maybe.
Losing Luke had rattled my world, and I had been desperate to leave the pain behind. And maybe—just maybe—I was starting to come out of the Luke Fletcher fog.
“I had one of those. Unfortunately, he still goes to this school so I run into him now and then.”
“That’s gotta suck.”
“It does. Especially when his arms are wrapped securely around another girl.”
That was an image I constantly pushed out of my mind. I didn’t want to even imagine Luke with someone else, but I knew that was ridiculous in itself. It was going to happen, might already have happened. Nothing I wanted to think about.
“I don’t think I could handle that,” I said, taking a sip of my tea. The sweetness hit the spot as I attempted to distract myself, but suddenly in every direction, wherever I looked, couples were hanging on each other.
“Believe it or not, it gets easier with every new girl he flaunts. It was a messy breakup and I’m living with the consequences.”
“How messy?” I asked.
“I lit his clothes on fire.”
“No way.”
“Well, they were outside our bedroom door and I heard him with another woman on the other side of the door. He’s just lucky he wasn’t in the clothes when I lit them on fire,” she joked.
“Wow. That puts things in perspective.”
“Glad I could be of some assistance. So I take it yours was tamer?” She smiled, tugging her laptop out of the bag.
Buried Sins Page 18
