Assassin Treasure (Assassins Book 4) (14 page)

Dirk woke instantly. Though the room was dark, the moonlight caressed his face and she noted his expression of confusion. She removed her hands from him to drop them to her sides.

“You were talking in your sleep, you sounded upset,” she explained. Blushing, she suddenly realized he might think her making a pass at him, especially since she was lying beneath him with her legs parted in invitation. Although it had been his doing, not hers.

“What did I say?” he asked tightly.

Swallowing hard, Candy was worried and hesitant. She guessed he’d be angry if he appeared vulnerable, especially after declaring himself to be omnipotent. She guessed he would sense a lie and become angry. She lowered her gaze and wished she’d never touched him.

“Candy?” Dirk said with a commanding tone. He lifted her chin to stare into her eyes.

“You were talking about Carrie’s mother, asking her not to leave you, or take your baby away. You sounded so sad I wanted to help. I couldn’t imagine losing my child. You shouldn’t have hurt me, but I won’t ever say another cruel thing about your relationship with your daughter. I understand how much you love her.”

Dirk released her chin and nestled her head against his chest. He moved off of her and she breathed a sigh of relief.

“Even an assassin can feel alone and powerless. Believe it or not, I feel emotion. Go to sleep. I’ll try not to keep you awake.”

Candy closed her eyes, relieved. He wasn’t angry. But it was still a long time before either of them slept.

* * * *

“Will you quit jumping around? For heaven’s sake, Dirk, you’re worse than I was when I got attacked by the killer leeches,” Damien declared. He reached for his brother’s tie once more attempting to straighten it.

“Damn it. Let me do it,” Dirk snapped, batting away his brother’s fumbling hands.

“Are you absolutely certain you want to go through with this?” James asked his son for the eleventh time. He stilled Dirk’s fumbling hands and straightened the tie himself.

“Yes,” Dirk grouched, annoyed.

His father had been badgering him all week about Candy. Dirk had enough to worry about. She’d only just started not trembling in his arms at night and cowering or cringing every time he entered the room. She even smiled once or twice when he tried his best to be charming and considerate. Candy cried the night before, admitting she wanted to be loved someday. He felt at a loss as to what to say to her. He was positive this was for the best.

“Everything is ready. Let’s get a move on. Carrie insisted she wanted to watch you get married; she shouldn’t be out of bed,” Tyr grumbled.

It was easy to see the man was annoyed. Tyr ran his hand through his brown hair and snapped his glacier blue eyes dangerously. Dirk knew it pissed Tyr off to no end knowing when it came to her father Carrie wouldn’t budge. On all other issues she allowed her husband free rein, thinking he knew best. But with Dirk, she remained adamant.

“How’s she feeling?” Dirk asked anxiously.

“How do you think?” Tyr’s irritation laced his words. “She has high blood pressure, swollen ankles, the baby is huge, she can’t sleep, she’s retaining water and up all night. The thought of food makes her puke. Now she has to be up and about because of you. Why couldn’t this have waited until the baby comes? It’s not like you love the girl; she’s fucking miserable and terrified of you, me, James and of being here. What a damned dumb solution. You sure screwed this shit up.”

Dirk stood tall before his irate son-in-law. Tyr stood only half an inch taller than Dirk’s impressive frame. Both men were of the same weight. They’d come to blows before and both were capable of holding their own against one another.

“Why don’t you mind your own damned fucking business, you little piss ant?” Dirk glowered dangerously. He didn’t like to be reminded Candy hated him and was scared shitless. Dirk had been trying his best to calm her down.

“When Candy’s sadness distresses Carrie, then it
is
my business, shit for brains,” Tyr yelled just as dangerously. The two locked eyes, their intent obvious at the altercation.

“
Enough
,” James demanded when both men raised their fists to do battle. “Although Candy is unhappy with the situation I’m certain it would distress her more if you were to stand beside her with a bloody lip, Dirk. As for you…” His glaring gaze settled on his grandson-in-law making the man squirm uncomfortably. “You will not upset my son on his important day, regardless of the circumstances.”

Both men left the room grumbling, followed by the others.

* * * *

It was a small ceremony. Only immediate family invited. There was no one for Candy, no one to give her away, no one to toss her bouquet to, no one to cry happy tears for her. She stood sadly, desolate, in a beautiful white wedding gown Dirk picked out, though it was too large and ill fitting. He guessed at her size, as he had with the few other articles of clothing he acquired for her. An impressive diamond ring sat on her finger, again much too large and held in place by clear tape, she wouldn’t even hazard a guess at the cost. In the back of her mind, she wondered if Dirk were confusing her with another.

Floral arrangements adorned the room offering a cheery atmosphere, trying to heighten the image of intimacy, with the many beautiful candles glittering and dancing in a small breeze. The farce was apparent as Candy’s unhappy tears fell from her chin in a steady stream. She was miserable; all that was missing was the shotgun, although with irony she noted every man in the room was armed. She now felt even more trapped; she was going to be Dirk’s, legally.

In monotone she answered when she was supposed to, too afraid to voice any complaint. Saying the necessary words that would commit her to this man until death do they part. The thought made her shudder. When the man before her declared Dirk was now able to kiss her, Candy almost bolted, but was held firmly. Dirk took her into his arms and lowered his head seeking her lips. Candy’s jaw trembled, her body shook.

This should’ve been the happiest day of her life. Instead, she was married to a killer, who claimed he would never love again. Trapped for an eternity in this home of hired assassins wondering when she would be next. The hardness of his side iron strapped to his chest under his Tux dug into her side. A testimony of the life that lay before her. There was nowhere to run. It was too much. The unfairness overwhelmed her, terrified her. Dirk captured her lips to his own, sealing her fate. For the second time in her life, Candy fainted.

Candy lay on the bed in Dirk’s room staring at the ceiling. Dirk had been AWOL for three days. When she woke after their wedding, she’d been alone. The wedding dress came off with some difficulty. Later that day a large, frightening man brought a tray into the room. Candy had frozen in fear; she’d never seen him before. He might have been at the wedding; Candy didn’t notice faces, she was counting guns.

The armed man sauntered over to the nearest table and set the tray down without a word or a glance in her direction and left. The same man continued to bring in food over the last few days, never offering a word, a threat, a kindness. When she’d finally gotten up the nerve and asked him for Dirk, he ignored her like she didn’t exist. Candy pushed the button Dirk instructed her to that would summon him, but he remained elusive.

Dirk must have been angry with her. He didn’t come to check on her. Aloneness ate at her. When she went to the door, she was dismayed it was locked. She’d pounded on it, yelling. Still no one came. The windows were sealed. From her view, she could see part of a lush garden; she stared at it wistfully. Alternately pacing for hours, alone with her thoughts, feeling caged and confused. Her anger built to the point where she threw her food tray at the window, wanting to shatter the glass. But only accomplished making a huge mess she cleaned in fear. No one came at the commotion. She wondered if the room was sound proof, the windows bullet proof. She could scream forever and no one would ever hear her.

Candy was certain she was going crazy. Every closet door every drawer was rifled through for something to do. Dirk didn’t have a TV, or a computer. There was no phone. She counted the holes in the ceiling tile. The paces between the bathroom and bedroom were thirty short strides and fifteen long ones. When making the bed she tucked in all corners army style. Dirk had a few cowboy hats she modeled in front of the mirror. She took so many long baths her skin was pruned. For exercise, she practiced yoga and, snarling, positioned Dirk’s imaginary head between her legs squeezing until his head popped.

When her anger was spent, so was she. For a while, she huddled in a corner sobbing; her arms wrapped protectively around her body and rocking when she realized no one cared. She was fearful of retreating back into her mindless world, and grew depressed from her loneliness. At times she spoke aloud, or hummed, just to hear a human voice. The food provided continued three times a day like clockwork. Candy turned away from the man when he collected her untouched trays. Positive she had been abandoned. She fretted fitfully that she would remain here secluded until she died. Perhaps that had been Dirk’s intent all along. To toy with her. Once legally his, he had no use for her now that she was truly silenced.

Later that evening it was with great surprise when Candy’s door opened and Dirk walked in. He was still wearing the Tux he had on the last time she saw him. He was unshaven and haggard looking. His hair was in disarray. He looked like he hadn’t slept in days.

“Dirk?” Candy asked.

“Carrie went into labor after you fainted. It was touch and go for a while. I thought we were going to lose one of the babies,” Dirk said. His eyes were reliving the terror he felt for his only child.

“Babies?” Candy questioned surprised.

“Twins, it was a surprise for everyone, including the doctors. A boy and a girl. The little girl gave us quite a scare.” Dirk dropped onto the bed and rested his head within his hands. “Carrie was hysterical when the doctors informed us her daughter was in distress. She had an asthma attack. One of the worst I’ve ever seen. I was so worried for her, my poor baby. Both Tyr and I stayed by her side refusing to leave her, we did our best to calm her, though my own fears almost killed me. It was such a relief when the doctor informed us the baby would be fine.”

“I’m happy they’re all right,” Candy said. Now she understood his absence. He hadn’t abandoned her. She breathed a quick sigh of relief, certain her prison stay was at an end. “I’m sorry I fainted, Dirk.”

Dirk smiled a bit wryly at her. “I’ve never had a woman expire in my arms from a kiss. Next time I’ll try and control my animal magnetism.”

Candy’s lips pressed into a firm line, she had no doubt he understood the real reason she collapsed.

“When will they be allowed to return home from the hospital?” she asked.

“Not for a little while. The doctor wants to keep them for observation. Both babies are tiny, the little guy is just over four pounds, my granddaughter is four pounds even. I came back for a quick shower and to change. My father is with them now, with a few of our men who are patrolling the halls. They’re not to be left alone. Tyr’s brother is flying in to offer aid as well. We had been hoping for a home birth, it’s safer that way, the environment easier to control, but this couldn’t be helped. I need to get back immediately.” He rose to his feet.

“You’re leaving again?” Candy asked with distress. She moved to him quickly and was on the bed on her knees before him. “Please don’t lock me up again, Dirk. Please, can’t I wander the garden? I’ve been trapped in here for three whole days with no one to talk to or nothing to do. The windows don’t open, I need some fresh air,” Candy pleaded desperately.

Dirk took a deep breath. “Candy, my men here aren’t babysitters. They can’t be expected to watch you while you wander the gardens.”

“They watch Carrie,” Candy said bitterly.

“They protect Carrie. She won’t run from me.”

“Where would I go? I just want some air, to stretch my legs, a change of scenery. Please, I won’t cause any trouble. I swear. I’m so lonely.” Her fear was building. How many more days would she be trapped? “Can’t I go with you?”

The look in his eyes answered her question. Candy recoiled from his stunned disbelief. She was damned.

* * * *

Dirk was dumbfounded she would ask. He regarded her sad lonely face and realized with shocked surprise just how lonely she must be. Trapped in the same room for days with no one to talk to. The windows were bullet proof and didn’t open; they were rigged to an alarm. She must have been climbing the walls with worry when he hadn’t returned. Dirk felt ashamed. He’d all but forgotten about her when Carrie had gone into labor. He’d hurriedly tossed Candy on the bed still in her wedding dress after searching for and finding a pulse and hastily asked his man, John, to make sure she was fed. He hadn’t even bothered to call to find out if she regained consciousness.

He realized with sudden distress he hadn’t saved her; he married her and callously forgotten about her. She couldn’t be set on a shelf and brought down for his entertainment from time to time. She was a living person, his wife, regardless how it had come about. He had turned her into a prisoner in his home. Worse than a prisoner, at least they were allowed exercise and a few distractions. Because Dirk was always busy, he didn’t have a television or computer in his room. Only books on combat and survival adorned his bookcase.

A new distressing thought occurred to him. What would he do with her when he had a job outside the home? She couldn’t be expected to remain in his room for weeks at a time, caged and alone. Dirk ran a hand over his face, this was a dilemma. His father had been right to assume he hadn’t thought all of this through. Under different circumstances, he knew his father and brother would be happy to keep a close eye on her. But this was different. He hadn’t married her for love. She needed to be taught to listen to a command from him, his family. She hadn’t even been shown the safe rooms. Candy depended on him to keep her safe, yet she feared him. She feared the emptiness her life had spiraled into.