Devouring the SECRET (Corrigan & Co. Book 2)

by Crystal Perkins

  Well, not anything. I’m still having a hard time thinking about Faith killing people. Even bad people. I’ve made sure to hide it when I’m around her. That isn’t hard since whenever I see her, I just want to hold and kiss her. And other things. Lots of other things. It’s when I’m alone that I start thinking about being with someone whose job goes against one of my major beliefs. We’ll work it out, though. I know we will. It’s like people of different religions getting together. Well, maybe not exactly. But close enough.

  I get out of the trunk once Aiden pulls into the garage. He activates the garage elevator for me before heading back to my house. The guards in the lobby help me with the interior elevator, and I’m on her floor in less than a minute. I’m not expecting the scene I see when I walk inside.

  Faith is asleep on the couch with the throw over her. Zack Taylor is at the other end of the couch watching the sports channel. Ainsley and Scott Griffin are at the dining room table, poring over their tablets.

  “Hey, Gavin,” Zack whispers to me.

  “Hi.”

  I walk over and kneel on the floor in front of Faith, just looking at her as she sleeps. I want to reach out and caress her cheek, but I’m afraid to wake her. I lean back on my heels and sigh before moving to the chair nearest Zack.

  “Has she been asleep long?”

  “About an hour. I helped her make dinner, and then she just crashed.”

  “Aiden filled me in on everything. It must’ve been a rough night.”

  “I’m sure it was.”

  “You weren’t here?”

  “No, man. I’m with Ainsley, but I’m not part of what they do. I’d help them in a heartbeat, but I’m not qualified to stand with them.”

  “Isn’t that hard to deal with? Knowing what she does, what they all do?”

  “When I first found out, I lashed out about being kept in the dark. I thought I was just being used and that Ainsley didn’t really love me. I almost lost her because I was so stupid. But they save people. Lots and lots of people. To know that someone who’s not only brilliant, but also a bad-ass who helps people, could actually love me, it’s just beyond anything I could ever dream of. She’s beyond my dreams, and I’m happier than I’ve ever been in my life.”

  “They kill people sometimes.”

  “Yeah. But those people deserve it.”

  “I don’t think that’s for us or them to decide.”

  “Who then?”

  “God.”

  “Oh shit, I didn’t know you were religious.”

  “I’m not. I mean, I don’t belong to a religion. I’ve studied all of them, and I know I’m a Christian; although, I agree with pieces of every other faith. The taking of a life has been something I’ve always been passionate about. Now I have to change, and I don’t know if I can.”

  “No one else can figure that out for you. All I can tell you is that Faith is awesome; she deserves the best. If you can’t accept her and what she has to sometimes do, you should end it now. It’s only fair to both of you.”

  He gets up, and heads into the kitchen. I look over at Faith and realize that she’s not asleep even though her eyes are closed.

  “How long have you been awake?”

  “Long enough,” she tells me without opening her eyes.

  “I love you.”

  “Is that enough?”

  “Honestly? I hope so.”

  “But you don’t know for sure, do you?”

  “I want to be sure.”

  She sits up and faces me. “So this is it?”

  “What? No Faith. No. It’s selfish and wrong, but I won’t let you go. I’ll get past this somehow, or we’ll figure it out. But I can’t be without you.”

  She leans forwards and touches her lips to mine for a moment. “This is either going to be the best thing we ever had, or it’ll end up the worst.”

  “No matter what happens, it’ll always be the best. I’ll never think of us as anything but that.”

  I wrap my arms around her and hold her tight as she climbs onto my lap and lays her head on my shoulder. She’s rubbing my back as I place little kisses on her cheek. I could stay like this forever, but that’s not how real life works.

  “I’ve got it,” Ainsley says.

  “Where?” Scott asks.

  “The laptop. I found the embedded program.”

  “You don’t have the laptop here.” I’m confused, but I seem to be the only one.

  “She’s a genius. They both are. So is Isabelle, and I would guess Tegan is one, too. Probably all the women are. After a while, you just go with the fact that you’ll never be the smartest person in the room,” Zack tells me.

  “Faith?”

  “Definitely not a genius, but I can hold my own,” she tells me with a laugh.

  While we were talking, Scott moved over to sit next to Ainsley. They’re whispering and he’s pointing at the screen while she types. Finally, they high five and look at us.

  “We just triggered the laptop to wake up and start making noise so the Feds have to notice it. Information will start scrolling, showing that there is a program integrated into it that made it seem as if Faith was guilty.”

  “Won’t they know someone did it?”

  “No, we just made it look like the program got corrupted and turned on itself.”

  “And just in case, we buried our tracks so deep it would take someone months to find us,” Ainsley adds.

  “You’re that good?”

  “Yes, we are.”

  Scott doesn’t say it like he’s trying to pump them up. He’s just being honest. I know now that if Selene hadn’t had someone on the inside, she would’ve never gotten into their system. Or my mom’s. I feel even worse about my part in everything.

  “I’m going to be cleared, then. I’ll be free to leave?”

  “Of course. Did you really doubt us?”

  “You, no. But I know that the justice system isn’t what it should be sometimes.”

  Ainsley gives her a sad smile before getting up to hug her tight. Faith hugs her back. I look to the guys, but Scott won’t meet my eyes, and Zack looks as clueless as I feel. They break apart and everyone tells us goodnight after the girls call Reina and Jane. They expect the charges will be dropped in the morning.

  I wait until they leave to address the elephant in the room. “I feel like there’s something I need to know.”

  “There isn’t.”

  “Faith.”

  “Gavin, we aren’t even really officially together. I’m not ready to spill any more secrets.”

  “Okay.”

  It’s not okay. I want to know what’s hurting her, but I can’t really blame her for not trusting me. I betrayed her once already. I can wait for her to be ready to tell me because I know that I’m going to prove myself to her. No matter what.

  Chapter 10

  Gavin

  I wake up wrapped around Faith. After our non-conversation, we went to bed. Not to sleep, of course. We explored each other’s bodies, and I made slow, sweet love to her before we both fell asleep. I want it to be like this every night. I know it can’t be yet, but we’re getting closer. Now that Faith’s been cleared, they can focus on Selene. We can focus on her. I’ll do whatever they need me to. And then I’m making sure Faith, and everyone else, knows I’m serious about her. That I love her. Officially.

  “You’re thinking pretty hard over there.”

  “Hey. Good morning, beautiful. Did I wake you?”

  “No. Thinking doesn’t cause a disturbance in the Force.”

  “You did not just say that.”

  “God, I’ve been stuck in this apartment for too long, haven’t I?”

  “After that comment, I would have to say yes.”

  “Han Solo is one sexy guy.”

  “He’s definitely a bad-ass, but I wouldn’t say sexy.”

  “Not secure enough in your manhood for that, huh?”

  “I don’t think there’s a right answer to that question.
”

  “Probably not, but you could get a prize for trying.”

  “Oh yeah, and what would that be?”

  “Are you going to try and answer?”

  “Not if I don’t know what the prize is.”

  “Your loss,” she tells me as she untangles herself and climbs off the bed. She shakes her hair around a little, then looks at me while she licks her lips. “I’m taking a shower. Alone.”

  Oh hell no. “I’m secure in my manhood. Totally secure. Han Solo’s sexy. I’ll sing you a Broadway song, too.”

  “It’s just a shower, Gav.”

  “Bullshit. You’re going to do things in there. Bad things.”

  “Very bad things. That you didn’t want.”

  “I want. I do. Scout’s honor.”

  “What do you want? My hands?” she asks as she cups her tits in her hands and squeezes.

  “Yes. Uh-huh. I want those.” I know I’m nodding like a crazy person, but I don’t give a fuck.

  “My mouth?” she asks, licking her lips again and then biting down on her bottom one.

  That sends another jolt straight to my cock. “Please.”

  “Well, since you asked so nicely…no.”

  Huh? “What?”

  “No. I’m sure you don’t hear it often, but I’m saying it to you now.”

  “Okay...” I mean, what else can I say? I’m definitely not going to force her to be with me.

  “I’m kidding. You should’ve seen you face. It was like you lost your puppy.”

  “I was more concerned with losing my kitty,” I tell her as I walk over and kiss her hard.

  We have a very fun time in the shower, and then the kitchen. Going down on a women while she’s cooking is hotter than it sounds. Especially when you know whatever she’s making is going to be good enough to practically send you into an orgasm.

  I didn’t wait for the food, though. Once she plated everything, I took her against the refrigerator. I knew I was ready and wouldn’t take long. Since I’d already made her come, I also knew she wouldn’t worry about me taking my own pleasure. It was a win-win situation, and I definitely won.

  We’re sitting cross-legged on the island with our plates in between us. We eat and kiss. Kiss and eat. Until my phone rings. I look down and curse. I have to answer it, though.

  “What do you want, Elizabeth?”

  “I made plans for us to meet with Ryan, Chloe, Owen, and Candi Griffin today.”

  “Why?”

  “We need a house.”

  “The fuck we do.”

  “We need to keep up appearances.”

  “We’re not engaged. We never will be. So why do we have to pretend to build a house? I don’t like wasting people’s time.”

  “You could change your mind.”

  “Not even when Hell freezes over. Call them back and cancel.”

  Faith catches my eye and motions for me to go to the meeting. I sigh. “On second thought, I could need a house one day. Not with you, of course. But I should probably think about what I want.”

  “Great. I’ll pick you up at your place.”

  “No. I’ll meet you there.”

  “But—“

  “Do you want me to go, or not?”

  “Fine. I’ll see you there. Don’t be late.”

  “You’re not my boss, so stop trying to tell me what to do.”

  “I’m not an enemy you want, Gavin.”

  “I don’t want you at all. Friend, enemy, whatever. None of it interests me when you’re concerned.”

  She hangs up on me instead of answering. I chuckle as I drop my phone down. Faith is laughing, too.

  “You shouldn’t have held back on my account. I mean, why didn’t you tell her how you really feel?”

  “Don’t quit your day job because the comedy routine isn’t working.”

  I get a one finger salute instead of words. That’s my girl. I wish I could shout that from the rooftops, but I can’t. No yet. We haven’t even told my mom because we don’t want her to slip up.

  I give her a kiss, which could so easily go further if I didn’t have to go to this stupid meeting. Good thing Aiden had me bring an extra set of clothes just in case someone saw me in the morning. Faith calls him while I shave and put my clothes on. I meet him in the garage and go see some people I really don’t want to.

  * * *

  Faith

  I get the call at 10:03 a.m. telling me I’ve been cleared. Details aren’t given, which is just fine by me. I don’t have to look shocked if they don’t discuss it with me. I get an apology, but I wave it off telling them I know they were just doing their jobs.

  The Feds tell me the ankle monitor is de-activated and that I can take it off. I do and promise to return it to them in the afternoon. The girls come over a few minutes after I’m off the phone. They bring balloons, and treats from Drago Sisters Bakery. I really do have the best friends.

  “Now we go after the Mistress of Evil, right Reina?” Stella asks.

  “Yes, Selene is going down! All the way down this time.”

  “Don’t, Reina,” I tell her.

  “If I had killed her, none of this would be happening. I hate that I’m so weak sometimes.”

  “You’re not weak, you’re compassionate. That’s the best quality a person can have, and we all need you to have it. Me, especially. You know the darkness I have in me.”

  “For a reason, Faith. What happened, and the aftermath…”

  “Made me need to take justice into my own hands. I couldn’t then, but now I can. And I need you to rein me in. Otherwise I’d have no chance at all with Gavin.”

  “Zack said they talked about it last night while you were asleep.”

  “I wasn’t asleep, Ainsley. I already knew how he felt about killing people. So do you and Tegan since you helped me investigate him. He says he can get past it or try and ignore it, but I don’t know.”

  “You haven’t told him yet, have you?”

  “I can’t, Teeg. Not yet. It’s too soon. He’s already betrayed me once. I’m trying to keep an open mind and trust him, but I’m not ready to give him my biggest secret yet.”

  Reina comes around the table to stand in front of me. I look up at her. “Give him a chance, Faith. I’m a pretty good judge of character, and he meant it when he said he’d sacrifice himself to save you. When you’re ready, he’s going to understand and may even want blood himself. Just like all of us do. We just respect you too much to take them down without your permission.”

  “Thanks, Reina.”

  “Let’s talk about something more fun. Like Reina’s boyfriend. This one’s been allowed to stick around for a few weeks, so far.”

  “Nothing to talk about, Stella.”

  “Thought so. He’s just a substitute for Matt, like all the women he sleeps with are a substitute for you.”

  “I want to fall for Rick and move on.”

  “But you can’t. So just have fun with him. I’m sure he wouldn’t turn down sex only with you.”

  “Maybe. We’ll see. He’s a great guy.”

  We all listen to their exchange, and I know we want to tell her how great a guy Matt is and that he’ll come to his senses eventually. But that would hurt her more, and we need to support her in trying to move on. So we stay quiet, and I change the subject. We spend the next couple of hours joking and laughing before they all head into the office, while I prepare to go back out into the world.

  Susan calls as I’m getting dressed. She says she heard that I’ve been officially cleared, and wants me to come back to work. We both know there’s still someone from her staff working with Selene. I tell her I’ll be over in an hour.

  Before going there, I go to Downtown Summerlin. I just want to walk around, and this outdoor mall is the perfect place. I window shop and grab a gelato. It feels so nice to be normal. Until I go to pick up my car from valet, and they tell me it’s been damaged. By the looks of it, someone drove right into it.

  I walk wit
h the manager to the valet parking area and see it up on the curb, with the back end all smashed up. He tells me that the car came out of nowhere and ran straight into mine. It happened so fast that no one could get a license plate or description. I nod and pretend to call my insurance company—it’s really Reina I call. This is actually a good thing. Attacking my car shows that Selene is escalating and getting out of control. Which is exactly what we need in order to have her show herself.

  I call Susan to tell her I’ll be late, and she insists on coming to pick me up. I tell her I’m fine, but she says someone is coming to get me. I’m surprised to see who it is when they pull up.

  “Aiden, why aren’t you at the house?”

  “Susan insisted that you needed someone to protect you, and she felt I’d be the best one for the job.”

  I roll my eyes. “I can take care of myself just fine.”

  “I know that, and you know that, but she seems to have really taken a liking to you.”

  “She’s pretty great.”

  We exchange small talk while we wait for the police. We can’t really say anything out here in the open. When we finally finish, Aiden drives us to Susan’s house. I’m excited to see Gavin, but then I remember he’s with Elizabeth talking about their fake house. He’s probably having even less fun than I am.

  * * *

  Gavin

  This turned out to be some of the most fun I’ve had in a long time. Chloe and Candi are being downright hostile to Elizabeth. Ryan and Owen look confused, but just go with it. I’m guessing they don’t want to sleep in their guest rooms tonight. Elizabeth is getting pissed and is about to blow.

  “I don’t understand why you’re both being such bitches.”

  “Did she just call us bitches, Chlo?”

  “I think she did.”

  “Big mistake. Big. Huge!”

  They both burst into laughter, and their husbands look amused. Elizabeth is bright red, and I think steam might start coming out of her eyes. “I know that quote from somewhere.”

  “It’s Pretty Woman, Gavin. One of our favorite movies.”

  “They love watching 90s movies. All of our wives do,” Ryan says.

  Elizabeth smiles then. “So do I. I’d love to watch some movies with you.”