Fractured Lies: Book 1 MAC Security Series Page 16

  “Listen,” he whispered “You’re safe here.”

  “I know.”

  The rough pad of his thumb was nearly as distracting as his bare chest. I needed to stop seeing him like this, to stop thinking about him. I was broken. I wasn’t good enough for him, I wasn’t good enough for anyone.

  Maybe I was meant to be with Max, he always said that I needed to be taught how to behave. At least I stayed in line with him. At least I had tried to stay in line.

  “You want to talk about it?”

  “Not really,” I looked away.

  “It’s just me Kay.”

  If I told him what I dreamed about, what actually happened that day, then he wouldn’t look at me the same.

  I’ve told so many lies that sometimes I couldn’t tell the difference between the truth and the lies that I told. How was I supposed to tell someone that you were so far gone that nothing would be able to bring you back from the brink.

  “I see him,” I hadn’t meant to say that but it came out anyway.

  “Max?” his hand stilled, I moved my eyes back to his watching as they flashed in anger.

  “Yes.”

  “When have you seen him?” he gritted out.

  I looked down at my arm concentrating on his hand.

  “Every time I close my eyes.” I followed the path that his veins made all the way up his arm and to his neck.

  Silence weighed heavy in the room shifting in the bed I cleared my throat.

  “But you-”

  I shouldn’t have said anything. The one time I try and tell the truth and he doesn’t believe me.

  “Just forget it.” I lay down and pulled the covers up to my neck.

  “I thought you were sleeping. You did when-”

  I rolled over and squeezed my eyes shut. I couldn’t look at him anymore.

  “That’s why you slept with Eli? Have you been getting any sleep?”

  I stayed silent, maybe if I was quiet long enough he’d think I’d fallen back to sleep.

  He was quiet for so long that I almost did fall asleep. My eyes were like sandpaper and I didn’t think I could keep them open much longer, with Ty in the room I could relax.

  Even though he had me on edge for completely different reasons, the image of his bare chest was scorched into my brain. But knowing that he was in the room with me made me feel protected as if Max couldn’t get to me if he was here.

  The bed shifted and my eyes sprung open, he was about to leave. Looked like I wouldn’t be getting anymore sleep tonight.

  “Mind if I stay?” he said and lay down next to me.

  I turned my head raising my brows. He was laid on his back above the covers, hands behind his head.

  I swallowed shaking my head.

  “Good,” he smiled, closing my eyes. “Now go to sleep.” His mouth was still kicked up in a grin, my own lips spread to match his.

  I rolled over and closed my eyes. The only person I dreamed of this time was Ty and his bare chest.

  *~*~*

  It had been four days since Ty had come into my room. Each night that followed, I’d wake up screaming and he’d come in and lie on top of the covers so I could get some sleep. He wouldn’t say a word, just smile, close his eyes and settle down. Then I’d sleep like a baby for the rest of the night.

  I liked that he wouldn’t ask what had happened, but I started to want to tell him. It would bubble up in my throat and try to slip out. But every time I opened my mouth nothing would come out.

  I wanted to tell him how lost I was feeling. That I didn’t know who I was anymore.

  I found myself wanting to tell Ty what Max had done to me, what he had said to me and the names he used to call me.

  Nothing would come out and I’d end up thinking it all but never saying it.

  It was funny how much sleep helped me heal. Something as simple as letting your body rest made such a huge impact I couldn’t remember the last time I slept so well. Maybe it had been when I lived at home with Corey?

  Either way, it was a long time ago.

  I woke up late Monday morning, rushing to get out of bed it was the first time since the incident I felt more like me.

  The house was silent, which meant that Ty had taken Eli to preschool. I shook my head at the time, Ty had let me sleep in again, he had to stop helping me like this. When we moved out and got our own place it would be so much harder to get used to being on our own.

  I feared that Eli was getting too close to everyone, when we moved off the compound it would be such a big change.

  I peeked through the bedroom window, all of the cars were outside of the warehouse. A quick check of the time told me that the daily meeting would start in fifteen minutes.

  My hair was greasy and there was no way I could get away without washing it so I used those fifteen minutes to my full advantage. I took a quick shower, plaited my hair and dressed in my black jeans and MAC security t-shirt.

  I couldn’t bring myself to put my belt on so I left that and shoved my feet into my chucks.

  It felt good to be going back to work. I wanted to start my training again and get back to normal, I was looking forward to having something to do with my days.

  All I had done the last two weeks was sit there and think about Max. I needed to keep my mind busy, getting back to work would do that.

  The bruising on my eye and throat was almost gone and easily covered with makeup. My ribs still twinged if I moved too quickly. But I felt almost back to normal, at least what my normal was.

  I relished in the sound of the gravel crunching under my feet when I walked over to the warehouse pulling the metal door open not without a struggle and breathing in deeply. It had its own distinctive smell, a mixture of coffee and man something that put my body at ease.

  Everyone was at the table, all conversation stopped as I walked in, they all turned around, each with varying degrees of shock on their faces.

  I walked to my chair, still with a slight limp but smiling. Though my leg was better it still wasn’t fully healed, I could walk on it which to me was all that mattered.

  It was better than sitting around at home.

  Home.

  I had to stop thinking about Ty’s place as home. I was getting way too comfortable.

  “Morning” I smiled and sat down.

  I pulled the pad and paper from next to Ty and read what they had already covered, all that was on there was todays date. They were all still staring at me when I looked up.

  “Kay?”

  “Yes?” I turned to Ty.

  “What are you doing?”

  I scanned the warehouse, everything still looked the same but I couldn’t bring myself to look down at the table. I was sure that there would still be blood on it.

  “Writing the meeting notes” I rolled my eyes picking up the pen and drawing a line underneath the date.

  “You don’t have-”

  “No,” I interrupted and shook my head. “I do.”

  Ty leaned over and whispered “Are you sure you’re ready?”

  I turned to him and stared into his eyes, they told me that everything was okay, that everything would be okay. He’d never know how much confidence he installed in me.

  “Yes,” I nodded “I’m ready.”

  His eyes flitted back and forth between mine, after several seconds he nodded clearing his throat.

  “Where were we?” he asked turning to face the others.

  They were silent for a beat and then Luke said “You were saying about Charlie?”

  “Right.” Ty pushed the open folder closer to me and I scooted my chair closer to his.

  “There’s been some suspicious activity at the country club.” I held my hand on the paper and tapped my finger.

  “What kind?” Kitty asked.

  “He thinks there’s some kind of underground ring being run from there”

  “Underground ring?” I asked.

  “Yeah, there’s been several girls that have disappeared. All aged
between thirteen and sixteen.”

  “What do they want with the girls?”

  “Well-”

  “So what does the country club have to do with it?” Luke asked.

  “That’s where they’re being taken from.”

  Ty went on to tell us that they have a suspect, but the police couldn’t get anything on him and now he has some kind of injunction against them.

  I couldn’t believe that young girls were being taken. What did they want with them? Why the country club?

  “What about the girls?” I interrupted.

  “What about them?”

  “Have they been found?”

  “No,” Evan said from behind his laptop. “There have been nine so far.”

  “Nine?” I choked.

  “Charlie said that he thinks it’s some kind of sex ring.”

  Sex ring?

  “This is now a priority,” Ty slammed the folder down on the table. “We need to find these bastards and those girls”

  I hadn’t been involved in a case like this, I didn’t even know that a case like this existed. I could see the burning anger in everyone’s eyes.

  I didn’t know if I was ready for this case, but just thinking about what those girls would be going through, made my mind up for me.

  If anything it would occupy me.

  I might not be able to do what everyone else could do, I wasn’t trained the same but I’d put my all into finding those girls.

  “Where do we start?” I said turning my face toward Ty.

  “Luke, Kitty, you set up surveillance at the country club. I want cameras everywhere.”

  “We got a contact?” Kitty pushed up from her chair.

  “No, we don’t know who’s involved. You’re on your own with this one.”

  “Got it,” she said and clipped her belt on.

  “Evan, I want everything you can find on this guy”

  “Who’s the guy?” I asked

  “Hugo Daley.” Ty turned and stuck a photo on the white board behind him.

  “Looks loaded.” Luke said as he moved closer.

  He looked like a model, perfect blond hair swiped back off his face and dark blue eyes. His pearly white teeth glinted through the camera along with the dimple in his chin.

  “Yeah,” Ty stood and tilted his head at me then to the office. “I need to see you,” he said and walked off.

  “Glad your back Kay” Luke said when he passed me squeezing my shoulder he placed something in front of me.

  “Thanks,” I smiled up at him.

  “Eli’s safe, by the way.” He pulled the metal door open.

  It was then that I realized. If we were all here then who was with Eli?

  “Wai-”

  “Check out the tablet,” Luke smiled.

  I picked up the tablet and swiped my finger on the screen, my eyes widening at what I saw. Several video feeds of the preschool played all with a little red button in the corner and the word ‘live’.

  “What-”

  “Live camera feed.”

  I looked to Evan, there was only me and him left at the table now “I-”

  “I know,” he patted his chest “I’m the man.”

  I snorted and looked back at the tablet. I could see Eli painting, and playing with his friends. This was so much better than having someone watching him. It meant that I could check on him at any time of the day.

  “Boss will fill you in,” Evan said and moved from the table.

  Right, I’m sure he will.

  Chapter Nineteen

  “She hasn’t said anything.” I heard Ty say as I was about to open the door to the office.

  “Fuck,” a muffled voice replied, I gasped. I’d know that voice anywhere.

  Corey.

  “She needs time.” Ty said.

  I’d been back at work for a couple of days and things were going well. Apart from the fact that I had been put on light duties, Ty’s version of light duties was sitting at the desk all day.

  I wanted to be out there with the others, trying to find the missing girls and the person who was taking them. But instead I was stuck in the warehouse, staring at the computer screen and making coffee.

  “I want to see he.r”

  “Corey-”

  “Now,” he growled. I swallowed at the anger in his voice. I hated disappointing Corey, he was the one person that mattered the most after Eli. He was also a pro at pulling off the disappointed dad look.

  “If you think I’m gonna let you talk to her like that then you’re fuckin’ delusional.”

  “The fuck? She’s my sister”

  “I don’t give a shit Corey, you get control of yourself before you talk to her” I carried on listening, not being able to hear much now that their voices weren’t raised.

  “I’ll see where she is,” I heard Ty say and then I heard the telltale squeak of his chair warning me that he’d gotten up. My heart beating fast I stepped back from the door. Not seeing Corey’s face for so many years and now only seeing him because of what had happened didn’t sit well with me.

  “Kay?” Ty opened the door frowning at me. Looking behind him he closed the door and moved closer to me “Corey-”

  “I know,” I whispered.

  “He just wants to know what’s going on.” I nodded, my eyes stayed glued to the office door. He was on the other side of that door, at least his face was.

  “You don’t have to tell him anything,” Ty continued.

  “Okay,” I whispered. Ty held his arms open and I didn’t hesitate as I walked straight into them laying my head on his chest. His soft t-shirt rubbed against my cheek as I breathed him in, closing my eyes I took a deep breath and then stepped back.

  “Come on,” he whispered holding his hand out to me.

  I placed my hand in his and followed as he pushed through the door waving to the office chair. I stared at the back of the computer screen, knowing that I’d see Corey on the other side.

  Letting go of Ty’s hand I stepped towards the desk, the blood pumping louder in my ears as I ventured closer.

  “Corey?” I said when I saw his face on the screen.

  “Hey lil sis” he smiled, a lump forming in my throat at the combination of seeing his face and hearing his voice at the same time.

  “You’ve grown,” he laughed.

  “Yeah, you too,” I croaked. I could still see the Corey that I remembered only this one was different. His wide shoulders barely fit in the screen, I watched as his muscles rippled when he ran his hand over his short black hair.

  That was another thing that had changed, he always used to have longer hair which was great for me to practice my braiding on.

  “I haven’t got long,” Corey shifted moving closer to the camera “What’s going on sis?”

  “What do you mean?” I looked over the top of the screen at Ty, I’d expected him to leave but judging by his face and the way that he sat on the chair opposite me I guessed that wasn’t going to happen.

  “Fuck, Kay. Don’t start that shit.” He held his head in his hands.

  “What?” I smiled. He got stressed so easily when it came to me.

  “What has that asshole being doing to you?” he gritted out, the smile falling off my face.

  “Nothing” I gulped and twisted my fingers in my lap diverting my eyes from Corey all the while trying not to look at Ty either.

  “Bullshit!” He swore “I saw the goddamn photos.”

  “Watch it.” Ty warned.

  “Photos?” I gasped swinging my head to Ty.

  “He’s lucky I’m over here. What I want to do to that bastard.”

  “Core-”

  “How long?”

  Furrowing my brow I looked down, I didn’t want to lie to Corey but I didn’t want to tell him the truth either. I could lie to most people easily about Max but I didn’t want to keep lying, not to the people who meant the most to me.

  “I don’t know,” I whispered.

  “Kaylee Anderson
.” he huffed.

  I looked down at my lap and then back to the grainy picture.

  “How long Kaylee?”

  Trying my best to swallow past my dry throat I said “The first time was when I was pregnant”

  “Motherfucker!” He stood, all I could see was his legs. I flitted my eyes to Ty, his hands gripped onto the side of the chair.

  “When I was still there?” Corey asked still not moving his face back into the frame.

  “Yes. But it got better. It was only a couple of times.”

  “A couple of times?” he said sitting back down with a clenched jaw.

  “It was only when I did something wrong and needed to be corrected.”

  “Corrected?” Corey gritted out “And what would you need correcting for?”

  “I don’t know,” I shrugged “Not having his dinner ready for him when he came home.” I saw Ty move closer out the corner of my eye.

  “What else?”

  I gulped afraid that I was saying too much. “Answering him back. I shouldn’t have done that.” I whispered.

  It felt good to tell Corey this. He’d understand once I explained it to him. Once he knew that Max was doing it to keep me in line everything would be better.

  “And what happened the last time you answered him back?”

  “Erm…” Looking at Ty I saw his face turned down to the floor, fist clenched so tight that I could see the whites of his knuckles.

  “He…err…” I gulped “Slammed my face into the fridge.”

  “He-”

  “When?” Ty interrupted his head coming up, piercing me with his eyes.

  “A few weeks ago?”

  “The black eye?” he asked nostrils flaring.

  I nodded and looked away “Fuck!” He stood up his eyes scanning the room.

  “Ty?” Corey said through the screen.

  “Yeah?” He moved round the desk and leaned down, his arms coming down on either side of me.

  “Calm the fuck down,” he grinned. “Listen lil sis. You don’t need correctin’. You’re fuckin’ perfect just the way you are.”

  I shook my head but stopped when I felt him move closer “He’s right,” he whispered.

  I gasped as his lips feathered across my ear “So fuckin perfect”