Secrets and Lies [Boss Johns]

Chapter 1

Hands wrapped around her throat. He didn't care if he killed her, it would probably be for the best. She could tell his father what went on, everything that happened. She would tell him that he tried to kill her.

Though, she wasn't giving up without a fight.

"Just die, no one will ever know what happened here. Just be like everyone else."

Through gritted teeth, she placed her hand on his lower neck and started pushing. However, a hand gripped the back of his shirt and he was pulled off of her.

***

Ten years ago, William Johns was killed. The son of her fiancée, the man she had been with for a good twelve years. The one thing she would never tell him, she wouldn't tell him that she was there or how badly wounded his son had left her.

Or the fact that his son tried to kill her.

She wasn't even sure if he would believe her, but she knew it would hurt him. Kayden placed her head down, trying to block out the memories. Kayden slowly looked up, placing a hand on her throat. It was a bad memory, she wished it never happened.

Well, it did. She couldn't turn back time now, but she couldn't stop dwelling on it. It happened, it would always be there. However, the guilt that rested with her over not being honest with him.

"Kayden," Johns walked up behind her, pressing his lips to her head. Over the ten years, she always stayed by his side. Even when they were just dating, she had never gotten along with William. "Are you ready?"

There had been an emergency beacon, she had heard Johns in the other room. Apparently, it was from Riddick. "You want me to go with you?" She asked.

He stopped, giving her a smile. "Only if you want."

There was a chance the secrets she held from him and the lies she had told him would come out. Whether it was from her or from Riddick, but she needed to be there so he didn't entirely hear it from Riddick.

"I guess I'll come with." Kayden stood from her chair.

She had grown up with enough brothers that she knew whatever they were getting into would require weapons and fighting. Well, her brothers had trained her themselves.

Six brothers, she was the only girl. It was enough that she could handle whatever was thrown at her, but Riddick was a monster himself.

However, they weren't going to fight anyone. Johns just wanted to know about his son. "Kayden," Johns looked at her, now standing at the door.

"Right, sorry." Kayden shook her head and quickly followed him out. She spent enough time with his team that she was comfortable, but she wasn't apart of his team. She didn't want him to find out what happened, but maybe it was time.

Whether he liked it or not.

It was bad enough that she had to relive it, but if he was angry with her, it would eat her alive.

"You seem distracted lately," Johns looked at her and Kayden sighed.

"I'm just worried about you," Kayden lied and he gave her a gentle look.

"It'll be alright, I'll get the answers I'm looking for now." Johns pressed his lips to her cheek.

Kayden nodded, though she was silent. She didn't want him to know what was behind the curtain, what actually happened to his son. It wasn't the accident, he survived the accident.

The thought of it made her stomach ache, it made it twist into her gut.

"Good," Kayden murmured. He didn't need to know, but he was going to eventually.

***

"Congrats, Kayden." Dahl smiled at her. The two of them had always gotten along, ever since Johns introduced the two of them. Kayden stayed out of the mercenary business, she had her own business.

Kayden smiled, "thanks, Dahl." She rubbed the back of her neck.

"What's on your mind?" She asked.

The ship had already long since left, they were heading towards the location of the emergency beacon. "Boss, there's already a ship there."

Kayden looked up, someone had already gotten to Riddick's location first. That didn't matter, it wasn't the bounty that Johns was after.

"That's fine, we're still going down," Johns said as he lowered the ship. Kayden got up from where she was sitting, glancing at Dahl. She gave her the look of that they'd talk about it later. She walked over to the captain's chair, where Johns was sitting, looking over his shoulder. It was another crew, not just four people.

They were prepared to hunt.

"Mercenaries?" Kayden asked.

Johns nodded, "we'll take care of it." He landed the ship and looked at Kayden. He could see the worry in her eyes, he knew that there was something he wasn't telling her. The closer he got to finding out what really happened or anytime he brought up William, she would zone out for a few days. He could see it written on her face, but she never talked about it.

There was something she knew, but there was a reason that she wouldn't tell him. He was worried about what that reason was, but he would find all of his answers with Riddick putting the pieces together.

Whatever she didn't want to talk about, he was going to find out. "Kayden, don't leave my sight." He looked at her and she nodded.

Kayden had expertise in fighting, she knew what she was going. While she wasn't a mercenary, she wasn't stupid.

"I won't go far," Kayden said, "though I can take care of myself believe it or not." She shot him a look with a smirk.

"I know, but these mercenaries are a different type than what you've dealt with before." Johns looked at her and Kayden nodded. There were all different types of mercenaries, but this type were some of the worst kind. They weren't going to be understanding and they didn't live by any rules.

Johns knew exactly what to do.

Kayden, on the other hand, could only gulp down the lump in her throat.