The Secrets We Keep

by Melinda Owens

  He dropped her hands as if burned as his eyes hardened.

  “Is that what this is about?”

  “What else would it be about?”

  He stomped out of the storeroom and Dusty followed, not having a clue what had just happened.

  “I’m staying. You can go.” His tone was final, brooking no arguments. Even so, Liam looked at Dusty to see if she agreed.

  She shrugged. Sue and Don were hanging on every word. “Sure,” she allowed. She felt weak in that moment, but she didn’t really care. At least the feeling of having made the wrong decision was gone.

  “You need me, you call me.” Liam stood and tossed back his ginger ale like it was scotch, even wincing afterward, and she couldn’t help but smile at the man as he left.

  “Can I get a beer?” Theo asked as he sat on the stool.

  “Well then,” Susan said as she finished her beer. “Me too. And I’m gonna scoot down here to talk to this young man. I’ve certainly been looking at him long enough.”

  Dusty refilled the beers as she smiled inside. Susan would talk his ear off and there was nothing she could do about it. She even started with, “I’ve never been known to tell a short story…”

  Theo’s feet pounded the pavement in rhythm with Jeremy’s as they ran through their neighborhood. Their schedules were so out of sync now that the routine had been broken, but they tried to still come together for their runs when they could. For Theo, it was a cleansing ritual, and he ran even when Jeremy was working or with Miranda. He didn’t care who was with him, if anybody. Jeremy was the one who had made it a “thing.”

  So Jeremy prattled on between huffs and Theo tried to pay attention, but honestly, he was only thinking about this evening, before his shift with Dusty. He would be staking out Falco and Daimler today to see how their patterns changed without the third wheel. He wanted to know if they’d received the hands, understood what they meant.

  Wanted to see if they were scared yet.

  Fear was part of his plan. Theo wasn’t sure if these guys were even capable of feeling that particular emotion, but if they could, he wanted to see it. He wanted to see them double-check the locks on their doors and windows, kiss their kids an extra time before bed, wanted to see if they protected their wives in any way.

  Wanted to see if they even remembered what they’d done.

  Not that they hadn’t done it again, since, to other women. He knew of at least four women they’d tortured, raped, and killed since Sunny.

  He spat on the ground, a feeble attempt to get the iron bile out of his mouth.

  “Did you hear me? That last part was pretty important, dude.” Jeremy was huffing through Theo’s pace. He’d been going faster and faster to make Jeremy stop talking, but the guy was just as much a machine as he was.

  “No. Sorry.”

  “Me and Miranda are moving in together. I was going to ask you if you wanted the house. We can find some other place together, or we can move into one of our own places. It’s still a little up in the air, but your input would be nice.”

  “Take the house. I’ve got something going on that’s personal, but I may not be around long afterward.”

  Visions of hills and trees filled him with a rare peace he didn’t give himself often. He’d bought the property almost as soon as he’d gotten out of the Army, a vague retirement plan. It had an old house on it, and occasionally, he drove out there and spent a weekend fixing it up.

  But he had things to finish before he got his peace, and they were close to being done.

  “You sure?”

  “Yeah. It’s just a shitty rental. Do what you need to. I’ll be good.” In a few weeks, he would be gone.

  Just as Dusty’s face flashed through his head, and he registered that it wasn’t Sunny’s face for once, his phone rang and he didn’t have to deal with that thought.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey, man. Amber’s had something come up, and I need to be at the hospital for her. Can you cover me the rest of the afternoon?” Holder’s voice came through the phone line, and Theo stopped running, bending over and breathing heavily.

  “Yeah. Sure. Where is she?”

  “She’s at some paper store on Congress, with Aaron. I think she’ll be okay for a little bit with the no-neck until you get there. I have to go.”

  “Yeah. I’ll be there in thirty.”

  Panic seized him that she was going to be unguarded, even though he knew Mark was working at the giant electronics store and Guy was overseeing a remodel on his house today. Still, five o’clock wasn’t far away, and they’d both be making their way home.

  And she would be unprotected. He tried not to think much about the ramifications of that thought, but as he said his goodbyes to a huffing Jeremy, he ran back to the house to grab his duffel bag and find Dusty.

  His phone buzzed as he walked out the door, the distinctive sound he’d assigned just to them.

  Daimler: Man, WTF is up with this shit?

  Falco: You got one too?

  Daimler: TOO?!? You got one? WTF?

  Falco: Calm down. It’s a message.

  Daimler: From who?

  Falco: I’ll find out.

  Daimler: Are they Pina’s?

  Falco: Who?

  Daimler: The hands. Are they Pina’s?

  Theo could read this shit all day. His smile widened as he got into his truck and started it. This would give him something to focus on instead of Dusty.

  On the drive, he admitted he was attracted to her, but he still wasn’t sure if it was residual from the likeness to Sunny, or for some other reason he hadn’t figured out yet. But yesterday in the storeroom had been a close call. His libido had woken up with her nearness, and he’d almost done something to regret.

  Either way, he was pissed she looked exactly like his dead wife, and was still alive, walking around with Sunny’s looks.

  But he had to put a damper on that shit, because he liked her too.

  And that made him an asshole.

  But now, he knew Daimler and Falco knew. They were scared.

  And it was time for the next step.

  Dusty had never been inside the paper shop, even though she’d been past it a zillion times. The smell alone would entice anyone to buy a handmade journal or order personalized stationary from the artisan who made her own paper in a room in the back. It was phenomenal.

  “This is my best idea, ever. Seriously,” she told Aaron, who was still dubious.

  “The first anniversary is supposed to be something made out of paper? Really?” He’d asked this so many times, still not believing her. When the woman enlightened him as to the practice and its origins, he finally relaxed and started thumbing through stuff.

  “Does she like dragonflies?” There was a stunning collection of stationary with a matching journal with gorgeous hand-painted dragonflies on the bottom corners.

  “She hates bugs,” Aaron replied. “There’s not a bug anniversary coming up, is there? I may have to skip that one.”

  “No bug anniversaries that I’m aware of.” Dusty couldn’t help but laugh. It was nice to get away from things for a while. Even though she still had Liam watching over her from outside. He was on his phone.

  “So what’s the story with the babysitters? Are you okay, boss?” He was still thumbing through stacks and boxes of paper, but was withholding his scoffs under the watchful eye of the store owner.

  “Yeah, I’m fine. They’re just some insurance, I guess.” She certainly wasn’t going to get into what Theo was, because it was clear to her heart he was anything but insurance. She liked him. Always had. And like was putting it mildly. But she wasn’t getting into all that with her employee. Not right now anyway.

  Liam made his way back into the store, catching her attention.

  “I’ve got a family emergency. Samson is coming in early and should be here in thirty minutes or so. Don’t leave.” His last words were spoken in a low tone, clipped, and brooking zero arguments.


  “Yes, sir.” She saluted him and smiled before he spun on his heel and sprinted out the door.

  “So, Samson is the Theo guy?” Aaron asked, clearly eavesdropping.

  “Yeah.”

  A grunt was Aaron’s reply. “I don’t like him.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because he’s always looking at you like he either hates you or wants to hate-fuck you. I don’t know how to take that.” He shrugged while lust pooled in her belly at the images his words sent crashing into her mind. “I don’t know. I can usually read people pretty well, but that guy, I just can’t get a read on him.”

  She crossed her arms over her hard nipples. Her breasts were heavy just at Aaron’s words about Theo, and she needed to put a stop to the thoughts suddenly racing around her head.

  “Your ability to read people is why you’re one of my best employees. Don’t think on this too hard.” And stop talking about it, for sure. She wanted to put this power play back on firm ground. She may have made a mistake coming shopping with him and blurring the boss relationship. Now he was going to overstep boundaries and get chummy with her.

  And stop thinking about a hate-fuck with Theo.

  Back at her bar, Dusty couldn’t take her eyes off Theo. For one thing, he wasn’t dressed in his suit, like he had been. He wore gym clothes, baggy shorts, and a t-shirt, every one of his muscles popping and begging for attention.

  But what really captivated her was the air he had about him tonight which was different. He seemed almost excited about something, and she couldn’t tell what. He was anxious, his foot bouncing on the bar runner, bouncing most of his body. His fingers drummed absently, and he hadn’t drunk his beer at all, although he’d chugged a full glass of ice water when he’d gotten here.

  “You gonna drink that? It’s getting hot and you’re blowing your cover.” She leaned over the bar to speak quietly to him, nodding at his drink. He took an obligatory sip and raised an eyebrow at her. “Okay, what am I keeping you from?”

  “They’re on the move, and I was supposed to be watching them right now, not you.” His simple statement took her back and she realized he must have been watching these guys for some time.

  “How do you know?”

  He shrugged. “I cloned their cells. They’re texting plans back and forth.”

  She wouldn’t lie and say she wasn’t curious, because when it came to this entire situation, she wanted to be a part of every single aspect.

  “Well, you had your chance to not have to work for me,” she couldn’t resist pointing out. But when he looked back down at his phone, she was compelled to find out what they were saying. “Let me see.” She held out her hand impatiently.

  “No.”

  Bruce, her number one bartender, bumped into her backside with a muttered apology. He was working with her tonight, and honestly, when he worked, she didn’t need to be here. Closes always happened right, and the numbers always balanced. More female clientele came in on his nights, because he wasn’t hard on the eyes, but he never went home with the women. He didn’t swing that way. He had an after-hours place he went when he was on the prowl, and that’s where he did his pickups. He was an ideal employee.

  “Bruce, you got the rest of tonight?”

  “Absolutely, boss,” was the answer, without even a glance back.

  “Cool.”

  Before Theo had a chance to react, she had her purse over her shoulder and was out the door. He had to follow her everywhere, right?

  She was halfway to his truck before he caught up to her. Granted, it wasn’t far, maybe half a block down, but still, she made her point.

  “What do you want?” he asked as he grabbed her arm to halt her.

  “You’re doing this for Sunny, right? She was my sister. I know you can’t stand the sight of me, but I want in on it. They’re planning something, and we got to get in on it, just in case what they’re planning is a repeat performance with me.” Dusty ignored the shudder that ran down her spine at the idea of what had happened. She got up in his face, standing on tiptoe and noticing the tantalizing aroma of his sweat on his skin. “I. Want. In.”

  He took a step back, as if her nearness burned him. His eyes darkened to an indescribable color, and his jaw clenched, turning his mouth down.

  Finally, he spoke. “Back to your apartment. You can’t wear that and look inconspicuous.”

  She looked down at herself, noticing her cut-off jeans and tank top.

  “What? Everyone else in town is dressed like this. Maybe a little dressier, but this is sooo inconspicuous.”

  With a wry turn of his mouth that if she didn’t know better, could be considered amused, he answered her. “Not hardly.”

  “Fine.”

  An hour later, she wore black sweatpants and a black t-shirt that almost came to her knees. Her hair was pulled back in a messy bun that Theo had slapped a ballcap on top of, finally declaring she would do. An eye roll had been her response, but his black jeans and t-shirt were droolworthy and she almost wanted to make him change just to give him a taste of his own medicine.

  But she was too anxious to get started.

  They parked a block down the street from Daimler’s house, watching it. Dusty couldn’t stop her foot from bouncing on the floorboard, so she tucked it under her knee.

  “So, we just wait for him to come outside?” Dusty asked in the darkness. The house was quiet. The neighborhood quiet. She was a little taken aback that this man lived in such a nice place. They weren’t mansions by any stretch of the imagination, but the houses were well-kept and maintained.

  It was a little disorientating, to know her sister’s killer was less than two hundred yards away from her, oblivious to anything.

  “I have a plan,” Theo answered vaguely.

  “What is it?”

  He sighed a little dramatically, then pulled out his phone.

  “I’m going to send his wife a picture that will make her kick his ass out. When he comes outside to go to his garage, I’ll be there waiting with the stun gun.”

  He bit the side of his lip in thought, and Dusty tried really hard to ignore it. He started scrolling through pictures.

  “What picture?” She was trying to keep up, but there was stuff she didn’t know. Dusty felt like any part of her that was out of the loop could screw them on this deal.

  Theo thrust his phone into her hands. A woman with triple D cup breasts was posing in front of a bathroom mirror, butt-ass naked.

  “That’s not his wife. It’s his co-worker.”

  He typed in a number and pressed send.

  “How do you have that?”

  “The less you know, the better.” Theo’s reply was succinct and told her to not press it. He was probably right anyway.

  She sighed, but soon enough things started happening. A light came on upstairs, and they could see the outline of two people, obviously arguing.

  “Here we go,” Theo muttered as he straightened. “Wait here. I’ll be right back.”

  Theo jogged off into the night, his body fading into the darkness. But not before Dusty checked out his ass as it moved in his jeans.

  He’d really grown into a fine man. She chewed on a cuticle while she waited, but it didn’t take long for Theo to come back, holding a grown man in a fireman’s hold, barely struggling under the weight. He tossed Daimler into the back of the truck, duct-taped his hands and ankles together, and slapped a piece over his mouth.

  Back in the truck, she watched him as he silently drove.

  She decided he knew what he was doing, and she wouldn’t ask any more questions.

  “I never fucked her, assholes! I fired her as soon as she sent the damn picture. You have no right to keep me here. This is illegal as hell.”

  Theo had tased him again before getting him out of the truck, and then retied him to a table in the warehouse space. Daimler hadn’t seen her yet, and as soon as Theo had him secure and he started wriggling again, she stepped out of the shadows.

&nbs
p; “Holy fucking shit.” His shock brought a smile to her face. He was sweating and drooling, and there was an odor of urine that told her how well the taser worked. Daimler started pleading, then yelling again.

  But nobody was listening.

  Dusty’s eyes traveled around the space, taking it in in a way she hadn’t before. This time, she wasn’t shocked or appalled. She was ready tonight and knew what was happening. Her nerves were on fire; she was intensely focused on the space and what was happening inside of it.

  Revenge.

  The area was dark and spacious. A spider crawled up a corner to its web near the ceiling where something was caught in it, shaking it spastically. Much like Daimler. She had done a little research in the last week and knew this was where the toxic waste was collected before it was done away with: oil changes, recycling, tires, other stuff. So it was only used by the city during cleanup times, and left to collect things the rest of the time. The spider could be radioactive, like the one that bit Spiderman.

  Theo had chosen well.

  He was standing off to the side, watching his handiwork with Daimler, visually checking his ties, but not getting close enough to do anything with him. His dark hair flopped over his forehead into his eyes, lending him a boyish look, quite contrary to his usually slicked-back appearance. The t-shirt stretched across muscles on his chest she wished she could stroke and was tucked into a pair of black jeans that fit excruciatingly well.

  He looked really good. She had to admit, it was hard to not think X-rated thoughts about him, even here, with Daimler calling her a stupid bitch with every breath. She was getting horny.

  “What do you want to do?” Theo’s mouth curved up into the closest thing to a smile she’d seen on him in ten years.

  “I want to shut him up.” She jerked her head to the man who’d quit yelling as soon as they started speaking. Theo took a handkerchief out of his back pocket and a knife out of the sheath on his belt, holding both up to her.