Uncovering His SECRET

by Crystal Perkins

  When I saw that this house was for sale, I had to have it. It’s been my dream house since I was a little girl. It’s a light blue Victorian with white trim. It has five bedrooms, six bathrooms, a small barn, and enough land for a horse or two. I used to stare up at it and imagine Cal and I would live here. I don’t have the man, but I do have the house.

  It’s the only house higher on the hill than the Hall’s, and I was part of a bidding war with Colonel Hall—that’s his real first name, not a title—for it. He just didn’t know it was me. I can only imagine how angry he was that I won. That’s what he gets for investing most of his money back into the family business. I know he tried to get some money from Brad, but he knew I was the other bidder, so he refused. I’m just lucky it went up for sale before Caleb’s invention went live. They’ll all be richer than God once that formula starts making them money.

  I unlock the door and tell Ethan where to find his room. Chloe Griffin took care of all the decorating for me. I picked everything I wanted, and she had her crew come in here to put it all where I wanted it and make the updates I asked for. I’ll admit to a sense of satisfaction from knowing that no one in this town was hired to work on my house. Chloe wouldn’t allow it, and I’ll be forever grateful to her for that.

  “I see him, Mama. I see him with Jade.”

  I run up the stairs and over to the office where the telescope is, seeing the look of wonder on my son’s face. I didn’t think Ethan would go there so fast, but I should’ve known better. Despite his indifference, I know deep down that he wants to know his father. Maybe I just need to make a meeting happen, whether he wants it or not. He needs to see that his father is more than the boy who left me. So very much more.

  Chapter 3

  Caleb

  My hate mail has increased over the last few days. I don’t know how they know I’m almost ready to go into production this weekend, but they do. Which makes Jade sure that it’s someone here on the property. I don’t know who it could be, though.

  “There’s no one who was embarrassed or something by your family, but still works here?”

  “No. My family treats everyone well.”

  “Even your grandfather?”

  “He’s…difficult, but not mean.”

  “If you say so.”

  “I do.”

  “What did they think of Tegan?”

  “They loved her,” I tell her without hesitation. “We all did.”

  “Until you didn’t.”

  I don’t feel like lying anymore, and she’s probably the only one I can be honest with. “I never said I didn’t love Tegan.”

  “Oh, excuse me, I didn’t realize that ‘slut’ was another word for love.”

  “Do you know what she did?”

  “I know what you think she did.”

  “What who did?” Dee asks, breaking the moment and saving me from realizing that I may have made the biggest mistake of my life.

  “Not you,” Jade tells her.

  “Listen, I’ve had about enough of you.”

  “Good thing I don’t work for you then, huh?”

  “Caleb, why won’t you do something about her?” she whines to me.

  “I enjoy her company.”

  “I’m your fiancée.”

  “Yeah, about that. I’m thinking we should call it off.”

  “Are you insane?”

  “No. I think I’m the most sane I’ve been in years. We both know I only asked you because marrying you would be relatively easy for me.”

  “I love you.”

  “You don’t. You love the idea of me. Of marrying into my family.”

  “We’re good together.”

  “I’m trying to be gentle about this Dee, but do I really need to spell it out for you?”

  “I guess maybe you do.”

  “Fine. I dated you in high school because I knew it would hurt Tegan. I’ve been sleeping with you for the past year because you were available. And I asked you to marry me because I knew you’ve always only wanted me for my last name. But I think it’s time I went after what I want, instead of just settling for what’s convenient.”

  “And you want her?” she asks, motioning towards Jade.

  “Umm, no. I mean, no offense Jade, but it’s not you I want.”

  “The feeling’s mutual, believe me.”

  “Then who? Who do you want?”

  “It’s really none of your business. Keep the ring, and whatever else I bought you.”

  “What about tomorrow?”

  Shit. I forgot about the family dinner to celebrate the formula being almost ready. “You can come to dinner, but that’s it.”

  “You’ll be sorry.”

  I already am. “Not for the reasons you think I will.”

  She storms out, and Jade starts clapping. “That was pretty freaking awesome.”

  “Thanks, but I didn’t really enjoy that.”

  “Yes, you did.”

  “You’re right, but I shouldn’t have.”

  “From what you’ve told me, that woman made one of my best friends suffer. I would’ve paid you to do that.”

  “I also told you I was worse.”

  “Karma already visited you when you hooked up with the beauty queen, but if you hurt Tegan again, I’ll come for you.”

  “I don’t even know where she is.”

  “When you want that information, all you have to do is ask.”

  “You’d tell me?”

  “Yeah, I think I would. I like you.”

  “I like you, too, and I’m going to be asking for the info soon. I just have to get some things in order.”

  “You do that. I’m just going to go outside and check in with my boss. I need to see if they’ve found anything more out about the letters and emails.”

  “You can do that in here.”

  “I like you, but I can’t say I trust you, Caleb.”

  “I’ll earn your trust.”

  “I certainly hope so.”

  * * *

  Tegan

  I don’t know what to do with Ethan. He’s become obsessed with watching Caleb through the telescope. He only leaves that room to take a shower or pee. He convinced me to let him sleep on the couch in there, and we eat in there now too. I know this isn’t healthy, but how can I keep him from his father any longer than I already have.

  “E, do you want to go over there today and meet him?”

  “Will it make you cry more?”

  “No, baby. I only cry because I see how much you want him, and I know I shouldn’t have kept him from you.”

  “Yes. You should’ve. He broke your heart, Mama. I don’t want to feel like this. I don’t want to want him in my life.”

  “But you do.”

  “Yeah,” he says hanging his head down. “I’m sorry.”

  “No. Don’t apologize. I never want you to apologize for wanting him in your life. You deserve your father.”

  “Even if it ends up hurting you?”

  “Yes, Ethan. Even then. You come first. You always have, and you always will.”

  “What if he doesn’t care?”

  “He’ll care. Your father’s going to care so much.” And hate me even more.

  “How do you know?”

  “Because I don’t think anyone could know you and not want to be part of your life.”

  “He can only have part of it, though. I won’t leave you, Mama. I know you’re worried about that.”

  He’s right. “If you wanted to go with him, I’d let you. But if he tries to take you otherwise, I’ll fight him. Harder than I’ve ever fought for something in my life. I promise you that.”

  “I know.”

  “Let’s wash up, and then we’ll drive over.”

  We’re out of the house fifteen minutes later. I’m surprised that the gates are open when we get to the ranch. There should be extra security, not less. As I’m parking the car, the chip in my arm starts buzzing. It’s Jade’s rhythm that buzzes under my skin, s
ending out the distress call.

  “Listen to me, E. I need you to stay in the car. Get on the floor and don’t move until I come back. No matter what you hear. Do you understand?”

  “Why? What’s wrong?”

  “Jade sent out a distress signal.”

  “Be careful, Mama.”

  “I always am.”

  Once he’s settled and I throw a blanket from the backseat over him, I check my weapons. I’ve got two of my Glocks and two Bowie knives. I put one gun in my waistband, and slide the knives into my boots. I use the car for cover and run to the side of the house. Nothing’s changed since I was last here, so I know the best way to get inside.

  Once I make it in the French doors of the study, I cock the gun in my hand and then slip out into the hallway leading to the dining room. I hear the screaming almost immediately. A voice I recognize from some of my nightmares is yelling about Caleb ruining everything. Delia. This is just getting better and better.

  I stay close to the wall until I get to the dining room door. There’s a large mirror on one wall that gives me a little glimpse at what’s going on. There are eight guys with guns, plus Delia and her little pistol. Christ. No wonder Jade send out the call. She could probably handle most of the guys, but a crazy woman is too unpredictable. I should know. I’m about to look like one.

  I grab a knife and switch hands with my gun. Good thing they teach us how to shoot with either hand in our Society training. Taking a deep breath, I lean into the room and throw the knife just as I shoot the guy nearest me, and then his friend. Semi-automatic trigger for the win. I hear the thud and Delia’s scream as I jump onto the table in front of Caleb, grab my other gun, and shoot the two guys closest to him. One got off a shot that hit me in the arm, but I’m too hyped up on adrenaline at the moment to feel the pain. Jade takes out three more guys as the last one drops to the floor with his hands in the air.

  Jade secures him after checking that the other guys are out. I keep myself in front of Caleb until she nods at me. Delia’s still screaming and begging for someone to free her hand from where my knife has impaled it in the wall, when Ethan runs into the room.

  “Mama, you’re bleeding.”

  “Ethan, I told you to stay in the car until I came back out.”

  “I know.”

  “If you know then why are you in here?”

  “Your arm is bleeding.”

  “I got shot. It’s not bad. You shouldn’t be in here, baby.”

  “You wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for me. If I hadn’t wanted to meet him.”

  “Yes, I would’ve. I’m Jade’s backup. I would’ve gotten her distress signal even if we’d still been up at the house. This is not your fault, E.”

  “Oh my God,” Delia says from behind me. “He’s your kid. And Caleb’s. He looks just like him. You have a little bastard.”

  My other knife is in my hand and at her throat before I even realize it. “Listen to me clearly because I will only tell you this once, bitch. I don’t care what you called me in high school or even what you call me now. But say one more thing about my son, and I will slice your throat open without a second thought.”

  She must see I mean it because she just starts whimpering again. I think about shoving the knife further into her hand, but I have more important things to worry about. Not the least of which is the man who’s staring at our son with tears in his eyes.

  “Your name is Ethan?” Cal asks him.

  “Ethan Caleb Hall,” he replies.

  “You gave him my name?” he asks without taking his eyes off of our boy.

  “Yes.”

  I should say more, and I want to, but I can’t. I can’t make my mouth form more words. Seeing them together has my heart in my throat. If I wasn’t in the middle of an active crime scene, I’d probably drop right to the ground. As it is, I sway a little.

  “Mama,” Ethan says, pointing to me. “She’s hurt. Help her.”

  I feel strong arms come around me and pick me up before I fall to the ground. “I’ve got you, Teeg. I’ve got you. Just hold on,” Caleb tells me, as he lays me across some empty chairs.

  “It’s a through and through. I’m fine. I need to protect you.”

  “You did. You saved me.”

  “You’re not mad about Ethan?”

  “I’m so angry I can barely see straight, but I won’t fight with an injured woman.”

  “He’s perfect, Cal. He’s just like you. Perfect,” I tell him as I succumb to the darkness.

  * * *

  Caleb

  As Tegan passes out, Ethan—my son—starts to freak out. I pull him back from her as my mom runs in with one of the medical grade first aid kits we keep on hand for ranch injuries. She immediately puts pressure on Tegan’s arm, and has my dad hold it down.

  “I need to be with my mama. Let me go,” Ethan screams as he fights against me.

  “She’s okay, Ethan. She just lost some blood and she passed out,” my mom tells him.

  He stops struggling, and looks to Jade, who nods at him. “She’s okay. Her transmitter would let me know if she was in serious distress.”

  Transmitters. Guns. Knives. Who the hell has Tegan become?

  “Thank you for taking care of her, Father,” Ethan tells me in a flat voice.

  “I’m not that formal, Ethan. You can call me ‘Dad.’”

  “No. You have to earn that name. You haven’t done that yet.”

  “I wasn’t given the chance.”

  “You hurt my mama. That was your chance. No one hurts her when I’m around.”

  I nod. Tegan wasn’t kidding. This kid—my kid—is pretty damn perfect. And she called me that, too. She said he was like me, even as he looks like he wants to punch me.

  “Your mom’s probably told you some pretty bad things about me, huh?”

  “No. I mean, I know you believed something about her that wasn’t true and you called her the ‘S’ word. Which makes me mad at you. But she also told me that you’re smart, and compassionate, and a bunch of other things. She said you’d want to meet me, and that you’d…care about me.”

  “I do, Ethan. I care.”

  It’s the truth. I may have just met him, but I love him already. I’ve heard people say it’s like that when you have a baby. I guess this is the same thing, only I missed the diapers, the first steps, and pretty much everything I should’ve been there for. I’m not missing anything ever again. I don’t know how we’ll work this out, but we will.

  “Did she tell you about us?” I hear from behind me.

  “Yes. You’re my grandma and grandpa. You came and asked Reina for help to keep my father safe.”

  There’s that damn word again. Father. I’m going to get him to call me “Dad” if it’s the last thing I do. He said I have to earn it, and I will. Whatever it takes.

  “Do you go with your mama on assignments like this regularly?” my dad asks. I need this answer, too.

  “Never. I usually stay with one of the Grams, or one of our friends. I begged her to bring me here so I could see him. I didn’t think I wanted to meet him, but I wanted to see him.”

  “How did you see me, Ethan?”

  “Mama owns the blue house on the hill. I had a telescope, so I could see you in the barn.”

  “The blue house? Tegan Kelly owns that house?”

  Oh shit. I remember the bidding war my grandpa waged for that house. I also remember how much Tegan always loved that house. I didn’t know she had the money to outbid him, though.

  “Yeah. It’s pretty cool, but I like my rooms in Chicago and Las Vegas better.”

  “Chicago and Las Vegas?” I ask.

  Jade interrupts us before I can answer. “My extraction team in almost here. You need to pack a bag, Caleb.”

  “A bag?”

  “You’re not safe here. We need to get you someplace safe.”

  “I’m fine here,” I say, looking around the room to notice that an FBI unit is here and is taking care of the bodies
, while Delia and the last gunman are in handcuffs. I was so caught up in my son that I missed all the arrivals. “Why has no one helped Tegan?”

  “One of our doctors is on the plane and will take care of her. It’s better that way. Now about that bag. You have five minutes.”

  “I told you—,” I don’t get to finish my sentence as an explosion shakes the ground. I look out the window to see my lab in flames. “Okay, maybe I do need some protection.”

  Chapter 4

  Tegan

  I wake up in the hospital wing of the Foundation offices. I’ve been here before, so I’m not too disorientated. Until it all comes back to me, and I realize I passed out before getting Caleb—and Ethan—to safety. I start to get up, but Caleb’s voice stops me.

  “Easy, Teeg. You lost a bunch of blood.”

  I look over to see him on a chair next to my bed. Ethan’s sleeping in the recliner by the wall. They’re both safe. Thank God. I don’t know what I’d do if either one of them had ended up with even a scratch on them tonight.

  “I’m out of danger. You can unleash your anger on me now.”

  “He said you told him I’m a good guy.”

  “I did. I knew he would one day want to meet you. I needed him to know that you’re usually pretty decent.”

  “You called me perfect before you passed out.”

  “I used to think you were.”

  “I thought you were, too.”

  “And then we weren’t.”

  “You still should’ve told me.”

  “You said you never wanted to see or talk to me again.”

  “This is different. If you’d stayed, I would’ve been there for him. Even if I couldn’t have been there for you.”

  “If I’d have stayed, my parents were going to make me have an abortion. I loved him, Cal. Even when he was just the size of a pea, I loved him. I left to save him. I’d do it again. Every damn time.”

  “Fuck. I didn’t know, Teeg. Why couldn’t you have at least told me?”

  “When? While Delia was draped over you? Or when you were with Greg or one of your other asshole friends?”

  “If he didn’t look exactly like me, I’d have to ask if he was Greg’s son,” he tells me, practically spitting the words at me.