Wicked Secret

by Sawyer Bennett

“But they may send an army,” she counters.

  “Regardless,” I soothe. “For the time being, I think you’re still very safe at my house. I won’t ever let anything happen to you, Sam, or Mike. Let’s just head to my place. When we hear from the DOJ, we can further assess the situation.”

  Leighton and Mike exchange a look. Thankfully, Mike seems to be the more trusting of the two. He merely nods, indicating it’s fine for a short-term plan.

  CHAPTER 26

  Leighton

  I stare at Sam as he peacefully sleeps, so oblivious to the calamity surrounding us. Resisting the urge to move to the bed to kiss his head one more time, I back out and shut the door.

  Padding down the hallway, I find everyone in the living room. Brian and Lori sit close to each other on the couch, holding hands. My dad is in one of the swivel chairs perpendicular to them. August leans against the doorway that separates the kitchen and living areas.

  It’s eerily quiet, but it’s a welcome relief. There’s been a lot of discussion over the last several hours, and my head hurts.

  I move over to the window, too antsy to sit. Pulling the sheer curtain back, I peek out over the front yard. There’s a black suburban parked on the street parallel to the house. Inside it is a Jameson employee. I know there’s another hovering somewhere around the backyard. August didn’t think the men were necessary, but he’d told me he was keeping them throughout the night to give me some peace of mind. While I appreciate the gesture, they don’t make me feel any safer.

  Leaning forward, I let my forehead rest against the window and wonder when we’ll get some resolution. We left Jameson after watching the video feeds from the Grande Casino, and August drove my father and me to his house. He’d then pulled his parents aside and updated them on what was going on. We decided not to tell Sam just yet because the kid has enough on his plate without adding this worry to it.

  Dinner had been a quiet affair. While he hadn’t understood what was happening, Sam isn’t stupid. He’d valiantly kept trying to engage us in funny stories or commit to making plans to do something fun. Eventually, he’d slipped into the same sullen sulk we were all in.

  After, Sam settled in to watch a movie with his grandparents down in the basement while August and I cleaned the kitchen. It hadn’t taken us long to get into another heated debate over what to do.

  “We should make a run for it,” I’d told August as I wiped the counters. I’d kept my voice low, because even though the door to the basement was closed, I hadn’t wanted Sam to overhear us.

  August’s expression had darkened. “You’re good at that, aren’t you? Running, I mean.”

  I’d taken a deep breath, not wanting to get stuck on old hurts. “I’m good at running when I don’t think I have any other choice to protect Sam. I didn’t have a choice then, and I’m feeling like I don’t have a choice now.”

  August’s eyes had filled with contrition, and he leaned on the counter opposite of me. “I know. And I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought up that past shit.”

  I’d sniffed dismissively, scrubbing harder at an already-clean granite countertop.

  August reached out and placed a restraining hand on my arm, which forced me to meet his eyes. “I do understand why you ran back then, just as I understand why you’re scared and want to run now. You’re operating from a ‘mom’ perspective, and your instinct is to snatch Sam up and hide him away. But I’m telling you, Leighton, my perspective is different. You can’t run without knowing all the facts. We need to have patience and get more information so we can know the actual danger that’s being presented.”

  He’d been right, of course. And his words had actually settled me down for a few hours. We’d joined everyone in the living room, ate some popcorn, and chilled out together. When Sam got sleepy, August had joined me in tucking him in. He’d listened to me tell Sam an off-the-cuff, made-up story, then had given him the same kiss on the forehead I had. He’d left, though, while I stayed, choosing to cuddle with my boy for a while. He’s growing up way too fast, and I know these times aren’t going to last.

  Movement out the window catches my eye. Headlights turn into the driveway, and my blood starts to pound through my veins. “Someone’s here.”

  August moves quickly to the window to look out. “It’s Rachel.”

  Sure enough, Rachel unfolds from the SUV. The Jameson guy in the Suburban steps out, and Rachel says something to him. He merely nods before ducking back inside as Rachel comes up to the front porch.

  August meets her at the door, welcoming her inside. He makes quick introductions to his parents, then asks if she wants something to drink. She shakes her head. “I just wanted to stop by on my way home to update you.”

  “What did you find out?” August asks.

  “DOJ has been able to confirm there’s a few channels of chatter about Mike. They said the men were not able to get any identifying information about Mike or Leighton at the casino.”

  “That’s great news,” Brian says with a broad smile.

  Rachel shakes her head, her expression somber. “It’s not stopping their enthusiasm. They know he’s in Vegas, so they are dispatching their people in high numbers. Hiring investigators. Probably plying crooked cops with money to keep their eyes peeled. You can believe there will be photos of Mike and Leighton everywhere, and the first place they’ll start questioning people is at the Grande Casino.”

  “The only one who knew me was Marilyn,” my dad says sadly. “And she didn’t know that much. My full name, yes, but not where I lived or anything.”

  “I think you need to call her, inform her about what’s going on, and ask her to please be cautious if she gets approached.”

  My dad agrees, and my heart breaks for him. I know he likes this woman, and was potentially hoping for more if he were going to stay in Vegas. In fact, by the look on his face right now, I kind of think he had made the decision to stay and that’s why he’d taken me there to meet her.

  Rachel’s gaze comes to mine briefly before going to my father. What she’s telling him applies to me and Sam. “There’s going to be a definite safety risk if you choose to stay in Vegas. I have no clue how long these people will scour the city for you, but, in my estimation, it’s best you leave.”

  My shoulders slump, because even though I’ve been ready to flee all day, hearing I actually need to is disheartening. So much to plan and do, and I have no clue how to go about doing it.

  “If it’s any consolation,” Rachel says, turning her attention to me. “I don’t think you need to go into deep hiding. I just think you need to get out of the area. It doesn’t appear they know anything about you. You could, of course, get new identities as an added means of protection.”

  What she’s suggesting sounds fine, but, again, no clue how to go about doing that. I have a few thousand dollars saved. My dad probably has the same. It’s enough to relocate us, but we’re going to be in dire straits and I doubt we can afford the type of money it takes to buy new identities.

  Rachel’s gaze bounces from Mike, to me, and then to August. “Just let me know what else you need from me. We’re ready to help in any way we can. I’m going to keep the detail on your house until you tell me otherwise, okay?”

  August murmurs his agreement as he walks Rachel to the door. I remember to call out a thank you to her before she leaves, then move across the living room to my dad.

  “So we leave,” I say as I take his hands in mine. “We’ve done it once before, and we can do it again. The sooner, the better.”

  “You can’t just walk out the door,” August says dryly, and I look over my shoulder. He stares pointedly. “What’s your plan? What about Sam? He’s sick, you know. Needs medical care.”

  “I’m well aware of what my kid needs,” I reply stiffly. “We’ll figure it out, but staying here means we could wind up dead. I think leaving is the bigger priority.”

  “You definitely need a plan,” Brian says, popping up from the couch to pace. “What a
bout your handler? Can he at least give you some advice?”

  “Government’s not going to help us,” Mike replies bitterly. “We cut those ties for good when we left Denver.”

  “What about coming down to the Keys with us?” Lori suggests. “It’s quiet, and there aren’t a lot of people where we are. We could sell the RV. Get a house there.”

  I let go of my dad, reaching my hand out to Lori. She takes it, and I give her a squeeze. “That’s sweet, Lori. But we’ll need to be somewhere near a good hospital that has experience with stem cell transplants and an oncology team for Sam. So closer to a metropolitan area is going to be better for us.”

  “What about another country?” my dad suggests. “I wouldn’t mind putting an ocean between us and the mob.”

  “New identities should be the first priority,” I say, not keen on moving to another country. “And they’d have to be good enough to get us passports. Not sure we can afford that.”

  “We have money we can give you,” Lori says confidently. “Anything to help keep you safe.”

  And it’s at this point I realize August has been unnaturally quiet while the rest of the family rallies to figure out a plan. I find him at the window where I had been, just looking out. He has his hands casually tucked into his pockets, rocking on the balls of his feet. He appears to have tuned us all out, apparently having disconnected from this.

  “Would you like to join us in this conversation, August?” I snap. “We could use some ideas.”

  August slowly turns to face us, but his gaze meets mine. “I was just wondering how much equity I have in this house…”

  “What?” I ask, confused by this random change of subject. “Why?”

  “Just wondering what I’ll get for this place if I were to sell it. I’ve only owned it for four years.”

  I growl in frustration, throwing my arms out. “What does that have to do with anything? We’re trying to figure out where we can go to be safe. Focus, please.”

  August shrugs. “I don’t care where we go. You pick the place. I have a lot of contacts. I can make it happen.”

  He just uttered a lot of words, but I laser in on just one.

  We.

  He said he didn’t care where we go.

  But I surely heard that wrong. “What?”

  He shrugs again, completely blasé. “I don’t care where we go. Mexico. Middle of a cornfield in Nebraska. As long as I’m with you and Sam, that’s all that matters.”

  It’s like all the air is sucked from the room. I can’t breathe. Glancing around wildly, I try to see if everyone heard what I think I just did. His parents and my father regard August with mild interest, but they’re clearly not as rocked by this revelation as I am.

  Suddenly, I don’t feel like having an audience. I stomp across the living room, latch onto August’s wrist, and pull him toward the door. After I open it, I haul him onto the porch and shut it behind us.

  I whirl on him, hands going to my hips, as I demand, “What do you mean by we? Are you coming with us?”

  He shrugs again, as if it’s no big deal. “If you run, so do I.”

  Sighing, I pinch the bridge of my nose and briefly close my eyes. This is insane. When I manage to open them again, I say, “August… I know Sam is important to you—”

  “He is,” he assures me with a pointed look. “Very. But I’m making the decision to run with you this time. To be with you. It’s a total bonus that Sam comes along for the ride, but I’m not going to let you get away again.”

  “Just like that?” I ask incredulously. “You’ve suddenly decided you want to be with me?”

  August rolls his eyes, stepping into me and putting his hands on my shoulders. “No, not just like that, Leighton. It’s been evolving since we’ve reconnected, but yeah… I want to be with you. I’m running with you because I love you. Can’t imagine life without you. I want to raise our son together. Whether we decide to do it in a big city or on a sandy beach in South America, I can make it happen. I mean, we obviously need to go to a place where Sam can be treated, but after he’s in remission and doing well, we can go wherever we want. As long as I’m with you, I don’t care where we are. You’re ‘home’ to me.”

  I blink, not daring to believe what he’s saying. “But what about your career?”

  Another shrug. “It’s just a job. You and Sam are my family.”

  “And what will we do?”

  “Whatever we want,” he replies, making it sound so easy. “I have a lot of money saved as my career has been pretty lucrative so far. I can easily get us new identities.”

  “You’d do that?” I ask incredulously, heart swelling up to capacity as I’m on the verge of believing him. “Give up your life? Your career?”

  He bends closer to me, giving me a gentle kiss. Then he presses his forehead to mine, eyes closed. “I’d do anything for you. Give up anything to be with you.”

  “Oh, wow,” I murmur, heart swimming happily inside my chest. “This is seriously happening.”

  August pulls away so he can look me directly in the eye. “We’d have to get married first. With our current names. Then we can get new identities.”

  “Oh, wow,” I say again, the enormity of changes starting to make my knees go weak. August’s arms go around my waist, helping to support me.

  “It’s only logical,” he says with a grin. “I love you, you love me, and we share a son. We should get married.”

  “You’re such a romantic,” I quip dryly, even as my arms curl over his shoulders so I can clasp my fingers behind his neck. “And who says I love you, anyway?”

  “You did,” he points out with surety. “You said you never moved on from me. I know you used to love me, ergo, that means you still love me now.”

  I glance off to the side as if having a great internal debate before smiling. “It’s true. I do love you, and I accept your marriage proposal.”

  His mouth claims mine, sealing a lifelong pact between us. I melt into him, merging with this man who is now a permanent part of my life. Who will stay by mine and Sam’s side throughout our next great adventure as we once again run from the bad guys.

  And, inherently, I know everything is going to be fine.

  EPILOGUE

  August

  It’s nice to have contacts, and I’m specifically talking about the type that come from working for a man like Kynan McGrath.

  He’d suggested I consider moving to the East Coast, specifically to the Pittsburgh headquarters of Jameson. He pointed out it enabled me to continue with a lucrative career surrounded by the best security professionals in the world. Plus, the mountains surrounding the city had some of the best places where we could hide in plain sight.

  Of course, the first thing on the agenda before leaving Vegas had been to take advantage of a quickie wedding. Again, Kynan called in a favor. One of the local judges had gladly married us at the Jameson offices in Vegas with my parents and Mike in attendance.

  Obviously, Sam had been there, too. Standing right in between Leighton and me, our arms all wrapped around each other. While no vows had been exchanged, the marriage certificate had been signed by an esteemed member of the court.

  The next day, we’d managed to get the entire house packed and loaded. We’d kissed my parents goodbye with promises they could come visit us very soon, and we’d hit the road.

  I’m sure no one understands the importance of why I had to marry Leighton right away, but I’d wanted that paper sealing our future together before we took our first steps together as a family. Didn’t matter what our names changed to. Didn’t matter where we lived. We had an actual court decree that said Leighton, Sam, and I belonged together forever.

  There’s a knock on the front door. Regrettably, Leighton jumps, her face frowning with worry.

  “Relax, babe,” I say with a gentle kiss. “It’s just Kynan.”

  I leave Leighton in the kitchen unpacking the plates and utensils. It’s amazing how fast we were able to pack up an
entire household and move. Within two days of us tying the knot, we’d filled up a large U-Haul with our belongings and headed east to Pennsylvania. Eventually, I’m going to take a few buddies out to Denver to pack up the remainder of their house there, but we need to get settled first.

  We’re renting for now, not wanting to make a rash decision by buying sight unseen. Kynan found this gem of a four-bedroom house nestled in the rolling hills about thirty miles north of Pittsburgh. It’s placed on over three acres, where Mike and Sam are currently walking around to check things out.

  I move to the front door, knowing Kynan will be there. I’m surprised when I open it to find he’s brought his wife, Joslyn.

  I hug her, shake Kynan’s hand, and invite them both in, then point toward the kitchen. “Leighton’s in there unpacking. We’ve got some coffee on if you want some.”

  Joslyn smiles as she heads that way. She’s not met Leighton yet, but she’s well aware of what’s going on. Besides, she knows Kynan’s here to talk business, and I’m sure she’s here to welcome Leighton to the area. Joslyn’s the team mother to the Jameson employees and their families.

  I lead Kynan through the living room and into a room we’ve set up as a home office, then close the door behind us.

  “How are things going?” he asks.

  I wave him off, the question feeling irrelevant. “The house is great. Incredibly grateful to you for finding this place for us, letting me come to the Pittsburgh office, and getting us new identities. But let’s talk about the important things right now.”

  Kynan moves over to the window, peering over the pretty side yard bordered with apple trees before meeting my eyes. “Our team landed in Beirut this morning. It’s going to take a few days, but we should be ready to move mid-week.”

  He then lays out the entire plan. A team of six Jameson men supported by a SEAL platoon offered to us by the U.S. government since it’s as important to them to retrieve an American citizen as it is for us to bring our friend back. I’m not going to be joining them, which is my only regret, but… Leighton and Sam are my priority now.