We had a lot of secrets.
Outside, the picnic table’s red umbrella turned everything pinkish from the sunlight. It made our vanilla ice cream look like it was really strawberry. Cena’s face was sticky; her smile gigantic. If anything hammered home how I’d made the right choice not to work with Jack, this was it.
I wanted to stay with her as the sun set. But I knew I couldn’t. “Come on, time to go.”
Cena wiped her hands on her napkin. Her voice was low, which wasn’t normal. “Work tonight?”
Standing, I watched her closely. “That’s right.”
The napkin twisted in her fingers, just like the lollipop sticks earlier. “Hap… what do you do for work?”
A spider of fear crawled through my chest. “I’m a waitress, you know that.”
“Mn.” She tossed the napkin in the trash.
“Cena… why are you asking this?”
There’s nothing sadder than a small child’s defeated shrug. “Daddy was talking to Manina.” That was our weekly maid. “She was cleaning the kitchen, and I heard him say to her that he could get her a job where you work. That didn’t make her happy.”
“Oh, that…”
“Are you happy there?”
I was lost for words. Kneeling, I brushed her hair from her face. “Cena,” I said, waiting until she looked at me. “Work is work. You do what you have to, it’s okay if you’re not happy. Lots of people don’t like their jobs.”
Resting her hands on my shoulders, she said solemnly, “But you should always be happy. I want you to be happy.”
Inside of me, the storm that had been boiling for hours broke apart. Cena was in my arms, crushed in a hug, before I thought it over. But why even think? Loving her was an instinct, and of all the things out there, I trusted it the most. “I love you,” I whispered. “You make me happy. Did you know that?”
“I love you, too.” Usually she struggled to get free. Not this time.
As we drove back home, my mind was a wreck. Cena wanted me to be happy, but did she know what that meant? Did she suspect my job wasn’t waitressing, but something more sordid? Her innocence was something I’d taken for granted. She was only eight, and I did my best to shield her, but the condo we lived in was frequented by people all touched in various degrees by my stepfather. Security, the maids, the women he took home, business associates…
How much longer could I keep Cena from seeing the dirty truth?
Chapter Seven
Harper
“Cena,” I said, knocking on the bathroom door. “You all done?”
“Just plucking my eyebrows!”
“What?” I sputtered, bursting into the room. Steam from the shower had turned everything hazy; she stood in front of the mirror, grinning at me. Her eyebrows were intact. “Don’t scare me like that!”
Giggling, she tipped her head upside down, drying her hair with a towel. She’d slipped into her long blue night-shirt, the length exposing her knees. She was going to be taller than me, at this rate.
Chasing her into her bedroom, I tucked her under the blankets. “Tomorrow is Saturday,” I said, killing the lights. “Maybe we’ll go to the zoo or something.”
“Can Jack come?”
I went stiff. “I don’t know. Why do you want him there?”
“He makes me feel safe. Like you do, Hap.”
Hovering in the doorway, I watched my little sister thoughtfully. Her eyes were wide; luminous in the night sky that drifted through her window. “Cena… is something making you worried?” An idea struck me. “Do you still feel like you’re being watched?”
She rolled onto her side. “Just ask Jack to come with us. Please.”
Her shoulder rose and fell. I wasn’t sure if she was already asleep or not, so I whispered, “Alright.” Something was plucking at me; what was making Cena so scared? Why did she think someone was watching her?
Shutting the door, I stared at it and the flowers taped there. It was impossible not to think about my encounter with Jack earlier today. He’d revealed so much to me, I’d done the same for him. No one knew I was keeping my voice a secret from Callum except for Cena, and she didn’t really get the why of it. I was lucky she respected the sanctity of sister secrets.
Moving to the kitchen, I looked at the island. The water glasses from Jack and I still sat there. He kissed me, I remembered, brushing my lips. He’d gotten so worked up, then he’d run away. It was only when he came out of the bathroom that he revealed his plan.
Staring at that room, a creeping sensation of unease moved up my body. On soft steps I entered the bathroom. The shower steam was long gone, but there were streaks on the mirror where Cena had written “I <3 Ice Cream.”
Grabbing a towel, I started to wipe it clean. My gaze wandered upwards. I saw my own tired eyes—knew I’d have to pack on the makeup thick for work tonight. Guys didn’t like when you looked exhausted.
Something glinted between the light bulbs. I spotted it in my reflection, squinting as I drew closer. On tiptoe I peeled the almost invisible black device off of the vanity. In my fingers it was cold; my heart grew colder as I studied it.
A camera?
Someone was watching this room… someone was looking at me in the shower. No, not just me. I nearly vomited; I gripped the sink, hunkering down as I fought a wave of nausea. Someone was able to see Cena showering, too.
And who did I know that could have put this here? Who had spent such a long time in my bathroom today?
I didn’t want to believe it; I didn’t know what else the answer could be. Jack had placed a camera here, and the best case was he was hoping to find… what? Evidence against Callum?
Something was making my ears hurt—I was grinding my teeth. Squeezing the camera, I looked at it closely. It was simple enough; it probably broadcast with a wi-fi signal, the photos uploading somewhere. It had a small on and off button, and to my surprise, I realized it was already off. Jack forgot to turn it on, I guess. But I had to know for sure. Deep down, I didn’t want to believe the man I’d kissed… the man I’d let myself get wrapped up in… was a perverted creep.
It didn’t make sense. I needed answers.
Checking on Cena once more, I grabbed my work bag from the closet. It was early enough that I knew I could do some searching and still get to the club on time. Locking the doors behind me, I took the elevator, bursting with a mix of anxiety and anger as I entered the lobby.
Hector was actually at the desk. He’d worked for Callum for years, was known for being a bit shady. I definitely wouldn’t trust him with my life. But maybe he knows something about remote video recordings. “Hector,” I said, moving his way.
His eyes shot up to spot me. “Harper, hey. Off to work?”
I ignored the way he grinned knowingly. “You ever seen one of these before?” Gently, I set the camera on the desk between us. Hector showed no reaction.