Hidden Sins (17 page)

“Let’s say I put on a pot of coffee,” I replied, turning toward the machine.

“Grounds are in the top cupboard,” Mia said, turning to smile at Hannah. “So what the hell happened at Buttons to make you need an icepack? You didn’t get on the swing, did you?”

Leave it to Mia.

Hannah’s laugh floated through the air, and I immediately wanted to shove this sordid mess aside, give her a reason to keep laughing, keep glowing. As I poured the water into the coffeemaker, I watched her cheeks redden at my sister’s question. There was such an air of innocence to Hannah that I loved, but at the same time seeing where she came from, why she had that innocence, saddened me beyond belief.

“No, I had a tumble with your brother,” Hannah said, her eyes flicking to mine.

“A tumble with my brother?”

“Yeah. Your new roommate tried to attack your poor, unsuspecting brother,” I laughed, closing the top of the coffee maker.

“I doubt that,” Mia said. “You’re never unsuspecting, and you certainly aren’t poor.”

“No. It’s true. I attacked him,” Hannah said, flashing me a smile.

Shit. She was gorgeous. She didn’t have a clue what that smile did to me. It was the unraveling of me, why we were in this situation in the first place.

“Well, I don’t blame you. If he was sneaking around here, I would’ve too,” Mia laughed.

“See? The landlord says I’m off the hook.” Hannah moved the icepack.

“So the icepack?” Mia prompted.

“Should I start at the beginning of the debacle?” Hannah looked at me.

“Might as well.” I threw my hands in the air in surrender.

“I was on the beach, unwinding and wondering if I’d really be able to last at Buttons. Want to tell me your story?”

I grabbed three mugs and began filling them with coffee. “Your story first. Then mine.”

“I’m gonna hold you to that,” Hannah laughed, as I placed the mug of pseudo adrenaline in front of her.

“Anyway, I was on the beach and a car pulled up in front of the house and a crazy guy jumped out without even turning off the car. The next thing I know, he was running into the house and I got worried. I thought someone was after…” Hannah paused. “Well, at first I thought they were after me and then I got terrified that they were after you. Either way, I went in ready to mess someone up. I couldn’t just stand around and do nothing.”

“You put yourself in danger for me?” my sister asked.

“Well, I certainly wouldn’t just sit there and watch. Anyway, by the time I got to the top floor I saw some guy backing out of your studio. He was acting suspicious. What topped it off was I heard a…”

Mia laughed. “Gotcha. Bad to worse.”

“Tell me about it,” Hannah muttered. “That’s when I tried my superhero moves and failed miserably. Your brother had me on the ground and pinned beneath him within a second.”

Mia eyed her brother and took a sip of coffee. “You were in the studio?” her voice was almost hoarse.

“I guess it’s my turn,” I replied. Coffee didn’t seem like enough. “Have any Bailey’s?”

“I’ve got some Kahlua in the fridge,” my sister laughed. “Must be a good story.”

I opened the fridge and found the bottle. I quickly poured some into my mug and then poured a little more for good measure.

“First, I’m asking that both of you give me a chance. I was coming from a good place.” I took a drink and motioned toward the family room. “Mind if we go in there?”

They both nodded and slid off the stools. My sister had decorated the family room in very neutral colors and even though I’d begged her not to, she had several of my photographs displayed along the far wall. I grabbed the fireplace remote and flipped it on. I needed all the help I could get. Hannah took a seat in the overstuffed chair, and she tucked her legs underneath her. Her blond hair was slightly messy and beyond sexy. This was the problem. I was too attracted to her, unable to deal with her the way I would a typical client. Shit. She didn’t even know she was a client. That was another problem.

I took a seat on the couch next to my sister. “I’m not going to start with tonight’s events. Doing that would only make things sound worse than they are.”

“Sounds like a great introduction,” Mia said. Her brow curved as she looked at me with disapproving eyes, slowly cluing into who I’d been so worked up over these last several days. It had all been about Hannah. “Especially since you think the story will lead to how or why you were in my studio in the middle of the night when I was with Sean.”

I ignored her.

“I ran into Hannah at a Starbucks. She had a bit of trouble with her purchase. I stepped in to help and since then my world hasn’t been the same.”

My sister’s jaw dropped open, and I wanted to beg her to please tone it down a tad or it wasn’t going to be an easy confession. Instead, I forged ahead.

“Something told me there was more to Hannah’s story than she was willing to let on. Between plates from out of state, and the way she constantly looked over her shoulder, I had a bad feeling. I had my driver take her home. Got her address, looked some things up.”

“What do you mean you looked some things up?” Hannah asked, her voice trembling slightly.

This wasn’t going well, and I’d only gotten a couple sentences out. I needed a new approach.

“I was curious about why a girl would travel clear across the country to move into a home that left so much to be desired, so I investigated. You intrigued me, Hannah.” I shrugged. “I’m not going to apologize for being interested in you.”

My sister’s gaze caught mine, as she gave me a warning look.

“I didn’t expect to find out what I did, which in all honesty wasn’t much. When I heard someone had attempted to hurt you, all bets were off. I was back in New England on a business trip when everything happened, when I received your email.” I watched Hannah stiffen as my words tumbled out. “I went to your old address. I saw where you came from.”

Hannah shook her head, her hands moving slowly to her mouth. “You’ve put yourself in danger. You don’t understand these people.”

“I was worried about you. My job is protecting people. I wanted to protect you. I wanted to help.”

“I’m completely lost,” Mia replied, glancing at Hannah. “I thought you were from Ohio.”

Hannah shook her head slowly.

“She’s a member of the NLC.”

“I was a member,” Hannah corrected.

“What’s the NLC?” Mia questioned.

“It’s registered as a non-profit in New Hampshire. They’ve done a pretty decent job of keeping out of the news. The address I went to was a compound of sorts,” I continued. “But in all honesty, I’m hoping that Hannah will learn to trust me enough to tell me what it was I was actually seeing. What it is she’s running from.”

I looked over at Hannah. Her eyes were vacant. She’d gone to a place far away. She was going to leave. I could tell. I only had one shot at this, and I was already screwing it up.

“The short of it is, I figured out Hannah was your new roommate, and I learned she was working at Buttons. I couldn’t believe it, and I’d fully intended to talk Sean out of letting her work there. But then I thought about her situation and as much as I hated it, at least this job would keep her out of any public spaces, for the most part.”

“And why don’t you let Hannah know how you pieced this all together,” Mia said, pressing her lips together.

I looked at Hannah who was watching me, her eyes still void of any emotion.

“I used my resources.”

“Which means?” Mia pressed.

“I put a security detail on Hannah and had some of my guys investigate…”

“I’ve heard enough,” Hannah said slowly, standing up. She didn’t look angry, more hurt than anything. Maybe hopeless. Whatever the expression was, it killed me inside. “I’ve caused enough turmoil in your lives. I’ll be out by the next payday. I don’t want to cause any trouble for either of you. Luke, thanks for trying. But it’s bigger than that.”

It was like she’d stabbed me in the chest. I watched her walk out of the room, and it took Mia grabbing my hand to not follow after her.

Hannah

I’d been manipulated, controlled, and watched long enough in my life. The thought that I’d fled one situation only to somehow land in another one had me worried, had me questioning what it was about me that attracted this type of situation, or person, to my life.

I quietly closed the door to my bedroom and fell onto the bed, feeling the squish of the comforter surround me. I looked around the bedroom, which was one of the few places I had that felt safe, not watched. It was such a peaceful room. Everything was white. The walls, curtains, throw rug, furniture, comforter, even the paintings on the wall were pure white. It felt a little angelic. The only bit of color was next to the window. A crystal vase filled with blood red seashells.

I liked it. I liked this place. I liked Mia. I liked Luke. I really didn’t want to leave.

But I was tired.

Tired of the life I knew I was about to lead, one where I would always be looking over my shoulder, always on the run. Until I could prove what the NLC was doing.

It felt like all I did was trade one struggle for another. I thought leaving the NLC would be the hard part, not trying to make it in the normal world. Certainly, I knew I might have some difficulty getting on my feet, possibly staying on my feet, but I didn’t count on anyone finding me, at least not so quickly. I also hadn’t counted on some stranger feeling the need to start checking up on me, following me. But it was Luke. Actually that made it even harder. I liked Luke. A lot. His kindness, concern…Nancy’s words ran through my mind, “Always strings attached”. It was such a cynical way of looking at the world. I didn’t want to become that person, but I was starting to understand that worldview.

Making my way to the bathroom, I let out a sigh. I still wanted to wash away the creepy glances I’d endured during my shift tonight. As I turned on the water and squeezed soap into the tub, I thought about Luke. What all did he find out? What did he know? Was it more than even I knew?

Stripping off my clothes, I dipped a toe into the water, testing the temperature. It was perfect. I slid into the warm water and dunked my head. The feeling of warmth touched my scalp, and seeped through my skin, penetrating clear to my bones. I hadn’t realized how cold I was. It was a familiar chill. The chill of fear. But what was I afraid of this time?

Pushing myself back up through the water, I opened my eyes and groaned. What was I going to do? I’d get money and go. Go where? Where no one believed me? Where no one cared? I thought about the documents I had managed to get my hands on. Those were everything I had to go on. On my way into California, I rented a storage locker and placed them in it for safekeeping. Maybe it was time to get them out. I just didn’t know.

I heard a faint knock on the bedroom door and Mia’s voice.

I analyzed my bubble coverage, which was plentiful and called out that I was in the bath, but covered if she wanted to enter.

The bedroom door opened, and I heard faint footsteps through the bedroom.

“I’ll just stand out here,” she said. “I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

Too late for that.

“Listen, I don’t expect you to believe me or find any reason to hear me out, but my brother’s a good guy. His business is protecting people. Sometimes the lines become a little blurred. He should have told you. I don’t argue with that, but I just want you to know his intentions are good. He meant well. I’ve had to come to terms with his secretive ways myself, set boundaries with him. But he’s my brother, and I’ve learned to deal with it. I’ll understand if you don’t want to. Okay, I’ll let you have some peace and quiet. Anyway, have a good night.” I’d already heard her beginning to move away from the door.

“Mia?”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you.”

I heard her walk out of the bedroom and shut the door. It was the middle of the night, and yet I was wide awake with my mind running wild with questions.

What if this was my one opportunity to find someone who could help? What if I run away from the wrong person? The alarm beeped, signaling the house was secured. That probably meant Luke left. My stomach fell and I cursed myself for caring. There were bigger things to be concerned with. Even though I was more confused than before my presoak, I felt better—less anxious, which was puzzling. I dried off quickly and put some sweatpants and a tee on. I glanced out the window and didn’t see Luke’s car below. Why did I care?

Wandering out into the hallway, I heard soft music coming from upstairs. Mia must be working again. I didn’t want to interrupt, but for once in my life, I wanted to talk to someone. I climbed the stairs to the third floor and decided I’d peek my head into her studio. If she’d already started, I’d go to bed and not worry about it. The door was open and the room was lit up from every direction. I spotted her in the corner in a pair of paint-covered overalls and a hat. She was holding a brush, standing in front of a large canvas that equaled her height.

What I saw both horrified and intrigued me. I saw myself in the painting. Splashes of red dotted the perimeter of the face, but the face I was looking at was mine, and the eyes… The eyes were vacant, haunted.