Hidden Read online

  HIDDEN: THE TWIN BAY SAGA, BOOK 2

  First edition. October 18, 2019.

  Copyright © 2019 T.K. Barber.

  Written by T.K. Barber.

  www.tkbarber.com

  Cover design: Suite Six Studios

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author, except by reviewers, who may quote brief passages in a review.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  If you received a full copy of this book for free via download from a site that touts ‘free books’, understand that it was posted without permission, and is a pirated copy. Pirating is stealing. It absolutely hurts every author affected.

  Please consider the amount of time it takes an author to create the characters and worlds you love (sometimes years). There are costs associated with publishing the book so others can read it, and we can’t continue to do so if the books don’t bring income.

  PLAYLIST

  BREAKING FREE | Night Riots (Chapter 1)

  ECHO | Huntar (Chapter 2)

  LOST MACHINES | Sleeperstar (Chapter 3)

  CREEPER | Mallory Knox (Chapter 4)

  WDWGILY | SYML (Chapter 5)

  SPEED OF SOUND | Coldplay (Chapter 6)

  WILD SUN | The Strumbrellas (Chapter 7)

  HEADSTRONG | Trapt (Chapter 8)

  BACK WHEN WE HAD NOTHING | Banners (Chapter 9)

  BROKEN FEATHER | Harrison Storm (Chapter 10)

  CONSCIOUSNESS | Jeff Russo (Chapter 11)

  DAVID | Dominic Miller (Chapter 12)

  SILENT RUNNING (EPIC TRAILER VERSION) | Hidden Citizens (Chapter 13)

  HURRICANE | Fleurie (Chapter 13)

  HYMN | Fleurie (Chapter 14)

  HOUSE KEY | Scott Helman (Chapter 15)

  AFRAID | The Neighborhood (Chapter 16)

  FALL IN LOVE | Barcelona (Chapter 17)

  SKYDIVING | Lights (Chapter 17)

  SAVE TONIGHT | Zayde Wolf (Chapter 18)

  RED HANDS BLACK DEEDS | Shaman’s Harvest (Chapter 19)

  DEMONS | Jacob Lee (Chapter 20)

  WHITE FLAGS | As Lions (Chapter 21)

  MONSTER | Colours (Chapter 22)

  THIS IS MY WORLD (FEAT. AUSTIN JENCKES) | Esterly (Chapter 23)

  SOLDIER | Fleurie (Chapter 24)

  NIGHTFLIGHT | Schiller (Chapter 25)

  ALL I WANT | Dawn Golden (Chapter 26)

  MR. DOCTOR MAN | Palaye Royale (Chapter 27)

  DANGEROUS (FEAT. JOYWAVE) | Big Data (Chapter 28)

  CLOSE YOUR EYES | Rhodes (Chapter 29)

  BRINGING ME DOWN (FEAT.RUELLE) |Ki:Theory (Chapter 30)

  ENOUGH, ENOUGH NOW | Bad Omens (Chapter 31)

  WHEN IT ALL GOES WRONG (FEAT. TOM GRENNAN) | Chase & Status (Chapter 32)

  BORN TO BE WHOLE | Prides (Chapter 33)

  HEADSHOTS | MRKTS (Chapter 34)

  WAR OF HEARTS | Ruelle (Chapter 34)

  CITIZEN | Broken Bells (Chapter 35)

  BREATHE ME | Sia (Chapter 36)

  BLOOM (BONUS TRACK) | The Paper Kites (Chapter 37)

  ALWAYS BEEN YOU | The Sweeplings (Chapter 38)

  FREE (NIKO BLANK REMIX) | Broods (Chapter 39)

  LOVE YOU ANY LESS | Rag’n’Bone Man (Chapter 40)

  FIRE MEET GASOLINE | Sia (Chapter 41)

  BURN | Ellie Goulding (Chapter 42)

  DEDICATION

  To my darling boys; love you bunches.

  BLURB

  From the ashes of heartbreak rises a war of passion.

  After the botched rescue attempt of girlfriend Annalise nearly cost him his life, Thomas Valentine finds himself under secret, protective care from an unlikely source. His crippling desire to see Annalise, despite orders not to, unknowingly places her in danger.

  All Annalise wants is to push past the trauma of her imprisonment, move on, and keep Thomas alive in her soul while clinging to a thread of “normal.” Those plans shatter the instant they’re reunited, and the young lovers are shoved deep into a sinister plot that claws at their fragile minds and tender hearts.

  When Thomas’s life and morality hang in the balance, Annalise makes a dangerous play to rescue him from the ghosts of his past and the one person he wants nothing more than to please.

  And with dynasties now on the line, the family leaders make deceptive moves to end their rivalry once and for all, using any means necessary.

  *****

  Hidden is the sequel to Held and must be read in that order. It’s a multi-pov romantic suspense novel set in a fictional town with dirty streets and dirtier cops. Run by two mob families with an uneasy truce, Twin Bay is in constant flux. The anti-heroes and heroines struggle, curse, bleed, and die for the love they so desperately want. Each of these novels has dark themes, intense action, meaningful intimacy, rewarding love, & guaranteed happy endings.

  Take a walk on the mob side.

  CONTENT ADVISORY

  This novel contains acts of violence, strong language, and situations that some readers might find triggering. For more detailed information on possible triggers, feel free to contact me directly at [email protected]

  Anna’s Poem

  “We’ll run right to the end,

  where there’s nothin’ but sky

  and nothin’ but time left to be you and I.”

  Two Weeks Later

  Lyle

  The monotonous sounds of rattling dishes, clinking silverware, and low-level conversations were the perfect backdrop for a meeting. An off-track betting parlor like Primo’s OTB wasn’t the sort of place a normal businessman would meet a client; however, Lyle wasn’t a normal businessman. To say the least.

  He scanned the room with a predatory eye and exhaled in smug satisfaction. Nine men, five women, two exits. It’d do just fine.

  The large wooden front door flew open, revealing the person he least expected to see in the entire city, and he sat up as his brows lifted. What was she doing here?

  His heart flipped, and he let his features settle into a soft scowl. Again with that. Every fucking time he saw her.

  She sashayed straight to him like he was the only one in the room, and his stomach fluttered as he watched. He held her gaze as she lowered into the chair across from him.

  “Hello, Marianna.”

  “Good afternoon, Lyle.”

  She inclined her head, the corners of her mouth twitching. He smirked and leaned forward, easing out a dark whisper as he eyed her face.

  “You don’t have to play the regal game with me, Mary. I know the real you.”

  Her coppery eyes closed for a second before she swallowed. A slow grin spread across his face. She still felt it. He rested his elbow on the table, chin in hand, and leaned further over.

  She was just as beautiful every time he saw her, aging beyond gracefully. Still had her high cheekbones. Her heart-shaped face still as smooth as could be. And any wrinkles that dared touch her skin were perfectly placed in the corners of her eyes or the edge of her smile. In fact, he didn’t think she was aging at all. Maybe she was somehow immortal.

  His brows twitched. What a ridiculous thing to think. That had no basis in fact, whatsoever. She scanned his face. What was she searching for? Maybe she was forming her own opinion about his aging. That shouldn’t have made him nervous, and yet . . .

  The stare-down continued a moment longer, until she ultimately dropped her gaze to the table.

  “I just wanted to tell you how sorry I am . . .” His brea
th froze in his throat, his pulse rocketed. “. . .for your loss. Again.”

  Oh. Of course. The game. The endless fucking game.

  Lyle’s smile dropped, and he fell back against the seat. So, she was still going to play. Well, he could too, despite the sting of false hope. He resisted an eye-roll and instead frowned, crossing his arms.

  “Your sentiment is appreciated. It’s been tough, as you could imagine.” He brushed a random crumb from the tabletop then caught her gaze. “I hope it’s a loss you never have to endure.”

  Her eyes widened, and he fought another swallow. He got no satisfaction from her discomfort, never had. But . . . they were what they were, even if he hated it. He smirked and glanced at the door.

  “Did you leave your ever-present lap dog at home today?”

  The cool smile she fixed on him made his chest ache. Damn her. Why did she have to be so—

  “Rico’s just outside.”

  Jealousy wrapped its sinewy tendrils around Lyle’s heart and squeezed. Things could have been so different. Should have been.

  He fought a sneer, and instead, let out a humorless chuckle. “Of course he is.”

  An exaggerated sigh forced its way past his lips. “I’m waiting for a client, my dear. So, if you have no . . . other . . . business with me,” he gestured to the door with his head and waited.

  Smile still in place, she watched him for another few seconds. Long enough he got nervous, not for his safety, but for what that could—might—mean, and he fought to keep his racing pulse under control.

  “Business.” She shook hair off her shoulder and leveled her head. “No, Lyle, I have no other business with you. I came to warn you.”

  His brows jumped up and he let out a small laugh. This should be good.

  “Warn me? What on Earth about?”

  Marianna smiled and rested her crossed hands on the tabletop.

  “Annalise is off-limits. Period. If anything happens to her, I won’t hold back.”

  Lyle’s heart thudded against his crossed arms. He adored that side of her. The cold, calculated confidence. The set of her shoulders. The fire in her eyes. He let out a hum before he realized it and covered it with a chuckle.

  “My dear, I have no idea what, or who, you’re talkin’ about. But I assure you, if I do hear anything, you’ll be the last to know.”

  Marianna’s smile stayed firm and she lifted her brows. He watched as the shallow crease form on her forehead.

  “I promise you, Lyle, you’ll regret it. Don’t push me.”

  “I wouldn’t dream of it.” He fixed his stare on her. “I’d promise you that I’m telling the truth, dearest Marianna Ortega, but I don’t make promises.” He sneered. “Not anymore.”

  Her mouth dropped open for one second, then she clamped it shut, working the muscles.

  Exactly. Feel the sting of harsh reality.

  A smug grin pulled at the corners of his mouth. “You are taking your maiden name again, correct? You’ve no reason to pretend any longer. To play at being in the mob.” Lyle lazily stirred his tea with the straw and eyed the rapid rise and fall of her chest, struggling to slow his own before finding her eyes again. “You should know, I’ve heard the talk. They won’t follow you. Ian’s men. They need a real leader, Mary. Not a queen floundering without a king.”

  She rose from the chair, her eyes wild. His heart betrayed him again as he watched the motion. Endless fucking game. War. Pain. Just . . . endless.

  He swallowed but continued to glare at her. She rolled her shoulders back and smiled again, appearing to be in control of her emotions.

  He wished he could say the same.

  “Good day, Lyle. Remember what I said.”

  He chuckled, even though he wanted to scream at her. To rage until she took back every wasted, worthless word she’d ever uttered to him.

  “How could I forget?”

  She lifted her chin with a smirk, turned on her heel, and made a steady retreat, surely confident she’d bested him in some way. His gaze followed her through the door and down the sidewalk until she disappeared.

  The wide swing of emotions she caused made him dizzy.

  He sneered and rubbed his hand hard down his face.

  She was always the only one who could steal his control. Ever. From the very first fucking second he laid eyes on her all those years ago. The only one that could enrage and arouse him in the same instant. He pursed his lips. Would that ever change? It seemed unlikely. Damn her.

  The door opened again, and a tall, fair-skinned, brown-haired man entered. Lyle dropped his gaze to his watch and gave him mental points for being punctual.

  He zeroed in on Lyle and quirked an eyebrow as he strode up to the table. If this was his attempt at being intimidating, it failed. He paused with his hand on the back of the chair and shot both brows up in wait.

  Lyle smiled and waved his hand. “Please.”

  The man dropped down on the chair and pulled a bent stack of papers out of his jacket, tossing them on the table as if Lyle should be kissing his feet with gratitude.

  Lyle let out a short chuckle and laced his fingers, resting his hands on his stomach as he leaned back against the chair.

  “Ryker, do I want to know what those are?”

  Ryker shrugged a shoulder. “I took the liberty of getting my own docs drawn up. By my own lawyer. “

  “Intriguing.” Lyle thrust up his chin. “Paperwork for what?”

  Ryker smirked. “Guaranteeing you’ll hold up your end of the deal.”

  Lyle laughed, making a show of wiping the corner of his eye. “Ah, thank you. I needed that.” He signaled for the waiter, cleared his throat, and leaned up to rest both elbows on the table, fixing Ryker with a glare.

  “I only sign my own papers. So these,” he cast a glance down, then shifted back in the seat, grabbed the stack and folded it. “Are utterly worthless. Out of professional curiosity, who in town did you find to draw papers up on me?”

  Ryker leaned back and cocked an elbow over the top of his chair. “None other than your very own partner.” Ryker examined his fingernails and grinned. “How’s that taste?”

  Lyle kept his face neutral, despite building rage. He was fairly certain Antoni wouldn’t have wanted Ryker to reveal his hand in that.

  Or . . . maybe he did. Maybe this was a play for position. Two betrayals so close together. A smirk pulled at his lips which then turned into a massive toothy grin. This would have to be dealt with in a . . . special way.

  Ryker swallowed, dropped his hand, adjusted in the chair, and cleared his throat.

  “Yes, sir, what can I get ya?”

  Lyle glanced up at the tattooed waiter, squinted at his name tag, and maintained his smile. “Jack, is it? I need you to do something for me.”

  Jack’s brows lifted, and he grinned as he crossed his arms. “That’s a shitty pickup line. You could at least compliment my eyes. Maybe my ass?”

  Lyle chuckled as he twisted the legal papers into a loose roll. “It seems I’m in need of a new drink, would you be so kind?”

  Jack shot out a laugh and nodded. “Sure thing. What’s wrong with this one though?”

  Lyle held up his hand to stay the waiter’s and eyed Ryker as he stuffed the entire roll of papers slowly into his tea.

  Jack’s brows lifted and he pursed his lip as he cast glances back and forth between the two of them. “Lemme guess, nasty divorce and he wants to keep the dog?”

  Lyle’s icy glare dared Ryker to make a sound as the documents soaked up the liquid. Satisfied the point had been made, Lyle leaned back and allowed the waiter to take the glass.

  “Well, that was interesting. Be right back with a fresh glass.”

  Lyle brushed his hands together and smiled at Ryker. Clearly, it was no secret there was another copy. Probably three, if he knew Antoni, which he did, but the show was effective regardless.

  Ryker’s sneer was amusingly deep, forcing L
yle’s smile wider.

  “Now that that’s handled. How are the patients doing?”

  “She’s getting better.” Ryker’s shrug was lazy. “She’ll be released and moved to office visits only in the next couple of weeks if she keeps progressing. She’s pretty remarkable. Which is really annoying, considering . . .” he made a weak gesture toward Lyle and dropped his hand on his lap.

  “And Nata—”

  Lyle’s chin rose, and his eyes narrowed, causing Ryker to stammer.

  “Uh, Ms. Holiday is adjusting to the med level again. So there’s that to contend with, which will require a few more greased palms.” Ryker smiled. “Unless you’re ready to let me test on h—”

  “No.”

  His daughter may have been a threat to all he’d built, but allowing her to be a subject for Ryker’s amusement was over the line. Keeping her locked away, letting everyone believe she was dead had worked marvelously for years. No reason to rock that boat now.

  Ryker held his hands out wide with yet another shrug before folding them in his lap. “Your call.”

  His gaze shifted to above Lyle’s head, announcing the man before his voice floated down.

  “Mr. Valentine. Buongiorno. Have you come to bet on a horse?”

  A fresh glass of tea landed soundless in front of him, and Lyle turned a glance over his shoulder to the tall Italian and his tight smile, which Lyle halfway returned.

  “Vincent. No. Just having a little discussion.” Lyle glared back at Ryker, who was studying the top of the table, and refocused Vincent with a smirk. “Seems you just missed your little brother. Shame he didn’t stop in to say hello. He must be terribly busy these days. Any clue what he’s up to?”

  A slow smile spread across Vincent’s face, and Lyle’s smirk faltered. “It’s not needed for me to keep a tight watch over my brothers, Mr. Valentine. I trust them.” He leaned infinitesimally closer, a glint in his eyes, and Lyle’s smirk dropped altogether. “With my life.”