by Sandi Lynn
“You know what? I’ll borrow one of my brother’s cars and take you.”
The sliding door opened and when I looked over, another hot as hell man and a pretty woman walked in.
“Hey, we just popped over for a second.”
“Told you,” Stefan said as he looked at me.
“Hi. I’m Sam and this is my fiancée, Julia.”
“You’re the one who made these delicious apple turnovers?” I asked.
“I am.” She grinned.
“They’re so good. It’s nice to meet both of you. I’m Alex.”
“I’m glad you stopped by,” Stefan said to his brother. “Can I borrow your car so I can drive Alex to her boyfriend’s house in Oceanside?”
“You can borrow my jeep,” Julia said. “Sam and I have some running around to do so we’ll only be using one car.”
“Thanks, Julia. I appreciate it,” Stefan said.
“Are you taking Lily with you?” Sam asked.
“I don’t have a choice.”
“She can come with us,” Sam spoke.
“Are you sure?”
“Of course.” Julia grinned.
“Thanks, you two. I appreciate it.”
Chapter 6
Alex
Lily walked in and hugged her Uncle Sam and Julia. Then she turned to me and steadily narrowed her eye.
“Why are you still here?”
I watched as Stefan took in a sharp breath.
“Go put your shoes on. You’re spending the day with Uncle Sam and Aunt Julia.”
“Why? Where are you going?”
“I have to drive Alex somewhere and it’s kind of far.”
“So, she is leaving?” Her frown turned into a smile.
Brat.
“Come on, Lily, let’s go get your shoes so we can go,” Julia said as she took her hand and led her out of the kitchen.
“Good luck,” Stefan said to Sam.
“She’ll be fine.”
We walked over to Sam’s driveway, and I climbed in Julia’s jeep while Stefan put my suitcases in the back.
“Give me the address so I can put it in the GPS.”
I pulled out my phone and brought up Ryan’s address. The feeling inside me grew more intense as I thought about what I’d heard this morning when I dialed his number.
“Is Alex short for something?” Stefan asked.
“Alessandra.”
“Nice.” The corners of his mouth curved upward. “How about a last name?”
“Clark.”
“Alex Clark. Where are you originally from?”
“Ohio.”
“I can’t say I’ve ever been there.”
“Have you always lived in California?”
“Yep. Born and raised. Did you move to Seattle for work?”
I didn’t feel comfortable talking about my life with him, so I opted not to.
“Not really. If you don’t mind, I really don’t want to talk.”
“Yeah. Okay.” I saw his brows furrows under his ray bans when he glanced at me.
The truth was, I’d never told anyone about my life, even Ryan. He only knew what I wanted him to know. I figured once I got to his place and we spent time together, I’d tell him everything.
The ride was quiet, except for the songs that played over the radio. Looking at the GPS, it said we had twenty-nine minutes left until we arrived at Ryan’s house.
“I really appreciate this, Stefan,” I finally spoke.
“No problem.”
His response was short and kind of cold. But what did I expect? I basically told him to shut the hell up because I didn’t want to talk to him. He turned down a street as instructed by the GPS. Most of the houses were old, falling apart and boarded up. When he pulled up to the curb of the yellow house with the white trim, it was obvious by the boarded windows and overgrown weeds that nobody had lived there for years.
I could feel the vomit rise in my throat.
“Are you sure this is the right address?” he asked.
I didn’t say a word as I stared at the dilapidated home and covered my mouth with my hand. Not only was I embarrassed, but I also felt like a complete and total moron. I opened the door to the car, leaned over and vomited all over the curb.
“Alex, what the hell is going on?” he asked in an authoritative tone. “How did you meet this guy? Alex?” he shouted.
“Stop!” I put my hand up. “Just stop!”
“The hell I will. I just drove an hour and a half for you only to end up at a fucking boarded up house!” he shouted.
I took in a deep breath to calm down. I needed to think, and I couldn’t with him shouting at me.
“Please.” I spoke in a calm voice. “Just give me a minute.”
“It’s obvious this Ryan guy gave you a fake address. We’re going to grab some lunch and you’re going to tell me exactly who you are and what the hell is going on!” He shook his finger at me.
I really didn’t have a choice in the matter. Not only did he drive me all the way here, but he was also paying to have my car fixed. He was a good guy, and he didn’t deserve to get caught in the crossfire of my chaotic and messed up life.
“Okay.” I placed my face in my hands.
He drove us to a diner not too far from where Ryan lied about where he lived. After pulling the jeep into a parking spot, we climbed out and stepped inside the diner.
“Sit anywhere you want, folks.” An older woman smiled.
“Let’s go to that corner booth over there.” Stefan pointed.
The second we sat down, the older woman whose name was Patty, according to her name tag, walked over.
“Here are a couple menus for you. What can I get you two to drink?”
“I’ll have coffee,” I spoke.
“Same for me,” Stefan said.
I picked up a menu, took a brief look, and closed it.
“You already know what you want?”
“I’m not hungry.” I placed my hand on my forehead.
“Alex, you have to eat something.”
“I only want coffee.”
“What the hell is going on?”
“I met him online.” My eyes looked down in shame.
“I figured as much.”
“We talked for three months via video chats, text messages, and phone calls.”
“So, he’s who he says he is?”
“I don’t know. His name could be fake for all I know. The day I left Seattle, I was halfway to California, and I had to stop and get gas. So, I grabbed my wallet and my phone and went inside to pay. When I walked back out, my passenger door was open, and my purse was gone with an envelope full of cash that I’d saved up. That’s the reason I have only a hundred dollars to my name.”
“I’m sorry, Alex.”
“Then the accident, and now the fake address from a person I thought I could trust. A person who made me trust him and then deceived me. I’m so fucking stupid.” My eyes swelled with tears.
“No, you’re not. Don’t say that.”
“Here are your coffees. What can I get you to eat?” Patty asked.
“I’m just going to stick with coffee.” I gave her a small smile and she turned and looked at Stefan.
“I’ll have the tuna melt and fries.”
“Coming right up. Are you sure you don’t want anything, sweetie?”
“I’m sure. Thank you.”
“Did you try calling him?”
“Yes, and his number is out of service. Before the accident, I sent him a text message to tell him I only had an hour and a half left and he told me he had to rush his grandmother to the ER, and he didn’t know when he’d be home. So, he told me to get a room or find a Walmart parking lot.”
“Nice guy.” Stefan shook his head.
“I knew. Deep down I knew this was a huge mistake.”
I brought the cup up to my lips and took a sip of my coffee.
“Did you leave Seattle for him?”
“Yes and n
o. It was time for me to leave anyway. He just made California easier for me to come to.”
“What do you mean by that?” His eye narrowed.
“That’s another story for another time.” I gave him a small smile as I held the warm cup between my hands.
Chapter 7
Stefan
“Fair enough.”
What happened to her was horrible, and I felt bad for yelling at her the way I did. The waitress walked over and set my plate down in front of me.
“Fry?” I held one up to her.
“No, thanks.”
“Come on. You know you want one.” The corners of my mouth curved upward. “Come on.”
“Fine.” She smiled and I handed it to her.
“Take as many you want,” I said as I picked up half of my tuna melt.
“By the way, what’s your last name?” she asked.
“Kind.”
“Stefan Kind. Nice.” Another smile crossed her lips.
“So, the first thing we’re going to do when we get back to Venice Beach is you’re going to give that Ryan guy’s number to Simon. If anyone can find out anything about anyone, it’s him.”
“The detective, right?”
“Yes.”
“Why does it matter, Stefan?”
“It matters because I want to know who this guy really is.”
She let out a sigh.
“What do you and your other brothers do?” She reached over and grabbed another French fry.
“Sam and I run Kind Design & Architecture. He oversees the design department, and I oversee the building department. Together, we oversee the entire company. My father is retiring in about a month, so the company will be fully ours. Even though my other two brothers own a part of it as well, they don’t have anything to do with the business. As you know Simon is a detective, and Sebastian owns his own restaurant.
“That’s interesting. How did your dad feel about Simon and Sebastian straying from the family business?”
“Sebastian had been cooking since he was five years old, and Simon decided he was going to be a cop when we were thirteen after his best friend was murdered.”
“Oh my God. That’s awful.”
“Yeah. It was a hard time for all of us. The case was never solved, and Simon has been obsessed with the case ever since. That’s why he became a cop. He has really good instincts and he’s one of the best the LAPD has working for them.”
“You all do very important work.” The corners of her mouth curved upward. “Your parents must be very proud.”
“They seem to be. So, what are you going to do now?”
“I don’t know, but I’ll figure something out.” She sighed.
“You can stay at the house again tonight to think about things. It’s not a problem.”
“Thanks, Stefan. I appreciate that, but Lily may feel differently about it.”
“You let me worry about my daughter. In fact, I’m going to call a therapist tomorrow morning and set up an appointment.”
“Can I get you two anything else?” Patty asked.
“Do you want anything?” I asked Alex.
“No. I’m good. Thanks.”
“You two have a nice day.” She set the check down and walked away.
Grabbing it, I pulled my wallet from my pocket, took out some cash and threw it down on the table. We both got up from our seats and climbed into the Jeep.
“May I ask about your parents?” I glanced over at her as we drove down the road.
“My mom died when I was seven, and it was just me and my dad.”
“I’m sorry. Can’t you give him a call and he can help you out?”
She let out a laugh.
“I left home when I was eighteen and I haven’t been back since.”
“You did?” I asked with furrowed brows.
“Like I said earlier, that’s another story for another time. I haven’t spoken to or seen my father in seven years.”
“He didn’t—”
“No. Nothing like that. Let’s just say he didn’t and won’t win any Father of the Year awards in his lifetime.”
“Neither will Lily’s mother. That’s for sure.”
“Does she ask about her?” Alex asked.
“No. She hasn’t mentioned her in years. She was three when she left, so I’m not even sure she remembers her.”
When I pulled into Sam’s driveway, I noticed his car was still gone.
“They must still be out,” I said as we climbed out of the jeep.
Walking to the back, I opened the door and took out Alex’s suitcases. She took one from me and we wheeled them back to my house.
“You know, I’ll get a room somewhere. It’s not a good idea that I stay here again tonight.”
“You have no money, remember?” I smirked. “Just don’t worry about Lily. It’s my house and you’re welcome to stay the night.”
We took her suitcases up to the guestroom.
“I’m going to lie down for a while. I’m really tired,” she said.
“Okay. I’ll be around if you need anything.”
I shut the door, went into the kitchen and grabbed a beer from the refrigerator. Taking it out on the patio, I took a seat and stared out at the calm water.
“I saw you and Alex walk up to the house,” Simon said as he walked over. “What happened?”
“If I give you a phone number, can you check into it for me?”
“Depends. What happened in Oceanside?”
“She was coming here to meet the guy she’d met online three months ago.
“Shit.” Simon shook his head. “Let me guess, he gave her some bogus address.”
“Yep. Not to mention that when she stopped for gas halfway to California, someone stole her purse out of her car which had an envelope full of cash she had saved.”
“Did she report it?”
“Nah., I don’t think so.” I brought the bottle up to my lips.
“Why do you want me to check out this number?”
“Because I want to know who the guy really is.”
“Give it to me and I’ll do some digging and see what I can find out.”
I pulled my phone from my pocket and sent him Ryan’s number.
“Thanks, Simon.”
“So now what?”
“I don’t know. I told her she could stay the night to figure things out.”
“You think that’s a good idea?”
“I can’t just turn her loose with no money, no place to stay, and no car. But I need you to check her out for me.”
“What’s her last name?” Simon asked.
“Clark. Alessandra Clark from Ohio.”
“Consider it done, brother.”
“Thanks.”
“What about Lily? You see how she reacts when she’s here.”
“I’ll deal with Lily.”
“What’s going on over here?” Sebastian asked as he walked up. “Talking shit without me?”
“Sit your ass down.” I patted the seat on the other side of me.
I told him everything I’d told Simon and he sat there and shook his head.
“What the fuck is wrong with people?” he asked.
I looked over and saw Sam, Julia, and Lily heading towards us.
“Hey, baby girl.” I reached my arm out to her. “Did you have fun with Uncle Sam and Aunt Julia?”
“Yeah. I’m going to go in the house.”
“Okay, but I need you to be quiet. Alex is taking a nap.”
She stared into my eyes as an angry look crossed her face.
“Don’t you dare.” I pointed at her.
“You said she was leaving,” she spoke through gritted teeth.
“And now she’s back. End of discussion.”
“I don’t want her here!” She opened the sliding door and slammed it shut.
“That’s it.” I went to get up from my seat and Simon pulled me back down.
“Leave it alone for now.”
“I’m calling a therapist first thing in the morning.”
“I think that’s a good idea, Stefan,” Julia spoke.
“How about we meet at my house in a couple of hours, and we can grill some burgers and dogs?” Sebastian said. “Invite, Alex.”
“Thanks, brother. I will. Hey, Julia. I was thinking, do you think you could hire Alex to work at the coffee shop?”
“I don’t have any positions open right now, but I’m sure I can find her something to do. What skills does she have?”
“I honestly don’t have a clue. She needs a job, and she needs somewhere to stay.”
“She can stay at my place for a while,” Sebastian said. “I’m always at the restaurant anyway.”
“Then if Julia hires her, she can walk to the shop,” Sam said.
“Let me check this girl out first,” Simon spoke. “You honestly don’t know who you might be dealing with.”
Chapter 8
Alex
The slamming of the sliding door woke me up, as did the slamming of the door across the hall. Lily didn’t want me here, and the last thing I wanted to do was make her uncomfortable. So, I looked up shelters not too far away, called an Uber and grabbed my suitcases. I quietly stepped out of the bedroom and looked around for Stefan. That’s when I noticed he and his brothers were all sitting on the patio talking. Grabbing my suitcases, I picked them up and carried them down the stairs and to the front door to avoid the sound of the wheels on the wood floor. I got lucky because there was an Uber in the area, and he’d be here in less than five minutes. When the car pulled up to the curb, I carefully opened the front door, grabbed my bags and took them to the car. I cringed when the driver saw me, stepped out of his car to help and slammed his door shut. Shit.
“Hey.” I heard Stefan’s voice as he walked over from the back. “Where are you going?”
“Listen, you’ve been great, and I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, but it’s time I left.”
“To go where?” he asked.
His other brothers and Julia walked over. Damn it.
“I contacted a shelter and they told me to come. So, I’m going to stay there while I figure things out.”
“I already told you that you can stay the night,” he said.
“And as nice as that sounds, it’s best I leave. I shouldn’t be staying anyway with your daughter here. It’s confusing to her.”
