10 | The Secrets Mac
Present Day
W e’ve been sitting outside the strip club, waiting for Dexter to come out. We know he’s inside but don’t want to make a scene, so we’re waiting outside.
Once we found out Dexter was inside alone, we sent most of the men off to the club, leaving Shy, Blink, Wolfe, Cash, and me here waiting.
“I think a couple of us should just go inside and maybe scare him into leaving,” Cash announces.
Blink replies, “I agree. I know I can intimidate him into leaving without a scene.”
I look over at Shy and Wolfe. Once they both nod, Blink and Cash jump out of the SUV. I sense movement out of the corner of my eye, so I glance around the parking lot but don’t see anything.
I sit back and let out a long breath. I noticed a small form moving through the parking lot a second later. This person has a hood over their head.
“We got company,” I announce. “Three o’clock moving between the cars.”
Wolfe, who is in the front seat, leans over to get a better look. “Probably some tweaker looking to score.”
I watch the small form move anxiously between two cars. It seems like they’re watching the door to the strip club. Wolfe’s probably right. It’s some tweaker waiting to score.
I can tell now it’s a woman’s body the closer they get, so I watch her move in and out of cars, pacing.
The door to the strip club swings open, and lo-and-behold, Dexter rushes out. Like a panther after its prey, the woman charges him.
What the hell?
Everyone in the car jumps out, moving toward Dexter, but I move toward the woman.
She screams as she runs toward Dexter. “What have you done with her?”
Dexter is still a few car lengths away when I grab her from behind, surprising her. She screams, thrashing in my arms. I see my brothers have cornered Dexter, who starts to yell and fight them off.
“Calm down,” I demand, trying to control her. In the midst of her thrashing around, her hood comes off, and I freeze, letting my grip loosen only to get an elbow to the face, which jolts me from my shock.
“What the fuck?” I yell.
She doesn’t stop fighting me, almost freeing herself from my hold
“Raydene. Calm the fuck down. It’s me. Mac,” I declare.
Hearing me, the woman freezes. I turn her to face me and gasp when I see her face.
“What the fuck?” I demand.
Instant shock ignites between us like God himself touched us both as our eyes widen. I take a deep inhale.
Standing in front of me is a woman who looks identical to Raydene, but at the same time, not at all.
The woman’s eyes dart back and forth, fear and shock etched across her face.
“Mac?” the woman breathes.
This woman can’t be Raydene. But she knows my name. She’s got red hair and a scar across her left cheek, but I still answer her.
“Ray?” I choke.
“Sin!” Dexter shouts in shock when he sees who’s in front of me as the men rush him up next to us.
I snap my eyes at Dexter, and she keeps her eyes locked on me.
“Sin?” I question him as my heart races out of control.
I hear my brothers next to me whispering, “Holy shit, and what the fuck?” as they get a glimpse of the woman I’m holding.
Wolfe must have snapped out of it because he demands, “What the fuck is going on?”
Dexter shouts, “Sin, what the fuck are you doing here?”
This gets the woman’s attention, and she snaps her head, facing Dexter, as her eyes turn murderous. “What the fuck did you do with my sister?”
“Sister?” everyone announces in sync.
Dexter snaps back, “She fucking left me.”
Blink growls, “Get them in the fucking truck. We’ll deal with this back at the hotel.”
We all shuffle to the SUV with the boys shoving Dexter, followed by the woman he called Sin.
Sin moves to the far back seat without a fight. I follow her and sit next to her. Then they push a not very happy Dexter and place him in the middle of Blink and Cash.
I look over to see she’s staring at me. We both take each other in and after a beat, I murmur, “Christ, you look just like her.”
She smiles, and my heart skips a beat.
“Well, usually identical twins tend to look alike.”
I laugh. She’s got her sass too.
Dexter looks over his shoulder, ordering, “Sin, shut the fuck up and don’t say anything. You’re jeopardizing everything.”
She doesn’t listen to him instead she whispers for only us to hear, “She told me to find you.”
I take a sharp intake of breath, almost choking. Instantly, I think of my sister’s words repeated in my dreams.
“You need to find her,” I say under my breath.
Obviously hearing me, she answers, “She needs my help.”
Not listening, I blurt out, “The woman with two faces.”
All my dreams come rushing back, and I start to freak out. This has to be what my sister was talking about.
Dexter spits out, “Sin, you have to be quiet. You can’t trust these men.” Cash silences him by knocking him out with an elbow.
Everyone stays quiet for the rest of the trip.
When we get to the hotel, we park right in front of our room and thank goodness we’re on the bottom floor. Otherwise, carrying Dexter up a flight of steps might attract attention.
Sin goes with us cautiously but willingly. We strap Dexter to a chair.
Everyone gets comfortable except me. I stand across from her with my arms crossed. I can’t keep my eyes off her as she looks around nervously.
She’s wearing big, baggy clothes, not showing any part of her body, and has a backpack. She’s got her hoodie back over her head, but the red hair is still showing as it falls over her scar.
But goddamn, those green eyes are identical to Rays’, full of emotions.
I break the silence. “You can trust these men. We have been trying to find your sister for over a month now, so please explain.”
She takes a deep breath, turning her attention to me.
Christ, she’s beautiful, like raw beauty.
“My sister told me to come find you if I didn’t hear from her. She told me Dexter was into some bad shit and was worried about me.”
“About you?” I question.
My body becomes alert and a wave of protectiveness comes over me.
Protect her. Mine.
Dexter starts to wake up and mumbles, “Don’t, Sin.”
Blink knocks him out this time, then stomps across the room to his bag and starts rummaging through it, only to come out with a roll of duct tape.
Everyone laughs, making cracks about Blink carrying duct tape.
I notice her wringing her hands together nervously.
I take a step forward, kneeling in front of her. She shifts back in the chair, but I grab her hands to reassure her.
I say softly, “You’re safe with us. Believe me. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
She smiles, but you can tell she’s scared.
Then, the image of Raydene in my dream saying ‘find us’ must have been about her sister. But is Ray dead?
I shake my head, releasing her hands. I stand up, shaking off that feeling.
Sin announces to the room, “How much has my sister told you? About me? About Dexter? About our situation?”
Wolfe, Cash, and Shy are opening beers around the table. None of them pay attention to us, but Blink, still on the bed beside Dexter, looks at me.
“She told me she lost someone close to her. There are so many lies and secrets she can’t take it anymore. She said she had an obligation to Dexter, but that was all. But with everything she said and told me, she never told me she had a twin sister.”
Blink pipes in, “Where have you been? What is your name?”
She looks between us before she answers. “My real name is Cindy Walker. Sin is my nickname, which I go by now. I’ve been in protective custody for the last twelve years.”
That gets everyone’s attention.
“What do you mean protective custody?” Blink asks the question that I know everyone is thinking.
Dexter starts to wiggle in his chair, but his mouth is taped shut this time.
Sin takes a deep breath. “This is a long story. May I have one of those, please?” She motions to the beer the men are holding. Wolfe grabs one, opening it for her.
She takes a big draw off the beer and relaxes in the chair. I stand there in awe of her, watching her and noticing all the little differences between them.
“We were eighteen. Young and stupid.” She pauses to take another drink.
I take that opportunity to ask, “You and Ray?”
She shakes her head as she finishes her sip. “No, Molly.” She pauses to look over at Dexter, who’s looking at her now with an angry face.
She motions to Dexter with her beer. “Molly was Dexter’s sister and my best friend. We were thick as thieves. Ray had Dex, and I had Molly. We were inseparable.”
Dexter struggles to get free, yelling something muffled.
Blink stares at him, lifting his fist and saying, “If you don’t chill the fuck out, I’m going to knock you out again. Is that what you want?”
Dexter stops fighting it and shakes his head.
“So, what happened?” Wolfe chimes in from the other side of the room.
“Senior year trip happened. Molly and I wanted to travel to Europe. Our parents were not happy. Raydene had her music and Dexter. We were all partying and having fun. We ended up talking our parents into letting us go.” She pauses, picking at her beer bottle label. When she looks up, tears are in her eyes. “You know that movie Taken with Liam Neeson? Well, it’s true. People are taken all the time.”
“Wait, you were taken, like to be trafficked?” Wolfe moves toward her.
My body tightens just thinking about someone hurting her.
She nods her head. “Yes, these Russians took us. We were held in a warehouse for almost a month.”
Dexter lowers his head, closing his eyes. This leads me to believe it doesn’t end well for his sister.
I’m so overwhelmed with rage that I can’t speak.
“How did you escape?” Blink asks.
“Their uncle is an FBI agent. He took over, and they went after us. Running down all the leads. When they rescued us, there was an explosion.” She reaches to her face, touching her scar. “Molly and I were both doped up pretty good. The kidnappers thought I was dead under some of the rubble, with my face split open. Molly was screaming when the FBI rushed in, but one of the kidnappers shot her before they could get to her.”
“They think you both are dead,” Blink finishes.
She nods. “And I went into protective custody.”
Shy moves to stand in front of Dexter. “Why the fuck are you dealing with the Russians now? Why are you fucking a Russian? Is this to get back at them for what they did to your sister?”
“What? He’s working with the Russians?” Sin shrieks in terror.
Dexter looks over at Sin with watery eyes. Blink rips off the duct tape, but he doesn’t flinch.
“I’m in control,” he says it like he’s trying to convince himself.
Sin launches at him. “You fucking bastard,” punching him, “you were out!” I get my hands around her tiny waist, pulling her back against me, and I feel something metal. Holy shit, she’s carrying a gun . She continues, “You did what you needed to do. What have you done?”
I try to calm her. “Shh, hold on. Tell me what you mean they were out?”
Sin slumps against me. “They had to go undercover DJing. Dexter doesn’t even know how to DJ. It was always Ray. They would party and get in with the shady people, learning information about drugs and BDSM parties. Parties only celebrities or big-name people could get into.”
“What the fuck?” Shy says to Dexter. “Have you been targeting us?”
At this, Sin pushes off me, and instantly, I want to pull her back against me. “What do you mean by targeting you? Are you in the drug and trafficking ring?”
Panic fills her face as she looks around the room, moving closer to Dexter like we’re the villains.
We all announce at the same time, “Fuck no.”
I turn her to look at me. “We’ve been dealing with the Russians and have interfered with their trafficking dealings. We are not okay with the Russians.”
Dexter looks over at Shy and says, “The Russians led us to you. All that shit with Alexandria we knew about. We suspected Dominic was involved, but there was no proof. We tried to stay close to the girls to help them.”
Sin asks, “Why? You two were out after me? You did what was asked of you.”
“We kept DJing. It was a good life, and we made great money. We traveled, and if we could help Steve here and there, we would give him intel,” Dexter explained.
“Bullshit! Ray wanted out. She was tired of the lies and secrets. You loved the partying. You loved the spotlight, and you weren’t even fucking doing the work!” Sin screams.
I take a few steps back, now understanding all of Ray’s subtle hints.
Sin turns to me. “We have a messaging system. We are always in touch at least once a month to check in. She told me when she was in lockdown and how she met some guys she thought could take care of us. She said that she didn’t need their help keeping me safe anymore. She said to come find you if I needed anything.” Tears slip from her eyes.
I reach for her, but she turns toward Dexter. “Where is she?”
Dexter shrugs. “She dumped me. She went to Detroit to play, and I haven’t heard from her?”
“You mean she dumped you after you smacked her up?” I announce.
Sin gasps, looking from Dexter to me.
Blink is up from the bed, moving toward the door and pulling out his phone.
“What about the Russians? What are you doing with them?” Shy asks.
“I’m in with all of them. When I found out, they picked up like nothing happened after Dominic. I was getting them together to set up a big sting operation hitting them all,” Dexter says, puffing out his chest like he’s the man.
“What’s your next move? What are you waiting for?” Wolfe jumps in, moving to stand right next to Shy.
“I’m supposed to return to New York after dealing with Raydene. She was a problem. Viktoriya didn’t want her around. She told me to dump her, but Raydene did it first, saving me the hassle.
Sin rants, “Who’s Viktoriya? Are you working with your uncle?”
“Who are you meeting in New York?” Shy fires off next.
Dexter answers Sin first. “Viktoriya is who took over for Dominic. I’m supposed to head back to meet with everyone that’s involved. I was waiting to hear from two of my guys here when it was okay to head back.” Dexter tells us like it’s not a big deal.
Shy informs him, “You mean JJ and King? Are you waiting for them to tell you it’s all clear?”
Dexter looks shocked. “How do you know their names?”
Wolfe scoffs. “We know all about your meeting with the Russians, Lenny Costello, Rayaan Bhasin, Ronny, Blaze, and Karma.”
Sin asks, “Are you working with Steve?”
Dexter looks around the room, panicked. “How though?”
I speak up. “That doesn’t matter. What matters is finding Raydene. Ronny’s dead. Karma and all your other associates are in the wind except the Russians. They’re just hanging out in New York.”
Sin’s patience runs out, and she yells, getting closer to Dexter, “Dex, are you working with Steve on this?”
Dexter snaps, “No! I was going to bring him in when I had it all set up. I have it all under control.”
Shy laughs. “Except Ronny’s dead, and everyone else is in the wind.”
“Except for the Russian who killed Molly and took me,” Sin exclaims, throwing her hand in the air and turning toward the window.
“Okay, everyone, calm down. We need to focus and figure out where Raydene would be,” I say to the room.
Both Sin and Dexter answer simultaneously, “She’s gone?”
I glare at both of them in shock.
Sin runs her hand over her face, frustrated. “I’ve been in town two weeks, and I can’t find her. She isn’t replying to our secret messaging system.”
Dexter snaps. “Sin, does Steve know where you’re at? Ray hasn’t come back since she left for Detroit. I thought she went back to New York.”
Who the fuck is Steve? Jealousy consumes me.
I rub my temple, trying to think.
Shy looks over and asks, “What are you thinking?”
I gaze at Sin and ask, “Who will be looking for you?”
Dexter answers, “Steve.”
At the same time, Sin says, “No one.”
I gawk at both of them.
“Who is Steve?” I growl.
Dexter fires back, “My uncle.”
I unclench my fist.
Sin explains, “Steve hardly checks in anymore. I haven’t had any problems, and it’s been over ten years. Everyone thinks I’m Sharlene Hicks. I’m a bartender who lies low. No one is missing me. My life is beyond boring.”
I add, “No boyfriend to come looking for you?”
The room becomes quiet. Sin just stares at me and shakes her head.
My heart jumps, and I shake it off. She looks identical to Ray but damn that red hair. My fingers itch to touch it.
Shy clears his throat, getting my attention off her hair. When I look at him, he motions for us to go outside.
I nod and say to the room, “We’re going to step outside. Don’t move.”
Dexter opens his mouth to say something, but Wolfe slaps the duct tape on him.
Cash announces, “I’ll stay in here to watch over them.”
Once Wolfe, Shy, and I make our way outside, we find Blink finishing his phone call.
“Whatcha got for us?” Wolfe asks.
“I say we head back to New York. I have people checking out Detroit. We’ve checked all leads here, but I don’t think she’s here. I agree she would go back to New York if she could,” Blink answers.
Shy grabs my arm, getting my attention. “Brother, she’s the second face.”
He looks mystified like he can’t believe it.
I shake my head. “Yeah, it’s fucking freaking me out.”
Wolfe chimes in, “And she has red hair.”
I laugh. “What the fuck does red hair have to do with it?”
Wolfe shrugs, “You’ve had this fixation with redheads. Maybe it’s a sign.”
Fuck, he has no idea how true that statement is.
“What the fuck are you all jabbering about?” Blink asks while lighting a joint.
Shy reaches for the joint, explaining, “Mac’s had these crazy dreams of Faith since right after the accident. Lately, she’s been telling him to find the girl with two faces.”
Blink hands him the joint and says, while blowing out the smoke, “No shit? Fuck, that’s kind of creepy. And you think it’s Sin and Ray?”
It’s Wolfe’s turn to grab the joint. “Well, they do have two of the same face. I’d take that as a fuck yeah.”
We laugh.
Blink’s phone chimes. “Okay, so back to New York. We need a plan.”
“They’re coming with us,” I fire off.
Everyone peers at me, and Shy laughs. “No shit, Sherlock.”