Page 11

Chapter

Ten

TARA

T he one thing I can do is compartmentalize when I have things that need to be done.

While I want to do nothing but find out why I never received any notifications of Gabe’s calls I can’t because Lilly is here and she takes top priority.

I need information from her and then I can figure out everything else.

This is the first time that someone from my old life besides Reed and Gabe is going to find out that I’m not dead and I’m a little nervous about how this is going to go.

I look through the back window and notice that we don’t have time to get weapons from the trunk.

Lilly is getting closer to us.

Not that I think we need them but I like to be prepared just in case.

“Is the only thing you have on you a blade?” I ask Gabe as I open the console and grab the knife that Vance always keeps there.

His hands are still in my hair and there is very little space that separates our lips.

He is so fucking tempting but I can’t give in.

I pull my head back and give it a little shake to clear everything else away.

“Yeah, why?” Gabe’s eyes widen when I pull out the small knife and place it in my waistband right against my stomach.

“You think we need protection. Against this girl?”

“I don’t know but I don’t like being caught without any.” I open the car door and climb off his lap, not as gracefully as I would like.

Gabe chuckles when I almost fall on my ass and I flip him off before straightening my clothes.

I open the back door and let Reaper out, he takes his protective stance in front of me staring out at the driveway.

Lilly pulls up in front of the warehouse, kills the engine and steps out of her blue bug.

I take a deep breath and step out from beside the SUV.

Gabe and Reaper match my steps and movements one behind me and the other protecting me from the front.

There is no more hiding in the shadows now.

Lilly hasn’t changed much since that night, she has gained a few pounds and her black hair is a little longer than it was.

When she sees me her golden eyes widen and her hand muffles the gasp.

“T… Tara, you’re alive?”

“I am. Which is it, are you scared or surprised?” My tone is cold and uncaring, even though I once thought this woman could become a close friend of mine.

“How is that possible? The police said you died. They said you died,” she says, shaking her head as she steps closer to her opened car door.

She is going to run and I really don’t want to chase her but I will if she makes me.

“Don’t run. I don’t want to have to chase you or hurt you but I need answers.”

My words freeze her in place.

“Please don’t hurt me,” she begs and it doesn’t bring me any joy.

Not like the other pleas I’ve heard over the last couple of months.

Gabe chooses this moment to talk.

“We don’t want to hurt you or even scare you but we need you to tell us the truth.”

Lilly holds her hands up in front of her, they are shaking so much that I’m surprised she hasn’t dropped the keys she is currently holding.

“I’ll tell you whatever you want, but I need to get my daughter–”

“You brought your daughter to meet a total stranger,” I say with disgust coating each word.

Why would she fucking do that?

Doesn’t she know how dangerous that is

“I didn’t have anyone to watch her for me. I had no choice but to bring her.” Lilly hits the switch and her driver seat folds forward.

She reaches in and slowly pulls back with a toddler held tightly against her chest. The little girl’s head is laying on Lilly’s shoulder as she stays asleep.

“Come on. We can talk in here,” I say, motioning for everyone to follow me inside.

While the outside looks abandoned I have cleaned up the office that sits right inside the door.

I use this place for all my research and even a crash pad when needed.

I open the office door, flip on the light and point to the small couch against the wall.

“You can lay her down there. Reaper, stay.” Reaper sits down outside the office and I know that no one will come inside without us knowing it.

I pull over the desk chair and place it right in front of the couch.

“Thank you,” Lilly says, lowering her daughter down.

“Please, she means the world?—”

“I would never hurt you or your daughter. That’s not what this is about. I just want my questions answered. When you tell me the truth you both will walk out of here unharmed.” Gabe walks in and I point to the chair.

“You can sit here. I’ll sit on the desk.” Once everyone is settled Lilly wastes no time answering all my questions without me having to ask her.

“You were right, I lied about that night. I didn’t want to but I had no choice.” Lilly picks at her nails refusing to look at either one of us.

Gabe is sitting rigid in the chair, his gaze never roaming from Lilly.

“What do you mean you had no choice?” I ask, pulling my legs up to sit crossed-legged on the desk.

She motions toward her daughter and turns to look at her with so much love.

“As you know I just moved here a month before you went missing. But in order for all of this to make sense I have to give you a little history.”

When neither of us say anything Lilly continues.

“This is Francesca,” Lilly says, rubbing her daughter's leg. “I was in my final semester of college when I found out I was pregnant with her. I went out with a couple of friends for my birthday and well…” She takes a deep breath and continues. “I hooked up with a random bartender that night. He was gone by the time I got out of the bathroom. I hid my pregnancy from my mother due to personal reasons. My family is very religious and I was convinced that my mother would disown me if I had told her. Luckily, I was living in Arkansa and hadn’t been on good terms with my mom for years at this point. But then Francesca became really sick and I couldn’t work. I had no choice but to move back home.

“I showed up on my mom’s doorstep and she lost her shit but quickly got over it when I told her everything. Francesca was diagnosed with type one diabetes a month before I moved here and her medicine cost a fortune. My mom got social security and I had yet to find a job. We were on the verge of losing everything when I met Dean. I finally found a job at the diner and he was one of my regulars.” She pauses to wipe her eyes and Gabe surprises us both by producing a handkerchief from his pocket.

“He was always talking to me when he came into the restaurant and always left a huge tip. One day he found me crying in my car when my mom called and told me that Francesca was almost out of insulin. He offered me the money I needed to pay off all my bills, fix up my car and finally fill the apartment with what we needed. I told him I would pay him back and he said to take my time. When I met you I didn’t want to tell you because you had your life together and mine was falling apart. I wanted to be your friend and was afraid you wouldn’t want to be friends with someone like me.” Lilly wipes her tears away, places her hand over her heart and takes a deep breath.

Neither I nor Gabe say anything not wanting her to stop talking. “The night at the bar was the first time I had gone out in a month. Dean called and basically begged me to come out. I agreed, like an idiot. He told me to invite you to the party that his friend was throwing because Ned was interested in you. I didn’t want to go to the party but I really liked Dean and he had been flirting with me the whole night. I thought that he would get upset with me if I couldn’t get you to go so I basically forced you.

“Anyways, when Dean and Ned never showed up at the party I went home. I’m not going to lie, I was hurt thinking that you three hooked up. I was feeling foolish for believing someone like Dean was interested in me when he could have you. When I was at work the next day, I heard that you had been reported missing. I rushed home intending to call the police to offer my help but Dean was waiting on me in the parking lot. He forced me to allow him to drive me home. When we got to the apartment Mom said she had some errands and left. I asked him what happened the night before and he changed right in front of my eyes.”

Lilly’s whole body is shaking so hard that I’m afraid she is going to wake up Francesca. It’s clear that she is struggling with what comes next and I have a bad taste in my mouth. I slide off the desk and gently sit next to her. I wrap my hands around hers hoping it offers her some strength.

“What happened next?” I whisper.

“He hit me, slapped me right across my face. He started to demand his money back. Said something about him needing it for something. When I finally found my voice I told him I didn’t have it. Who can come up with six grand in a couple of months? I barely make minimum wage. He told me that we could make another deal. He would forgive my debt if I went with him to the police. He wanted me to give him an alibi and tell the police you left the bar alone. He hit me again when I told him to go to hell.”

Gabe growls and his hands dig into the arm of the chair. “If that fucker–” I hold my hand up to stop him.

“He left me crumbled on the living room floor and went into Francesca’s room. I heard her screaming and ran after him. He told me that since I didn’t have his money and wouldn’t take his deal he was taking my daughter. He said that he knew a guy who would pay him double what I owed him… for her,” Lilly says then gags like she is going to be sick.

I squeeze her hands and say, “But you agreed in the end.”

She looks at me and it’s plain to see that she is terrified. “I had to. I couldn’t let him take my daughter.” She starts sobbing harder and I pull her into my chest. She clings to my back as if she will float away if I let her go.

“Shhh,” I say, rubbing her back. “You did the right thing, Lilly. You protected your daughter like a mother should.”

“Did Dean say anything else about this person who would buy a baby?” Gabe says through gritted teeth. He looks ready to explode. Rage is pouring off of him in waves and I’m soaking it all in. I wish I could bring Dean back from the dead so I could kill him myself.

“He slipped up and said a name. I don’t think he realized that he did it,” Lilly says, her words muffled by my chest. She pulls back, takes a couple of deep breaths and turns to face Gabe. “He drove me to the police station but only after he called Ned to come to my apartment. On the way he told me that if I was a good girl and did everything exactly like he wanted everything would be okay. If I tried to tell the police the truth or asked for help, Alex would get to Francesca before we got back. Tara I’m so sorry, if there was anything I could have done to protect her and tell the truth I would have.”

I turn her to look at me, her eyes are red and puffy and she looks so defeated. “Listen to me. You going along with Dean’s lie didn’t hurt me. The damage was already done. If I had known what he was threatening you with I would have told you to do the same thing. I’m not mad at you or even upset. I was but not anymore. Now I’m worried about you.”

“Me too.” She swallows, wipes her nose and sighs. “Dean and Ned used to come around to make sure I was keeping my mouth shut and to take almost all of my paychecks but I haven’t seen them in months. I’m always looking over my shoulder waiting on them?—”

“Dean cannot hurt you anymore,” Gabe growls again. He leans forward and places his hand on her knee, gently as if not to scare her. “He’s dead.”

“What!” Lilly’s eyes widen as she turns to look at Gabe.

“It’s true. He’s been dead for six months. Now Ned, I don’t know where he is but I’m going to find him and make sure he never hurts anyone again,” I say sternly, hoping she hears my unspoken promise. “Do you have anyone you could go stay with?”

“No, do you think I’m in danger?” Lilly reaches out to touch Francesca as if she will calm her down.

“I do. Someone knows I’m not really dead and that I’m trying to find Ned. They set a fire at the house I was living at right before we came here. I’m not going to lie to you. You have always been in danger but it’s gotten worse now that I’m no longer hiding in the shadows,” I say, standing up. Whenever I need to figure something out in a hurry I do my best thinking while I pace.

“My mom died a couple months ago and I don’t have any money. Even though they have stopped coming by I’ve kept up making the payments. Dean doubled what I owed him,” Lilly whispers.

“I have money,” I say waving my hand in the air. “We need to find someone we trust to keep you two safe. There is always?—”

“No, she doesn’t need to go to Elio’s because he is in the middle of all of this. I have an idea,” Gabe says, snapping his fingers to get my attention. “Lilly, I have a friend that you could stay with. His house is like Fort Knox, no one gets in or out without him knowing. He is also trained to protect you if the occasion calls for it. I know it’s a lot to ask you to trust a complete stranger but Nick would never cause you or your daughter any harm. Plus you said that you’ve been making payments. Are they done in cash or electronic?”

“Electronically. I have a piece of paper that has all the information on it and every two weeks I deposit the money,” she says.

“Nick could use that to help us,” Gabe says, pulling his phone from his pocket. “I’m going to step out and call him.”

Gabe walks out and Lilly turns toward me and asks, “Do you trust this Nick guy?”

I pull the chair Gabe just got up from over and sit down right in front of her. “With my life. You both will be safe there. Can I ask if there is any way of tracking Francesca’s father down?”

Lilly’s eyes bounce between Francesca and me. “I don’t know if the name he gave me is fake. His name is Basten or that’s what he told me.”

“Is there anything about him physically that you can remember that might help us?”

“Why do you want to find him?”

“Because he deserves to know about his daughter and you deserve to have help financially.”

“The only thing that stands out is the back tattoo he has. He has angel’s wings on his shoulders. Right in the middle it had a quote from Harry Potter. ‘Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.’ Then there was a name right below it, Carrie.”

I have never been more thankful that I can control my expression and make my face unreadable right now. “We?—”

“Hey Lilly. Nick would like to talk to you for a second. Do you feel comfortable doing that?” Gabe asks from the doorway.

“Sure,” she says.

Gabe crosses the room and hands her his phone. While I take a real good look at Francesca before patting Lilly’s knee and stand up motioning for Gabe to follow me. “Let’s let them talk in private.” Thankfully he doesn’t say anything until we are out of the office and the door is closed behind us.

“What the fuck was that?” Gabe laces his hands behind his head and looks at me like I will fill in the pieces he missed.

“What was what?” I lean back against the wall and stare at him.

“That look you gave to her daughter. It was like you recognized her from somewhere and there is something you aren’t telling me.”

“Answer me two questions and I might tell you,” I say, reaching up and patting his cheek. “What is Nick’s middle name and what does his back tattoo look like?”

Gabe’s eyes narrow and his brows furrow in confusion. “Basten and it’s a memorial piece for his sister Carrie. You know this so why are you asking?”

I point to Francesca who is still asleep on the couch through the window. “Take a real long look at her. Not Lilly but Francesca.” Lilly is still sitting on the couch looking like she is deep in thought and I wonder if she is recognizing his voice.

Gabe steps closer to the window and when he sees it he mumbles, “Son of a bitch.”

We don’t have any more time to talk because Lilly picks up Francesca and walks out of the office. “Nick is going to meet me at the apartment and help me get everything we need,” she says, handing Gabe’s phone back to him. She looks at me and for the first time smiles. “I’m really glad you aren’t dead. I might be scared out of my mind right now but I’m really happy to see you.”

I place a hand on her shoulder and guide her to the door. “We will be in touch soon and please don’t worry. Everything will be alright. I promise you.”

We watch her get into her car and drive away before Gabe speaks. “Should we call Nick or something?”

“Nope. But we need to go see my brother.” I turn around and head back to the SUV. I open the door, click my tongue and Reaper comes bounding over. After he gets in I shut the door and open mine.

“Why?” Gabe is right on my heels heading to the driver side.

“Because we need to have a conversation.”