Hidden Sins

by Bolton, Karice

“Thanks,” I laughed, glancing in her direction. She was an attractive woman with long dark hair and a slim physique. Kimberly was working her way through law school. She worked harder than anyone I knew, and because of that I afforded her the flexibility in her work schedule for classes and studying. I didn’t care if she got her work done at noon or midnight; I knew I could count on her to do it, and that was what I valued more than regular hours.

  “I’ve got something rather interesting,” she said, bringing an overstuffed folder into view.

  I straightened in my seat. “Really?”

  “Yeah. I couldn’t go to sleep after class last night so I started typing different combinations into RAID…”

  I leaned forward and motioned for her to continue. This sounded like a possible break in the case.

  “Well, in between making popcorn and watching…”

  I raised my brow and folded my arms. She was an amazing sleuth, but she had a tendency to give every single detail on the path to discovery.

  “Sorry. Habit. Anyway, I tried hundreds of word combinations using NLC and nothing until I typed in the word ambush. I mean why that popped into my head, I have no idea. Actually, no. I do know why that popped in my head. I was watching the Discovery Channel and these naked people were worried that they were going to be ambushed by monkeys or some wild creature in the jungle.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh. This was just how Kimberly worked.

  “But what that word brought up was an event that occurred over four years ago involving the NLC. And you know your hunch about NLC and the C meaning church?”

  I nodded.

  “It’s not a church. It stands for community. At least according to the Justice Department’s papers,” she said, sitting down and dropping the folder on the desk with a thud.

  “That makes sense with everything I saw. Although, they did have a church at the end of the road,” I replied. “Must be for good measure.”

  “So you went there?” Her brow quirked. “When was this? Never mind. I don’t want to know. Actually, I think I know. It was when you had me clear the schedule. Okay, so back to the ambush. This is where it gets interesting. From what I could gather, some members of a very large drug cartel ambushed three NLC leaders. All three died and the cartel members went poof.”

  “That doesn’t make me feel any better about the situation at hand.”

  “There wasn’t anything else that came up. But despite the FBI’s assertion, I doubt the cartel just happened to pull the trigger on unsuspecting people. There just might be a connection between at least those three members and the cartel.”

  Kimberly nodded and continued, “I kept digging and while the top members of the NLC look clean, I was able to trace, rather faintly, an active line between some distant relatives and their propensity to only vacation in Columbia and Mexico. These relatives do not associate with the NLC whatsoever. They don’t even live near the compound. I’m sure we can come up with some ideas as to why those are the hot destinations though.” She smiled. “But it looks like lodging is always covered because the NLC owns homes in both countries. So these family members may not be members, but they certainly get to enjoy the benefits.”

  “Interesting.” I sat back in the chair and thought about Hannah. She’s going to need far more protection than I even imagined. If drug money was involved, the stakes were enormous. And if Hannah had the power to take them down, they would ensure they’d take her down first. “It makes me wonder what happened to the cartel and why they didn’t pursue anything else with the NLC, especially with the south of the border family connections.”

  I knew all too well how it worked with the feds. They were willing to turn the other way on certain events if they had an undercover operation ongoing.

  “I know it’s not my place, but I find it odd that we are spending so much time, and pardon me for saying, resources on something that isn’t on the books,” Kimberly said.

  “Would you want this on the books? With the information you just found out? I think at this point, it’s safer for us all to keep it off the records. And to be candid, I think you’ve done more than enough. I’ll take it over from here.”

  Kimberly nodded and walked out of my office, pausing at the door. “I can see it in your eyes, Luke. Whoever this girl is, she must be really special.” Her eyes connected with mine and she continued. “She’s really lucky to have you on her side.”

  Hannah

  Even though I’d been planning to make a run for it, there was something inside of me slowly shifting. I wasn’t able to put my finger on the specific reason, but things were starting to sort themselves out. I don’t mean in the sense that rainbows were shooting through the sky and butterflies were following me everywhere I went, but that I was able to get through what I needed to get through without losing my mind. That was key.

  I’d worked a total of seven shifts at Buttons without even a hiccup. Not one. I’d managed to memorize most of the men’s names, their favorite drinks, and what they enjoyed talking about. I’d even become somewhat fond of a few of the members. I said a few.

  Some were single men who didn’t want to go to that next step, meaning strip clubs, but still enjoyed a woman’s company in a more intimate setting. And then there were what I called the marrieds, which were guys who didn’t seem to really understand the concept of idolizing the women they already had at home. However, the more I got to know those men, I actually found myself feeling sorry for them and wanting them to see the light. I thought a gentle reminder here or there about how good they had it wasn’t the worst thing I could do. I wanted them to recognize that the life they were missing out on was their own, not the fantastical one that Buttons somehow managed to create. And it was a fantasy! We were a fantasy.

  So far, I’d managed to commiserate with men that their corporate job was the worst job in the world and that nobody understood; I’d listened to the couples as they convinced one another it was okay to admire other women, as the wives shot me dirty stares, and I’d also gotten my butt on the swing during The Great Gatsby evening. It wasn’t so bad and it got me out of having to talk to the clients.

  Now, I’m not naïve enough to say that all was peachy in the world of Buttons. And maybe some of the scenarios I created in my head were just to deal with the underlying sleaze factor, but hey! That was an improvement from when I started, namely with the incessant need to take an immediate bath every time I left the place.

  It also wasn’t like I wasn’t paranoid and worried that the NLC would find me. In fact, I knew they would. I just was hoping it would be far into the future and on my own terms. That was what I found insanely amusing about myself, actually; my innate ability to use time to my advantage and adjust, bounce back, and cope with adversity without missing a beat. That, after all, was how I survived living in the NLC commune. How I ignored being told who I was going to love, who I was going to marry. How I learned to forget about what happened to my sister until the time was right.

  But was I still looking over my shoulder at every turn? Yes! However, now I did it without thinking, and I didn’t let it bog down the rest of my existence. I had finally gotten into a rhythm, knowing full well what I needed to accomplish in order to get me to the next stage, and Buttons was what would get me there. I needed money—plain and simple.

  And time, which was turning into my lovely friend, would distort the harshness and reality of the situation, because the longer the time went by where I wasn’t bothered by the NLC, the less of a worry that became. Granted, if a letter arrived on my new doorstep or I received a double take from a stranger, the worry level would be off the charts once again. But for now, I felt in control. I knew what I needed and I knew how to get it.

  And as long as I didn’t let my mind think about Mia’s brother, the equation was an uncomplicated one. We hadn’t mentioned him since the night he confessed to having me followed and him going to my old address, and I’d planned on keeping it that way. Because in truth, he was too c
aptivating, too enticing. The moment my mind drifted to him, I wanted something more tangible. His chiseled features and piercing green eyes were almost impossible to shake. And if I was being completely honest, his body was out of this world. Or at least how I’d imagined it.

  “Hey, girl. Nice work tonight,” Liv said, smiling. “Today’s payday.”

  She tossed an envelope in front of me. I really had no idea what to expect since so much was dependent on tips. And it wasn’t just the tables I worked. Everyone’s tips went into a large pool and then were divided equally between the servers in order to ensure we all tried our best.

  “You gonna wait until you’re home to check it out?” Liv teased. “The privacy of your own place?” Liv laughed as she opened hers and glanced at the printout. Her expression fell. That didn’t seem good.

  “What?”

  “Let’s just say, bringing in some fresh blood must have rejuvenated these guys,” she replied.

  “How so?”

  “Biggest. Check. Ever.” Her lips broke into a grin.

  “Well, now you’ve done it.” I tore through the envelope and scanned for the amount. “No way.”

  “Yes way. Aren’t you glad you got over whatever it was you had to get over?” She grinned.

  I smiled, stuffing the envelope in my bag. “Definitely could get used to this.”

  I still hadn’t advanced to skimpy negligees, but maybe I didn’t need to. I glanced down at my cotton pajama bottoms with pink hearts and my white camisole. I grabbed a sweatshirt and slipped it over my head and traded my pajama bottoms for some jean shorts. Time to get out of here.

  “You know, somehow you’ve got the innocent card really figured out. I’d almost believe it if it weren’t for something sitting right behind your expression,” Liv said, her brow arched.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked, bewildered.

  She shrugged her shoulders. “Ready to walk out?”

  I nodded and looped my bag over my shoulder as we made our way through the dressing room. A cheer erupted from the corner.

  “Hannah, we owe you,” one of the girls shouted. “I think I’m gonna try rocking some flannel boxers and a t-shirt.”

  Another woman nodded and started laughing. “Ditto. Who knew?”

  I shook my head and waved, as I followed Liv through the bar.

  “Sean better be careful or we’ll all start showing up in yoga pants and stained sweatshirts,” Liv replied, holding the door open.

  “Whatever works, right?” I winked at her and turned toward the street, nearly running into Luke.

  “Well, have a goodnight,” Liv said, as she made her way to the parking lot. But I didn’t even respond. I was too caught up with the man standing in front of me.

  Luke was no more than six inches from me, dressed in a pair of jeans and a tight fitting black t-shirt. I didn’t know a man could look so good in something so basic. I glimpsed the edge of a tattoo sticking out on his left arm and I wanted to rub my fingers over it. What had gotten into me? There was something really hot about it, about him, and I never imagined my body would respond this way. It certainly wasn’t something I was used to.

  “You haven’t returned my texts,” Luke’s deep voice was soothing as it wrapped around me, his tone pleading for me to look at him.

  He reached out, and his hands firmly gripped my upper arms, anchoring me in place. His touch sent a corkscrew of emotion down my spine. His touch was what I’d been craving, dreaming about, but it was exactly what I needed to avoid.

  “Yeah. Sorry. I’ve been busy. Trying to pick up as many shifts as possible.” I stared straight in front of me, my gaze focused on his chest, not his eyes. I had to stay away from those suckers. They would be the end of me.

  “Which tells me you have no plan to stick around,” he murmured more to himself than to me.

  “It’s not safe. You of all people should know that,” I replied, looking into his striking, green eyes. His gaze immediately locked on mine, as if begging for something he knew he would never be able to have.

  The longer he stared, the more my body responded, sending waves of warmth through my veins. Feelings that I’d never experienced were pulsing through me at a ridiculous rate and rather than trying to escape, I stayed in his grasp.

  “I won’t apologize for wanting to keep you safe,” Luke said. “But I do apologize for how I went about it. Do you forgive me?”

  His straightforwardness nearly knocked me over. There was no beating around the bush, no back and forth, and all I could do in return was offer the same level of directness.

  “I do, but I won’t forget. I felt violated.”

  His expression hardened and he pulled his hands away. “Understood.”

  “You could have just asked what you wanted to find out,” I replied, already missing his touch.

  “Would you have told me the truth?” he asked, his brow arching.

  I felt my cheeks warm. “Probably not.”

  “What a quandary,” he mused.

  “I guess it could be for some,” I admitted.

  “It’s late. Why don’t you let me drive you to Mia’s? At least give me the satisfaction of doing something useful for you that’s out in the open.”

  I nodded, unable to hide my smile. “That’s a start.”

  He gently touched the base of my spine and guided me toward his car. He gave a slight wave at the parking attendant before opening the passenger door for me.

  “Chivalry isn’t dead?” I teased.

  “Would you want it to be?” he asked, as I slid into the seat.

  I laughed, shaking my head. His gaze fell to my legs as his eyes moved along my bare skin, which did nothing but excite me.

  Luke closed the door and slowly walked around the front of the car. I watched his careful movements as his eyes scanned the lot. He was a man always on alert, which I appreciated. He opened the driver’s door and sank into the seat, turning on the engine before he even buckled in. He popped the car into drive and drove off the lot.

  Being in such a confined space with Luke was difficult. Really difficult. The light scent of his cologne, soap, or something just Luke filled the air. If he weren’t sitting right next to me, I’d probably take a deep, exaggerated breath in to absorb everything about him.

  “I don’t want you to run away again,” Luke said, taking me off guard. “I can protect you much easier if you’re here.”

  “Who said I needed to be protected?” I asked, glancing at him. “I can take care of myself.”

  “I don’t doubt that for a minute, but why chance it? Wouldn’t it be nice to have a little peace of mind, knowing that you weren’t by yourself in this world?”

  I looked out the window as we whipped by the clubs and restaurants, which were shutting down for the night, the lights extinguishing one by one as I thought about his words.

  “It’s not an alternative that I’ve given much thought to, honestly,” I responded, as he pulled in front of Mia’s.

  “I’m not asking for an answer this second, but I want you to think about it.” He turned off the car. “And I want you to think of something else.”

  “What’s that?” I asked, shifting in my seat.

  “Go out with me. One date. Before you leave.” His voice was low, pleading.

  I let out a sigh.

  “Well, that’s a first,” he joked.

  I laughed and turned to look at him, which was a big mistake.

  “I’ll tell you what,” I began. “If you can find a place that is built upon dreams and is filled with nothing but happiness and another existence, then yes, I’ll go on a date with you.”

  Luke smiled and laughed, giving me a sideways glance. “Then I’ve got just the place.”

  Luke

  I was standing in line to grab a quick lunch when I got the information over email I’d been waiting for. Donald Jamison was no longer in California. Flight records showed that he’d left L.A. two days after he’d been released, but that
didn’t lessen my worry about Hannah. My guess was that the NLC wasn’t pleased with Donald’s ineptness and traded him out for someone new. But who knew if that someone else was already here. These were all things that I wanted to discuss with Hannah, but I knew we weren’t there yet.

  She had softened slightly toward me. I noticed it in small ways. The way her hand grazed mine and stayed there a second longer than it needed to. The way she looked at me, smiled at me, the fear diminishing. There was no denying the connection we felt, but I could see that she was fighting it every time we were together, which only drove me more insane for her. It was the little things about her that had me completely at her mercy; how her gaze would dip slightly when I smiled at her or when her cheeks would redden when my gaze stayed on her for a beat too long. Those were the moments I couldn’t stop thinking about. The moments I wanted more of.

  My fear was that the more I dug into her past without her permission, and the longer it went, the less she’d be able to forgive me, both on a personal level and a professional one. But there was something making me take it slow on both accounts, which was my fear of losing her before I had the chance to have her, feel her, against me.

  “Sir? Sir? What can I get for you?”

  I looked up to see about ten feet between the cashier and me. All of the other customers had already placed their orders and paid while I stood here like an idiot daydreaming. This was definitely not something I was used to. No woman had ever taken up every single thought I had.

  I made it to the counter and ordered a burrito, everything on it, for me and two crispy tacos for my sister. We were meeting for lunch so I could fill her in on everything I’d learned about Hannah, and to gauge her ease about being in the same house with someone who’s being targeted. I already knew where Mia would stand on the issue, but I thought it was only right to give her an easy out. I could find another place for Hannah.

  I walked over to where the orders were called when I saw my sister walk into the restaurant. She gave me a quick wave and pointed at a corner table near the window. I nodded and grabbed our tray of food.