Page 20 of Beyond Oblivion

Beck shook his head before tapping his knuckles to Trenton’s. “I hear that. Hey, we’re headed out.”

“See you tomorrow,” I said. “You both have appointments just after lunch.”

Sylvie nodded before following her brother down the hall and out the back door.

Trenton turned to me with a grin, slipping his hands around my waist. “Ain’t gonna be me.”

“You’re a lot of things, but I’ll fight anyone who dares accuse you of being a waffle dick.” I said, locking my fingers behind his neck. “Thomas called.”

“Oh yeah?” he said quietly against my lips. “Was it important?”

“He didn’t say.”

“Then it wasn’t,” Trenton whispered, his lips trailing from mine, across my jawline, and down my neck. “I’ve missed you.”

I breathed out a laugh, leaning away from the wonderful but ticklish feeling his lips and breath combined to make a million goosebumps rise on my flesh. “You just saw me an hour ago. Speaking of, where’s your client?”

“Oh, shit,” he said, rushing down the hall. A few moments later he was back again, pecked me on the lips, and then jogged away.

I touched my mouth and shook my head. It didn’t matter how long we were together, that man always made the proverbial butterflies in my stomach explode into chaos. I meant every word I’d said to Thomas. We did love each other, but it was friendship level in comparison with the way I felt about Trenton. He made me laugh until my stomach hurt, smile until my cheeks hurt, crave him until my thighs hurt, think about him until my brain hurt. Our conversations were ordinary, or deep, or silly, or thoughtful—sometimes all in the same night. I loved his goofy sense of humor, and he thought I was adorable when I was mad. No one else made me feel as loved, as perfect, as beautiful as Trenton Maddox did.

Even if Thomas wasn’t so logical, so rigid, so… Special Agent of the FBI, I still would’ve fallen in love with Trenton. We made sense. Just like Thomas and Liis made sense. She was calculating, stoic, and brilliant. Things I could never be… and wouldn’t want to.

My thoughts drifted to Liis and Abby, and how mysterious and awkward they were being, the papers on the table, and my guess that they were planning a surprise party for someone. Thomas was right, I was reaching with that one. Liis wasn’t the party planning type. Maybe that’s why she had Abby helping her. But for who? After they moved in together, Liis had found a rental in a remote area of the Arizona desert to celebrate Thomas’s birthday, and he’d spent a lot of time there since. The whole family knew if it was the weekend of Thomas’s birthday, that was where they’d be.

Jim’s words played in my mind.So, it’s a secret.

Then Thomas’s words from our earlier call.“…honest to God, Camille. It’s not you… Can you just trust me?”

What were they hiding? What could those two possibly have in common? Something they’d need to keep hidden from me? Their secret wasn’t much of one. Thomas clearly knew. Abby, Liis, and Thomas. I exhaled a sharp breath. It felt right on the tip of my brain.

Thomas and Liis have a secret, their careers at the FBI. Travis is connected to the FBI because of their investigation of the fire. Abby is connected to Travis. What is Abby’s secret that she’d share with Liis, that Thomas would also know about?

I tapped my finger on the counter, deep in thought.

Travis never saw prison time for the fire. Thomas was the likely conduit for his immunity, but the FBI doesn’t just grant favors, even if you’re the golden boy of the Bureau. It wasn’t a huge leap that maybe Travis had been brought into the fold in exchange for immunity, and he is gone a lot. Maybe Thomas made a deal for him to narc on more douchebags like Brandon.I made a face. I didn’t see the FBI giving Travis a pass to bring in small time criminals, even if Thomas was his brother. And that didn’t explain why Abby and Liis would be secretive about a file full of papers spread all over her table.Abby has no tie to the FBI that would explain plans with Liis besides their investigation of Travis, and that’s over. What would be her role in all of…?

Oh. Oh shit! Her dad is Mick Abernathy. Mick had an in with the Carlisis.Travis was going to fight for Benny, so he could easily work for him now undercover. Abby grew up around it all, so she’s… consulting?

I covered my mouth when recognition hit. “Holy shit,” I whispered. “No fucking way.”

Gray clouds darkened the sky, and the trees and bushes outside the glass front wall of Skin Deep began to sway, pulling my mind away from Liis, Abby, and their bigger-than-I-could’ve-imagined secret.

“Thanks, man,” Trenton said, waving goodbye to his client. “Damn,” he said, staring out the windows while perching his hands on his hips. “The weather changed fast.”

I side-eyed him and breathed out a laugh. “You look like your dad.”

Trenton looked down and let his hands fall to his side, and then he rushed behind the counter, enveloping me into his arms. “That was my last one for the night. What are we making for dinner?”

“I’m pooped. Tacos? Or… tacos?”

“Tacos it is,” he said, planting tiny kisses on my neck.

Hazel’s room erupted in cheers, and a few moments later, she swayed into the lobby with her arms wide. “Look at my beautiful little munchkin and her fourteen karat gold ears!”

Cassidy walked out, her brown bob tucked back to show off her slightly red lobes and the glistening gold studs with tiny diamonds nestled inside. Her eyes were red-rimmed and glossy, but with her chest puffed proudly and her chin lifted, she was only feeling the thrill of triumph. Her square, slightly spaced teeth were on full display.

“Cassie, you did it? You did it!” Trenton said, lifting her up and twirling her in a circle.

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