Assassin Deception Read online

  “Where were you sent?” Chloe asked with dread.

  “It’s not what you think. My mother wasn’t abused, or used, neither were the others, for the most part. I’ve sent a few innocents to these places myself. Guess that makes me somewhat of a hypocrite, but I’m an assassin, not a doctor. At least I have an excuse,” Deegan stated distastefully.

  “Sometimes people witness things they shouldn’t, sometimes it can’t be helped. They are ‘helped’ to disappear. Some, like my mom, need more help. They are just way too vulnerable to be left to their own devices. We couldn’t just be relocated, especially with Trevor being so traumatized. Too many questions.

  “A regular school in his condition was out of the question. A stronger, larger holding is set up for these people, like us, with greater restraints. They're taken somewhere safe for both themselves and us. Their environment is more controlled, monitored, until they are no longer a threat, one way or another. Everyone is happy.” Deegan rose and began to pace before her, agitated at his disclosure and the obvious stress it caused.

  Chloe was amazed at the extent of their organization, and somewhat frightened. Did these places actually exist? Real human beings kept from the world when loved ones considered them missing and presumed dead. Like prison camps without the tortures of the flesh, only of the minds.

  Organized entrapment? Their lives must be so frustrating to them, never allowed to go home. It seemed so cruel, but was death worse? It must be exceptionally complicated to run something as far reaching as what he was suggesting. Chloe was battling a sick feeling within. This was definitely something she would need to discuss with James.

  “How will I know who I’m talking to, Deegan, Trevor?” Chloe voiced aloud, with mounting apprehension.

  Annoyed, Deegan glared at her. “I told you I’m not nuts! You are always talking to me!”

  Flinching from his anger, Chloe wondered just who she was talking to. Which personality controlled which emotions? Who controlled whom? They both seemed to occupy him at the same time, two simultaneous entities co-existing. She didn’t want a repeat of last night. She wondered if Deegan even remembered he had hurt her.

  “I don’t want you to hurt me again,” Chloe said earnestly, lest he become angry. “I’m not trying to make you angry on purpose, I swear. I just want to try to understand.”

  Deegan relaxed visibly at her submissive tone. “You’ll learn to understand soon enough. It really is very simple. The doctor got it too late. You wouldn’t want to be like him, right?”

  Chloe didn’t plan on being around that long. There had to be a way out of here. She was going to find it. “Am I allowed to wander around?”

  “Sure, explore wherever you want…even my room,” he offered suggestively and winked. “There’s no way out except through the iron door we came in. But you won’t ever be going through that again. The cave is your life now,” Deegan informed her.

  “I’ll never be given the opportunity to be outside again?” Chloe asked with rising dread. She must escape!

  “Never, Chloe. I won’t risk it. Not ever.”

  “But I need sunlight and fresh air or I’ll die!”

  “Oh, stop being so melodramatic! The air vents bring in enough fresh air,” Deegan scolded. “We can buy vitamins for the other.”

  “It’s not the same. What about you, will you leave? What if you don’t ever come back?” Chloe asked fearfully. She realized then just how serious her situation was. If Deegan died while he was away she would die. If he decided he just didn’t want to come back she would die alone and afraid, locked away, rotting in a hillside. She was beginning to wonder how much her own sanity could take.

  “I suppose you’ll just have to be extra nice to me. Make certain I want to come back,” Deegan said with a somewhat evil, calculating expression. “Now if you were to have my kid…”

  “What’s to stop you from taking the child from me once it’s born,” Chloe asked quietly, head bowed.

  “You don’t take kids from their mothers!” Deegan raged. Chloe winced at the anger in his voice. Another sore spot. Was he taken from his?

  “It would be nice to have a baby, one day,” Chloe said demurely.

  “Remember, Chloe, I’m not insane, nor am I stupid,” Deegan said, glaring. “No tricks. I’ll know when you’re serious. Don’t try and play me. I might get angry; you wouldn’t like to see me angry.”

  No, definitely not. “Can I go wander now?”

  Deegan sighed. “You haven’t eaten anything. Does your throat hurt too much? It looks horrendous. I can see the patterns of my thumb and fingers in your flesh. I really need to control that. Can you swallow?” he asked.

  “It hurts,” Chloe confirmed.

  “Sometimes Trevor gets angry, Chloe, but he doesn’t have my strength. Another person’s fear and blood frighten him. You tell Trevor when you’re afraid. I listen to him. I’m an assassin, I kill. Trevor wants the family he lost back. It’s up to you to keep him happy, understand?”

  Chloe was beginning to. The adult Deegan was in control most of the time. He had no qualms about hurting her. The thought confused her. Deegan took evil lives, he understood she was an innocent. The child Trevor hated violence, but knew it was her father that killed his.

  If she were a child and someone killed her father, would she want to kill another child, a killer’s child? Maybe. But she wouldn’t plan how to, she wouldn’t have the capability to do so, nor would she; she would most likely want someone to do it for her.

  Deegan said he didn’t kill children, or perhaps it was Trevor who wouldn’t let him kill a child. Either way she tucked this bit of insightful information away in her mind; she would most likely have use of it.

  “I won’t make you angry anymore. I do understand. I can’t escape, if I try to you will hurt me. Trevor will feel like I’m abandoning him and allow you to harm me.”

  “Very perceptive,” Deegan said, smiling.

  “Can I wander now?” she asked.

  “Be my guest.”

  * * * *

  Chloe not only wandered, she prodded and poked her way into every crevice and corner, every nook and cranny, crawling, reaching, searching, determined to find a way out. Finally, hours later, feeling defeated and exhausted, she slumped to the floor, her head in her hands. Soon Deegan was crouched before her. He had left her alone all day, leaving her to her search without interfering.

  “You had to try, Chloe, that’s something I do understand. I did for the longest time. I was trapped for years. If Deegan hadn’t killed the doctor I would still be trapped. But don’t get any ideas. The only way the door will open is by verbal code. Even if you figure out the code it only obeys Deegan’s voice. We decided that for safety purposes. I can be somewhat of a pushover at times to a woman’s tears.”

  “Please take me home,” Chloe begged. Her sorrow filled eyes delved into his; her unbearable sadness was overwhelming. His hand lifted to stroke her cheek but she shied away from him. He exhaled loudly.

  “You are home, Chloe.”

  Deegan rose and moved away. Chloe stayed slumped on the floor in a far corner. She felt dejected, alone. Her arms clasped around her legs that were tucked up under her chin. She shivered. She rocked herself back and forth, her mind devoid of thought. Every time she opened her mind her brain screamed for Damien to come to her. Was he even all right? It was too painful.

  Again she shivered. The skin on her arms rose in goose bumps; she stroked at them absently. Chloe’s thoughts returned, nagging the recesses of her brain, creeping into her thoughts, coaxing, prodding her gently with a revelation.

  I’m cold. The words were a jolt. Why was she cold? The cave was climate controlled. Deegan had mentioned this. She shouldn’t be so cold during the middle of the day. Deegan had explained the temperature only lowered automatically to a new setting very late in the evening.

  Chloe turned slightly. To her side was a large solid, beautifully crafted, oak antique armoire. Looking around, Chloe dete
rmined Deegan was not in sight. She rose to her feet to gain a better inspection. She reached behind the large piece of furniture. It was cold behind it.

  Lifting her hand high as far as she could reach, Chloe felt metal, a large piece of metal. With determination Chloe squeezed in further. The square-shaped metal was narrow and dark inside. Chloe was on tiptoe to see within. Cold air was definitely blowing in, but from the scent, Chloe excitedly determined it was fresh air. She wondered where the vent went…it must lead outside.

  Chloe pulled on the metal cover. It was bolted shut. She would need a screw driver. A solid flat object, a butter knife perhaps. If she could open the vent and move the heavy armoire back a foot she could climb inside. She had to try. Chloe pushed her way out from behind the armoire. She studied the massive piece of furniture. She would need to knock it over. She would need to unscrew the bolts and then climb inside.

  Chloe slumped against the wall. Deegan would stop her, he might kill her. She needed a plan. Deegan wouldn’t allow her to cook. She would never be able to sneak a knife without his knowledge. She had seen him count utensils; she had seen no tools. The only room she had purposely avoided was Deegan’s. She couldn’t go in there, Deegan would take it as a sign she was interested.

  Absently, Chloe reached for her medallion. James had been right; it offered her comfort. It was her only link to home. A small piece to be certain, but all she had.

  Chloe rolled the sturdy, solid gold piece between her fingers. She stroked it against her cheek. She grew thoughtful. Perhaps the medallion would keep her safe. Chloe studied it with a revelation. She could use the flat edges to turn the bolts. But her plan was far from finished. She needed a distraction. Chloe’s mind went to work.

  Chapter Twenty

  Chloe had been sitting on the large, overstuffed beige couch, her legs curled up under her, as far away from Deegan as she could manage. It had grown late. Deegan had insisted she pick out a movie. From his large selection she had grabbed a chick flick she loved, one that had bored Damien to tears years ago. She could see Deegan’s eyes flutter occasionally. When they finally closed, Chloe waited the better part of half an hour, watching him for any signs of movement. When none occurred, she rose silently, and padded off on bare feet.

  The armoire was off to the side in complete darkness, Deegan had dimmed all the lights for the show. Unless the lights were on, Deegan would be unable to see her. Chloe reached out her hand in the darkness. Grimly, she became aware of the irony of how useful her previous blindness had come in handy. She remembered the feeling of searching through a room with her mind and hands, the two becoming one to create sight. Envisioning items with the expertise of the empowered helpless. Deftly, she squeezed behind the massive oak furnishing, found the metal cover, kissed her medallion, then set to work.

  The bolt was stiff; it was tedious to maneuver in the darkness and slipped occasionally. Chloe’s arms, hands and fingers began to ache as she twisted and turned it to the left, grunting from her efforts.

  She sobbed with relief as she felt the metal give slightly, then once more. She unscrewed the bolt, her fingers flying, until it was loose enough to drop into her open palm. She clutched it in her hand with a feeling of victory for only a brief moment. Chloe stuck the bolt in her mouth between her teeth. She went to work on the next. No sooner was that one loosened when she heard an enraged yell.

  “Chloe! Where the hell are you?” Deegan bellowed.

  She could hear his large frame stumbling towards her in the darkness. Panicking, Chloe almost dropped her medallion. She squeezed her way back out from behind the armoire, tossed her chain over her head and scooted hastily for her bedroom. She spit the bolt out and shoved it under the mattress, then threw herself onto the top of her bed. When Deegan stormed into her room, bellowing like an enraged bull, Chloe sat up, rubbing her eyes as though disorientated.

  “Deegan?” Chloe asked with seeming confusion. As her lights were snapped on, she blinked against the sudden brightness, holding her hand up close to her face to soften the glare. “Wha…what’s wrong?” It took every ounce of determination for Chloe not to scream in terror when Deegan yanked her to her feet by her arms and glared into her eyes.

  “Where the hell did you go?” Deegan snarled, he was enraged.

  “Go? Go where? I’m trapped. That was made very clear to me today,” Chloe replied, eyes wide and frightened. “Please, why are you so angry?”

  “You left me all alone! I was alone again because of you!”

  “No, Deegan, no. I was tired, you were sleeping, I wanted to go to bed. I was too afraid to wake you. I didn’t know if that would make you angry. I never know what will make you angry. Look, now you’re mad because I didn’t wake you. I’m sorry. I’m sorry, please don’t hurt me again. Do I wake you if you fall asleep again? Please tell me, you’re scaring me,” Chloe howled. Deegan’s fingers were pressing viciously into her soft flesh.

  Deegan was so close to her his expelled breath panted into her face, moving her hair with each puffed breath of air. His dark eyes flickered with raw emotions that came at him so fast Chloe could almost see both men battling for power.

  “Deegan?” she whimpered. She remained submissive in his grasp. Her body shook, trembling with her fear. Her tears fell steadily, wondering if he would once more render her unconscious. “Trevor?” she sobbed instead, remembering Deegan’s words of wisdom she had tucked away.

  As if a veil were lifted, Deegan stilled his rage instantly. A calm settled over him; his grip loosened. His eyes softened and he yanked Chloe within his embrace, pulling her head to his unclad chest. Chloe could hear his heart hammering beneath her ear.

  “It’s all right,” he soothed. “Don’t be afraid. I’m not going to hurt you, I promise. I thought maybe I had dreamt you, that maybe I hadn’t saved all of us, after all. I woke up and you were gone. Sometimes I dream you are gone. Who will save me if you’re gone?” His hands trailed up and down her ridged back. He shushed her trembling body.

  “Trevor?” Chloe asked hesitantly.

  “No, Chloe, I’m Deegan. You still don’t understand, do you? Trevor died with his father. His fears and thoughts remain in my mind, his mind. When you call to him, I listen, I hear his pain, your fear.”

  Chloe sobbed harder. How could Trevor exist within his mind and yet not exist? Did he even know who he was? The thought continued to crash within Chloe’s head. Something was just not right. How could he be insane on top of being insane?

  “Please, Deegan, I’m tired. Please can I sleep now?” Chloe whimpered. Her head had begun to ache.

  “Of course, Chloe, go back to sleep.” Deegan tilted her head back and claimed her lips passionately. Chloe stiffened. She whimpered, pushing at his broad shoulders. She loathed his touch. He discovered her mouth, tasting, exploring. He fondled and rubbed intimate places, edging their way into her clothing uninvited. A large hand tightened onto a taut breast, rolling the nipple between his thumb and finger. He grinned as it came to life.

  “Please, Deegan, no,” Chloe cried when the kiss ended. She jerked herself from his embrace, wincing as her nipple throbbed. As she broke free of him she inched away, her hands rising to her chest. Both were panting heavily. His close proximity reminded Chloe of just how large he really was.

  Deegan breathed in ragged breaths. He wiped her tears from his chest. The back of his hand pressed to his lips to make a fist.

  “Good night, Chloe. I won’t wait forever, but I will give you a little more time, just a little. You’ll get used to me, want me, I know it will be very soon,” Deegan said. Stiffly he turned and walked from her room. Chloe heard the door lock behind him, and breathed a small sigh of relief.

  Her limbs shaking, she climbed onto the bed, her arms wound tightly around her quaking knees. She wondered for a moment if she should find a new hiding place for the bolt, then decided against it. Deegan seemed determined for her to take up a more stereotypical role. Though she would be unable to cook, there was no doubt she
would be taking up more of the household chores. No doubt she would be doing laundry eventually if she stayed put.

  Chloe remained in her clothing. After what had occurred between her and Deegan, she was too fearful of changing. She remembered how she had awoken to him perched on her bed that morning. Instead of sleeping, Chloe remained awake most of the night, planning. She determined either way, live or die, this was to be her last night as a captive. Tomorrow she would set her plan into motion.

  * * * *

  Throughout the next day Chloe had been able to squeeze intermittently behind the armoire and remove the last bolts.

  For the most part Deegan had left her alone, confident she was trapped with him and uninterested in trailing her about, thinking she would settle eventually if left alone.

  He must still be imagining she would come to care for him, want him and seek him out from sheer want of human contact. He must have been sure that was how it would be; it had been the same for him…until the doctor betrayed him, rejected his friendship. Chloe supposed he figured she was lucky she had him.

  Chloe had been pacing with agitation. All she needed now was a distraction. She had one in mind. Her thoughts grim, she took a breath to compose herself. Chloe entered the kitchen. Her posture was the essence of poise and calmness. Her large brown eyes were innocent pools of acceptance.

  “Deegan, may I please make myself some hot chocolate?” Chloe asked him. Deegan was sitting at the large round table, sipping the strong black coffee he liked and reading an old newspaper. To Chloe he seemed perfectly content, as though this entire situation was normal.

  Deegan studied her thoughtfully, then shrewdly. “I suppose. I doubt you’ll make yourself sick. Although in case you were stupid enough to try that I’ve taken the liberty of removing anything dangerous. Know this, Chloe, if you become ill, here is where you’ll stay, here is where you’ll die.”