I paused. As much as I was dying to confront my brother, find out what was up, I knew that he wouldn’t tell me anything. Even worse, I didn’t blame him.
There were cameras watching and microphones recording his every move and word. And besides, why would he be open and honest with me? I was an NCIS agent now.
What could he possibly be involved in?
Did I even want to know?
“No. I don’t think so. Joaquín didn’t tell me anything. At all. He was just preaching religion. He even gave me a bible. I’m sure the police and FBI will follow up on the girl who looked like Tiffany. Find out who she is. Why she visited Joaquín. I think, at the moment, we have no choice but to focus on Sienna.”
She nodded. At least we now agreed on some things.
“Yeah. We’ll be called back to work soon, anyway.”
“Yup.” I couldn’t wait to get started. I was sure I’d be assigned a new case, but I’d also focus on freeing Joaquín.
Mitch finally came outside.
“They want to take Sienna to the hospital. She says she wasn’t abused, but they want to give her a physical. I’m going with her.”
Grant stood next to Mitch. “I’ll go with you.”
Ashley shook her head. “No. I’ll go.”
Mitch shot Grant a look. “You stay with Mia, and Ash can come with me.”
Hmm. Again, I was baffled. Sure, Mitch was hot for Ashley, but Grant was his best friend in the world. They would die for each other. Literally. Why wouldn’t he rather have Grant go with him over Ashley? It was not like he and Ashley were going to fuck at the hospital.
But I assured myself that I was being way too suspicious. Ashley had found Sienna—Grant didn’t. Of course he wanted to take Ashley. I needed to stop my mind from second-guessing everything. My anxiety consumed me.
“Okay. We’re going to go back to their hotel.”
Grant and I said goodbye to Mitch and Ashley. I followed Grant out to his truck, even though I was still annoyed with him.
Once we were inside, I vowed to try to ease the tension. I placed my hand on his thigh. My husband may be an asshole, but at least he was hot. “What a night.”
“Yeah. No shit. I can’t believe Ashley found her.”
“Yup, that’s insane. But maybe there’s a perfectly good explanation for the kidnapping?”
“Oh, really? I didn’t know there were good explanations for kidnapping a little girl. What the fuck is wrong with you, Mia? Was there also a good explanation for our son being kidnapped?”
Breathe, Mia, breathe.
“No, of course not. That came out wrong.”
“Then what, pray tell, are you talking about?”
“That it’s divine. Look.”
I handed Grant the bible that Joaquín had given to me.
“What the fuck is this? You think she was taken for some religious reason?”
I pulled the bible away from him. “Stop yelling at me. I don’t have a clue what’s going on either. I’m grasping at straws.”
He exhaled. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I’m just exhausted. This has been so stressful. Brought back everything that happened with Julián. I’m going to try to calm down. Forgive me.”
“You’re forgiven.”
“Now, what were you saying?”
“Joaquín gave this to me. Maybe this girl was protecting Sienna.”
“Protecting her? From what?”
“I don’t know. I’m just saying it’s a possibility.”
Grant looked out the window at the San Francisco lights. “Joaquín…gave you a bible. Man, he must really be losing it in there.”
“I know, right? And there are all these highlighted passages. About being innocent. Grant, I know you think I’m nuts…but could he be innocent?”
Grant gripped my hand, a look of anger replaced by worry. “Mia. Please. I beg of you. Listen to me. As the father of your child, as your husband. You need to stop. The FBI will figure out how that girl who visited Joaquín was involved in Sienna’s disappearance. That’s not your job.”
He didn’t even acknowledge my question. “Oh, but it is my job. I’m an NCIS agent now, remember?”
“Yes, babe, and I’m proud of you. But you are too close to Joaquín’s case. This is not your fight. Not your battle. You were the victim, for fuck’s sake.”
“I know that. But I’m the only one who can get through to him. I can’t just give this up. I can’t give up on him. I thought I could, Grant. I tried. Really, I did.”
I debated telling him that I had almost certain proof of Joaquín’s innocence, but I held back. I wanted more proof. The log in my hand. Statements from the rest of the Team. Surveillance of the base that night proving that Joaquín didn’t leave. That way, when I told Grant, he would have to believe me.
So, I decided to wait.
“But I can’t give up.”
“You have to, Mia. Please. For me. For Julián. Hell, for Joaquín! He wants you to move on. With me.”
I glared at my husband. A man I loved. A man I trusted and would do almost anything for. But not that.
Why did I feel like he was trying to stonewall me? He’d never wanted me to visit Joaquín, but for the past few months, he had practically done everything but prevent me from seeing him.
Why?
What was his agenda?
To protect me?
That was insane. Joaquín was behind bars. We were free. Joaquín could not hurt me.
I didn’t give him an answer. And I was too tired to fight.
We went back to the hotel. I ordered room service. Luckily for me, there were many vegan options. Grant ordered a steak, then he chose some war movie to watch.
And I just sat there staring at him. My husband.
We were married. Had a beautiful son together. Had a great life. I loved him with all my heart.
But why did I feel that he wasn’t being truthful?
I couldn’t shake the feeling that Grant was keeping something from me.
Marriage ebbs and flows. I had learned this over the past few years.
But you never truly know your spouse. Grant, like Mitch and my brother, was a SEAL. He was a killer by his own admission. And even though he was the only man I had ever loved, would ever love, I just didn’t trust him.
15
Ashley
WE DROVE TO THE HOSPITAL with Sienna. This poor girl had gone through hell and back, but she was still sweet. I had never seen myself as a mother, but for some reason, being with Sienna, my maternal instinct dripped out of me.
Even worse, watching how much Mitch cared about his daughter turned me on.
Was this biology? Or something deeper? Mitch and I had been through this traumatic experience. We were now deeply bonded.
Luckily, the hospital visit was quick, as they were waiting for us with a police officer present. Thankfully, Sienna had not been sexually abused. Mitch breathed a sigh of relief, as did I. That was always my greatest fear about my sister. That she was living somewhere, alive, being sexually tortured. I read about women who had been locked in a house for years, abused by their torturer. And those who have been kidnapped as children by pedophiles. Or even Pat’s wife Annie, who had been sex trafficked and forced into prostitution.
The real world was so scary.
Once Sienna checked out, Mitch and I were finally free to take her. We checked into the same hotel as Grant and Mia. Mitch upgraded to a suite. We put Sienna to bed in her own room. Mitched watched her sleep for about an hour, and then finally joined me on the sofa.
“So, what does the FBI think happened?”
“Well, they aren’t sure yet. But the kid we beat down at Disneyland who grabbed her had a drug record. He handed her off to the grandpa guy. They’re trying to figure out his identity. But at that point, they know nothing. Either this jerk gave her to the Tiffany girl, or something else happened. No one knows where she is, or hell, who she is.”
I didn’t want to hold back anyth
ing from Mitch.
“Look, I need to tell you something. When Mia and I were driving to Vegas, she mentioned that the last time she’d driven through there, she’d found out from you that Joaquín raped her.”
“Yeah…April told me she saw him that night. I never had.”
He paused when he said April. “Right. And now since we don’t know what’s going on with April, we can’t trust what she said. So, I called the base. And here’s the thing, Mitch. Joaquín didn’t leave the base that night. You did—and Paul did.”
Mitch’s jaw dropped. “Are you serious?”
“Deadly. So, there’s a chance that Joaquín is innocent.”
“But why? Why would he admit to these crimes? Ruin his life? His career? He’s in prison, for Christ’s sake.”
“I don’t know. What I do know, though, is that we have to look at everything.”
He dropped to his knees in front of me and took my hand and kissed it.
“Ashley, when I asked you on that date a week ago, I knew it would be life-changing. I owe you so much. I know we haven’t started off on a good foot, but I really want to make this work between us.”
“I do too.”
Mitch kissed me slowly, and I didn’t resist. I had seen a new side of him. He was not just the sex-god hunk; he was a great man.
And I was falling for him hard.
16
Mitch
I took her into the master bedroom, grateful that I had booked a two-room suite.
Our prior sex had just been physical. I got her off; she got me off. Hell, she had despised me when we’d first fucked. But this time, I wanted to show her how much I cared about her, worshiped her, appreciated her. Hell, I was falling in love with her, but I wasn’t ready to tell her yet.
Before I could rip the clothes off her perfect body, she had stripped down to a lacy green bra barely covering her breasts and matching panties.
I scooped her up and threw her down on the bed. Despite my desire, I was in no rush.
I kissed her full lips as her hand rubbed my cock. Her hair was wild, and she tasted sweet. Wild and sweet. That was my girl.
I undid her bra and sucked on her nipples. Her perfectly pert breasts felt like heaven. My cock was aching for her. Ash began to bite her lips, holding back her moans, and her muffled sounds were like music to my ears.
Ash undid my pants and grabbed my cock at the base. She deep throated me, bobbing up and down. Her hot mouth felt so fucking incredible wrapped around me. Ash and I were in perfect sync sexually.
I could’ve come in her mouth, but I held back.
I just wanted to worship her.
I flipped her under me and kissed down her belly until I hit the hem of her panties. I pulled her panties off and kissed her delicate flesh. She moaned again and grabbed my hair as I licked her. She writhed under my mouth.
I wanted to lick her forever, but she pulled me up to her.
I grabbed a condom from my wallet and rolled it on.
I kissed her as I slowly entered her, my woman. She felt like happiness and heaven, all wrapped in one. Our fingers interlaced as we made love, every thrust bringing us closer to each other.
Ever since my divorce, I had drowned myself in meaningless sex. But it had felt empty. Sex between two people who truly cared for each other, who weren’t just using each other to get off, but were genuinely devoted to each other, was the most incredible high in the world.
Could Ash and I really make this work? After what we had been through, I couldn’t imagine being with anyone else.
Ash was close, her breath quickening. I placed my hand under her ass and guided her movements.
We stared into each other’s eyes as we came together in complete bliss.
17
Ashley
MITCH HAD BEEN SO TENDER last night; I had never seen that side of him in bed.
Our relationship had always gone from such incredible highs to such dark lows. I doubted there was any chance for normalcy. Plus, I had never, ever wanted to be in a long-term relationship with a SEAL.
And though we’d started fast, I intended to go slow once we were home. I needed my space. Mitch was like a drug to me—I couldn’t think straight when I was around him.
We met Grant and Mia for breakfast. Sienna still seemed okay, though reserved. I wondered if her kidnapping would have any long-term effects on her. I made Mitch promise to put her into counseling when we got home, and he agreed.
We walked to the cute downtown of Tiburon and stopped at a great café. Grant and Mia seemed distant. Over the past few days of getting to know Mia, I had grown fond of her. I actually hoped that we could be friends. Real friends.
I needed one.
Hmm. Then maybe I should be one.
Mitch ordered us coffees. When mine was ready, I grabbed the mug and stood next to Mia, who was still waiting on her oat-milk latte.
“Hey, are you okay?”
Mia nodded. “Yeah. Why?”
“You and Grant look distant.”
“Yeah, we’ve been fighting. He’s on this no-Joaquín kick. I just am over it.”
“Well, I don’t blame him. He doesn’t know the new evidence.”
“Right. Maybe I should tell him.”
I took a sip of my latte. “Yeah, you should. I told Mitch.”
“I will. I just want proof, you know? So he can’t argue with me.”
That made perfect sense. “Well, let me see what I can do.”
I logged on to my NCIS email. I had emailed yesterday to get the logs. But instead of the logs, I found something else.
My DNA.
I quickly glanced at the results. Mia was not my sister.
I knew it was too good to be true. At the time that I thought it was a possibility, I hadn’t been excited. But now, I had secretly hoped she would be mine.
I had to accept that I would never know what had happened to my sister.
Mia’s latte was ready. “Did you get it?”
I shook my head. “No. I didn’t. But I did get my DNA results. We aren’t sisters.”
“Ah, well, I didn’t think we were. But still, it would be nice to know where I came from.”
“We are just surrounded by mysteries.”
As I was logging off, another email popped up.
It was April’s DNA.
“Oh, I got April’s DNA. I can get this to the FBI so they can try to find her father. You know, he could be the mysterious Grandpa.”
But when I opened the email, my heart stilled.
I took a screenshot and swiped the picture side by side with my own DNA.
Mia wasn’t my sister; that was a dead end.
But April, Mitch’s ex-wife, was.
Which meant her grandpa, the man who had taken Sienna, could be my father.
Thank you for reading Deadly Lies! Why won’t Grant tell Mia he knows her brother is innocent? How can Ashley and Mitch’s ex-wife April be sisters?
Read Deadly Secrets to find out.
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XOXO
Alana
About Alana
Alana Albertson is a Latina bestselling romance author (#3 in entire Amazon store) with over one million views on her Se7en Deadly SEALs romantic mystery serial on Radish. Alana Albertson holds a Masters of Education from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Stanford University. She’s the former President of Romance Writers of America’s Contemporary Romance, Young Adult, and Chick Lit chapters. She lives in San Diego, California, with her husband, two young sons, and five rescue dogs. When she’s not spending her time saving dogs from high kill shelters through Pugs N Roses™, the rescue she founded, she can be found watching episodes of Cobra Kai, Vida, YOU, or Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team.
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Deadly Lies (Deadly SEALs Book 4) Page 7