The Deadliest Secret (The Deadliest Series)

by Lauren Peyton

  Darrien heard the car pull up and stiffened his back, squaring his shoulders. He needed to show his dominance over the issue. He did not know all the particulars of the case; he was just briefed and brought in. The door opened and in poured the light of day and two people entered, he crossed his muscular arms over his broad chest, the agent Kevin was newer to the force but seemed solid, the handler, and him all shook hands then he saw the package. A crying woman named Gwen; apparently she was the key to a case they were running against the mob or mafia. That is all he needed to know about her. He didn’t need the sob story. He nodded in her direction as the handler briefed him on the case, then he took possession of the package, Gwen, and the luggage thrust at him. They were new identities and new clothes. As long as Darrien didn’t have to play doctor or stuck up art enthusiast again he would be fine with the attire.

  They quickly introduced Darrien to Gwen; hopefully he thought it wouldn’t be long till they were both able to go home. She was silent mostly through introductions, just shaking hands. She was still shaken up and Darrien knew she wouldn’t be much of a problem. She honestly didn’t look like she would miss her old life. He pushed the luggage into the SUV and climbed into the back with her and began to take his authoritative tone.

  He handed her the envelope that contained her new identity and cash. He kept the majority of the cash and put his new cards in the old leather wallet his sister bought him years ago, it was his only personal possession he never left behind. “That’s your new identity, learn it quick, and leave Gwen behind. As long as you’re with me, she doesn’t exist. Understand?”

  Darrien’s smooth baritone voice carried in the vehicle but there was no mistaking he was the one in charge. The woman nodded and started reading her cards and the short back-story that came with the envelope. Darrien stayed quiet, he never mentioned his “new” name or the one of the female that was posing as his wife. He could see the pairing. She was built the way a woman should be, slender, but curved. He caught his eyes roaming her, learning each curve in case she ran or was taken, he needed to be able to find her just in case.

  The ride to SeaTac airport was a short one. The usual hustle and chaos outside the departures wasn’t made any easier, in fact the pandemonium was how Darrien preferred it to be, if for some reason they were being watched they could melt away in the crowd and disappear from sight. Darrien hopped out and grabbed the two small bags that were going to be checked once they were checked in. He then took her hand to keep with appearances.

  When she recoiled, he kept a firm grip. “I’m not making a move or getting fresh, just playing the role. We’re married try to make it believable.” His voice was low in her ear, hopefully seductive enough to make her calm down.

  They get to the check in and Darrien works quickly, checking the bags, handing over the identifications, and then getting the tickets. Gwen was too stunned still to be too much help in the conversation. He grabbed the tickets, receipts, and the cards back and slipped them into the wallets.

  They went through security, finding the gate, and boarding. Everything went smoothly, Darrien was relaxed in his seat. Gwen was still silent and looked miserable so he decided to make conversation.

  “Have you ever been to New Orleans?” He asked.

  “No.” She finally spoke even if it was just a word.

  “Ever been on an airplane?” Pressing for more information.

  “Yes, a few times.” Four words this time, she was short of words now.

  The flight attendant interrupted him from having to make more conversation; he pretended to pay attention to the flight safety video and let Gwen be alone with her thoughts. They were taking off for the Big Easy one of his favorite locations.

  He stole more glances at her still subtlety memorizing her features. They had a short layover in Houston, then onto the final destination. Too many hours of flying, he didn’t let Gwen out of his sight the entire time. Darrien tried initiating more conversation, but she wasn’t too big on talking about herself, which was fine, they weren’t exactly in the best location for a personal talk. Package, not personal. He became business as they left the plane, already a band was playing “When The Saints Go Marching In” and he had to stifle a laugh, way to go stereotype. At least there wasn’t someone greeting him with beads and a Hurricane.

  More silence ensued.

  Darrien checked himself and his new “wife” into the hotel. It was fancy, and the bellhop would be delivering the bags to their forty-third floor hotel room. The hotel was outside the Bourbon Street area right on Canal Street. There were plenty of exits in case there was need for a hasty one. The reason Darrien liked this hotel was because of the size, there would be no one who could memorize them, there had to be hundreds of people that worked here, he doubted that he would see the same one more than a few times. He checked the credit cards under his assumed name and put his possessions away. Gwen just sat on the bed opposite of him.

  “Anything you want to see here?” He asked trying to be nice and make this at least a little more comfortable.

  “I don’t know. I haven’t been here, perhaps a tour of the general area? If we’re allowed out of the hotel.” She was not happy; her voice was tinged with disdain.

  “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 in
sufferable 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.

  “It’s Rina Bakset” She seemed to be too willing to play along for him.

  He almost scoffed at the absurd name. More like Basket-case if you asked him, the bitch had crazy in her eyes, he thought about just sticking her with the blade but he was really not feeling like cleaning the car after their encounter, as long as the bitch swallowed he would be good.

  “What’s yours or do you want me to call you daddy?”

  “Just fucking call me nothing unless you want to meet your real daddy understand?”

  She winced hard at that one, no wonder she had crazy eyes; someo
ne had daddy issues. Why else would she call him daddy? Kody thought the hooker looked older than him, but then again drugs did crazy things to your body. Kody pulled into the cramped alley, no lights this was good for him but then again he didn’t really care. Men have needs. He reached down and unbuttoned his jeans and unzipped his fly, freeing his cock in a few simple movements.

  “What are you waiting for bitch? It ain’t going to suck itself.” He grabbed the back of her head and shoved it down till he heard her gag on his shit. Kody fisted Rina’s hair; he didn’t care if it hurt her he obviously needed to school the bitch if she was gagging on him this quick, hoes were to be obedient and do as he wanted or else they would be punished.

  He pulled and pushed her head faster and faster, the smell of her burnt synthetic hair makes his nostrils flare in disgust he didn’t mention it though, obviously she burned her shit. Maybe he would tip her so she would get some decent weave so she didn’t make her customers go soft with that rank, putrid smell. Kody closed his eyes and imagined Gwen’s head moving up and down his cock, the soft slurping sounds were hers and not this hooker’s disgusting spit on him. Rina tried to grab his hands out of her hair; he shoved her head down so she was forced to take all of his cock. She may be cheap but she was going to learn to be worth the amount people paid.

  “Do that again and you won’t fucking get paid.” He warned.

  The hooker was only able to nod slightly as her reply. Good bitch, Kody started thrusting up into Rina’s mouth relentlessly, he felt his balls tighten up signaling how close he was, thank fuck he was going to be able to get crazy eyes out of here soon, he tried to enjoy it as she tried to get fancy and move her tongue, his eyes rolled and he pushed her down hard again, the gagging sound almost making him laugh, her throat tried to close around his cock but he kept thrusting, almost wanting to roar he got closer to the brink of his orgasm, she scraped the vein under his cock, fuck that was it he thrust one more time before holding her head.