“It’s amazing. She’s amazing.”
“She is.”
“So how’d that whole thing with Sean go over?” I enjoyed what the wine had done to me. It loosed me up. Anything that popped into my mind had no problem making its way out.
He laughed, taking another bite of his meal. “She’s an adult. It shouldn’t bother me.”
“But it did,” I finished for him.
“Yeah. It wasn’t a highlight for me. But truthfully, they’re both looking for the same thing.”
“Which is?” I prompted.
“Nothing with meaning.”
“Wow. That’s sad. I can’t imagine,” I muttered.
His eyes flicked to mine. “Relationships aren’t for everyone.”
“Are they for you?” I asked.
Giddiness floated through me right before it was quickly squashed with the look in his eyes. I felt like I sputtered and stalled all in one fluid motion, and he hadn’t even uttered a word.
“They haven’t been my thing in the past, but I think I’m starting to see the light… How about you?”
And we’re off.
“I’ve never had a serious relationship, in the normal sense.”
“How about the abnormal sense?” His brow arched.
“I was engaged.”
His expression fell and confusion filled his eyes.
“But I have a feeling the expectations are different in my old community. There were certain limitations and expectations. It was arranged.”
This made him smile, his gaze intensified.
“Limitations?”
“I think you can imagine what I’m saying,” I said, enjoying the power I seemed to suddenly have over this man. My candidness rendered him speechless and I loved every second of it.
“In other news, I’m thinking about getting a new car. Well, a new old car,” I replied, beaming.
“Tell me it’s not going to have as much character as your truck.”
I laughed and nodded. “Actually, I’d say more. It’s another truck, but this one’s a ’77 Ford Ranger.”
“Where do you find these beasts?”
“Craigslist,” I laughed. “Have you heard of it?”
“I suppose there’s no talking you out of it.”
“Not a chance. My other one got me all the way across the country and would still be chugging along if it hadn’t been for the tampering. I just don’t see the point in spending lots of money on something that just moves me from one place to another.”
The waiter came and removed our plates, asking if we’d like any dessert. I shook my head and the server left to get the check. My heart fell knowing that meant the evening was winding down. I didn’t want it to be over. Things were just starting to feel normal, no matter how make-believe.
“Thank you for having dinner with me,” Luke replied, as he exchanged his credit card for the bill.
“Did I have a choice?” I teased.
“Probably not.”
“I really enjoyed it, choice or not.” I smiled. “And I think that wine has gotten the best of me.”
“Is that so?” He signed the receipt and let out a sigh as he glanced outside.
“I feel very relaxed,” I confessed.
“Then my work here is done.” He stood up and walked over to my chair, his gaze fastening on mine. Taking my hand in his, he led me through the restaurant, but instead of walking through the lobby, he took me to a side door and pushed it open.
“I’m not quite ready to say goodnight,” he said smiling, and a wave of excitement came rushing through me.
I walked out with him onto the large wooden deck, toward a steep, wooden staircase that led down the rocky cliff, spilling onto the sandy beach.
“Do you mind?” he asked.
“Not at all.” I looked up at him. “I didn’t want the night to end, not yet anyway.”
His smile lit something inside of me that I didn’t even understand, a way of being, of existing. He made me think of the future and the after all of this, and that wasn’t something I’d ever allowed myself to do. I always stayed in the now to avoid disappointment.
“I can just imagine capturing you on the beach, a storm off in the distance…” his words trailed away as he helped me down to the sandy beach. My stomach tightened as his words settled over me and I imagined the same.
“I’m sure you’re referring to your photography.” I smiled, his eyes brightening as he led me toward the waves.
“What else would I have been referring to?” He feigned innocence.
I went to speak, but I couldn’t. It felt as if he was peeling layer after layer from my soul, and I wanted that. For once, I wanted to be exposed.
“I want to help you, Hannah. I can help you… If you would just trust me, trust my sister.” He grabbed my wrist, pulling me into him.
My palms rested flat on his chest as I watched the waves crash in the distance and slowly roll onto the beach. The smell of the sea surrounded us, and I wanted this to be my home. It felt right. But it wasn’t safe.
My mind wandered to the girls back at Nancy’s house. Many of them had been running a lot longer than me. I remembered their tired eyes, but their absolute resolve to conquer their particular plight. I wondered how Rikki was doing, if she’d managed to leave Nancy’s yet. I scanned the water and the seabirds attempting to catch dinner and thought about the fairness of life.
I barely rolled into California and managed to fall into a job that got me out of Nancy’s almost instantly. I landed in a house that was beyond my wildest dreams, and now I stood next to a man who was not only exquisite but had a heart of gold. He was willing to stand by my side and help me face whatever was in front of me, if I’d let him. Life wasn’t fair, and I felt so undeserving of it all because I was still running. I hadn’t made the problem go away. I didn’t stop the men from doing what they were going to do or what they did.
“You doing okay?” Luke asked, his voice gentle. “You look like you’re a thousand miles away.”
“A few thousand for sure,” I confessed.
“You want to talk about it?” he asked, his hands slipping into his pockets.
“Life’s not fair,” I said, turning toward him.
He shook his head. “Nope. It’s definitely not fair.”
I let out a sigh and took another step toward him. The way he looked at me made me want him even more. We were less than a foot from each other, and the energy running between us was profound. The way his green eyes darkened told me he was feeling it too.
“I just feel so undeserving,” I whispered, thinking back to everyone who I’d left behind and how little I’d done to help.
“Wait. You’re thinking about how unfair life is to everyone else?” Luke’s voice deepened. “I thought you were referring to how unfair life had been to you.”
“I’ve had it lucky. I mean look where I am,” I said, motioning to the beach around me. “The people back at home. Sorry. I have to quit referring to it as home. But anyway, they can’t even imagine life another way. They don’t know what the NLC is actually capable of, that they are all pawns. And the girls I left behind back at Nancy’s had been scrounging everything they had to get out of there for weeks, months even, and then somehow I just ran into the right people.”
“And you’re running from some very dangerous ones,” he replied.
“I know, but…”
“You are deserving. In fact, you deserve so much more,” Luke whispered, his hands circling my waist. “You deserve to be able to imagine life another way.”
I looked into his eyes as his words etched through the many layers of guilt and confusion that had become my comfort. My gaze fell to his mouth as he spoke and my mind ran wild with possibilities.
“You aren’t responsible for what’s happened to the people back at home or out here. You’re doing the best you can and that’s all you can ask of yourself,” he murmured.
I placed my hand on his shoulder as I leaned
my body against his. “How do you know the right thing to say?” I asked, almost breathless.
“Years of therapy.” He smiled, pressing his forehead against mine, looking down at me.
The rawness of the emotions that swirled through my body was nothing compared to the feelings of desire I had for this man. The heat from his body rolled through mine, and I wanted nothing more than to be kissed. He ran his fingers along my spine as I felt my pulse quicken, his firmness pressing against me.
“The diners might be able to see us,” I whispered.
“Then let’s give them a show.”
“I’ll do my best.” I smiled, his lips only inches from mine.
I fisted my hand in his hair, as he brought his mouth to mine. Closing my eyes, I felt the softness of his lips caress mine, sending a shot of desire through me. It was even more spectacular than I had imagined. His kisses tugged at the wall around my heart, threatening to make it crumble bit by bit. The rhythm of his kisses quickened as my lips parted, and I silently begged for more. His hands shifted lower to my hips, pulling me closer to him as his kisses deepened, needy, as my worries melted away. The hunger for more awoke something inside of me.
The fire coursing through my veins intensified with every flick and circular motion of his tongue, but right when I thought I couldn’t take anymore, he stopped. His lips left mine, and I trembled with the loss of connection to this man, my breathing ragged as I opened my eyes. His eyes searched mine before his lips crashed down to mine once more. My fingers tangled in his hair as a shockwave of emotion travelled through me, the craving for him only deepened with every passing second. My hand skated across his chest, the firmness of his muscles apparent underneath the fabric. But it wasn’t enough. As if sensing my longing, he traced his mouth along my jaw down the side of my neck, sending every nerve into overdrive. My mind tried to understand how something so simple could feel so good. It was like nothing I’d felt before.
The gentle touch of his fingers softly trailing along my arms, his breath dancing off my skin, teased desires I didn’t even know I had until now. I dreamed of his lips moving along other parts of my body, and my head fell back as a quiver ran through me. His mouth moved along my collarbone, making me feel like I was his to be claimed, and I wanted to be claimed. I wiggled against him, my body craving more as the desire between us grew to an extreme.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered. Even though every touch and caress was heated, his eyes held nothing but tenderness and that made me want even more.
I traced my fingers along his neck, guiding him to kiss me once more, but as I slowly lowered my head, I caught a glimpse of someone in the distance, watching.
My breath caught and Luke backed away, his gaze followed mine. The man disappeared just as quickly as he came. But I sensed it. We both did. The man was looking for me and he’d found me. The fantasy over before it even began.
Luke
I’d never been as aroused as I was with Hannah and that was just a kiss. Damn! I can’t even imagine more. But this right here was the problem. I kept letting my personal feelings for her disrupt what I intended to do, which was to protect her.
“We need to get out of here,” I replied, the feelings from moments before gone in seconds.
“It could just be a coincidence,” Hannah muttered.
“Are you willing to stake your life on it?” I asked, grabbing her hand.
“No.” She hesitated. “There’s something I didn’t tell you.”
“I think there are a lot of somethings.” I pulled her through the sand, her legs barely keeping up. “But let’s wait until we get to the car.”
We climbed the stairs, and once we reached the top, I glanced around the lot, looking for anyone suspicious. I saw nothing. But I felt something. Reaching the car, I helped her into the passenger seat and closed the door. I hurried around the back of the car and slid into the driver’s seat.
“They texted me,” Hannah said, as I reversed the car out of the lot.
My pulse quickened. Why didn’t she tell me?
“What did it say?” I asked, gripping the wheel.
“You can run but you can’t hide,” her voice went hoarse on the last word. She grabbed her cell out of her bag.
That was what Donald told her on the beach. I remember seeing that in the police documents. My fingers tightened around the wheel. I spoke to my hands-free set, commanding it to dial Mitch’s number.
“Toss your phone out the window,” I directed. They’d somehow found out her cell number and pinged her location.
She rolled down the glass and flung the cell out of the opening.
Mitch picked up immediately. “Mr. Fletcher.”
“I know I dismissed you, but I need your services tonight. I’d like you to keep an eye on my sister. I’ll call and let her know to expect you. There’s been some developments. I’ll send over details when I have them.”
“Absolutely, sir. I’ll get right on it. I’m only a few blocks away from her house, grabbing some dinner.”
“Wonderful. I’ll let my sister know.” I ended the call.
“I’m so sorry,” Hannah whispered.
Her pain echoed in every syllable.
“You have nothing to be sorry for,” I replied, squeezing her hand. “Nothing.”
“I’ll text Mia,” she offered. “Using your cell.”
I nodded. “Thanks. Did you give your cell number to anyone?” I asked.
“You, Mia, the detective. Those are the only people I’ve given it to. Oh, and it’s on the paperwork at Buttons.”
“You didn’t give it to anyone from that house you first stayed at?” I asked.
“No. I’ve broken all ties with everyone. I didn’t even let Rikki know where I moved to, and I borrowed her car. No one besides the people I told you have my number.”
I shook my head. That made no sense. They got it somehow, texted her, and even managed to ping her location. I was sure of it.
“The organization is well connected. I tried going to the authorities, but the NLC has contacts, ways of making problems disappear, making people disappear. I don’t want to be one of them.”
“Did you know Donald Jamison?” Luke asked. “Did he live on the compound?”
I shook my head. “No. And it’s not the first time I’ve run into someone who’s involved but not living on the compound.”
I spotted a car behind us getting a little too close for comfort as we drove along the Pacific Coast Highway. I increased my speed slightly and so did the other vehicle.
“Who else?” I asked.
“Some guy I knew in school named Eric magically appeared out of the blue. We’d been told he’d ran away from the compound, but I saw him the night I left, talking to the leader.” Her voice caught. “My fiancé’s father.”
Jesus!
“It’s okay. You can tell me,” I pressed, keeping my eyes on the rearview mirror.
“Eric killed my best friend. And my sister,” her voice trembled.
“I’m so sorry. That’s what made you run?” I asked, trying to place the events.
Hannah shook her head. “I’d been planning it for years, but the final few months made it clear I had to do it soon. I kept pushing it off. I guess no matter how awful a place is, the overwhelming fear of the unknown outweighs common sense sometimes.”
“The unknown can be frightening, but it can also offer a new beginning,” I offered.
The vehicle behind began flashing its lights, which made it difficult to see now that the sun had set, especially on this windy road. I didn’t want to alarm Hannah, but she needed to know our visitor had followed.
“I knew what the NLC was into was bad, but I didn’t understand what depths they’d go to keep their sins hidden. I saw Tracy get murdered right in front of my eyes. My best friend’s screams haunt me every night,” Hannah whispered. “I thought my sister ran away, abandoned me, but Eric pushed her off a cliff. Or at least that’s what I overheard.”
“We’ve got a situation. I think our friend from the beach is saying hi. He just dropped back, but I don’t think it’ll be for long.”
“What?” Panic echoed through her words. “Are you serious?” Hannah flipped down the visor and looked in the mirror. “I don’t see a car.”
“It’s there. He’s been riding my bumper, flashed his lights, and then disappeared. I’m calling it in.”
As much as I didn’t want to, I lowered our speed to maneuver the upcoming hairpin turn.
“Place a call to Mitch…” I spoke to the hands-free set.
Two headlights from behind sped up, only this time they weren’t slowing down. Before I could finish the phone command, it was too late. Hannah’s hand slid to my knee as the first tap from behind spun our vehicle as I tried desperately to keep the car on the road.
.
Hannah
“Sir. Sir,” Mitch’s voice echoed through the car. The sound of screeching tires and branches scratching the metal competing with Luke’s calm voice.
I watched as Luke turned the wheel, correcting the spin, just as the other car lost control. Luke gunned the accelerator to avoid the vehicle that was now barreling toward us onto the narrow, gravel shoulder.
I didn’t have time to panic or let fear settle over me as our car hit the even pavement while the other vehicle went sailing by. I turned in my seat and watched the driver’s door swing open as the car flew over the railing. But it was too late for whoever was inside.
Luke finished giving Mitch our location and was already on the phone with the police. He parked our car, and I opened the door and got out of the car.
“Hannah,” Luke called.
I walked over to the shoulder of the road, unsure of what I expected to see. Sirens in the distance placed a sense of urgency, but I was numb. I knew I should be feeling something, but I didn’t. Every single emotion I’d started to feel had been placed back in the vault of my soul. It could’ve been us. We could’ve been the vehicle down below. I took one more step and looked over the edge. The wreckage came into view as my legs began to give way. Once more, I’d almost tasted death.
Hidden Sins Page 17