His Secret Assassin

Chapter 15: Kiara

It had been two days since our outing, but it was still weighing heavily on me. Not because we'd run across Webb, but because of the phone call I'd managed to make after getting separated from Matias. I was putting together ingredients for a cake as baking usually helped me to think, and I needed that right now. I'd been replaying the conversation over and over in my head, and hadn't come to any kind of decision about what to do.

When Matias and I had caught Webb's attention and he sent his goons after us, I knew it was the opportunity I'd been waiting for. It was easy enough to lose one of the guys who followed me and snap the neck of the other one even though that one had ripped off the necklace Matias had given me that morning. Matias had managed to get it back, and it had become something I unconsciously rubbed like a good luck charm.

After I'd gotten rid of the guys after me, I'd lifted a cell phone off a random person and dialed Roman's number from memory.

"Roman." His voice was clipped as it usually was, so I didn't take any offense to that.

"It's Kiara."

"Oh, she finally decides to check in."

"Don't be like that Roman, you knew I might be MIA for a while with this one. I'm trying to get him to trust me, not make him suspicious. He thinks I've got no one else, it's not like I can make up an excuse why I need to call someone suddenly."

"Just give me a status update, not excuses."

I rolled my eyes, but continued. "I'm really close. I think I'll be able to meet him soon. From what Matias has told me, I think his mentor is his uncle."

There was a slight pause before Roman spoke again. "I see. Well, hurry it up. I need you back for some other things, I've got a few big jobs coming up. You don't want to disappoint me, do you?"

"No."

"Good. And don't let his charm fool you, Angel. He may be a brute but he's smart, his mentor even more so. I'd take care of this one myself if they wouldn't automatically suspect me."

My mind came back to the present, and I shivered again just like I had when Roman had said those words to me. Something in his voice had made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, and I got a sick feeling in my stomach all over again. I was starting to doubt this mission, but I had no idea if that was because of my own growing feelings for Matias or if it was suspicion of Roman.

"What are you making, angelita?" Matias wrapped his arms around me, nuzzling his lips into my neck and I let out a little happy noise as I sank into his body, letting the thoughts disappear for now.

"A cake."

His chuckle met my skin and vibrated there, sending goosebumps immediately along my skin. "I can see that, at least. What kind?"

"Strawberry flavored, with some whipped cream cheese frosting on it. Then I'm going to slice those strawberries in the fridge and put them on top."

"That sounds amazing," he replied. "Would you be opposed to having another mouth to feed it to?"

I turned to him with legitimate curiosity. "Not at all, who?"

"My uncle said he's got some free time, was thinking of stopping by. Unless you've changed your mind about meeting him?"

I felt a shock of heat go through me, a mixture of panic and excitement. I was excited to meet someone that Matias had been opening up to me about more and more, excited that I was getting farther ahead on my intended mission. The panic was unexpected, and I didn't feel like evaluating that so I brushed it into the corners of my mind and pasted a wide smile on my face.

"Never! Tell him he's more than welcome, as long as he brings some of that moonshine you've been telling me about."

"Your wish is my command," he chuckled as he pulled out his phone to text his uncle.

A couple hours later we were all sitting around the table, Uncle Jasper telling us a story about a young Matias trying to ride a great dane their neighbor had like a horse. Jasper and I were laughing while Matias sat at the end of the table, grumbling excuses about why it wasn't that funny, a smile twitching on his lips when he thought I wasn't looking.

Which was ridiculous, because I was always looking at him. It was nearly impossible for me not to on normal days, but having his uncle here had made him seem a little softer than usual, his love and respect for the man obvious.

"And when I tell you that dog had had enough, I mean it! Matty had tried to sit on him one too many times, and the dog decided to show him what it was like!"

I gasped, choked laughter bubbling from me all over again. "Oh no, the dog sat on him didn't he!"

"YES! Poor Matty was trying to push him off, but as a scrawny 7-year old, it just wasn't going to happen."

"Aww, you poor baby," I cooed jokingly and patted Matias' arm in fake sympathy.

He glowered at me, humor in his eyes juxtaposing his frown. "It's fine. I'm fine. Not scarred by the event or anything."

I giggled at his sarcasm, his uncle snorting in disbelief.

"Sure, it wasn't like you ran inside the house every time that dog stepped back outside."

"Oh come on uncle, can you possibly make me look any more like a chicken-shit?"

"Oh well now that you mention it, I could talk about that date you had with Marissa when you were 17..."

"NO!" He bellowed the word out, and I jumped back at the volume. I looked over at Jasper, mouth slightly open.

"Well now I HAVE to hear this story..."

Matias growled and stood up. "Enough stories! Uncle, don't you think it's about time to head home?"

"Don't be rude Matias, he's our guest!" I turned to Jasper, put my elbows on the table and planted my chin on the back of my hands, and batted my eyes at him sweetly. "Now, about this Marissa..."

Uncle Jasper barked out a laugh. "You've got your hands full with this one, Matty. As much as I would love to embarrass the man a little more, he's not wrong. I've got to get back home before my lady friend stops by." He winked at me and I made a noise of approval, applauding him slightly until he shook his head at my antics.

I packed up some of the leftover food and cake for him to take home, and Matias walked with him to his car. I watched through the window, smiling happily to see them talking and embracing before Matias sent him off, watching the car for a little. I bit my lip, knowing that I'd been right. Through the conversation at dinner, there'd been mild to heavy hints at their relationship going farther than just family, alluding to the work that Matias did. From all that, I'd gathered that Jasper was his mentor, but I was wholeheartedly confused.

Not one single thing about Jasper even whispered to me that he was the kind of person that could coldly and brutally murder my innocent family. My sixth sense that I relied on in my work had been silent, telling me that something was wrong about my assignment. I watched Matias head back up to the house, his eyes meeting mine and melting me with the heat in them.

The minute he came inside, he grabbed my face in his big rough hands and planted a deep, searching kiss on my waiting lips. I moaned instantly, my body pressing up against his and telling him how much I wanted him, needed him. He pulled away and I gasped for breath, panting as he stared at me.

"I have never met someone like you. Jasper loves you, told me to keep you at any cost. You might have guessed it, but he's the reason I'm here, the reason I am who I am. He's been the only family I've had for most of my life, and he's taught me everything I know. Not once has he steered me wrong, and so when he tells me that he approves, it only convinces me that I had the right idea in taking you with me and keeping you here. We still have a shit-ton of things to deal with, but I'm hoping you're happy enough here. With me."

I could barely stop the tears gathering in my eyes from falling. "Here is the only place I ever want to be."

The truth in my statement hit me, and even as Matias lifted me in his arms and carried me to his room, the guilt in me grew and took up more space in my chest no matter how much I tried to ignore it. What the fuck was I going to do now?