Inheriting a SECRET (Corrigan & Co. #7)(9)

I’d move to Cyndryann in a minute. I was only there for a short time, with a job to do, but I’ve never forgotten how beautiful it is. I’ll admit that I was happy to have a chance to go back when I was assigned to this mission. That was before I knew why Brayden chose me, and that he’d be happy to have me spend my time there in his dungeon. If he has a dungeon. Of course he has a dungeon. Wait, why am I thinking about that when my entire life is about to fall apart. I’m not only attracted to the man who saw me steal from his family, but I just found out that I once betrayed the family I’ve created for myself. At least I look good in orange.

“Darcy?”

“Huh? Oh yeah, I guess they would want someone respectable running the country. Or pretending to. Don’t they have a Parliament or something?”

“You were given all of this information, Darcy.”

“I was also made to change my clothes, eating habits, and free time entertainment. There’s only so much I can retain.”

“You have an eidetic memory.”

I forget that playing dumb doesn’t work with people who know your skillset. “Okay, fine. I know how it all works.”

“Let’s address the elephant in the room.”

Oh God. Does she know? No. She would’ve said something. Wouldn’t she? Yes. She’s family. “Elephant?”

“You ran from Brayden last night. I’d say that’s pretty big.”

“Oh yeah. That.”

“May I ask where you got the clothes you’re wearing? The pictures from last night show you in a dress, and I’m told you never made it back to the royal house here.”

“I went next door to the mall. It was easy to sneak over right when they opened and grab some stuff.”

“And of course you grabbed leather pants and a t-shirt,” she says with a smile.

“Of course.”

“Back to Brayden. What did he threaten you with?”

This is where it gets tricky. How much do I tell? How much can I tell? Not much. “Brayden thinks I have some information he wants. He said he’d use the force of his army to torture it out of me if necessary.”

“What information?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“We can’t help and protect you if we don’t know the truth. You can trust us—me—you should know that by now.”

I really wish I could, but it’s not just me I’m protecting. “I can’t. I’m sorry.”

I see that she wants to argue, but she doesn’t. Instead, she leans over to take my hand in hers. “One day, I hope you’ll be ready. When that day comes, you call me and I’ll come. No matter what.”

“Thank you,” I tell her squeezing her hand.

She nods, and gives me a sad smile. I know I’ve hurt her by not telling her my secrets, but I have no choice. “Let’s try and figure out how to keep you protected since you’re going to have to go back. We made a commitment, and we have to keep it.”

“I know.”

“If that young man thinks he or his people are going to harm you in any way, though, he’s horribly mistaken. Once Reina gets here we can talk more about what we can do.”

“Thank you.”

“You don’t need to thank me. I love you, Darcy. We all do. The Foundation and Society have always come first, but that doesn’t mean we won’t protect all of you.”

Honestly, that’s what I’m most afraid of—not the protecting, but the Society coming first. I know it has to because they can’t risk everything we do for just one person, but that doesn’t bode well for me.

I haven’t seen the man she’s talking about in person for years, but if I called him, he’d meet me. If it comes to that, I’m going to lose the family I’ve built for myself. Hell, even if I don’t, they’ll find out. Brayden won’t keep quiet forever, and the man who set this all in motion would give me up in a second. The smart thing would be for me to run now, but I won’t. I’m scared, but I’m not a coward, and it’s time I paid for my past no matter the cost.





Chapter 4


Darcy

It’s almost three hours later when Reina finally arrives at the hotel. She called me when she was still at Brayden’s house to make sure I was willing to go back if all of their precautions for me were agreed to. I could tell she really meant it, and maybe that means a change for the Society. Reina will still put the whole first, but she won’t risk any of us for it. I think she’ll work a way around anything that comes up. Not to discount the women who came before us, but I can’t imagine the Society had anyone smarter than Isa, Ainsley, and Audrey ever working for them at once. The rest of us aren’t too shabby, either. If anyone can keep me safe, it’s them.

“Darce, are you really okay to go back?” she asks as soon as the door is closed.

“If you can keep me from being tortured by my fiancé, then yes.”

“That little bastard isn’t laying a hand on you,” Matt says, practically growling.

“Well, unless she wants him to. He is pretty handsome.”

“I’m right here, Rei. Remember me, your husband?”

“How could I forget,” she says with a smile. It doesn’t reach her eyes, though, and I know that she has her own shit to deal with. She shouldn’t have to deal with mine.