Assassin Deception (5 page)

A time when they could eat in leisure, while discussing adult topics openly, not needing to spell out certain words. Without having to wipe sticky faces or hands, having to scold or ignore bad behaviors. Where they could avoid thrown food and temper tantrums. Where a glass of wine could rest without the worries of being spilled. Candles glowed without the fear of a curiously seeking hand.

Chloe had felt so mature when finally, at age eight, she had been allowed to dine with the adults, though she was ever wary of James summing up her maturity and table manners. She had been warned by Damien, who was far wiser at the age of ten, one false move and she would be banished back to the children’s table upstairs, where a strict nanny would lecture on the importance of etiquette, how to chew with your mouth closed, and the need to keep your elbows off the table.

Chloe noted that even though James had stepped down, he still remained seated at the head of the table. Chloe knew it was out of respect for his father that Dirk would never push the issue.

Dirk remained seated to his right. Damien had sat her next to his father on his left, in his usual seat. Chloe knew James wanted her close. Damien settled himself on her other side. He rested his hand on the back of her chair, his fingers in easy reach of her shoulders, which he occasionally caressed in a familiar way.

“So, Chloe, how have you been?” Dirk asked while reaching for his wine glass.

“I’m fine,” Chloe replied into his pensive expression. She took a dainty bite from her salad plate.

She understood that for a brief while Candy had experienced problems in her pregnancy and Dirk was unable to leave her. She was secretly happy Dirk had been unable to track her earlier. Dirk was very good; there was no doubt in Chloe’s mind he would have found her. Dirk could find anyone, anywhere, anytime.

Though feeling a certain amount of shame at her thoughts, Chloe was grateful she had missed her mother’s funeral. She admitted to herself she felt certain anger with her for not protecting her from her father and then not taking care of her when she needed her.

Even though it had been at the request of her granny, Chloe still felt it was her mother’s fault she was sent away. Perhaps now she would begin to heal from her anguished childhood, now that she was surrounded with loved ones. She wanted only to forget the past.

“What were you up to?” James asked casually enough. A small piece of lobster was suspended in the air, halfway to his mouth.

Chloe knew he had been agitated his man had been unable to locate her until she had permitted it. Not many had eluded James for any length of time. Dirk had been a marvelous teacher, brilliant really.

Chloe had spent many nights listening to his ‘special’ stories of how to avoid detection of others, skilled others. His lectures were thorough and fascinating—his rendition of bedtime stories. She had hung onto and remembered every word, then put her abilities to good use.

“I had recently lost my job and decided it wasn’t a field I wanted to be in after all. It just wasn’t challenging enough, I was bored. I went wandering to different places, trying to reconnect with myself,” Chloe said innocently.

James was studying her shrewdly. It was subtle, almost undetectable, but her eye flickered quickly before she could control it. James was too much the professional not to see it for what it was. She knew he could tell she was lying.

“You’re in some kind of trouble!” he declared, looking horrified. “Damn it! I knew I should have kept a man on you at all times. Are you in danger?” He sat straighter in his chair, alarmed, his dinner forgotten.

“It’s nothing, really,” Chloe protested immediately. She reached over to clasp his hand, trying to soothe his outrage.

* * * *

Dirk could see the tension build within his father. He knew where his father’s anger would be directed. It was he who had suggested they give Chloe some space.

“I knew I should have brought you back sooner, kicking and screaming if need be. So much for giving a loved one some space.” James retorted the last sarcastically, while glaring at Dirk.

“Calm down, Dad. Give her a chance,” Dirk said patiently.

“You mean give her
some space!
” James again thundered sarcastically.

“James, it was nothing really, just a little harassing note. I really was bored with my job and took it as a sign to travel for a while,” Chloe soothed.

“What kind of harassing note?” Dirk said, instantly on the defensive. The woman in front of him was family, like a baby sister. No one harassed his baby sister.

“It was meaningless. I threw it away and forgot all about it,” Chloe said, somewhat evasively and a touch too bubbly.

Dirk could see her sudden agitation. She wasn’t fooling him; she had been afraid. His protective streak fired up and already he was planning on what men to have handy to secure the home for the evening. He would send a few others out first thing to gather information. Right after dinner he would sequester Chloe away in a room and demand she remember what the note said. His powers of persuasion could not be denied. He would be relentless.

Looking around at the others, he could see now was neither the time nor the place. Chloe had just returned home. He could see Candy’s eagerness on getting better acquainted with her, as were the other women and his son-in-law. Damien was scowling and hovering closer to her protectively, guarding her. Glancing at his father, he could tell the man was agitated. It would not do to upset everyone needlessly.

“So did you find yourself?” Dirk asked her somewhat cheekily, trying to lighten the atmosphere, taking control of the conversation and redirecting it.

Beneath his calm persona, he was planning. His mind was working at a furious rate. She was going to tell him everything. It wouldn’t take much. After all, she was only a helpless female and used to obeying his commands, following his orders without the slightest hesitation. It wouldn’t take long to get to the bottom of this.

* * * *

Chloe sat stubbornly, a deep scowl on her face. She crossed her arms over her chest, a chest that was heaving in frustration. Her look was dark. Dirk ran a cool hand over his face in agitation.

“Let’s try this once more,” Dirk began.

“Dirk, I’m tired,” Chloe whined.

“Then work with me,” Dirk demanded through gritted teeth.
Damn!
When had she gotten so infuriatingly like a woman! Dirk regarded her intensely, then sighed. She
was
a woman.

Dirk realized he had been going about this all wrong; he had been commanding and coercing, then cajoling her as one would a child. She wasn’t the little girl he used to love to cuddle in his arms anymore, someone who hung onto his every word. She had a life of her own. She hadn’t needed them for three years. She hadn’t needed
him
for three years. Dirk sat down before her and took her hands in his own.

“Why won’t you tell me what the letter said, Chloe? Are you afraid, or perhaps embarrassed?” he asked with sudden insight.

Chloe’s gaze shifted away from him. “It was rude and vulgar. Not something I care to dwell on or repeat,” she admitted quietly.

Dirk realized she
was
embarrassed. He stroked a large hand down her cheek.  “Honey, you can tell me anything.”

“Oh really, Dirk! How about my first sexual experience, should we start there?” Chloe said, eyes snapping.

Wolf chuckled and Dirk felt his face color; he hid his expression. On reflection Dirk realized that perhaps he wouldn’t want to hear about
that
particular experience. Especially when Damien was looking so guilty. Scowling, he looked directly into her eyes. “You’re taking advantage of my feelings for you,” he finally accused.

“And your coercion tactics leave something to be desired,” she snapped back irritably.

“Chloe,” James began, “Dirk is concerned for you and our family. If someone is threatening you they could be a danger to Jamie, Carrie or the twins, or any other woman or child under this roof, now that you’re here.”

Chloe looked at James, stricken. Her face paled. “I would never, James, never…” she began, then burst into frustrated tears. “I’m so sorry, I hadn’t thought of it that way. I was just so pissed at Dirk trying to coerce me as though I’m a child. I never thought anyone would be stupid enough to come near your home.”

James gathered her shaking body closely. “Of course you wouldn’t, my dear. But knowing what we do doesn’t prepare you for dealing with what we do. Now tell me, sweetheart, what did the letter say?”

“It said he was coming for me. It said disgusting, lewd things about what he would do when he got me. That I wasn’t safe anywhere, that no one could protect me. That I would be begging him for death, but he planned on keeping me locked away, his own personal toy that he could break if he wished.

“I was afraid, James. I ran and hid how Dirk taught me to with his stories. I didn’t want to trouble you until I could sort out my own feelings. I thought for sure I could take care of it myself. But when your man kept hounding me, always only one step behind me, and then mother died, I gave in. I wanted to feel safe again. Home is safe. When I heard Mother had died I raced to you, taking it as a sign I needed to be here. I’m sorry, James. Do you want me to leave?”

“No!” Damien shouted.

“Of course you must stay. You’re safe here. Was it just one letter?” James asked.

“Yes.” Chloe sniffed into his shoulder. She swiped at her eyes, looking weary.

James smiled down into her tear-streaked face and dried her cheeks with a gentle hand. “You are safe. Let Dirk and the others handle it now. You’ve had a long day. Off to bed with you, sweetheart.”

Chloe hugged the others goodnight. She wrapped her arms around Dirk, offering a soft apology whispered in his ear.

“You were right, Dirk. I should have come to you immediately.”He sensed her confusion stopped battling with her uttered admittance. There were just too many lessons of compliance learned at a young age and stressed throughout her life. At her heartfelt sincerity, Dirk smiled down at her and cuddled her to his chest, his anger evaporating. This was the Chloe he remembered. She did still need him. Chloe sighed, looking relieved at Dirk’s forgiveness, and she then went up to her room.

Once gone, Dirk leveled a dark look at his father. “I could have handled it.”

“Son, Chloe is too close. You can’t be firm with her when you have protected her her entire life. Commands and coercion won’t work with loved ones; she has no fear of you. You changed her diapers, she toddled after you everywhere. She adores you like a big brother. She was afraid you might have thought this was somehow her fault. Having you ashamed or disappointed with her would destroy her. Chloe is committed to this family; she must learn that hiding any information could harm us. She would never want that.”

“She knows I love her,” Dirk grumbled, yet his father’s experience once more proved a boon.

“As you sought to use her love to your advantage, she in turn sought to hide the truth because of her love for you,” James said reasonably.

“It still doesn’t help us understand why someone would want to frighten her,” Damien interjected. Wolf concurred.

“Perhaps it’s nothing, though it wouldn’t hurt to send out some feelers,” James cautioned.

Dirk agreed. It was too bad Chloe had disposed of the note. He could have gotten fingerprints if the writer had been careless. He had men who were very good with paper trails. They had an uncanny ability of tracking right down to ink and the pen it came from. These men were very handy in his line of work.

Dirk decided to move swiftly. He would have a man in the air within the hour, back to her last known location. He would get to the bottom of this. He must determine if a threat existed. If there was a threat he needed to dispose of it immediately.

Perhaps if the note writer had just done it for fun, a stupid prank of sorts, Dirk would make certain he would come to see the error of his ways. He and his men excelled in making people see the error of their ways.