What none of us knew at the time was Damian joined forces with the Gutierrez cartel, a group that Miguel and Manuel thought they had tied to them. Whatever Damian promised was enough for them to take down Miguel. When that happened, Manuel was forced to step up, and as I later learned, he wasn’t ready for the power he held. Manuel made promises of his own to anyone still willing to support him, and when he didn’t deliver on his word, he offered me as a bargaining tool.
When news first broke about my real identity and a DNA test confirmed I was really Hayden Johnson, our lives broke out in more chaos. Everyone wanted to hear my story, but it wasn’t only my story they wanted. It was Damian’s, and that is something I won’t share.
The world speculates whether Damian is dead or alive, but I’ll go to my grave never admitting that I saw him. I don’t know the power he holds or the life he now lives, but I hope wherever he is, that he’s happy.
“You look beautiful. He’s lucky to have you,” Alex says with pride in his voice. “We’re lucky to have each other and that wouldn’t have happened without you.” I lean in and kiss him on the cheek.
“Let’s get you married,” Alex adds with a gorgeous smile in place—one I haven’t seen in a long time.
“Let’s do this,” I agree.
If happily ever after’s really do exist, then I’m on the journey to living mine.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thank you to all the amazing readers, reviewers and bloggers that have read and reviewed my books. Your love and support mean the world to me.
Thank you to my talented editor Edee M. Fallon. You’ve gone above and beyond for me and I absolutely adore you. Thank you for not only having patience with me but for being my friend.
Jules Cabrera, you’ve once again blown me away with your talent. The cover for Locked Away is another masterpiece to add to my collection.
I want to say a special thanks to my beta readers and spellcheckers. Mel, from BookSmacked, Gina Leech, Lainey Da Silva & Colette Trainor. Locked Away wouldn’t have been the same without your help and advice.
Last but never least, I need to thank my family for their support. Writing, publishing and promoting are never ending jobs but my family never complains. Without you, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Riann C. Miller is a wife and a mother of two. She was born and raised in the Mid-West where she still lives today.
Shortly after she discovered her addition to reading romance novels she started writing reviews and it wasn’t long before actively blogging turned to a desire to write her own romance novels.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorriannmiller
Website: https://riannmiller.com/
“Oh, my God, she canceled.” Like normal, my mother’s voice screeches over everyone else’s. “That little bitch canceled less than ten minutes before we’re supposed to leave!”
“Leeta! Not in front of the children.” My mother’s arms flap around wildly in anger.
“James, we have to go now if we’re going to make it on time and we can’t take them.” Not that I need clarification, but her hand shoots out and points at my brother and me sitting on the sofa.
“I’ll call a neighbor to see if I can find someone to come over.”
Before my mother can start yelling again, a calm, peaceful voice speaks up. “I’ll stay with them.” Everyone in the room turns toward the beautiful lady with long black hair who mo-ments ago was snuggled up with my brother.
“Mandy, don’t be ridiculous. You don’t want to stay home with three kids.” My mother practically sneers her comment from across the room.
“Actually, Leeta, I was already feeling uneasy leaving Kate with someone I don’t know. Now that you’re asking random neighbors, I definitely feel uncomfortable. You three go and I’ll stay here.”
Uncle Marcus walks up to the soft-spoken lady. He looks at her in a way I’ve never seen my father look at my mother. “Mandy, are you sure you’re okay with this? I don’t have to go—”
“No. No. No. I’ll be fine. You go and enjoy the evening. You know how I feel about leaving Kate.”
“Okay, it’s settled. We need to get going or we’ll be late,” my mother yells, sounding every bit her normal, irritable self.
My dad picks up his keys from the table. “I left my car out front. We can just take it.”
“No!” I watch the soft-spoken woman wince at my mother’s crazy behavior. “Sweetheart, we should take the Mercedes. I had it detailed for tonight.”
My father, who for the most part tolerates my mother’s rude behavior, seems miffed at how she is acting. “My Jag is out front, Leeta. Like you said, we’re already running late. There’s no reason to take your car. Now let’s go.”
My mother is shocked stupid, apparent by her gaping mouth and wide eyes. She almost looks like she has seen a ghost. My father gives her a solid push on her back then my parents and Marcus quickly head out the front door. I stay in the same spot on the sofa, closely watching the woman we have been left with. She’s smiling at the two of us, almost like she is happier to stay here with us than go out with my parents.
“The time change is really messing up Kate’s sleeping schedule, but I bet she’ll be up from her nap any minute. What do you boys want to do when she gets up?”
I turn my head slowly toward my older brother Tanner and see he is just as uncertain of what to say as I am. I’m only eight years old, but I don’t remember my parents ever asking me what I want to do. As the two of us sit here not saying a word, I hear a little voice coming from a monitor.
“Just like I thought, Kate is awake. Stay here and I’ll be right back.”
Mandy pops up then takes off up the stairs, leaving both Tanner and I confused in her wake. I’ve never seen a person that acts concerned and caring before, which has my guard up.
“She seems...nice.” I live in a world where people come and go, and the ones that stick around aren’t usually nice unless they want something. I look over at Tanner, who seems just as unsure of this woman as I am, but I’m brought out of my thoughts when I hear her voice again.
“Okay, boys, I want you to meet my baby girl. This is Kate.” I can hear the pride in her voice as I turn away from Tanner and back toward Mandy. She’s once again smiling, only this time she’s carrying a little girl on her hip. A mass of blonde, wavy hair covers most of her shoulder while the girl keeps her face tucked tight against her mother. “She’s not quite awake yet,” Mandy says in a singsong voice as she slowly rocks the little girl back and forth. Maybe Mandy is genuinely nice, or at least it’s starting to appear that way. I watch as she starts softly singing a song that I can’t quite make out.
With her smile still in place, she looks down at her little girl. “Kate, can you say hello?”
My eyes stay locked on the little girl as she slowly lifts her head. When her eyes find mine, I feel a jolt through my whole body. Her eyes look like emeralds—a shade of green I’ve never seen on a person before.
“Her eyes...” I mumble as I feel my heartbeat thumping inside my chest.
“Kate’s eyes are very beautiful, but then again, I love everything about my little girl.” Man-dy’s eyes dance back and forth between Tanner and myself, like she’s waiting for one of us to say something.
“Well, what do you want to do? Play a board game? Go swimming? Are you two hungry? We can have an early dinner.”
Without thinking, I blurt out, “Why are you being nice to us?” Mandy pauses for a mo-ment, her beautiful smile fading into a frown.
“Why wouldn’t I be nice to you?”
My eyes unconsciously narrow at her question, but Tanner speaks up to answer her. “Be-cause people aren’t nice unless they want something.”
Mandy’s eyes slowly drift shut. When they open again, I can see the fire in them. “Where I’m from, we’re nice to everyone because you treat others how you want to be treated. I’m nice to you because I expect you to treat me the same
way.” Neither Tanner nor I say a word in re-turn. That’s definitely not how life works here.
“Maybe next summer you boys can come spend time in Colorado and we can get to know you better.”
Mandy’s warm smile returns, and at this point I’m positive I will go anywhere this lady asks me to. “Let me go get you guys a snack and then we’ll go swimming. Can you boys watch Kate for me while I grab something from the kitchen?”
Mandy kisses the little green-eyed girl on the forehead before placing her in a chair across from us then walks off.
I look over at Tanner, but like normal, he’s staring off, lost somewhere in his own head while he avoids our surroundings. I sneak another look at the little girl only to find her closely watching me. My heart speeds up again while I draw in a deep breath of air. I’m doing my best to shake off the strange feeling I have as I tear my eyes away from hers. Looking at her is the same as looking directly at the sun. It’s hard to do for more than a few seconds. I lean my head against the back of the couch and close my eyes. While I’m doing everything in my power to avoid looking at this little girl, she hops down out of her chair and climbs up next to me. I didn’t know this until she slips her small hand into mine and gives mine a firm squeeze.
I want to pull back. I meant to pull back, but her touch is soothing in a way I didn’t know was possible. My heart continues to beat against my chest as my mind starts to relax. I’m sit-ting here staring down at our connected hands when I hear her start to hum the same tune her mother had just a few moments ago.
When I finally gain the courage to look up, I find those emerald eyes burning into mine, but it’s the way Kate is smiling at me that I know I’ll never forget. Like maybe...just maybe, I matter to someone.
Locked Away (Living With Lies Book 2) Page 25