Little Sunshine

13. Hide Your Belongings

“What a fucking dump.” Cole scowled, shaking his head. “I can almost feel the sticky everything.”

After Mila’s nightmare and the confession about her mother, Cole made it his mission to track the bitch down. Her last known address was with a boyfriend in the suburbs, but when he’d gone to recon, he’d discovered her man had recently kicked her out.

According to the chatty neighbor with a yappy dog, it hadn’t been an amicable split, either. Veronica Rogers had stood on the lawn, screaming threats and insults until someone had called the cops.

I couldn’t picture how someone like that could be related to Mila. The same quiet Mila who tried to clean before she even made a mess. Who apologized for apologizing. Who tried to shrink herself until she blended into the background.

Not that she ever could.

Veronica hadn’t left a forwarding address as she’d flipped off her ex and the cops before peeling out, but Cole had gotten her burner number from Mila’s cell data. The moment it’d turned on, it’d been an easy trace to the shitty bar we stood outside of.

Cole grabbed the door handle, and his scowl deepened. “Knew it. Fucking sticky.”

It reeked of stale beer and fryer oil before we even stepped inside. At barely noon on a weekday, half the stools lining the bar were filled.

The bartender looked up as he wiped down the space in front of him and kept a wary eye on us.

Smart.

Elbowing me, Cole tilted his head to where two women sat with a group of men at the end of the bar. My gaze landed on the brunette first. Her thin face was pinched, with sad brown eyes and thin lips she coated in red lipstick.

Since Mila doesn’t act a thing like her mom, maybe she doesn’t look like her, either.

But then the bleached blonde looked up, and blue eyes met mine.

Bingo.

A flare of panic went across her face as those blue eyes darted between Cole and me.

Either she’s psychic and knows she should be fucking terrified, or she thinks we’re someone else.

Whispering to her friend as she stood, she hightailed it down a hallway that I was willing to bet led to an exit.

“I’ll take the long way,” Cole said while I took off after her.

Veronica Rogers was fast, but she couldn’t hop an alley fence like I could. Coming down a small pathway that ran between a porno shop and another trashy bar, she distractedly greeted a small group of smokers while she moved. Her head was turned to watch over her shoulder.

Except I was already in front of her, blocking where the alley met the sidewalk.

“Where you off to, Veronica?” I asked as she was about to knock into me.

She jolted at my voice and froze. “Just headed home… Detective?”

“Not a detective.”

She scanned my suit. “Cop?”

“No.”

“’Cause you know you have to tell me, right?”

People watch too many movies.

Her voice lowered so the others couldn’t hear. “If Sun sent you?—”

“Your son didn’t send me.”

She shook her head. “The other kind of sun.”

“Your daughter did,” I finished.

Her brows twitched, but she was quick to control it. “You must be mistaken, sugar.” Her laugh was dismissive as she glanced over at the group she clearly knew before fluffing her hair. “Do I look old enough to have a daughter?”

Yes.

No. Wait.

Fuck yes.

If she wasn’t a fucking bitch, I could see how Veronica Rogers might’ve been attractive at one point. Smoking, drinking, and the Vegas sun had damaged her skin. The heavy makeup, overly bleached hair, and that whole bitch thing didn’t help.

But the thing that aged her most was the calculating look in her eyes. I could practically see the dollar signs in her gaze as she scanned my expensive suit again, all while splitting her focus to watch for a better opportunity.

“I’m here about Mila,” I told her.

There was no flash of recognition. No concern. Nothing.

How the fuck did this selfish bitch birth my sunshine?

Someone approached behind us, and I didn’t have to look to know it was Cole.

“Like I said, you must be mistaken. I wish someone would send a fine man like you my way.” She forced a laugh that was supposed to be sexy as her gaze moved to Cole. “Either of you. Hell, both of you. If that’s something I can help you with, then we can talk. Otherwise, I better go.”

Before she could take off again—or make my dick crawl inside me in repulsion from her proposition—I grabbed her upper arm.

Fear blanched her face.

Good. She’s not a total fucking idiot.

“Who did you send after Mila?” I asked.

“Wow, you really can’t keep your hands off me, huh?” Veronica said loudly with another flirty laugh. She shuffled us farther from the audience before lowering her voice. “What’re you talking about? She came after me just because I borrowed a little money.”

“You stole her money and got her fired.”

She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth like her daughter did. Rather than the cute as fuck shyness Mila had, Veronica’s blue eyes darted as she came up with her next move.

Excuse.

Lie.

I cut her off before she could start. “Don’t give me whatever bullshit you’re putting together right now. It’ll just piss me off worse, and that’s not something you’ll want.”

I would never hit a woman. But I had the time, money, skills, and connections to make her life hell. I would still do that for all the shit she’d put Mila through, but the bastards who’d hurt her were my priority.

“I honestly have no idea what you’re talking about. But you should know, Mila is a dramatic little liar. You can’t believe a thing she says. She’s playing you.”

Cole made a strangled noise behind me, but otherwise didn’t move.

I did.

Crowding in close, my voice was low and lethal. “Mila was waiting for you. In the location you set. You never showed. Instead, two motherfuckers roughed my woman up. You saying that’s a coincidence?”

“She got roughed up?”

I didn’t know if the concern on her face was genuine or a practiced act, but I didn’t buy it. “Who’d you send after her?”

“No one. I swear.”

“Then why weren’t you there?”

Her cheeks flushed, but she lifted her chin stubbornly—just like her daughter did.

The daughter she didn’t claim.

The dumb sack of shit.

My grip on her arm tightened briefly, and she finally spoke. “I was getting dumped, okay? And it was all that bitch’s fault.”

“Mila?” At her nod, I bit out, “How’s it her fault? And fair warning, I’d watch your fucking mouth when you talk about her.”

“After I borrowed her money?—”

“Stole,” Cole interjected.

She shot him a glare over my shoulder. “After that, Mila hunted me down at my man Harry’s place. He saw me talking to her outside, and I said she was a friend’s kid. But then he caught me borrowing his money to get her off my back, so I had to admit she’s my kid. He didn’t want to be hooked to someone with a grown daughter.”

I would bet he didn’t want to be hooked to a lying cunt who’d ignore her own child, lie about her, and steal, but her relationship bullshit wasn’t my concern.

“So instead of calling Mila to tell her you didn’t have the money, you sent those assholes to talk to her?”

Veronica gave an exasperated sigh before catching the look on my face. Her attitude disappeared. “I told you, I don’t know anything about that. Harry gave me the money if I promised to stop breaking his shit and leave before the cops followed through on their threat to haul both of us in.”

I looked over at Cole who shrugged. “Neighbor didn’t give specifics about when the breakup took place.”

“Harry’s neighbors? Those uppity assholes always thought I didn’t belong there. Like he’s some saint.” She looked angrier at that insult than she did at finding out her daughter had been hurt. “By the time I went to the meeting spot, they were gone.”

“They?”

“Mila…” Her eyes widened as she whispered, “And Abraham.”

“Who the fuck is Abraham?” I bit out, jealousy hitting my gut.

“He’s the one who set that location. I told Mila to meet me there first, and then I was meeting him.”

“You move on fast,” Cole muttered.

“No, you don’t understand,” she said with a frantic shake of her head. “Abraham is not a friend. He thinks I stole from him, but I didn’t. I took what he promised. He found me last week and demanded it back. The money I got from Mila was supposed to be a down payment because he threatened to blow up the good thing I had going with Harry.” Her lip pushed out. “Which happened anyway.”

Figuring she wasn’t dumb enough to run, I released her arm. “How much do you owe Abraham?”

“I don’t remember.” Unlike her daughter, she was shit at lying.

“How much do you have for the down payment?”

“Nothing,” she muttered hesitantly.

“What?” Cole gritted through clenched teeth. It was obvious the conversation was stomping through some areas of his past that were better left buried. I glanced over at him, but he gave me a subtle chin lift as he continued glaring at Veronica. “What happened to the money from Mila?”

“And from Harry?” I added.

“He kicked me out! I’m homeless and sleeping on my girlfriend Jeannette’s couch, for fuck’s sake. When Mila and Abraham didn’t show, I figured I should use the money to get back on my feet.”

“Do you have any of it left?”

But I knew the answer even before she said it. “No.”

I was far from an expert, but I’d grown up with four older sisters. I knew enough. Her hair was recently done since no roots showed. The clothes she wore were new and quality—unlike the threadbare shit her daughter used to wear.

Used to.

Formerly.

Not any-fucking-more.

She’d treated herself to a spa day and shopping spree rather than pay back her own daughter. Or settle up with a man who’d threatened her.

Running my palm down my face, I mentally went through my options. “You got a number for Abraham?”

She shook her head. I was about to ask for a last name since it’d help Cole find the info quicker, but she said, “I know where he is, though. But I don’t have money to give him. And I don’t want him to know where I’m staying now. He’s dangerous.”

Clearly not as dangerous as me if you’re continuing to fuck around.

“I don’t give a shit,” I told her bluntly. “Not if he’s behind Mila’s attack.”

“Well since you seem to be blinded by Mila’s uptight, better-than-everyone?—”

“What’d I say about watching your damn mouth?”

She forced an acid smile. “Since you seem to like Mila, you should give a shit. I never told Abraham about her. If you go confront him, and he doesn’t have anything to do with this, you’ll be putting her on his radar.”

Yeah, I’d already considered that.

“Not if I settle up your debt.”

Relief, excitement, and a different, nauseating kind of excitement lit her face. She tried to hide it, but too many gears were turning in her calculating eyes. “It’s a lot.”

I didn’t say anything to that since my money wasn’t her business and paying off her debt wasn’t about her. None of this was. It was about Mila, and that I did share.

“This is a one-time thing. You step in shit again, you clean your own mess. Don’t smear it at Mila’s feet. You try to borrow money from her, you upset her, you even look at her sideways, I will put every resource I have into destroying your life. You got me?”

She didn’t try to deny the help. Didn’t pause to think it over. Didn’t even hesitate for a second before nodding rapidly.

Meanwhile, it’s a battle just to get her daughter to let me make her a damn sandwich.

Veronica gave us the address where Abraham might be, and Cole plugged it into his phone.

With another warning, we returned to the car. I watched as she sauntered back to the bar, not even a shred of guilt or worry on her face.

“Need me to drive?” I offered.

“Nah, I got it.”

I looked at him as he pulled away from the curb, trying to gauge whether the interaction had fucked him up or just pissed him off. His expression was blank as he navigated through the side streets.

Before I could speak, he did.

“Well, she’s a gem.”

“You sure thisis the place?”

“This is what she said. But it’s just as likely that bitch lied.” Cole glanced at the navigation on the screen, then back at me. “Maybe more likely.”

I’d figured we’d find Abraham in a bar, club, or some similar dump, and that Veronica had raided a register, safe, or drug stock to get on his bad side. I sure as shit hadn’t envisioned Eternal Sun.

According to the signage on the wall surrounding the place, the sprawling property was a center for health, wellness, and spiritual clarity.

I had no clue what the fuck any of that had to do with Veronica’s debt, but when we turned into the gated entryway, the answer became obvious.

It had jack shit to do with it.

She’d lied.

“Want to turn around and hunt her down again?” Cole asked.

I was about to agree when someone approached from a guard booth. Cole rolled down his window.

“Hello,” the man greeted in a voice that was too damn chipper. He scanned the car as he spoke. “Visitors?”

Might as well be sure.

“Is Abraham here?” I asked.

“Do you have an appointment?”

“No.”

He gave another smile that seemed as freakishly happy as his voice. “Give me a minute to see if he’s available.”

“This place is kind of creeping me out,” Cole muttered when the guard stepped away and pressed his phone to his ear.

I lifted my chin, still not expecting much.

The guard came back and handed two visitor badges through the open window. “Abraham is waiting for you.”

“Really?” I asked before I could stop myself.

“He makes time for all who visit Eternal Sun. Continue up this path to our solarium. Have a blessed day.”

Cole rolled his window back up and followed the smooth road. “I take it back. This place doesn’t kind of creep me out. It fully does.”

He wasn’t the only one.

Parts of it looked like a nature center. A full garden spread farther than I could see. There were people gathered near a large fountain doing yoga or some shit. A row of small cabins lined the outside edge of the garden near the wall. Other buildings in the distance looked industrial.

Cole slowed in front of a building marked as the solarium. The front of it was all glass, including the roof, before changing into concrete.

“What the fuck is this place?” Cole muttered.

“Got no idea, but I think we’re about to find out.”

A man in his early fifties stepped out of the glass doors onto the cobblestone landing. In linen pants and button-down, he looked dressed for vacation, not work. His tan skin added to that. When Cole and I climbed from the car, his lips curved down briefly. There and then gone, replaced by a salesman smile. “Blessed afternoon, and welcome to Eternal Sun. I’m Abraham. I heard you wanted to see me.”

Still unconvinced this wasn’t an attempt to waste my time, I asked, “Do you know a Veronica Rogers?”

His eyes narrowed, and his body language changed as his shoulders pushed back. Despite the fact no one was around to overhear my quietly spoken words, three other men suddenly came from inside the building, all wearing similar linen outfits. The warning in my gut grew when a gust of wind showed at least one of them was strapped.

Abraham held up a hand behind him to stop their approach. “Yes. Roni used to be a member here.”

“And here is…” Cole prompted, looking around.

“Exactly what the signs say. Eternal Sun is a health and wellness facility that focuses on clearing the dark negativity of the world from people’s bodies and spirits.”

Riiiiiight.

Since I didn’t give a damn about other people’s bodies or spirits, I cut to the chase. “I understand Roni owes you money.”

That time when the men approached, he didn’t try to stop them. They silently flanked his back as he spoke. “Then you also understand that I’ve been incredibly patient with Ms. Rogers.”

No more Roni. It’s Ms. Rogers now.

“I could—and should have—gone to the police and let them handle her. Instead, I went to her directly as soon as we tracked her down.”

I carefully watched his reaction. “And then sent men after her daughter.”

His brows shot up, and he didn’t attempt to smother his surprise. “I wasn’t aware she had a daughter.” His skin lost some of the tan. “H-how…” He cleared his throat. “How old is she?”

“Twenty.”

His shoulders didn’t just relax, they sagged. “Well, as I said, I wasn’t aware of her existence. Even if I was, I don’t send men after anyone.”

“Except Veronica.”

“I visited her myself, and it was simply to remind her how much better life can be without the dark burdens of lies and secrets.” He smiled as he gestured around us. “It’s the philosophy I’ve built the center around, and our members find more fulfillment with those practices than they do with shopping sprees and cheap vodka.”

“And her debt was delinquent membership dues?” Cole asked, still as confused with the details as I was.

“No. Ms. Rogers became unsatisfied with Eternal Sun and our personal relationship. She was under the impression that her role in both would be of much more importance.”

That doesn’t surprise me.

“When the truth became clear to her,” he continued, “she took some of our funds as a parting gift when she left.”

That also doesn’t surprise me.

Abraham’s tone grew more cautious. “If the daughter is anything like the mother, then I’d guess there is no shortage of people who would come after her.”

“She’s not,” I said plainly.

A guy in his late twenties came through the door. Like the others, he wore the same linen uniform. Unlike them, he didn’t carry himself with the same confidence. His gaze darted around before he called, “Sir.”

Abraham flashed that smarmy smile. “My assistant. Give me a moment.”

When he moved into the solarium with his three backups, Cole stepped closer. He kept his voice low. “You buy it?”

I thought it over before lifting my chin. “That he didn’t know about Mila, yes. The rest? Don’t know and don’t care. You?”

“I’m still gonna do some research, but my gut says his surprise was genuine.”

Which was fucked for a couple of reasons.

First, we were back to square one with finding the fuckers who’d hurt Mila.

Second, I’d just served her up on a silver platter to a man who I was pretty damn certain led a cult and had a grudge against her mother.

“You’re paying the debt,” Cole surmised.

It wasn’t a question, but I answered anyway. To keep any blowback away from Mila, it was an easy choice. “Yup.”

Abraham returned, though the others kept their distance again.

Cutting off the exit I knew he was about to make, I got to the point. “I’m willing to pay off Veronica’s debt, if you’re willing to go back to not knowing about her daughter.”

“I’ll happily forget they both exist. But it’s a considerable debt. Fifty grand.”

That fucking bitch stole fifty thousand dollars and then still pocketed the money she stole from her man and Mila.

I didn’t blink, though I wanted to drive back to Veronica and throttle her. “Get me the account info, and I’ll wire it now.”

He gestured his assistant over and whispered to him. As the man took off, Abraham looked at me with new interest. “Would you care for a tour while we wait? Our center offers guided yoga and meditation, massages, two Olympic-sized pools with a top-of-the-line steam?—”

“We’re good,” I interrupted before he brought out a PowerPoint presentation and contracts with fine print that’d sign my bank accounts away.

Abraham opened his mouth like he was tempted to push it but decided against it. His assistant was back a second later, handing him a note card before disappearing just as fast.

When he handed it to me, I used the info to wire the money from my untraceable account into what I bet was his own untraceable one. When I was done, I held the card out but didn’t release my hold. “This is a one-time thing. Rope Veronica back into this shit, it’s between you and her. If her daughter so much as gets a brochure in the mail?—”

“She won’t. I have no interest in dealing with Veronica Rogers ever again.” He pocketed the card and looked over as a small group of women walked down the street, waving at him.

Young women in tight leggings paired with sports bras.

He returned his focus to us briefly. “Now if you’ll excuse me, it’s time for me to lead meditation.”

“Yeah, I’m sure it is,” Cole muttered.

Happy to get the hell out of there, we returned to the car. I opened the door when Abraham called out again.

“Gentlemen, if you ever change your mind, all are welcome at Eternal Sun. I’m sure Mr. Black could also find some peace and tranquility away from the toxicity of Sin City. Please extend my invitation to your boss. And have a blessed day.” With that, he jogged over to the cluster of women.

Since the car is registered to Black Resorts, it’d be easy enough to run the plates. Still fucking weird.

Cole and I locked eyes but didn’t speak until we were in the car.

“Now I know why he looked disappointed when he saw us. He was expecting Maximo.” I shook my head. “It’s enough to give a guy a complex.”

Cole rolled his eyes. “I feel like I need to shower off the creepiness.”

“And sweep the car for bugs.”

His brows rose. “And that.”

I didn’t see anyone get close to the car, but that didn’t mean shit.

I didn’t trust Abraham or that fucking place.