Inheriting a SECRET (Corrigan & Co. Book 7)

by Crystal Perkins

  I look up to see Darcy standing in one of the tall windows that are a few feet off the ground. She looks so beautiful and fierce in her leather pants and jacket with her hair free and wild. She has a gun in her hand, and her jaw is clenched.

  It’s my uncle who she’s looking at, and he’s the one to answer her. “It is, Darcy. Please come down.” He looks around to the rest of us. “Please step off of the royal seal.”

  We all move to the sides of the room. I don’t know what’s going on, but I watch as Darcy jumps down and goes to one knee in the middle of the seal that is painted into the floor right in front of the king’s chair, placing the gun down next to her.

  “Darcy, I release you from the oath you swore to my brother, and thank you for your service to the crown. You may give the jewels to Brayden.”

  She stands and turns to me, holding out a pouch. I don’t take it, I can’t. “What? Your oath was to my father?”

  “Yes.”

  “How? I don’t understand.”

  She drops her hand and looks behind her. “It’s your story more than it is mine, Steven.”

  He nods, and then starts speaking. “As you know, your father and I spent a couple of years attending school in America. While we were there, we met Darcy’s father. He was our best friend, and we stayed in touch throughout the years, even though he chose a life that was…well less than legal. He taught us his cons and we taught him how to fit in with high society. He was very particular about the jobs he did, and never hurt anyone or stole from someone who would be ruined by the loss of what he took.

  “Ten years ago, when I wouldn’t give Jenysis to Derrick, he decided to go after the jewels to punish us. One of his servants was loyal to your father, and he told us what was going on. As you know, it is imperative that the jewels be in the possession of anyone being crowned in our family. It’s not a legal requirement, but a superstition. One that has never been broken. Derrick knew that if he got his hands on them, he’d be able to stop our line from ascending the throne. He would just need to kill your father, and then he could be king.

  “Once we knew of his plan, we called Darcy’s father and asked him to come here and steal the jewels for us. We thought that if there was a heist, Derrick wouldn’t trace it to us, and we’d get the jewels back when we needed them. We had no idea that Derrick was mad enough to kill our friend when he caught him in the vault.

  “Darcy was outside, and when she realized something was wrong, she came in after her father. He died in her arms, eliciting her promise to help us before he passed. Derrick had to leave the jewels that night because of the murder he committed, but he hired Angelo to steal them for him, giving him times when he thought the vault would be most vulnerable.

  “Honoring her father’s wishes, Darcy came to us and offered her services. We-we took advantage of her need for revenge, and swore her to an oath. One that promised she would be hunted and in danger while those jewels were in her possession. She had to hold onto them, and keep them safe, never giving them to anyone, or revealing her promise, until Derrick was no longer a threat. She kept that oath, and you witnessed her being released from it just now.”

  My head is spinning, and I don’t know what to think of all of this. “You made an oath for vengeance alone?”

  “No, and no one took advantage of me. My father came here to help because of his love and loyalty to his friends. I was happy to do the same in his place,” she says, and seems to struggle with what she’s going to say next. “My father had already hidden my mother, but my…my brother needed to be protected as well. He was only eleven and I couldn’t take him with me. Even if I hadn’t taken the oath and made my promise, there was a chance we’d still be in danger. Your father and Steven promised to protect him.”

  “Brother?”

  “Yes, her brother,” Noah says, walking over to her and pulling her into his arms.

  Oh my God. Noah’s her brother? All of these years he’s been living here with me, being my best friend, and I never knew. He never told me. When she came here, they pretended to not know each other.

  “You’re her brother? But you hit on her when we were in Paris. And you told me she was a bad idea. You even pushed me to make her give me the jewels. Why would you do all of that?”

  “I didn’t hit on her, I told her to punch me. I pushed you because I thought she could finally be safe if she gave the jewels to you. And I warned you off her because I didn’t want you using my sister like all of your other women. Like they used her,” he says, tipping his chin to the Society founders. “They were here that night, hidden in the shadows. Mallory Daniels made an oath to me when Darcy left. A promise to look out for her and protect her. That was obviously a lie.”

  “What?” Darcy looks as confused as I feel.

  Mallory steps forward with Jane. “I kept my promise to you, Noah. We watched your sister from afar so she could have her independence. We paid the people she fenced her…goods…with to sell them to us exclusively, and then we returned them to their rightful owners. We did everything in our power to ensure that she would never be caught. When we heard rumblings that Derrick was close to finding her, I arranged for her to get arrested while robbing my house, so I could finally offer her a place with us.”

  “You said you recruited me to find out where the jewels were.”

  It’s Jane who answers her. “We had to do that, Darcy, and I am so sorry for it. Hurting you was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do in my life. We knew it was the only way to force Derrick’s hand. If he thought we had taken our protection from you, we knew he’d act irrationally in order to get to you.”

  “So you planned to just leave her alone against him,” Reina says, anger lacing her every word.

  “No. We knew you’d defy us and help her. I groomed you to take over because of the bond you have with these women, as well as your ability to lead and make hard decisions. I had no doubt that you—and the other women and men—would help Darcy. And we did what we could to help you as well. Maggie even sent Scott to Ainsley when they needed him.”

  “Really?” Darcy asks, and I can tell she’s going to cry any second now.

  Mallory speaks again. “Yes. We love you, Darcy. I love you. If we could’ve done this any other way, we would have. You need to know that you are with us because we wanted you for you, not for what you could give us.”

  “I want to believe that, but after what you said…I don’t know if I can.”

  “We’ll prove ourselves to you. To all of you,” Jane promises.

  “You really believed in me? That I could lead them, even without the Society resources?” Reina asks.

  “Always, Reina. You have never disappointed me, and I couldn’t have been more proud of you than when you rallied your women against us.”

  “You should’ve told me, Gram. I could’ve been helping Rei and the girls,” Matt says, looking pained.

  “I gave you permission to stand against me.”

  “I couldn’t do that. You’re my family.”

  “So is Reina, and your other friends. They’re family, too, or at least I thought you felt that way. I fully expected you to stand with your wife.”

  “You were obviously wrong,” Reina says, and then practically runs from the room. Matt goes after her, and I wouldn’t want to be him right now. Actually, I’m not sure I really want to be me right now, either.

  * * *

  Darcy

  Brayden is looking shell-shocked, and I don’t blame him. I’ve had my mind blown a little, and he’s had so much more revealed to him than I did. I wait until everyone else has filed from the room except for Noah and Jen before turning back to him.

  “Talk to me, Crown.”

  “How much of it was real?”

  “With us? All of it.”

  “So you just happened to have sworn an oath to my father, and then ended up being my fake fiancée. Oh, and then you were ‘in love’ with me.”

  “You chose me to be your fake fian
cée. I would’ve never volunteered for this mission. I didn’t want to fall in love with you, but I did. Don’t you dare try to belittle what I feel with your damn finger quotes.”

  “Oh come on. Your brother pretends to be my best friend and you let me fuck you. I don’t know who betrayed me the most.”

  “Brayden, I wasn’t pretending to be your best friend, but I will kill you if you talk about my sister in any other way than with respect.”

  “Respect? Where was the respect for me when you were lying to me?”

  “He didn’t lie to you. He was eleven years old, for God’s sake. I left him here alone, and he found a friend. You’re his best friend, Jen’s like his sister, and I’m just a stranger he hadn’t seen for ten years.”

  “Shit. That’s how I beat you when we were fencing. Noah said I was like a sister to him, and you were gutted. Now I feel like an even bigger bitch,” Jen says to me.

  “It’s okay. I should’ve had tougher skin. I’m glad he had you and Brayden. It means a lot to me that he’s always had you.”

  “You need to leave. I want both of you off of the island tomorrow.”

  “This is my home,” Noah says.

  “Not anymore.”

  “Stop being such a prat, Bray,” Jen says, “Noah will be my guest if he’s no longer yours. He can stay at my house.”

  “Fine. As long as I don’t have to see him.”

  “You don’t mean that. C’mon, man.”

  “I do mean it. You’re the children of a master con artist, and I let you both con me. It won’t happen again.”

  “It never happened. Yes, I had to keep my oath a secret, but you have to know that what happened between us was real. And Noah’s really your friend.”

  “Just go, Darcy. Get off of my island.”

  I’m not going to beg him to listen to me, or to love me. “As you wish, Your Highness,” I say with an exaggerated bow. I pull my engagement ring off, and once again, toss it to him. I throw him his precious jewels, too.

  I start to walk out of the room with Noah and Jen, but Brayden’s voice stops us. “Where are you going, Jen?”

  “I’m making sure my friends are settled in my house.”

  “And then you’ll be back, right?”

  “Not tonight. I’m staying with Darcy.”

  “You’re going to leave me alone to be with the people who conned us?”

  “No, I’m leaving you alone to be with your best friend—who has had your back for ten bloody years—and the woman who gave up ten years of having a real life to honor a promise to our fathers. And then fell in love with you. Because she does love you. Everyone can see it, and you know it, even if you insist on acting like a prat.”

  “Just go on and let yourself keep being conned. Nothing with them was real.”

  “Bray, you know that’s not true. Please believe me.” My brother is practically begging him, and it’s too much for me.

  I walk up to him, get right in his face, and match his glare with one of my own. “You need to stop hurting my brother. Say whatever the fuck you want about me—call me a thief, a con artist, even a whore for spreading my legs for you, because I was stupid enough to believe you cared for me. But do not act like my brother has wronged you. I saw how close you were when I first met you, and I was thankful then that he had you all those years when I had to stay away from him. From what I’ve seen and heard, you’ve always had him, too. He did nothing wrong. Nothing.”

  “He knew about the jewels, and why you had them.”

  “Yes, and he also knew that if the truth behind the theft was revealed, Derrick would stop at nothing to kill you, Steven, and Jen. Or he’d just kill the two of you and then force her into marriage and rape her every night when he was crowned. Is that what you wanted?”

  “No,” he says quietly. “What I wanted was to figure out a way to keep you by my side forever. I was willing to fight my country for you, to somehow make them change that old law.”

  “Crown,” I say, feeling my eyes fill with tears.

  “Don’t call me that,” he says, standing tall once again. “We’ll never be those nicknames again. It’s over, Darcy. For good this time.”

  I nod as tears roll down my cheeks. “I hope you enjoy your life with some pretty princess.”

  “I will.”

  I force myself to turn from him and calmly walk out the door. I want to run, but I won’t give him the satisfaction. Jen looks at me with sorrow in her eyes, and Noah looks like he wants to commit murder. I shake my head at both of them, letting them know that he won’t listen tonight. Or maybe ever. We’ve all been hurt, and I understand his actions. They’re breaking my heart, but I know he’s not just being spiteful. I could feel his pain like it was a physical thing. It matches my own.

  Chapter 18

  Darcy

  “I can’t believe I just got you back after ten years, and now you’re leaving me again,” Noah says, walking outside to sit next to me as I watch the sun rise over the water.

  “You could come with me this time,” I remind him with a smile.

  “This is my home, Darce. I’m sorry, but I can’t leave. Not even for you.”

  “You don’t ever have to apologize for wanting to stay. You’ve lived here almost half your life. Mom will be here tomorrow to see you, and you can come visit me anytime you want. Just call, and I’ll send a plane for you.”

  “You’re going back to work with those women, then?”

  “I don’t know. We’re all meeting with them once we’re back. I understand why they did it, and why they felt it was necessary, but it still hurt. My friends are as angry as I am, so it’s not going to be an easy thing to just go back to business as usual. I’ve saved my money over the years, so I don’t have to work, but I love what we do.”

  “Let me know how it goes.”

  “I will. You’re going to call me every day, right? And tell me about that pretty girl you were dancing with at the picnic?”

  He blushes. “I like her.”

  “I could tell.”

  “I’m going to get a job and an apartment. I’ve already called around, and I have some interviews today.”

  “I could help you out. Not with a job here, but if you need money.”

  “No. You and the royal family have taken care of me for long enough. I had an excellent education in France, and it’s time for me to put my architecture degree to use. The restoration firm used by the royals offered me a job when I graduated earlier this year, and they’re one of the firms I’m meeting with later.”

  “You were so cute in your cap and gown.”

  “You were there?” he asks, his eyes going wide.

  “Of course. It’s not every day that my baby brother graduates from one of the best universities in Europe. It was big enough for me to blend in, so no one knew who I was there to see.”

  “That’s…I don’t know what to say… thank you.”

  I wave him off, trying not to blush myself. “You know that Ryan Griffin is a friend of mine.”

  “I wish he could’ve made the trip to the ball. I would’ve loved to have met him.”

  “Maggie didn’t want any of her sons, or their families here. She tried to get Alex to stay behind, but she’s becoming as tough as the rest of us, even though she’s not an agent. When you come to Vegas to visit me, you can hang out with Ryan.”

  “Really? You think he’d have time for me?”

  “Definitely. He’s a great guy, and he called last night to tell me you had a job with him if you came back with me.”

  “Whoa. That’s…wow. I can’t leave, though.”

  “I know. You have your pretty girl, a chance at a job you’ll love, and your best friend. Plus, the girl who’s stood in as sister for me all these years.”

  “I was sorry for what I said as soon as the words came out of my mouth. Especially after Jen cut you.”

  “Don’t be. I mean it. I am so thankful for Jen, and everyone else. Am I jealous? Yes. I lost ten years
with you. But I’m also so damn happy that you were surrounded by people who love you.”

  “He’s going to regret this, you know.”

  “I knew we could never really be together. I just wish he didn’t hate me.”

  “He doesn’t. He’s just hurt.”

  “I know he’s hurt. I understand it. He’s going to forgive you. But me…no. He’s convinced himself that I was conning him. He won’t get over that. Which I should be happy about because it will allow him to move on and be happy with whatever princess he chooses. They’ll have adorable royal babies and live happily ever after.”

  “You’re happy about that? Is that why you’re crying? And saying ‘happy’ like a million times?”

  “Yes,” I say. “Dammit, I never cry and now I can’t seem to stop.”

  “He’s worth your tears. He doesn’t deserve them at the moment—and as your brother, I shouldn’t be saying this—but he’s my best friend, and he was different with you, Sis. Different and better than I’ve ever seen him be with another girl. He wasn’t just using you for fun, I know he loved you.”

  “Past tense.”

  “Nah, he loves you. He’s just too hurt and proud right now to admit it.”

  “When did you get so smart? You’re not supposed to be smarter than me.”

  “I do okay, but I’m no secret spy chick.”

  “It’s not all it’s cracked up to be. Trust me on that.”

  We talk a little longer before I head inside to grab my bag. I’m leaving behind all of the clothes Brayden’s mother bought me, except for what I wore the day of the picnic. That afternoon was magical and romantic. My sloth and iguana are going home with me, too. I wish I could bring back the gaming systems from my room, but I can’t exactly walk into the castle and ask for them. I’ll have my memories to remind me of all those nights where Brayden tried to play for me.

  “You’re not leaving without a proper goodbye, are you?”

  I turn to smile at Jen. “No. I was just grabbing my bag.”

  “Did you and Noah have a good talk?”

  “We did. Thank you for letting him stay here until he gets an apartment.”