Inheriting a SECRET (Corrigan & Co. Book 7)
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Inheriting a
SECRET
Book #7 of Corrigan & Co.
By Crystal Perkins
Copyright © 2015 by Crystal Perkins
Cover Design by Helen Williams
www.allbookedout.com
Ebook Formatting by Jesse Gordon
adarnedgoodbook.com
All trademarks are owned by their respective companies and are denoted by the use of proper capitalization of the company and/or brand. All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book. This contemporary erotic romance is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners. This ebook is licensed for your personal use only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with, especially if you enjoy sexy, emotional, romance novels with alpha males. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.
Table of Contents
About Inheriting a SECRET
Other books by Crystal Perkins
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Epilogue
Acknowledgements
About the Author
TABLE OF CONTENTS
About Inheriting a SECRET
Other books by Crystal Perkins
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Epilogue
Acknowledgements
About the Author
About Inheriting a SECRET
A woman who made a promise as a teenager, and has no intention of breaking it…
Darcy was trained to be a cat burglar and con artist from a young age. On his deathbed, her father elicited a promise from her that she’s always kept, despite the danger it’s exposed her to. As a current member of the Society, she’s assigned to a mission that brings her face to face with the one man who tests her will…and her honor.
A prince who will stop at nothing to fulfill a promise he made...
Brayden is set to ascend the throne of his small country, but he can’t do that without the jewels Darcy stole from his family ten years ago. He sets out to break her, but the best laid plans are sometimes destined to fail. Can he put aside his promise to his father and his country in order to follow his heart, or will duty come before love?
Honor will be tested, and inherited duty may have to be challenged if they have any hope of overcoming the SECRET that could change everything.
Other books by Crystal Perkins
The Griffin Brothers series
Gaming For Love (The Griffin Brothers #1)
Building Our Love (The Griffin Brothers #2)
Creating A Love (The Griffin Brothers #3)
Learning To Love (The Griffin Brothers #4)
Designing The Love (The Griffin Brothers #5)
Working On Love (The Griffin Brothers #6)
Keeping Their Love (The Griffin Brothers #7)
Corrigan & Co. series
Fielding Her SECRET (Corrigan & Co. #1)
Devouring the SECRET (Corrigan & Co. #2)
Rocking a SECRET (Corrigan & Co. #3)
Lessons in SECRET (Corrigan & Co. #4)
Uncovering His SECRET (Corrigan & Co. #5)
Training the SECRET (Corrigan & Co. #6)
Publicly, The Corrigan & Co. Foundation has been supporting women for years. Secretly, five powerful women led by Jane Corrigan have recruited ten agents, sending them to rescue women and children in need, and take down those who exploit the weak. This secret society of women all have unique skills they’ve brought to the foundation. Additionally, they’ve all had training in weapons, etiquette, martial arts, technology, and languages. Helping out friends and family of their five mentors from time to time is something they were told to expect. What they didn’t plan for is falling in love.
About the Corrigan & Co. Foundation and the Society:
• Mitchell Corrigan created the Corrigan & Co. Foundation for his wife as part of his company ten years ago. He stipulated that the foundation would continue as long as there is a Corrigan woman to oversee it.
• Jane Corrigan, Cyndi Evans, Maggie Griffin, Mallory Daniels, and Helen Wilson are the founders of the secret society within the foundation. They focus on helping women and children, but take on other missions from time to time.
• While they assist government and private organizations on a regular basis, they only take referrals for private missions.
• Each founder has recruited, and mentors, two agents.
• The company was founded in Chicago, but has now moved to Las Vegas, where Mitchell was born. On his deathbed, he asked his grandson to move the company headquarters to help revive the economy in his hometown. There are satellite offices all over the world.
• Jane’s grandson, Matt, who is President and CEO of Corrigan & Co., knows of the society. His friends Nathan and Aiden, who he brought in when they all left the military, know as well. This was a decision by the five women when they needed help on a mission that went bad. They do not know all mission details, but help when they are asked. Jake Mason is now also part of the Corrigan security team, and aware of the Society.
For my friends and readers who have
always dreamed of finding their prince.
Prologue
Darcy
I can’t believe I’ve been doing this stupid mission for almost two months now. Actually, I can’t believe I’m actually on this damn mission. Everyone always goes on and on about how the Society isn’t a dating service, yet here I am. I’m pretending to be the upstanding fiancée of one of the biggest manwhores in the world. Who also happens to be a prince. Yeah, it’s of a small country that no one would have
heard of if he wasn’t sleeping his way through every model and actress he can get his hands on, but still. A prince. One I so do not belong with.
Not just because I grew up with a father who was a con man, making me one of the least upstanding people you could ever find, but also because I have no desire to be sweet and quiet like they want me to be. “They” being his mother, and the palace staff. I’ve been stashed in Paris for all this time while they try to dress me and instill culture in me. I couldn’t exactly tell them that I already know all about the paintings and sculptures in the museums because of my past. Or about the best designers and clothing because of my present. I just have to smile and pretend that I’m grateful for their time and attention. When I really just want to throw on some leather pants and play Call of Duty.
But alas, they won’t let me near leather pants. I’m making do with leather skirts in all different colors and styles. I even like some of them. The fancy tops could go, and so could the heels, but I can deal. I’ve been trained to deal. I drew the line at my hair when they wanted to change it. My orange tresses are the one thing I was unwilling to part with. I’ve worn wigs on more occasions than I can count, but I’ve never strayed from the color I chose when Mallory Daniels gave me the safety I’d been craving for more years than I care to count because I’d tried to rob her house. How was I to know that she was one of the leaders of a secret society of spies? Thank God she saw potential in me, and figured they could use my talents for good. Otherwise, I’d still probably be in jail these seven years later.
The craziest thing about this whole situation is that I have yet to meet my intended. When his mother came asking for help, Reina had apparently given her pictures of me, Jade, Ellie, and Audrey. We were the ones who—at the time—were unattached. Why she chose me, I have no idea. I’m more the girl who would sully an image, not clean it up. He’s apparently as against this whole thing as me, so he’s refused to meet up, even for engagement photos.
The whole situation is bizarre. Like I’ve mentioned, I am the least traditional looking of any of us. Ellie may favor bustiers and short skirts, but she has nice long brown hair, and manners. I don’t possess the “m” word. I’m nice to the people I like, but everyone else can just go away. I can pretend for short periods of time that I’m a functioning member of society, but this is a long term gig. And I’ve already used up my patience.
“Well, if it isn’t my beautiful bride to be,” I hear from behind me.
I smooth down the short black leather skirt covered in stitching that I’ve paired with a white and black flowy top, and turn to stand. “You’ve finally decided to grace me with your presence?”
I don’t get any more words out as Brayden James lets out a growl, and grabs me. He slams me into the nearest wall as his mouth descends on mine. My body immediately responds, and my mind shuts down. I know I said I wasn’t into this mission—or him—but this man is one of the hottest on the planet. And I’m a woman who hasn’t gotten any since I’ve been here. So yeah, I kiss him back.
“I’ve been wanting to do that for ten years.”
What? “We’ve never met, so how can that be. You can’t bullshit me with your stupid lines. I have more than half a brain.”
“It’s not bullshit, Cat.”
“My name’s not Cat.”
“In my mind it is. That’s what I’ve called you ever since I saw you climbing past my window when I was fifteen. You were wearing a black leather catsuit, and although your hair was different, I’ve never forgotten your face. Or what seeing you stirred up inside of me.”
“You-you saw me? I mean, someone who looked like me?” Shit. This was the other reason I didn’t want to do this mission. I have my own secrets to keep.
“Oh yeah, and that’s why I picked you for this. So I can finally kiss you, and also so you can tell me where the jewels are.”
“You got one of your fantasies, but you can keep dreaming about the other. If I knew anything about any jewels, I certainly wouldn’t tell you. And since it’s been ten years, they’d be long gone.”
“I can be very persuasive,” he says, caressing my breasts over my shirt.
“I’m not some model or actress who cares that you’re a prince.”
“No, but I think you do care that I can implicate you in a major jewelry heist.”
“You’ve had ten years to do that, and you don’t know it was me.”
“Oh, I know it was you,” he says, continuing to drive me a little wild with those caresses. I know I should pull away, but I can’t. “I told you I’ve been thinking of you for ten years, and I haven’t forgotten one little thing about you, or your sweet little body. I just couldn’t find you. Until now.”
“So what? You’re going to blackmail me into sex?”
“No. Never,” he says, stepping away and taking those glorious hands with him. “I won’t let you quit this assignment, but I’d never force myself on you. You’re going to come to me willingly, and we both know it. You were as into that kiss as I was.”
“We’ll just have to see about that.”
And I’ll also have to see how I’m going to survive this mission. I had no idea that he saw me when I was fifteen—all the rooms were dark. Because yes, it was me. I stole those jewels, not because I wanted to, but because I had to. Just like I have to stay on this mission. History seems to be repeating itself when it comes to Brayden James and his family, and this time I’m going to be a whole hell of a lot more careful. Especially since it’s only taken one kiss for me to realize that he could be the one. The one, and falling for him just might be worse than jail.
* * *
Brayden
That kiss. Fucking hell, that damn kiss. It was somehow better than I’d imagined it would be for the last ten years. And when she let me touch her. I-I won’t even go there. I can’t. What I need to do is get my head on straight. She’s nothing more than a means to an end, and I need to remember that.
“Thank God. Brayden this behavior is unacceptable.”
“What behavior, Mother?” I ask as I turn to her.
“Don’t ‘Mother” me in that tone. You know full well what I’m talking about.”
“I was busy.”
“Busy? We’re trying to salvage the scraps of your reputation that are left hanging, and you’re too ‘busy’ to even meet the fiancée you picked?”
“I just met her.”
“Was she everything you’d hoped for?”
Yeah, I’m not going there. “She’ll do.”
“I have to admit I was nervous due to her appearance, and apparent penchant for leather pants, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised. She’s very intelligent and has done everything we asked of her without complaint.”
“So no leather pants?” Damn, I want to see her in a pair of those.
“Of course not. We did compromise on skirts though.”
I wanted my hands on—and under—that little skirt she was wearing, so thank you Mom. “How progressive of you.”
“She will be a modern princess to be. I don’t expect her to wear a corset for God’s sake.”
I so did not need a visual of Cat—I mean, Darcy—in a corset. Really. The laces, and buttons coming undone in my hands while her sweet little tits are popping free.
“Brayden?”
“Huh? What? Sorry, I was off in my own mind for a minute.”
“I asked you if you’re ready to take her to dinner tonight for your first public outing together.”
No. I am not ready to go out in public with her. Because I want so badly to be in private with her, and I don’t know that I can hide that from all the press who will be photographing us. Or from Darcy herself. Not that I didn’t make my intentions clear earlier, but I promised not to push her. That’s a promise I’m not sure I can keep. It’s time to man up, though.
“Yeah, sure. Whatever we need to do.”
I’ll play the game, because I know I’m going to win. Darcy’s going to be in my bed, and those jewels are
going to be back in my family’s castle. I promised my father that I would find them before I ascended the throne. My mother’s in good health, but like Simba once said, “I just can’t wait to be king.”
Chapter 1
Darcy
I need my armor—and my friends tonight. But there’s no way I’ll be allowed to wear leather pants, and my best friend is off with his girl—and a pony. Yeah I said “pony.” Who knew badass Nate Anderson would turn out to be such a romantic? Not me. I’m happy for him, though. Watching him pine over Jade for two years was getting old. Especially because I didn’t understand all the fuss.
She wanted him, he wanted her, and yet he refused to make his move. Now that I know everything, I get it, but then again, part of me still doesn’t. Maybe it’s because I can’t even imagine ever wanting to be with someone forever. I’m not sure something like that is even possible. Several of my friends from the Society have found “love” recently, but will it really last forever? And do people really want that? I know they do, but I don’t. I never have, and I can’t imagine that I ever will. Which makes my “fiancé” an even bigger problem.
I’ve never wanted love, but I do want him. I can even admit to myself that when he kissed me, I felt a connection that was more than sexual. I’m not looking for happily ever after, but I want more than one night with this man. Since we have to be believably in love, that’s a good thing for my mission. But I’m afraid that it’s a very bad thing for me. One night of release is all I’ve given any boy, or man. Ever. The fact that I’m wanting to give this one more is scary—but kind of exciting, too. Yeah, I’m screwed.
Before I can continue on with my pity party, a knock sounds at the door. I look at myself one more time in the mirror before answering. I had to forgo leather for lace, but I like it. The strapless pale grey dress has a high-low hemline and is covered in white lace that’s heavier on the bottom and top. It’s funky while still being somewhat proper. My hair is up in a twist and pearls are in my ears. I have white sheer pumps on my feet, and my “engagement” ring on my finger. I grab my clutch and open the door.