Assassin Deception (20 page)

“We came up with the ruse together to protect you and your mother. It was put in place a few months before we moved you. Your names were changed. You became a different family. Your father’s mother was then your mother’s mother. Last names were changed as were firsts, your parents' ages. You, Chloe, were thought to be a boy in another family.”

“My parents only had boys' names picked out,” Chloe whispered. “You told me that.”

“Your father made a point of throwing out a boy's name in the old area, claiming you had already been born, even handing out cigars. Before your parents moved here they were ‘killed’ in an explosion. Elaborately set up by myself and Drake. It was foolproof. Your parents then settled under their new assumed names. After you were born, your grandfather and uncle went to take care of the threat, thinking they would be victorious. They were not.”

Chloe gave her head a shake. “But Granny was always protecting my mother from Daddy.”

“Your grandmother did her best to protect her and you; she loved her son. He was the last one she had left. Your grandfather's and uncle's deaths devastated her. She knew what was at stake if you were to be found out.

“Your father was growing increasingly careless. He slipped up one night and mentioned offhand something to the effect of his profession in a bar he shouldn’t have been in. A known hot spot. It became apparent he was looking for his father's and brother's killers and he didn’t care who he endangered to do it. Your grandmother loved you, Chloe…even more than her own son. She always felt a special connection with you,” James said.

“You killed her only living boy,” Chloe said, her look was astounded.

“Yes,” James concurred. “Now you know why I didn’t kill him sooner. I loved his father, admired and ached for his mother.”

“She must have been so angry.”

“Chloe, the ruse was and still is for your own protection. Until Dirk finds out who is after you and myself, you must stay close, and listen to Dirk.”

“Chloe, I understand this is a shock,” Dirk began. “But everyone loves you. You are still the same person you were before.”

Chloe’s face had been falling with each sentence. “I don’t know who the hell I am!” Chloe raged. “So many lies, so many deceits. What else aren’t you telling me?”

James cringed at Chloe’s hateful, hurtful look. “Chloe, it doesn’t matter about the past. You are beginning a new future with Damien, isn’t that enough? Your grandfather would have been so pleased. He also loved my sons as his own.”

“And yet he and all of his are now dead except me, and now someone is after me! Why didn’t you tell me before, when I said I wanted the truth?” Chloe yelled.

“Chloe, Dad explained to you,” Dirk said.

“Do you even love me?” Chloe cried out. “You could have told me, but chose secrets over trust. From the day I was born both of you have stressed it’s important to trust you. How can I when you continue to lie to me, to not trust
me
!”

“Chloe.” James tried taking her into his arms but Chloe backed off.

“Don’t you touch me.”

“Chloe!” Dirk snapped, looking outraged.

“All this time I felt how lucky I was I had you, some poor little charity case you took under your wing, her poor insane mother, claiming you did it because you loved me. When all along I really was supposed to be family to you like my grandfather was, like Wolf is. Who really paid for my schooling, James? Did you, or did my grandfather have money put away for me that my father somehow couldn’t touch?” she asked.

“Your grandfather provided for you,” James confessed. He dropped his head to hide his anguish. “I would have, I swear. I do love you, not all of it is lies, sweetheart, please believe that. You have a trust fund set up. I was going to give it to you when you married Damien.”

* * * *

“No doubt under the illusion it came from you! Once again James would be my white knight, ever the generous doting guardian. You never would have told me, would you?” Chloe snapped.

She felt sick, dirty for some reason. She loathed herself for all of the times she had wept her gratitude to them and the money had been hers all along. If James had released it to her mother they could have left, led a normal life. She would have been a true mother, not so terribly fearful all the time.

Chloe wouldn’t have been left in the schools all alone for years, pretending to fit in with the ‘rich’ kids, where she had felt uncomfortable, that she never belonged, that she was living a lie. And she had in fact been involved in deceptions, lies. She could have been home with her family. Now her mother was cold in her grave, her chance to know her was gone. They stole that from her.

“Chloe, it was for your own protection,” James implored, arms spread in supplication.

Chloe looked at James and saw his anguish, his raw pain. She could tell he believed what he was saying to be the truth. She wanted to believe him, but so many lies, so many, how could she tell when he was telling the truth? The thought sickened her.

“I don’t want to stay here anymore. I want my trust fund and I want to leave,” Chloe declared. Her entire body was shaking. She needed to escape, to sort out her thoughts and feelings.

“I can’t let you go, Chloe, it’s too dangerous for you to leave the safety of these walls. I can’t protect you out there,” Dirk replied calmly, though she could see his pulse hammering within his throat.

“Tough!” she snapped to his look of surprise. “Right now I feel
here
is too dangerous. I was blinded and injured under your
thoughtful
care!
”

“What about Damien?” James asked. “Are you just going to walk away from him? You love him, he loves you, sweetheart.”

“Does he know what is going on?” Chloe asked tightly.

“Damien was little more than a baby when this came about. I never thought it important to tell him,” James said.

Chloe straitened her shoulders. “I am leaving. I don’t care how, but I need time to myself.”

Dirk’s look was grim. “Chloe, you can’t be allowed to risk the rest of the family.”

“Watch me!” Chloe spun on her heels and raced for her bedroom.

Chapter Thirteen

It was late evening. James had once more attempted to speak with Chloe, but she would have nothing to do with him. Her agonized sobbing from the bed in her room had felt like daggers thrust through his sorrow-filled heart.

Damien had met him at her door, his large frame barring his father’s view of the room; he would not let him pass. Damien had tried to be understanding, yet James could see his son’s disappointment towards himself. He had once more tried to explain, but had been told firmly to leave.

Damien stressed Chloe needed to settle, she had been through enough. His son’s sad, haggard face was enough to make James nod, turn, and shuffle his way downstairs. At least she was not suffering this anguish alone.

James sat at his oak desk in his study. The glass of whiskey clasped in his hand before him remained largely untouched; the ice had melted. The room was dark, the blinds pulled shut. Only the light from the hallway to the living room drifted in, casting shadows.

No one was about; he sat alone with his thoughts. Dirk had retired for the night with his wife. He had promised his father Chloe would be staying put for the time being. James had told him to go gently, Chloe was hurting inside from terrible dismay.

Only when she calmed and they could talk openly would she begin to understand their reasoning. Once he explained it was Drake who had originally orchestrated the entire ruse, she would come around. Dirk had only nodded. James knew Dirk felt torn. For some reason Chloe’s anger was completely directed at him. She had not looked so despairingly heartbroken and disappointed at Dirk.

James settled back into his chair with a soft sigh. He took a sip from his glass and grimaced. His thoughts reflected back to Drake. He missed his old friend. They had shared some good times together. They had started together under James’ own father. The two had been inseparable. Always together, always joking. Neither man had ever had a brother. James had been Drake’s best man. He had been present for the birth of Drake’s oldest son, guarding mother and child until they could be moved to the safety of home.

James had been so happy when Drake had stood up for him as well. He had stood by him when Samantha had become ill the first time and they had almost lost her when Dirk had been only a small child. James had been devastated; he didn’t know how he would have coped without Drake.

It had been Drake who first expressed his hope Chloe and Damien would eventually wed. The two had chuckled over that when Damien had raced past in a soggy diaper, a soother dangling from his drooling mouth, banging a pan and wooden stick together, upsetting baby Chloe to tears.

Drake had loved Chloe. He had been so proud upon returning home to hold the tiny infant for the first time within his arms. It was the first time he had ever seen his powerful friend brought to tears, claiming her to be the most beautiful baby girl he had ever seen. James missed the old days.

“To you, my friend,” James said aloud. Raising his glass, he downed the contents in one gulp.

James rose from his seated position with a heavy heart. He felt tired this evening, old. Nothing was more important than family. He would give Chloe tonight, but in the morning he would sequester her and himself in a room and explain everything. He was going to make her understand, trust her with all of it, no matter how painful.

He knew in his heart Drake would have wanted her to know the entire story, wanted Chloe to be with Damien. James vowed he would not screw this up for his son.

“James.”

Startled, James stopped and looked up. Through the dim light he could just make out the image of a man’s large build filling the doorway to his study, blocking the small gentle glow from the living room.

“Who’s there?” James questioned, his eyes peering, straining. Automatically his hand went for the sidearm he no longer wore. He had given it up when he had placed Dirk in charge.

“Deegan.”

“Deegan, what the devil are you doing wandering around?” James demanded, feeling relieved. “I thought Dirk had sent you off to Chloe’s last known location to have a good look around, seeing as though you were the one to bring up suspicions of her.”

“He did, but I didn’t go.”

“Why the hell not! We need to find out who is causing the attacks on the family. The one who wrote that letter to her might have trailed her, giving us an important clue to work with.”

“Funny thing that is, James, but I needed to have a word with you first.”

For some reason James felt his skin crawl; he couldn’t understand the feeling. The young man before him had been in his employ for over five years; he was loyal and exceptionally good at what he did. James realized it was the man’s voice, its unrecognizable dull monotone that had made him feel uncomfortable.

“What word?” James said, and swallowed heavily.

Deegan sauntered over to the small bar. The small amount of light from the living room peeked into the room from the doorway. Deegan made both James and himself a drink, moving casually. “Here, have this, you’re going to need it,” Deegan declared, handing him a glass full of whiskey. He replaced the top on the decanter, then turned and faced James.

James took the drink, but stood studying Deegan’s face in the shadows. His body language, though subtle, hinted he was agitated, worried. “Deegan, I can see you’re upset. Are you all right?”

“No.” Deegan downed his drink, then exhaled loudly. He placed his glass on the bar, then ran a quick hand through his hair.