Dangerous Secrets (O'Connor Brothers Book 3)

by Rhonda Brewer

  “It’s not too late Mr. Michaels.” Leave it to Ian to see the positive in things.

  “I’m afraid sometimes it’s hard to repair all the damage you’ve done.” Something about the way her father’s eyes studied her face made her blood run cold.

  “Dad, is something wrong?” Sandy glanced at Ian. He seemed to know something was up as well.

  “That’s a story for another day. Now tell me how all this got started.” He motioned to the large leather sofa. She felt Ian’s hand on the small of her back as he guided her toward the couch.

  Sandy managed to explain everything to her father just before she felt the vibration of her phone in her pocket. She didn’t pull it out because Ian was next to her and would be able to read the screen.

  “Dad, I need to use your washroom.” Sandy stood up and headed toward the door to the study.

  “Sandy, there’s a bathroom right there.” He pointed to a door in the study.

  “I’ll use the one down the hall.” Sandy was out the door of the room before her father could say anything else. It probably looked suspicious to Ian but she needed to be able to sneak out through the back, and she couldn’t do that from the bathroom in the study.

  She reached the bathroom at the end of the hallway next to the kitchen. She hurried inside and pulled out her phone. There was a text from Scott.

  I know you’ve arrived in St. John’s. Never mind how I know, but I’m assuming the reason you’re at your father’s house is so you can give that boyfriend of yours the slip. It’s going to be interesting to see how you get free of those muscle bound idiots.

  How the hell did he know where she was? There was no way he could trace her phone. Smash made sure of that with a program he wrote to block unwanted tracking. The only problem was Smash could still trace her. Scott had to have someone watching her. Her phone buzzed again.

  Wondering how I know where you are, Alexandra? Come meet me, and I’ll tell you.

  She started and stopped typing a message to him at least four or five times before she came up with the perfect response.

  Give me the place, and I’ll be there. You don’t have to worry about anyone following me.

  She waited for a response, and at first, it didn’t seem like she was going to get one. Then she saw the text pop up on her screen. Her heart raced as she stared at the address on the screen. How was this even possible. Her father’s house was directly behind the address on her screen. She opened the blind of the small bathroom window and gasped.

  The back of her father’s property was not an easy escape. Completely enclosed by trees on the back she didn't know how thick the trees were. She knew there was a subdivision on the other side of the greenbelt because her father recently gotten into the real estate market and had several subdivisions going up around his neighborhood. The address Scott texted was one of those subdivisions. As far as she knew, nobody lived in any of the homes yet. She remembered Kim saying her father was having issues selling the lots. Was it possible Scott was hidden in one of them?

  Sandy didn’t have time to figure that out because she needed to get out of the house before Ian or her father came looking for her. She pushed up the window, glanced outside, and took a deep breath. As she propped her foot on the toilet seat and shoved the pocket-sized semi-automatic Derringer into her boot, Sandy kept taking deep breaths. With her purse and cell phone on the back of the toilet, Sandy blessed herself and lifted herself onto the window ledge. She’d set her phone to send a message to Keith in twenty minutes. That would give her enough time to trick Scott into believing she was at his mercy. She looked outside and made sure nobody was doing a check on the back of the house.

  “Mom, I hope you’re keeping an eye down here. I really need you to watch over me right now.” Sandy whispered. She jumped out through the window and crouched down. She took another scan of the back.

  “God help me.” Sandy blessed herself and ran as fast as she could into the line of trees. “Please, God. Give me a hand here.

  Chapter 25

  Ian glanced down at his watch. Sandy seemed to be taking forever in the bathroom, and he wasn’t the only one to notice. Her father had frequently been glancing at his watch as well. Something was off with the way she’d been acting the whole day. Keith warned him to keep a close eye on her because he was sure she was trying to shake the protection detail.

  “Ian, I know you and my daughter are involved. Kim told me.” Stewart started.

  “I love her, Mr. Michaels, in case that’s what concerns you.”

  “I don’t doubt that. I can see it in the way you look at her.” Stewart bent forward in the chair, rested his elbows on his knees and clasped his fingers together. He was staring at the floor.

  “Mr. Michaels, I’m a doctor, and I can see you aren’t well.” Ian noticed it as soon as he looked at Stewart.

  “I’ve been keeping it from my kids because I’m not sure any of them would really care.” His voice cracked.

  “I don’t believe that.” Ian couldn’t believe Sandy or her siblings would want to see anything happen to Stewart.

  “Maybe not with my daughters, but it sure as hell’s true with my sons.” Stewart sighed and squeezed his hands together.

  “Sons?” As far as Ian knew Sandy only had one brother and Ian had seen first hand the hatred Brad had for his father.

  “Yes, and another daughter.” Stewart looked up and met Ian’s eyes.

  “Sandy never mentioned them.”

  “That’s because Sandy, Kim, and Brad don’t know about them, but they do know them.” Stewart sighed.

  “Mr. Michaels, I know it’s none of my business, but I don’t think you should be keeping this hidden from your kids.” Ian could see the struggle written all over the man’s face.

  “It didn’t start out that way. When Sandy went to Yellowknife all those years ago, I’d asked my son to keep an eye on her but didn’t tell him who she was. You see their mother had passed away and it seemed I was the only family besides another sister, they had left. I took care of them and the other sister. I used that to guilt him into keeping Sandy safe. Then when she got hurt and lost the baby, I blamed him and my daughter.” Stewart stood up and walked to the window. “My son only recently started speaking to me again. My daughter is troubled, and I’m afraid she’s going to do something to hurt my other children. Sandy especially.”

  “Don’t you think this is something Sandy should know. Jesus Christ, she’s already got a nut case out to get her and now this.” Ian stood up and started to pace the floor.

  “I know, and I’m….” Stewart stopped speaking as he stared out through the window. “What the hell is she doing?” He spun around and almost knocked Ian over as he hurried out of the room. Ian ran to the window just in time to see Sandy disappear through the line of trees on behind the house.

  “Fuck.” Ian pulled his phone from his pocket as he ran down the hallway to find the bathroom where Sandy was supposed to have gone. He found the door closed and locked. Ian stepped back and kicked it hard. The door frame split as the door flew open. The first thing he saw was her purse and phone sitting on the back of the toilet. The blind was pulled all the way up, and the window was wide open.

  “Ian, what’s going on?” Ian turned. Hulk was behind him looking over his shoulder into the bathroom. “I’m going to kick her fucking ass.” Hulk spun around and ran down the hallway toward the front door. The last thing Ian heard was him telling Keith he’d have to get in line too.

  Ian walked into the bathroom and grabbed Sandy’s phone from the back of the toilet. He glanced down on the screen. She’d left it open to the last thing she’d been reading. Luckily, she didn’t set her phone to shut off after a certain amount of time. Ian’s blood ran cold when he read the texts from Scott. He was so pissed he was trembling. She was trading herself for Ruby. What the hell was wrong with her? Did she not trust Keith and the rest of the team to handle this? His phone vibrated, and he glanced at the screen.

 
“She’s gone to meet that bastard,” Keith yelled into the phone when Ian answered.

  “I know. I just found Sandy’s phone in the bathroom.” Ian was headed out of the house when Stewart met him in the doorway. His eyes were wide with fear.

  “Smash got the address. We’re on the way there now. Tell Hulk and Rex to get over there now. Ian, are you carrying?” Keith asked.

  “Yeah,” Ian pulled his weapon out of the holster.

  “Don’t ask questions just shoot the bastard the first chance you get.” The call ended, and for a moment Ian wasn’t sure he heard his brother correctly. Then a text flashed on his screen.

  I mean it.

  Ian didn’t know if he could take a life, he was a doctor, and his whole career was about saving lives. Then he thought about Scott hurting Sandy the way he hurt the other women. Ian knew if it came down to it. He could kill the monster without a second thought.

  Chapter 26

  Sandy slowly made her way up the long driveway leading to the address where Scott said he wanted her to go. The house was only one of two sitting on the small cul-de-sac. It was dark and seemed deserted. She scanned the road behind her as well as the sides of the house, but it was as if she was the only one there. Had Scott lied to her or was he watching to make sure she hadn’t set him up? She knew it wouldn’t be long before Keith got the message she sent him.

  “Scott, I’m here,” Sandy shouted as she approached the house, but nobody answered. The front door did open with a quiet creak. Sandy’s heart was beating so hard she was sure anyone within a hundred miles could hear it. She pushed the door all the way open with her foot and scanned the inside of the foyer. She stepped inside making sure to keep her back to the wall just inside the door.

  “Scott, can we stop playing games. I’m here. Alone. Now let Ruby go.” Sandy yelled.

  “Come down the hall to the room at the end.” Sandy heard his voice echo through the empty house. Sandy slowly made her way toward his voice careful to check behind her as she inched forward.

  “Scott, send her out,” Sandy yelled from just outside the room.

  “Come into the room, and I’ll send her out.” He sounded amused. It took every ounce of restraint she had not to grab her weapon and shoot him as soon as she walked into the room.

  She kicked open the slightly ajar door with the toe of her boot and peeked around the corner of the door before she attempted to enter. For all, she knew Scott would kill her the minute she walked into the room.

  The scene in front of her took her breath away. Ruby was sat on a chair her head hung down and her hands behind her. Her hair draped over her face, and she wasn’t moving. Sandy wasn’t even sure if the woman was even breathing.

  She stepped into the room with every intent to run to Ruby, but someone grabbed her from behind. From the pungent smell of body order, she knew who it was.

  “I see you’ve kept in touch with the rest of the low lives.” Sandy pulled at Lefty’s arm and gagged from the smell. “Have you ever thought about getting a wash?”

  “Still such a smart mouth. I bet I’d shut it pretty quick if I stuck my dick down your throat.” His foul breath blew across her face making her want to throw up.

  “I tell you what, let me get a magnifying glass and a pair of tweezers, and when you sneeze, I’ll grab it.” Sandy choked out as she tried to hold her breath to keep from smelling him.

  “You fucking bitch. It’ll be such a pleasure to see you beg me to stop when I fuck you.” Lefty pushed her so hard she flew across the room and landed in a heap against the wall. When she looked up, he was unzipping his pants and grinning down at her. She started to reach for her boot to pull out her gun but Scott walked into the room.

  “Lefty, you’ll have plenty of time to do that later. Put it away for now.” Scott walked around him and crouched down in front of Sandy. If someone didn’t know him, people would probably say the man was handsome. He’d aged since the last time she’d seen him, but she could understand how he could fool women.

  “I would’ve thought you found better friends by now, Scott.” Sandy knew she was walking on thin ice, but she had to stall for time.

  “Sorry, babe. Lefty and I grew up in the same group home. We’re like brothers.” Scott rested his elbows on his knees.

  “What about Dennis?” Sandy asked without thinking.

  “He was like a brother too, but I still look out for number one.” Scott was so casual about it that she wasn’t sure if he even felt bad.

  “You don’t even feel bad about killing your friend?” Sandy shook her head.

  “I didn’t kill him.” Scott chuckled, and Lefty scoffed.

  “Scott, let Ruby go.” Sandy glared at him.

  “I’ll let you be the one to release her.” Scott held out his hand to her, and for a moment she was going to slap it away, but she realized she had to be civil until Ruby was safe. She took his hand, and he helped her to her feet. When he pulled her against him, she froze.

  “Still so beautiful, Alexandra.” Scott gazed into her eyes. She was so tempted to knee him in the balls that she’d actually lifted one foot off the floor but heard Ruby moan from the other side of the room.

  “Let me get her out of here, and we can discuss my looks,” Sandy said. At first, he didn’t move, but when Ruby moaned again, he stepped back. Sandy hurried over to Ruby and crouched down in front of her. She pressed her fingers against Ruby’s neck even though she’d heard Ruby moan a couple of times.

  Ruby’s pulse was strong making Sandy breathe a sigh of relief. She stood up and walked behind her but when she reached to untie Ruby’s hands, but they weren’t bound. Sandy glanced up at Scott. He propped himself against the wall with an amused grin on his face. Sandy moved in front of Ruby again.

  “Ruby, can you lift your head,” Sandy reached under Ruby’s chin, but before she could lift her friend's face, Ruby grabbed her wrist. Ruby was smiling as she stood up and squeezed Sandy’s wrist hard.

  “I really should have been an actress.” She sneered. “I can’t believe you fell for all this.”

  “Ruby, what…” Sandy stammered as she tried to pull away. This couldn't be the same woman she’d called a friend for so many years. The same woman who had custody of Tessa’s daughter.

  “What am I doing?” Ruby released her arm with a shove and tilted her head. “I’m getting the attention I deserve.”

  “What’s going on, Scott?” Sandy didn’t dare take her attention away from the crazed look in Ruby’s eyes.

  “Why don’t you tell her, baby?” Scott wrapped his arm around Ruby’s shoulder. Sandy glanced back and forth between them.

  “You see, I’ve known Scott a long time. Longer than you, actually. You see we both have a common goal. We want to destroy the people who ruined our lives. One of which is my dear sister.” Ruby smiled.

  “What does Tessa have to do with this?” Sandy started to back away but stopped when she backed into Lefty.

  “Tell her. I want to see her face when she finds out.” Lefty chuckled.

  “I’m not talking about Tessa. I’m talking about my other sister or should I say half sister.” Ruby crossed her arms over her chest. Sandy wasn’t aware of Ruby, Tessa and Lane having another sibling. She knew that Ruby and Lane had a different father than Tessa.

  “I didn’t realize you had another sister.” Sandy stepped forward to move away from Lefty, but he moved right behind her again.

  “I know you didn’t. You also didn’t know that I not only have one half-sister but two and a half brother.” Ruby said.

  “Tell her.” Lefty pressed his body against her back, and Sandy had to swallow down the vomit rising in her throat when she felt his erection against her ass.

  “Do you know who my father is, Alexandra?” Ruby narrowed her eyes and the saying, if looks could kill, came to mind.

  “Tessa told me your father left just after Lane was born and your mom met Tessa’s dad.” Tessa had told her Ruby, and Lane hadn’t seen their father
since. Tessa’s father raised them until he died. Her mother died a few years later, and Ruby took care of Lane and Tessa.

  “That wasn’t exactly correct. He left when our mom got pregnant by another man. Of course, that didn’t stop him from going back to his home province and knocking up three other women.” Ruby snarled.

  “I’m sorry he did that.” Sandy knew what it was like to have a father that was absent.

  “Ask me his name.” Ruby snapped.

  “What’s his name?” Sandy whispered.

  “Stewart Elliot Michaels,” Ruby said slowly, and all the air whooshed out of Sandy’s lungs. For a moment, she thought someone had punched her.

  “Wha… What are you talking about?” Sandy stammered, not sure if she even said it loud enough for them to hear.

  “Haven’t you figured it out? I’m your half-sister.” Ruby stalked closer to her, and Sandy stared at her in disbelief.

  How was that even possible? Her father never mentioned ever being in Yellowknife or having more children. Not that it was a surprise she had more siblings because she and Kim always figured with her father’s history, there were more somewhere. It also made sense he never mentioned it because when had she ever sat down and had a real conversation with him. She’d even used the ruse of a serious conversation to put herself in her current situation.

  “Look, honey, she’s so happy about having another sister she’s speechless.” Ruby laughed.

  “Wait until you tell her the rest.” Lefty cackled behind her.

  “How long have you known?” Sandy finally found her voice again.

  “Since our dad called Lane and made him look out for you when you came to Yellowknife to whore around.” Ruby snapped. “He didn’t believe me when I told him and called me a liar. He said you were too smart to be bed hopping but then again like father like daughter.”

  “He called Lane?” Sandy couldn’t believe Lane knew and hadn’t told her. Was he involved in all this too? “Lane knows he’s my brother?”

  “Not until I told him, but he was warned to keep it to himself by daddy.” Ruby’s eyes looked wild. “It seems our father favored his Newfoundland children. Not his half-breed kids.”