Deceiving Lies

Kash grabbed my hand, and pulled it toward him to kiss the inside of my palm when we were a couple minutes from his parents’. I smiled over at him and curled my hand around his to squeeze it, and his eyes flashed on my pale blue nails. Kissing them, he smirked at me before bringing our hands down to rest on the center console.

“I wonder what color he’ll send this time.”

I didn’t have to look at his eyes to know there was no lingering doubt there. After Kash had given me the option to leave with Trent, and we’d talked about everything I’d been feeling, he seemed to understand how I viewed Trent. Nothing more than my protector, and friend. A month after Trent had left, I knew for sure that Kash was finally okay with him.

Every month, on the fourth, a small package was delivered to Kash at the police department. And every month, I was waiting anxiously for him to come home with it. It was always a bottle of nail polish with a card that only ever said two words. “I’m fine.” The only time it ever changed was on the Fourth of July. Along with the polish, there would be a new journal for me, and somewhere in the middle would be a letter from him giving me more insight into his new life, without ever giving away his name, location, or job.

That first month, Kash had been confused but had finally pieced it together by the time his shift was ending. He’d read my journal from when I’d been kidnapped, and remembered everything Trent had bought me, and was honestly appreciative that Trent was—in a weird way—letting me know he was safe. I wished there was a way for me to thank him, but there was never a return address, and every month it was somehow sent from a different state. Besides, he was already risking a lot; it could put him in danger if we tried to get in touch with him. So I would be happy with my monthly gift from him. At least Kash and I could be happy for him and his new life, based on the two letters.

With a soft smile, I squeezed Kash’s hand and said, “Few more days and we’ll find out, I guess.”

After putting the car in park, Kash looked at me seriously and whispered, “I’ve got fifty on orange.”

“Silver,” I whispered back. “And you’re on.”

He laughed and kissed me swiftly before getting out of the car. After we got Ke

“Oh, we haven’t seen you in so long!” Marcy crooned at Ke

“Mom, it’s been a week and a half.”

She leveled her signature glare at Kash, before smiling and raining kisses all over Ke

“Rachel!” Maddie screamed, and ran toward me.

Kash stepped in front of me and blocked my stomach. “Calm down, turbo.”

Maddie rolled her eyes and pushed him aside as she bounced up and down on her toes, her left hand going in front of her face as she squealed.

“Oh my God! Congratulations!” I grabbed her hand and looked at the ring on her finger before pulling her in for a hug. “When did he ask?”

“Christmas!”

“Congrats, and nice rock, Aaron,” I teased as I pulled Maddie’s new fiancé in for a hug.

Like I hadn’t known. I’d gone with him to pick out the ring.

“She loves it. Thank you,” Aaron whispered into my ear, and I winked when he pulled back.

I listened to Maddie tell me all the details of the proposal as I accepted hugs from her parents and other family friends. After we’d said hello to everyone, Kash pulled me into his chest and ran his hands over my swollen belly, and I continued talking to Maddie as he talked to Aaron.

Maddie and I had grown incredibly close over the last couple years, and I was so happy to see her with Aaron. Too many guys had burned her before. Aaron had swooped in at the perfect time, and was beyond perfect for her. He was the biggest sweetheart I’d ever met; and though he seemed pretty calm for Maddie’s overexcited personality, they balanced each other really well.

“Where’s my brother?” she suddenly asked.

Kash shrugged. “I don’t know, he said he’d be here. But I haven’t seen him since before we left for California.”

“I haven’t seen him since before Aaron and I got engaged. He keeps saying he’s busy, I want to show him my ring!”

Looking up at my husband, I nudged his stomach with my elbow. “Call him, babe.”

Keeping one hand on my stomach, he pulled out his phone and brought up Mason’s number.

Kash and Mason were still in the gang unit, and things were going as well as they could in that field. Mason was at our house more often than not and loved playing “Uncle Mase” to the girls. Like Candice, Kash and I had been hoping he’d settle down soon . . . but girls came and went from his apartment just as often as they always had.

“Mason’s bringing a girl,” Kash spoke directly into my ear so no one else could hear us.

Apparently I’d spoken too soon.

“Like . . . ?”

“Like a girlfriend.”

“No way!” I hissed and looked up at him. Kash looked just as surprised as I felt.

A shriek filled the living room and I turned to see Ke

“Jesus,” I whispered and pointed. “Naked baby.”

Kash laughed and kissed the back of my neck. “You are homeschooling the girls.”

“Whatever you say, Kash.” I winked and watched him take off after Ke

Marcy walked up next to me and handed me Ke

“We haven’t figured out a way yet. Where’s Kira?”

“Sleeping in Rich’s arms.”

I turned until I spotted them, and smiled at my daughter and father-in-law. They were so cute together.

“Okay, well, I’m going to help Kash with Ke

Taking the clothes from her, I walked through the halls until I heard Ke

“I caught the monster.”

“Your mom collected all her clothes.”

After we got her dressed again, I lifted her onto my hip and walked out toward the living room. Marcy was waiting at the entrance of the hall and made grabby hands at Ke

“Come back to Ya Ya, sweet girl, let’s go hang out with Poppi and Kira.”

Handing her over to Marcy, I giggled when Kash pulled us back into the hall and pressed us close as his mouth teased the sensitive spot behind my ear.

“I don’t think so, mister.”

“I can’t help it . . . this is the one time we’re not chasing after our girls and someone else is watching them. And, fuck, Rachel, you look so hot. Swear to God I’m keeping you pregnant all the time. We’re going to have a football team.”

I laughed and elbowed his stomach. “Whatever.”

“Don’t ‘whatever’ me, Sour Patch. You know you’re sexy as hell.”

I rolled my eyes and turned to kiss him before whispering against his lips, “Liar.”

“Never.”

He captured my lips and I moaned into his mouth when his tongue caressed mine.

“Naked baby!” Maddie called and I let my forehead drop onto Kash’s chest.

“Homeschooling those girls, woman.” He kissed me again before taking off after a squealing Ke

I walked to the front of the hall and scooped up a tired-looking Kira as I enjoyed the view.

Maddie and Aaron were talking quietly in a corner. Close friends were gathered in clumps around the living room and kitchen—some talking to their group, others laughing at the circus that was my family. Richard and Mr. Gates were wiping back tears as they laughed over Mrs. Gates, Marcy, and Kash chasing after Ke

I loved my family, and I loved our life. Kash and I had gone through rough times at the begi