Locked Away (Living With Lies Book 2) (2 page)

Outside of his world, I’m not safe, but inside of it, I’m not sure I’m any safer. But no matter what I believe, I follow the rules because secretly I’m always seeking my father’s approval. He’s never confirmed my suspicions, but I know he thinks I’m weak. Where my father is concerned, I know he loves me, but I’ve always felt like something was missing between us, and while Damian might die denying this, I know he feels the same way...especially now.

Months after I overheard my father’s conversation with Alejandro, he sat me down and spun a story about how I have a long lost sister named Kate Reynolds—the beautiful girl with Damian’s green eyes. Daddy was excited to tell me the news I already knew, but I didn’t have the stomach to pretend I gave a damn because I don’t.

To be honest, I hate Kate Reynolds, and I haven’t even met her. I hate her on principle alone. I hate her because I’ve spent the last twenty-one years trying to prove to my father how strong I really am, and he saw strengths in Kate the second he looked at her picture.

Of course Kate would appear stronger. She hasn’t been kept locked away and hidden from the world. She doesn’t have armies of men looking to exact revenge for her father’s actions. She might have his green eyes, but don’t let my brown ones fool you.

“Of course I believe you.” Without trying, my tone is flat and dull.

“Why does it feel otherwise?” he replies with a sigh as he runs his hands through his hair.

Damian hit a rough patch shortly after learning I wasn’t his biological daughter; that his real daughter was out in the real world, a world where he doesn’t belong. He drank more, his anger was at an all-time high, but the thing that hurt the most was the distance that started building between us. He tried to hide the fact that he was leaving me to visit her, but I knew. My father’s staff gossips like any other employees do on the job. Each time he returned, I witnessed a new Damian Paasch, and each time, I liked him less.

I was desperate for any kind of sign that we were okay, but no matter how much I tried, our relationship remained strained. Every time Damian looked at me, I saw the torment and possibly even regret in his eyes. Now he wants to claim both of us as his own, and the idea of that is more than I can stomach.

“I was hoping we could visit Kate while we’re in the States. Wouldn’t that be nice? Finally getting to meet your sister?” Unwillingly, I flinch when I hear the word sister. Clearly, I haven’t done a great job hiding my true feelings as his concern for whether or not I like Kate is written on his face.

“Kate is your sister. I want the two of you to get along,” he firmly adds as if he truly believes he can force me to like her. I swiftly turn on the couch so he won’t see the anger in my expression.

The only person who thinks Kate is my sister is Damian. I read the articles online. Kate is my cousin. My mother did, in fact, try to get as far away from Damian as possible. Being a U.S. citizen, she left Mexico and decided to live in Littleton, Colorado. Several months later, she gave birth then gave me up in a private adoption. Only that’s what happened to Kate. That’s her story.

When Damian discovered Stacy—his ex—was pregnant with his child, he had his men watched her closely, waiting for her to give birth so they could snatch me up and return to Mexico. They knew Stacy went to the hospital...that she gave birth to her baby, only when she left...she left alone. That was something Damian’s men were unprepared for.

There was no trace of the baby Stacy gave birth to, which caused Damian to go raving mad. He looked into everyone who knew Stacy and discovered that her sister, Shelley Johnson, had a little newborn girl...me.

Naturally, everyone who worked for my father at the time did everything in their power to convince him that Shelley was pretending the baby she had was her own when in fact it was Damian’s. That’s how I became Damian Paasch’s daughter.

Kate was adopted by what appears to be wonderful people. So far, the only thing outside of being cousins that I have found we have in common is we’re both heirs to our father’s fortunes. Only Kate’s empire isn’t going to get her throat sliced or a bullet in her back.

“I want you to get to know her. I think if you do you’ll discover that she’s a remarkable woman.” I take a deep, calming breath to keep myself from lashing out and saying something that will trigger my father’s temper.

When it’s clear I’m not going to say anything more, Damian lets out another groan of frustration, then gets up and walks out of the living room of the hotel suite he’s rented in Tijuana.

Damian surprised me by asking if I wanted to take a trip with him. ‘A little getaway,’ as he put it. My answer was without a doubt, yes. Damian might not be my father by blood, but he’s the only parent I’ve ever known.

When I first learned about Kate, I was worried that Damian would reject me, but as the months passed and his anger faded, it was clear that was not the case, but it’s equally clear that he has no intentions of returning me to my
real
family, not that I want to be returned.

As I sit here and feel sorry for myself, exhaustion sets in, and before I realize it, I’ve fallen asleep. I come awake, still on the couch, listening to hushed voices—most of them in Spanish—coming from behind me. I learned long ago that it’s never a good idea to overhear anything Damian and his men talk about. Therefore, I don’t hide the fact that I’m awake. Then I hear Kate’s name.

I sigh inwardly before stretching my arms and standing up. I glance around the room to find Daddy, Alejandro, my father’s first in command, Richardo, his number three, and Sergio, who’s somewhere a little lower on the list, huddling around, having a quiet conversation.

When Daddy’s eyes spot me, the conversation stops. “Belle, we’re going out to take care of some business before crossing over into the States. Sergio is staying behind with you. If you need anything before I return, tell him and he’ll take care of it for you.” My face falls as his comment only affirms how weak he views me. It’s one thing for him to not want me to be alone, but it’s another to act like I’m incompetent.

“Okay,” I whisper, fighting back the urge to say something I shouldn’t.

My father slowly approaches me until he’s standing directly in front of me. I force my eyes down, only allowing myself to look at his shoes for fear of what I’ll see if I look him in the eyes.

“Belle.” His voice is soft and sweet as he reaches out and tilts my head up. When our eyes connect, he smiles.

“
You
are my world,
you
are my life, and
you
always will be.” He emphasized each ‘you’ as his green eyes plead with me to believe him. No matter how dejected I’ve felt in the last year, his words give me exactly what I needed: a reminder of his love.

“And you’re my world as well,” I rasp out. And no truer statement has been said. Like it or not, Damian Paasch will always be my father.

“I’ll be back soon. Listen to Sergio and be a good girl,” he adds, which immediately sends a chill through my veins.

Be a good girl.
That is always how my father will view me: a helpless little girl and not a twenty-one-year-old woman.

“Of course,” I snap. Damian, however, ignores my mood and gives me one last smile before he turns back to his men. After a few more hushed words, Damian, Alejandro, and Richardo walk out the suite door, leaving me alone with Sergio.

If I had to guess, I would say Sergio is probably only a few years older than I am. I wouldn’t know for sure because somewhere along the way, Daddy has forbidden his men to get close to me. When Damian is in the room, they treat me like I’m a fragile doll, and when he’s not, they act as if I’m their annoying little sister they’re forced to babysit.

Hours pass and other than ordering room service and watching movies on the TV, the two of us haven’t done anything. I’m about to tell Sergio I’m going to bed when his phone rings.

“Hola.” I’m in pursuit of my bedroom when I hear Sergio break out in a long string of cuss words.

Living in Mexico, I learned to speak Spanish—not as well as I should have—but I can still carry on a conversation. English is Damian’s first and preferred language. He only speaks Spanish if the person he’s talking to can’t speak English, which is probably why I’ve made English my preferred language as well.

Most of Damian’s men can speak rapid-fire Spanish, including a long list of words my father would cringe if he heard them say in front of me, which is exactly what Sergio is doing. Unfortunately, he’s speaking too fast, and I’m only able to pick up every couple of words.

Shots fired.

Being followed.

Hiding.

My chest tightens with fear.

“Tenga cuidado de todo.” Sergio hangs up his phone. “Get your shit, we’re leaving.”

“Leaving?” I repeat as panic sets in.

“Yes, leaving. Now get your shit and do it quick.” I scurry away to my room and grab the few things I’ve taken out of my suitcase then quickly return to the main room where I see Sergio already waiting for me by the front door.

“What’s going on?” I’m already frustrating him by speaking in English, but I know whatever he was told on the phone is the real reason he’s being an asshole.

“Princess, we don’t have the time to talk about it over tea. Now move your
ass
.”

“Fuck off,” I reply just has harshly. I start pulling my suitcase out the door when Sergio grabs it from me and starts rushing me toward a dark SUV parked at the very back of the hotel.

“Get in.” I hop in without another word, and the two of us take off. After we’ve been on the road for a while, Sergio picks up his phone and starts reading something. After he sends a text, he throws his phone into the cup holder but remains silent.

I was doing my best to keep the dread I’m feeling from showing, but once we drive up to Border Control and pass into the States—without my father—a rush of fear and confusion takes over.

“What are you doing? Why are we crossing over without Daddy?”

The second the word Daddy passes my lips, an evil smirk forms on Sergio’s face. “Daddy will be fine, princess.” He rudely laughs at my expense.

I hate being treated like a child, and then I go and open my mouth and act like one. Starting today, no more Daddy. It’s Damian or Father.

“When will Damian join us?” I respond softly.

“Not anytime soon, princess. Shit got real tonight, and it’s not safe for anyone at the moment,” he firmly adds, causing another wave of panic to set in.

Sergio has already told me more than my father ever would have, and I’m hoping if I ask him questions that he’ll continue. “Are we going to hide out until it’s safe?”

“We aren’t going to do anything, but you are,” he barks back. I sigh then look out the dark window of our moving vehicle. Lights from a city start to brighten the skyline and a short time later Sergio is pulling into the San Diego airport.

He parks the SUV and proceeds to get my suitcase out. Without a word, the two of us walk into the airport.

“Follow these simple instructions, Belle. Do exactly what you’re told. Are we clear?” he questions while searching my eyes. I glance down as he hands me a sealed envelope.
Sealed
. Meaning whatever is in there is something that was planned.

“Belle!” he shouts, causing me to jump.

I snap out of my thoughts. “Yes. I’ll follow the instructions,” I tell him, but Sergio doesn’t act like he believes me. “Show them your ID. You have a one-way ticket to San Francisco waiting for you.” He nods his head toward the counter when I make no attempt to move. “Now, Belle,” he says under his breath but loud enough for me to hear.

I take a deep breath...San Francisco? Who or what is in San Francisco? Instead of asking Sergio, I turn and walk up to the ticket counter where a ticket is waiting for me. I hand over everything Sergio gave me and moments later I’m checking my bag and boarding a plane.

As the plane takes off, I glance out at the lights below as an awful feeling takes over. I’ve never traveled alone before, and I know that means something horrible has happened.

Belle

After the flight attendant announced we’d be landing soon, I forced myself to open the envelope Sergio gave me. Inside was American money and a letter from my father, which causes my heart to sink.

Belle,

Something’s happened, and I need you in a safe location. When you arrive at your destination, a letter at the ticket counter will await you. Do exactly as you’re told and I will come for you when I can.

Love always,

Dad

I allow myself a few tears then I put the letter away and set out to make my father proud. I’ll probably never have another chance to prove to him that I’m capable of handling more than he thinks. For that reason, I plan to do exactly what he’s asked of me.

****

After my stop in San Francisco, I quickly boarded another flight headed to Kansas City. I stayed in Kansas City for two days before I boarded my next flight to Daytona Beach, Florida where I stayed for three days.

After that, I boarded a flight to Memphis, Tennessee where I stayed for one night. Then I took a flight to Denver, Colorado where I was instructed to take several cabs before stopping at my final destination...Kate Reynolds home, which is where I’m standing right now.