I stopped at the counter and turned to face Jan. “Can we have two burgers and fries, and two shakes?”
“Sure, hon.” She flipped open her little pad. “Any extras on the burger?”
“Cheese on mine and a strawberry shake.” I raised my brows at Cade in question.
“Cheese, salad, onion rings, and bacon.” He groaned. “As much meat as you can pile on.” He stepped back and then widened his eyes. “And a chocolate shake.”
Jan laughed, the throaty sound telling us she used to smoke at least a pack of cigs a day. “You got it. Take a seat.”
I spun around and headed toward the back, slipping into the booth so my back was to the door. Cade pushed in opposite me, his face buried in his cell once again.
“You ever get off that thing?” I asked.
“Sorry, I’m just messaging Dad to tell him to pick me up in thirty.”
My stomach rolled at his words. I’d met Moira a couple of times, but we hadn’t spoken much after the first conversation, apart from when she was telling me Cade’s grades. My fingers fluttered to my healing eye, and I wondered what his dad would make of it. The fading bruising around my neck was easy to cover up, but the cut and swollen eye couldn’t be hidden away.
Cade placed his cell on the table at the same time Jan brought our shakes. I dipped down and took a sip, closing my eyes as the strawberry milky-ness. There was nothing like one of Sal’s shakes.
“You seem excited,” I said to Cade after his gaze had drifted over my shoulder several times.
“Yeah.” He leaned his arms on the table, a piece of his dark hair flopping between his eyes. “Dad’s been home all week. I haven’t seen him for nearly five months this time.”
I pursed my lips, sadness washing through me. “That’s a long time.”
He shrugged. “He has to work, I know that, but when he’s home, everything is just…” He looked around, searching for the right words. “Better. It’s just better.”
I nodded, knowing what he meant. Before Brody, I wouldn't have got it, but now I understood. This last week had reminded me what life was like before he joined Hut’s crew, and I wasn’t sure I’d handle going back to that full-time. Hut had steered clear of me, and I’d avoided him at every opportunity. If it weren’t for the fact I only had a matter of days until I was out of that house forever, I never would have been able to brave it.
Jan placed our plates in front of us, winking at me. “Enjoy.”
Cade didn’t waste time digging it, moaning as he took the biggest bite of burger I’d ever seen. He practically ate half in one go. “This is so good.”
I laughed and picked up my own burger, knowing he wasn’t lying. For the small mom-and-pop diner this was, it had the best food in a fifty-mile radius. I’d only managed to eat part of the burger and half the fries in the time Cade had finished his plate. He eyed it with interest, so I pushed it over to him. “Here, eat all the meat you can while you have the chance.”
“Thanks, Lola. You’re the best.”
I leaned back in my seat, looking down at my nails as he finished off. I had so many questions I wanted to ask Cade, but they were all stuck in my throat. I didn’t want to pry anything out of him. I was just taking an interest. At least, that’s what I told myself.
“Dad is gonna be so jealous when he finds out what I ate.” Cade wore a shit-eating grin, and I couldn’t stop my own face mirroring his.
“He has to not eat meat too?”
“Only when he’s home. When he’s at work, I’m sure he eats all the beef and bacon.”
I snorted. “Probably.” I leaned forward, pressing my palms to the cool surface of the table. “What does your dad do?”
“You won’t even believe,” Cade said, pushing closer to me and dropping his voice to whisper. “You can’t tell anyone. It’s super top secret.”
“I won’t,” I replied, my voice just as low as his.
“He’s an undercover agent for the DEA.” I sucked in a breath at his words. “He takes down drug rings.” Cade nodded, his grin not moving off his face as he leaned back in the booth, while I hyperventilated.
I knew what Hut did. Everyone knew what Hut did, and Cade’s dad was the person who could bring him down. My head spun, and I had to grip the edge of the table to stop the motion. Had Moira known who I was all along? Was this some kind of ploy?
Just staring into Cade’s eyes told me it wasn’t. He’d said his dad had been away for five months, and I hadn’t even met him. It was a coincidence, that was all. And in a couple of weeks, I wouldn't be around Hut. I’d be gone, living on my own, and starting a new life, hopefully with Brody in tow.
The thought of Brody calmed me, and I pulled in a breath. “That’s seriously cool.” My words didn’t sound like my own, but Cade didn’t notice.
“Right? No one knows though, only me and Mom because obviously I’m his son and she’s his wife.”
“Right.”
I didn’t know what else to say, so I stayed silent, but Cade was on a roll. “He said he has to go back soon, but I think it won’t be for long this time. He said something about the case nearly being finished and he just had to tie up a couple of loose ends.” Cade shrugged. “I tried to listen to some of his calls. but he caught me.”
“You should brush up on your ninja skills then,” I said, starting to feel like myself again.
Cade snorted and drank the last of his milkshake. “I got skills.” He flexed his arms, but they were basically twigs in comparison to some I’d seen. Damn, and there was Brody’s face again.
The week had dragged more than any other week. It was nearly time, though. Time to start my new life, with or without Brody. My things were packed, ready for my move-in date in ten days. All I had to do was wait for the current tenants to move out and then it’d be all mine.
“He’s here!” I wanted to turn around as Cade waved his arm frantically in the air, but he dropped it a second later. “He’s headed into the back, probably talking to Sal.”
“Sal?” I frowned, wondering why Cade’s dad would want to talk to Sal.
“Yeah, you remember Mom saying we went way back with Sal? It’s because he and Dad are tight.”
“Oh, yeah.” I rolled my eyes at myself. “I remember.”
Sal had said someone had helped him out of a tight spot before when I asked why he’d let me do tutoring here, and now it made sense. If Cade’s dad was an agent, then he’d have been able to help Sal with whatever he was in trouble with.
Cade filled the silence with his idol chatter, telling me about how many Instagram followers he had and the amount of DMs he’d been getting, and I listened with one ear while staring out the window at nothing. A few cars parked in the lot, one that looked shiny as hell, and I wondered whether it belonged to Cade’s dad. I was just about to ask when Cade looked up, his foot knocking against my leg as he stood.
“You about ready, son?”
That voice.
Everything stopped. My world really did tilt on its axis that time.
“Yeah, my tutor bought me a burger. I ate so much meat.”
Cade’s dad laughed, and goose bumps spread over every inch of my skin. The voice was one thing, but the laugh was another.
It couldn’t be.
It wouldn’t.
Things like this just didn’t happen.
“Make sure your mom doesn’t find out.”
It was. It was. This was happening to me.
Cade picked up his bag off the seat, but I hadn’t moved an inch. I was too scared to turn around and see what my brain already knew because my heart refused to listen. It was in denial.
“Hey, you wanna meet my dad?” I caught Cade’s gaze, wishing the world could swallow me whole as I stood, my body swaying to the left. “You don’t look so good,” Cade said, his voice sounding far off.
My heartbeat was ringing in my ears, the whooshing sound making it hard to make out what he was saying. I held on to the top of the booth, counted to three,
and turned. I prayed I was wrong, prayed this wasn’t happening, but it was there, as plain as day.
I met Cade’s dad’s eyes, winced at how they widened, and breathed, “Brody.”
“Lola?” His gaze snapped between Cade and me and then over to Sal, who was walking over to us. “What the—”
“You know my dad?” Cade asked, but I couldn’t formulate an answer. I couldn’t think straight, all I knew was that the burger was making its way back up, and I had to get out of here.
I pushed past them, but Brody’s arm whipped out, stopping me. “Lola.”
I shook my head, pried my arm from his grip, and spat, “Let go of me.”
“Everything good here?” Sal asked, and that was my opportunity to run away.
Run away from the liar.
Run away from his son.
And run away from myself.
To Be Continued…
Acknowledgments
This story has been in the making for over two years and I’m so so thankful it’s finally out there in the world!
My first thank you needs to go to Paige Sayer. You’re the most awesomest Alpha Reader and PA. Thank you for loving my stories as much as I do, and generally just being you!
I’d liked to say a HUGE thank you to my BETAs readers: Danielle, Nikki, Yvonne, and Liza. You ladies are amazeballs!
I want to say a massive thank you to all the authors in the community. Our little slice of heaven is a place I never want to leave.
To the bloggers who help share EVERYTHING. I love you so much, and I can’t put into words how grateful I am!
Linda, thank you soooo much for everything you do. You’re always there no matter what, and I’m not sure what I’d do without you!
To my editor, Jen and Proofreader, Judy. Thank you for putting up with me!
Lastly, I want to say thank you, to you. Thank you for taking a chance on this book. Thank you for reading. And thank you for being awesome!
Down Fall
Fallen Duet: Part Two
The Easton Family Saga
The Easton Family Saga can be read in any order. Each duet is a standalone duet but can also be enjoyed as one big series!
Fallen Duet
Book 1: Free Fall
Book 2: Down Fall
Fated Duet
Book 1: Defy Fate
Book 2: Obey Fate
Bonded Duet
Book 1: Torn Bond
Book 2: Tied Bond
Burned Duet
Book 1: Fast Burn
Book 2: Deep Burn
Down Fall
Fallen Duet: Book Two
Copyright © 2019 Abigail Davies.
All rights reserved.
Published: Abigail Davies 2019
www.abigaildaviesauthor.com
No parts of this book may be reproduced in any form without written consent from the author. Except in the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This book is a piece of fiction. Any names, characters, businesses, places or events are a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to persons living or dead, events or locations is purely coincidental.
This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be resold or given away to other people. If you are reading this book and have not purchased it for your use only, then you should return it to your favorite book retailer and purchase your own copy.
Thank you for respecting the author’s work.
Editing: Jennifer Roberts-Hall
Proofreading: Judy’s Proofreading
Cover Design: Pink Elephant Designs
Formatting: Pink Elephant Designs
Contents
The Easton Family Saga
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Also by Abigail Davies
About the Author
Chapter Twenty
LOLA
I was such a fool.
Such a naive fool.
Tears streamed down my cheeks like an unstoppable waterfall. They burned, stinging as they dripped from my chin and landed on my chest. I silently begged them to stop, prayed for them to dry so I could face what was happening, but nothing was working.
I dry heaved; at this point, there was nothing left to throw up. I’d emptied all the contents of my stomach an hour ago, but my body didn’t seem to be aware of that.
Lola.
I could hear his voice as clear as the sky on a sunny day. It haunted me, taunting everything I’d done since I first laid eyes on him. I wanted to wish that we’d never met, but my heart didn’t get the memo.
Married.
With a kid—a teenager to boot.
Undercover.
How had I not seen it? How had I missed the signs?
I shouldn’t be touching you.
Those five words held more meaning than I ever thought possible.
It wasn’t because of the age difference.
It wasn’t because of Hut.
It was because he had a wife at home, waiting for him to go back to her.
“Lola-Girl?”
I couldn’t lift my head. I couldn’t move a muscle.
“I’m coming in.” Sal’s deep timbre rolled throughout the room, and a second later, the door to the bathroom squeaked open. His heavy footsteps pounded through the room like a battle drum, but I still didn’t move.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but you can talk to me.”
“I can’t,” I croaked. He knew Brody. He knew him.
His large huff of breath mixed in with the drip of the tap. “If you think I’m gonna stand out there while you’re in here puking your guts up and breaking down, you got another think coming, Lola-Girl.”
I wanted to crack a smile at his brash words, but I couldn’t summon the energy. He was wrong. I wasn’t breaking down.
I was breaking apart.
“Has he gone?” I asked, already regretting the question as it slipped from my lips.
“Yeah. He left a couple of minutes after you ran away.”
Ran away. I wished I could run away from it all. I swiped my arm over my face, the tears now having slowed down from Sal being in here. I gripped the sides of the toilet bowl, using it to hoist myself into a standing position, and pulled in a deep breath. It was now or never. I had to face someone, and I’d rather it be Sal than myself right now.
The cold metal of the lock seeped into the pads of my fingers. Once I pulled it open, I wouldn’t be able to turn back. It was time to pull up my big girl panties and face it head-on. I flicked the lock and gripped the edge of the door to pull it toward me. Sal’s face was the first thing I saw, but I hadn’t expected the small smile to be there, or the kindness shining in his eyes.
“You’re a mess,” he grunted.
“I know.” My voice was barely a whisper, floating on the air between us. I opened my mouth to say more, but nothing came out. I could have told him that I didn’t know Brody was married, that all of this was such a mess, but if I said it out loud, it would make it all the more true.
Sal’s gaze batted over every inch of my face, taking me all in. “Clean yourself up. You have a shift to finish.”
“I—”
“Come on, Lola-Girl.” He pushed off the sink he was leaning against and stepped toward me. “You’re one of my best workers. I don’t care what that shithead did or said to you, you’ll always have a place here, got it?”
The tears burned the back of my eyes again, but this time, I managed
to keep them at bay. Knowing I still had a job was a relief I hadn’t realized I felt tense about. I had so many thoughts rolling around in my head, but Sal was right. I had a shift to finish, and for now, that was all that mattered. I’d forget what had just gone down; compartmentalize it for the time being.
Sal walked out, glancing back once and winking, and then he was gone, leaving me in the room on my own for a second time. I didn’t want to look in the mirror, but I had no choice. I splashed water on my face and held my hand over my mouth, trying in vain to push the sob down that had worked its way up my throat.
One more minute, I’d allow myself one more minute, and then I’d push my shoulders back, wipe the tears from my face, and lock my heart away. It wasn’t a choice, not if I wanted to survive. Brody may have knocked my plans off-balance, but they hadn’t come tumbling down...yet.
Within an hour, I was running from one side of the diner to the other, passing out orders and taking new ones. I was determined to do nothing but work, not letting my thoughts stray too far. But all too soon the diner was emptying, leaving only me and Sal to close up. And then we were heading out into the dark night, the cold wind whipping past us and making me shiver.
“You know where I am if you need me,” Sal started, pushing the key in the lock and turning it. He always left one light on in the back kitchen, something about not wanting it to be pitch-black inside.
I nodded, having no intention of going to Sal. He didn’t need to be dragged into this. I’d created it, and I’d clean it up, just like I did with everyone else’s messes.
Fallen Duet: Brody & Lola: Free Fall & Down Fall (Easton Family Duet Boxsets Book 1) Page 21