The Deadliest Secret (The Deadliest Series) (33 page)

             
“I think as long as we’re careful we can. Oh and if you don’t like what the government packed for you, we can go shopping on them.” He tried to reassure her when she began her unpacking.

             
If she hated him, or liked him she didn’t make it obvious. He finished settling in and as she finally followed suit. He was debating about breaking his rule, she was obviously in pain and it would only get worse for them both if he didn’t at least try to make it better for her. Trapped in a room with a frosty woman would be hell, especially if the clock ticked slowly.

             
The last thing he wanted was for time to pass slowly…

Chapter twenty-five

Two weeks already had passed, Darrien had taken Gwen to do every tourist thing he could think of in the area that he deemed safe. They dyed her hair from the normal blonde to a chestnut brown color the day they arrived, she had insisted upon it, which surprised Darrien. Her eyes really did pop after that. Darrien found himself talking more to this package, Gwen. He found himself talking more to Gwen than any of his others. In turn she didn’t seem as repulsed by him holding her hand to keep up the charade of being a couple.

             
This morning he decided to take her to get Café Du Monde. She liked the powdered donut things; hell he could put them away too. After this assignment he most likely was going to end up a diabetic. The good food was too much to ignore, perhaps this is why Northern people were so unhappy, the lack of good food. Everyone down in the south seemed to be happy.

             
After the two finished their coffee and beignets they walked back towards the hotel. They never ventured far on foot, and Darrien avoided chain stores, they had cameras. He kept Gwen close, even with her brown locks she might be spotted, her eyes were bright and that might be a dead giveaway to this Kody McQueen guy Darrien had been reading up on since he took more of an interest in this case. McQueen was sick there was no two ways about it, and it seemed Gwen was the key to his undoing. Her extensive notes about him, his history, and his most recent crimes were horrific. McQueen had some powerful allies and Darrien got more protective after reading what he did to Gwen.

             
Kody had attempted to rape her, beat her, abused her in every meaning of the word. He even killed her previous lover, her fiancé Torrian Ford. He was a guard at the prison while in the process of his move Ford had to seek his justice for the trespasses against Gwen. Darrien could see why, she was actually funny when she wasn’t being a pain in the ass he mused to himself as they walked in silence. Gwen was still in wonder at the area around them. She had nothing left. McQueen took her life when he took that of her lover, and her parents. She had been the one to find the parents too and that was the day they met. Darrien felt like an ass for how he treated her that day, maybe he could make up for it?

              Darrien had been insufferable the first part of their stay, but after she dyed her hair he seemed to loosen up a bit, she was even allowed out into public after as long as he was with her and able to protect her. When they got back from breakfast he wanted to talk and set her down on the couch in the living room of the suite they shared posing as a young married couple.  She should probably know a little about him if they were asked questions about their union, she didn’t want to blow their cover by stuttering.

             
“We need to talk Gwen.” His voice had a tinge of remorse; Gwen leaned forward to listen to his smooth baritone voice.

             
“What’s wrong Darrien?”

             
“Just wanted to talk to you about what happened before you became my project.”

             
The word project pissed Gwen off, the fire in her eyes lit up. “Project? You mean when you got forced to deal with me?”

             
“No, not like that. Just your safety is my top priority. I haven’t checked in with our handler recently I’m going to have to do that soon, but we are going to have to start staying inside more, in the hotel. I can’t risk you getting seen by the wrong people.” He explained.

             
“What wrong people?” She blurted, needing to know.

             
“McQueen has some pawns in his pocket thanks to what he did for the mob.” Darien said.

             
“What?” She almost choked on her words.

             
“We are going to have to start staying in. I hope you like Netflix and On-Demand programming. We just have to be more careful with you.”

             
“You have to be kidding me?” She didn’t believe it yet.

             
“Nope, no more adventures or excursions. My job, my livelihood depends on keeping you alive and safe so we’re going to stay in for a while. I promise to be nicer to you.”

             
“You got a file on me didn’t you?” She looked right into his blue eyes.

             
“Yes.” He looked ashamed.

             
“And it tells you everything he did, doesn’t it?”

             
He only nodded this time.

             
“He’s the evil doer, the one who belongs in prison till the day he gets a needle in his vein, yet I am going to be the one trapped far away from home in a room. This makes perfect sense.” She was being sarcastic.

             
“I’m sorry Gwen. I really am.

             
“It’s done, you said I have to stay for my own safety, but I really hope you like picking out tampons if they don’t catch him soon you’re going to have to go out and get them.”

             
She watched Darrien visibly cringe, no men she ever knew were comfortable with female bodily functions such as that. She followed up quickly. “What about you? You got to read all about me in that little file, why don’t you tell me about yourself, if you want me to trust you and your decisions that is.”

             
He looked as if he didn’t know whether to be stunned, appreciative, angry, or remorseful. Gwen somewhat enjoyed watching the emotions flicker across his face as he searched for the right words.

             
“Well?” She wondered if her bitchy move would actually get her anywhere with him.

             
“Keep your panties on, damn. I am trying to find the right words. Have patience.”

             
She raised her eyebrow, a very dangerous motion; she hoped he understood what it meant.

             
“My father was an agent, that’s why I always wanted to be one, my mother went insane after… after what happened to my sister so she’s in a home. I had one sister. She was either kidnapped, killed, or something. She’s younger than me and another reason I wanted to work for the agency. I wanted to be able to search for her and use the badge to help.”

             
The confession shocked Gwen. She had expected him to clam up and not say a word about himself; she imagined agents to be like that. She looked at him and his eyes were glassy.

             
“What was her name?” Gwen asked gently pushing him to tell her more.

             
“It was Aribella, or just Ari. She went outside and just never came home. I was supposed to protect her and I didn’t. I blame myself for what happened.”

             
“How old were you when it happened?” She asked another question.

             
“She was twelve, I was fourteen.” His next comment went unsaid.

             
“There wasn’t much you could do Darrien.” Gwen went to put her hand on his knee to comfort him and her moved it away, not wanting her pity.

             
“It’s my fault, I live with that. I don’t share this with anyone, and you ever tell someone I will deny I ever said it.” He was back to himself, the defenses up.

             
“I understand, and what you said stays between us.” She reassured him.

             
“Good. Now pick a damn movie.” He was gruff now, apparently the fun and spirited time was over now that he was reminded of his past.

             
“Yes sir.” She mock saluted him and turned on the television, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad, and she could order all the movies she wanted.

              Kody was getting worse. It had been an eternity in hellfire. He was twitchy and snapped at everyone. She had disappeared from him completely, her cell phone was gone, her IP was gone, and she had become a virtual ghost. His sources were failing him. His fingers drummed on the bar. Kody was waiting impatiently for information related to her. Seattle was an easy place to disappear in, but still it made him edgy to be in public just waiting for someone who lacked honor.

             
The agent he was meeting had been tantalized by the gambling centers that belonged to the mob. He borrowed money that was now owed and numerous favors if he expected to keep his job. The mob owned him now, and Kody intended to tap the source till he found what he needed. Gwen would either be his or she was a loose end he would have to tie up. Kody would tie up that end, not anyone else. He doubted she would refuse him since the dream angel version of her came to him every night; she missed him, longed for him. He had to find her in their awakened state, and after he cleansed her and only then he would let her rest. Finally Kody saw who he was waiting for right now, the agent’s hair wasn’t even visible under the hat he wore angled down to protect his features. Kody almost laughed, talk about your cloak and dagger meetings.

Chapter twenty-six

Kody picked his woman for the night easily. She was one of the alpha females who tried to order the other females around and tell them to get off of her corner but was mostly just laughed at and ignored because she was an attention seeker. Her lipstick smudged, but she was one of two blondes and the other one was way too chunky to be anything like his Gwen. At least this one was only a few pounds heavier, her hair was frizzy even from this distance he could tell.

             
“Fuck it” Kody rolled around to where the bitches on stroll were and pulled up to the blonde, when she leaned into his window he asked the standard questions.

The hooker’s breath rancid as if she hasn’t brushed her teeth then guzzled plenty of cock since her last trip to the dentist. Kody immediately regretted his choice but if he didn’t bust a good nut soon he was going to burst and go crazy compared to his standards.

              “Hey daddy looking for a ride?” Her attempt at seduction was an utter failure he rolled his eyes.

             
“I’m just looking to get my pole smoked, how much?”

             
“Normally it’s a hundred, but since you’re cute fifty dollar special daddy.”

             
“Then get the fuck in and point me to the nearest alley.”

             
Kody watched the whore get in his car, her fishnets were destroyed, her black payless plastic boots were disgusting, his woman would never have been caught dead in that shit.

             
“So what’s your name?” He asked to break the silence.