Assassin Treasure (Assassins Book 4) (12 page)

“Well, I have other things to do today. You stay in bed and rest. I’ll be back to check on you in a few hours. If you need me, there’s a small buzzer on the night stand. I’ll be able to respond anywhere within the house or on the grounds close to the house.”

“Dirk?” Candy said to his retreating back. Dirk spun to face her.

“I like hot chocolate,” she said on a quiet breath, her eyes downcast. She feared him for hurting her; she hated him for destroying her life and stealing her away, yet she knew he could have left her in the swamp alone in her helpless state, killed her, sold her. Why he hadn’t, she couldn’t imagine; he would’ve been rid of her. She shuddered thinking he could’ve let the alligators deal with her.

“I’ll remember that,” Dirk said.

He left the room, and she heard a click as he locked the door behind him. Candy picked up her fork, feeling famished.

* * * *

“This is what you’ve decided?” James D. Flare was assessing his eldest son critically.

“I took responsibility for her the moment I met her, Dad,” Dirk replied in way of an explanation.

“Dirk, son, there is taking responsibility and then there is taking the blame,” James said kindly. “Her situation is not your fault. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Don’t let guilt rule your life or you may end up with a hundred wives.”

“Maybe it’s guilt, Dad, maybe it was irresponsibility. I should’ve seen how vulnerable she was when I made her pass out the first time I threatened her. But when she claimed I was holding Carrie a prisoner in our home and my own daughter must hate me, I snapped. Her look of disgust condemned me. I couldn’t help but compare her words and expression to Carrie’s mother the last day I ever spoke to her. I was so young and hurt and angry. My heart went cold; it froze to protect myself that day. I was so happy to have Carrie with me. I love her so much.

“Candy seemed to smash the reoccurrence of those awful feelings back into my mind with a hammer. It’s like she scratched me into bloody shreds with words. The agony of remembering the hell I felt washed over me, it was like losing my baby all over again. I wanted to hurt her like she hurt me. I turned into a cold, heartless bastard. I threatened her with stupid things, cruel things. I know you noticed her arms, her blood dripped from my fingers. I wanted her to experience the physical pain I swear I was feeling. It was juvenile and unprofessional. I felt unworthy of the position you’ve been training me for.” Dirk hung his head.

“Dirk, I don’t expect you to lose your sense of compassion. Though at times I’m certain you and your brother would profess I possess none. I’m not training you to be cruel or evil; I’m teaching you how to protect our family. You’ll be overseeing not just your brother and daughter but every person employed under this roof. What if they make a mistake? Trust me son, over the years, I’ve corrected hundreds of mistakes. Are you willing to keep every innocent that inadvertently comes into contact with our people?”

“No. Not all of them, just Candy,” Dirk said, running a frustrated hand over his face.

“Why her, son?” James asked curiously. He settled himself onto the couch and watched with interest as his son paced back and forth erratically.

“If she’s sent to a compound, she’ll become comatose again. A kinder place or not, those men can be real bastards. She’s a fighter, in time she may fight again. I know what I’m dealing with; even if they’re warned, slavers won’t care if she’s disobeying. After what Carrie went through, you know what I’d like to do to all of those bastards. Candy’s an innocent, none of this was her fault, Darren had been about to rape her. The family comes first, yes, but you’ve always stressed I should take a special effort to spare the innocent. This solution is perfect. I’ve already given you the heir you so desperately wanted; my daughter has already ensured our line with a baby due any day. I’ve told you since Carrie’s mother, I’ve been unable to develop any relationship with another woman. No one has touched me the way she did. I haven’t wanted anyone in my life that will make me feel so hurt again.

“Candy can help Carrie with the baby. She can be female companionship for her. You know that’s one of Tyr’s hot spots here, that Carrie has no other woman to confide in like she does at his brother, Wolf’s, home. That she could end up alone with the baby in a safe room with her terrible asthma if we are placed in an attack position,” Dirk argued.

“I’ve never once said an innocent comes before your well-being,” James said. He was beginning to wonder if he had overstressed everyone else’s well-being while leaving out his very special oldest son. A son who held his heart gripped with immense pride. There was no one better to fill his shoes when the time came.

“Dad, I know you love me,” Dirk said a bit awkwardly.

Dirk’s mother had been the one free with the hugs and kisses; James was admittedly hard on him, more so than Damien, but more was expected of Dirk. Damien was the baby; Dirk was the one who would step into his position. Yet, there had been times James had protected Dirk at all costs, steamrolling over all others seeking his son’s safety with a vengeance. Becoming brutal in his protection of him.

“You’re right son, I do love you. You’re still a young man; you had Carrie when you were barely eighteen. I don’t want you to throw the rest of your life away or sacrifice yourself because of a misguided feeling of compassion,” James told him.

“How can compassion be misguided?” Dirk raged. “You said you’re not teaching me to be evil. What part of callously handing an innocent over into slavery isn’t evil? We both know the hell Carrie went through. This girl’s affliction is worse than Carrie’s. An act of kindness could have calmed Carrie, but Candy will without a doubt disappear back into herself if she’s handled too roughly. We both know what will be done to her if she retreats into her mind. The kindest act would be a bullet through her brain. I can’t allow that.”

“Her inability to control her fear isn’t your problem,” James said, moving to the bar. He was becoming irritated. He reached for the whisky and poured himself a generous amount, swallowing it down with a grimace.

“Maybe not, but I can make certain it doesn’t surface again. All I’m offering her is my name, a safe home, a safety net. In time, I’m certain she and I will be friends, and she’ll be more comfortable here. I’m not a monster after all. She has no real family to speak of, a few distant cousins, just a friend or two, nothing that would threaten our existence or identity.”

“You’re absolutely certain? You know very well Tyr thought the same of Carrie.”

“I’m not as young or naïve as Tyr. Or a stupid fucking ass. I’m not blinded by love,” Dirk exploded.

James knew he hit a sore spot as his son bristled, then gained control, he knew Dirk disliked that James just grouped him with his despised son-in-law. James sighed. He knew the harder he pushed, the more determined Dirk would be. It wasn’t the first time James wondered why his son was so passionate about everything.

He had to get it from his mother.

“You’re determined to go through with this?” James asked, annoyed.

“Yes.” Dirk’s eyes narrowed, his stance firm.

James knew
that
look and where it came from. Dirk reminded James of his father every time he saw it. Nothing short of a death threat would change his mind, perhaps not even that in this case.

“Well then, I guess the only thing that’s left to do is to meet my future daughter-in-law,” James said, and then downed another drink.

* * * *

Candy sat at a large table huddled, her arms pressed protectively to her chest. Dirk had produced clothing for her and demanded she dine with him and his father the next night for dinner. To Dirk, she seemed anxious. He couldn’t blame her. He knew her thoughts were still reeling with the realization he was marrying her. Dirk hadn’t asked her, he told her in no uncertain terms he wanted to introduce his father to his future wife; she stared blankly up at him for a brief moment until it was apparent she finally realized he was talking about her. She had literally gulped. It wasn’t very flattering the way she looked like she was about to vomit.

Dirk thought she understood when he said he was keeping her, but apparently his explanation had fallen short. Candy had no time to refuse, he explained the decision wasn’t hers to make and she best make the most of it. She dismissed herself to the bathroom where she had, in fact, tossed her guts up. Again, not very flattering.

Dirk wanted to make certain Candy was able to keep down solid food before introducing her to his father and was capable of sitting upright at a table; he didn’t want her falling over. She seemed so fragile and pale, a feeling of protectiveness surfaced; after all, she was his responsibility. He didn’t want his father upsetting her. Dinner was the three of them.

“So Candy, I understand you were witness to a very unpleasant experience,” James began.

James was sipping at his coffee, not taking his eyes from her for a moment. His father admitted to Dirk he thought the girl was beautiful, though very pale; she was still a little sickly looking. Her fear of his father was apparent. Dirk knew James wasn’t without some compassion, yet his family always came first. James threatened if he found it necessary, he would remove the girl himself.

Candy hazarded a quick glance to Dirk. She was to obey Dirk; he had stressed that sternly though unthreateningly; she was seeking his guidance. He smiled at her with encouragement so she would understand she was to answer all of his father’s questions; it was important to him. Candy swallowed hard.

“Yes,” she confirmed quietly.

Dirk settled back into his chair waiting anxiously for the outcome of this meeting to unfold.

* * * *

Candy sensed the inquisition was beginning. The man before her was the man who could have her
disposed
of
. Her plate of food remained largely untouched. She held a cup of black coffee within her shaky grasp. She hated black coffee, any coffee, but Dirk’s father handed it to her the moment she sat. There was neither cream nor sugar at her disposal; she felt she had no choice. She rolled the mug slowly as though warming her hands, trying to still their trembling.

“You must’ve been relieved when my son assumed responsibility for you.”

Candy sat blinking at his words.
Relieved?
No not relieved. Afraid, yes. Angry. She looked at James with a wary, determined feeling. She wondered at his line of questioning. Was he wondering if she was good enough to remain within the family fold or posed a threat? Candy’s heart began to race. She wouldn’t lie to him from fear.

“No, I’m not relieved. I want to go home. Your son is sparing my life to aid his own end. I know where I could be placed if I don’t obey him, he explained in detail. I’d die. I know I would either be killed or end up killing myself.

“I’d never hurt anyone here, it’s not my nature to be cruel. But I’m being hurt by being denied my freedom. I know you don’t care; I understand my life has no meaning for you. But don’t expect gratitude or respect. I was someone’s child too, as your son is. There’s always someone who comes along who’s more powerful than the one who thinks he’s above reproach.”

“I’m happy you’ll hurt no one, Candy. As for your freedom, all I can ask is where would you find freedom from Tyler’s family? You’re safer here. All life has meaning for me. If your life were deemed worthless, evil, you’d be dead by my hand already,” James said.

Candy could feel her face go pale and her jaw quivered when he began again. But it was a war on words. Her heart calmed. They were the evil ones, not her.

Justify that, asshole.

“My son has a great deal of mercy, my dear, he learned some from me. Just by looking at you, I can see you’re no threat. As for being above reproach, I am. My holding is very powerful; my contacts are the best, my men highly trained, invincible. You’re trapped, but you’re protected. Taylor, or anyone the Darrens send, will be unable to breach my walls. My home’s impenetrable. Your fear of him or his family should far outweigh your fear of my son.”

“It was your son I saw murder an unarmed man in cold blood. He shot him between the eyes. I don’t dispute Tyler got what he deserved; he was cruel and heartless. It was also your other son who hurt me and terrified me into oblivion, which was something I didn’t deserve. What will happen to me when he stops feeling sorry for me and grows bored with me?” Candy said. Though her words were for James, by the end of her sentence she was looking directly at Dirk. Her lips settled into a grim line.

James studied her. “I appreciate honesty. And though I sense your fear of us, I also detect determination. But, what would you have him do with you, Candy?”

“Set me free,” she demanded immediately.

“All right, suppose we did. Where would you go? Home?” James asked.

Candy remained thoughtful for a moment, her mind racing. “I can’t go home,” she finally admitted, the police would find her. Taylor and his family would get to her.

“Another country? You have the money to travel? I’m certain the Darren family doesn’t travel?” James inquired; he took a leisurely sip of his coffee.

Candy slumped into her chair. Taylor was always off to a different part of the country, continuously. Even if she could come up with the funds to run from country to country, though unlikely, she’d always be looking over her shoulder.

“They travel,” she admitted hesitantly. “I don’t have any money.”

“Perhaps you could go to a powerful relative who’s unafraid of Tyler’s family, money and position, who would be able to protect you as well as Dirk and our family?” James suggested.

Candy settled her untouched mug of coffee onto the table. An image of Uncle Horace came to mind, he was her great uncle. Old and feeble and in desperate need of a hearing aid. Her cousin Janice, a reclusive with her ten cats, she doubted either would even notice she was missing. She couldn’t place her friends in danger; they couldn’t handle Taylor or his family. She was completely alone.

“There’s no one. I’m alone. No one can protect me,” she whispered, feeling defeated and fearful. Her building bravado crashed like a stone within her belly.