Even more so—could it have been Ian’s sister?
“Is Skye okay?” Ian asked. “Despite our history, I still consider her a friend.”
“I heard.” Austin tried to keep the bitterness out of his words. If he’d been Ian, he would have never let his parents treat Skye that way. He would have stood up for her.
“So?”
“She’s recovering.” Austin’s jaw tensed as he said the words. “That’s all I know.”
An irritated puff of air escaped from Ian. “You can’t tell me what happened?”
“Nope.”
Ian’s expression morphed from concerned to . . . what was that? Manipulative? Mischievous?
“She’s always been a handful,” he finally said, his eyes sparkling.
The man was trying to start trouble, Austin realized.
His jaw clenched tighter. “What do you mean?”
“She told you about going to prison, didn’t she?” The sparkle reached Ian’s voice, and a trace of satisfaction lifted his words.
Austin tried not to flinch, tried not to play Ian’s game. The man was just trying to put ideas into his head. “What are you talking about? Skye’s never been to prison. She went to jail once for stealing her boyfriend’s drugs, if that’s what you’re talking about.”
The start of a smile curled Ian’s lip. “Oh, I didn’t mean jail. I meant prison. She got desperate and stole some money. I couldn’t really blame her. I mean, she had a hard life and wasn’t raised with many morals.”
Ty nudged him, as if he sensed Austin’s rising anger as well as his desire to punch this guy in his smug little face.
“Some people were raised with everything, and they still act like complete jerks,” Austin snapped.
Ian’s eyebrows flickered up. “Touché. Point taken. I’m just saying, Skye does what she has to do to get what she wants. Don’t let her fool you.”
“Yeah, you sound like a great friend,” Ty said. “I mean, friends should do everything in their power to make their friend sound desperate and to paint them in the worst light possible.”
Ian’s gaze darkened. “I’m just telling you the truth. I’ve always loved Skye—even when she’s screwed up. The question is: Can you?”
Austin fisted his hands again. But at just that moment, the door behind him opened. Doc Clemson stepped out, and his eyes connected with Austin’s.
“She’s okay,” he said.
The air left his lungs. Thank goodness, Austin had found her before it was too late.
“And she wants to see you,” the doctor continued.
Skye braced herself to see Austin.
What did he think of her right now? Did he believe Skye had actually done this? If so, she wasn’t sure her heart could handle it.
She tried to smile when Austin stepped inside, but Skye wasn’t sure if the action actually reached her lips or not. Seeing Austin made her heart swell . . . with both love and angst.
The two of them had come so close—so close to maybe giving a relationship a shot.
And then the truth came out, and everything was ruined. Her stomach clenched at the memories.
Austin sat in a chair beside her and squeezed her hand. “How are you?”
“I’ve been better.” She licked her lips, knowing she looked like death in the hospital gown. “That man made me write that note.”
“I knew you didn’t write it, that someone had forced you. Did you recognize him?”
“I couldn’t see his face. He wore a mask, but I think the other man was meant to be a distraction. This guy must have been hiding in the closet or something. As soon as you left, he jumped into action.” She flinched as the memories hit her.
“Did you recognize his voice?”
Skye shook her head. She’d replayed it so many times in her mind, but she still had no answers. “No, I didn’t. I really have no idea who he is. But if you hadn’t found me when you did . . .”
Austin squeezed her hand, the expression on his face clearly showing that he’d been afraid of losing her. “Everything is going to be okay, Skye.”
“Nothing feels okay.” Her voice cracked as she said the words. She was fighting against something—someone—formidable. Yet she couldn’t seem to give up.
“I’ll make sure everything is okay. I promise you.”
Austin’s words almost made Skye believe him. But things didn’t work out okay in her life. They never had. And she had no hope they ever would.
She hated that the thoughts had even crossed her mind. But they were there because she believed them. They’d become her truth, no matter what she tried to tell herself.
A knock sounded at the door, pulling them from their conversation.
Cassidy stepped inside, a sympathetic look on her face. “I’m going to need to ask you a few questions.”
Skye nodded, ready to repeat her story . . . again.
Chapter Twenty-Five
“You haven’t run away yet,” Skye muttered as Austin stepped into her room the next morning.
He came to stand at her bedside. “Why would I run away?”
She could think of a million reasons. But she didn’t bring them up now. Instead, she reveled in the fact he was here. And she reminded herself that there were still things she needed to tell him. And she would. In good time.
Cassidy had already been by and brought Skye some clean clothes. She’d taken a shower and cleaned herself up so she felt halfway human. It was a small thing, but it made her feel ten times better.
She squinted, studying Austin for a minute. His hair still looked rumpled, and his gaze showed he was tired.
“You look worse than I do,” she told him.
That was when it hit her.
“You slept in the hallway all night, didn’t you?”
Austin shrugged, not denying it. “Someone had to keep an eye on you.”
“But you’re still recovering from your fall,” she said, knowing the argument was useless.
“You’re more important.”
Warmth spread through her. He meant the words. Skye knew he did.
“When are you being discharged?” Austin asked.
“Any time.” Right on cue, Doc Clemson came in with the paperwork. Skye signed off, and Austin took her hand as she slid off the bed, ready to go.
“Let’s get out of here.” Austin squeezed her hand.
A moment later, they were in his truck. Jitters rumbled through Skye. It could be because of the overdose . . . or because she was around Austin. It was a toss-up. But she had some revelations last night, some things that only almost losing her life could produce.
“Could we stop by the ocean?” she asked.
“Sure. If that’s what you want.”
“I can always think more clearly at the ocean.”
“Yeah, I get that.” He pulled off at one of the public beach-access points. As they climbed from his truck, Austin took her hand into his.
Skye knew she should probably pull away. But she couldn’t. When she was with Austin, she felt like everything would be okay. Like she could conquer the world.
That added boost was what she needed to get through this.
She was selfish to take his hand, yet she felt powerless to say no to the very thing she craved.
They went to the base of one of the dunes and sat there. The waves still looked gray and angry today, but there were a few people who’d ventured into their depths anyway.
“It’s a shame when other people have to put their lives on the line to save one of these guys who ignore the red flags,” Austin said.
“Yeah, it is.” Was that what Skye was doing? Putting Austin’s life on the line because she was ignoring the signs of danger? Guilt nipped at her again.
“Why do you hate water so much, Skye?” Austin asked. “You never told me.”
She stared out into the tempest. “I told you earlier that Ian and I did some stupid things when we dated. But the dumbest thing we did was stealing a yacht.”
Skye nodded as memories tried to pummel her again. With the memories came shame and regret—shame and regret that she needed to let go of. “Well, Ian stole the yacht, but I went along for the ride.”
“But Ian is wealthy. Didn’t his family have their own boat?”
And that was the irony of it all.
“They did, but it wasn’t enough to enjoy the things freely given to him. He needed to push the limits. Ian got some kind of high from it.”
“Sounds unhealthy, to say the least.”
“When we got caught by the marine police, he pushed me into the water so we could both escape. He jumped in after me and began swimming away. I don’t think he realized I couldn’t swim.” Her voice caught. “Or maybe he did. But I almost drowned in the ocean. I tried to doggy paddle, to grab the side of the boat, to do whatever I could. But it didn’t matter. I just kept sinking and couldn’t keep my head above water. I’ve never felt so helpless.”
“That’s why you hate water . . .” Dull understanding spread through his voice.
She nodded. “Exactly. Law officials rescued me, and Ian’s parents paid off the yacht owner so he wouldn’t press charges. That was when things started to get rocky between Ian and me. It was the beginning of the end. Except I realized a few days later that I was pregnant.”
Silence stretched a moment, and she gave Austin space to process what she’d just told him.
“Is it true that you went to prison, Skye?” Austin finally asked, picking up a broken piece of dune grass and twisting it in his fingers. “I mean, you told me about the time you were arrested for breaking into a boyfriend’s house and stealing drugs. But . . .”
She sucked in a breath. He knew. But how? It didn’t really matter because the truth was the truth, no matter how he found out.
“I’m not judging you, Skye,” Austin prodded. “I’m just trying to peel back the layers.”
Skye ran her hand through the soft, grainy sand as her past hit her full force. “Not long after the baby was born—probably a year later—I began working as a receptionist for a financial planning company. Somehow, money was siphoned into my account from one of the client’s.”
“What?” His voice punched with disbelief.
Skye nodded grimly, knowing if she stopped now, she might not ever finish. “I didn’t do it. I wouldn’t have any idea how to do it, but the police didn’t believe that. I went to prison for three years. I couldn’t prove my innocence. When I got out, I just wanted a new life in a new place. I moved here, and I changed my last name to my mother’s maiden name so I could leave my past behind. Until my past showed up here.”
Austin took her hand and softly kissed it. “Thanks for sharing that, Skye.”
“Yeah, it’s overdue. I’m sorry. I didn’t want to disappoint you. I know I keep saying that. It’s just that I wouldn’t blame you if you did—”
“You didn’t disappoint, Skye. But how about if neither of us keep secrets anymore.”
“I’d like that.” He was right—in a way, it was such a relief to put everything out there. She hadn’t realized how heavy the burden of silence was or how refreshing total honesty could feel.
As much as she wanted to sit here all day with Austin, she knew that couldn’t happen.
Instead, she glanced at her watch. “And I hate to change the subject, but you have a kayaking trip you need to do.”
“I can’t leave you.”
“I’ve already arranged things with Cassidy,” she said. “I’m going to stay with her today. I’ll ride along or sit at the police station or do whatever I have to do. But I’ll be careful.”
“Skye . . .”
“You promised Wes you’d help, and I know he’s counting on it. Don’t let me hold you back.”
Based on his frown, Austin wasn’t happy to be leaving her. But Skye hadn’t left him much choice. She’d covered her bases.
Besides, she really wanted to talk to Cassidy about her next plan of action. She knew Austin wouldn’t approve. But if Skye was going to put this to rest, she was going to have to take desperate measures.
“How are you feeling?” Cassidy asked as she and Skye cruised down the road an hour later.
Skye stared out the window. The wind tossed tree branches back and forth as more turbulent weather blew into the area. “I’m okay. I’m . . . well, I guess I’m getting there, at least. My first inclination throughout all of this was to slip back into my old ways. To do whatever it took to get what I wanted. But I’m not going to do that.”
Skye wasn’t sure what had changed. She only knew that the events of the past few days had triggered something inside her, some kind of resolution to deal with her past head on. If she ever wanted a future with Austin, she needed closure. And it would be worth it. For Austin’s sake.
No, make that for her own sake.
“I’m really proud of you, Skye. I know that’s hard.”
Skye nodded, realizing with certainty that she wasn’t the same person she’d been. And every decision she made from here on out would either solidify that or undo it. She chose to solidify it.
“It wasn’t easy,” Skye said. “Honestly, Jimmy James offered me an easy way to make some of the money I would need to pay the legal bills. I was tempted for a moment. But I’m not going to do that, Cassidy. I’m going to do things the right way.”
“I’m not even going to ask right now what kind of offer Jimmy James made you. That’s a conversation for a different day.” Cassidy did a half eye roll when she mentioned Jimmy James. “I think you’ll find doing things the right way is the most satisfying way, Skye. It builds character.”
Cassidy pulled to a stop in front of the Winthrops’ rental and put the cruiser in park. But she made no move to climb out.
“I’m keeping an eye on them today—although I don’t think they’d be stupid enough to try anything else,” Cassidy explained.
“You talked to them?” Skye’s breath caught. What had Cassidy found out? Anything new?
“I stopped by there this morning to chat with them. Believe me, Quinton and I have been busy. Mac even came in to help us. We dusted for fingerprints at Austin’s place. We checked security cameras around the island. We also talked to members of the Winthrops’ security team and even the nanny. No one apparently knows anything. And without sufficient evidence, we can’t get a warrant to search their home.”
“The family didn’t become the powerhouse they are by being stupid,” Skye said, remembering again just how insurmountable this seemed.
“I agree. We’re far from being done with this case, Skye. We’re going to figure out who’s been behind these incidents. Unfortunately, things aren’t moving quickly. But that’s okay. We’ll do this the right way, and the bad guy will get his justice.”
“I appreciate all you’re doing, Cassidy,” Skye said, glancing at her friend. “And I’m grateful to have you in my life.”
“Back at you, Skye. You were one of my first friends here, and I’ve never forgotten that. You literally gave me the coat off your back the first time we hung out. That says a lot.”
Silence fell for a few minutes, and they both watched the Winthrop house. Nothing was happening. Not yet, at least.
“How about you and Austin?” Cassidy took a sip of her coffee. “Do you mind if I ask what’s going on?”
Skye glanced down at her hands. Austin had really been all she’d been thinking about. She’d be a fool to let him walk away. But he’d be a fool to keep her. She wanted to let the thoughts go but couldn’t.
“I love him, Cassidy. I really do. But I don’t know if I’m the right one for him. He deserves someone without so much baggage.”
“I’m pretty sure he would beg to differ. We all have baggage, Skye.”
“Even you and Ty, the perfect couple?” Skye glanced at her friend, the one who seemed to have it all together.
Cassidy let out a quick laugh. “Yeah, even me and
Ty. Relationships are about two imperfect people coming together and fighting to make things work. Personally, I think you and Austin are great together. You balance each other out.”
Skye pondered her words for a moment, wondering if they just might be true.
“For a long time, I wondered if Austin was a player,” Skye admitted. “He dated women but never seemed to want to settle down. A confirmed bachelor. But my opinion has been slowly changing.”
“He’s been in love with you since the moment I first saw the two of you together. I don’t think you’re a flash in the pan for him, Skye. I think when you find the right person that restlessness subsides. I think Austin is that person.”
Skye brushed a hair back from her eyes, hope beginning to grow inside her. Maybe Cassidy was right. If Skye made it out of all this alive, she was going to stop hiding behind her mistakes. She was going to acknowledge that she might make more mistakes in the future, but she couldn’t fear them. No, she’d learn from them.
“Thanks, Cassidy. I appreciate that.”
“What are you going to do about Briar?”
Skye licked her lips. This was the part of the conversation she’d been anticipating—or dreading, depending on the moment. She’d thought long and hard about this last night, and only one solution made sense. “I think I’m going to go public.”
Cassidy did a double take. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
“No, I’m not. But I don’t have other choices. I’ll be threatening the thing that’s most important to the family—their reputation. Maybe that’s the only way I’ll make any progress.”
“But—”
“Before you saying anything, I want to say that I’ve been avoiding risks for the past few years, figuring it was safer if I didn’t take any chances,” Skye continued. “I’m ready to step beyond that. This is what I have to do, Cassidy.”
“Then, I can respect that.”
Hearing Cassidy say that made relief wash over Skye. A little support really could go a long way.
Tides of Deception (Lantern Beach Romantic Suspense Book 1) Page 13
