Assassin Treasure (Assassins Book 4) (8 page)

Dirk had been gazing out the rounded window to his left, but cast a casual glance in Candy’s direction, his gaze settled onto her. She shuddered, wishing she could pull the warm blanket over her face and shield her eyes from his intense stare.

“I’m going to silence her,” Dirk replied, without emotion.

The plane rose into the brilliant crystal clear air scaling the treetops easily. Terrified, Candy closed her eyes, shutting out his hard, cold expression and succumbed to the drug.

“Dad won’t like this, Dirk,” Damien said, slowly shaking his head at his brother.

“It’s my decision,” Dirk said.

Candy woke to the sound of low voices. Her head was throbbing. She was grateful she had awoken at all. A vague image came to mind of her waking briefly once before, the terrain zooming past, as though she were flying over water.
Was it a dream?
The men continued to quietly converse nearby. She eased herself up into a sitting position with caution. Her one hand pressed to her aching forehead, her gaze shifted around the room, taking in her surroundings.

The room she was in was large. She could see darkness settling outside a big bay window overlooking an overgrown swamp. The foliage abounded in the distance, the lush vegetation stretched for miles in every direction she was privy to. She guessed she was nowhere near her hometown. Everything looked too different; the air felt strange, warmer or perhaps heavier, tinged with moisture. From her vantage point she could see no other home in the area; there were no lights of any kind. Candy wondered how far they’d taken her, or where they’d taken her.

She was sitting on an overstuffed brown leather couch, a light blanket thrown over her. Few pictures adorned the darkly paneled walls. The floors were a mahogany hardwood. It was an extremely masculine room, cold, indifferent, lacking a woman’s touch, lacking any touch really.

Candy could see Dirk noticed she was awake, his piercing gaze settled onto her, she shrank back into the couch. He held her captive with his intense stare; it was as if she could physically feel his arms of steel bands wrap themselves around her, keeping her captive. Then he as easily dismissed her; the emotional bonds were broken and she exhaled with relief. He turned back to his brother. It looked to Candy like they were arguing.

“I need to get back to Carrie. Once she delivers I can decide. My thoughts are too centered on my daughter and her wellbeing. I refuse to make a hasty decision when an innocent life is involved.” Dirk cast Candy another fast glance, then lowered his voice and leaned closer to his brother. She could just barely make out his words, but heard enough to make her skin crawl.

“I have no doubt Candy’s life is on the line. I don’t know her, but she deserves more than just a minuscule thought to her fate; she’s an innocent after all. There’s no need to make any rash decisions, and a week or so won’t hurt. I need to think on this with a clear head.”

“Dirk, you know this will cause a shitload of trouble at home. Dad will be pissed. We have the safe homes for a reason, dump her at one or leave her here with someone else. You know it will give Tyr more fuel to hassle you. Or do what you think dad will do. Listen, I know of one who’s not so bad. I visit often enough. I can check up on her from time to time, she won’t be used cruelly. Some of the women there are happy and not afraid, or at least not too overly fearful,” Damien said quietly. He, too, cast a glance in Candy’s direction. Her eyes widened at the implication. She could feel her heart hammering in her breast.

Dirk scowled darkly at his brother, his voice rose ever so slightly and he ground out his words. “I’m damned well aware of your ass wipe associates and could shoot every last fucking one of the filthy bastards. I can’t shake the memory of Carrie’s fear of me when we saved her from the slavers compound. She had no idea we or the family even existed. She was terrified of me, of you. Do you know she offered me anything if I wouldn’t hurt her? And I mean anything. I was so damned pissed off I wanted to fly back and strangle Seth with my bare hands, I wanted to look him in his eyes as his life drained away. I wanted to hear my name gurgled on his last damned breath.”

Candy shuddered at his fierce expression, he looked like death. For the briefest of moments an image of the Grim Reaper flashed before her eyes. If you pulled back the black cape she imagined it would be Dirk’s face she was staring into, a sickle held high over his head. The vision was unnerving. Shaking her head to clear the image, she concentrated on listening closely, trying to make out his words, but the red creeping up his neck and over his face gave her a good indication this Carrie was someone important.

“The fact remains; whether or not Candy will be handled gently she’d still be some man’s, or men’s, property. Forced to submit willingly for the rest of her life or face consequences, torture, mutilation, death,” Dirk snapped.

Dirk then said something too low under his breath for Candy to hear, Damien went bright red when she thought she may have caught the word Carrie again. Damien ran a fast hand over his face, shook his head and then nodded. Whatever Dirk said he’d extracted some kind of promise from his brother, she could see it in the way Damien swallowed hard. His embarrassed gaze fled to a wall. Dirk slammed his hand down on the table top causing her to cry out in fright. Both men turned to look at her. Dirk rose with abruptness to his feet, his chair toppled precariously backward before settling; he left the room.

Candy watched him go, feeling apprehensive; she cast a quick glance to Damien who looked at her guiltily before shifting his gaze. She knew they’d been discussing her and maybe this Carrie woman. Pensively she wondered what else had been said to stop the conversation. She could see Dirk was pissed.

Dirk returned shortly and headed straight for Candy. She shied back at his approach, pressing herself into a corner of the couch, as he still looked formidable. She was wary of his huge commanding presence. The holstered revolver that was strapped to his chest alone was a menacing sight. The weapon and the man combined were enough to make her breath catch when he neared. Candy was well aware her fate rested within his hands.

“Take these,” Dirk commanded. He handed Candy two capsules. She reached for them with reluctance, assuming she would again be rendered unconscious. But the thought to disobey never entered her mind. She cast him a woeful look, Dirk’s face softened. “It’s all right, Candy, they’re aspirin. I know you must have a killer headache.”

Candy scowled at his poor choice of words, but took the pills eagerly; wanting the relief they would offer. Dirk handed her a bottle of water she drank down thirstily.

“Where are we?” she asked him, between gulps.

“My halfway point. We’ll be here for the night, but leaving first thing in the morning. I’ve promised I won’t hurt you if you obey me,” Dirk said, his features hardened and she knew where his thoughts were centered.

Candy looked up at him fearfully. She had disobeyed him; she struggled against Damien and hadn’t gone willingly or complaisantly at the airport.

“Please don’t be angry. I couldn’t help but be scared. I had terrible thoughts of what was going to happen to me; I was so afraid of what you’d do to me. I lost control. You’re both so huge, I feel so scared. Don’t hurt me, please don’t kill me.”

Dirk lowered himself to her eye level. His look turned menacing. “You’ll never fight me or Damien again. Where I’m taking you, your obedience will save your life. My father won’t appreciate me taking you into his home; in fact he’s going to be bloody well fucking damned pissed at me. He’ll demand I dispose of you. I’ll be forced to if he feels you’re not under my complete control; you’ll give me complete control. Do you understand me? You fucking better, sweetheart. Because the next time I explain it’ll be the last.
Your last
.”

Candy swallowed hard at his words, her eyes widening at her distress as his hand settled onto his weapon. The threat was unmistakable—he would kill her. What kind of man was his father?
Disposed of?
Dirk was terrifying enough. She began shaking as a cloak of doom settled around her like a shawl. She had the sickening feeling she was about to vomit.

“Dirk,” she whispered.

“You’ll do as I command, or so help me…” Dirk ordered. Though his words were controlled, they sounded like ominous rolling thunder. His piercing gaze bore into her eyes and Candy nodded quickly.

“Please, Dirk,” she sobbed, frightened, shrinking away from him as he leaned closer to intimidate. Her jaw clicked together and goose bumps dotted her arms. If she hadn’t thought the bay window was bullet proof she would be tempted to crash through it.

Abruptly Dirk rose to his feet, startling her. She jumped. Candy didn’t know what was worse, his power suffocating her or his now threatening stance. Consciously or unconsciously, he balled his fists. He stared down at her; she bowed her head and tried to control her violently shaking body. She was terrified, wishing she’d fall unconscious again. Candy buried her face in her hands to hide.

I wish I was home.

* * * *

Dirk could hear her small whimpers. When her hands covered her face, he frowned in thought. She pulled into a tight ball. He could barely make out the telltale clicking of her teeth. It would be tricky keeping her frightened sufficiently without causing her to faint again. It would serve him no purpose to terrorize her into a babbling lunatic. She had no choice but to do as he commanded. His father would demand no less. But now she was shaking so badly in front of him he was surprised she hadn’t fallen off the couch. Dirk could tell she was on the verge of more hysterics, he wasn’t in the mood to deal with female theatrics, and he didn’t want to lock her up.

Damien was right. He could send for someone to come here to watch her, but Candy was Dirk’s problem. She was also incredibly beautiful. One call to his father from any sent to watch her and his father would take matters into his own hands. The Iron Hand prided himself in taking care of problems. With Carrie due any day, Dirk didn’t want to waste any time waiting for a replacement, and he didn’t want to be worried what would happen to Candy while he was away. Times like these Dirk wished for a punching bag, his brain was being beaten up with thoughts.

Fuck me.

He was wishing for the hundredth time it had been a man who had seen Damien off Darren, then he could just beat the shit out of him until he was too terrified to say a word. Threatening to remove a few vital body parts worked wonders. It would have been so much less hassle. Dirk sighed heavily with his thoughts. He realized his thoughts were unrealistic; man or woman, he’d be dealing with the same shit. This deliberating was getting him nowhere. In the meantime, the little thing shuddering in front of him looked like she was ready to drop dead in terror. Damien might be right—Dirk had a way with women, a bad way at the moment. Perhaps if he could keep her busy.

“Can you cook?” Dirk asked her suddenly on a hopeful note when his gut growled. He had an idea. Candy looked up at him with some surprise and nodded. “Then come with me.”

He led her from the living room into a large kitchen. She glanced about curiously as he pulled plates and glasses from the cupboards and items from the refrigerator. From a drawer he removed cutlery. He flicked the switch on the coffee maker.

“I’m fucking starved. Can you make lasagna?” Dirk asked.

He pulled a large casserole dish down from a top cupboard. Frowning, he blew at the dust that had settled on the bottom of the pan and handed it to her. He’d purchased the ingredients for lasagna, wondering if between him and Damien they could struggle to put together a decent meal. Though it was unlikely, neither was in possession of culinary skills, but he despised the frozen kind and detested TV dinners. Admittedly he was spoiled; he almost never had to cook for himself. He’d been impressed he remembered what ingredients to buy, at least he hoped he got them all, yet it was his favorite dinner and eaten enough. The last person to cook anything for him at his halfway point had been Carrie.

Candy nodded up at him, her dark brown eyes filled with sadness. Dirk regarded her with a steady gaze. He noticed she had yet to speak. Her face was pale, her jaw still quivered.

“I won’t hurt you, Candy,” he said, trailing his finger down her smooth cheek. He knew his words from before had been brutal, but he’d been truthful, his father would demand her obedience. Her hands were shaking, and he took the casserole dish from her, placing it into the sink.

“I don’t want to be
disposed of
, like I’m no more than garbage,” Candy cried suddenly.

Her head slumped. One arm rose to shield her eyes from him. She was trembling and looked so frightened and alone he was moved to pull her into his embrace, wanting to offer some type of comfort. She stiffened, then relaxed. He wondered if she were too fearful to pull away. Her forehead pressed against his chest, her balled fists pulled snug against her breasts, a barrier between him and her, her way of compromising. Even scared shitless, she was a defiant little thing and Dirk almost chuckled. He was afraid he’d have his hands full. Another sent to watch her wouldn’t be as generous. Dirk would make no apologies for his father’s men, they were assassins.

Dirk sighed, he wrapped his arms around her in what he hoped was a nonthreatening gesture. He could feel her shiver under the silken smoothness of her lingerie, he could see the goose bumps that dotted her arms, and he berated himself for his earlier poor choice of words.

“I won’t let anyone kill you. I promised no harm would come to you, if you obey me.”

“But I didn’t obey you, I was too afraid. You got so angry. I didn’t mean to see Damien kill Tyler. I can’t help it if his father is looking for me. What if I’m too frightened again?” Candy sobbed, her words muffled against his chest.

“I’m willing to overlook the fact you disobeyed me this once, I told you, you have a second chance. I can understand you were frightened, and I don’t blame you. I know you’re afraid now. Don’t be afraid, I won’t hurt you. Now make us some dinner, before Damien starts gnawing on the furniture,” Dirk said with encouragement.