Revealed (The Found Book 1) (30 page)

Years in corporate America honed her ability to manipulate words by day and at night she read everything she could get her hands on, including many steamy romances.

Now happily married to her long, tall Texan and living in Southern California, Caitlyn has finally found the time to write erotic happily ever afters. She enjoys swimming, traveling, babysitting for her nieces and nephews, spending time with friends and family, and doing lots of “research” with her husband for upcoming novels.

Find out more about Caitlyn online:

Website:
 
Caitlynoleary.com

E-Mail:
 
[email protected]

Twitter:
@CaitlynOlearyNA

Facebook:
 
Facebook.com/Caitlyn.Oleary.35

Blog:
Caitlynolearyauthor.blogspot.com

Amazon:
http://tinyurl.com/ojnmr8b

Books by Caitlyn O’Leary

The Found Series

Revealed
, Book One

Forsaken
, Book Two (coming soon)

Fate Harbor Series

Published by Siren/Bookstrand

Trusting Chance
, Book One

Protecting Olivia
, Book Two

Claiming Kara
, Book Three

Isabella’s Submission
, Book Four

Cherishing Brianna
, Book Five (Releasing Feb. 10, 2015)

Excerpt from

Forsaken

The Found, Book Two

by Caitlyn O’Leary

Chapter One

“Put on your clothes. You disgust me.” Seth was beyond tired, and seeing his wife on his bed, naked and spread for him made his bile rise.

“Carson, I need you, remember how it was?” She tried to entice him by playing with her breasts.

Seeing her gown on the floor, he picked it up and tossed it on top of her. “That’s the problem Portia, I don’t remember anything, let alone it ever being any good.”

“That night together was the best night of my life. It could be like that again if you’d just try, dammit.”

“Get out of my room,” his voice deadly. Her eyes widened and she scrambled off the bed.

“Fine, but don’t think this is the end. You are going to make me pregnant again. Daddy wants a grandchild.”

“Oh cut the bullshit, there was never a baby in the first place. You dragged my ass to the altar under false pretenses.”

“Carson, you got me pregnant that night. You believed me before, why don’t you believe me now?”

The million dollar question. He knew from the moment he laid eyes on her she was a criminal and likely involved in drug smuggling with her father. He intended to put her behind bars, and instead he had married her to protect his unborn child. A child that likely never existed.

“Get the fuck out, Portia, before I do something we both regret.”

She slung the gown over her shoulder and left his room, uncaring if the servants saw her naked or not. His wife was quite a piece of work.

Seth…Carson, whatever the fuck his name was, Hell he was beginning to question his own identity. Yanking at the bowtie of his tuxedo it knotted tighter instead of opening.

“Good, maybe I’ll choke.” He was sick of living the double life. Finally he pulled, ripping it apart at the seam. “God damn motherfucker!” He did the same with the cuffs of his shirt, satisfied when the cufflinks flew across the room. They were gold with diamonds. Maybe the maids would steal them. “Good for them.”

Fuck, he needed to shut the hell up, it was a bad habit to talk out loud. He knew his room was bugged. There was a damn good chance of video surveillance too. Once when Portia was high she said she hoped there was, that it added to the spice.

Not that he would touch her. He warned her when they started this travesty of a marriage it wouldn’t be consummated, but she hadn’t believed him. Hence the weekly ritual. Sometimes she’d bring in some kind of sex toy, one night he’d found her tied spread eagle to the bed. He didn’t even want to know who had helped her into the position.

He pulled off the rest of his clothes, hoping they would tear as well, but they didn’t. At least one of his dress shoes left a dent in the wall. They could report he had a temper tantrum for all he cared. It had been an ugly fucking night and Portia was the cherry on top. He needed a long hot shower to erase the stench of the scum he brushed up against.

God, he hoped it would help his headache. Grabbing three ibuprofen and some Rolaids he chewed them all down, praying it would help his head and his stomach by the time he finished the hot shower.

He often wondered if they had audio and video in the shower too, it wouldn’t surprise him. Nothing surprised him about these bastards. Had he ever had such a bad headache? It was the woman at the party, she reminded him of his Annie, and then he had to listen to Lobado’s men talk about their new source of income. The pulse of pain in his head was so bad his eyes started to water.

What the fuck had he gotten himself into?

* * *

Annie reminded herself to be happy. She escaped from the people intent on kidnapping her baby, but all she could focus on was her baby’s father. Somehow she managed to drive Seth away. She took out his letter, went to her desk, and pulled out the tape. Carefully she taped the seams where it was coming apart because she had unfolded and folded it so often.

“Annie,

I won’t be coming home after this assignment. Things have changed. I have changed. I have decided on a new life. I deeply regret the promises I made to you but will be unable to honor.

I won’t defile our time together by speaking of it now, only know this, you are loved.

I am entrusting this letter with my father, so you can tell him if you need anything. I can no longer claim the name Natani, but you will always be cared for by the family of Natani.

Seth”

Annie pushed the paper flat against the desk. She didn’t know why she wanted to look at it. The letter had almost killed her when Rafe Natani, Seth’s father, had handed it to her almost a year ago.

* * *

Seth’s parents had found her at her apartment not far from the college in Farmington, New Mexico where she was spending a lot of her time. She was working on her doctoral thesis in Archeology based on the Anasazi, and using the college campus library.

“Miss Newman, you don’t know us, but we’re Seth’s parents. Would you allow us to come in?” Everything dropped away as Annie looked at the middle aged Native American couple on her porch. Dear God, Seth had died on assignment with the DEA. Annie grabbed her swollen abdomen and fell to her knees, staring up at the caring faces of Seth’s parents.

“Quick Rafe, let’s help her inside.”

“Seth, is he? Did he? Did he suffer?”

“Oh honey, no. He’s not dead. We’re handling this badly. Let us help you. Seth’s not dead. He’s fine.” The Natani’s helped Annie into her cooler apartment, and settled her on the couch.

“What can I get you to drink?” the woman asked as she hurried towards the kitchen.

“I don’t need anything. Where’s Seth? Is he hurt? Is he finally home?”

“He’s not hurt. He’s not home. My name is Rafe, the woman currently rummaging through your kitchen is my wife Wanda.” Annie looked at his hand holding hers over the large swell of her tummy. They both looked up at the same time.

“Am I going to be a grandfather?”

“I’d prefer to tell Seth he’s going to be a father first.”

“I brought you some lemonade. I also found some graham crackers, I thought they would suit.” Wanda sat down on the other side of her husband after handing her the glass and setting the plate on the coffee table. She squeezed her husband’s shoulder. “She’s so young.” She whispered to her husband, but Annie heard her.

“I’m twenty-four.”

Seth’s mother gave her a long considering look, Annie was used to it. She knew she had a baby face. “Do you want to see my driver’s license? I’m actually working on my PhD. I’m going to be twenty-five in three months.” She watched as Wanda relaxed.

“I’m sorry honey, I worry for you. I hate to see babies raising babies.”

“So do I, but I’m a grown woman, and I want my baby very much. Please tell me why you’re here, this is killing me.”

“Are you pregnant with our son’s child?” Mr. Natani persisted. Annie looked him in the eye, and was struck by the lack of family resemblance between Seth and his parents and then remembered the strange circumstances surrounding his adoption into the Natani home.

“I beg your pardon, but why are you here?”

This time Mrs. Natani spoke. “Annie, we need you to stay strong,” she looked down at her belly. “Especially now.” She opened up her purse and pulled out a letter and handed it to her husband, who in turn handed it to Annie. “Seth sent us a letter, with this letter enclosed. He said we needed to be here when you opened it.”

It was the first time she read those words. She didn’t say a word, didn’t cry, and showed no emotion. She was used to rejection. She didn’t know how she had managed to drive him away, but she had. It was the story of her life, she had done something so wrong her mother abandoned her all those years ago. The first foster home she lived in gave her back after two years.

She took small comfort in the fact he bothered to lie and say he had loved her. She would cope, she always coped, no matter what her age, she coped. Only this hurt a million times worse. But she wouldn’t give into the hurt, she had her daughter to think about. She stroked her tummy and murmured reassurance to Nell as she kicked in agitation. Her baby felt her Mommy’s upset.

“It’s okay, baby girl,” Annie crooned.

“We’re having a granddaughter, Rafe!” Wanda cried out ecstatically, and Annie burst into tears.

“You need…You need to leave.”

“Miss Newman, we’re not leaving. May I read the letter Seth gave you?” It fell out of her numb fingers and fluttered to the floor as Annie tried to hand it him. Picking it up, he read the note and then handed it to his wife. Wanda took longer to read it, and when she finished she stifled a sob.

“You’re coming home with us Annie,” the woman said when she stopped crying.

The rest of the afternoon was a blur. There was no way on God’s green Earth Annie would have thought her apartment in Farmington would be packed and she would agree to move to Shiprock with Seth’s parents, but it’s exactly what happened. Wanda Natani was a force of nature. Her husband was the steady wind behind the force, just steadily pushing, ensuring everything moved forward.

Annie didn’t have to lift a finger. Somehow packers and movers showed up out of thin air within hours of the Natani’s arrival. One of the moving men said he would drive her car to Shiprock, which is when she came out of her stupor.

“I’m more than capable of driving.”

“We never said you weren’t,” Rafe smiled easily. Seth had the same smile, and it always meant the same thing, she was going to lose an argument.

“Then please give me back my keys.” Annie held out her hand. The whole day was surreal. It was a month before she was due to deliver. Her thesis was a week away from being done, and it felt like her life was over. That kind of thinking was unacceptable. She needed to take control. She had her daughter to consider.

“Sure, Miss Newman, you can drive. But the roads from here to Shiprock are icy. Are your tires studded? We want you to be safe.”

Damn, he made sense.

“Annie, you need to call her Annie, Rafe. She’s our daughter now.” Wanda said as she came up and wrapped her arm around Annie’s shoulder.

“No, I’m not, what are you talking about?”

“Don’t panic, we’re not kidnapping you, this is totally your decision. But know from this day forward we consider you our daughter. We would have whether you were carrying our granddaughter or not. We don’t understand the choices our son has made, but he has much love for you, and therefore we have much love for you. You are part of our clan, our family, and our hearts.” She studied their faces and read the truth in what she said. For the second time Annie started crying.

“Miss Newman, I mean Annie, please don’t cry.”

“Hush Rafe, these are good tears. She knows she finally has a home.” Wanda pulled her into the warmest hug she could remember.

Annie rode in the Natani’s car to Shiprock. When they got to their modest adobe home, the moving truck wasn’t there. Instead an older woman was standing in the doorway, looking very elegant in a long caftan and boots.

“Mom. What are you doing here?” Rafe called out.

“A good question, since my son didn’t see fit to tell me he was bringing home my granddaughter and great-granddaughter.” The woman ignored her son and hugged her daughter-in-law before standing in front of Annie.

“Welcome Annie Newman. My name is Shilah Natani. I am your grandmother.” For the second time Annie was engulfed in a pair of loving female arms. This time Nell kicked out, surprising her and the older woman. Shilah broke away, and rested her hand on Annie’s belly. “And you little one, welcome. What is your name?”