Page 35 of Kept in the Dark

She needed to tell Trey about their daughter. She was actually surprised he hadn’t said anything at the wedding or in the car. It was obvious Trinity was his. Hailey wondered if he was too dense to put two and two together or if he just didn’t want to overstep.

Hailey guessed he was too dense because Trey wouldn't know a boundary even if it hit him in the face.

They were waiting on their refills when Sara became rigid, and her eyes widened. From Sara’s seat, she had a direct line of view of anyone who came into the restaurant, a fight Trey begrudgingly avoided despite wanting a seat facing the door. He noticed the change in her body movements and instinctively placed a hand on his holster as he turned to look at who walked through the door.

Alarmed, Hailey glanced, too.

She wasn’t prepared to see the man who walked through the door and apparently neither was Sara.

Her sister sat motionless, making eye contact with the man who stood in the entrance of the restaurant, his body mirroring Sara’s. But instead of shock, it was rage that burned in his eyes.

Before Sara could muster the courage to say something, she watched in silence as Chase Renner turned around and left.

“What was that about?” Trey demanded. No doubt he hadn’t appreciated Sara’s reaction to seeing Chase, as if he was somehow dangerous.

Sara didn’t respond. She simply looked away, and picked at her food, content to keep her secrets.

Trey looked at Hailey for answers. She put her hands up in front of her. “She wouldn't tell me anything when they broke up and I don’t think she’s going to now.”

Not knowing what else to do, he grumbled and went back to eating his tacos while Sara pushed her plate away. Hailey nibbled at hers, ready for lunch to be over.

The three continued to eat alone until a group of teenagers came in toward the end of their meal. The bunch stared briefly at Sara, probably wondering if they were seeing the woman who killed her mother. Sara stared back and they quickly turned their heads, whispering as they did.

Hailey’s heart hurt for Sara. She was still a person. A person with trauma and demons and pain that went far deeper than the cuts she had received during her time in prison. She was a person who needed to be reminded of what it felt like to be loved and cared for.

Had she ever been truly loved or cared for? Hailey didn’t think so. They lived in the same home where love was nearly nonexistent and the only care you got was materialistic. Even Hailey and Morgan were reluctant to love her unconditionally, both afraid of the havoc Sara always created.

As Trey was waiting for the check, Hailey reached for her wallet as well. She glanced down to see it wasn’t with her. Sighing, she said, “I think I left my wallet in your truck. Can I have your keys?”

Trey shook his head. “I can get lunch.”

“No, that’s okay.” She awkwardly added, “Thanks, though.”

Hailey could see that he wanted to argue, but instead, pulled out his keys and handed them to her.

Once inside the truck, she quickly found her wallet between the seat and the middle console. She ran her hands through her hair and tossed her head back, annoyed with her absent mindedness. The fact that Trey still made her feel like she couldn’t think straight really bugged her.

She turned around to walk back into the restaurant when she saw Ryan standing on the sidewalk near the door, arms crossed, staring at her. “Must be my lucky day, running into you here.”

Hailey froze.

He sensed her fear and smiled. It was the same wicked grin plastered on his face when he taunted her, harassed her…hurt her.

She tried to command her body to walk to the safety in the restaurant, but he was in front of her before she could make it to the door. He invaded her personal space, his presence reminding her that he was much bigger and stronger than she was; that he was in control now.

Hailey took a step back and nearly tripped on a crack in the sidewalk. Every alarm in her body was going off, telling her to run. She looked around for Trey and Sara, neither having exited the restaurant yet, nor seeing her through the window.

Suddenly, adrenaline kicked in and she felt the urge to defend herself. She refused to give him what he wanted. She wouldn’t cower away, and she damn sure wouldn’t go down without a fight.

Hailey jutted her chin, looking him directly in the eye. She ignored the panic that was surging through her as her body recalled the day he tried to kill her. “Get away from me,” she demanded.

“Awe, come on, Princess. Don’t you want to have a little fun again? It was cut short at the wedding.”

“Get away from me or else-”

“Or else what, Hailey? You’re gonna tell Trey?” He laughed. “I don’t recall him saving you thirteen years ago.”

Fear gripped her. Every alarm in her body was screaming at her to get away from him. But as she moved past him, he grabbed her upper arm and slammed her into the brick wall of the restaurant. She let out a yelp as the wind was knocked from her lungs, her heart racing as her body responded to the impending danger. She tried to control the panic that was rising inside her, but she knew it would soon be a losing battle.

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