Kept Secrets (Secret, Love & Betrayal Novel Book 2) Read online

  Ari glanced back at the cordless phone, which was sitting on the end table, and back at Jay.

  “Come on, man. Now!” Jay snapped.

  Ari didn’t move; he was still trying to wrap his mind around the words his brother had spoken. When the phone rang again, Ari swiftly walked over to the table and took the call. Suddenly, he glanced over at Jay and dropped the phone on the plush, tan carpet.

  CHAPTER THREE

  The waiting room was eerily quiet with all eyes transfixed on Kalon.

  Mayor Briggs turned toward Dr. Yancy. “Thank you for the information, but can you excuse us, please?” he asked.

  Dr. Yancy swept a worried glance in Kalon’s direction, but nodded and turned, walking from the waiting room.

  Mayor Briggs strolled over to Tyler and Toni. “I want you to escort your mother to Taylor’s room.”

  Tyler looked at Kalon, then peered at his father and held up a finger to protest a point. “But the doctor just said only two at a time.”

  Mayor Briggs placed a fleshy hand on Tyler’s arm. “Just do what I ask, son.”

  “Yes, sir,” Tyler said in a low tone, clearly not pleased that he wouldn’t be allowed to stay for the interrogation that was certain to follow. As he led Toni toward the door, he took his mother’s hand.

  Tammy gazed up at her husband, the stress evident on her face and the concern in her eyes reflected what everyone felt at the moment.

  Mayor Briggs bent down and kissed her cheek. “I’ll take care of this, baby, please don’t worry.”

  Tammy hesitated for one short moment before allowing her son to lead her from the room. Libby and Pam followed behind Tyler.

  “We’re right behind you,” Pam said in a low, breathy tone, when he turned in their direction.

  Kalon watched silently as Mayor Briggs cleared the room. Now only air and the burning gaze of his eyes were left.

  Mayor Briggs folded his arms across his broad chest and began to pace the room, his brow furrowed in thought. He finally came to a halt in front of Kalon. “What happened to my daughter?” Mayor Briggs asked, took a seat, and folded his arms.

  Kalon also sat down, but made sure it was on the opposite side of the room. He traced his goatee with a near trembling hand and avoided eye contact with Mayor Briggs. He didn’t want to divulge everything about their relationship, only the parts he needed to know.

  Kalon didn’t think it was the mayor’s business to know he pursued a married woman for months. If only he’d known that she was taken, Taylor would have been off limits. However, she kept her marital status from him and entered into a sexual relationship with no boundaries.

  Somewhere, between making Taylor his next conquest and moving on, he had fallen in love.

  Kalon could only conclude that Taylor wasn’t only keeping secrets from him, she was also lying to her family by the way her father was now searching for answers.

  His voice remained mellow as he explained, “Taylor and I had an argument and things became heated. She ran from my house and got in her car. I tried to stop her, but …” Kalon lowered his head and stared at the white diamond-shaped tiles on the floor. “I was too late. A Mustang hit her from the side. She was unresponsive when the ambulance arrived.”

  Mayor Briggs balled his hands into fists, then flattened them on his lap. “I assume you know who I am?”

  Kalon moved his stiff neck to the left and right. “Yes.”

  Mayor Briggs stood, his burly frame as menacing as his voice had always been. “Then you know Taylor is married?”

  Kalon had a clear understanding on where this line of questioning was leading, so he decided to go along with it before telling Mayor Briggs his intentions.

  “Yes, I’m now aware that she is married.”

  I just actually found out that information two hours ago, he thought to himself.

  “Look …” Mayor Briggs began, but trailed off. “What’s your name?”

  Kalon kept his gaze on Mayor Briggs. “Kalon Knight.”

  “All right, Kalon,” he continued, “I’m going to be completely honest with you. I’m not interested in the kind of relationship you and my daughter had. Whatever it was, it ends today.”

  Kalon stood, but Mayor Briggs waved him back down in the seat.

  “This is for your protection and your family,” he said, giving Kalon a stern look. “I’ve seen these type of things go down and it can get really ugly. I advise you to get up and walk away now. I won’t tell anybody that you were here, or mention your name to the media.” He waved Kalon off as if he didn’t matter. “Forget you ever met my daughter and life as you know it can remain normal for you.”

  The threat hung in the air. Life as you know it can remain normal for you. Kalon remembered the beefy bodyguard that had left the room earlier. He wasn’t sure if Mayor Briggs was referring to his life—known around the Midwest as the successful owner of Angel Kids—or his physical body. He was certain that “Frank” did more than just run errands.

  Kalon took a deep breath and stared Mayor John Briggs straight in the eyes. “I’m sorry, sir, but I just can’t do that.”

  “Doctor Levy, you’re needed in ER!”

  In that short second Mayor Briggs shifted and his dark brown eyes became a lot less empathetic. “Look, son, I understand you might think you’re in love, but my daughter has nothing to offer you. She can never be your wife or bear your children! She’s a married woman and she’s going to remain that way.”

  The corner of Kalon’s mouth raised in a slight smirk. “With all due respect, sir, I think we should let Taylor decide if she has anything to offer.” Kalon rose from the chair, keeping his focus on the man who was becoming angrier by the minute. “Sir, I didn’t come here to argue with anyone. Right now, I’m concerned about Taylor’s well-being.”

  Mayor Briggs gave Kalon an uneasy gaze. Removing a cell phone from his pants pocket, he punched in a few numbers. “Is everything in place?” was all he said, and a moment later he ended the call.

  Kalon felt an instant of worry, but calmed it immediately. What could the man really do to him? All Kalon wanted to do was be with Taylor. To say he was sorry. To take back all of the words he had said before she had ran from his loft. He had to see her.

  Seconds later, the door to the waiting room was thrust opened and Chief Jackson walked in, followed by several uniformed police officers.

  The police flanked into the room, fanning out to almost every corner. The temperature seemed to spike and sweat peppered Kalon’s forehead.

  A heavy-set man, who Kalon assumed was the attorney, came in with Frank, who glared at Kalon as he took up the space next to his boss.

  The mayor led Chief Jackson and his attorney to the corner of the room, where the three men conversed in tones too low for Kalon to hear. The chief glanced Kalon’s way several times and nodded at whatever the mayor had to say. Kalon waited patiently, hoping to find a way to sneak in and see Taylor. With her father’s police team on board now, it would be next to impossible to get close enough to her room. Mayor Briggs had two armed police officer’s guarding Taylor’s door, and the front entrance to the hospital was like Fort Knox.

  Kalon needed to know for himself that she was alive and well. All he wanted was to let her know he was there for her and he would never leave her side. While the men were still conversing, Kalon inched toward the door. The chief turned, and with long strides he closed the distance between him and Kalon. He grabbed Kalon’s arm before he could open the door.

  Kalon looked down at the hand that was holding him in place. He’d never been good at taking orders, and today wasn’t going to be any different.

  “Excuse me. Can you move your hand?” Kalon asked.

  The chief stepped closer to Kalon. “No, young man, you are coming with us.”

  Kalon raised an eyebrow and narrowed his eyes at the tall, pale-skinned man. “The last time I checked, I wasn’t under arrest.”

  The chief chanced a quick glance at the mayor, who gave
a single nod.

  Chief Jackson positioned one weathered hand on Kalon’s arm, and glanced over at Mayor Briggs with a smooth grin plastered across his face. “My officers and I are going to escort you out the back entrance of the hospital.”

  Kalon surveyed the room, counting that there were six uniformed cops. To even try and create a scene would not be in his best interest. He had to think, and fast, if he was going to have any chance on seeing Taylor today. Once he left the hospital tonight, it would be a while before he could see her again. Especially, if her father had anything to do with it. His stomach started to turn into knots. He was always good at thinking on his feet, but at that second he came up blank. Think, think. He forced his mind to catch up with the present.

  “I’ll leave and never come back …” Kalon said, causing Mayor Briggs to perk up, which lasted only a few seconds until Kalon added, “Under one condition.”

  “And what is that?” Mayor Briggs asked.

  Kalon reared back on his loafers. “I need to have ten minutes with Taylor, and you will never be bothered by me again.” Kalon knew that wasn’t completely true, but he had to say something to get into Taylor’s room.

  Mayor Briggs immediately sliced his hand in the air. “That’s not going to happen, son.” Kalon scratched his forehead.

  Mayor Briggs couldn’t afford a scene, and neither could Kalon. However, if this was the card he had to play to see Taylor, then so be it. “Well, Mayor, you only have two choices. You can let me see Taylor and I can go away willing and quietly, or I can march right outside these doors and give the media my story. What will it be?”

  Kalon looked at the chief, then back to the mayor, who was scowling so hard that his face transformed into something that was nearly subhuman. “You can escort me out the back way, but there’s nothing that will keep me from contacting the media myself.”

  Mr. Fox approached Mayor Briggs’ side and whispered something in his ear. Kalon could see the mayor’s face change to five shades of reds. He stared at Kalon from across the room, stuffing his balled fists into his pants pockets. Mayor Briggs waggled his index finger in Kalon’s direction.

  “You have five minutes, and not a minute more,” he said through taut lips.

  Kalon nodded and moved toward the door. If five minutes was all he had with Taylor, he would make it work. The thought of not seeing her at all was torture in itself.

  Kalon reached for the doorknob, but Mayor Briggs’ baritone voice startled him.

  “My bodyguard, Frank, will escort you and make sure my wife has left the room.”

  Kalon looked over his shoulder and nodded.

  “Also, Kalon, I want you to understand that this is the last, and final, time you will see my daughter.”

  The mayor was waiting for some type of response by the way he held his gaze without faltering. Kalon cocked his head to the side and gave him what he hoped was a reassuring smile. This stalling was getting on his nerves. At that moment, all Kalon knew was that he needed to get into Taylor’s room. If he had to agree to sell his soul to the devil then so be it.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Ari stormed through the front entrance of Northwestern Hospital, eating up the concrete with each long stride. He was forced to bob and weave his way through the countless reporters swarming the doorway, dodging a few questions thrown at him.

  “Can you confirm it’s the mayor daughter in the hospital?”

  Ari answered, “No comment.”

  Another reporter stepped in his path. “Are you her husband, Ari?”

  Again, Ari answered, “No comment.” However, under his breath he muttered, “Dumb question.” Of course he was Ari Gallagher their wedding had been in the newspapers and covered by every major news station.

  In Taylor’s twenty-seven years, she had become CEO of Dynasty magazine. Pam was director of advertising, Libby was chief financial officer, and Toni, at twenty-five, was editor-in-chief for the magazine. Taylor poured all her sweat and blood into making Dynasty a success. She worked day and night in that huge corner office located in downtown Chicago.

  Ari never thought becoming a pilot would put a wedge between him and Taylor’s relationship. As she continued to focus on making her company a success, Ari focused on keeping his daughter a secret from Taylor. He actually thought he had accomplished that goal until Maci did some investigating. She found out about his marriage to Taylor, and sent her a letter. Ari, being oblivious to Maci’s obsession, never saw it coming when she cornered him and Taylor in a parking lot, swinging a bat like a deranged lover.

  Taylor had been pushed to the edge, and kicked him out the house. Now, he was bunking on Jay’s sofa. Only recently did Taylor divulge that she had known about Maci the entire time, but married him to save face with her family and keep the Briggs name intact.

  Although he was still working on getting back into the house, he had to deal with Maci’s craziness. He had been on the road to recovery with Taylor, until she told him that Maci sent her a videotape of them having sex. Taylor had said, “I don’t want to have anything else to do with you. I want a divorce.” Those words cut him to the core, piercing his heart.

  He’d snapped and raced over to Maci’s condo. The next thing he knew, he was waking up at home. He couldn’t blame Taylor if she had moved on, but he wasn’t counting himself out the game, not until both of their names were signed on the divorce decree’s dotted line.

  Ari shook his head to rid himself of his musing.

  Jay cleared the rest of the reporters away by holding his arms up, shielding Ari like he was a well-paid bodyguard, instead of the big brother who had raised him ever since their parents untimely death from a fatal car accident.

  Ari took long strides down the brightly lit hallway. Running into Frank, he grimaced inwardly at seeing the burly man who never left his father-in-law’s side. The man’s facial expression never changed, so Ari could never tell if he was having a good day or a bad day. Frank beckoned for him to step further down the hallway, and Ari quickened his steps with Jay fast on his heels. “How is Taylor?” Ari asked. “I got a call saying I needed to get to the hospital right away.”

  “Follow me,” Frank said, leading them to a room down the hall; he had always been a man of few words. Everybody knew he only took orders from Mayor Briggs, so the fact that Ari had even attempted to engage the man in conversation was enough to know that he wasn’t thinking straight.

  Ari came to a room with a red Restricted Access sign on the door, which caused his mouth to pull down at the corners. Why would Taylor be in a room like that?

  A man wearing a sweater and blue jeans slipped into the room, and Frank grasped Ari’s arm to restrain him. “Wait.”

  Ari’s temperature rose as he yelled, “Wait, for what? I need to see my wife.”

  Frank gave Jay a pointed look, causing Jay to yank Ari’s arm and pull them into a room just off to the left. Jay rested both of his hands on Ari’s shoulders. “You need to calm down.”

  Ari creased his eyebrows with his fingertips. “I’m good.”

  “You stay here and get a handle on this. I’m going over to Maci’s house to check things out.”

  Ari simmered down a little, but caught Frank peering in the window at them. “A’ight, bro. Be careful.”

  ***

  Walking past the nurse’s station and a small group of rooms along a quiet hallway, Kalon arrived at the only room located in the far east wing of the hospital. Two armed police officers stood outside the door. Frank approached both men, speaking softly and briefly. The two officers glanced in Kalon’s direction and stepped aside. Turning toward Kalon, Frank gestured for him to enter.

  Kalon walked into a place that was more suited to a luxury hotel than for a hospital room. His gaze instantly fell on Taylor’s stiff figure, lying in a bed that seemed to swallow her dainty form. Kalon approached the bed slowly, as though the movement alone might cause her harm. IV lines ran from a pole into Taylor’s slim arm, and an oxygen mask had been placed
over her pale face. Her right leg was suspended high in the air by a contraption that looked more suited to a torture chamber than something the love of his life should be caught up in. Kalon noticed other cords running from up under Taylor’s gown, but couldn’t tell what they were for.

  He gently stroked a bruise on Taylor’s forehead that marred the ivory beauty of her face. Brushing the side of her cheek with his thumb, he prayed that she would awaken. Taylor had always been petite and slender, but at the moment she looked so helpless. His first thought was to whisk her away from the hospital and take her home so he could care for her. Unfortunately, he was sure Mayor Briggs would have every officer in Chicago looking for him if he did.

  Kalon grasped her hand as he whispered her name. Taylor stirred, but didn’t open her eyes. He remembered that the doctor had said she was in a comatose state. The machine above Taylor’s head beeped the signs of her life, and the blood pressure cuff attached to her arm started to tighten. Kalon kissed her forehead, then positioned his mouth close to her ear and said, “Beautiful, listen to my voice and come back to me.”

  She didn’t respond.

  Taylor was smart and intelligent. When he first spotted her at the magazine conference for young entrepreneurs almost a year ago, he knew he had to bed her. He only slept with women once, but after chasing Taylor for months, he couldn’t deny himself that sweet essence again. He had never violated his “one-time dip” rule until now. No other woman had ever made him lose all sense of reasoning.

  Sensing that Taylor was avoiding the commitment question, he never pushed her to put a label on their relationship. She entered and exited his bed like it was a revolving door, never spending an entire night in his embrace. Kalon had fallen in love with her because she was someone he had to chase, and he’d never had to chase any woman in his life. He assumed he had met his match. Although Taylor’s body had been there with him, he could sense her mind was a million miles away.

  He was also dealing with his own obsession, from a woman he had bedded one time and tossed to the side; now Patricia White made herself visible at all of his outings. Kalon had told her, in more than one way, he wasn’t interested and the night they shared meant nothing, but Patricia couldn’t let go. Today she sent him an article link from the internet of Taylor and her husband, Ari. Kalon distinctly remembered the headline read: “Taylor Briggs, now married to Ari Gallagher, became the new CEO of Dynasty magazine. Her father, Mayor John Briggs, says he is extremely proud of his daughter’s accomplishments.”