Page 31 of Lies Beneath Secrets
“You’ll need another hundo for that,” she tells me, then looks over to Gabby and fucking winks.
“Know how to work the system, don’t you?” I open my wallet again, pull out another hundred, and give them both over to her. She wastes no time snatching them away. Good thing I went on that shipment run last week.
“Want pizza?” She asks Gabby, who’s instantly on board with a bright smile.
“I’ll see you in the morning, Gabbs, okay?” Gabby wraps her arms around my leg as best she can, instantly making my heart skip a beat. I reach down and lift her up into my arms. The awkwardness of affection has long since gone away now, and she seems to be getting more comfortable with me, and the fact she’s talking and calling me dad? Don’t even get me started on how that’s turned me into a fucking pile of mush. “You have fun, kiddo.” She buries her little head into my chest and squeezes for a minute before wiggling, trying to get down. Hug has officially ended, I guess. “Bye, girls,” I say and stride toward the door, my next mission heavy on my mind.
* * *
Looking down at the box sitting in my passenger seat, I reach into it and pull out the coaster that was inside. There wasn’t much in there. Some dried flowers, a couple of movie stubs, a pair of chopsticks, and this coaster. I hold it in my hand, looking at the logo on it that matches the building I’m outside of right now. It’s a nightclub. I’ve heard of the Flatliners doing business here. That isn’t what has me concerned though. What’s written on the back of the coaster does. The nameAubry Parkerand a phone number in a woman’s handwriting.
Aubry Parker is a girl who went missing months ago from a town not too far from here. There were rumors that this was the last place she had been seen, but those were quickly shut down. Why Gabe, or his old lady, would have a coaster with her name and number written on it is beyond me. “What the hell did you know, Gabe?” I mutter to myself and toss the coaster back into the box, then pull my hood up over my head when drops of rain drip from the dark clouds above me.
Right before the sky opens up, I duck inside the building. There’s a bouncer up front who gives me a nod as I walk by. Once inside, I take in the space. It’s close to ten, and the club is full of college kids dancing to loud, ear-piercing music and filling their stomachs with watered-down fruity drinks. I find the only empty seat at the bar and order a drink.
“How have I missed you all night?” A sweet voice comes to my side, trailing their hand down my arm. I grab the glass of scotch the bartender places down in front of me and take a sip before turning to look at the owner of the voice. She’s likely not old enough to be here or old enough to be drinking whatever is in her hand. I watch as she seductively takes the straw from her drink and wraps her lips around it, then sucks.
“Just got here,” I grunt, then take another sip of my scotch, enjoying the burn when it reaches the back of my throat.
“Are you all by yourself tonight?” She makes a sad face, then reaches out and rubs her hand on my shoulder.Again. Women all over have made it clear that they do not enjoy unwanted touching. Giving men the same courtesy seems only fair.
“Preferably, yes,” I state and remove her hand. “I’m not the guy to work your daddy issues out with.” I turn and only slightly catch her call me an asshole before stomping away.
I sit there at the bar watching everyone, not knowing even what I’m looking for until my eyes land on her.
Lauren.
She’s with another waitress I’ve seen at the diner. I think she said her name is Piper. They aren’t out on the dance floor like everyone else. They seem to be having their own little dance party next to the bar. I watch for far too long as Lauren sways with the music, drink in her hand. The dress she’s wearing has me faltering for a moment. The clothes she normally wears don’t do her justice. My fingers itch to find out how smooth that fabric is. I might have lingered on her ass for a beat too long before drifting up to her face. She isn’t wearing her glasses tonight, and those heels she has on give her a good three inches.
They spin around a little more, and I watch as she takes a sip from her drink. Unlike the girl who spoke to me when I got here, watching Lauren wrap her lips around that fucking pink straw causes my dick to twitch on its own. “Fuck,” I mutter under my breath and get up. “Where’s the can?” I ask the bartender who points to a door at the end of the bar. I nod and swallow down the rest of my scotch and toss a couple of bills onto the bar, then walk away.
CHAPTERTHIRTY
Lauren
Three drinks in, and we haven’t even been here for two hours. Since getting that text from Lucas, Piper has been on one. She puts her phone ondo not disturband shoves it into her purse. I can only imagine the fight they’ll have when he gets back from his brother’s wedding.
“Time to live it up!” She kisses the air in my direction as she hands me a glass. I take it, then tap it to hers before swallowing the clear liquid. The familiar taste of vodka helps to dull my senses further.
“Have you ladies been drinking tonight?” A familiar voice comes to my side, and a bright light shines in my eyes the second I turn my head.
“Shit,” I hiss, closing my eyes, then blinking away the glare in my vision.
“Eli, what brings you here?” I ask, doing my best to see clearly again. He laughs at me and steps in a little closer.
“I had the night off and wanted to check this place out.” He extends his hand to me. “Need some water? You need to hydrate while drinking,” he lightly scolds me and hands a bottle to Piper as well. Taking the bottles offered, Piper puts hers in her back pocket, and I put mine in the purse she told me not to bring. Eli must think my taking the water was an invitation because he steps even closer to me. “I was hoping you would have answered my texts by now.” He’s sent me several text messages apologizing for his behavior the last time we saw each other. The night Conner and I…
“I’ve been busy,” I say shoving away thoughts of Conner that try to creep into my mind. We are here tonight to forget about the men in our lives. Or in my case, the man thatwasin my life. I almost reach for that water again for something to do, but Piper comes back to me with another shot glass. This one has something different in it. I don’t question what it is. I take it from her and drink it down in one gulp.
“I need to use the restroom,” I announce and place the glass on the bar before leaving the two of them. I have no clue where the bathrooms are but when I find a door, I push myself through it. I step into a hallway, letting the door close behind me. The music is suddenly muffled, giving my brain a chance to relax. It’s as though I can think again, even with the shots of alcohol. Things are fuzzy all over and with each step I take, it becomes more apparent that the noise might have been helping me. “Where the hell is the bathroom?” I do my best to walk in the heels Piper talked me into wearing, tugging again at the hem of the dress. Even with my height, it feels too short. The red material sits on my body like a second skin and hugs my every curve. Not something I would have in my closet. Piper didn’t even let me get away with wearing my glasses tonight. The contacts I rarely wear are actually behaving tonight so far, but I still find myself trying to push up my phantom pair of glasses. I pull the water out of my bag and open it up to take a drink as I walk down the hallway.
“What’s behind door number two?” I mumble to myself at the first door, then tuck the water back into my purse before I turn the knob, but I’m not the only one turning it. The door is yanked from my hand, causing me to fall forward with the action. I fully expect to smack face first into the floor instead of a warm body. My face is planted right into a chest, a hard chest at that. My hands, as if they have a mind of their own, drift along the chest I’ve fallen upon, and I find myself giggling. A smell I’ve come to know drifts over me, and I slowly turn my face upward to meet with a pair of familiar eyes.
“Something funny?” Conner asks before his hands go to my shoulders to right my wobbly frame.
“How cliché this is.” I laugh some more and take a step back, only to fumble my footing and fall right on my ass.
“Cliché?” The sound of his footsteps come toward me, then his hand comes into view. I nod my answer and suddenly feel a swirling in my stomach. Groaning, I look around the small room and spot the toilet on the far wall. I move past Conner’s outstretched hand and barely make it in time to relieve my stomach of the drinks Piper fed me at the bar.
