He cut his eye at her. “Do you really want to go there after what I just saw?” Her cheeks colored and she looked back down.

“Keiran let me out. I have to pee,” I huffed when he didn’t budge. When he finally moved I raced to the bathroom. I didn’t realize I’d been holding it but when the excitement of the game died I felt the need to pee. I used the bathroom and looked in the mirror. For some reason, I found myself freeing my hair from the band and letting it fall around my shoulders and down my back.

For fuck sake! When did I start caring about how my hair looked? I left the bathroom, annoyed with myself. Next I would be wearing five-inch pumps to school. I once again thought about Anya and Trevor’s disappearance. I have to get Keiran to talk.

“You should be more careful of the company you keep.”

“Mr. Martin?” He was standing near the back exit. What was he doing here?

“Yes, dear.”

“Sorry. I didn’t think this would be your type of place.”

“There is a lot you don’t know about me, young lady.”

Whoa. Because that didn’t sound creepy… “Well, it was nice seeing you,” I replied feeling awkward and creeped out.

He quickly approached me with his hand reached out as if he would grab me. “Before you go –

“Come here, Lake.” Dash appeared behind me and was standing near the men’s bathroom. The look he gave Mr. Martin was chilling. I walked over to him and he grabbed my hand. I was secretly grateful for his sudden appearance. I didn’t like the vibes I was getting from him.

“I was only talking to her, young man.”

“Yeah? Well you’re done talking.”

The hard look that appeared on Mr. Martin’s face scared me. I’d never seen him be anything other than charming and polite. But as soon as the look appeared it was gone again. He gave us a polite smile and excused himself, leaving out the back door.

“Who was that guy?” Dash asked while frowning at the door Mr. Martin disappeared through.

“Mr. Martin. He comes by my job – excuse me – my old job, a lot. Why?”

“I’ve never seen him before.”

I shrugged his suspicion off. “Six Forks isn’t all that small.”

“Still, you should stay away from him.”

“He’s harmless, Dash. Charlie thinks he has a crush on me. He’s actually very polite and a gentleman,” I argued.

“Would you rather hear this from me or Keiran?” He raised an eyebrow and looked down at me.

“Good point,” I grumbled then thought better of it. “Despite what you or anyone else thinks. Keiran isn’t my father. I had a father and he left.”

“Keiran wants to control you but he also wants to keep you safe. I can understand that need.”

“You know…you may have a shot again if you stop trying to manipulate her.”

“Oh yeah? How?” He raised an eyebrow and looked at me skeptically.

“Be the guy she fell in love with.”

* * *

A couple of hours later, Keiran was parking his car in my driveway and I finally admitted I had a fun night. My aunt would be pissed if she found out I stayed out this late on a Monday night. I leaned over to kiss him goodnight and couldn’t deny how natural it felt but when he leaned away from me and shut off his engine, the feeling faded away fast.

“Who is Mr. Martin?”

“No need to be jealous babe, he’s like fifty.” I smiled at him, but he didn’t reciprocate. When he continued to stare me down, I sighed and sat back in the seat. “I don’t know really. He’s some guy that comes around the gym. I met him about a year ago.”

He shook his head and took his gaze off of me to stare out the windshield. “You continue to test my patience,” he whispered and I got the feeling he wasn’t really talking to me.

“How am I testing you?”

“Stay away from him.”

“He’s harmless.”

“Lake!”

“Don’t raise your voice at me, Keiran. I can hear you just fine.”

“You’re a pain in my ass,” he gritted.

“Ditto.” We sat in silence for a moment, each in our own thoughts. “What did you do with Anya and Trevor?”

“What makes you think I did something to them?”

“Maybe because I saw Dash and Keenan take off with them and maybe because I overheard you tell them that Mario has them. Tell me the truth.”

He sat for so long not saying anything that I almost gave up on it. “I’m setting them up to be given to the same people who kept me for seven years.”

“Kept you?”

He looked reluctant to go on before he answered. “Yes. Before I came here I worked for some bad people at a very young age.”

“But I thought you were with your mother?” Keiran’s past was puzzling. I struggled to put the pieces together with the little I had. Nothing made sense.

“She’s the reason I had to work for those people.”

“Don’t you know who they are?”

“No.”

“So how will you know who to give Trevor and Anya to?”

“Mario will handle that. I don’t know because I don’t want to know. The less that connects me to them, the less chance I have of getting caught.”

“So what will he do with them?”

“They’ll disappear. They won’t be killed…as long as they do what they are told.” Keiran’s explanation was sketchy at best and it all sounded horrible. As much as I hated Anya and Trevor for what they did and all that they planned I didn’t think I could live with it on my conscience.

“Get them back.” I stated, holding my voice firm.

His head whipped around, his gaze burning hot over me. “What?”

“I want you to bring them back.”

“No.” His jaw hardened and I could see the muscles within his cheekbone clench.

“We can’t do this to them. Look at what it did to you.”

He shrugged. “I survived.”

“Did you?”

“Doesn’t matter. They don’t come back. Ever.”

“Then I want nothing to do with you. Stay away from me.” I threw open the passenger door and slammed it shut. Keiran was out and around my side before I could move two steps. He grabbed me up by my upper arms and forced me up against the side of the car.

“If you have any idea of what they were planning for you, you wouldn’t be spouting this bullshit out of your mouth. I don’t give a fuck if you like how I protect you but I will protect you. It’s my burden to bear.”

“And mine!” I cried.

He released a ragged breath and looked as if he wanted to strangle me. “Lake…”

“I’m serious. Get them back or stay away from me. I won’t let you make my soul as ugly as yours.” When he flinched my hand flew to my mouth, muffling my horrified gasp. I realized what I just said at the same time my heart crashed and shattered at my feet.  The look on his face broke my heart. I did that. I knew I hurt him worse then he’d ever hurt me.

“Keiran, I –” I was cut off when he shoved away from me and looked down at me with a deeper hatred than I’ve ever seen in his eyes before. It was suddenly over as abruptly as it started and then he was gone.

I could only assume that he would walk out of my life now.

Chapter Thirty

I never meant to call his soul ugly. It was beyond mean. It was downright cruel. Some might say it was justified or even true, after all, his cruelty and manipulations were far more hurtful than anything I could ever say to him. So why did I still feel so damn guilty?

I thought I wanted Anya and Trevor to pay for what they did but the truth was I just needed this whole nightmare to go away. I needed to be seven years old again and with my parents. After ten years I still felt a strong connection with them, one that hurt more than helped.

I made it to the front door with a heavy heart. I failed to think of just one way to make this right outside of begging for forgiveness. But it was also because of what I knew I had to do if Keiran didn’t bring them back.

I wasn’t afraid anymore. I was tired.

As I opened the door and stepped inside I felt the familiar need to run. It wasn’t so much as what I saw or heard. It was what I felt. I looked around the empty house. All was quiet and nothing seemed disturbed but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right.