Beneath The Lies (29 page)

“What?” I blurt as I jump to my feet. “Leeta is just as much my problem as yours. You didn’t choose her for your mother and my dad didn’t invite her into his company. This is what it is. Now we’ll deal with it together.”

Gavin takes a deep breath and appears to come to terms with my commitment to the situation. “Okay, but you do not go anywhere near that woman by yourself. I have years on you when it comes to knowing what Leeta is capable of.”

“Okay. I promise.” Gavin exhales loudly and takes a seat next to me.

“Let’s think about this. Leeta was controlling your dad’s company until he unexpectedly died. My guess is your dad must have someone at SGS that votes for you on his board until you’ve met your requirements. Probably your dad’s VP, which means Leeta more than likely lost control. Why wouldn’t your dad take back your ten percent to ensure he had control while he was alive?” I can tell Gavin’s mind is racing with ideas but this one seems fairly easy to me.

“Because Leeta thinks I’m Hayden. She somehow found out I’m connected to that kidnapping and used it against my dad. I bet she told him she’d go to the press and tell everyone that the owner and CEO of a major company paid to have a child kidnapped so his poor little wife that couldn’t have children could be a mother.”

Gavin is nodding his head in agreement. “And your father didn’t want to risk that Damian would see it and figure out that you’re his real daughter.”

Gavin runs his hands over his face in frustration. “God, I hate that woman. All she’s ever done is ruin peoples’ lives.”

“Hey, look at me.” He slowly turns his face toward mine. “She’s not winning anymore.” My words did very little to relax Gavin, and I hope and pray what I said is true.

****

A few days later, one of Gavin’s worst fears comes to life when I spot Leeta standing on the sidewalk outside of our apartment. My stomach starts turning from just the sight of her and the smirk she’s wearing on her face.

“Kate, darling. I still can’t believe you’re shacking up with my son. I’m sure your sweet daddy is rolling over in his grave at the idea of his baby girl living with a grown boy that always has and always will be nothing more than a screw up.”

My nose scrunches up while listening to her. “You’re talking about your own child. What kind of woman are you?” Instead of insulting her, she laughs off my comment.

“I’m a smart woman. I make my own way through this world—at any cost. If you had even an ounce of smarts in the pretty little head of yours you’d be taking note and not looking down your nose at me.” Whatever fakeness she once displayed is long gone.

“I’ll never be like you, so money hungry that you’ll run over your own children if it means getting what you want. I’m not sure how you’re even capable of looking in the mirror every day.”

Leeta tosses her head back, laughing at my comment. “You’re just like your mother. Always judging other people. Oh, wait...she’s not really your mother now is she?” Leeta’s eyes narrow as she takes a step closer to me. “No, your sweet little mother that could do no wrong is actually the worst kind of evil you’ll ever meet. She acted all high and mighty, but the fact is she paid to have you stolen. Now tell me, how was Mandy able to look at herself in the mirror everyday knowing what she did?”

My hands are shaking as well as my voice when I finally speak up. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Leeta steps closer and wraps her hand around my arm.

“Oh, yes I do, sweetheart. Now this is what’s going to happen. You’re going to sell me your ten percent stock in SGS, and I’ll even be nice enough to give you the same offer I made months ago. Then and only then will I keep my mouth shut about what your father did.” I try to take a step back but she digs her nails into my skin. “My dad is dead. No one will care what he did.”

“Oh, darling, that’s where you’re wrong. Your father founded that company and if he was willing to steal a baby for his poor pathetic wife then God only knows what else he’s done over the years. Investors will start yanking their money out of the company faster than you’ll be able to snap your pretty little fingers.” I don’t doubt this news could hurt the company but it’s not true...however, I can’t tell her or anyone else the real story.

“I’ve paid off a lot of people over the years to always be my eyes and ears at SGS. I didn’t want your miserable excuse of a father to die because it messed with my plans. SGS is about to roll out a new project, one that has The Jentar Group’s stamp of approval. But the feeble man who’s voting in your place has rejected it.”

Leeta lets go of my hand and starts pacing in front of me. “Everything was perfect.” She stops and stares at me. “Have you wondered why the money you need for school is suddenly gone?” she questions with a glare. “Again it pays to have people in my pocket. I offered you more than a fair price but you decided to be a little bitch. You either sell me that stock immediately or you get the board to vote my way. If you don’t then your father’s secret is coming out. And believe me, before I do that I’ll sell everything I own in SGS before the rest of the world knows what kind of man Marcus Reynolds really was.”

My eyes narrow. “My father was a great man. You only think you know all of the facts but you don’t and if you go the press with this you’re going to look like a fool and it will be me who tells everyone what you did. First you kill your own husband, then you abuse and neglect your children for years then you blackmail your way into a company. If people want to start selling their SGS stock, it’s going to be because you have your hand in the company and not because of my father.” Leeta steps back and studies my face.

She can tell I’m not lying, and it kills her that I might know something she doesn’t. “You have more of a backbone in you than I gave you credit for, kid. But I’m not sure I believe you. Your father never denied what he did, unless...” She trails off as she gives me a malicious smile. “I under estimated you, Kate, but my advice to you is not to do the same with me. I always get what I want. Don’t forget that,” she adds as she steps away and walks toward her fancy car.

Shit, shit, shit
. I hope I didn’t tip our hand to the last person I want knowing the truth.

****

When I tell Gavin about Leeta’s visit—how she confronted me once again, this time while I was alone—his anger went the roof.

Thankfully Callie wasn’t here to witness his grown up version of a tantrum, but once he calmed down he called Kiran. Not long after Kiran stopped by, Gavin left with him and didn’t come back for several hours. By the time Gavin returned home he was back to his normal calm and collected self, but I never asked where he went or what he did.

Another week passes and other than a few rude remarks from Carly when Gavin was dropping off and picking Callie up, life has been quiet. Alex called the other day to check in with me and seemed interested to know how my visit with my birth mother went. I think it’s possible that Alex is just as eager for family, and I’m not about to shut the door on the possibility of making him apart of my life.

Life seems quiet and almost normal, at least by my standards, so I suggested we try our best to merge our group of friends, which really shouldn’t be hard.

Noah and Kyler are best friends, and with Kyler being Kiran’s younger brother, the group was already connected in a way. Everyone agreed to meet at Gavin’s favorite restaurant, the same place he first brought me to. Gavin, Kiran, and Noah are drinking a beer and talking about a fight that happened the week before at Phil’s while Gabby and I are chatting about our classes when Alyssa and Kyler show up.

I was about to give her a hard time about showing up with Kyler but the strange look she has on her face stops me. “Hey, what’s up?”

Alyssa looks like she’s seen a ghost. Her face is pale and for the first time since I’ve met her, she appears to be at a loss for words. “Have you been online lately?” she finally asks.

Her question strikes me as odd, seeing as she’s never asked me that before. More than anything, it’s her soft worried tone that has really has me bothered. “No?”

Kyler is standing directly behind her watching Gavin instead of me. “What’s going on? Gavin asks.

“I saw a report that claims you’re the daughter of a well-known drug cartel boss in Mexico.”

“You what?” Gavin shouts back, causing my heart to sink even further.

“Look for yourself. It’s all over the internet.” I grab out my phone and put my own name in the search engine and sure enough, Alyssa is correct.

“The owner and CEO of Simple Global Solutions purchases drug cartel’s baby.”

“Was Marcus Reynolds using drug money to fund his company?”

“Drug cartel steals wrong baby.”

I can’t look at any more, I’ve seen enough. I look over at Gavin who reaches out for my hand. “Let’s get out of here.”

The two of us stand up to leave, but everyone else gets up and follows us out the door, after what feels like a blink of my eyes, where all back at Gavin’s.

“Leeta did this. Fuck, I know she did,” he growls out as he balls his hands into fist ready to punch something.

“How did she find out? I know I hinted around that she was wrong about my dad stealing me but I didn’t tell her anything else, I swear.”

Gavin’s face goes dark as he replies, “Who the fuck knows how she found out, but she’s hoping something will happen to you. Hell, knowing that crazy bitch she did this just to pay you back for not bending to her wishes. Either way, she’s hoping this will make you pay. I fucking warned her...”

Until now I didn’t really think about what will happen when Damian Paasch reads the same articles we just read. Without saying a word to anyone, Gavin walks back to his office and slams the door shut.

“We better go, don’t you think, Noah?”

“Sure, babe.” Noah drapes his arm around Gabby and the two of them say a quick goodbye and leave with Alyssa and Kyler following. Kiran however doesn’t act like he plans to leave anytime soon.

“This is going to make him go crazy, at least where you’re concerned. Go easy on him. Please.”

I glance at Kiran. “I’ll try. I’m going to go to bed. I’ll see you later.”

Kiran remains silent as I walk to our bedroom. This information going public is bad. Really bad, and not just because my birth father belongs to a drug cartel, but because Carly could easily use this information against Gavin to try to take Callie away from him.

I can’t stand in the way of Gavin and Callie, but walking away from him will kill me. I love him. I love him more than I thought possible, and I love Callie just as much. They’re my family, and I learned once already how horrible life feels when you lose your family.

****

Over the next two weeks, Gavin goes from slightly protective to crazy over the top vigilant. The first few days after discovering my life was made accessible to the public, Gavin wouldn’t even entertain the idea of me going to school. He worked from home and somehow managed to get Carly to agree to let Callie stay with us.

I knew everyone in my life was worried about me. Stacy contacted me, telling me that she was watching her children closely in case Damian decides to retaliate against her. Alex called again to see if there was anything he could do to help. I think he also was secretly wondering if I had heard anything about his sister.

After a week of being caged in our apartment, I told Gavin I was returning to school, which did not go over well. I know I agreed to go easy on him, and I would likely be beside myself with worry if the roles were reversed, but I can’t stay hidden away forever.

When it came time, Gavin and I met in the middle when I agreed to take a bodyguard with me to school. At least this way I could attend while hopefully giving Gavin some sense of peace.

Tonight when I got home from school, Gavin was back to acting agitated but he kept his mood in check.

“I found out who sold us out,” he finally says as Callie is curled up in Gavin’s lap, fast asleep.

“Leeta?”

Gavin looks down and starts playing with a strand of Callie’s hair. “Yes, but it was the PI I hired to find Stacy that gave her the information. He’s denying it, of course, but I hacked into his system and found an email from him to Leeta telling her the same information he told me. Stacy didn’t do much to hide her past. I’m sure a little digging around and he figured out she was connected to the Paasch cartel.

“I thought PIs were licensed like lawyers and aren’t allowed to share information like that?”

“They are. And I don’t care how I found the information. I’ve already turned him in. I hope his pay day from Leeta was enough to fund him into retirement.”

I sit here watching Gavin love on his daughter, wondering what will happen if my birth father decides to suddenly show up. “Don’t you think he would have done something by now if he was going to?”

We both know who he is. “Predicting what Damian Paasch will do is like predicting what Leeta Loman will do next...It’s impossible.”

I say through a sigh, “Geez. We’re quite the pair when it comes to the genetic lottery.”

Gavin gives me a soft laugh in return. “That we are, babe. I’m tired. Let’s go to bed.”

At least for now, I still have the two people that mean the most to me.