Hidden Lies (The Hidden Series Book 2)

by Kristin Coley

  “Carly,” I said, catching her attention, and she glanced at me curiously. “Can you get a hold of Wade for me? I have a message for him.”

  “Okay. I can do that.”

  “Ladies.”

  We both looked up at the door to see Danny standing there, uncomfortably. Carly stood up.

  “I’m gonna go. I’ll find Wade for you.” She bobbed her head and skirted around Danny. He held out a hand toward her, the pain on his face difficult for me to witness.

  “I’m so sorry. I truly am. I know words aren’t enough.”

  She paused, not making eye contact, her body stiff as she leaned away from him.

  “I need time.”

  She slipped out the door, practically running down the hall. Danny stood there watching her, his hand still raised. I blinked back tears of my own, the sight breaking my heart. Danny had lost so much, and as understandable as Carly’s fear was, I cursed the situation. If she hadn’t been with me, she would have been safe, and never had to feel the fear she was currently feeling, a fear that was worse, because it had once been affection.

  He lowered his hand, clearing his throat as he peered at me. He continued to hover by the door, not coming in, so I beckoned him closer.

  “Do you hate me?” His own self-loathing washed over me, a jumble of emotions disappearing as quickly as they arrived.

  “No, not at all.” He perched on the chair Carly had just vacated, gazing at me with the saddest puppy eyes I’d ever seen, which was singularly impressive, because I thought Connor had long ago mastered the look. “Not as much as you hate yourself. Which, by the way, is pointless. You did what you had to do, and you saved our lives in the process.”

  “I put you in a coma!” He burst out, his entire body in motion as he pushed himself up and began pacing. “I blackened both of Carly’s eyes and busted her nose. I taunted you. And gave you a concussion.”

  “I actually think the master sociopath who originally took me gave me the concussion, to be honest.” My correction didn’t seem to help matters, as he continued to beat himself up over everything.

  “I should have gotten Jake in there sooner. Got y’all out before that could happen. Killed the guy, anything.”

  “Danny.”

  He kept going, muttering so fast, I couldn’t make out the words.

  “Danny,” I huffed, pulling myself up. “Don’t make me get out of this bed.”

  He stopped, and seeing me struggle with the stupid bedsheets someone had felt the need to tuck around me, he came to help.

  “I don’t think you should get out of the bed.”

  “Then quit pacing around my room blaming yourself for saving us.” I stopped trying to untwist the sheets from my legs and studied him. “You are not responsible for everything. You did the best you could with what you knew. I’m not mad. And Carly …”

  His look was hopeless, and I decided not to tell him she feared him. My track record with not telling people things was not so good, but I didn’t think he needed to feel any worse at the moment.

  “You love her, and Danny, love ain’t easy. Sometimes, it requires a fight, and you don’t seem like the type to give up. So don’t.”

  Resolve filled him as he nodded at me. The busted knuckles on his right hand caught my attention as he touched my arm. I placed my hand over them, seeing him frown and attempt to curl them out of sight.

  “I’m sorry you got hurt.” He froze, looking at me with astonished eyes. His t-shirt was too thin under the leather jacket; his jeans were stained with grease; and he’d recently buzzed his hair. He looked intimidating as hell, but underneath it, I could see what Carly had seen: a little boy lost to the violence he’d been forced to commit. A man whose heart was in the right place. “You had to do something you didn’t want to do to protect us. You’re hurting, and I’m sorry for that.”

  I squeezed his hand and let go, watching him step back as he gave me a confused nod. I caught sight of Jake in the door, watching us, and then Danny saw him.

  “I’m going to go,” he muttered, nodding at Jake before looking away. Jake grasped his hand, not letting him walk away. Danny paused, waiting for Jake to speak.

  “I can’t thank you enough for being there for my girl. Saving her. Truly, you don’t know how grateful I am.”

  He pulled him into a hug, tapping him on the back. Danny was stiff at first, but eventually returned the hug.

  “I’m glad she’s okay.” He glanced back at me then, a small smile on his lips as he nodded and left.

  Jake sighed, his expression difficult to read as he crossed the room toward me.

  “You know how many people I need to thank for you being here? It’s crazy how many. I can’t decide if you have nine lives or what.”

  “Twenty-seven.”

  He appeared puzzled for a second. Then his face cleared.

  “And I’m sure you can give me their names too.”

  “If you want, but I think you already know.”

  He leaned down, pressing his lips against my temple, and tucked my hands into his.

  “You have no idea how good it is to see your eyes open.”

  “Thanks to you.” Staring at him I noticed his eyes were greener than I’d ever seen them.

  “I truly thought I might lose you.” He shook his head. “But I kept remembering your words. You knew it would be okay, because I could bring you back. Grannie told me my voice would be your only tie. So, I talked and didn’t stop talking, until I saw those eyes open.”

  His voice was raspy as he sat down on the bed next to me.

  “I heard you.” He gazed at me, our hands tangled together as we spoke. “I heard you, and I followed you home.”

  He nodded, his eyes bright with emotion.

  “There were visions … images … it was like a movie playing in my head. Different scenes. The future, the past, and things that hurt to think about. Grannie was there.” I let out a shaky breath. “She helped me.” Jake nodded, reaching up with our joined hands to swipe a tear from cheek. “I saw my grave.”

  His face froze in horror.

  “No.” He shook his head, denying my words. “You’re alive. You made it. You can’t die.”

  I shook my head, smiling.

  “I’m not. At least not for a while. I think it was close, though. That’s why Grannie was there. She knew I needed help getting out. She warned me about how dangerous that place was. I heard you, and I wanted to reach you, but it was as if you were too far away. And then … I wound up in a cemetery, sitting in front of a grave with my name on it.”

  “I’m so sorry you had to see that.”

  I nodded, remembering the horror of seeing my name etched in the stone, wondering if I was dead.

  “She came then, and told me it didn’t have to end that way. That I could choose to get up, listen to you, and follow you home.” My smile was tremulous. “I got up.” He brushed my cheek, tears glistening in his own eyes. “I saw a future with you. Things that need to be set right. The good we can do.”

  His eyes closed for a second, relief chasing away the fear from knowing how close to death I’d come. He stroked my jaw, pressing a light kiss against my temple and settled on the bed next to me.

  “I think the door is gone.”

  Hope flared in his eyes as he cocked his head.

  “I think Grannie shut it, when I came back to you. I don’t feel it there anymore. Maybe I saw what I needed to see.”

  “I’m grateful to her. For helping you home and making sure you were safe.”

  He turned, laying down next to me, and I shifted to give him room. He wrapped his arms around me, and I tucked myself into him. My hand rested over his heart, the steady beat soothing me.

  “Tell me about our future.”

  I smiled, thinking about the good things I saw. I ignored the visions I’d seen of my graduation, of Wade accusing me of losing my ability—those would be dealt with on another day.

  “Our son will look like you, but he’ll be
like me.”

  My eyes were uncertain as they met his. He’d always accepted me, putting up with the craziness that accompanied my ability, but would he be okay with a son who also could do it?

  “I can’t wait to meet him.” He rested his hand on my stomach, his thumb stroking gently. I peeked up at him, his expression one I’d never seen. It was a soft pride, mingled with love and hope. It made my heart ache as I stared at him, knowing he would be the father of our children.

  “But first …” His eyes shot to mine. “I’ll need to give birth to your nephew.”

  His shock turned into a rolling laugh, and he tugged me toward him, squeezing gently.

  “Why am I not surprised?”

  He tilted my chin up, our lips brushing as he whispered, “I love you and our future children. I will fight for us every single day into eternity.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  “It has to be perfect.”

  “Really? I just thought it had to be a diamond.”

  I slammed the car door a little harder than necessary, my frustration growing.

  “I’m sorry. I’m nervous.” He stood next to me in front of the jewelry store, reaching over for my hand. “Forgive me?”

  One glance at him and I gave an exasperated sigh. Damn puppy eyes.

  “Yes, but trust me when I say I know what she wants. Hello! Psychic girl.”

  “I know, but you’ve been a little on edge since the incident.” That was how we’d come to refer to it. It wasn’t really the kidnapping and beating, but the three-day coma he was referring to. He was right. I had been on edge.

  It’d been over a month since we’d buried Grannie and I’d talked to him. He’d stared at me, the pain too new and raw to comprehend, and I knew I’d need to go see him soon. He was alone now, his Grannie the only family he’d had left. Her death had left a different kind of void in both of us. One caused by loss, and the other the absence of her love and understanding. She’d saved me from my own mind, closing the door permanently. I didn’t know how she’d done it, only that she had, and I was grateful.

  “I know I have.”

  He looked down at me, and I attempted a smile. “But today, we are ring shopping, and it has to be perfect.” His own smile lit up his face, and mine felt more genuine. He threw his arm around me, squeezing me.

  “You’re the best, Addie.”

  “Trust me, I know.”

  We walked into the small shop tucked into a row of other stores in the downtown antique district. Connor had questioned me when I told him to come here for Jules’ ring, but I’d insisted. We would find it here, the ring I’d pictured when she’d been asked about engagement rings. It wasn’t your traditional ring, but Jules wasn’t a traditional girl. She wanted something that represented them, and I knew we’d find it here.

  “Welcome, how can I help you?”

  “We’re looking for engagement rings,” Connor announced, reaching out to shake the gentleman’s hand.

  “Antique rings, to be precise.”

  “Of course, we have several to choose from. Congratulations.”

  “Thank you, but I haven’t asked her yet. But I have it on good authority she’ll say yes.” The man squinted at us curiously, but I only smiled.

  “Here is our collection of antique rings. We have several. Some are engagement rings, others dinner rings. We have diamonds, rubies, and emeralds.” I scanned them, looking for the perfect ring.

  “Do you see it?” Con whispered next to me, causing me to jump at his closeness.

  “It would be easier if you didn’t hover,” I gritted out, poking him in the stomach. The man assisting us looked askance, his brow furrowing at our remarks. I gave him a bright smile and continued to look, while Connor wandered over to another display case. I frowned as I examined the rings. None of them were exactly right.

  “Addie,” Connor hissed, motioning me over. “Look at this one.”

  I wandered over to him, and seeing the ring he pointed out, I laughed.

  “What? It might not be perfect, but you don’t have to laugh,” he grumbled, moving away from me, his hurt clear.

  “No, Connor, I’m not laughing at you, but myself.”

  He glanced at me then, the assistant hovering behind the counter watching us.

  “You found it. All by yourself. The perfect ring.”

  “Really?” His excitement was contagious, as he realized what I was saying. “I found it.” He lifted me off my feet as he twirled me around the store. “I found it!”

  He kissed my cheek, setting me down. “We found it.” He turned to the man and proudly said, “That’s the ring.”

  He blinked at us and withdrew the ring from the case.

  “Would the miss like to try it on? So, we can get the correct size?”

  “Oh, her fingers are way too big. She’s practically got man hands.”

  I slapped his arm at the insult and told the man, “It’ll need to be a size five.”

  He opened his mouth, hesitating, and then finally said, “Yes, ma’am.”

  I grinned and turned to Connor. “One perfect ring down, now on to the proposal. You have everything ready?”

  “Yes. Everyone will be there. The weather should be perfect. And she’ll be surprised, right? She doesn’t suspect?”

  I shook my head, knowing she didn’t have a clue.

  “You’re in luck, sir. This ring is a size five.”

  “Somehow, I’m not surprised.”

  “It is the perfect ring.”

  The assistant boxed the ring and rang it up, announcing the total. Connor choked, looking back at me with raised eyebrows. I shrugged, mouthing, “You picked it.”

  He shuddered, handing the man his credit card.

  “Addie.”

  “Yeah?”

  “We’ll need to stop by the gas station on the way home.”

  I laughed, looping my arm through his as we walked out.

  “Can we make a stop first?’

  “Sure.”

  I tugged him down the sidewalk, when he attempted to go to the car. “This way.” We walked down the block, stopping in front of the psychic shop, where a sign proclaimed them closed, due to a death in the family.

  “Addie, it doesn’t look like he’s here.”

  I gazed up at him questioningly, and he gave me a resigned look.

  “Is anyone here?” he obliged me.

  “Why, yes, they are.”

  I proceeded to pound on the door, until a rumpled Wade finally opened it.

  “Addie. Of course.”

  I stepped in, forcing him to step back, and Connor wandered in behind me.

  “I’m not in the mood for company,” he told us quietly.

  “I know, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need company.” I pushed our way past the curtain into the backroom. As I glanced around, everything looked the same, except there was a new sketch on the wall, the same one Wade had texted me, the one that had saved the girls’ lives.

  “I saw things. Visions of the future. Grannie was there to save me from getting lost in them. Told me life needed to be lived, and I’d seen what I needed to see. She told me to tell you she loves you.”

  He avoided my eyes, his face pained.

  “I’m going to keep coming back. I won’t leave you here. I think we need each other.” I waved my hand around the room at the sketches framed on the wall. “These visions need us.”

  He finally met my gaze.

  “Maybe I don’t care.”

  “But you do. We both do. And we can make it right.” I bit my lip, needing to hear what I was about to say to him as much as he did. “We need to make it right, because we’re the only ones who can. We see it, hear it, and know it for a reason, Wade. Don’t close the shop. Don’t walk away from who you are. I’ve been denying myself for a very long time. And you can’t hide from yourself. Just so you know.”

  “You sound just like her when you say that.”

  “Thank you. I’ll take that as a compli
ment.”

  He nodded, looking around again.

  “How?”

  “Well, it seems the police captain is open to consulting with psychics. It doesn’t really pay a lot, but I think between the two of us, we could do a lot of good. I know a couple cops who are believers. They respect psychics.”

  “Really …. That’s an interesting thought.”

  “Think it over. Call me when you’re ready.

  “And when will I be ready?”

  “Tuesday.”

  “Till Tuesday then.”

  “I have a meeting with the captain. You should join us.”

  “Do I have a choice?”

  “You always have a choice.” Our eyes met, and I knew he understood me. “I’ll see you then.” A small smile lifted the corner of his mouth as we left, the doorbells jingling behind us.

  “I still can’t believe the captain is paying you as a consultant. You think he’ll do the same for Wade?”

  “Yep. Wouldn’t have told him if I didn’t think he would.”

  The captain’s offer had taken us all by surprise. Once I’d been released from the hospital, I’d finally met with him. My explanation for knowing where the girls were and my assistance with Jake and Connor’s other cases hadn’t been dismissed as ridiculous.

  Instead, he’d been curious about my ability, and after determining I wasn’t lying, had offered me a consultant job. He felt if I was going to be assisting with cases, I should be paid. Like I’d told Wade, it wasn’t much money and was on a case-by-case basis, but having a legitimate position on the force with Jake was worth more than the money. It felt like acceptance.

  Connor stopped in front of my dorm, surprising me, because I hadn’t even noticed the trip home.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

  “Yep, um, Connor?”

  “Yeah?”

  “We didn’t stop by the gas station.”

  “Aw, shit. Get back in.”

  The Proposal

  There was a light breeze causing the lanterns to sway, their flames flickering as dusk fell. I waited under the limb of a live oak, smoothing my dress. Everyone had gathered at the plantation house Connor had rented for the night, decorated in a rustic theme of candlelight and romance, night jasmine blooming as music played lightly in the darkness.