The Secrets We Keep Read online

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Copyright © 2020 by Lisamarie Kade

  Kade Publishing LLC

  Cover design by Amanda Walker PA & Design Service

  Edited by Magnolia Author Services

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  For more information please visit lisamariekadeauthor.com

  Created with Vellum

  This book is dedicated to all the dreamers out there. It’s never to late to create your own dream.

  Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Epilogue

  Newsletter Sign Up

  Playlist

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Prologue

  Finishing up a conference call to Alaska with a real estate tycoon, I sigh. Thank goodness I know how to handle rich, cocky men. I shut down my computer and start to pack up. It doesn’t take me long to gather up and organize my workspace. I keep a tidy space and I take pride in my work. I’m one of the top real estate agents in this part of Florida and I work for one of the biggest real estate companies in the state. We deal with high end properties and even bigger mansions internationally. Baker’s Real Estate oozes wealth. These late nights at the office don’t bother me though. I love what I do. Walking out of my office, I notice the glow of light coming through Chet’s frosted glass office. I decide to stop by and tell him the good news. Chet Baker is the son of Mark Baker, CEO of Baker’s Real Estate. Chet is also my sister Sarah’s fiancé. He has blonde hair and eyes so blue, they have captured my sister’s heart. He is the typical pretty boy.

  I reach his door, knock once but don’t wait for him to answer. I turn the knob and walk in like always, except this time it’s different, much different. Chet is there with his pants down, pooled at his ankles with a woman bent over his large oak desk.

  “Oh my god!” I scream out. Am I really witnessing this right now?! I cover my eyes with my hands briefly until reality registers. What the fuck is he doing with another woman?

  Chet turns suddenly facing me. His face turns red. Anger clearly evident. He pulls out of the bimbo, giving me a visual I never asked to see and pulls his pants up hastily.

  “What the fuck Eleanor! Why are you still here?” Chet yells at me.

  He’s yelling at me. What nerve! I shout back, “I just finished working! Unlike you!” Unless he considers screwing some chick work nevertheless, it still wouldn’t be right because of my sister and all. I look between the two of them.

  He’s handing the chick her clothes and mumbling for her to go. As she rushes past me naked, I realize she is the damn receptionist from a few floors down. I’m drawing a blank on her name. Whatever doesn’t matter.

  “What the fuck Chet?” I’m so pissed, he’s cheating on Sarah. He comes up fast and grabs my arms. So fast it shocks me.

  “Don’t you dare say a word to her!” He spits at me. It’s as if he read my mind.

  “Get your hands off me, you pig!”

  I go to yank free but he presses against me holding me in place. Is he crazy? Is this really happening right now? I continue trying to pull away from him to no avail.

  “Did you hear me Eleanor? You will not tell Sarah of this.” Chet whispers in my ear. The heat from his breath makes my stomach churn.

  “I heard you. Loud and clear.”

  I kick him in the shin and he releases me. I go to make a run for it, but he grabs me again and pulls me to where I am now pushed up against the same oak table that he was just fucking on. Gross.

  Chet tries to force me to look and face him. I refuse. It must set him off because he slaps me hard. I wince in pain. What in the actual hell is happening? He’s unhinged.

  “You are not to say a word to Sarah or anyone else about what you saw. Do you understand me?”

  “What the fuck is wrong with you Chet?! Sarah deserves to know! What you were doing is wrong!” I’m so angry, I’m starting to shake. “You won’t get away with this Chet!” I shout.

  “Oh, but I will. Especially if you want to live. If you want Sarah to live too.”

  Chet pulls my hair, causing my head to tilt back in pain. It’s not my hair being pulled or the pain he’s causing me to stand stock still, it’s his words. They’re frightening. This is a side of him I have never seen before. It’s as if I have no idea who Chet truly is.

  “What?” I whisper.

  “You heard me. I’ll put an end to you if you so much speak about what you saw happen.” He grabs my face suddenly, letting go of my arms, but I keep still. The way his fingers dig into my cheeks hurts so much that I feel tears forming in the corners of my eyes. Chet’s eyes are full of hot anger. He looks at me like I’m the one who did something wrong. His voice is low when he speaks next.

  “My real estate connections would have a field day with you and your body.” He looks me up and down and I don’t miss how his eyes pause at my chest. It’s repulsive. He makes eye contact with me again and continues on.

  “They would pay a nice penny for your body alone. I’ll see to it that they dispose of you when they are done having their fun. No one would hear your screams. No one would find your body.”

  I go to speak but he puts a finger on my lips to silence me.

  “Sarah too, if you can’t keep your pretty little mouth shut. In fact, I have no problem getting rid of both of you.” He rubs my lips with his fingers roughly, I have to hold myself back from either biting them or vomiting. He makes me feel dirty, yet he’s the asshole who should be feeling like this. I think of Sarah and swallow hard.

  Sarah, my older sister. I start to cry at the thought of her. I won’t let her be hurt because of me. He’s serious. I can see it written all over his face. I know for a fact he has connections. I help seal those connections. I shake my head not wanting to understand.

  “Do you understand me Eleanor?” Chet seethes.

  I say nothing, I just nod. I have to get away from him. I start to reach around for something on his desk, it’s hard with him holding my face tight, making threats. I feel keys. I grip them in my hand. Knowing they won’t do much, but it may be my only chance to get away… alive. That realization falls over me, I could die.

  “Say it Eleanor!” Chet’s voice rises.

  “I ... I won’t say anything.” I stutter.

  “Good girl.” He smirks at me. This triggers something in me and it pisses me off. I count to three silently and take a deep breath. I use all my
force to stab Chet in his stomach with one of his keys and push off him.

  “You bitch!”

  I take off running, grabbing my purse that fell during our scuffle.

  “Stop right this fucking minute Eleanor!”

  I don’t look back as he yells for me to stop. I run as hard and as fast as I can out of his office to the elevator and down to the first floor. I take off out the doors to the parking garage. I realize his keys are still clutched in my hand. Fuck it. His car is closer than mine. I run to his Mercedes, unlock it and get in and lock the sleek, silver car. I don’t even care. I start it and back out of his spot. Baker painted on the stump. His personal parking spot. What a piece of shit I think to myself. I start to drive off as Chet steps out of the door. Anger is seeping from his face as he yells, what I don’t know. What I do know is, It’s quite scary seeing him like this considering I’ve never seen him mad.

  As I drive towards home, a text comes through my phone. I glance while waiting at a red light. It’s from Chet and it has me scared to even breathe.

  “You will enjoy spending the rest of your days with my client. He feasts upon prey like you. Taking whatever he wants from you. He’ll use your body and when it is no longer needed he’ll discard of you. Maybe I’ll throw Sarah in too. A two for one deal.”

  He’s damn crazy. I don’t put it past him to know someone like this. Some of the wealthiest men I’ve had to do business with are full of evil. I’ve caught a glimpse here and there over my time working with them. I realize what I have to do to protect Sarah. I must leave town. Maybe I can persuade her to come too. Doubtful. I have to leave and fast. Damn it all if I’m not crying again. I know I am because I can feel the tears streaming down my face, but I’ve gone numb.

  I pull onto the dirt road leading up to our driveway. As I turn in, I notice Sarah’s car is there.

  “Great, maybe I can get her to just leave with me”. I say out loud to no one.

  I put the car in park and shut off the engine. No point in taking out the keys so I leave them. I climb out in a rush and run inside. Sarah spots me right away.

  “Eleanor! What is wrong?”

  “Sis there’s so much, I can’t explain. I need to leave. Please come with me.”

  My eyes plead with her. All I see back in her eyes is confusion.

  “Really Eleanor, what is going on?” She calls after me as I make my way down the hall into my room. I yank out the duffle bag and start shoving clothes inside of it.

  “Eleanor! What are you doing?” Sarah yells.

  It makes me jump, but I keep stuffing the duffle. I brush past her to go into the bathroom to grab what I can. Sarah’s phone starts ringing and she answers almost immediately. “Hey baby.”

  Ugh it’s Chet, just the thought sends chills down my spine. I must hurry, I tell myself. I rush out of the bathroom, back past her when I notice her mouth is gaping open.

  “Eleanor, did you steal Chet’s Mercedes? He called the cops! Why would you do such a thing?”

  “Sarah, that’s not what...” I stop myself and shake my head. That asshole. “Sis, I can’t explain right now, but if you leave with me I promise I will. But I need to go. Now.”

  “What? Are you crazy? What is wrong with you?”

  “I’m Sorry Sarah.”

  There’s no use in trying. I am running out of time. I gather up what I can and open my desk drawer. I pull out my folder that contains my important documents and shove them quickly into my duffle and zip it. As I’m pulling the straps over my shoulder, I notice Sarah is staring in disbelief.

  “Sarah,” I say as I pull her into a hug. “I want you to know that I love you so much. I’m doing what I have to, to keep us both safe. If you want to come with me, it has to be now. If you stay, please consider leaving Chet, for your sake.”

  I pull away to see Sarah starting to cry.

  “Don’t cry.”

  It’s all I can manage as I walk back through the hall to the front of our home. The home we have shared for the past two years. It’s the first home Sarah bought when she graduated college. She’s proud of this home and I will not be the reason she loses it. As I open the front door I hear sirens. Sirens, coming for me I think. I feel my heart rate spike. I turn one last time,

  “I love you Sarah. Be safe.”

  I don’t bother to shut the door, no time. I take off on foot.

  “Eleanor! Wait!” Sarah calls from behind. She runs up next to me and begs me to stop. “Please sis, why are you stealing cars and running from the cops? There has to be a reason.”

  “Sarah, I wish I could explain, right now I can’t. There’s no time. Just be careful around Chet.”

  Sarah tries to pull me to a stop, but I pull away.

  “Eleanor, I’m sure this, whatever it is can be fixed. Just please stop. Let’s go back home and figure this out.”

  “I can’t, not right now. Maybe one day… but I must go.” I yank one last time and pick up my pace, leaving Sarah behind in the dark.

  Running with two bags is proving to be quite the challenge. I’m in shape, but definitely not a runner. It is dark and I need to get enough distance so I can catch my breath and gather my thoughts so I can figure out my next plan. The sirens have stopped. I’m assuming back at the house. I send a silent prayer that Sarah doesn’t tell them which direction I headed in.

  Now that I’ve gotten a few miles away. I can sit and rest a minute. I replay what went down with Sarah. I’m heartbroken. That wasn’t a proper goodbye. She looked so confused and hurt.

  I sigh and look around me. This trail that I’m on, walkers, runners, bikers use it often. It’s a well-known trail to most who live in our area. It travels from one end of town to the next small town. The only good part is that I know where I’m at. It’s not well lit and that’s a tad scary but I don’t have time to be afraid of the dark. There’s a different monster lurking, looking for me. I need to make my way to the other side of town into the business part by morning. I’ll be stopping into the local car rental place and checking out of town. After that, I don’t know. Right now it’s just one foot in front of the other.

  And that’s just what I tell myself as I walk out of the rental place and unlock the shiny gray sedan that’s awaiting me.

  Chapter 1

  I had everything a girl could want and then I didn’t. I had the money, a nice car, the perfect dream job. In the blink of an eye, it was gone.

  Looking back on that crappy night in October makes me angry. I did nothing wrong, yet here I am paying the price. Living a new life with a new name and definitely not my dream job. I think the smell of file folders will be forever burned in my nostrils. Seven months have passed. Am I ever going to get over my old life and enjoy my current life?

  “Evie!” Sam shouts, bringing me back to the present.

  “Coming,” I call out as I squash my anger and make my way out front.

  “What’s up?” I ask, waiting to see what he has to say.

  “Ah Evie, I need to run a few errands, would you mind handling the front for a bit?”

  “Of course,” I reply. Sam gathers up his papers and heads out. I don’t mind working the front of S1 Accounting. It’s simple really, I just smile and take whatever the clients bring in and let them know that Sam will be in touch.

  I’m cleaning up the front area where magazines are strewn about when the bell on the door lets me know I have a visitor. I look up to see a man. My breath catches at the sight of him.

  “Good afternoon, how may I help you,” I ask, trying not to stutter. But holy hell he is gorgeous. His green eyes stare back at me, almost pulling me in.

  “Hi, I’m looking for Sam, is he in?”

  “I’m afraid he has stepped out, I can take a message for him to contact you.”

  The man tilts his head while looking at me, causing his dark hair to shift. His stare starts to make me a little nervous. Okay, very nervous. I’m always on edge that someone is searching for me. I clear my throat to get his attent
ion.

  “I’m sorry, I don’t believe I’ve seen you here before, are you new here?” he asks. His voice is intoxicating.

  “Um… Um...” now I’m really stuttering. “I’ve been here a few months now, I usually work in the back doing clerical work.” I hitch my thumb behind me, pointing towards the back.

  “That explains why I’ve never seen you. Can you please tell Sam that Landon Miller stopped in?”

  I nod and begin to scribble down his name on the note pad when he interrupts, “It was a pleasure to meet you, I’m sorry I didn’t get your name?”

  “Oh, it’s Evie. It’s nice to meet you as well.”

  The dark, mysterious man smiles and goes to walk out. He turns to look back at me briefly, his gaze intense. I’ve never seen such green eyes before. He nods once and leaves. I just stand there, staring out after him. Everything about him oozes sex and something else that I can’t quite put my finger on.

  Thankfully the rest of the day is quiet, leaving me alone with my jumbled thoughts of him.

  Chapter 2

  It’s been a few days since Landon stepped foot into S1 Accounting. I’d be lying if I said I haven't thought about him. I have. I can’t get him out of my mind. It’s sad really. But thinking of him and his disheveled hair, his gorgeous eyes, it helps me pass the time. When I’m not busy filing paperwork or doing data entry I’m alone with my thoughts. I have no friends and no one to talk to. I go to work and then home. It’s a sad never ending cycle. The weekends are the worst. I try to keep busy with cleaning my already clean condo. I go grocery shopping and then back home to do laundry. Occasionally I go out to get my hair touched up. Some days I miss the old me. The girl with light brown hair that rested on her shoulders. The girl who lived life. I shed a tear thinking about my past life. The days of Eleanor are gone. Now I’m Evie with long hair and highlights. Another tear falls. Damnit what did I do to deserve this lonely pitiful life?