Page 29 of Lies Beneath Secrets (Skeleton Crew #1)
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Con
Gabby is happily coloring while Kendra sits on the couch next to her, looking at her phone. She laughs a little bit now and then before she taps away. “Hey, Uncle Con,” she greets me, not looking up from the screen.
“Hey, kid.” Gabby looks over at me, gets up from her spot on the couch, and brings over the sheet of paper she was coloring.
“Daddy,” she whispers and comes over to hug me. It will always stop my heart when she calls me that. Gabby holds up the picture she drew for me to take. Looking down, I smile at the bike she drew.
“Is this you?” I point to the small person sitting on the bike. She gives me a nod, then I point to the one driving the bike. “Me?” She gives another nod and smiles. “Want me to take you for a ride on my bike?” Her smile gets even bigger, and she nods. “Little daredevil, aren’t you? Okay, Gabbs, you got it. I need to find a helmet that fits you first though, okay?” The thought of having her on my bike both scares the hell out of me and makes me proud.
“$100 if I can request your sitter services for the remainder of the evening,” I say to Kendra and hold up a crispy hundred-dollar bill. She hesitates for a split second, then goes to snatch it from my hand, but I pull it back. “Possibility of me being gone all night,” I add, and she pulls her hand away.
“You’ll need another hundo for that,” she tells me, then looks over to Gabby and fucking winks.
“Know how to work the system, don’t you?” I open my wallet again, pull out another hundred, and give them both over to her. She wastes no time snatching them away. Good thing I went on that shipment run last week.
“Want pizza?” She asks Gabby, who’s instantly on board with a bright smile.
“I’ll see you in the morning, Gabbs, okay?” Gabby wraps her arms around my leg as best she can, instantly making my heart skip a beat. I reach down and lift her up into my arms. The awkwardness of affection has long since gone away now, and she seems to be getting more comfortable with me, and the fact she’s talking and calling me dad? Don’t even get me started on how that’s turned me into a fucking pile of mush. “You have fun, kiddo.” She buries her little head into my chest and squeezes for a minute before wiggling, trying to get down. Hug has officially ended, I guess. “Bye, girls,” I say and stride toward the door, my next mission heavy on my mind.
* * *
Looking down at the box sitting in my passenger seat, I reach into it and pull out the coaster that was inside. There wasn’t much in there. Some dried flowers, a couple of movie stubs, a pair of chopsticks, and this coaster. I hold it in my hand, looking at the logo on it that matches the building I’m outside of right now. It’s a nightclub. I’ve heard of the Flatliners doing business here. That isn’t what has me concerned though. What’s written on the back of the coaster does. The name Aubry Parker and a phone number in a woman’s handwriting.
Aubry Parker is a girl who went missing months ago from a town not too far from here. There were rumors that this was the last place she had been seen, but those were quickly shut down. Why Gabe, or his old lady, would have a coaster with her name and number written on it is beyond me. “What the hell did you know, Gabe?” I mutter to myself and toss the coaster back into the box, then pull my hood up over my head when drops of rain drip from the dark clouds above me.
Right before the sky opens up, I duck inside the building. There’s a bouncer up front who gives me a nod as I walk by. Once inside, I take in the space. It’s close to ten, and the club is full of college kids dancing to loud, ear-piercing music and filling their stomachs with watered-down fruity drinks. I find the only empty seat at the bar and order a drink.
“How have I missed you all night?” A sweet voice comes to my side, trailing their hand down my arm. I grab the glass of scotch the bartender places down in front of me and take a sip before turning to look at the owner of the voice. She’s likely not old enough to be here or old enough to be drinking whatever is in her hand. I watch as she seductively takes the straw from her drink and wraps her lips around it, then sucks.
“Just got here,” I grunt, then take another sip of my scotch, enjoying the burn when it reaches the back of my throat.
“Are you all by yourself tonight?” She makes a sad face, then reaches out and rubs her hand on my shoulder. Again . Women all over have made it clear that they do not enjoy unwanted touching. Giving men the same courtesy seems only fair.
“Preferably, yes,” I state and remove her hand. “I’m not the guy to work your daddy issues out with.” I turn and only slightly catch her call me an asshole before stomping away.
I sit there at the bar watching everyone, not knowing even what I’m looking for until my eyes land on her.
Lauren .
She’s with another waitress I’ve seen at the diner. I think she said her name is Piper. They aren’t out on the dance floor like everyone else. They seem to be having their own little dance party next to the bar. I watch for far too long as Lauren sways with the music, drink in her hand. The dress she’s wearing has me faltering for a moment. The clothes she normally wears don’t do her justice. My fingers itch to find out how smooth that fabric is. I might have lingered on her ass for a beat too long before drifting up to her face. She isn’t wearing her glasses tonight, and those heels she has on give her a good three inches.
They spin around a little more, and I watch as she takes a sip from her drink. Unlike the girl who spoke to me when I got here, watching Lauren wrap her lips around that fucking pink straw causes my dick to twitch on its own. “Fuck,” I mutter under my breath and get up. “Where’s the can?” I ask the bartender who points to a door at the end of the bar. I nod and swallow down the rest of my scotch and toss a couple of bills onto the bar, then walk away.