by Kelly Moore
“Yeah, sorry.”
“My friend here saved Lily from going into the pool. I told him drinks would be on the house.”
“Sure, whatever he wants,” Sean stammers.
“Nice bar. Are you the owner?” Theo asks.
Sean keeps staring at him. “Yes.”
“What a life. Living on an island like this and owning your own place in the perfect spot.” Theo looks around.
“Yeah, great life. What would you like to drink?” I can tell by Sean’s voice that he’s struggling to keep it together.
“I’ll take whatever you have on tap.” Theo raps his knuckles on the bar.
“Your first time here?” Sean makes conversation with him, and I swat him in the leg.
“Yes. A delayed honeymoon brought us to this place.”
“How long have you been married?”
“A year, and now we're expecting a baby in three months.”
I peek up to see Sean swallow hard, trying to hold back his emotions. I know he wants to rip off that parrot head and expose himself. He glances down in my direction.
I mouth, don’t do it. She’ll kill them. A tear slips down my cheek.
“Congratulations.” He hands Theo an ice-cold mug of beer.
“Is the little one yours?” he asks, angling his head toward Lily.
“Yes,” he answers.
“Her eyes are beautiful. They remind me of a friend of mine.”
“Oh, really?” Sean’s voice turns husky.
“Very similar. You don’t happen to be related to a Derrick Rebel, would you?”
He hesitates. “Never heard of him,” he finally responds.
“I didn’t think so.” He laughs. “Thanks for the beer, man.” He raises his glass to Sean and makes his way back over to Fiona.
“Shit, shit, shit!” he squawks.
“What was that all about?” Ember crosses her arms over her chest.
I stand. “I’ll tell her.” I pick up Lily and take Ember by the hand. “We’ll be back. Don’t take off the mask.”
Chapter 7
Fallon
We walk back to the cottage, and I place Lily in front of the television, turning on the Disney Channel.
“What was that all about?” Ember sits at our small kitchen table where we can keep an eye on Lily.
“I don’t want to give you any more details than I have to for your own safety.” I pull out a chair, joining her at the table.
“My safety? What kind of trouble are you two running from?” She sits back and crosses her arms over her chest.
“We left our family and home in order to keep them alive. There’s this woman who has a vendetta against me and the man I love. She used to be his girlfriend, but she betrayed him in the worst way possible. In her own sick way, she still loves him and doesn’t want me with him. She’s one very deadly woman, so I bargained with the devil herself to make sure she’d never harm him or anyone that I loved.”
“Where does Sean play into this love triangle?”
“It is definitely not that. He hates her. Sean is my fiancé’s brother.”
“How is he involved?” She leans forward, resting her elbows on the table.
“She kidnapped several of our friends and family, including Sean.”
“Is she the reason he lost his hearing?”
“Yes.”
“And the couple by the pool?”
“He was part of the SEAL team that my fiancé led, and the girl is someone they rescued.”
“You think talking to them would get you killed?”
“No. It would get them killed.”
“Damn, this sounds like one sick woman.”
“It gets worse. She’s my sister.”
“Your sister?”
“That’s an even longer, more difficult story for me to share. Those are all the details I’m going to tell you.”
“Why didn’t Sean share this with me?”
“We agreed not to tell anyone.”
I reach over the table and hold her hand. “If they would’ve seen us, Sean and I would be packing up to disappear again.”
“If that happens, I want to go with you.”
I sit back. “Are you in love with him?”
“Yes, but I haven’t told him.”
“When we leave, we can’t take you with us. The only person I have protection for is Sean. She told me I could take one person with me, and she’d never harm him.”
“You didn’t choose your fiancé?” She raises a brow.
“Sean was vulnerable after he lost his hearing.”
She squints at me. “Are you in love with him?”
“No. I love him dearly as a friend. We’ve been through a lot together, but I love his brother.”
“It’s been a long time. Are you ever going to move on?”
“I can’t. All I can do is survive every day, protecting my daughter.”
“That’s a sad way to have to live, much less lonely.” Her gaze is filled with empathy.
I look down.
“I was married once to a cop. The kind of man you thought would be a good husband and protector. Turns out, I’m the one that needed to be protected from him.”
At this moment, I see another side of this beautiful, quirky woman. I can see her as someone totally different than the pixie-haired bleach blonde sitting in front of me. She understands fear like I do.
She runs the tips of her fingers through her hair as if she knows I was sizing her up. Her lips curl into a smile. “I’ve always hated short hair, but it’s grown on me. At least it’s not pink anymore.”
I burst out laughing. “Your hair was pink?”
“Not just pink, bright neon pink. It was my husband’s least favorite color. It was my way of saying, fuck you.” She whispers the curse words so Lily can’t hear her.
“What happened to him?”
“He found himself at the end of a gun barrel. I had seconds to choose between him or me. He wasn’t the winner.” She shrugs, but I see the pain in her eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
She’s quiet for a moment as she bites on her bottom lip. “You don’t think your sister has gotten over him yet?”
“I don’t think she’s the type woman that could ever let go of such an obsession.”
“When’s the last time you’ve seen or heard from her?”
“It used to be, every few weeks she’d send us something to let us know she was watching us. Every time we moved, she’d find us.” I scoot my chair closer to the table. “It’s been several months.”
“Maybe she gave up.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Well, unless you want to spend the rest of your life on the run with your daughter, you should try to find out.”
“It’s been so long I’ve forgotten what it’s like to have a life. My job is to protect Lily and Sean.”
“I think Sean is capable of taking care of himself now. There isn’t anything he can’t do.”
“Except hear her coming.”
“He’s adapted well, thanks to you.”
“You give me too much credit. He’s a strong, incredible man.”
“Yes, he is. You don’t have to sell him to me.”
I stand. “Maybe I should take Lily and leave this place. Let Sean make a life on his own.”
“If he’s the type man I think he is, he’d never let you leave with the danger you’d be in by yourself.”
“He wouldn’t have to know we were going.”
She joins me on her feet. “Don’t do that to him. He loves you both.”
“He deserves better than this.”
“So do the two of you.” She glances over at Lily.
“Does this man you love know about her?”
“No.”
“So, Sean has been the only father she knows.”
A single tear slips from the corner of my eye. I quickly wipe it away. “He loves her like a daughter.”
“The way I see it, i
f you’re not going to go back and face your fear, you need to move on.” She walks over and turns off the television.
I pick up Lily, and she screams to get down. She takes Ember’s hand and mine as we head back to the bar. Her words keep rolling around in my head. She’s right. It’s time for a change. Once the crowd has died down at the bar, I’ll call Jacob and take him up on his offer for dinner.
Sean still has the parrot mask on when we make it back to the bar. He’s staring in Theo’s direction when we walk in front of him, blocking his view. “Ems,” he says. “She told you?”
“Yes. Don’t worry. My lips are sealed.” She leans over the bar and lifts the bottom of his mask, kissing his lips.
And she’s correct. He deserves a chance at a normal life and a woman like her.
She releases his mask and joins him behind the counter to take drink orders. I keep Lily close by my side.
“I want to go over there and ask him about my brother,” Sean says softly.
“I know you do because so do I.”
“We have to leave again.” The soft wrinkles around his eyes seem deeper at the moment.
“No. They haven’t seen us. We’re still safe here.”
“What if Nina is watching?”
“Then she’ll know that we’ve taken measures not to talk to them.” It’s a real fear. She seems to know everything we do.
“Still, we can’t be sure. We need to leave tonight.”
Ember stands beside him. “If you are running, I’m coming with you.”
“No. I won’t risk your life too.”
“I’m not giving you a choice. Besides, you need me for Lily.”
He reaches for her hand and locks his fingers with hers. I know him; he’s appeasing her. If he loves her like I love Rebel, he’ll never let her go with us.
I walk behind the bar with Lily and get to work, keeping an eye toward Theo and Fiona. I’m relieved when they finally pack up their belongings and head for the hotel. Relieved but sad at the same time.
The crowd finally slows enough for Ember and me to take Lily back to the cottage. She’s sound asleep in my arms by the time we get there. “Would you mind watching her this evening?”
She raises a brow, knowing I never leave Lily at night. “Where are you going?”
“To start living that life you talked about.” I wink at her, grabbing my purse.
“I’ll tuck her in and wait for Sean to get home.”
“Thanks.” I open the door to the sun starting to settle.
“Fallon,” she calls after me. I turn in her direction. “Try to have a little fun.”
I wave and continue down the path to Jacob’s place. I’m usually always aware of my surroundings, but I’m so lost in thought as to whether or not I can really do this that when I walk around the corner of the building, I run into someone, knocking my purse to the ground. Without glancing up, I squat to pick it up. “I’m so sorry, I wasn’t paying…”
“Hazel.” My nickname is said in disbelief.
I’m starring at a pair of men’s flip-flops. I gulp down hard and gaze up as I stand.
“Is it really you?” Theo’s eyes are wide.
My instinct is to run, but god I’ve missed my friend. “Yes,” I finally whisper as my lip quivers. The words are no longer out of my mouth, and his arms are wrapped around me.
“I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.” His hot tears combine with mine on my cheek.
For a moment, I’m lost in the happiness of seeing him, but it quickly ignites to fear. I shiver. I push his arms down and drag him around the corner of the building, not before checking my surroundings.
“I can’t believe it’s really you,” he says.
I press a finger to his lips. “It’s not. You have to leave here and never tell anyone that you saw me.”
He peers around. “Is Nina here?”
“She’s always watching somewhere.”
“She threatened you, didn’t she? I knew it.”
“She’s not a threat to me but to everyone I love.”
“That’s why you left.” His eyes scan mine. “She’d kill Rebel.”
“She said she’d kill everyone I love.”
“You have to come back with us. We’ll fight her together. Fiona will be so happy to see you. Is Sean with you?”
“You can’t tell her you found me. And yes, Sean is with me, and he’s okay.”
“You’re crazy if you think I’m not taking the two of you back with us.”
I lick my lips, trying to decide what to say to him to convince him to leave well enough alone. “Three of us,” I finally say.
His brows draw tightly together. “I don’t get it.”
“I have a daughter that’s almost two years old.”
Understanding lights up in his eyes. “You and Rebel have a child.” He hugs me again.
“As far as the world is concerned, Sean and I have a daughter.”
“Nina,” he says, running his hand over his face.
“Don’t kid yourself. She knows the truth, but Rebel never can. He’d go crazy knowing he had a daughter, and he’d get us all killed.”
A dark expression crosses his face as he bites the inside of his cheek.
“What?”
“Nothing.” He glances away.
“Tell me. I saw the look on your face.”
“Rebel…Derrick is not the same man you remember.”
Fear fills every inch of me. “She promised she’d never harm him if I stayed away.” My heart begins to race, thinking about what she’s done to him.
“She didn’t directly harm him, but he was chasing her when the accident happened.”
I gasp. “Please tell me he’s alright?”
“Physically, he’s okay, other than the fact that he walks with a cane. His leg was crushed in the accident.”
“You said physically,” I repeat.
“Mentally, he lost all his memory of his time in the service and everything after that point. The only person he knows is Lawson.”
“What? How is that possible?”
“The doctors said he suffered severe brain trauma. They weren’t sure how much he’d recover, if any at all.”
“How long ago did this happen?” I’m frantic for details.
“A year ago. He was in the hospital for a long time to rehab his leg. Then about four months ago, he was released. Lawson took him, and they moved to the coast of Oregon.”
Four months ago. My mind is reeling. That’s about the time Nina stopped contacting us. I grab both of his arms. “He’s in danger. Nina knows.”
“Lawson lives on the property and keeps an eye on him. He’d never let Nina near him.”
“You said he doesn’t remember his time in the military, so that means he doesn’t know her. She could reinsert herself into his life.”
“Lawson knows her.”
“Yes, but he isn’t with Rebel twenty-four seven. You know her. She’s devious and wants one thing and one thing only. How hard do you think it would be to take Lawson out?”
I can tell by his jaw jutting out he knows what I’m saying is true. “Fuck! I’ve been so wrapped up in my life with Fiona that the thought never occurred to me.”
I place the palm of my hand on the side of his face. “I’m happy for you and Fiona, starting a family. You aren’t responsible for Rebel.”
“The tiki bar,” he says. “That was Sean with the mask on and the little girl…I knew she had Rebel’s eyes.”
“Yes.”
“I want to see them.”
“No. You have to take Fiona and leave. Act like you never found us. If you don’t, I have no doubt that Nina will take away the life you’ve created, including your unborn child.”
He looks down. “Son.”
Tears fill my eyes. “Your son. You can’t risk him to bring me back to life.”
“How can I leave you now that I found you?” His gaze skims down my body. “Are you okay?”
“I�
�m fine.” I sniff.
“Fine isn’t good enough, Fallon. You can’t live your life on the run.”
“Look”—I swipe a tear—“I have everything I need to take care of my daughter. Nina made sure of that.”
“You took her dirty money?” He takes a step back.
“Initially, I did. She’s pure evil, but she’s taught me a lot about finances and hiding. I took her money to make my own, then I donated every penny she gave me to a women’s rescue mission.”
His tense body relaxes. “You have everything you need but a father to your daughter.”
“Lily has Sean. Besides, you’ve made it clear that Rebel won’t know me.”
“Lily,” he repeats her name. “Rebel would like that. It’s his mother’s middle name.”
“Yes, it is.”
He turns in a circle twice. “I don’t know how to walk away from this.”
“Do it for Lily and your son. Love him and Fiona hard. It’s the only way to ensure their safety.”
“What about Rebel? You think he’s in danger. I have to warn him.”
“Warn Lawson instead.” My gaze drops down. “What happened to the rest of the team?”
“Lawson and Honor are together. He’s put off marrying her to help Rebel. Thorn and Lauryn are happily living in sin.” He chuckles. “Mad Dog transferred to a team overseas. Tate, Remington, Thorn, and I still work together on small missions that aren’t as hazardous to our health. We train SEALS to do our job in the United States.”
“The Gunner team minus its captain.”
“Thorn has taken over that role.”
“It all seems like a lifetime ago. I’ll never forget the day I walked into Sean’s bar. My life has never been the same.”
“I’m so sorry. It would’ve been better if our lives hadn’t been fated together.” He wipes away my tears.
“I would do it all over again. It gave me Lily.” I stand tall. “Go, and promise me you won’t say a word to anyone, including Fiona.”
He digs his phone from his back pocket and punches something in and hands me the phone. “Only if you promise to talk to me.”
I glance down at his phone. Contact name is Hazel.
“Nina doesn’t know my nickname for you.”
I tap in my phone number and hand it back to him.
“Thank you. I know you’ve sacrificed your life for all of us.”