Microsoft Word - Assassin Master final for conversion

by Assassin Master [Whispers] (mobi)

  Her eyes had saddened and her head had fallen to her chest. Tyr’s large hand had cupped her chin and he relented, smiling brightly, telling her it was even better than Maggie’s. Carrie had thrown herself at him, kissing him, and he had laughed at her enthusiasm.

  Carrie sat at the table, feeling saddened. Damien brushed a lock of her hair from her face. “I’m sorry we can’t save them. I’m sure you had grown fond of the other women. Dirk is smoothing things over in our circle. Though they agree you must never be returned to Seth, they are anxious at the rift. There are quite a few of us who find sanctuary with men like Seth.”

  “Do you?” Carrie asked, feeling concern.

  Damien kissed her forehead and gave her one of his cheeky grins. “Carrie, in my defense you have to admit having someone jump to meet your every need or desire eagerly and submissively is very tempting. I am not a cruel man. I don’t enjoy harming anyone who is helpless. Believe it or not some of the women actually want my attention. Most of these women are coveted and very wanted. Some are considered great

  prizes. You are.”

  “Will Seth come for me?” Carrie asked. She had been told by Seth she was wanted.

  “I believe your father will persuade him to keep his distance. You will be bought back and the incident will quietly disappear.”

  “But I belong to Tyr,” Carrie said.

  “Carrie, you belong to no one, although Dirk will argue you’re his. Can’t say I blame him. I think under the circumstances he has a right to feel a certain possessiveness. At the time of your capture you did, in fact, belong to Seth. Was he not taking Tyr’s place in his absence?”

  “Yes,” she answered, though Carrie regarded him with a great deal of confusion.

  “It’s a matter of pride for Seth. No one has ever made off with one of his and his ego and reputation is on the line. Only the fact you are Dirk’s child has somewhat mollified him. Family is something he understands. Seth is immensely protective of his own children. The man had been under the impression you had nothing and no one.”

  “He and I both,” Carrie mumbled under her breath.

  “I’m sorry, Carrie.” Dirk suddenly appeared before her and he pulled her into his embrace, having heard the last of their conversation.

  Dirk had been away for the day on business,

  leaving Damien to guard Carrie. His brother looked at

  him anxiously.

  “Well?” Damien demanded.

  “Not now,” Dirk said quietly, indicating Carrie. “Dirk, if it involves me, shouldn’t I be prepared?”

  Carrie asked.

  Agreeing, though somewhat reluctantly, Dirk moved to sit her on the couch, clasping her hands. “Seth has graciously, if not furiously agreed to accept restitution. A great deal of restitution. They always said daughters were more expensive,” Dirk said jokingly.

  But Carrie was not amused. She could tell her freedom had come at a high price. She knew how much Tyr had paid for her. She had blushed when Ace had inquired if she knew her value. When she had shaken her head, he had declared an amount making her head spin. Grinning, he had told her he found her priceless. No doubt Seth would have demanded Dirk pay even more than her value. After spending only a short time with him she knew Dirk found her to be priceless as well; he would have paid anything.

  “But?” Damien asked.

  “It would seem all but one of his men has been ordered to return to his compound. Seth’s first in command declares he has rights, as he had specifically trained you and he wants you back,” Dirk said.

  “Ace,” Carrie said. She had feared this. She knew

  Ace wanted her. He had all but voiced his intentions

  to her.

  “It would seem the man is enamored of you, baby. Seth took great pains to be evasive while also pointing out the man might be more than just a little attached and interested in you.”

  “He’s in love with her!” Damien demanded. “Well, that’s just great!”

  “Oh, brother, it gets better. It would seem the man Tyr is also enamored of our precious baby and is also looking high and low for her, desperately seeking her return,” Dirk said.

  “Holy crap, Carrie, what did you do to them...or for them!” Damien exclaimed.

  Carrie’s mouth fell open in indignation. “Now you see here...”

  “Enough, you two, we have one more slight problem,” Dirk snapped. He rose and began an erratic pacing.

  “I can’t wait for this,” Damien mumbled.

  “It would seem Tyr has friends in high places. His circles are just as tight and powerful as our own. This particular battle will be left to the four of us to decide the outcome,” Dirk said, then rubbed a slow hand over his tired face while pausing.

  “When you say the four of us you’re not including Ace, are you?” Damien asked warily. “I know you’re unconcerned with the man. What has you so edgy? I know you could give a rat’s ass about Tyr as well.”

  “Tyr has a brother who is helping him track Carrie

  and we had best be prepared when he finds us... and he will,” Dirk said with conviction.

  “Just who the hell is Tyr’s brother?” Damien

  asked. “Wolf.”

  “Shit!”

  * * * *

  Tyr sat in the vehicle and waited impatiently while Wolf settled himself behind the wheel. Wolf’s scowling expression did nothing to cheer him.

  “Well?” Tyr finally demanded.

  “Tyr, do you know who this girl is?” Wolf asked tightly.

  “She’s mine,” Tyr snapped. “She has no one but me.”

  “Well it would seem, little brother, someone pulled the wool over your eyes,” Wolf said. His grim look settled onto Tyr.

  “What do you mean?” Tyr asked.

  “My contacts are being uncooperative. It would seem Carrie has caused quite a stir. If it makes you feel any better, she is safe and unharmed and now free,” Wolf told him.

  “Free?” Tyr asked, confused.

  “I have only been told to let it go. The man who has her will cause her no harm and he will kill us if we come for her and try to take her away. My contact was adamant about that. I don’t know why he has her but he intends on keeping her.”

  “She is mine, Wolf. Whether he has freed her or not I need to see her. To talk to her, to make certain she is all right. I love her.”

  Wolf shook his head at his brother’s anguish. “Tyr, Seth has called off his men. He has accepted restitution. I think it would be best if we...”

  “No! With or without your help I’m going to find

  her.”

  “There is one other thing,” Wolf began. “Ace has made a claim on her. It will be hard to dispute if he finds her first. He has a head start. It appears in your absence he had been training her. He feels she belongs to him. In his defense he feels the same way towards her as you did when you demanded half of her belonged to you with Roll.”

  “Damn Seth! He swore no one would touch her,” Tyr yelled. Carrie was his alone. He would find her and kill Ace and whoever had her.

  “Calm yourself, brother, his training of her never included penetration. Seth had demanded he follow his order strictly. He complied. But because of your long absence and an upheaval involving Sergio, Seth involved himself with Maggie and his children. For some reason Carrie seemed to end up in Ace’s lap. From what was said I think Ace feels for her as you do, I think the man is in love with her,” Wolf told him.

  “She was mine first, she belongs with me,” Tyr

  snarled. He didn’t even try to hide the fear and pain

  behind his rage.

  Wolf cast him a glance filled with sympathy. “Well, we’re not going to find her by just sitting here.” Wolf turned the car on and they drove away.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Carrie sat quietly, watching Dirk clean his gun. His large hand moved up and down the shiny barrel in a fluid, practiced motion. He seemed to be in deep concentration. He had been exceptionally quie
t all morning and Carrie was concerned.

  “Are you sorry?” Carrie asked him suddenly.

  Dirk looked up at her confused. “Sorry about what, baby?”

  “Sorry you rescued me,” she said.

  Dirk set his gun down and gathered Carrie into his arms. She pressed her head against his chest clinging to him. “I will never be sorry for saving you. Never. The only thing I would ever be sorry about is allowing your mother to convince me to walk away. I was so young. I know that’s not an excuse. I wanted you, but I allowed her to convince me my family would get you injured. I loved her and you so much I would have done anything for her. I am sorry I was never the one you called Daddy. I am sorry I missed your first steps. Your first tooth. Your first smile. Those are the things I am sorry for. The only things I am sorry for.”

  “I’ve never called anyone Daddy.”

  Dirk held her arms, pushing her away slightly to

  gaze into her troubled features. “What did you call your stepfather?” he asked.

  Carrie grimaced. “My stepfather was always mean

  to me. By the time Mom met him I was in kindergarten and the other kids had older siblings who taught us interesting words. I only ever called him a name behind his back.”

  Dirk’s eyes rose in understanding and he gave a quiet laugh. “No, not my innocent baby.”

  “I called Will and every other foster father by their first names. I have never once used the term Daddy, or Dad, or Father,” she said.

  “I have a lot to make up for,” Dirk said, stroking

  the hair from her forehead. Once more he cuddled her against his chest.

  “Dirk?” Carrie asked. “Yes.”

  “Can I call you Dad?”

  Dirk clutched her even tighter to his chest. “I would like that very much,” he said on a choked breath. Carrie hugged him tighter as well, smiling.

  “I hate to break this up but we’ve got trouble,”

  Damien exclaimed, barging into the room.

  Dirk was up instantly, dragging Carrie with him. “Hide!” he demanded sternly of her. She complied immediately.

  Carrie ran to the safe place Dirk had shown her. Under her bed was a trapdoor. Carrie had been amazed. The floorboards matched perfectly. The door

  was completely undetectable. Below, small steps led to a basement, where Carrie stopped when she came to a wall made of unimpressive stone.

  To the naked eye it appeared to be an old, unfinished basement. She pushed at intricate, interconnecting rocks in a sequence: first top, then right, then top, again undetectable. Her hand shook. A small door swung open soundlessly, leading to another small room. This room contained food and water. There were no windows. A single bed with blankets was settled in one corner, a chair in another. It was also filled with enough weaponry for a small army.

  Carrie went to the bed and huddled, terrified. She pulled one of the blankets up around her, wondering what was happening. Her rapid breathing increased as her fear grew. She finally had a family, a real dad and uncle. Would they be killed because of her? What if no one ever came for her? She would die alone down here.

  Panicking, her gasps increased until she pressed her small fist to her chest. The pain had been increasing. She moaned. She shifted to lie on her side, drawing her knees up beneath her. She cried out for her father, for Tyr, though she knew the room was soundproof. Dirk had explained that. No one would be able to detect her cries.

  “Dirk...Dad?” she sobbed softly. “Please come.

  Damien? Tyr?”

  Carrie didn’t know how long she lay there, whimpering and moaning. She was frightened and her chest was in agony. Her small cries increased when she sensed someone close to her.

  “Daddy?” she sobbed, trying to reach for him.

  “It’s all right baby, I’m here,” Dirk said, scooping her up into his arms. Carrie squirmed within his embrace. Dirk noted immediately something was wrong. “Carrie what is it!”

  “My chest...hurts,” she whimpered, grasping at him, grateful he had finally come for her and was safe.

  “Damn!” Dirk exclaimed, his voice panicked, he

  raced with her from the room, holding her tightly to his chest. “Damien!” he boomed.

  Damien appeared in the trapdoor and reached down for her. He placed her on her bed, hovering over her. “What is it? What’s wrong with her?”

  “I think she’s having an asthma attack. Her mother had them,” Dirk said.

  Dirk once more scooped her up into his arms and rocked her. Carrie’s face was red, her fist still clutched to her chest. “Damien, go and get me a wet cloth. Sometimes it helps. You’re fine, baby, Daddy’s here. You’ll be fine. You’re safe,” Dirk soothed.

  Carrie wheezed in and out raggedly, painfully.

  This was the worst attack she had ever had. Damien appeared, hovering closely, and handed Dirk the wet cloth. Dirk placed it opened over her nose and mouth.

  “Breathe, Carrie. I’m here, you’re safe. I love you,” Dirk soothed, while rocking her in his arms, cradling her against his chest.

  She quieted slowly. Though her chest still hurt, her breaths were no longer pitiful attempts to find and expel air. She concentrated on Dirk’s soothing, gentle words. With relief, she removed her fist from its pressed position against her chest and wrapped it around Dirk’s neck.

  “I’m sorry,” Carrie whimpered up at him. She pushed at the cloth, wanting to bury her face into his neck.

  “No, baby, this is my fault. I am so sorry, please

  forgive me. I needed to know you would obey a command with our altercation so close. There was no danger. It would have been something I would have practiced with you when you were little. I needed to know you would be safe…I had to make certain. Oh God, I’m so sorry. I had no idea you suffered from the same ailment your mother had,” Dirk said. His voice was a deep sea of agony.

  “It only happens when I’m afraid,” Carrie

  whispered. She felt tremendous relief they were safe. “I didn’t want to lose you. I need you, Daddy. I don’t want to be alone all over again. I can’t face the aloneness again.”

  Dirk bowed his face into her hair and pulled her closer to his chest. “I won’t do this ever again, I swear. I should have trusted you would listen. But you

  need to keep calm if it does happen. I won’t be able to concentrate if I think you’re suffering.”

  She became concerned with his revelation, and

  once again she felt fearful. If Dirk was distracted because of her he could be killed. “I’ll try harder, I swear. I couldn’t stand it if you or Damien were hurt,” she whimpered on another agonized breath.

  “Damn it, Dirk, she can’t be left all alone,” Damien said. “I’m worried about her. She’s such a tiny little thing. You know how fond I’ve grown of her these last few days. I like being an uncle. We’re only six years apart; she’s become more like a baby sister, and she is a friend as well.”

  “This needs to be settled before I can take her home. You know what Dad will say,” Dirk snapped.

  “Yeah, I know. He’ll kick your sorry ass for never telling him he had a grandchild,” Damien said. “And I’m ready to do the same! Dirk, you’re not the only one to miss out on her.”

  “You know it will put our family in a difficult

  position. Involving you is one thing. We often work together. But our entire family is a different matter. You know how Dad has grown increasingly possessive of our family since Mom died. If word of Carrie reaches him prematurely I know Dad will wage war on everyone to secure his only grandchild. Possibly me included!”

  “I have a grandpa?” Carrie asked curiously.

  “Yes, baby, you have a grandpa. A very

  overprotective and very powerful grandpa,” Dirk concurred.

  “Why not involve Dad, Dirk? If we take her home

  she will be safe, no one would dare enter Dad’s fortress,” Damien said. “I’m concerned for Carrie’s health. The four of us settling t
he matter no longer seems acceptable under the circumstances.”

  “You know who Wolf is!” Dirk raged.

  “I know of his ties, yes. Wolf listens to no one. But he might listen to Dad. They have worked together. You know him, I know him. Wolf wouldn’t dare place a grandchild of Dad's into a dangerous setting. I’m certain Wolf can control his brother,” Damien argued.

  “Damien, if Tyr really loves Carrie he will listen to

  no one. He will never take her from me, never,” Dirk replied. He pulled Carrie fiercely close.

  Carrie looked upon her father, sensing his great distress. “Daddy, I know what you said about why you think I love Tyr. But I think you’re wrong. I wanted him. I still want him. I do love him. But I will never leave you. If Tyr wants me, if he truly loves me, he will agree to stay with me so you will be close to me forever. I need you in my life.”

  Dirk looked down into her eyes; she hoped he could hear her sincerity. “I can’t lose you again; I’ve lost you so many times... I can’t go through that again, ever!” Dirk’s look was imploring.