Locked Away (Living With Lies Book 2) by Riann C. Miller Page A

Thanks,” I reply as my nerves take over. I follow Kate into the kitchen where she starts fixing herself lunch. My stomach twists as I try to build up the courage to apologize for the way I behaved last night.
    “I’m sorry,” I say through an exhale. Kate sets her sandwich down and looks at me with questions in her eyes.
    “For what I said yesterday. I shouldn’t have—”
    “Was it true?” I’m sure when Damian pictured Kate and I bonding it wasn’t over what a horrible human being he can be.
    “I love Damian. He might not be my father by blood but he’ll always be my father.”
    Kate’s eyes flash. “But ...” she adds when I don’t say anything else.
    “But being his daughter hasn’t been easy. He views me as weak, but anytime I try to show him how strong I really am or how much I can handle, he shuts me down. He taught me how to shoot a gun, but he wouldn’t let me carry one. He made me take self-defense courses, but he’d never allow me to go anywhere by myself.” My shoulders sag in defeat. Everything my father taught me was meant to be a last-ditch effort to keep me alive if someone did what he feared, which was take me from him. He was never able to look past the girl he once saw and see the woman before him.
    “I’m his little girl.” I take another deep breath and exhale loudly. “But you get to be his grown-up daughter. He took one look at you and saw a strength he’ll never see in me.”
    With sad eyes, Kate says, “I’m sorry. My parents have passed away and when I met Damian I felt a connection—a connection I was missing in my life—but I don’t want to come in between the two of you.” Kate’s words cause more guilt to set in. Any problem I have with Damian isn’t her fault and it’s time I stop acting otherwise.
    “You’re not coming in between us. But...don’t let him drag you into our world because if you do it will consume your life and your choices won’t be yours anymore.” My eyes burn as I fight back tears. Voicing my thoughts was harder than I imagined.
    Kate reaches over and squeezes my hand. “I won’t. I like my life too much to give it up,” she says with a beautiful smile, causing a jolt of jealousy to spread through me, but unlike the previous times, I don’t aim my negative thoughts at her.
    “Who’s the guy you went out with?” she asks, changing the subject.
    I’m thankful for the change of topic. “His name is Jared. I met him at the mall when I purchased a phone.”
    Kate’s lip twitches. “You should have seen how Kiran behaved after you left. He kept insisting Gavin call and check on you.”
    “Oh,” I add, puzzled by her comment. Kate grabs her lunch and walks over to the table.
    “Oh?” she repeats with a smirk.
    “I asked Kiran to go out with me—like a real date—but he shot me down. I guess I’m a little shocked that he’d care where I went.” I nervously start chewing on my fingernail.
    Kate, however, chuckles and shakes her head. “That’s probably my fault. After you arrived, I told him you were off limits.”
    “What? Why?” I ask, keeping my eyes locked with hers.
    “Because Kiran has a track record with women. One that frankly disgusts me. He ...” She pauses and watches me closely. “He’s more of a one-night stand kind of guy.” She braces for my reaction. However, I’m not the least bit surprised. Not after the way Kiran reacted when I mention Manuel’s past.
    “What makes you think I’m looking for more than just one night?” I say, surprising her.
    “I...I...I guess—”
    I cut off her ramble. “Kate, I have no idea when Damian or one of his men are going to sweep in and take me back. In the meantime, I want to cut loose and have fun, and I thought Kiran seemed like the guy who’d deliver a good time.” My face reddens.
    Kate exhales then nods her head. “As long as you know that Kiran isn’t known for relationships, that he probably won’t be anything more than a good time, then I’m okay