Hidden Truths (The Hidden Series Book 1)
Page 17
“Cajoled.”
“Bargained.”
“And finally resorted to extortion.”
My head had been bobbing between them as they went on, and finally I asked, “What did she use to blackmail you with?”
“She threatened to tell Mom,” Jake answered me. I nodded, fighting back a smile. That was a pretty good threat, and one I’d need to remember.
“We’re still going shooting,” Jules told me, patting my hand. “We’ll wait till you’re recovered, but I have a feeling you should know how to handle a gun.” I smiled widely, agreeing as Jake rubbed his hands over his face.
“Oh, yeah, I’d forgotten we had a challenge.” Connor whistled, and Jake told him, “You can forget it again.”
“What? You scared?” Connor taunted. Jake looked at him and then smiled. “How about this? You outshoot her and we’ll talk.” Connor’s look of alarm caused the rest of us to laugh.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
I stepped off the bus with a wince, my ribs still sore. I’d been shot, and it didn’t even warrant a day out of school. They’d released me from the hospital Friday, and after a weekend of recovery, my mom had determined I was fine to go to school on Monday.
I didn’t argue too much, because she let me off with no punishment after finding out I lied about going on the cruise with Carly. I’d had a lot of explaining to do, as well as multiple talks about relationships with older men. The memory was still painful to me as I shifted my backpack.
“Mom, trust me. I know he’s older, but he’s a good guy.”
“I think you need to take it slowly. Older men expect more. You’ve been through a traumatic experience,” she argued, obstinate about it.
“He’s not like that. I’ve known him for months,” I replied.
“Yes, and this is the first time I’ve met him. So you’ll have to accept that it’s going to take me time. You’re still seventeen, and it’s my job to protect you.”
I groaned, knowing she had me. “He’s also super protective of me, Mom. He carries a gun! Who else would I be safer with?”
“Look, I get crushes.” I sighed at her assumption that it was nothing more than a crush. “But I almost lost you, and I’m not willing to lose you to a guy so soon after.”
I heard the pain in her voice, and the fight went out of me. I remembered the pain she felt when she found out I was hurt. “He is welcome here anytime, but you won’t go out with him or to his apartment. Not until you’re eighteen and I can’t stop you,” she told me with a sad frown. I hugged her. “I’m not going anywhere, Mom.” I bent down and forced her to look at me. “I’m just adding more people to the family to love. Okay? I love you.” She nodded, and that was that. Jake had come over every day that weekend, but I wondered when it would get old having to meet his girlfriend only at her house.
I was interrupted from my thoughts by a tiny person throwing herself at me in a hug. I stumbled back, trying not to cry out in pain as I heard her say muffled against my boobs, “I missed you!”
I looked down at Carly as I hugged her back. She was so short that her head only reached my boobs and her face was buried somewhere in there. She lifted her head up with a gasp, “I can’t breathe.”
I laughed and told her, “I missed you too.”
“How was the cruise?” I asked her as we linked arms and headed into the school.
“Awesome! You see my great tan?” She said holding her arm out as I oohed over the golden color. “How about you? How was the beach with Tristan? You don’t look tan.”
Her words reminded me of everything I hadn’t told her. “Well, you see now that’s a long story,” I started.
Epilogue
I was studying in the common area between classes when the Amber alert came on the TV across the room. I looked up at the screen and listened as they switched back to the reporter standing with a woman, obviously the missing child’s mom as she spoke into the microphone. “Please, I’m begging you, anyone. Where is my daughter?”
I smiled and grabbed my phone, hitting Jake’s name.
“2702 Hunters Lane, Bogalusa,” I told him, not bothering to say hello.
“Got it,” he replied. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” My words automatic after two years of saying them.
I set my phone down, glancing at the background picture. It was of me and Jake dancing at Jules and Connor’s wedding a few months before. My mom had snapped it as we twirled by. The utter happiness we exuded brought a smile to my face as I turned back to my criminal justice textbook to finish studying.
Hidden Lies, a sequel to Hidden Truths, coming Christmas Day!
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~Other books by Kristin Coley~
The Anderson Brothers Series:
Finding Ford
Chasing Colt
Loving Livie
The Hidden Series:
Hidden Truths
Hidden Lies
The Trinity Trilogy:
Unbound
Found
Unite – Tentative February 2017
Continue reading for an excerpt of my latest novel, Unbound, book one of the Trinity Trilogy
Prologue
So the story begins
“Get up, hurry,” Mommy begged, shaking me. I whimpered, sleepy and scared at being woken suddenly. She had the new baby in her arms and her purse. “We have to go, sweetie. We need to get your sister.”
I didn’t understand what she meant. Where did we need to go? We were at home. Daddy had left for a trip that morning. Were we meeting him?
“Are we going to see Daddy?” I asked, waking up at the thought. I didn’t know if I wanted to. She hesitated and as she looked at me I knew she would lie. “Yes, we are. It’s a surprise. Help me with your sister.” She thrust the new baby in my arms to hold and I was more scared than ever. Mommy never let me hold baby Quinn by myself. I held her tight, supporting the head like Mommy always said. The baby was quiet as Mommy picked up Kincaid, still sleeping and left the room.
“Come on. Hurry.” I heard her say as she moved down the hallway. I glanced back at my bed, my snuggle teddy lying there. I wanted to grab him, already suspecting I was never coming back here, but I had to hold Quinn with both hands.
“Sinclair!” Her tone was sharp and urgent and I turned away, hurrying down the hall with Quinn.
We drove a long time. Mommy glanced in the rear view mirror a lot, sometimes she would meet my eyes and the look in them made my chest hurt. Finally, we pulled off the highway and took a bumpy road into the forest. The trees scraped against the car, their noise hurting my ears. Mommy stopped and got out of the car after we had driven for a while. We were in a clearing and the moon was right above us, shining so bright it hurt to look at it.
“Clair bear, sit right here, okay?” Mommy asked me so I sat where she said. She gave me Quinn and laid the still sleeping Kincaid against me. “Be still now. Mommy has to do this.” I nodded, trying to be good. Mommy looked scared and sad so I would be a big girl. She went to the trunk and got things out, candles and plants that smelled funny to me.
She drew a circle in the dirt, chanting words and lighting the candles. When she finished she looked at me and burst into tears. I wanted to run to her and hug her but I couldn’t with my sisters lying on me.
“My beautiful bright eyed girls. I’ll do anything to keep you safe. Forgive me.”
I tried to tell her it was okay but my own tears stopped me. Mommy broke the circle we were in and picked up Kincaid. She bundled us in the car and I drifted off to sleep, unable to keep my eyes open any longer.
The sound of the car door woke me. Mommy had Kincaid in her arms. She saw I was awake and regret crossed her face. “Stay with Quinn. I’ll be right back.” I nodded, my heart thumping, knowing something was very wrong.
Mommy came back a few minutes later, tears running down her fa
ce. She shut the car door and shook, holding on to the steering wheel.
“Mommy. Where’s Kincaid?” I asked, my voice tiny. I wasn’t sure she heard me but she looked up after a minute, her eyes meeting mine in the rear view mirror. “Remember this moment, Sinclair Monroe Davis. Never, ever forget it. I love you and your sisters. This is the only way I can protect you. I need you to remember this because your forgiveness will be the only thing that sets me free.”
I nodded, not understanding and wanting my snuggle teddy more than anything. I looked out of the car window knowing we were leaving Kincaid here. I needed to remember where so I could find her. It was dark but I saw the sign as Mommy pulled out of the parking lot. Youth Village. I committed the words to memory. I knew how to read a little. Mommy read to us every night helping me with the words. I saw another sign and something told me it was important too so I remembered it. New Mexico.
Chapter One
Eighteen years later
Tennessee
My laughter only seemed to terrify him more as I weaved in and out of traffic at race car speeds.
“Lawd, Jesus, protect me from this woman’s driving. I beg you, amen!” He cried dramatically, one hand holding the door while the other covered his eyes.
“You think Jesus gives a crap about my driving? I haven’t killed you yet, have I?” I told him, looking at him huddled against the seat. His long black frame looked like a rainbow threw up on him. He was color blind, but didn’t care. He firmly believed in wearing whatever made you feel pretty. I wished he’d wear something that didn’t hurt my eyes on a regular basis.
He wore the mantle of my best friend proudly so I didn’t tell him he was the only person I had tolerated long enough to even consider a friend.
He peeked out and saw me looking at him. “Look at the road, you crazy woman!” He screeched as he looked out the windshield. “Oh Jesus, forgive me! I don’t want to die in a fiery car crash.” I chuckled, quickly changing lanes as the cars in front of me stopped. The highway opened up a bit and I floored it. The speed gave me an adrenaline rush like nothing else. Well, sex was an occasional close second, but I preferred the rush that came from driving.
“Sinclair, you might want to talk to someone about your need for life defying situations. I’m just saying.” Garvin told me. Garvin was named for Marvin Gaye, not precisely sure why his mother did it and unwilling to ask but I always felt it said something about him, especially since that was how he introduced himself.
“I think one person called me an adrenaline junkie.” I nodded sagely even as the odometer crept closer to 110.
“Do I even want to know how fast we’re going?” He asked, rhetorically I assumed since his eyes were squeezed shut. “You know we won’t be late, right?”
Sirens interrupted me before I could tell him my need for speed had nothing to do with being on time for dinner at his grandma’s house. I slowed down as Garvin looked around.
“They after us? Oh what we gonna do?” He cried somewhat hysterically. It almost made me wonder if he had something to hide. I asked him if he did and he looked at me like I was insane.
“I’m a black man. They gonna haul me out of the car and beat me for sitting next to a white woman.” He exclaimed startling a laugh out of me. “You think it’s funny! They gonna think I kidnapped you and held you at gunpoint and you driving like a mad woman to get their attention. You watch.” He crossed his arms and slammed his back against the seat, muttering under his breath, “Crazy ass white woman.”
“I should be offended. But I’m actually kind of flattered you’d kidnap me.” I said with wink.
“Oh please. I’d only kidnap you so I could get the car. ” He said with a sassy shake of his head.
I shook my head, watching the officer step out of his car from my side mirror. He wasn’t wearing a uniform, but I saw the gun tucked into his side holster. He was in an unmarked black Charger which explained why I missed him when I flew by his car. I quickly debated how to handle the situation. With Garvin in the car my options were somewhat limited. “Don’t contradict me.” I told him rolling my window down as the cop came closer. Garvin gave a low whistle upon seeing the officer. “There’s a long drink of sweet tea.”
“Shh.” I hissed sharply.
I plastered a smile on my face as he stepped up to the window.
“I’d ask if you knew how fast you were going but I suspect you do.” He started, the warm timber of his voice sending a shiver down my spine. I heard a low hum of appreciation from the seat next to me. I kept the smile on my face even as my eyes narrowed. I never ignored my gut, ever. Not since the night I lost my sisters. This man was dangerous to me.
“License and registration.” He continued, his tone serious. I reached into the glove box and pulled out a menu for my favorite Chinese takeout. Garvin gave short, tight shake of his head, but I leveled a threatening look at him. He huffed and sat back.
“Here you go.” I told him, handing the menu to him. I knew if I looked in the rear view mirror my eyes would be brighter, a subtle glow enhancing the blue.
“A diplomat? But…” He muttered looking down at the menu I handed him. He strode to the back of the car and I quickly corrected the license plate to be diplomatic.
He came back to the driver side window looking puzzled. He handed the menu back to me as he said, “Diplomatic immunity or not, you need to watch your speed. You’re endangering lives.”
A snort came from the seat next to me along with, “Preach it.” I turned slowly, glaring at Garvin. I didn’t need his shit, not with a threat next to me. When I turned back I met a pair of the darkest blue eyes I had ever seen. He’d taken his sunglasses off and I couldn’t stop the hitch in my breathing at the sight of him close-up. His face was all angular planes, his skin tanned and weathered, but his jaw was smooth. None of that bearded nonsense so many men had adopted. He looked over at Garvin, who for once was knocked speechless, before returning his gaze to me. I couldn’t look away from him, captured by eyes that seemed to see the real me for the first time in a long time. He glanced down at the menu I still held forgotten in my hand.
“Is that a menu?” There was no denying his suspicion and I almost lost the illusion completely in my shock.
“No, it’s my papers showing diplomatic immunity.” I replied, pouring more will into my words.
He shook his head and looked again, “Of course. I see it.” I hadn’t felt fear since I was six years old and left at an orphanage in Florida, but his words sent a chill down me. I felt the desperate need to escape.
“Are we done here?” I managed curtly.
He stepped back from the car. “Watch your speed.” There was no mistaking the warning in his words as I gave him a tight nod. Glancing at my rear view mirror I saw him watching me as I drove away. I fought an insane compulsion to go back. Whatever part of me that feared him also wanted him and that I knew I couldn’t allow.
“Whew wee. I damn near melted from the heat coming from the two of you.” Garvin drawled, fanning himself.
“Zip it.” I growled, the threat in my voice obvious enough to keep him quiet.
Chapter Two
“I’m so sorry, Claire Bear. I didn’t have a choice. I love you so much.” Mom whispered, the ache in her voice bringing tears to my eyes. “Forgive me.” She cried, her arm outstretched to me as I woke up gasping. My face was wet from the tears in my dream and I knew I wouldn’t be sleeping anymore tonight. I slipped from the bed and went to the bathroom.
Serafin jumped on the counter in the bathroom, meowing, her black coat gleaming under the light. “I hear you. Chill.” I muttered, splashing my face. “I’ll get your treats.” She head butted my hand and I stroked her. After twelve years together she seemed to instinctively understand my emotions. We padded silently into the kitchen, the glow from the microwave telling me it was 3AM. I grabbed the jar of kitty treats as Serafin jumped on the counter next to me. I set a few on the counter and she swiped at my hand for more.
It had been several months since I had dreamt of my mother. I blamed the recurrence on my unsettling encounter with Officer Tall Dark and Handsome earlier that morning.
I slipped my house key into my pocket before locking the door to start my run. My breaths caused small puffs of smoke in the early morning air. Goosebumps raised on my arms at the chill but I knew I would warm up after a few minutes. I still wore the leggings and tank top I’d worn to bed that night. It was comfortable enough to run in if a bit chilly at the moment.
I started slow the only sound that of my feet hitting the pavement. I allowed the rhythm of my run to calm the prickling of fear that came every time I dreamed of my mother. Tonight’s dream was a familiar one. I didn’t know how many times I’d dreamed of her pleading for forgiveness over the years. I wasn’t sure why I did. I had never blamed her for abandoning us. Some part of me had always understood it was the only way she could save us. It was the why that haunted me though.
I never knew why she had to do it or what had happened to her and Quinn after she left me. I had searched over the years, using every bit of knowledge I had etched into my six year old self’s memories. It wasn’t enough though. I had never found a whisper of any of them.
Survival demanded more of my energy and eventually I had stopped looking. I figured she had her reasons for separating us and my searching for them wouldn’t help.
None of this stopped the prickle of unease running through me though. The cop had upset my equilibrium. I knew he had seen though my illusion and that was a first. I couldn’t believe my ability was slipping so it had to be something about him. I wanted to hunt him down and figure it out but instinct warned me that would be a dangerous game to play. I couldn’t afford to have my interest returned. I had too many secrets of my own.