Beneath The Lies (32 page)

Damian wraps his arm across my back and pulls me into his chest. I’m fighting off tears because, dammit, I want to feel the strength he claims to see in me.

“Live your life. Don’t worry yourself about me, but always know I’ll be somewhere in the shadows ready to pick up the pieces if necessary.”

“What about Belle? She has a brother who’s been lost for years without her.” I think I’ve upset him because he clears his throat and speaks with caution.

“In the last twenty years, I never questioned that Belle was my daughter. I raised her, and no matter who’s blood runs through her veins, she’s mine and she always will be. Now that I’ve met you...it just means I have two daughters.”

I nod my head, agreeing with him. “I understand. But I know a man who—like you—loves her unconditionally and he yearns for the day he can show her that love.”

Several emotions cross Damian’s face before he speaks again. “Kate, there’s a reason I’m not bringing you into my life. That’s because it’s dangerous. There are men all over the world that would love to try to bring me down. Belle isn’t safe without me. Unfortunately, it’s because of me she’s not safe, but I will die before I let anything happen to her. Allowing Belle to meet Alex isn’t safe for either of them. If that ever changes, I’ll let you know.”

I never said Alex’s name, and I shouldn’t be surprised that Damian knew exactly whom I was talking about. After a few minutes of utter silence, Damian reaches out for my hand, brings it up to his mouth, and gives me a soft kiss.

“Give this boy a chance to cool off, once he does, the two of you will be fine, and if I’m wrong...contact me and I’ll be here in seconds.”

I’m positive people have good reason to fear Damian Paasch, but I’m equally sure that I’m never going to. “Thank you,” I whisper, giving him one last hug.

“There’s nothing to thank me for, but if I find out that you’re wandering around alone at this time of day again, I’ll personally make a trip up here to ensure your safety, and I’m positive you won’t like me as much then.”

I start to laugh, but my laughter dies off quickly when I see that he’s not kidding, not in the slightest.

“Now, get home to your boy and make things right.”

With that, Damian Paasch turns and walks away without a backward glance, leaving me equally sad and happy in his wake.

I head back up to the street outside the park and find a diner where I sit and have a couple cups of coffee as I process everything Damian said.

He loves me because I share his blood, but I can tell how much he loves Belle—the child he raised. The daughter he believed was his. The one he stole, causing everyone in my life to worry about my safety. There’s no doubt in my mind that Damian would have taken me if he knew I was really his daughter, but it’s clear now that he never had any plans to harm me. Drug cartel aside, it’s hard to fault him for wanting to be a father to his child.

I’m sad for Alex because I don’t see him getting any kind of closure. His sister is tucked away in Mexico, guarded by a cartel, while he’s an average, twenty-three-year-old college student in Missouri.

Maybe the knowledge that his sister is safe and appears to be happy will be enough. I know Alex was hoping for more, but for now at least I hope this news brings him some peace.

When I peek at the clock in the diner, it’s a little after ten in the morning. I pay my tab and head back to Gavin’s apartment. I’m hoping he’s home and more importantly, I’m hoping he’s willing to finally talk to me.

When I reach the door I hesitate. Do I knock or use my key? Since Gavin moved me in with him I’ve never debated my place in his life, but right now I’m not sure. Initially, I knew he’d be mad, but I didn’t count on this level of anger, which has me hesitating.

I wiggle the door handle and see that it’s unlocked. Very slowly, I push the door open. At first I didn’t see anyone, but then I see Gavin pace from one side of the kitchen to the other with his phone up to his ear.

From the sounds of it, he’s ranting away to whomever is on the phone with him, but suddenly he stops when he sees me. “She’s here. Yeah, she just walked in.” Gavin throws his phone on the table and prowls toward me.

“God, Kate,” he rushes out. “Where the hell have you been?”

Wait, what?
I look up as Gavin’s eyes are frantically taking me in.

“I asked you a question, Kate. Where the hell have you been? Gabby told me you left by the time she got up at seven. That was over three hours ago and your phone is turned off. I’ve been going fucking crazy.”

Now might not be the time to add that I’ve been out for five hours. “I went for a walk. I forgot my charger and...and honestly I didn’t think anyone would notice I wasn’t around.”

Gavin sucks in a shocked breath as pain crosses his face. “Is that what you think? That I don’t care? Of course I fucking care about you. I’ve been worried out of my damn mind wondering where you were.”

I know Gavin cares, otherwise he wouldn’t have been upset with me in the first place. But right now, I’m not sure what I should say or do because bottom line is I don’t regret my relationship with Damian—only that I kept it a secret.

“I know you care but you weren’t responding to my calls or messages. When I left Gabby’s today, I really didn’t think anyone would notice how long I was gone. I decided to take a walk and think.” I shrug.

“I was pissed. I still am, but that doesn’t mean I’ve stopped loving you. I just needed to get my head together before I said something that I’d regret, which I tend to do when I’m mad.”

Gavin takes a step closer to me. “Babe, I love you. You cause me to go crazy fucking mad thinking about you hurt. Thinking there’s someone out there that might harm you.” His eyes flare as he talks.

“But you didn’t give me the chance to explain. When I first saw Damian I panicked. I was expecting him to shove a bag over my head and haul my ass to Mexico with him, but he didn’t and he’s not going to.”

“You don’t know that,” he growls out.

I don’t allow him to deter me. “Yes, I do. The only thing that’s going to prove that to you is time, but I know. I know in my heart that Damian would die before he allowed anything or anyone to harm me.”

I take a step closer, hoping to bridge the distance between us. “Gavin, he knew we had a fight and he jumped on a plane to make sure I was okay. I saw him this morning after I left Gabby’s. He’s keeping tabs on me, and if he wanted to take me he could have by now, but...he hasn’t.” His jaw ticks but he remains quiet.

“Please trust me. If I thought for even a second that I was in danger or by being around me puts Callie or you in harm’s way, I wouldn’t be standing here right now...but I am, and I’m asking you to please...trust me. Trust that I know what I’m talking about, at least where Damian is concerned.”

I wait silently for any notion that I’ve made some headway with Gavin. Slowly, the tension in his shoulders starts to relax.

“I trust you and I love you, and nothing will ever change that. But we’re a team and from this moment forward we have to agree to never keep something important from the other one. And if he contacts you to even say so much as a fucking hello I’m to know about it.” His eyes are pleading with me to agree with him.

“I promise. I won’t keep anything from you again.”

Whatever anger Gavin was holding on to melts away.

“C’mere. I can’t stand being this close to you and not touch you.” I walk straight into his open arms and I feel home again.

“I love you,” I say as I’m wrapped tight against his chest.

“I love you, too, babe. And I’m so fucking sorry. No matter what happens, I won’t walk away from you like that again, no matter how angry I am.”

Gavin pushes my head back and takes my mouth with his reminding not only my body but also my heart why we’re meant for each other.

****

“Do you want pink or purple?” Callie asks me, holding up her Barbie doll polish. Today is my day to have an appointment in her own personal salon, and while I’m not a man, I still regret laughing at Gavin and Kiran when she dresses the two of them up. I’m sure Gavin is going to return the favor when he sees me.

“Pink. Definitely pink.” My answer lights up her face as she starts to go to town painting all of my nails, and most of my fingertips.

“I’m going to make you so pretty, Kate.” I smile at her excitement.

“Good, I want to be pretty just like you.” Callie gives me a small grin but doesn’t say anything. I think she’s still learning how to take compliments—at least from me.

Today is the first day in over a week that our lives have gone back to normal. When Gavin processes what he did—that he allowed his anger to take over, which basically left me available for Damian to snatch me up— he went back to his over the top vigilant need to protect me, something I know in my heart is not necessary. But I gave him what he needed, which was time, and he’s slowly coming around the idea that if Damian wanted to harm me he would’ve by now.

“All done,” Callie says as she’s attempting to screw the top back on her polish. I look down at the mess on my fingers as a goofy smile crosses my face.

“Thanks, sweet pea.”

“Are you girls hungry?” We both look up at Gavin, who is in fact holding back his laughter.

“Me. I am, Daddy,” Callie says as she takes off toward Gavin.

“Good, then let’s go eat.”

“Come on, Kate. Let’s go.” Gavin is holding Callie but he’s holding his other hand out for me to take, which I quickly do. I’m not sure what the future has in store for me, but I know I want to be right next to these two when I find out.

“Is that the last box?” I ask Gavin as he and Kiran walk in with what I hope is the last of our stuff.

“Yep, finally. We’re taking a break and grabbing a beer.”

I restrain from rolling my eyes. These two big guys act like I’m about to kill them from manual labor alone. “Okay. Go and enjoy your beer.”

The four of us just moved to Colorado. I still have a semester left before I graduate, but we were ready for a fresh start and somehow that start included Kiran, who’s living with us until he finds his own place.

Two months ago, Leeta was sentenced to twenty-five years in prison. She was found guilty for paying someone to tamper with her late husband’s car, resulting in his death. The man who she paid, plus two other people, were all found guilty and sentenced for various crimes.

Since Leeta’s arrest, Tanner and Gavin have rekindled a brotherly friendship. After years of dealing with Leeta Tanner left his younger brother behind to deal with her alone and the guilt of his actions ate him up for years, but once he discovered Gavin wasn’t mad and Leeta was officially behind bars, he started making trips out west to visit.

Carly, on the other hand, was a sticky situation. The evidence the DA has is strong but not solid. Thanks to Damian, however, she’s no longer a part of our lives, and that includes Callie’s.

Damian somehow came across a mountain of crimes that Carly involved herself in over the years but agreed to destroy the evidence along with giving her a large sum of money in exchange for giving Gavin custody of his daughter.

When Damian first told Gavin and me what he planned to do, I felt extremely guilty. I know firsthand what it feels like to know your mother easily gave you up for money, and I don’t want Callie to one day hate me or Gavin for the part we played in Carly’s decision, but when Carly didn’t even hesitate in taking the money she was offered, I was reminded why this is best for Callie.

Gavin and Kiran have been worried about Hill Software’s location for some time now. Due to years of illegal fights, the building is on the police’s radar and keeping employees has been a struggle, which is why we all agreed a fresh start was needed.

Callie is starting kindergarten and Kiran and Gavin purchased a building for Hill Software in downtown Denver, and as of now life is great.

Gabby and Noah are still a couple and recently made living together official. I would love to say that Alyssa and Kyler got their act together and made for a great couple, but depending on the day you talk to either of them, they might be in love or hate with each other.