Locked Away (Living With Lies Book 2) (5 page)

I’m sick of people like Kiran thinking they know me, thinking they have the right to treat me like I’m less of a person because I’m Damian Paasch’s daughter. I take a deep, calming breath and turn back around to face him, only to find he’s still watching my every move. When our eyes lock, I swear I can already see regret in his, but that doesn’t keep me from lashing out.

“You don’t know anything about me. I’ve never treated you in any way that justifies your shitty attitude.” I watch as his face dims even more. “Whoever taught you to be an asshole did a really good job.”

“Wait, I’m sorry,” he hollers as I turn and walk back inside. I’m halfway up the stairs when I hear him call out to me again, but I don’t stop. I enter my room and quickly shut then lock the door.

I was never allowed to leave my father’s estate without a man trailing my every move, but being here at Kate’s has me feeling like a caged animal. I have no cell phone, no computer. The only thing I can do is watch endless amounts of television and that became beyond old two days ago.

Damian said I had to stay at Kate’s but he did not say I had to stay here twenty-four-seven. Tomorrow, I’m going out and buying myself a phone, and in the process, I’ll be gone all day, giving myself a break from my temporary housemates.

****

Last night, Kate knocked on my door after she arrived home, inviting me down for dinner. I lied and told her I had already eaten and was turning in for the evening. Other than when I snuck out to use the restroom hours later, I stayed in my room the rest of the night.

Now I desperately want to get out of this house. I have no idea how long I have to wait until Damian comes for me, but I’m going stir crazy sitting in this room day in and day out.

Kate told me she doesn’t start school until next week, the same week that Callie starts kindergarten; therefore, I expect they’re both home. I’m hoping the guys have already left for work.

I walk into the kitchen and find a phone book. I look up a taxi service and write down the number. Now I just need a phone to use. Landlines seem to be a thing of the past, and I don’t see one anywhere in the kitchen, but I do spot a cell phone, the one I’ve seen Kate using.

I push the home button and the screen lights up. There’s a picture of Gavin, Callie, and Kate on the screen, and without even thinking, I swipe it open.
Wow, she doesn’t keep this locked?

I quickly dial the taxi company and I’m informed that someone will be here within twenty minutes. I feel like shit for opening Kate’s phone without her permission. That’s something my father would do, and I’m not about to start picking up his bad habits.

I go into her recent calls, delete my call off, and quickly put the phone back exactly where I found it without looking at anything else. Kate might not be my real sister, but in some strange way, she is family and I don’t want to give her a reason to hate me.

A long time passes while I’m waiting by their front door when I hear Kiran’s voice behind me.

“What are you doing?” I jump and turn back toward him. It’s sickening how gorgeous he is. Every time I see one of his tattoos on his bulky arms, I want to run my fingers and possibly even my tongue along them. But that’s never going to happen. He’s made that very clear.

“Hello, Belle?” he says, waving his hand in front of me.

“Oh, I’m going to work,” I sweetly add.

“Work?” he repeats, narrowing his eyes.

I see my cab pulling up their driveway just in time.

“Yep, it’s been days since I’ve been able to go out and spend Daddy’s money. I’m behind schedule but don’t worry your cute little face about that. I’ll get all caught up today.” I give him a cynical laugh before turning around and walking out the door.

****

I spent the whole day exploring Denver. Outside of two meals, the only thing I purchased was a prepaid smartphone. I spent hours at a coffee shop programming it and reading anything I could on Damian.

Several articles stated that a few men are claimed to be dead after a raid in Tijuana went bad. One report even claims that an American DEA officer was killed, but sources aren’t clear which cartel was involved.

Just because Damian was in Tijuana during the time of this raid doesn’t mean he was involved. Damian Paasch loves having a front row seat when someone else is being taken down. If he had any information about something going on, he’d have his ass there at a moment’s notice.

He must have anticipated that something could go wrong. That has to be why he wrote down my escape route before he left, but why? Damian is smart, too smart for his own good, and he’d never willingly walk into something he knew might go bad, especially if he thought there would be a chance I’d be left alone.

My anger starts to take a back seat to the pain I suddenly feel. No matter what anyone thinks, Damian is my father and I love him. It’s been over a week and a half since I’ve seen or spoken to him or his men, and that has never once happened in my twenty-one years of life.

With a heavy heart, I leave the coffee shop and get in a cab and head back to Kate’s house. When I get to the front door, I stop. Do I knock or just walk in? Other than when I arrived, this is the first time I’ve used the front door without Kate accompanying me.

I’m about to raise my hand to knock when I hear Kate shout something. I instantly open the door then walk in.

I can hear Kate’s voice along with Gavin and Kiran’s but none of them has seen me.

“I cannot believe you said that to her. Kiran, what were you thinking?” Kate hisses.

“Babe, chill. He was only joking,” Gavin replies.

“Did she take it as a joke? Huh, Kiran, did she?” Kate snaps back.

I can’t hear Kiran and while the guy has acted like a jerk to me, I don’t want him to get in trouble with his friends—especially over me. I force my feet to move and I walk around the corner and into the kitchen with a huge smile on my face.

“Hey. What’s going on?” All three of them stop and look at me as if they’ve seen a ghost.

“Oh my God. Where have you been?” Kate says with concern dripping from her tone as she walks over and stops in front of me.

“I went out,” I reply as smoothly as possible.

“Out? Out where?” she questions.

“Exploring. Denver is a beautiful city. I can’t believe all of the amazing things you can do here,” I add with another smile.

Kate is wearing a confused look while both Gavin and Kiran are watching me like I’m guilty of something.

“You went exploring for ten hours without telling anyone where you were going? Kiran said he thought you were going to the mall,” Kate says.

My stomach starts to tighten at the thought that Kate already cares enough about me to worry. Other than Damian and Manuel, the only other people who’ve ever expressed concern for me have been on my father’s payroll.

“I’m sorry. I...I didn’t think it would matter,” I whisper.

Kate’s nose scrunches. “Of course it would matter. You’re a part of my family and in a new city all by yourself. Please, Belle...don’t take off like that again without telling someone where you’re going,” she pleads.

“I won’t. I’m sorry,” I quickly say.

Gavin walks up to Kate and wraps his arm around her shoulders then gives me a weak smile. “She’s back now, babe. Let’s go to bed,” he adds.

“Okay. Goodnight, you two,” Kate says before walking off with Gavin, leaving me alone with Kiran.

I look him directly in his blue eyes, waiting for something...anything, but he remains quiet until I turn to leave the room.

“I’m sorry,” he softly says.

My eyes thin. “For what?”

Kiran sighs. “For making you feel unwelcome.”

I bite my lip, pondering what I should say. I didn’t leave because of Kiran, or at least not solely because of him, but that doesn’t change the fact that he was beyond rude to me yesterday.

“I went out today because I was sick of being stuck in this house doing nothing all day. Contrary to what you believe about me, I do have a life and it includes doing a lot more than just sitting on my ass day in and day out.”

“I’m sorry. I never meant to imply—”

“Yes you did, and that’s okay. I’m used to it. I’ll admit...I thought things would be different here, but it’s fine. You have your world and I don’t belong in it. I’ll get back to mine as soon as possible.” I walk out of the kitchen without Kiran saying another word. When I make it to my room, I pull out my phone and go straight to the site I’ve saved in my favorites.

I click around until I find what I’m looking for.

Ms. Bello,

Unfortunately, we can’t allow you to start late. If you’re unable to turn in your first assignment by the deadline, then I recommend that you take the semester off.

You can contact our registration office to withdraw.

Sincerely,

Janet Wilson,

Student Affairs

My heart sinks. I wish I had some idea how long I’ll be stuck in this godforsaken place.

My father thinks I’m weak, and the reason I know this is because that’s exactly how he treats me. It was too dangerous for me to attend school. For that reason, I was homeschooled along with the helps’ children. My best friend—my only real friend—happens to be Manuel, the son of Miguel Ramos, my father’s second in command.

Manuel is only a year older than I am and almost all of my childhood memories include him. To be honest, he’s the reason I don’t completely hate my life in Poza Rica.

When I turned eighteen, I had every intention to go to college. However, Daddy shot down my plans without a second thought. Damian has tried to make the world forget he has a child—one that could be used as leverage if the situation presented itself. As a result, he refuses to allow my name to circulate for
no real reason
. That was the first day I walked out of Damian’s office with a shattered heart. A few hours later, Manuel found me and promised to help.

Thanks to Manuel and a fake ID, I enrolled in an online college. I won’t be able to claim my education after I graduate, but I’m still earning it.

Damian has provided me with a lavish lifestyle, but I want more for myself than his money can provide. He pays men to do nothing but watch my every move. Luckily, my full-time babysitters watch me from a safe distance and never look too deep into what I’m actually doing.

I’ve learned the skill of working around Damian’s men when I need to, but I wouldn’t have made it as far as I have without Manuel.

Like Callie and Kate, my classes are about to begin. Without my computer and dedicated time, there’s no way I can start, but I hate to withdraw until I’m positive that Damian isn’t going to sweep in and take me home.

In the meantime, I’m going to hope for something I never thought I would: to return to Poza Rica, and soon.

****

The next morning, I hear the house come alive. Callie was talking rather loudly, and judging from the sounds and smells, I think the four of them got up and had breakfast.

I waited until the house quieted before I got up then went downstairs for something to drink. By the looks of it, I think I’m home alone. I round the bottom of the stairs without seeing anyone until I walk into the kitchen and spot Kiran sitting at the table with a laptop open in front of him.

Tentatively, I stop wondering if he spotted me yet, but he quickly turns his head toward me.

“Good morning,” he says in a chipper voice that sends my guard up.

“Morning.” I continue my journey to the fridge for a bottle of water. The whole time, I feel Kiran’s eyes following my every movement.

“Everyone was really worried about you yesterday,” Kiran adds in a consoling tone, which I find annoying. Everyone wasn’t worried about me, Kate was. Because Kate was upset, she made her concern Gavin and Kiran’s problem.

I decide it’s best to ignore him and head back upstairs to my room. However, Kiran starts talking to me again as if we’re suddenly long lost friends.

“The three of them went out to get Callie’s school supplies. They should be back in a few hours, but Kate left you a plate of food from breakfast.”

I’m not hungry. I should be because the last thing I ate was a bagel at the coffee shop I was in all night.

“Unless you’re hiding food in your room, you have to be hungry. Eat please,” he adds, echoing my thoughts.

My back is to him as I try to decide what to say. Life would definitely be easier for me, and especially for Kate, if Kiran and Gavin like me, but I’m not sure where I truly stand with either of them. Is Kiran being nice because Kate was upset with him last night or does he honestly feel bad for the way he’s acted?

I hear Kiran sigh with frustration. “I feel like you’re purposely avoiding being downstairs and...I want you to feel comfortable here.”

I turn as Kiran gives me a half-smile, almost as if he’s uncomfortable around me.

“I’m not avoiding you. Or ...” I trail off, hating the fact that I’m lying.

“Maybe I am,” I nervously add while I shift from one foot to the other. “I’m used to people judging me but feeling unwanted is a new emotion.”

Kiran’s eyes flash from my comment. “I didn’t mean—”

“No, it’s okay. I’m never around men who aren’t on my father’s payroll and when I first looked at you...it felt like my heart actually skipped a beat.” I swallow down my embarrassment and force myself to continue. “When I heard you talking about me when you thought I wasn’t around, I wasn’t mad. I get it. I’m trouble—the kind you don’t want in your life. The kind nobody wants in their life.” I chuckle as his eyes narrow, but he holds my stare.

“If it makes you feel better, I’m just as ready to leave as you are for me to go.” My voice cracked when I spoke. I’ve already said more than I intended. I need to get out of here before I embarrass myself further.

“If you see Kate, tell her thank you for breakfast, but I’m not hungry.” I quickly head back up to my bedroom before he can say anything else.

****

“Knock knock,” I sing as I push open the door to Daddy’s office. I turn toward his desk and gasp.

“Belle,” Daddy says in warning. I usually wait until he tells me I can come in, but his door wasn’t closed tight. My stomach twists when I see Daddy holding a gun against a man’s temple.