Twisted Secrets

by Amy McKinley

  Something had gone down. I just wasn’t sure what. Anger churned beneath the surface, and I fought to maintain a sense of calm as I asked her a question to which I hoped she would give a negative answer. “Did your boyfriend do this?”

  “What?” Her head reared back, and her eyes went wide.

  At her shocked expression, I was able to release some of the building fury. “I needed to make sure. Because if he had, I would have to pay him a visit.”

  “Oh.” She reached out to touch my hand then pulled back at the lightest touch, as if shocked. “No, there isn’t anything like that going on. Trust me. I wouldn’t stay with him if there were.”

  Conviction clung to her words, and the last of my anger dissolved. “Let’s sit down, then, unless you want to get your stomach checked out.” It didn’t look too bad, but she’d had the wind knocked out of her with a hard hit to her stomach, causing her diaphragm to spasm, and was probably sore. Even so, a fierce protectiveness rose in me, and I didn’t want to let her out of my sight.

  Riley

  I sat on the bench next to Xander and eased back, relaxing my aching abdominal muscles. Whatever slammed into me had caused me to double over so fast that I never saw what happened or who had done it. But someone had. That I was positive about.

  Xander had left me long enough to survey our surroundings, go into the shop close to us to check for security footage, and see if anyone was hovering at an open window in the apartments above or around back. It hadn’t taken long, thankfully.

  A fragrant breeze, rich with the scent of hibiscus, lulled me even further, drying up the tears. Xander was a powerful force, and I let my guard down. With him by my side, I didn’t worry about a potential attack or if I needed help. Contained energy sizzled around him, and when he was worried about me a moment ago, I swear he would have torn Charles apart with his bare hands if he had hit me. I couldn’t believe Charles would do something like that, but I didn’t know who would.

  Even with Xander protecting me, the uneasy feeling I’d had with Ava returned. I’d known something was going to happen, and maybe that had been it. Maybe I’d subconsciously recognized ill intent from someone while we ate but hadn’t recognized the source, possibly a passing stranger or a group of troubled teens. Ava and I had been pretty deep in our conversation and not paying much attention to anyone around us. Frustrated with not knowing who meant to do me harm, I worked to push my thoughts away.

  Silence had stretched between Xander and me. It was comfortable, and I had to catch myself from leaning against him and resting my head on his shoulder. It would have been so easy to do.

  There were no answers about what had happened to me. He hadn’t found anything, the security cameras in the nearby stores were pointing away, and there was no reason for me to stay. I knew I should leave to get to work on my assignment, but I didn’t want to. Instead, I took the time we seemed to have to get to know him a little more. With a half smile, I turned to him. “What are you doing in this area of town?”

  His lips curved into that sexy grin, and I sucked in a breath. “I met my brother at the hardware store on his lunch break. He wanted to check out some finishes for the renovations I’m doing. Took longer than I thought. Good thing, or I wouldn’t have run into you.”

  “I’m glad you found me. I would have been okay, I think, unless whoever did that stuck around.” I repressed a shiver at the thought. I needed to get ahold of my overactive imagination.

  He frowned. “Have you had any other run-ins?”

  “No. Nothing like that.” I huffed. “My life is rather boring.”

  Concern swam through his gaze, and he tucked a strand of loose hair behind my hear. “I’m heading to the island tonight, if you wanted to go with. There’s another cabin beside mine that’s in pretty good shape. You could spend the night there and get a change of scenery. And we could hang out.”

  Butterflies erupted in my stomach, and I nervously twined my fingers together. I wanted to say yes. “Oh, thanks. That sounds amazing, but I can’t.” I waved away his invitation, my mind turning back to the conversation with Charles. Will he come by? Do I want him to? “I have a project to do for school.”

  “Well, if you change your mind, the invitation’s open. I’ll be here a couple more days until I’m mostly on my family’s island. But I’m only a phone call away.”

  We chatted for a couple more minutes. Xander insisted on walking me home, and I let him. Even though I didn’t trust my reactions around him, I wanted to spend more time with him. So for the next twenty minutes, I indulged that part of me that craved his presence. When we arrived, any remaining tension eased at the locked door to my apartment.

  When he said goodbye and our hands brushed, tingles shot up my arm. As my apartment door shut behind me, I couldn’t deny it any longer, and guilt weighed heavily on my shoulders. I was dating Charles, but I wanted Xander.

  6

  Riley

  The next day, I was glad that Charles had never shown. The project I needed to do for my theory class was finished and turned in. That morning was busy at the Coffee Hut, and my shift flew by. With only one class on my schedule that day, I decided to stop in his office after he was free. I’d checked his schedule, and he had hours until his midafternoon class.

  The guilt I felt from my reaction to Xander was still high, and I wanted to test how things were between Charles and me. I was confused—that had to be it. We’d been fighting more, and it was inevitable that I’d noticed Xander because, well, he was him. There was no not seeing him.

  I entered the building where Charles’s office was and made my way down the hall, prepared to knock on his door. It was open, but I rapped on the frame anyway. His head came up, that thick shock of sandy-blond hair fell over his forehead, and his brown eyes lit up behind the wire frames I thought looked so sexy on him. With his white button-down slightly wrinkled and his signature navy-blue tie with his alma mater’s seal, I remembered what had drawn me to him—intelligence with a certain boyish charm. He had it in spades. Or at least he seemed to, with his various publications and elevated position at the university. When he’d pursued me, a part of me had been flattered.

  “Riley, what a surprise.” He pushed the hair back from his forehead.

  I snapped out of my thoughts and smiled at him. “I thought I would stop by and see if you’re free.”

  “I am.” He stood, towering over me as he reached around to shut the door. The lock clicked into place. “I missed you.”

  He bent and covered my lips in a hungry kiss, and I let my backpack slip to the nearby chair as he guided me toward his desk. I lifted my arms and encircled his neck, appreciating his ardor. I’d missed him too.

  The backs of my legs pressed against Charles’s desk. His mouth moved over mine with more insistence, and I tried to match his enthusiasm, but something felt off. I couldn’t figure out what. Threading my fingers through his hair, I relaxed into his kiss, seeking the connection we’d once had.

  His hands roamed over me, insistent and hurried. He pulled the hem of my shirt up, and I let him because the blinds were closed and the door locked. We’d done the same thing before, many times. At least that was what I kept telling myself as he grew bolder and more aggressive in his touch.

  My back arched as he bent me over the top of his desk. Lifting one of my legs, he ground against me then picked me up, so I was reclining over the mahogany surface. My confusion swirled at how fast he’d moved. When his fingers bit into my waist as he wrestled to get my shorts off while simultaneously kissing and touching me, unease clouded my mind, and I put a voice to it. “What’re you doing?” I reared back, escaping his lips to meet his eyes.

  Frustration flashed across his flushed features. “I’m sure you can figure that out, babe.”

  My stomach plummeted. I hated it when he called me that, as I imagined that he used it with all his prior girlfriends. Pushing at his shoulders, I attempted to break free. He wasn’t having it, too consumed to notice. “
Stop. Charles!”

  He froze with his hands on his belt buckle and annoyance curling his upper lip. “What? You came here. You can’t be serious about not wanting to have sex with me.”

  My feet gained purchase on the floor. I pushed him back and skirted around him, pulling my shirt on once there was some space between us. “I came by to see you. Not have you grope me like that.” I flung my arm out at his desk. “I have no idea what that was, but it wasn’t about us.”

  Inside, I trembled. His touch had been cold, aggressive, and hurried. There was nothing about it that conveyed he was thinking about me, about us. It was desperate and, for me, stressful.

  He shoved his glasses back onto his face, straightened his shirt, and adjusted his tie. “What’s going on with you? Is this about needing extra attention again?”

  What the hell is wrong with him? “No, Charles.” I felt sick. This was not the person I’d thought he was. It was clear I’d read more into the relationship, and he’d just wanted a hookup. I guessed, despite how great it had been in the beginning, the challenge was over for him. “This isn’t working out.”

  “Give me a break, babe.” He huffed as he went around his desk and adopted that scholarly expression I’d thought I loved. “I’ll come over later today, and we can talk.”

  His snide tone solidified my decision. I grabbed my bag, flicked the lock, and got the hell out of his office. I ignored him calling after me as I hurried down the hall. The building’s door slammed behind me. Outside, I unleashed the tears I’d been holding in check, and they rolled down my face. Fumbling with the small zippered pocket on my backpack, I pulled out my sunglasses to hide my emotional turmoil. Thank God I didn’t have an afternoon shift.

  My steps slowed once I was off campus. I wasn’t too far from my apartment and could use the walk rather than hopping the bus. I didn’t care how long it took to get home. The fresh air would clear my head.

  After a couple of blocks, I finally put my finger on what I was feeling—used. His touch had been detached, his eyes glazed. That hadn’t been us back there. I had been a warm body only, and I had a sick feeling that I knew why. There had to be someone else who was unattainable, and he was fantasizing about her rather than me. The signs were there and increasingly so.

  He’d pursued me so hard, and when I’d given in, he’d been so attentive. It was impossible not to feel special, and I’d considered myself lucky, thinking that what we had would continue to grow and evolve. But then his eye had wandered more and more. He had grown complacent. If he stopped over for a drink but didn’t get what he wanted, his temperament would turn nasty. I was a possession that he felt he should have unlimited access to. The mature, caring man I’d thought I was involved with wasn’t that at all. He was childish.

  But it wasn’t only his fault. I was guilty too. Horror filled me at the revelation. Am I falling into the same pattern as my family?

  Xander

  A warm, balmy breeze stirred the outdoor hanging lights around the patio’s perimeter. I tipped my beer back then flagged the waitress for another when she passed by. Ty and Jaxon arrived at the same time, pulled out chairs, and took their seats. We only waited on Mark, the analyst we worked with.

  “Thanks for ordering for us,” Jaxon said.

  I knew what my brothers drank, but I hadn’t ordered for Mark—I didn’t know him that well. He did communications analysis for the SEAL teams. I’d met him through Ty, and we’d also stood up for him a time or two when Kyle, another member of our team who was generally a dependable and great guy, had been his usual arrogant-jerk self to our support staff. “Where is Mark?

  Ty twisted in his chair, looking around the beachside bar. “He should be here soon.”

  “Do you think it’s the best idea to involve him?” Jaxon leaned forward. “That last mission didn’t go well, and I can’t say it didn’t benefit him by making his life easier.”

  “He’s not like that,” Ty said in Mark’s defense, tipping his chair so he balanced on the back legs. “He was a nerdy, quiet guy in school, and he’s pretty much the same now, with the exception of having a girlfriend.”

  “I thought they broke up?” It wasn’t a secret that Mark was dating another analyst on base. Ty had mentioned that there was some drama going on between them one day after Mark had been a distracted mess when he presented at one of our meetings. The incident was well-known.

  An acoustic guitar strummed inside as a band took the stage to warm up. It was going to get loud, even on the outdoor patio. Ty and Jaxon were mumbling about something while I stared at the surf. There was a bonfire going on the beach, and a couple ran, hand in hand, into the waves, laughing and jumping rolling crests until they fell into the frothy water. I couldn’t help but smile as Riley invaded my thoughts. At lunch the other day, she’d told me she’d learned to surf. I wanted to take her out. I knew she had a boyfriend, but there was an undeniable connection between us, and I hoped she would give me a chance. I didn’t think her relationship would be long-term, as she didn’t light up when she talked about him.

  “What’s that look on your face?” Ty broke into my thoughts.

  “What?” My smile turned into a grin when Mark appeared. Good timing. They’d have to let it go. Besides, I wasn’t sure I wanted to share Riley with my brothers yet, at least not until I was able to take her out on a real date. “Hey, Mark. Glad you could make it.”

  Ty and Jaxon narrowed their eyes for a moment longer before turning their attention to Mark. They echoed similar greetings, and we waited to talk business until Mark’s drink arrived.

  “I told Daryl,” I began, “about how Kyle took the brunt of the explosion when Daryl sent him in first. Daryl changed the plan at the last minute.”

  “But Daryl is the team leader. Why would he go first?” Mark asked.

  “The communication came through you, Mark, but the informant asked for Daryl specifically. The connection, for whatever reason, was there. That’s how they rehearsed the op, for him to take point,” Ty said.

  “Exactly,” Jaxon added. “The informant was cartel, and they want territory. Our entire reason for getting the guns out of the Venezuelan government’s hands was so that they wouldn’t occupy more space on the map. That area is brewing with conflict. So why was the informant rigged with explosives? Who set the messenger up and why?”

  “It’s probably the Venezuelan government. It doesn’t make sense for it to be anyone associated with the cartel,” Mark murmured. “Besides, they could’ve gotten Daryl’s name through other connections, possibly even a leak in the Venezuelan government.”

  “That’d be my guess too.” I drummed my fingers on the table. The plan for tonight was to get together and have a few beers. I’d wanted to see if anything odd came up about Daryl from Mark or even Ty, but it hadn’t. Either way, it was good to get out for a while with the guys.

  We were about to wrap things up when Ty’s eyes sparkled. I knew where that mischievous look would lead and needed a distraction. “Mark, how are things with Anna?”

  “Good.” His smile broadened. “I had to attend prayer to prove I was committed to her, but that’s a small sacrifice to make for having her back.”

  “I’m happy for you, man.” Ty clapped Mark on the shoulder.

  “Would Anna be willing to flag any suspicious data with Venezuela chatter that fits into what we’re searching for and let you know?” Jaxon asked, bringing the conversation back to our problem.

  “Yeah, I’m sure she would. I’ll check with her and see if she’s noticed anything that didn’t seem relevant but would actually help us out.” He glanced at the time on his phone. “I’ve got to head out. I’ll let you know if I find anything.”

  I took the last swallow of my beer and went to get up too. “On that note, I’ve got to head out.”

  Ty’s hand tightened around my arm, and a wicked grin stretched across his face. “You’re not going anywhere. Tell us why you had that big goofy smile on your face.”

 
I laughed and leaned back against my seat. “I met someone.”

  “Yeah?” Jaxon’s gaze sharpened, and with his fingers loosely wrapped around the neck of his beer, he twirled the base on the table. “What’s she like?”

  “Sweet, artistic. She’s got this long dark-brown hair, sexy whiskey-colored eyes, and…” I shrugged. I didn’t want to go into how gorgeous she was or the fact that I wanted to kiss her for hours. Or that I could spend all day talking to her and never get bored. There was something different about her, and I intended to find out what. “I can’t stop thinking about her.”

  7

  Riley

  The pop from the cork echoed through my tiny kitchen as I pulled it from the bottle of red wine. The day had been enlightening, to say the least. With a full glass in hand, I went out to my patio. My night plans consisted of my drink, the sunset, and no complications. A mixture of burnt oranges and purples painted the sky over the hint of rolling waves from the small portion of the ocean I could see. I relaxed back against the settee, and propped my feet on the ottoman, happy to be alone.

  The strain between Charles and me was more taxing than I was comfortable with, and that right there was a huge sign. Then there was the incident in town when I was hit in the stomach, and the apartment break-in. My cell pinged, startling me from my thoughts. I glanced at the screen and sucked in a shaky breath.

  An unknown number had texted me. I won’t let this go.

  Maybe it was Charles. Biting my lower lip, I toyed with ignoring it, but my curiosity got the better of me. Who is this? I typed.

  I waited. No little dots showed from someone texting back. Unease churned in my stomach along with the hearty glass of wine I’d had. I was ridiculous. It was probably a wrong number, and if it had been Charles, he was a jerk.