19. Chapter 19
June 28, 2011
3:11 pm
The family with the twin girls were no longer at the park and another mother rushed her kids to the car as the storm winds picked up.
Trey touched Hailey’s hand, and she jumped but didn’t pull away. She hadn’t even noticed he had inched closer to her. His presence reminded her she wasn’t eighteen anymore and she wasn’t hidden in the orange groves. She was safe and had survived.
The morning after the attack, Hailey had woken to a splitting headache, a broken rib, a dead mother, and a guilty sister. Not to mention the bruises, stitches, and blood that had still caked the crevices of her body, despite nearly scrubbing her skin raw.
She had left town a month later.
A single tear tried to escape but she blinked it away as she turned her head. She hated that she still cried about it, that it still haunted her so deeply.
“I’m so sorry,” Trey said.
“It’s not your fault. You couldn't have known,” she said.
Hailey couldn’t bring herself to look at him. Shame dug its claws in, taunting her.
“No, I should have been there to protect you. I should have been a better man and gone after you when you left. There’s a lot of things I should have done differently. I promised to be there for you, and I wasn’t. That’s on me.”
She pulled her hand away from his and picked at a leaf that had fallen on the bench next to her. She didn’t know what to say. Part of her wanted to yell at him again. He should have been there. But the other part of her knew it wasn’t his fault, she was only looking for someone to blame.
And that someone was Ryan.
“Look at me, Hailey,” Trey said.
“I can’t. I shouldn’t have needed you to save me, and I hate myself for it. I hate that you’ll only see me as this girl who couldn’t save herself.” She closed her eyes and sighed, calming herself.
Trey gently touched her chin with his finger, turning her head to look at him. His jaw was set, and his brown eyes were now darker.
He said firmly, “You’re a survivor . You did that. You made it out alive. You didn’t need me, and you saved our daughter because you refused to be a victim.”
She cried then, soft sobs. Trey pulled her close and kissed her hair. She allowed herself to melt into his chest, her body shaking as she did. She felt safe in his arms, and he stroked her hair as her tears stained his shirt. She took in a breath, his scent calming her.
Finally, she pulled away and placed a hand on his cheek. “Somehow, we’ve been given a second chance, and I don’t want to mess that up. I want to make this work.”
Trey kissed her then. Deep but gentle. His hands cupped her face and hers rested on his chest as she took him in.
Then, she pulled away and smiled. “Slow down, cowboy. We’ve got stuff to do.”
He kissed her nose. “We’ll pick up where we left off later.” He winked at her and she giggled.
She hoped they could make things work between them not only for Trinity, but because she and Trey deserved to be happy. Because she loved him. And she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him.
“Twice in one day,” Gavin said.
Sara turned around, surprised to see him.
She always thought Gavin was a prick for the way he treated Hailey. He was snotty, entitled, and a womanizer, even as a teenager. She hated to think how seductive he was now, especially given the way he looked. His beard and tattoos made him appear daring, maybe even dangerous. To her horror, she found him quite attractive as he smiled at her, eyeing her up and down.
“Wow, how could I be so lucky?” Sara said dryly.
“You look good, Sara.”
Sara could feel the heat on her cheeks. She nearly shriveled up on the ground, equally embarrassed and intrigued by his straightforwardness. Ever the ladies' man, she didn’t trust him at all. And that somehow made him even sexier.
Typical.
“Can’t say the same for you,” she quipped.
He smiled. They both knew she was lying.
“I’ll walk with you.”
She eyed him suspiciously. “I’ll pass.”
Gavin was the last person she wanted to spend time with. The fact he thought she was even approachable was slightly alarming.
He put his hands up. “I just wanted to catch up, see how you were doing.”
She raised a brow. “You mean get the inside scoop on my life’s story and how I spent the last thirteen years locked up for a crime I didn’t commit?”
His lip turned upward, showing a dimple. She wanted to scream at the flip her stomach did.
He said, “Yeah. But for what it’s worth, I think there’s more to you and I’m curious.”
She eyed him, trying and failing to hide a smirk. She was both irritated and intrigued by this man. His straightforwardness was a relief while everyone else tiptoed around her as if she was a bomb waiting to go off. And maybe she was. But she didn’t need to be handled with care, and he somehow knew that.
Sticking her nose up at him, she said, “Fine. You can walk with me. But I'm not great company.”
He chuckled. “You look like great company to me.”
A smile tugged at her lips, but she pushed it away. “You realize I’m a convicted felon, right?”
“And? You’re innocent, aren’t you?” He shrugged. “Hailey told me.”
She nodded slowly. “Good to know she’s got a big mouth.”
He laughed again and she found herself loving the sound. They began walking around downtown, the shadows of palm trees covering them every few feet. Sara had forgotten how beautiful it was here, with the palm trees lining the sidewalks, bright flowers, and brick sidewalks.
If she wasn’t so miserable, she might actually enjoy it.
“So, tell me about yourself,” she said.
Ugh. She sounded lame. As a teenager, she would have never said something like that.
“Obviously, I was in the Marines.” He held up his dog tags, proud of his service. “I met my business partner in college and we both decided to drop out of law school and serve. Then we opened a private security firm.”
“Was being a Marine as hard as they make it out to be on TV?”
Gavin smiled. “Harder. What about you?”
She tensed. “Not much to know, other than the obvious.”
“That’s not true. You went to prison for something you didn’t do and now look at you. You’re a fighter. Plus, you’ve got a scar on your neck that I’m sure has one helluva story.”
She started, alarm racing through her body. She was beginning to regret letting him walk with her. Regret seemed to be in high numbers these days.
“You don’t have to tell me. I was just making conversation,” he said.
Sara looked away. “Like I said, there’s nothing to tell.”
He grinned mischievously. “Whatever you say.”
Gavin didn’t push her for details and instead changed the subject. It had been such a long time since she’d truly connected with anyone, something he quickly picked up on. But he didn’t seem to mind and made it easy to laugh at his jokes. She even allowed herself to flirt for a minute.
As they walked, he shared stories about what he’d seen while overseas, most of which was very traumatic. Much like what she felt.
“I still have nightmares from time to time. It’s hard to make sense of feeling like you did something good, even if it cost people their lives.” He pulled down the collar of his shirt, revealing a round scar on his pectoral. “I was shot and almost died. We were taking fire, and my buddy had been hit. I went back to drag his body behind a building and was hit in the process. Don’t remember much after that, but I woke up in the hospital and was told I almost didn’t make it.”
She studied the raised flesh and nearly reached out to touch it but caught herself. Instead, she traced the one on her neck, memories flooding her.
“Did your friend make it?” she asked.
Gavin slumped slightly. “No. He left behind a wife and newborn. That was rough. I don't really have any family and yet he was the one to die.”
“I’m glad you didn’t.”
He smiled sadly and nodded.
For the first time, she felt safe enough to share her story. Funny it was with someone she didn’t much care for, though her hardness for him was softening. Sure, he was still flirtatious and arrogant, but there was a quiet gentleness about him that hadn’t been there years before.
She found herself drawn to tell him about her life, her secrets, her thoughts. She’d tell him about her hopes and dreams if she had any.
She sighed. “I almost died twice.”
Gavin arched a brow. “I wasn’t expecting that. I had hoped prison wasn’t that bad for you.”
“I wish.”
He eyed her neck. “Is that where you got the scar?”
“Yes, and I’ve got a lot more.” She pointed to her side but didn’t show him the jagged marks that lay just underneath the thin cotton. “Long story short, a girl hated how pretty I was. And after that, my cellmate was jumped and I helped her.”
He studied her for a moment, and she looked away, ashamed of her past.
“That explains why you’re always on edge. I get that. We may have different reasons for it, but we’re both a little high strung.”
Sara smiled. “You’re not judging me for being an ex-con?”
“You said you didn’t do it.”
She tilted her head. “How do you know I’m not lying?”
“Because, you wouldn’t have told me about the scar.” He gently traced the jagged edges on her neck, and she sucked in a breath, quickly jumping back from his touch.
Sara’s heart pounded and she wondered if Gavin could hear it. Her palms began to sweat as heat crept through her body. Her voice caught in her throat, and she realized they had stopped walking.
He nodded toward a door behind him. “Well, this is my office. Thanks for letting me walk with you.”
“You didn’t give me much of a choice,” she said.
They stared at each other for a moment, and she wondered if he’d kiss her. A part of her hoped he would. Another part of her felt foolish for even entertaining the thought. The last thing she needed in her life was a relationship. Her last one went up in smoke and almost took her with it.
“I’d like to see you again.”
She furrowed her brows, taken aback by his comment. “I don’t know, Gavin. I’ve got a lot going on. Plus, I’m not the type of girl you bring home to your mother. I guarantee you deserve someone a lot better than me.” She smiled. “Even though you're cocky and arrogant.”
He laughed. “It’s a good thing my parents disowned me then.”
“I’ll think about it,” she said, a twinkle in her eye. She turned and walked away, feeling like she was on cloud nine.
Gavin called out, “I’ll call you!”
“You don’t have my number,” she called back.
She locked eyes with him again and that same reaction from earlier simmered.
Sara didn’t know what to do or how to feel. She had once been a magnet for boys, even as a teenager. She could easily suck them in and spit them back out, the male brain and body something she understood well.
Not now, though. Now she felt awkward and almost uncomfortable.
But the butterflies in her stomach were undeniable.
Sara was surprised to find herself feeling so alive again. Maybe there was hope for her after all.
Trey was glad to be back in the air conditioning. He sat at his desk, filling out a form to request the files from Morgan Gallagher’s investigation. Hailey and Sara sat in the chairs across from him, eager to see what he might find in the decade old files, their tiff from earlier at an impasse.
He thought back to seeing Hailey and Gavin together at lunch. It had taken him by surprise and old feelings seemed to float back to the surface. Even thirteen years ago he felt like he had to fight for Hailey, that he wasn’t good enough to simply have her. Gavin was a man who had everything, and Hailey had truly cared for him.
Part of him was jealous. She hadn’t been that happy to see him when she came back. To be fair, though, he had also ripped her heart out and stepped on it.
Still, he didn't like Gavin getting cozy with Hailey now any more than he liked it thirteen years ago.
A light tap on his door caused him to look up. Deputy Rodriguez stood in his doorway and said, “Chief, we tracked down Ryan House. He’s at a bar in Lakeland.”
Hailey’s face paled slightly at the mention of Ryan’s name. Trey’s heart raced knowing what that SOB had done to her. As much as he didn’t want to talk to Ryan, he knew the monster may be able to give them new leads to follow. And if he was lucky enough, maybe he’d get to toss him in jail. Plus, Nicole’s case still had no updates. So, with any luck, Ryan may be able to shed some light on who may have wanted to harm her.
“Okay, I’ll head up there in a few minutes. Call Lakeland PD and see if a squad car can sit on him until I get there.”
The officer nodded and smiled at Hailey and Sara as he exited the room.
Trey said, “Why don’t you two head back to Gen’s. I don’t know how long it’ll take me to interview Ryan.”
Sara lifted a brow. “Do you really think you should do the interview after what Hailey just told you? I’m quite sure having the Chief of Police arrested on murder charges isn’t a good look for the department.”
Sara had held her tongue to keep from gloating when Hailey had mentioned that she finally told Trey about Ryan. But Hailey had seen the glimmer of cockiness in her sister’s eye and Trey had to quickly intervene to keep them from fighting again.
Trey rolled his eyes. “Thanks for the concern. I’ll be fine.”
That was a lie. Though he might not kill Ryan, he was considering hurting him at the very least. If he found him alone, he might actually do it. It wasn’t a secret that Trey went searching for trouble, but he still had a moral code he lived by; his own rules and boundaries he wouldn’t step over. But maybe it was time to break them.
He glanced at Hailey and pictured her curled up on the ground, screaming and crying as Ryan hurt her. Rage boiled deep inside him. It was a rage he had never felt before. He wanted Ryan to beg for his life like Hailey begged for hers. He wanted Ryan to feel his life slipping away as he gasped for breath, just as he’d done to Hailey.
Hailey stood to leave, pulling him from his dark thoughts. “Please be careful,” she said.
“I will, I promise.”
He thought about their kiss earlier. He found himself getting lost in her scent and he craved the way she melted into him, as if nothing had ever changed over the years.
He never thought he’d get a second chance and now that he might, he wasn’t going to let her go again. If he had to move to Alabama to be with her and Trinity, he’d drop everything in a heartbeat.
He walked over to her and took her hands in his as he kissed her on the forehead. “Maybe we can do something tonight. Go get ice cream or dinner?”
Hailey wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. “I’d like that.”
“Get a room,” Sara scoffed.
Wasn’t that the pot calling the kettle black? Sara had been anything but modest years ago. Clearly so much had changed since then.
Hailey’s phone chirped and she quickly pulled it out of her pocket. She scowled and answered the call, putting it on speaker. “Hello?”
“Hailey, why did you tell Trey about Nicole? It’s none of his business,” David said.
“Hello to you too,” she said dryly.
“I’m serious.”
Trey and Sara exchanged glances with Hailey.
Hailey said, “Because I can prove Sara didn’t kill Mom which means someone else had a motive to do it. And where better to look than at the woman who destroyed her marriage.”
He cursed at her. “You know damn well your sister is a murderer. I did everything in my power to put her away and now you’re trying to undo everything. She deserved to be behind bars, and I made sure that’s where she ended up.”
Trey shook his head. David was anything but a victim, though he would use that ruse if it suited his needs. Having your daughter kill your wife definitely fell into that category.
Sara clenched her jaw, willing herself to stay quiet. Trey could see the fire behind her eyes, fury burning within. He didn’t blame her.
David continued, “I’m assuming your sister is with you? Put me on speaker, I’d like to talk to her too.”
Hailey said, “She doesn’t have anything to say to you.”
“I didn’t ask if she did. I said ‘put me on speaker.’”
Trey nodded. There was no use in denying it. David knew they were all together and Trey was curious as to what he wanted to say.
“You are. She can hear you, so can Trey.”
David chuckled cynically. “Of course he’s there, too. Sara, it’s nice to see you haven't changed since you were a teenager, dragging your sister into your mess. I warned you that if you didn’t drop it, I’d come after you.”
“And I warned you that I was going to destroy you. So, you can do what I did thirteen years ago and just roll over and take it, or we can make this a blood bath.”
Trey didn’t like the way the conversation was turning. And he really didn’t like that Sara had clearly been in contact with David, threatening him, no less.
“For someone who claims to not be a murderer, you sure sound like one,” David replied.
Sara wanted to defend herself, but Hailey beat her to it. “We all know you’re lying, Dad. So go ahead and prepare your news speech about how you screwed up. I’m sure you’ll come out looking like the victim as always.”
Trey lifted a brow. There was a time when Hailey would have nearly cowered in a corner if her father was upset with her. Now, she was bold and outspoken, something he found incredibly sexy.
“Why are you two trying to ruin everything I’ve built, destroy everything I’ve done for you?” David said.
Trey nearly cursed the man, as if putting a roof over Hailey and Sara’s heads somehow absolved him of his abuse. They all knew better than to believe that crock of shit. David Gallagher did everything in his own self-interest, never out of the goodness of his heart.
Sara said, “Let me be very clear: I will tear down your entire kingdom brick by brick if I have to. I’m not interested in cradling your ego or worrying about your reputation. I’m going to find out who really killed Mom and if that means I have to burn down the world to figure it out, so be it.”
David inhaled slowly, regaining his composure. It was another part of his game, another way to make you think he was in control. “I will give you both one chance to let things be. Sara, you served your time, but I can make sure you go back if you don’t leave well-enough alone.”
Trey tried to speak, but Sara cut him off. She sneered, “You tried to bury me thirteen years ago, but I clawed my way out of the dirt. You don’t get to threaten me. You don’t get to control me. And you damn sure don’t get to manipulate me. If you want to try to bury me again, be my guest, but I’ll come bringing a shovel for you, too.”
David chuckled wickedly. “You talk a big game for someone who signed a guilty plea deal.”
Sara didn’t say anything, she didn’t want to engage with him any longer. When she didn’t respond he said, “And Hailey, don’t go looking for trouble because you might just find it.”
“I’m sure I will.”
“You’ll both regret this,” he said. The line went dead, and Hailey put her phone back in her pocket.
The fictional kingdom David built had been for his ego and his need for control. And it seemed the twins were done letting David play the part of king. The princesses were going to overthrow their father from his throne and David hated them for it.
Trey instinctively stepped closer to Hailey, wanting to protect her. He remembered the last time she defied her father, the beating she had gotten. When he found out, Trey had wanted to kill David and had even started driving toward the Gallagher Estate. Then, he had found himself too scared to challenge the devil who had left bruises all over Hailey’s body.
But Trey was no longer a kid. He was a man who wasn’t afraid of the repercussions when it came to his family.
Hailey quickly said, “He’s hiding something, and I want to know what it is.”
“You and me, both,” Trey said.
This wasn’t just about David’s image and reputation, there was something else going on.
“Well, that was fun,” Sara said to break the tension.
Hailey shook her head and raised an arm. “What did you do, anyway? He was pissed at you.”
Sara shrugged. “I went and saw him after we watched the tape with Trey. I wanted answers. Instead, I got under his skin. Which is exactly what we want.”
Trey said, “You need to be careful. He’s clearly agitated and he’s grasping for control. People who are used to being in control will go to great lengths to keep it.”
“He’s not actually going to hurt us,” Hailey said.
Trey threw an arm up. “Hailey, he literally threw you into your dining room wall when you refused to break things off with me.”
Sara said, “He’s right. Dad is effing crazy so be careful because you royally pissed him off this time. I mean, nice it’s not me for a change.” She quickly added, “Don’t get me wrong, he’s mad at me, but he’s pissed at you.”
Trey glared at Sara and Hailey ran her hand through her hair. “At least we know we’re doing something right. He wouldn’t have called if he wasn’t worried.”
Trey nodded. “His whole world is being threatened between Nicole going missing and us looking into your mother’s death. News of the affair itself is likely enough to cause him to panic. He’s starting to unravel and that makes me nervous.”
“Yeah, but why?” Sara said. “Why is he so nervous about us finding out the truth about either of these cases if he isn’t involved?”
Sara was right. An innocent man didn't care if you snooped around because he had nothing to hide.
David Gallagher was guilty; Trey just didn't know of what.
But he’d find out.
“You two need to watch your backs for now. People are unpredictable when their livelihood is threatened,” Trey said.
If David was capable of abusing his daughters, what else could he be capable of? Most abusers escalated and murder wasn’t out of the realm of possibilities. And even if he didn’t murder Morgan, Trey couldn’t be sure he wouldn’t kill Hailey or Sara to keep his secrets hidden.
Sara said, “Well, it looks like the devil wants to come out and play.”
Hailey clenched her jaw. “He’s not the devil. I faced the devil and lived to tell about it.”
Trey shuddered. He used to think David was the devil, but he was sadly mistaken. Trey hadn’t stared into eyes so dark even monsters were afraid of what lies behind them. But Hailey had.
And Trey knew the devil would be the one to unravel David Gallagher’s kingdom.
I watch as Hailey and Sara walk with the cowboy to Hailey’s car. They can’t see me though. I’ve parked far enough away to keep an eye on them, but not close enough to attract attention. Even if I did, no one would think anything of it.
Hailey tilted her head back and laughed at something Trey said. I clench my jaw, disgusted with the flirtation. The two girls get into Hailey’s car and drive off as the Chief goes back inside his precinct.
What a joke.
How is it that Trey Harbor is the Chief? What shitty luck.
I wait a few seconds to pull out of my parking spot and follow Hailey. I’m angry she’s still here, stirring up trouble. If she left like she’d planned, I wouldn’t have to watch her. And if she would simply leave well enough alone, I wouldn’t have to kill her.
But here we are. I’m waiting for the right moment to do what needs to be done. Most people wouldn't be this driven. Most people won’t do the dirty work. They would rather wither away than fight against an enemy coming to take what is rightfully theirs. They would rather die than shed blood. Not me. I’ve spent my life shedding the blood of my enemies.
At first it was daunting, doing things that are against your instincts. Yet, the more I did it, the easier it became. And now it’s in my nature to do what most people won't.
Even Morgan Gallagher wasn’t my first victim, though no one even knows I’m the one who killed her. Nor do they know of the other bodies I so cleverly disposed of. People would be shocked to know my secret life; the life of a manipulator, a liar.
A murderer.
The Beast that lurks within doesn’t come out often, only when it needs to be satisfied. Only when someone must be silenced. The Beast has become innate to me, working alongside my instincts, so quietly that no one even knows it’s lurking just under the surface.
Sometimes even I forget The Beast is there.
And then it hungers for bloodshed, and it must be released.
It must be fed.
It must be satisfied.
And it wants Hailey. Maybe even Sara.
Hell, the cowboy may serve a purpose too.
But Hailey and Sara will have to wait.
The Beast has decided that it’s Elijah Washington’s time to die.