Hidden Betrayals (The Hidden Series Book 4) Read online

  “Why would you think I’d regret it?”

  “I could have died yesterday. You were angry and upset. So was I. I don’t know a lot, but I know I don’t want our first time to be with either of us angry or upset.” His expression hardened as hers softened.

  “You don’t have to protect me.”

  His chuckle was harsh as he said, “I do. There’s no way around that. I have to protect you. Even from myself.”

  “Do you really think I’ll regret being with you?” she asked curiously, her head tilted to the side as she studied him.

  “I don’t know,” he confessed, his fingers toying with hers. “I think you should run as far away from me as you can because I come with dangerous baggage, but I’m too selfish to ask you to. I want you with me. I want all of you even though I know I don’t deserve you.”

  “See, Danny, that’s where you’re wrong,” Carly countered, a knowing smile on her face. “You do deserve me. In fact, consider me your punishment for all those sins you committed. And that baggage you’re so worried about?”

  He blinked, taken off guard by the confidence she displayed as she straddled him and the words she whispered next.

  “I’m going to make sure it never hurts you again.”

  ***

  “You all right?” Wade asked, gazing at Danny in puzzlement.

  “Yeah, why?” Danny responded grabbing a coffee mug and filling it.

  “Your aura,” he answered slowly, staring hard at Danny, who in turn gave him a questioning glance.

  “What? Did it disappear?” Danny joked, but Wade flinched as if he’d just punched him.

  “What? No! Auras don’t disappear,” he snapped back.

  “Whoa,” Danny held up his hands. “I get it. You’re just staring at me like you’ve never seen me before, man. It’s weird.”

  “I feel like I’m staring at a brand-new aura, that’s for sure. You get laid?”

  Danny glared at him for a second, not liking the implication and Wade shot him an apologetic grimace.

  “Its fine,” Danny exhaled, shaking his head. “And not that it’s any of your business, but no. So, what’s up with my aura?”

  “It’s happy,” Wade shrugged and gave a small grin. “It’s a good look for you dude.”

  “Thanks,” Danny replied, feeling a smile tug at the corner of his lips as he strolled into the main office with his coffee.

  Addie was sitting behind her desk, messing with something, which she hid as soon as she heard him coming. He thought about mentioning it, but Addie looked so flustered he let it go figuring Wade would do his thing shortly.

  “Good morning, Addie,” Danny greeted politely and Addie stared at him in surprise. “Carly already left for class.”

  “I know,” she replied, eyeing him. “Who are you and what have you done with the brooding bastard I know and love?”

  Danny glowered at her and a pleased expression came across Addie’s face.

  “There he is,” she crowed happily. “I thought Carly was under constant watch?”

  “She is, but Jules picked her up. One of us will drop you off. Neither of you is to be alone until we’ve got Jace in custody. I’m sure Jake told you.”

  “Yep, and the same goes for you,” she told him with a grin. He shook his head but she only kept nodding. “Oh yes. He’s targeting you. The best way to catch him is to stick to you like glue.” She frowned then and Danny gave an amused lift of his eyebrow as she said, “Of course, Jake says it needs to be him, Connor or Wade with you.”

  “I’m surprised Jake let you come here at all since this is the place voted most likely for Jace to strike next.”

  “He was actually pretty eager for me to come in,” she answered as her forehead wrinkled and Danny withheld a smirk. Jake wasn’t fooling him. He wanted her to pick a ring.

  “What did you see last night from that question?” Wade demanded the second he walked in, heading straight for Addie’s desk. Her reaction was so fleeting, if Danny hadn’t been studying her so closely he would have missed it, but not Wade. It was rare Wade missed anything when it came to Addie. “God damn it, Addie,” he cursed, low and hard.

  “Just because I see a flash or some piece of an answer doesn’t mean I need to share it with the class, Wade,” Addie exclaimed defensively. “You should know that better than anyone.

  “Yeah, but it’s not just a piece,” he stated emphatically, his hands on her desk as he leaned forward. “It’s this case. It’s Danny.” She visibly flinched at his accusation and Danny glanced away uncomfortably.

  “I don’t know what it means yet, Wade. Can you give me some space to think about it?” She glared up at him. “Can you stay out of my business long enough for me to piece it together?”

  “Like you do,” Wade spit back, his smile mocking. “Doesn’t feel so good does it when someone gets in your business?” He shoved himself away from her desk, muttering under his breath as he paced. Addie stared at him, stricken, and finally he stopped.

  “That was uncalled for,” he apologized, not glancing at her, afraid of what he’d see if he did.

  “It’s okay, you’re right,” she replied faintly, her cheeks pale. “But I will tell you when I get it. I won’t put myself in danger.”

  “You keep saying that,” Wade answered shortly, his tone stating he didn’t believe her, before striding to his desk and leaving a stained silence behind him.

  “I guess I’ll take you to class,” Danny mentioned, breaking the silence and Addie tapped her fingers on the desk.

  “I think I’ll get Connor to come get me,” she suggested instead, flipping through the papers on her desk, but not really looking at them.

  “Okay,” Danny answered, having a sudden urge to flee from the tension strumming between the other two. He always felt like a third wheel around them and it was a thousand times worse when they argued. Their fights tended to revolve around their abilities and as someone with no extraordinary ability of his own, it was awkward. He felt he didn’t have anything to contribute, and continued to wonder why Addie demanded he be a part of the team. “You want me to call him?”

  His question must have triggered something else because Addie stared at him for a second before shaking her head.

  “I’ll text him,” she answered and he couldn’t help but wonder what else his question might have told her. Unlike the other guys he’d yet to get good at rephrasing questions as statements. She picked up her phone and as she did a picture fluttered out from underneath it. “What?” Wade lifted his head at her murmur as she glanced at the picture of a ring and her eyebrows dipped. “Why is there a picture of an engagement ring on my desk?”

  Wade groaned and Danny eased back a step, neither wanting to be the one to explain Jake’s scheme, but at that moment Addie’s phone rang and she crumpled the picture in her hand.

  “Hey, I was about to text you. Can you take me to class?” She paused as Connor answered, leaving Danny to meet Wade’s eyes, and Wade gave a short shake of his head to confirm what Danny already expected – that wasn’t the ring. “Don’t be late,” Addie admonished Connor, and Danny snorted at the likelihood of anything inspiring Connor to be on time. She glared at Danny as she hung up the phone. “You know I don’t even want to know,” she grimaced, holding up the crumpled picture. “But if you buy Carly a ring without consulting me, I’ll come after you myself.” She wagged a finger at Danny and some of his earlier tension disappeared.

  “Yes, ma’am.” He saluted her and threw Wade a relieved glance. Wade had a faint smile as he stared at Addie, and once again Danny wondered what he saw when he studied their auras.

  Chapter Nine

  “Daniel, what happened to you?” His mom whispered, an ache in her voice as she fluttered around him. He swallowed hard, wondering if she meant the bruises on his face or the fact that he’d turned into someone she didn’t know anymore.

  “Hey, Daniel! I can’t wait to see the movie. My friend, Mark, saw it last night and said it was
awesome!” Samuel’s excited voice proceeded him down the stairs and Daniel tore his gaze from his mom’s even as he wondered if she’d still allow him to take Samuel to the movies. His battered face was only one of the many reasons she should tell him to get out and stay the hell away from Samuel, but so far, she hadn’t and he couldn’t figure out why.

  “That’s good to hear. I’ve been looking forward to it,” Daniel replied, ignoring the pain in his mom’s eyes as he glanced over at Samuel.

  “What happened to you?” Samuel asked, coming to a stop as he saw his brother’s black eye and the cut on his cheek.

  “A little disagreement,” Daniel brushed it off and joked, “You should see the other guy.” Something that looked a hell of a lot like fear flashed across Samuel’s face, and for a moment Daniel wondered if his own brother was scared of him.

  “Do you need money?” Their mom interrupted, her lips pressed tightly together, but it wasn’t anger causing her expression. It was worry. Sometimes Daniel thought anger or at least disappointment would make it easier to face her, because at least those he could understand.

  “Nah, I’m good. You ready, Sam I am?” He asked, unintentionally falling back on an old nickname.

  “Yeah,” Samuel answered quietly, some of his earlier excitement gone and Daniel knew he’d managed to ruin their time together once again.

  “Be careful,” their mom called, a tremulous smile on her face as she watched them go. Samuel tossed a wave over his shoulder, already headed out the door, but Daniel paused.

  “I will,” he promised, needing to acknowledge the unwavering faith she placed in him.

  “I know you will,” she replied, the crinkles in the corners of her eyes a little deeper than they’d been the last time he’d seen her. “You take care of your brother.” He gave a short nod, uncertain if she was asking him to or acknowledging he did.

  When he slid in the car, Samuel was already buckled up and staring out the window. Daniel debated trying to start a conversation with him, but decided not to when he saw the contemplative expression on Samuel’s face. He’d talk when he was ready and not a moment before.

  The parking lot at the theater was full when they got there so Daniel parked in one of the spillover lots, wondering how much longer Samuel would stay silent.

  “Scott says you’re a drug dealer. That you sold some stuff to his brother.”

  Daniel cut the engine, unsurprised that Samuel would confront him with rumors he’d heard. Daniel had always played off his job and the reasons he’d quit school and the football team, but Samuel had recently started high school and Danny had known it was only a matter of time.

  “Samuel,” Daniel started, with no idea what he could say to make Samuel understand.

  “No, I don’t want to hear your excuses,” Samuel told him. “You listen to me.” Daniel’s head jerked up at the forceful tone in his younger brother’s voice. It had deepened, hardened into the voice of someone older. “It’s not okay what you’re doing. It’s not cool. Look at you,” Samuel demanded, his hand gesturing to Daniel’s face. “You got beat up and why? A fight? Or someone tried to double cross you? I believe you when you say the other guy looks worse.” The expression of disgust on Sam’s face cut Daniel deeper than he’d ever expected. “You hurt people, Daniel. My big brother hurts people. He sells them drugs and he beats them up when they don’t pay.”

  “You don’t understand, little brother,” Daniel gritted out, suddenly feeling defensive in the face of his brother’s condemnation.

  “No, I’m pretty sure I understand you’re not the guy I thought you were.” Samuel paused, and for an instant Daniel saw the innocent younger brother he’d tried so hard to protect, then he was gone, replaced by a different, disillusioned version. “I didn’t believe it. Not at first. Told him he was wrong, but then you show up tonight, busted up. It was Scott’s brother you beat up.”

  Daniel closed his eyes, unable to lie to the one person who had always looked up to him as a hero. He was pretty sure any hero worship had just been destroyed, but he wouldn’t add liar to his sins.

  “It was,” he admitted, the words bitter on his tongue. Samuel looked away, his jaw firming at the admission, and Daniel watched as another layer of innocence was stripped away.

  “You can’t do it anymore,” Samuel stated and Daniel felt a tired smile cross his lips. It sounded so simple coming from his younger brother, and to his mind Daniel was sure it was just that simple. Walk away. Don’t sell drugs anymore. Be a better person. But Daniel knew better. A wave of regret hit him so hard he felt his chest tighten with the force of it. Sometimes, he wished he could go back to his younger self and do it all differently. He would never have fallen for Dovie’s lies, never gotten involved in the drugs and drinking, made a different choice.

  “We’re going to miss the movie,” Daniel said instead and watched Samuel as he opened his door and got out without a word. They walked to the theater silently and Daniel bought the tickets, wondering if his brother would bother to sit next to him. He did, but for Daniel the movie was a blur, since all he could picture was Samuel’s disappointment as he realized the brother he’d looked up to wasn’t someone he respected.

  Daniel tried to convince himself it was okay, that his brother would get over it, that he could never live up to Samuel’s expectations anyway and it was better he knew now. The words felt hollow though, and the empty feeling that had been haunting Daniel the last few months, grew.

  He realized suddenly that the only thing that did matter to him was Samuel’s opinion and if he lost it, then he there would be no coming back for him.

  The movie finally ended but the silence didn’t as they shuffled out of the theater, following the massive crowd who had come to see the latest superhero flick. The irony of their movie choice wasn’t lost on Daniel. He was no longer the superhero, having instead become the villain in an instant. He snuck a peek at Samuel, but it didn’t reveal much as Samuel kept his own expression blank.

  When they got to the car, Samuel went around to the passenger side, standing there waiting for him to unlock the car. Daniel paused to study him over the roof of the car and realized with a start that Samuel was only a few inches shorter than him. He’d grown taller since the last time he’d seen him, still gangly but one day he knew they’d be eye to eye.

  “Samuel,” he said, and waited till his brother looked at him. “Okay.” One word, but they both understood what it meant. A look crossed Samuel’s face then, and Daniel didn’t know how to describe it. There was joy mingled with something else, but whatever it was, it told him he’d made the right decision. The only decision.

  ***

  “Where are you going?” Wade’s voice stopped Danny short as he lifted his helmet from the coat rack it was hanging on.

  “Out,” he answered shortly, not willing to elaborate.

  “No shit, Sherlock.” Wade stood up, straightening to his full height as he faced Danny. “No one goes anywhere alone. Especially you.”

  “I’ve got an errand,” Danny said, glaring at Wade. “I’m not going after Jace. I swear.” He worked his jaw, wishing he was going after Jace instead of what he was about to do.

  “Yeah, I don’t know if I believe you,” Wade argued, his lips drawn into a tight line as he took in Danny’s tension.

  “You calling me a liar?” Danny gave a dark chuckle as he tensed, ready for a fight if that’s where Wade wanted to take it.

  “No,” Wade answered, studying him. “Well, I guess I kind of did, but your aura is black, dude. You’re upset and I can’t see why, but I do know you shouldn’t be alone. For a lot of reasons.”

  “I’m not suicidal,” Danny gritted out, realizing as he said it, it was true. At one time, he might have been, but he’d moved past that point. Samuel wouldn’t have wanted him to give up, and Danny knew he had to respect that.

  “Didn’t say you were, but good to know,” Wade said easily, coming around the desk. “You can even drive,” he continued, fli
pping Danny the keys to his car. Danny caught them automatically and with a sigh, hung his helmet back up.

  “You’re worse than Addie,” he muttered and a chuckle escaped Wade.

  “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  Danny drove carefully, keeping to the speed limit and stopping at the yellow lights. Wade didn’t question him, to his relief, but as he flicked on the blinker to their destination he heard Wade inhale. Danny parked without a word and got out of the car. After a minute, Wade followed him. Danny glanced over and tilted his head, indicating Wade could come. They walked silently, following the path that weaved through the acres of green. Danny moved by rote, familiar with the path, and it only took a few minutes for them to reach the headstone.

  A bench was situated at the foot of the grave, and he sank down on it, grateful for his mother’s insistence at putting it there. Wade hesitated for a second and then folded himself next to Danny as they both stared at the words carved in the stone.

  Samuel Thomas Phillips

  Beloved Son

  World’s Best Brother

  His life was cut short but his legacy lives on.

  “I didn’t realize,” Wade murmured, rubbing a hand over his mouth as he took in the date on the headstone.

  “Wouldn’t expect you to,” Danny replied as he let memories of his brother spill through him. “He was the reason I got out and I’m the reason he died.”