Beneath The Lies (25 page)

Leeta? He was with his mother last night? I watch him closely for any signs that he’s lying, but I don’t see any. I’m about to tell him I believe him when Kiran’s phone rings.

“Yeah?” He’s still pacing the room like a caged animal. “You’re fucking lucky, bro. Take her ass home with you and when she sobers up come and get her car and keys from Gavin’s house.

“His woman ended up with her car. Yeah, okay. See you then.”

Kiran lets out a deep breath. “He found her. With the amount of co-eds that were there they managed to blend in. Kyler thinks he got in and out without anyone tipping off Phil that he was there. Bad news is, he saw Carly down there.”

“I’m not surprised,” Gavin quickly replies. “Well, it looks like Elsa fell asleep.” Gavin and I look over to see Callie out cold on the couch, not surprising when it’s close to mid-night. “Yeah, I need to put her in bed.” Gavin walks over and scoops up Callie then walks down the hallway.

“If your girl doesn’t want to be with my brother, then tell her to cut him loose. He’s been hurt once already and I don’t want to see it happen to him again.”

I clear my throat. “Alyssa is a good person. Sounds like she has a rocky past when it comes to relationships as well. They need to figure out whatever it is they want without either of us telling them what to do.”

Kiran looks at me like he doesn’t agree, but when Gavin walks back in the room he turns and heads toward the door. “I’m out of here. I’ll see you later.”

“Okay, thanks for helping out tonight, man.” Kiran gives the two of us an odd look then walks out of the apartment.

“You saw Leeta last night?”

Gavin looks annoyed by my question. “Yes, and I promise to tell you all about it, but not right now. Right now, I want to take you to our bed and forget all about the last twenty-four hours.”

Without even considering what I think is right or wrong, I walk up and wrap my arms around him because there’s nowhere else I would rather be.

When I wake up the next morning, Gavin is still sound asleep. As much as I want to stay snuggled up next to him, my need to use the bathroom and check on Callie overrides my desire to stay in bed.

After I checked on a very passed out little girl and use the bathroom, I decide to send my dad’s lawyer an email regarding my stock options.

From: Kate Reynolds

To: Jim Togg,

Subject: Re: Stock

Mr. Togg,

I know it was only a week ago when I told you that I didn’t want to sell my stock, but I’m rethinking that choice. However, I don’t want to sell to The Jentar Group. Is there any way to guarantee the stock I sell doesn’t make it into their hands?

Also, thanks for contacting your father regarding my adoption.

Sincerely,

Kate Reynolds

Gavin needs money, and clearly he doesn’t have any intentions of telling me he’s strapped for cash, which doesn’t leave me any other option at the moment. Unlike Gavin, I log out of my email account so he won’t accidentally see what I’m planning, then I head to the kitchen to start breakfast.

****

Today is a beautiful Saturday in October, and Gavin and I end up taking Callie to the park. While she’s playing tag with a group of kids, I decide to bring up Leeta and where he went Thursday night. “Why did you see Leeta the other night?”

Gavin sighs. I know he hates thinking about his mother, let alone carry on a conversation about her, but he knew this question was coming. “Kate unlike you I don’t need any evidence to know that Leeta was the person leaving you those messages and that damn article about the missing baby. I went to her place to confront her about it. I was hoping to find out what she knew regarding your adoption.”

My breathing speeds up as does my heart, but when he stops talking my eyes jerk to his. “Leeta is a deranged bitch. She always has been. Anything and everything she says one should question. Keep that in mind.”

Now I can almost feel the acid turning in my stomach. “Leeta claims she found some papers years ago where your dad paid a lot of money to adopt you. The person he paid is related to the family of that kidnapped child.”

My eyes instantly become watery. “She’s lying. She has to be.” Gavin grabs ahold of my hand and gives it a big squeeze. “She probably is. She also told me that in exchange for her silence your father sold her twenty-four percent of his company, so she’s definitely The Jentar Group. I still can’t figure out why she seems desperate for even more stock.”

My mind is racing. “How could my dad do that...steal someone’s baby? And how could my mother not know? She had to, which means...Oh, God.” My voice cracks and I can’t finish my sentence.

“Hey. My mother is a fucking crazy person. Anything she says needs to be taken with a grain of salt. We have no proof that your parents did anything.” I chew on my lip, fighting off tears.

“I hired a PI to look into things, hopefully we’ll know more soon.”

A PI? Gavin is paying for a PI when money is already tight? There’s no question now that I have to sell my stock. I can’t let him fall into anymore debt because of me.

“Daddy, look at me! I can swing high now.” We both look over at the cutest little girl I’ve ever seen swinging with the biggest smile on her face.

“Wow, what a big girl!” Gavin says as Callie giggles and keeps swinging as fast as she can. “I don’t think her mother has ever taken her to a park before. Instead, she spends time on her back with guys like Phil.” Gavin shakes his head with disgust. “I don’t think I’ll ever understand her.” Since we’re on the topic of Carly, I decide to ask him something else that’s been bothering me.

“Why did you host that fight last week at The Hill?” Gavin’s body tenses at my comment. “I’m asking because you left me home alone with Callie when she showed up. I didn’t know what to do. Thankfully, she left and didn’t come back but that night could have turned horrible in a second if I had answered the door.”

Gavin’s eyes flicker over to mine then back to Callie. “The fight that night was supposed to happen at Phil’s place, but one of the fighters was bitching about his payouts being lower than ours. I don’t know why, but this fight was important to Phil. When one of the fighters asked me about hosting it, I thought what the hell. I could stick it to Phil and possibly Carly and make a few G’s in the process.”

“Why didn’t you tell me about it?” I ask immediately.

“I left the house that night with Kiran to do some digging into this kidnapping article we found at your place. He got the call from one of the fighters, the other one got on board, and then Kiran sent out his mass text. Less than two hours later, the fight happened.

“The rumor I heard was Phil turned frantic and went off on Carly, which is why she ended up at our place. When I didn’t answer she showed up at The Hill acting every bit the psychotic Carly I’ve known over the years.”

His tone sounds irritated but I could tell it wasn’t aimed at me. “When she saw you and Kiran at the fight she figured you left Callie with me?”

Gavin’s jaw clenches slightly, but other than that I almost question if he heard me. “Carly is...bitter, angry like normal, but she’s also out for revenge. She’s not worried about how you’re treating her daughter. She’s worried that she might actually lose some sense of control she thinks she has over me, especially since Callie prefers to be with you.”

I don’t doubt that in the slightest. I’ve only had the displeasure of seeing Carly a handful of times, but she’s clearly insane.

“Daddy, I’m getting hungry.” Callie’s cute little voice brings me back to the present and away from her batty mother. “Then we better feed you, baby.”

“Come on, Kate. Let’s go,” Callie sweetly says. I look over as Gavin’s eyes find mine. We both love how quickly Callie went from nervous to carefree around me. Something I don’t think she’s ever been around her own mother.

****

From: Jim Togg, Sr.

To: Kate Reynolds

Subject: Re: Adoption

Ms. Reynolds,

I helped with the paperwork regarding your adoption and I can assure you in no way, shape, or form did anything as unhinged as a kidnapping take place.

Your birth mother willingly gave you up and wanted to ensure that your birth father was not a part of the process. She felt he was dangerous and was concerned for your safety.

The only reason I gave you this much information is because both of your parents have passed away. I do want to add that you were not kidnapped and whoever is trying to make you believe otherwise is lying.

Best of luck with your future,

Jim Togg, Sr.

My head and heart settle for the first time since the day Leeta confronted me in that restaurant. That email is exactly what I needed. I don’t know what game Leeta is playing at, but I’m going to take her head on.

I log out of my email and head off to my last class. Today is Monday, the day after Callie went back to Carly’s. I still haven’t figured out their custody arrangement, but I stopped myself from asking again. Gavin plainly has more time with Callie than Carly, and he certainly wants to keep it that way.

As I’m rounding the corner, I once again run straight into the creepy guy I’ve seen twice before. “I’m sorry.” My bag goes flying across the sidewalk. I lean down to pick it up, hoping to get away from him when I look up and notice him watching me.

This is the first time I’ve really looked at him. Up close and in plain sight, he’s not nearly as creepy looking as I made him out in my head. Actually, if I’m being honest, he’s almost attractive.

“Sorry,” I mumble again. When he remains silent, I start to walk away.

He hollers, “Are you Kate? Kate Reynolds?”

My head snaps back to his and after another long look I’m positive I don’t know him, yet he knows my name. His eyes flare with shock. He can tell he’s frightened me because he quickly brings his hands up like he’s talking to a caged animal.

“I think. I...I think we might be related.”

My jaw drops at his comment and after closer inspection I wonder if there’s any truth to what he said. He has the same light blonde hair, but he doesn’t have my green eyes. His are a dark shade of brown.

“Why do you think that?” I whisper.

He looks around to see who might be watching us when I notice that the hallway is almost empty and I’m already late for my class. At this point, I hope to God that he’s not here to hurt me.

“I’m almost certain that you’re either my cousin or...or my sister.”

My eyes drift shut for a second. He must be the brother to the little girl who was kidnapped. “Why do you think that?” I repeat while I wait silently for him to answer. He stops and takes me in from head to toe before answering.

“A lady called my parents’ house. She told me that she knew where my sister was. That a man paid my aunt five million dollars to steal my sister and give her up for adoption. Then she gave me your name.”

I sigh through a long breath, “I...I’m not sure—”

“That lady on the phone, she knew stuff...stuff she shouldn’t, but she also doesn’t know a huge part of the story. That’s why I think it’s possible that you’re my cousin.”

My mind is racing, but I’m no longer scared where this guy is concerned. I’m already late for my last class, so I decide what the hell. “Do you want to go somewhere and talk?”

****

I called Gavin on the way to the coffee shop where I agreed to meet Alex. He told me he’d probably be there before I arrived, and he wasn’t kidding. I pull up with the guy right behind me, and I can already spot Gavin waiting by the door.

We order and take a seat at a table in the back of the café. “This is my boyfriend, Gavin Loman.”

The guy’s eyes flash when he hears Gavin’s name. “Loman?”

“Yes, I’m sure the woman who called you was my mother. Leeta Loman?” He nods his head yes.

“I’m Alex Johnson. Your mother called my house a few weeks ago telling anyone who’d listen that Hayden was alive and living out here in California.”

Hayden...his sister...the girl that was kidnapped. “Why do you think I might be your cousin and not your sister?” I ask in a weak voice.

“My Aunt Stacy was a real loser when she was younger. She was mixed up with some dangerous criminals and she waited until she was pregnant to finally get her shit together. The father of her baby belonged to the leader of a big drug cartel somewhere in Mexico. Stacy left and had her baby then sold it to some couple in Colorado. She needed money to get away from her past and she wanted to make sure her baby was safe, or at least that’s what she told my mother.”

And he clearly thinks I’m Stacy’s child. “What happened to your sister then? That’s weird timing don’t you think?”

Alex looks heartbroken as he nods his head agreeing with me. “The father to Stacy’s child thought my parents had his baby. He was convinced that my mother was never pregnant and my sister was his daughter. We believe he stole Hayden and returned to Mexico with her.”

Oh, my God
. This is not the fairytale I imagined when I thought about my birth parents.
A troublemaker and a drug lord
. My birth mother caused her sister’s child to be kidnapped by my birth father?