Assassin Treasure (Assassins Book 4) (6 page)

“Then I guess we better find out what the reason is.”

“Hey Dirk, you got any food? I’m starved.”

“Yeah, I stopped to go shopping right before my manicure and pedicure,” Dirk said scornfully, then tossed his head about in a prancing pony imitation. “Do you like the new highlights I added to my hair in my spare time?”

Damien scowled at him. “You’re an ass. You think we should tie her?”

“No, come lie beside her and throw your arm over her. If she wakes, she’ll be too scared shitless to move,” Dirk replied. “Poor thing, you may smelly her to death.”

“You really are an ass.”

“Well, at least I don’t smell like one.”

Grumbling, Damien complied as Dirk moved away. Damien pulled her close then sat up frowning.

“What?” Dirk asked at his curious expression.

Damien pulled up on Candy’s shirt, exposing her tummy. Her belly was flat and small and smooth, flawless. Damien lifted her sweatshirt higher, and then felt her hips over her pants and down her legs.

“What’re you doing?” Dirk asked.

“I knew she was smaller than she appeared, she didn’t seem to weigh much, but the clothes she’s wearing are way too big. I mean really too big,” Damien said in confusion. “Most of the women I know like to show off their bodies, especially if they’re built like her, with dynamite curves.”

Dirk offered him a grim look. “You can bet Darren attacked her. Baggy clothes, no makeup. She was trying to hide behind what she felt was a shield of deception. Poor little thing doesn’t realize some men are still intrigued, or even more intrigued at what they don’t see and can only imagine. No doubt she proved to be a challenge for the bastard and kept turning him down. He was likely hounding her for some time. I wonder if he finally succeeded. That would explain why she fainted.”

Damien settled beside her; his face was an open book of compassion. He nestled his body protectively closer. “Before you threaten her again, Dirk, just ask her. You already scared the shit out of her. I bet she’ll do anything you tell her. Besides, if she faints again, you can carry her if we need to travel. I need my hands to defend myself; it’s bloody brutal out here.”

Dirk nodded.

Candy woke slowly with confusion, her eyelids fluttered, catching shadowed glimpses, absorbing her surroundings painstakingly. Though the immediate area was dark, a multitude of stars danced overhead in the twinkling sky. With the aid of a bright moon, she was able to make out the numerous surrounding trees. A small fire crackled and popped before her; she tried to center her gaze on it but failed. She shook her head in puzzlement feeling dazed.
Where am I? What happened?
The hard ground caused an aching throb to her hipbone; a rock or twig dug against her tender flesh.

What am I doing on the
ground outside in the cold?
Sleep walking?

When she tried to rise, she hefted her slight weight onto a shaky elbow, but an arm tightened around her waist, though not painfully, drawing her back down, imprisoning her within a strong grasp. She stilled instantly, stifling a scream, as long strong fingers wrapped within the folds of her sweatshirt, coming unnervingly close to her breasts. She settled back with caution, heart pounding, trying to control her erratic breathing. Her confusion ceased, she remembered exactly where she was, and who was with her.

Across the fire she saw the large, older blond man who frightened her, watching; his gaze bore into her. He leaned forward to intimidate, his large arms flexed under the tight t-shirt he wore, enhancing muscular biceps, enlarging powerful weapons at his disposal. Candy shuddered at his fierce intensity, remembering how cruel he’d been. She backed away into the hardness behind her. Her body molded to the powerful man, her behind rested snugly between his hips and still she attempted to retreat further.

Damien’s arm pulled her into his chest, tighter, as though trying to calm her, and she heard a gentle shushing sound. Candy quieted, stilling her action, not wanting to make him angry. Though Damien hadn’t made good on his threat to shoot her, it had been enough to make her skin crawl; panic settled around her like a filthy blanket. She remained immobile. Damien remained motionless and quiet; she sensed the man behind her was asleep. She’d known he continued his search for her all day as well as throughout the night. He must’ve been as exhausted as she was feeling; it would be in her best interest not to wake him. Who knew what they would both do with her?

“No shit, Candy, when you leave with us tomorrow. Do you understand me?” the older blond man declared in a deep throaty voice, pinning her immobile with his direct stare. The light from the flickering fire danced across his face, giving him a somewhat sinister appearance.

“I’ll do whatever you say, I promise. Please don’t hurt me, please don’t...don’t. I can’t go there.” Her tears fell, she couldn’t help it; the mental image was killing her. She covered her face with her hands.

“As long as you comply of your own accord, I won’t be forced into extreme measures. Otherwise I’ll do what I said,” he declared with a hard voice.

Of that she had no doubt. Her jaw trembled, causing her teeth to click together. “I won’t say anything to anyone, please let me leave. I didn’t see Damien kill him.”

“It’s enough you know my brother’s name.”

Candy groaned. “I will forget his name.”

“You’re going to forget a lot of things.”

The bile rose in her throat. Did he mean death? Dead men told no tales. But she was alive. “Are you going to kill me?”

“I might. Depending on how well you listen.”

“I’m afraid,” Candy whimpered, ashamed. She cast her gaze toward him, bereft and embarrassed at her helplessness.

“Go back to sleep. Tomorrow will be a long day. I won’t hurt you, if you do what I tell you.”

Candy snapped her eyes closed, wanting to lock out his glaring expression. She was more terrified of the man before her than the man curled up behind her. Damien never threatened her into unconsciousness. He said he wouldn’t hurt her, though she wondered if that were the truth. The man before her never said what he wouldn’t do, just what he would do. She knew the one and only threat Damien issued stemmed from her violent struggles and his tired frustration. She sensed the other man—her mind struggled with a name, Dirk, she was certain his brother had called him Dirk—was in charge now.

Candy lay wondering what they had in store for her. Since she wasn’t dead, she wondered fearfully what their plans were. The more she thought, the more distressed she became. What if they were only looking for a more secluded place to dispose of her? People did wander around here. Or what if they intended on selling her? She couldn’t stand the thought of man after man taking her.

Her shaking increased while her tears dropped at a steady rate. She hated feeling so vulnerable and trapped, wishing she could strike out, wanting to get to her feet and race away, yet knowing it would be a foolhardy thing to do. She may as well be under the desk again, pondering her demise and how painful it would be.

An image of her lying sightless on the forest floor with a bullet between her eyes plundered her wild thoughts. She gagged and placed a swift hand to her mouth. She snuffled loudly losing control. Both fists ground against her mouth in a desperate attempt to stifle her sobbing, but she was too afraid. Her thoughts crashed around her like a thunderstorm of hail. Violent scenarios played out within her mind, every one of them more heinous than the last.

“Candy,” she heard Dirk say in a deep, gruff voice. Her eyes flew open, her jaw quivered harder.

“I’m trying to be quiet, don’t hurt me, Dirk.”

“If you do as I say you won’t be hurt.”

“What do want from me?” Candy asked.

“Go to sleep.”

She wondered if she’d be able to. How could she fall asleep in the arms of an assassin while another armed man was watching her so intently? Her frantic state of mind settled on a thought. If he promised her something in return it would ease her mind.

“I’ll be safe if I obey you? Promise?”

“You’ll be safe.”

It wasn’t good enough. She knew it was juvenile, but he
had
to promise her, or she felt she would die from her fear of them.

“Promise? Dirk?” she asked again, her pitiful word tinged with hopefulness.

She waited; holding her breath for what seemed an eternity. He was studying her. She could see a variety of emotions cross his face.

“I promise you’ll be safe if you obey me, Candy.”

She let her breath out. She knew it was silly, but she felt better. Physically and emotionally exhausted, Candy was able to calm herself into slumber.

* * * *

Dirk’s eyes were centered on Candy, as they had been throughout most of the night. She woke wrapped in Damien’s embrace. During the night, she unconsciously nestled beneath his brother, searching for his warmth in the cool night air, and the comfort of strong arms. As she murmured her fears, his brother had been more than happy to accommodate her. Dirk could see she knew both men were awake and watching her, as her eyes fluttered in confusion. He wondered if she would panic, but she calmed herself admirably, in his opinion, under the circumstances. She stretched beneath Damien, pushing against him, groaning as if her limbs were cramped and paining. Her fear, though still apparent, seemed to have lessened. Neither man had touched her. Dirk made her a vow and he would keep his promise. She was pulled to her feet by Damien.

“Let’s get the hell out of here,” Damien grumbled, while still scratching absently. He brushed at the leaves clinging to his chest and behind.

“What’s your hurry?” Dirk asked with a large grin.

“I’m hungry and bug bit and I sme…” Damien stopped short, scowling.

“And you, sme? Is that even a word?” Dirk questioned, eyebrows raised, he’d seen Damien take an unobtrusive sniff at himself.

Damien clamped his lips shut. He wasn’t about to admit to his sometimes admittedly insensitive big brother that he agreed he smelled suspiciously like animal shit.

“I want to see if my great-niece has been born,” Damien snapped.

Damien smiled smugly at the look of sudden consternation on his older brother’s face when Dirk realized he was right. They needed to be away immediately.

Dirk set out at a brisk pace. He cast a quick glance in Candy’s direction, motioning her forward, wanting to get moving. Though his brother’s look was meant to antagonize, Damien had been correct, he needed to be home with his twenty-one-year-old daughter. Dirk set out back the way he’d come, taking the path near the water’s edge. They walked for a little while before Candy stopped abruptly. She didn’t move when he commanded her to keep going.

“You’re not to disobey,” Dirk reminded her sharply; he pulled her close, grabbing her arm.

“The police are on the point at my cottage,” Candy said, her words breathless, she was pointing.

“The cottage belongs to you? It’s in your name?” Dirk asked.

“Yes.”

“Damn,” Dirk muttered.

From across the lake, they had a good view of the cottage, thankfully for them they remained within the foliage undetectable. Dirk was dismayed to see the girl was right. Though he would be untraceable through his vehicle that he left near Damien’s, they were without a way of transportation; their direct route back was cut off. With both abandoned vehicles sitting side by side at the bottom of a steep incline and Candy missing from her cottage, Dirk surmised the police would be anxious to know what she witnessed, and why she suddenly vanished. It wouldn’t be long before the cops were tracking their asses.

Dirk took a deep breath then turned to Candy. He wondered at her fearful expression, especially since it wasn’t toward him, it was cast across the water. He wondered why she hadn’t called out to the authorities to save her. Sound traveled well over water, she’d know that having a cottage out here. A desperate cry for help would be heard.

“You’re scared of the cops, or are afraid to go with them,” he stated with confusion.

Candy began shaking as she looked at Dirk. “Yes,” she agreed.

“Why?” Damien asked. His brother had recounted to Dirk his curiosity at her coming here and not going to the police.

Candy colored crimson and looked to the ground. Dirk gripped her small chin, raising her face to his gaze. “You’ll answer Damien’s question,” he demanded.

“Tyler was going to...he was going to rape me before Damien stopped him. I was the last known person with him while he was alive, someone will know that, someone will tell. The whole office knew it. You don’t know his family. They’ll say it was my fault, no matter who pulled the trigger; he was there that night because of me. His family will hurt me, kill me. Tyler has a twin brother, Taylor. He’s as bad as his brother, cruel, evil. Don’t you see? Taylor is worse than either of you. He wouldn’t even threaten me with slavery. He’d torture me until I told him Lisa’s father sent Damien, and then he’d kill them for revenge and me to shut me up.”

The chin he held quivered. There was fear in her eyes. The small hand that lifted to rest on his wrist gripped him tighter.

“I don’t want to tell, I don’t. Lisa was sweet and wonderful, and Tyler hurt her. He got what he deserved,” Candy cried out. “Please, I’ll listen. I’ll go with you. I won’t tell, I won’t, I swear. You promised I’d be safe if I listened. You promised, Dirk.”

Both men understood why Candy hadn’t gone to the police. She feared Taylor and his father more than either of them. She felt the police wouldn’t be able to protect her. Both Dirk and Damien knew Damien killed the son of a powerful man, but it wasn’t the first time. Both assassins were protected within their own circle. Candy had no circle.

Dirk realized a larger threat now presented itself. Whether or not Candy claimed she wouldn’t tell, the fact remained Damien would be in danger if she were to be caught. She was after all only a tiny, helpless woman. He remembered how easily she succumbed to her terror of his threats. If Taylor caught up with her and threatened her with violence, physical atrocities, she would no doubt disclose Damien’s identity and the reason why, no matter if Dirk coerced silence from her first. Dirk knew his father wouldn’t allow that. His father wouldn’t risk Damien’s or his contact to be exposed. Their entire family would be at risk, their entire circle could come under fire. Candy was a liability.