Page 156 of Between Secrets and Obsession

While chatting with Tyler, I keep my voice low though I want to scream from the rooftops how happy I am. I try not to celebrate too soon because this is only the beginning of a bad situation once Victoria finds out they escaped.

“Before I was put on this assignment, I got intel on Victoria that you’ll need to get you out of this big fuckin’ mess,” he tells me. “I took a page from your bounty hunter book and followed her for a month while you were back in California. I have photographs and audio recordings from bugging her car.”

“Damn. How’d you manage that?”

“She needed an oil change on the Mercedes she drives when she’s doing shady ass shit. It literally took me an hour to get everything installed and she has zero idea. Honestly, after being on this side of things, I’m convinced all the O’Leary kids are a bunch of dumbasses.”

I snort. “I’ve noticed. So, you followed her. What did you get photos of?” I ask.

“The DeFrancos,” he says so nonchalantly. “Does the name Mickey ring a bell to you?”

Pausing for a moment, I replay the conversations we’ve had in the past when they’ve been brought up. They’re mortal enemies of the O’Learys, and even Johnny has made remarks about murder anytime they’re mentioned. Closing my eyes, Ithink back to the convo in the bar, and the couple of times JJ has gone off about them, then distinctly remember hearing Mickey’s name.

“Yeah, it does.”

“Victoria has been fucking him. I have photos and audio. Her father might kill her when he finds out. That is,ifhe finds out. They’ve been secretly seeing each other for years, knowing their families would never approve. The pregnancy was a surprise for them both, and you just so happened to be in the wrong place at the right time,” Tyler explains. “But I think it’s enough to make her back off and to free you. From what I’ve seen and heard these past several weeks, Victoria would rather have a divorce on her record than to be exposed for betraying the family.”

“Wow,” is all I can say, collecting my thoughts.

“Yeah…she’s gonna be furious when she finds out.” He chuckles.

“We got into a fender bender and went to the ER to check on the babies. They did an ultrasound and when I found out she’s farther along than she claimed, I knew I wasn’t the father. She knew all along but doesn’t give a shit and said it doesn’t matter since we’re technically married. Now it all makes fucking sense. She needed a baby daddy since she couldn’t tell the truth that she was sleeping with the family’s sworn enemy,” I explain.

She knew they were Mickey’s babies and needed a scapegoat, and I’ve been wrapped up in her deceptive web ever since. The marriage was only the first step that led to the pregnancy. It makes me sick knowing how much she planned beforehand. Considering the magnitude of hate her father has for the DeFrancos, I imagine she could’ve married anyone, but the position I was in made me easy prey.

Tyler sighs with relief. “Dude. She’s a psycho, so it doesn’t surprise me she used you. They were sneaking around so much that I’m honestly surprised no one found out. If Johnny did,he’d disown her. At this point, she has more to lose than you do. And what do they call that in poker?”

“Shut the hell up,” I quip. “But thank you. Knowing the truth and having proof might be what it takes to get out of this.”

“You owe me, man.”

“Fuck, I owe you my life. I don’t know how I’m gonna repay you.”

By the sound of his voice, I can tell he’s smiling. “I’ll think of something, I’m sure.”

“I’d much rather pay my debt to you than Victoria, but I’m not gonna pretend to be married to you,” I quip. “Seriously, thank you.”

“But I am a catch,” he teases, and for the first time in weeks, I genuinely smile.

“So Maddie, how is she and where are you taking her?”

“She’s right here, and she’s fine, but first, we need to activate the next step in my brilliant plan. You need to get all of the proof I have as soon as possible. Once Victoria discovers we’re gone, no one’s safe until you have your evidence.”

“Got it,” I say. “Tell me what to do.”

“You’re gonna need to go to my apartment and get everything as soon as you can break away. Make sure you’re not followed because I don’t want her to be tipped off when Eric manages to get into contact with her. Once the live feed on the cameras doesn’t return, and I don’t answer her calls, she’ll grow more concerned and send someone out here. You’re a bounty hunter, so you know how to be strategic, but right now it’s gonna be so fucking important.”

“I understand,” I say, my heart pounding with nerves. I can’t afford to screw this up.

“I’ll text you the passcode to get into my apartment. You’ll need to go into my bedroom and under my bed is a laptop. It has files of photos and audio recordings of her with Mickey. It’sall labeled, so it shouldn’t be hard to find. Once you have that, go through everything and print out the pictures, then send the audio memos to your phone so you can present it all to her. I have everything uploaded to my iCloud so even if she destroys what you show her, I have backups.

“If any of that just so happened to make it to Johnny, Victoria would lose everything and be out of the business but without her trust fund. I don’t think the mafia princess could handle being in the real world. Most people can’t.

“I’ll keep Maddie safe until all is clear. You need to secure your freedom, so until she signs the divorce papers, none of us can go home.”

I soak in everything he says, my mind spinning as I absorb it. Victoria’s about to have the shock of her life once I get my hands on the proof I need.

“Thank you so damn much.” I can’t say it enough.