A Little Harmless Secret

by Melissa Schroeder

  He glanced at Conner then looked ahead. “I will, but when I get her alone after this, we’re going to have a serious talk.”

  With each mile they covered, Devon’s irritation grew. He could not believe the woman actually left him to handle it on her own. Running off in the middle of the night to face the woman who killed her father and put a hit out on Ali and Bridget.

  Conner shook his head. “Being pissed now is going to make you stupid.”

  “I’m mad and I can use that. I know how to control it.”

  Conner said nothing as he made his way off H-1 and followed Devon’s instructions to the park. They rolled to a stop behind his car. There was another car there, a rental. The GPS for her phone was still moving. He held it up and showed Conner. They both pulled out their guns and carefully got out of the car.

  * * * *

  Alicia saw the light just when she was about to give up. Just as her cousin had said, she was sitting in a pavilion with a small overhead light above her head. As she approached her from the side, Alicia searched the landscape. She no longer trusted the bitch she considered her sister. Nothing stood out to her, but that didn’t mean anything. She didn’t know the terrain well. She just hoped her senses would be as sharp as they once were.

  “There’s no need to try and be quiet. I know you’re out there.”

  Bloody hell. With a sigh, she stepped up on the cement and faced her cousin. Lord, she really didn’t look good. Only a few years older, Millicent didn’t age that well. Her hair was threaded with gray hair and was a mess. In fact, she looked like she hadn’t washed it in days. While she was still in shape, her face showed the years. She looked at least ten years older than she was. She was also holding a pistol with a silencer.

  Ali said nothing when faced with her cousin.

  Always allow the bastard to do the talking. They always like to brag of their exploits, Ali girl.

  It was hard to deal with the emotions now swamping her, but she bit her lip. She wanted to scream at the girl she had known. The one who had been her confidant, her best friend, and the person she told everything to. Until…her father’s death. Something had told her to keep the truth from her. Maybe Ali has sensed the cold calculating bitch that lay beneath the façade.

  “Oh, if you could see your expression,” Millicent said, amusement dancing in her voice. “You look so hurt. What’s the matter, Alicia, did you think we were friends?”

  “No. We were family.”

  Millicent’s humor faded. “Yes, your father said the same thing.”

  Just hearing that, knowing that her father had faced off with Millicent…and she still killed him, left a hollow feeling at the bottom of her stomach. She could only think of one question.

  “Why?”

  “Why what?” she asked in that sickly sweet tone again.

  “Why did you have to sell secrets?”

  “I guess you never suspected before now, did you?”

  Alicia shook her head.

  “My father didn’t just die. He did the same thing as I did. He had to. Circumstances left him with no choice in the matter.”

  Ali had guessed someone had held the job before Millicent. “He was the first Xan.”

  “Correct. See, your father had all that money, but well, mine had none. We suffered while your father and mother lived a lavish lifestyle.”

  They hadn’t really had an extravagant life. The house had been willed to her mother and her father had lived off what he earned. They had always traveled but it had been for the job.

  “They both had a trust…the same amount. Your father started out with as much money as mine.”

  Millicent shrugged. “Yes, well, father liked to live life to the fullest, as did my mother. We did have a lot of fun. Fun that always seemed to take so much money.”

  Glimpses of Millicent’s parents with expensive cars, clothes…anything they could seem to get their hands on. Even as a child, she had been able to see the difference between the brothers.

  Alicia shifted her weight on her feet and Millicent held her gun up. “Don’t forget, I don’t have a problem killing blood relatives.”

  She had guessed, but now she knew. “So that answers that.”

  Millicent leaned forward. Evil painted an ugly smile on her face. “Yes, I killed him, but I had no choice. He found me out and then he went on to tell me he would help me. Like your father would make sure I didn’t go to prison.”

  She swallowed the lump in her throat. Of course her father would have done that. He would have seen that as his responsibility to help Millicent. And because of that, he was now dead.

  “You were our family. You could have come to us for help. You didn’t have to sell secrets.”

  “Yes, of course. Poor, little orphan Millicent being saved by the benevolent uncle and her perfect fucking cousin. That would be just brilliant.”

  “It wasn’t like that.”

  She tossed some of her stringy, greasy hair back. “Yes. It was. When I came to live with you, you never accepted me.”

  She searched through her memories, but could not come up with what her cousin was talking about.

  “And so you took him away from me?” she asked. Unable to hide the pain I her voice, it quivered.

  “I’m sorry but are you missing the point—he was going to turn me over to be interrogated. He kept saying he would take care of me, make sure that I could be saved the jail time. I just had to turn secrets over to the British.”

  “He would have done it, and he had the power and contacts.”

  “I didn’t want that. Don’t you understand? I am sick to death of your father and you. So fucking bloody righteous you two. Never did a thing out of line.”

  “You could have talked to me about it. I would have helped you.”

  “I think not, Alicia. Are you telling me you will save me?”

  She opened her mouth, but Millicent wasn’t going to listen. As her cousin stood and stepped closer, Alicia saw it there in her eyes. No empathy, no love…and just a little mad. The woman was not playing with a full stack.

  Now or never, Ali girl. Take that little bitch down.

  With her father’s voice in her head, she reached behind her to grab the gun in her waistband. Her cousin was too quick. Before Alicia could raise her gun, Millicent shot her arm. The hot burn of the bullet forced her to drop the gun. She tumbled to the ground, her head hitting the pavement. She was stunned for a moment, but she rolled and swept her legs under Millicent’s feet. Her cousin screamed as she tumbled to the ground. Fear and anger pumped through Alicia as she rose to her knees and went after her cousin.

  Alicia balled up her fist and hit Millicent square in the nose. The sound of bone breaking left her slightly ill as blood spurted.

  “You bitch,” Millicent screamed.

  She fought her way to her feet, and her cousin realized she’d lost her gun also. Alicia moved to grab her backup gun, when she felt cold metal against her temple.

  “Oh, I have dreamed of this for years. I was disappointed that I gave up that Aston Martin and I didn’t even kill you. The best part about all of this is that I will now have all your money.”

  Alicia almost opened her mouth to correct her. Bridget would inherit everything. Apparently Millicent thought she had succeeded in hiding herself from everyone. With the GPS, Devon and Conner would surely find her soon. Millicent would end up in jail, even if Alicia had to die to get her arrested.

  “Stand up,” Millicent ordered. She tugged her up by the shoulder of her shirt.

  Alicia tried to think of a way to get to her knife, but with the gun aimed at her head, it was too much to risk. She held her hands up and got up to her feet. When she did, she saw a slight movement out of the corner of her eye. She prayed it was Devon and Conner or she truly was dead.

  “Goodbye, Alicia. I really hate to have to do this.”

  Alicia refused to give up. She turned and faced her cousin. “Do it this way you cowardly, traitorous bitch.”


  Millicent’s mouth tightened as she steadied her arm, leveling the gun at Alicia’s heart. The second before she pulled the trigger, a shot rang out from the left. It hit Millicent square in the chest. She stumbled back and dropped her gun. Blood soaked the white shirt she was wearing.

  She fell against the picnic table and then rolled down to the ground. It was as if she were watching some kind of horrible movie in slow motion. Pounding feet came rushing toward her.

  Devon reached her first. He grabbed her and shook her until her teeth chattered.

  “Don’t you ever fucking do that again!” he yelled. She opened her mouth but found herself crushed against his chest. “Just don’t.”

  “How is she?” Conner said.

  “Fine.”

  She blinked, trying to focus on Conner’s grim face. He walked over to Millicent and felt for a pulse.

  “Is she alive?” she asked, but her voice sounded weak to her ears.

  “No.”

  The sound of sirens grew as lights flooded the area. She tried to swallow and almost choked on bile. The area began to fly by her as if she were on a merry-go-round.

  “Devon.”

  “I don’t want to hear it. I can’t believe you left me like that.”

  “I don’t want to fight about it. Not right now.”

  “That makes two of us.”

  “I do need one thing from you,” she said, as uniformed officers filled the area.

  “What’s that?” he bit out.

  “Don’t let me fall.”

  Then she felt herself tumbling into a deep black hole.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Devon paced the hallway at Queen’s Medical Center as they waited for Ali to be taken care of. Worst part was that they had refused to let him ride in the ambulance. He wasn’t considered family so he’d been told to drive. Thankfully, Conner had shoved him in his car and driven him to the hospital. Now they waited.

  He looked down at the scrubs he now wore. They were pale blue, faded from many washings. The officer who met them at the hospital had taken his clothes and swabbed his hands for gunshot residue. Now he stood waiting to hear about Alicia in borrowed clothes.

  The sound of approaching footsteps had Devon stopping in his tracks. A rangy, dangerous looking man in a pair of casual slacks and a pressed shirt approached them.

  Conner stood. “Hey, Carino. Thanks for coming.”

  “When Micah called I made sure to get the caller.” He looked at Devon. “Mr. Stryker?”

  Devon nodded.

  “I’m Rome Carino from the HPD. I’d like to ask you a few questions.”

  “Okay.”

  “The person who is dead at the scene was Millicent Hughes?”

  “Yes. She’s Ali’s cousin. I am assuming it is.”

  He nodded as he made a note. “Ali being Ms. Alicia Hughes?”

  “Yes.”

  “Who shot her?”

  “I did. She had already shot Ali, and was about to shoot her again.”

  Again he nodded and said nothing as he made a few notes.

  “What’s the damage here, Carino?” Conner asked.

  He made a face. “A lot of this is out of my hands. MI-6 and CIA are all over the fucking area bagging evidence, and I get to be their liaison.”

  “Lucky you,” Conner said.

  “Yeah. Anyway, it will be played up more than likely as a mugging. With you admitting to taking the shot, it makes it easier. You tested positive for GSR.”

  “Why would I lie about that?” Devon asked.

  The police office shrugged. “Stupid people always do.”

  “I’m proud I shot the fucking bitch. In fact, if you told me she had made it to the hospital and survived, I would hunt her down and kill her again. Happily.”

  “Yes well, let’s keep that out of the report,” Conner said.

  Carino nodded. “No problem. The spooks really don’t care. They’d probably like to pretend as though it didn’t happen, but the noise in that area of town draws attention. Also, they’re planning on trying their best to keep your name out of it.”

  He nodded, but he was barely paying attention now. A doctor was walking toward them.

  “Mr. Stryker?”

  “Yes.”

  “Ms. Hughes is fine. It was a flesh wound, but apparently she hit her head, which along with the blood loss made her a little dizzy.”

  Relief rushed through him. “When can I see her?”

  “Right now.”

  He didn’t give either Conner or the detective a backwards glance. The doctor handed him off to a nurse, who led him back to a room. He stepped into the room and for the first time in many years, sent a prayer of thanks to the heavens. The rest of his fear seemed to thaw when he saw her. He couldn’t believe how close they had come to losing her.

  When he realized he was grinding his teeth, he forced himself to quit.

  “Are you going to keep standing over there glaring at me?” she asked, her voice barely heard over the beeping of the machines. Her eyes were still closed, and she was as pale as the white sheets. It angered him all over again.

  “If I want to.”

  She chuckled, then winced. He walked over to her bedside. “Are you in pain?”

  “Not much. They just gave me some meds, and they are going to let me go.”

  “I think you should stay.”

  She finally opened her eyes. They were blurry with pain and meds. “I don’t want to be here. The doctor said I will be fine and since I won’t be alone tonight, I could go home.”

  He opened his mouth but the nurse came in. “I hear you’re going home.”

  Ali nodded.

  “I don’t agree, but what do I know,” the nurse said.

  “I’m on your side,” Devon murmured.

  She winked at him as she started to pull out the IV. “It was only a flesh wound, but the doc did say you need to rest. I assume you will be her caregiver.”

  “I’ll be—”

  “Yes,” he said interrupting Ali. He knew she was going to try and put distance between them, but he wasn’t going to allow that. Not now.

  “Good. Make sure she gets sleep, but not too much. If she’s throwing up at all, make sure you take her to the closest ER. That could be signs of a concussion, although we don’t think she has one.”

  He nodded.

  “Excuse me, I’m right here,” Ali said, her voice as petulant as a five-year-old refused a treat.

  The nurse shook her head. “You let Mr. Stryker take care of you. I heard you’re a mother, but you don’t want to end up back here, do you? A few days of rest and you’ll be all better.”

  Ali sighed in defeat and closed her eyes. The nurse winked at him again.

  “My daughter loves your newest version of Stryker Force.”

  He smiled grateful she had at least gotten Ali to accept he would watch over her. “She doesn’t have the newest one. It isn’t out yet, but I can send her a prototype of it.”

  The nurse smiled. “She would love it.”

  He got her information and then turned to Ali. She was the one glaring at him now.

  “I guess we need to get something for you to wear home. I’ll get you a pair of scrubs.”

  He turned before she could argue with him again. He was finding out that sometimes it was just best to roll right over Ali. Otherwise, she would just argue with him until he went deaf.

  Then, he stopped for a second. Home. That sounded fucking wonderful. And, once he let her rest and they sorted out the investigation, she would just have to accept it was her home too now.

  * * * *

  Alicia blinked when they turned into this driveway and found it flooded in lights. As soon as they parked, the door slammed open and Dee came running out.

  “Woman, get your ass back in here,” Micah yelled, as he followed her out.

  The two little ones brought up the rear. Dee came around to Devon’s door. As soon as he opened it, Dee jumped on him, hugging and kissing
him.

  Then, she smacked him. “You do that again, I will kill you.”

  Micah came over to her. He gave her an understanding smile, which was more than she’d gotten from Devon. He’d been cranky since she’d woken up in the hospital.

  “How you doing, Alicia?”

  “Okay.”

  She stepped out of the car and straightened. Her surroundings started to revolve around her again. Her stomach pitched and she stumbled a bit. With only one good arm, she almost fell.

  “Whoa there,” Micah said, and he grabbed her by the arm.

  Devon came around the front of the car muttering all the way. Most of it was not that nice and all about her.

  “Give her to me.”

  That autocratic tone was starting to really anger her. Why did he think he was in charge of her well-being?

  “I think not,” Alicia said.

  Of course, Devon completely ignored her. He shoved a laughing Micah out of the way as he picked her up. Even though she knew he was angry, he was gentle with her.

  “I don’t need someone to carry me.”

  “Shut up.”

  “Don’t tell me to shut up, wanker.”

  “Devon, is something wrong with Mummy?” Bridget asked. She opened her mouth to tell Bridget not to worry.

  “She hit her head and her brains are a little scrambled. She also had a cut on her arm, so that’s why it’s in this sling. The doctor said she’ll be just fine.”

  Bridget’s frown dissolved.

  “The doctor said she has to rest, so we have to make sure she does.”

  Her daughter trailed after them, along with Alana. “We can make sure she has lots of snacks.”

  Devon chuckled. “That sounds like a good thing. She also has to stay in bed.”

  “The doctor didn’t say that.”

  “No, that was me. You will stay in bed.”

  “Will that make Mummy better?”

  “Yep. She’ll be all better if she stays in bed.”

  “That’s a lie.”

  “Are you telling your daughter that if she feels badly she should run around getting sicker?”

  She ground her teeth together.

  “Good. Now, why don’t you go in the kitchen with Dee while I get your mom settled in my room?”