Catching Teardrops Read online

  Evan is the complete opposite to me in every way. He likes to talk—I don’t. He likes to joke around—I don’t. People think I’m a serious, broody asshole, but they don’t know me. They haven’t seen the things I have, or been to the places I have.

  I scrub a hand down my face, trying to expel my thoughts before they become too much and look over at him. I frown when I see his fists clench at his sides, my back straightening. Evan isn’t the kind of guy to get angry, but right now it’s all I see.

  “Evan,” Ty warns, standing up and walking toward him. “My office.” He doesn’t move, keeping his attention on West and Seb. “Now.”

  He spins around, stomping over to the office before my attention moves back to the guys.

  Who the hell are they?

  My hand moves closer to my belt, my fingers tingling and getting ready to pull my gun if I need to. Every person who works for MAC Security carries. We all have one on our belts and then at least another one concealed. Me? I have one on my belt, one on my ankle, and one on a specially made loop that attaches to the bottom of my back. They’re not the only weapons I carry though. I have two knives attached to me too, as well as everything else that I need. I’m always prepared for every eventuality. My past has taught me to be. Both growing up and being in the Marines. I wasn’t only the medic on my team, but a damn good shooter too.

  A couple of minutes later, Evan and Ty exit the office, making their way back to the table. Evan stops next to the guy with a close cut who’s sitting in his seat. “You’re in my seat, West.”

  The guy’s eyes widen, and a smirk kicks up the corner of his mouth before he chuckles and pushes back his chair. “Sorry, Nevan.”

  Nevan? What the fuck?

  “Nevan?” Kay asks when this West guy has moved and Evan is sitting down.

  “Don’t—”

  “It’s nerd and Evan combined.” I turn my attention to the other guy.

  “Seb,” Evan warns.

  “What?” He shrugs, bringing his tan hands in the air. “It’s just a joke.”

  “No… No!” Evan slams his fists on the table before shooting out of his chair. My eyes widen at the action, and I lean forward, ready to back him if something goes off. My gaze skirts to Ty who shakes his head a little in warning. He may be my boss, but if Evan needs my help then it doesn’t matter what he says or does, I’ll take these guys down without a second thought.

  “You will not come here and bully me. I let it happen back in high school, but no more,” Evan growls.

  “What?” West asks, stepping forward, a frown on his face. “We didn’t bully you.”

  “Yeah. Yeah, you did.”

  “Dude,” Seb starts, standing up and coming to stand next to West. “We were the ones who stopped the bullies.”

  “No.” Evan shakes his head, looking from West to Seb and then back again before pointing at them. “You started the Nevan thing.”

  “Nope,” West says, popping the p as he crosses his arms over his chest, making all of the colored tattoos dance on his arms. “Quarterback started it, we took it on and made it your name so that people couldn’t sneer it behind your back.”

  “But…”

  “Evan?” Ty calls. “Let’s get this meeting done and then you can continue gossiping, yeah?”

  “Oh, burn!” Kitty sniggers.

  “Shut it, little one,” West replies, chuckling when he looks at her and sees the outrage on her face. My fists tighten with the need to take him out.

  “Evan?” Ty asks again, a silent warning in his eyes.

  He shakes his head before looking over at Ty and then me. “Right, yeah. So, the painting is being delivered soon; I can’t get an exact date as only a handful of people know this.”

  “Figured,” West says.

  “I’ve been looking over all of Darrell’s recent jobs, trying to see if we can predict what he’s going to do and I think that he may make the switch before the painting gets to the gallery,” Evan continues.

  “Why?” Kay asks.

  “Because he’s a professional—he knows what he’s doing. The run-through at the gallery was for him to see if he was being watched. It has no bearing on what he’s going to do,” Evan answers her.

  I frown. “Why do the run-through then?” I ask, leaning forward.

  Evan looks at me, his gaze batting down to my fists on the table before staring me in the eyes. “He was trying to catch us out. He may have seen us, but I think it’s unlikely. If he had, then he would have let us know that he knows. He’s the type of guy who likes to have the upper hand.”

  Nodding, I lean back, thinking it all over. Since Darrell came back into the picture, we’ve all been working our asses off to make sure we get him this time. We need to be two steps ahead of him, knowing which chess piece he’s going to move before he does, but right now it feels like we’re trailing behind and picking up the scraps he throws at us.

  “He didn’t know,” Seb announces.

  “How do you know that?” Ty asks.

  “Because I was driving. I saw you, but he didn’t.”

  Seb and West have a silent conversation, and I know Evan is thinking the same thing I am: there’s something more going on here.

  “I think it’s time you filled us in,” Evan commands, causing Seb to raise his brows.

  He leans forward and rests his arms on the table before clasping his hands as he looks at Evan. “We’ve been undercover in his operations for three years now. We’ve helped him steal things that are worth more than you can imagine; worth the kind of money that could persuade you into turning to the other side. I know I’ve been tempted. But nevertheless, what he’s doing is pure greed.” I lean back in my seat, taking this all in. “It wasn’t until we saw you following us that we realized who it was. You know we’ve been trying to recruit you for years?”

  I grit my teeth causing the muscles in my jaw to jump. This isn’t the first time I’ve heard of people trying to recruit him. Evan always tells me when someone is trying to get him to work on a job. He said it’s so that someone knows in case anything happens, but I think it’s more than that. Out of everyone who works here, I’m the one he can come to and talk about anything with. I think he secretly hopes that I’ll do the same. But that will never happen.

  “You have?” Ty asks.

  “I’ve had a few people try to get me to work for them, but this is my home, my family,” Evan tells Seb, ignoring Ty.

  “I guessed.” Seb looks around at all of us before turning to West.

  “He’s asked us to bring someone else on the team for this job,” West says, raising his brow.

  “You want Evan to go undercover with you?” Ty asks, his voice like thunder as he reads what West is silently saying. “That’s what you came here for? Because we will be bringing that fucker down. We don’t need your help.”

  Both Seb and West stay silent as we all rage around the table. These fuckers think they can come here and deceive us, telling us they want to help when really they want Evan for themselves. They’re mistaken.

  My hand snakes to cover my gun, ready and waiting.

  “Why?” Evan asks.

  “Because you’re the best with computers, equipment, that sort of thing. We’ve heard of some of the things you make.”

  “He’s dope,” Dean announces and my attention zones in on him. He’s been getting along with Evan too well if you ask me. He winces as Kitty elbows him and I grin, satisfied.

  “Shut up, they’re trying to take him,” she whisper-shouts.

  “From where I’m sitting,” Dean starts, and I want nothing more than to fly over Kitty and shut his mouth with my fist. “They want his help to put this scumbag away. It can’t hurt. You’re all after the same thing. Surely it’s better to work together?”

  My breathing accelerates, my anger a living, breathing thing. “Did anyone ask you?” I sneer, the tether holding everything in so close to snapping. There’s one thing you don’t mess with: my family. I’ll go to
extents none of them realize to protect them.

  Dean holds his hands up, looking down at the table and silencing himself. I rein in my temper. Rationally I know he can’t do anything to us right this second, but I don’t trust him or his intentions.

  The room is silent for several minutes as we all wait for Ty.

  “I have conditions,” Ty finally announces, pushing his chair back and standing up. “You can borrow Evan and his skills, but I’m having two men on him at all times. I’m not taking a risk without eyes on him.”

  “That shouldn’t be a problem,” West says, looking at Seb and waiting for his slight nod.

  “Good.” He scrapes his hands down his face and turns his attention to Dean and me. Don’t you fuckin' say— “Luke, Dean? You’re on Evan watch.”

  “Fuck, no,” I growl at the same time Dean asks, “Yeah?”

  “You want in on the team for a while?” Ty asks Dean. “Consider this your in.” My nostrils flare at his words, my eyes wide. He’s letting this fucker even further in and not batting an eyelash about it. Why the hell is it only me who can see he’s a slimy fuck?

  “Fuck, yeah!” He holds his hand up to Kitty and she high-fives him, a big grin on her face.

  “I ain’t working with him,” I thunder, scraping back my chair and standing up.

  “You don’t have a goddamn choice. I’m the boss, not you.”

  I stare at Ty, fire shooting from my eyes. Both he and I know he controls what happens to this team, but I’ve had just about enough of this shit. He’s become soft lately, letting things slip that he shouldn’t. We both know it.

  “This is bullshit. We don’t know who the fuck he is, and you’re letting him on the motherfuckin’ team!”

  “Think of it this way,” Ty grinds out, stepping toward me and lowering his voice. “You get to keep an eye on him.” He raises a brow, and I see his underlying meaning. Does this mean he sees what I do?

  My thoughts scramble in my head, and I try to sort through them at lightning speed. Kitty wouldn’t be any good at the job because she loves the dick, and there’s no way he’d let Kay do it. I’m the only person who makes sense.

  I incline my head, acknowledging his silent thoughts. I’ll be having a conversation about it with him soon, but for now, I’ll let it slide and keep my eyes wide open with all three of these guys.

  LILY

  I sit in the front row; my hands clutched in my lap, my gaze focused on the small stage and podium my dad stands behind, giving his welcome speech.

  Every Sunday is the same; he starts with welcoming everyone back, a smile on his face that conceals sins the people of this congregation would be shocked to know.

  They don’t see what I see or feel what I feel, but they all keep their attention on him in the same way I do.

  My gaze trails down to his hand where he holds his cane, the thin piece of wood tapping against the side of the panel, taunting me.

  “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.” I look back up at him, seeing his focus on me, not moving or swaying as he brings his cane to settle on top of the podium. “Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.”

  I swallow against the dryness in my throat, knowing what he’s saying doesn’t have its true meaning coming from him.

  He steps away from the podium and walks across the stage. He commands the room, much like everything else in his life. How can they not see him? How can they not see the mask he wears?

  “Because he’s perfected it,” a small voice in the back of my mind says.

  “This week I have been tested,” he announces, letting out a tired breath. “God tested me… my daughter.” My back straightens when he points at me. A bead of sweat forms on my forehead, knowing what’s coming. “Come, Liliana.” I want to scream and shout, sneer that he never talks to me this way at home, but I don’t. I do what I always do—as I’m told—standing up and smoothing out the maxi skirt I’m wearing before pulling the sleeves of my white sweater over my hands.

  “Most of you will know that I’ve been raising my daughter alone for the last five years.” Murmurs of agreement sound around us as I walk up the couple of steps and join him on the stage. “There are many things a father can be tested with while raising a daughter.” His dark-blue-eyed gaze flicks to mine as he reaches out and wraps his hand around my bicep. He covers his grip well, but the bite of pain that sears through my arm has me wincing. “This week,” his calm voice continues. “I was called into Liliana’s school.” He pulls me so I’m standing in front of him, able to see every set of eyes watching me. “It seems that God did not only test me but also my daughter. Only she failed his test, not able to abide by his gracious rules.”

  I lower my head, willing the tears to stay at bay as his front collides with my back before his knee pushes between my legs. I hate it. I want to scream, “Get off me!” and I do in my head, but it’s as far as it goes. My lips are sealed, knowing I won’t be listened to by a single person in this church.

  How can they all sit here and watch him do this? Is this what they do to their children too? Am I blind to the fact this may be normal?

  No, it can’t be. I never had to go through this when Mom was alive, but maybe that’s because she took the brunt of it?

  “My son never tested me in this way by not abiding the rules put in place.” His hand squeezes my arm once more before he lets go so suddenly I sway forward. “My son is on course to be an upstanding member of the community.” I close my eyes, picturing Aiden’s face. I wish he were here because when he is, I’m left alone. No pain, no terror. I’m allowed to be me—to an extent. “But my daughter has been derailed off the path set out in front of her by God.” He walks along the edge of the stage. “So today, my friends, I ask that you look out for my daughter in the same way you would look out for your own. I ask that you watch over her to make sure she stays on her path.”

  There are several murmurs of agreement again before he announces, “You may sit down, Liliana.”

  I don’t look up, keeping my gaze focused on the floor as I rush back to the front pew and sit down while holding back the tears desperately wanting to fall.

  He says I’ve been tested this week but is forgetting your homework at home really a test? I’ve been worked to the bone, having to stay up until three in the morning doing chores.

  A hand covers mine in my lap, and when I whip my head around, I see Kim’s soft smile. Her eyes fill with understanding, but understanding for what? Did she see through his performance? Because that’s exactly what it was.

  She gives it a soft squeeze before looking away but doesn’t move her hand. My eyes close of their own accord, relishing in the gentle touch from someone. I can’t remember the last time someone touched me with love in their heart and not hate in their eyes.

  My breaths start to slow the longer I sit next to her, my mind wandering off and remembering the day so many years ago I was sitting in this exact spot staring at my mother’s coffin.

  Dad had used the same words then too—she had been tested by forces much greater than her and she had failed, giving in to evil. Only I know now what she had given into—the pain, the suffering he had caused.

  I want to be angry at her for what she did; for leaving me behind, for allowing his hands to touch me in the same way they must have handled her.

  She didn’t just take her own life that day; she took mine too.

  I understand—at least, I try to. I never thought I’d understand even an iota of why she did it, not the day I found her, not the day I sat weeping for her. But now, so many years later, I think I get it. It wasn’t weak; she showed strength in eliminating herself from a situation she had no way to escape from.

  She didn’t have a choice, no matter how much people say she did. She didn’t. They didn’t live the life she did, didn’t uphold the abuse she did. They’ll never know what it was like for her. But I do. I kn
ow what she went through because now it’s my life.

  I sometimes wonder if I’ll have to make the same choice, if I’ll have to escape in that way too. I don’t want to; I want to live a full life away from here. I want to be who I’ve dreamed about being for the last five years. I want to be free, but most of all, I want to be happy.

  Four months.

  Four months until I turn eighteen and can escape his confides without his dictation.

  “Let us all pray.” I keep my head bowed, my eyes closed as he finishes, ending with, “Amen.”

  I want to shoot up out of my seat when everyone starts to move, but I keep my ass planted on the pew, waiting for the church to begin to empty.

  Pulling my hand from under Kim’s slowly, I lift my head and stand up.

  “You okay, Lily?”

  “I… yeah,” I croak out, swiping my hands down my skirt as I look up into her brown eyes.

  She tilts her head to the side, assessing me before opening her mouth, but it snaps shut when a hand lands on her shoulder.

  “Kim.”

  I shuffle my feet on the floor, not knowing where to look as she turns around to face my father. “Brendan.” Her voice is flat; her shoulders pulled back. “I hope you’re keeping well.”

  “I am.” He raises a brow at her before moving his attention to me. “Liliana, it’s time you went and finished your chores.”

  “Yes, Father.” I nod, skirting around him and Kim before walking out of the church, my ballet flats taking me away from them as fast as they can.

  The congregation’s gathered outside, and I get stopped by a couple of them telling me they hope I stay on my path. I want to shout that I don’t have a path but I don’t—yet again, I keep my mouth closed and smile politely.

  “I’ll see you on Tuesday.” I whip my head around, coming face-to-face with Kim again. “For bible study.” I frown, not understanding what she’s saying, but when my dad comes out of the church and stands in the doorway of the large, ornate doors, I simply nod. “My house at six.” She grasps my wrists, pulling my attention back to her as she lowers her voice. “Like we discussed inside?”