Page 30 of Hidden While In Sight

The office camera was different. The way she stared into it almost seemed deliberate.

Diego’s hair stood up on his arms. “It’ll be fine,” he told Ramiro, even as the pulse in his throat throbbed.

“You and Naz. So fucking reckless sometimes.”

Diego didn’t deny it. He was only half listening, unable to look away from Hannah’s eyes.

“Why don’t you just clear out early? This whole thing has been a shit show for you, and I doubt you’ll overhear anything so close to the deadline.”

Hannah looked away. She continued to pick up the office as if nothing had happened.

“I’m not leaving,” Diego said.

Ramiro sighed but didn’t argue. He knew Diego too well. Knew it would be pointless.

“This job’s failure will be expensive,” he griped.

“It’s not a failure.” Diego reached out, his finger sliding over Hannah’s form.

“You’re such a fucking sap sometimes. Do I have to remind you that we’re in this for the money? The client paid us a shitload. Plus, this will be a hit to our reputation. You’ve never not delivered before.”

Diego remembered the way Hannah’s eyes had met his through the camera. “I think the wife knows something.”

“That’d be useful if true. Think you can fuck it out of her?”

Fury rose hot in Diego’s chest. “Careful, Ram. I won’t warn you again.”

“Threatening me?” His voice held a reluctance that wasn’t like Ramiro at all. “I’m worried, Diego. There’s another job waiting. Forget what I said. We’ll deal with the fallout. Let me pull you.”

Ramiro was right. Diego had never failed before, but that didn’t matter. He’d take the burden of that, no problem.

“Not yet.” Diego hung up, cutting off any further protests.

His gaze remained fixed on Hannah, waiting for something, though even he wasn’t sure what.

Chapter 16

It wasn’t until the next day that the package was delivered, with a note from Ramiro complaining about what a pain it had been to find that specific edition of the Bible. Diego was struck by how heavy it seemed as he carried it over to the backyard. He dragged one of the pool chairs in front of the sliding glass door to place it directly in her path. His eyes remained slanted away from the water as he returned to his own empty house.

He wanted to watch her expression, but a wind kept ruffling waves along the pool’s water, making his stomach lurch.

Diego returned to the cameras, settling into his rolling chair. Hannah had already changed into her swimsuit and was heading to the door that led out to the pool. That was good. It had been cloudy outside. The sooner she found his gift, the better.

The lack of childish giggles made it seem like the world held its breath. Diego had gotten used to the way the children sounded over the past few days now that he no longer muted their camera. Connor was often sullen with the nanny, but Emma was still a toddler, too young to understand the pain around her. Diego had watched the nanny leave the house with them not long before, surprised that she’d buckled them into an SUV. She usually walked them to the nearby park, but it looked like rain. It wasn’t a park day at all.

Hannah stepped outside and froze with her hand still on the sliding glass door, just on the edge of the living room camera. She moved outside without shutting the door, slipping out of sight. As she stepped back inside, she clutched his gift against her chest. Her eyes squeezed shut, and she bowed her head.

Diego hated that bowed head. For long minutes, she stood in the open doorway like that, and he couldn’t read her face at all. He hoped she wasn’t crying again. Hannah’s tears made him fucking furious and destroyed him at the same time. He never wanted to see them again.

Her head lifted, and his breath caught. She was wearing the most peaceful half smile, with the barest hint of a dimple. He frantically memorized the expression, wanting like hell to hold on to it for the rest of his miserable life.

She made her way to the den, placing the Bible he’d purchased on the side table near the couch instead of opening it. Her hand lingered on it, and it was as if she touched his skin instead, the way the hair on the back of his arms tingled.

Her head lifted, and she stared straight at him through the camera, that smile still present. It was the perfect reward.

All too soon, her smile faded to blankness, though without the tightness that was so often present. She shut off the light as she left the den.

He tracked her progress through the house to her bedroom. She didn’t head to the bathroom like she so often did while changing. Her hand shook a little as she dragged the swim cap off her head, letting her light brown hair fall to drape her shoulders. Her eyes lifted to stare into the vanity mirror.

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