No One to Trust (Hidden Identity Book #1): A Novel by Lynette Eason Read Free Book Online Page B

before she walked out of the store.
    And into the hands of the men who’d just tried to snatch her from the sidewalk in front of the hospital. She settled in for a wait.
    Her phone buzzed for the hundredth time since she’d been cut off from talking to Marlee. Her sister had probably called out the National Guard by now. She had no choice but to talk to her. Summer grabbed the device from her front pocket and pressed the green talk button. “Hi, Marlee.”
    “Are you okay?” The screech hit her highest decibel level yet and Summer winced.
    “I’m fine. Take it down a notch, will you?”
    “Well, what do you expect? What happened? Tell me—”
    “Marlee, I’m fine.”
    Her sister stopped her tirade. “Okay. Good.” She sighed, then blurted, “Oh! I almost forgot. Nick needs you to cosign his loan for that little trailer on the lake. Do you think you could meet him at the bank at four o’clock next Friday afternoon?”
    Summer ground her teeth. David’s words came back to haunt her. “One day you’re going to regret all you do for them.”
    “They’re my brother and sister, Kyle,” she’d argued. “What am I supposed to do? Turn them away when they need help?”
    “They’re leeches and they take advantage of your giving nature without a second thought. Take my word for it and run while you can.” His bitterness hadn’t made sense to her at the time and she’d just ignored the warning.
    Now, she wondered if Marlee was even in touch with reality. A sick feeling engulfed her. Had she done this? Molded Marlee into this needy, clingy creature? Or was she giving herself too much power? Marlee had a mind of her own.
    “Marlee, I’ll deal with that later. I’m in Charlotte, North Carolina, remember? Three hours away?”
    “What are you doing there?”
    “Kyle’s in the hospital.”
    A pause. “What happened?”
    “It’s a long story.”
    “Is he all right?”
    “For now.”
    Marlee lost interest. “What should I tell Nick?”
    Summer almost couldn’t find her voice. Marlee’s blatant selfishness and lack of concern for her and David spoke volumes. Sadness engulfed her. “I’m not even sure when I’ll be home or when I’ll be able to talk to you next. Tell Nick I’ll call him when I can.”
    A pause. “You said you were okay.”
    “I’m okay for now—”
    “And Kyle is with you.”
    She frowned. “Yes.”
    “So you have time for him, but not for me. When is it going to be my turn, Summer?”
    Really?
    She almost said something like having more time on her hands in the near future—after she left her lying husband—but the truth was, she wasn’t even sure she’d tell Marlee a word of what had happened. Although she supposed she’d have some explaining to do when she announced her upcoming divorce. Bitterness sliced through her.
    First her father; then Joshua, her lying ex-fiancé; now Kyle.
    David.
    Whoever.
    “Did you hear me? He’s in the hospital!” She couldn’t help raising her voice. The whole conversation was beyond ridiculous. “I’ve got to go, Marlee, I’ll call you later.” She hung up with her sisterstill sputtering in her ear. Weariness settled on her shoulders as she powered the iPhone down and slipped it into her purse.
    She looked at David.
    He’d listened to her side of the entire exchange. Shock stood out on his face. “You hung up on her.”
    “Yes, I did, what of it?” she snapped. Then winced. Just because she was finally admitting to herself her sister’s true colors didn’t mean she had to turn into a shrew.
    Although the knowing look on his face made her want to smack him. But she couldn’t. This latest conversation with Marlee had just switched the light on for her. She forced the three words from her lips. “You were right.”
    “I’m sorry.” Real sympathy shone in his gaze. “I didn’t want to be.”
    “You warned me. How did you recognize it and I couldn’t?”
    “Experience.”
    “Who?”
    “My brother.”
    “Your real