Assassin Deception Read Online Free PDF Page A

by his irresponsibility. He was out of control, unpredictable…a loose cannon.”
    “Do Dirk's and Wolf’s wives know what you do?” Chloe asked.
    “Yes, sweetheart. So does Carrie, and now you. We never kill for sport. Every action is discussed, assessed, re-discussed. Please believe me when I say life has value to us. This is a last possible resort. We dispose of men and women like your father. Evil people who maliciously hurt others for pleasure or their own gain, people uncaring of any consequences and who feel there will be none.
    “Chloe, in your innocence I don’t think you’re even capable of comprehending the evil filth out there that prey upon the helpless. Disgusting, fake, moving inhumanities who pose as men, who are not and who possibly have never been capable of a merciful act.
    “We protect people who are unable to defend themselves against such cruelty. Sometimes the laws are unjust; innocents seek justice. Sometimes through grief people find themselves turning into someone they loathe when their deepest despair confronts and assaults them. They are incapable of finding closure. Then and only then do we step in.
    “Don’t be afraid. I understand this sounds strange. Our organization is very far-reaching. We’ve been in operation for quite some time. I’m certain you can imagine how in demand our abilities are to dispose of the evil at any cost, any way. There is also nothing evil about you, no matter who your father was. That is not how we operate. None of my men would ever harm you.”
    “I’ve never in my life feared you, James, for any reason. I won’t start now. But why did you send me away? I would never, and have never said anything to anyone. I would never do anything to hurt any of you. Your secrets are safe with me.”
    James bowed his head into Chloe’s hair. “Your grandmother, before she died, begged me to send you away, before your mother’s insanity consumed you. She was terrified of you being left alone with a suicidal woman. She feared that your mother, with her irrational thoughts, would kill you, thinking to save you from me.
    “It took me a while to be able to let you go. If you recall, you spent a great deal of time at my home by then, while I employed others to watch your mother. The men and women I sent to stay with you when you needed to be home, to keep you safe, only frightened her further. She felt her concerns were reinforced, that I was watching her, controlling her and you.
    “She didn’t understand it was she I feared would harm you. If I could have convinced you to live with me and never see her again I would have tried. Loyalty is a powerful thing in the young. The effort would have been futile.”
    Chloe pulled herself from James’ arms. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
    “Tell you what, Chloe? That I disposed of your father, that because of me your mother went insane?”
    “That you loved me and you didn’t want me to go,” Chloe accused hurtfully.
    “Chloe, if I could have, I would have kept you near. But I couldn’t remove your mother to some type of asylum. I felt guilty enough. You were the stronger of the two, with the resilience of the very young. I tried to take care of the both of you as best as I could. It was a shame that your mother got to stay and you didn’t.
    “I will understand if you hate me. I loved you the moment I set eyes on you, at the ripe old age of four minutes old. I threatened a doctor into allowing me to hold you. They had whisked you away from your mother because of complications she was having. Your father stayed with her, and your uncle was away on business. I took charge of you, not wanting you to be alone. I fell in love, head over heels, sweetheart. I did my best by you. I’m only sorry it wasn’t good enough.” James hung his head.
    “I love you, too, James. I could never hate you, you mean too much to me. I lied when I said I didn’t remember what my father did to me, and then tried to do to me. Granny