Protective Love (Hidden Secrets) Read online

  “Why would you be checking up on me?”

  “I needed to know that the guy on my sister’s case was going to really do whatever possible to get the job done. That, and I see how you look at her; even before she said you guys had met. I could tell there’s something between you.”

  I glanced over at Kayla. She was looking at me too. I smiled at her and she returned a small one. Maybe Eli was right. Maybe this would be a way to get her to trust that I was not like Alex. She could see that I was someone worth counting on, and I could figure out what was going on between us.

  “I’m not taking your money. I’m doing undercover work for this case. All I want is for Kayla to get out from under this asshole!”

  Eli nodded.

  “Thank you.”

  Just then Larry burst through the door and headed right toward me, yelling.

  “You mean to tell me for nine fucking years you’ve been going over the pictures that this sick fuck has been sending here of my daughter and NOTHING has been done!”

  “Sir, I assure you I’ve been working this case thoroughly and-”

  “You haven’t done shit! While you’re playing around, my daughter is being abused! Your lack to act-”

  “STOP IT!” Kayla screamed as she got between her father and me.

  Larry immediately softened when he looked at his daughter.

  “Kay, I’m…”

  “You’re blaming him for something he had no idea about! You’re telling him he’s the reason I’m still being attacked. I know exactly what you’re doing. No one is at fault here, but Alex.”

  “But Kay, if-”

  “NO! Daddy, if you want to push blame, then let’s push it, shall we? For six years, I was raped while still living in your house. Several of those times were IN your house! Did you stop them or take action? NO! Because you didn’t know. He didn’t know either. You’ve seen the picture; he makes sure it shows nothing identifiable. I do not blame anyone but Alex, and I don’t expect you to either!”

  I had never seen a woman more beautiful than Kayla. Her chest rose and fell quickly, which of course dragged my eyes down to her breasts. The minute I felt my cock twitch, I looked back up and tried to defuse the situation the best I could.

  “Listen, everyone is on edge here. We all feel like we haven’t done enough. How about we start talking about what we can do now?”

  I led Kayla over to the table and sat down next to her. Glancing over at her, I just couldn’t stay focused. I mentally smacked myself to get my attention back to the present. Clearing my throat, I began.

  “Nate Lane and I are going to be going undercover. There has been no discussion of how we are going to pull this off just yet.”

  “How about you go undercover as her boyfriend? I can be your friend just tagging along. ”

  Nate tried to play off the obvious intent on putting me in a situation that I would risk my job.

  “That would be perfect actually. Our sister is going to be staying with her until this is all settled, so Nate could pretend to date her, and you could date Kayla.”

  Jake conveniently left the word ‘pretend’ out when suggesting I date Kayla. My heart was beginning to race. It was true, I really did like Kayla, but the thought of dating again - of trusting someone again - scared the shit out of me.

  Glancing over at Kayla, I felt conflicted. Trusting someone again was a huge step for me, but something inside me told me that trusting Kayla was the right thing to do. Those thoughts were making me nervous. Elijah even knew my past and still wanted me around his sister. Maybe Elijah didn’t realize what happened then, I don’t know, but I knew that Kayla should never be held to the example of other people. Kayla should be the example for other people.

  “Jason, are you listening?”

  Shaking my head, I turned away from Kayla.

  “I’m sorry, what?”

  Everyone laughed and I wasn’t sure if it was at my expense or not, but it more than likely was. It didn’t take much for me to get lost in Kayla. It was one of the things that scared me the most.

  “We were saying, we will leave with Kayla and take her back to her office. You should go there and pick her up to take her home, and do whatever it is you need to do there.”

  Jake said with a smirk on his face.

  “Okay. That would keep him unaware that she talked to me here. It would work. When does your other sister… I’m sorry, I didn’t get her name.”

  “Mary Williams,” Jake offered.

  I nodded my head. The name was familiar and well known. Unless you lived under a rock, you knew exactly who Mary Williams was. She had an amazing voice and stage presence, as well as sex appeal. However, I thought Kayla could steal the title for sexy from her sister any day of the week. I never got hard just looking at pictures of her sister like I did when I was just near Kayla. Even being in a crowded room of men - who would likely kill me if they knew some of the visions popping in my head - still did not prevent it. I shifted in my seat slightly.

  “When will she be arriving?”

  Nate had the biggest grin on his face right now. I knew he was in heaven to pretend to be dating Mary, but I hoped he would play it cool so we didn’t screw up the case. After all, it was frowned upon to be sexually active while undercover, especially when they were involved in the undercover operations. I had a feeling it was not only going to test me, but Nate as well. Just the thought of Nate having to hold off on a woman almost had me falling over with laughter. I held myself together, though. It was about to turn into the best investigation ever!

  “She should be at the clinic with Kayla by the time you arrive.”

  “Okay. Kayla, go back with your family and have them drop you off at your clinic. We will be there after a while,” I smiled.

  She nodded, and goodbyes were said before, they all left the station. I collapsed back against my chair and let out a big breath.

  “Holy shit dude! She’s hot! No wonder you’re going ape shit over her.”

  “Okay, first, let’s get this straight; you’re NEVER to refer to her that way. Second, there is more to this case than you’re paying attention to. You do remember those photos we’ve been getting for the past ten years or so?”

  “Yeah, um A.G. the serial rapist.”

  “She is the star in all those photos. We’ve been thinking it was several women. I think it has only been her.”

  “Shit.”

  Nate sank into a chair.

  “Yeah.”

  “You know what we’re going to have to do right?”

  Oh, I knew. It was going to kill her to have to relive them, but we were going to have to match her rapes to the photos. That meant that Kayla was going to have to relive the horrible moments of her life, and I couldn’t stop it from having to happen. It had to be done in order to better understand who we were working with.

  “Well, let’s go meet the girl of your dreams and the woman from my fantasies.”

  “Keep your hands to yourself, Nate. Seriously, learn from me; business and pleasure do not mix.”

  “Oh, right, like you aren’t doing this to get closer to Kayla,” he rolled his eyes. “I’ve known you too long to believe that crock of shit! I do, however, promise not to let anything get in the way of the objective here.”

  I nodded. Once we had everything collected, we made a few stops and switched out the vehicles for our personal ones, then headed over to Kayla’s clinic.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  ~KAYLA~

  “Kay, we have to get back. Remember Mary will be with you so you’re not alone. Do you want one of us to stay with you as well?”

  “You guys don’t have to overwhelm me with support. I just needed help. I don’t need to be babysat.”

  “I am staying with you, Kayla. At least while they’re here, then I need to get a hold of my agent and let him know a family emergency came up. Are you okay with me staying with you?” Mary asked.

  “Yes, of course. I would actually enjoy it. It might
even end up being like old times and really get my mind off things.”

  I smiled and meant it for the first time in a long time.

  It wasn’t the brightest smile, but it was a smile nonetheless. I felt better having told everyone, but at the same time it felt as if I was being consumed by support. I wasn’t complaining, but I had been doing this all alone for so long, and suddenly they were concerned if I took a deep breath. It was a lot to get used to. For the life of me, I could never find a single reason - aside from fear - for why I stayed quiet for so long. My family had always been there for one another and would never have turned their back on me when I needed them.

  Alex was just that scary and unpredictable. Each attack was worse than the last, and I was scared shitless during each one. The last one was the worst it had ever been. I worried that if there was a next time, I may not survive it.

  A knock on the door brought me back to the present. I looked up and there he was - Jason Gold. There hadn’t been a day in my life that I looked at a man and pictured a good time, yet there I was, imagining his bare chest and running my hands up and down it. The room felt warm all of a sudden. He smiled then, and I had to sit down in a chair. That smile could melt ice in Antarctica, especially when his dimples came out.

  I hoped that if there was anyone in the world, I could trust right then, it would be him. But, sadly I knew I couldn’t let my guard down just yet. At the end of the day, he was still a man, and men in my life did not have a very good track record. He would be working against sixteen years of abuse to get me to trust him; the odds were not in his favor.

  “Ms. Williams, is this a good time?”

  I nodded. “Yes. My sister is outside making a call at the moment, but my brothers are here.”

  We all sat down at the table and again Jason sat across from me. My brothers of course sat or stood around me. I wanted to scream for them to back off, but I stayed quiet and focused on Jason. It was almost as nerve-wracking to focus on Jason. Part of me was screaming for him to go away, and another was screaming for him to kiss me.

  How could I possibly want that after everything? How could I want two completely different things? I think I am officially losing my mind. That has to be it.

  “I’m losing my fucking mind around him…”

  “Around who?” Eli asked.

  “Huh? What?”

  “Who are you losing your mind around?”

  Without realizing what I was doing, I looked at Jason and dropped my eyes to my lap. There was no doubt in my mind that I was bright freaking red. Without lifting my head, I peeked up at Jason to see if he caught me. He seemed to be fighting a smile, and I knew that what I thought I said in my head was really out loud, and everyone had heard me. It was so mortifying.

  “No one, don’t worry about it,” I mumbled.

  Jason cleared his throat.

  “There-” he started, then cleared his throat again. “There are precautions we are going to be taking to make sure we have ears, even when we are not there. This means bugging your apartment. Now, the audio surveillance is not optional, but in the common areas or areas where he may get in, I would like to place video surveillance as well. This would allow us to track how he gets in, what he does while he’s there, and if he’s still there before you walk into the apartment.”

  “What?” I asked, astonished.

  “Kay, don’t… they are doing what they need to do to…”

  “To what?” I yelled as I stood up, knocking my chair into Eli. “To take away even more of my life and privacy than Alex already has? To make me feel like an intruder in my own place?”

  I was screaming by then. When I turned and saw Jason’s face with a mixture of shock and hurt on it, it was my final straw.

  “FUCK!” I yelled and stormed out to the yard that connected to the private dog park.

  I watched all the dogs play and tried to calm myself down. Placing my hands on the fence, I leaned forward and put my head down. Concentrating on taking deep breaths, I didn’t hear anyone approach until I saw their shoes. When he didn’t speak, I did.

  “How much more do I have to lose because of him?” I whispered.

  “I’m not trying to take anymore away from you, Kayla. This really is necessary for your safety. We’d be a reasonable distance away and be able to respond and-”

  “Jason, you just don’t understand what…” my voice trailed off.

  A cold shiver ran through me and I felt like if someone were to hit me. I would shatter into a million pieces. I couldn’t move - didn’t even want to try and breathe.

  Maybe I haven’t been noticed yet?

  “What’s wrong?”

  I didn’t answer. I couldn’t.

  “He’s here, isn’t he?

  “Yes,” I whispered.

  “Listen, I am not trying to scare you, but I am going to act like a boyfriend right now. Both to protect you and to cement the ruse, okay?”

  “Yes,” I breathed.

  He stepped up close behind me, pressing the front of his body against my back. He lowers his head to my neck, and his arms wrapped around my waist. It couldn’t be helped, I tensed with his touch.

  “You have to relax if this going to be believable. I’ll behave myself,” he whispered into my neck.

  I closed my eyes and exhaled, then collapsed back against him. At least I wasn’t tense anymore. After a few moments, he asked me to see if he was still watching. He was. My stomach was in knots and I wasn’t sure what was going to happen.

  “He may not believe that you’re with me. Run your hands on mine or turn around and put them around my neck. You have to do something, Kayla. Standing there with your arms at your side isn’t proving anything.”

  He was right, of course, but it wasn’t as easy as he was making it out to be. For years the only kind of ‘intimate’ contact I had was forced and brutal. He was asking me to be comfortable with that, and in public, no less. After a few more arguments in my head, I knew he was right. I sighed.

  I ran my hands back and forth on his, and turned my head to the side facing away from his head. It was the closest I had ever been with a man, and it was scaring the shit out of me. In my head, I prayed he was trustworthy and that I wasn’t setting myself up for something that would hurt just as bad.

  “I’m going to move my mouth up your neck. Please try not to tense.”

  Every time his lips touched me, I seriously had to work at not tensing up and making it look like I welcomed what he was doing. There was a shudder dying to get out, and tears in my eyes ready to fall. There was a scream sitting just in the back of my throat suffocating me, begging to come out, - needing to come out.

  “Your brothers are going to kick my ass when we get in there,” he whispered in my ear.

  My breath whooshed out and laughter exploded from my mouth. He smiled at me and kissed my cheek. I was laughing so hard I had tears rolling down my cheeks. Jason turned me around and cupped my face in his hands, wiping the tears from my face. His smile could make my knees weak. Suddenly he spun me backwards away from him and then back to his arms, he started swaying us from side to side. He smiled down at me and for the first time, I smiled a genuine, at-ease smile, and danced with him.

  “I’m digging a deep hole, but I sure am having fun,” he whispered.

  I laughed harder. It wasn’t even that funny, but for some reason it made me laugh. I forgot where we were and who was watching. I just had fun for the first time in a long time. He laughed with me and didn’t question it. As much as Alex set me on edge, in a moment like this, Jason calmed me down and distracted me when otherwise I would have been paralyzed with fear.

  “What are you two up to?”

  Damn! I’m enjoying myself, and leave it to Jack to come out and ruin that.

  “Dancing and making up after our first disagreement,” I said without missing a beat.

  The shock on my brother’s face made me burst out laughing. Jason laughed, and I leaned back into him without realizing it. H
is laughter rumbled through his chest and into my back. It was an almost addictive sound. His arms were still wrapped around my waist when he leaned down and whispered in my ear.

  “He’s gone.”

  I nodded my head, but I couldn’t get myself to move. The relief I felt washed over me and my legs gave out. Jason tightened his hold on me and slowly lowered me down to the ground. The world seemed to be spinning faster, causing me to be unable to focus.

  “It’s okay. I have you. Just calm down. Look at me, Kayla.”

  When I turned my head to face Jason, it fell back, causing me to groan. He reached up and cupped my face.

  “Kayla, he’s gone. It’s okay. You did it.”

  I couldn’t stop the tears from falling. My brother pulled me into his arms and cooed softly in my ear. All growing up, I had nightmares and my older brothers or my parents would constantly have to calm me. It was the only time that I would allow anyone near me. Once I had myself back under control, I pulled away from my brother and stood up. I stumbled slightly, but regained control. Jack stood there looking at me with pity in his eyes.

  “Stop looking at me like that, Jackson!”

  “Like what? How am I looking at you?”

  “Like you feel sorry for me!”

  “How do you want me to look at you then?”

  “I don’t want you to!”

  We all had tempers and we all knew how to push the other’s buttons to get the reaction out of them we wanted. I felt like that was exactly what Jack was doing to me. The stubborn side of me didn’t want to give him the satisfaction to piss me off, but the over stressed, on-edge side of me couldn’t handle being goaded.

  Walking over to my brother, I stood on my tiptoes so I could get closer to eye level. He never saw it coming. Jack was too focused on my face to notice my leg move and fly up to make contact with his groin. He doubled over in pain.