The Deception (24 page)

It was a small photo frame and Jaz just about launched off her chair to reach it. Ever since Ryan had told her about seeing a photo, she’d been curious to see it herself. It’s not that she didn’t believe Ryan, more that she couldn’t believe this is how he found out her secret.

‘Oh, can I see?’ she asked, reaching out a shaky hand. Quickly she latched on with both, hiding her excitement and nerves. Her eyes remained closed for a long second as she tried to control herself. Any display would make James curious and she couldn’t have that. No tears, no recognition, she had to be purely neutral.

When she did open them, she found herself looking at the first photo she’d ever seen of her mum at a young age. Her dark hair fell to her shoulders in gentle waves and her blue eyes bright. It was so amazing to have something from her past, if only Jaz could keep a copy. She would love to take a photo with her phone but unless James stepped out, that wouldn’t happen. Her heart raced while she forced a calm smile. ‘She’s young and pretty. Was she an agent then?’ Jaz showed it to Tay, just so she could hold onto it a bit longer. His eyes widened at the familiar person.

‘Yes, she was. This was taken at her twenty-first.’

Her mind spun. Jaz was born when her mum was twenty-two. Could she have been pregnant with her here in this photo? With a new identity would have come a new birth date. ‘Oh, what date was that?’

Tay’s pen paused for a half a second. Was she pushing it just a little too far? Jaz took a last look at her mum and handed it back to James, trying to show disinterest.

‘Um, in February.’ He put the photo back and then crossed his arms.

February. Mum celebrated her birthday in April now. How weird would that be? ‘So the Shesha Serpents are quite big,’ she said. She didn’t want to change the subject but she didn’t want to draw too much attention to herself or the photo of her mum.

‘Yes. Ryan told me about your dad, Taylor. It just shows how much leverage they think they have over this city. I know your dad’s not a supporter but there are many in high-powered positions who are. Politicians, judges, lawyers, the list goes on. People can be brought for the right price or if threatened. It even reaches governments and sometimes it’s the rules and regulations that keep us from catching some of the high powered ones. That’s why the Agency came to be, we needed another avenue so they couldn’t get away with it. And yes, Jaz, the Serpents have grown, but that could end up being their downfall. We’ll use it to our advantage to get inside the group and take it apart from the inside out.’

‘Do you think Salvatore controls them?’ she asked. It was so interesting listening to him, she was learning so much.

James rubbed his chin. ‘There is no intel that suggests it at the moment. Salvatore has mainly dealt in drugs and weapons, whereas the Shesha Serpents have their finger in every pie. People smuggling, underage prostitution, terrorist cells and countless others.’

Tay lifted his clipboard of completed paperwork and set it back on his desk while he listened.

‘The worst ones get into this country as illegal immigrants like Jameson. They say they are poor but they have paid handsomely to get here. And within a few years they have set up cell groups or are rolling in money. How is that possible? Look at what Jameson has, his business, the money. You can’t tell me he didn’t come here without this being his plan. He had connections already in place overseas, just waiting for his signal.’

‘Wow, I didn’t realise. I thought he must have lived here his whole life to be where he is money- and structure-wise.’

James shook his head. ‘Hard to believe, isn’t it. But what can we do? We just keep recruiting and work hard at fighting them. It’s an ongoing war, one we may never win, but we won’t give up fighting.’

‘Sounds like a good motto,’ said Taylor.

James chuckled. ‘You should ask Ryan about our mottos. We have a few. Now, Taylor how is your combat training going?’

‘It’s going great,’ answered Jaz. ‘Between myself, Ryan and the guys at the gym, we’ll have him dangerous and deadly in no time.’

‘Well, from what I hear we don’t need to worry about your shooting skills.’

Tay smiled. ‘About that. Can I get my own gun?’

‘Me too?’ said Jaz.

The delight on James’s face was plain as day. ‘Eagerness, love it. I’ll discuss it with Ryan and we’ll see. I’m not normally giving eighteen year olds guns just after they’ve signed up. This is new territory for me.’

Jaz felt like saying ‘you’re the best’ but pressed her lips together. Some degree of professionalism would be nice and it was hard enough already when she wanted to know everything about James, his life and his sister. One day soon, she hoped that she could confide the truth to him and she could have a real uncle. She’d get to go to Victoria and learn about the Montenegro side of the family. Surely the universe had this in its plans all along. That fact that she was here with him reinforced her theory.

Chapter 21

Her fingers twitched. Jaz felt nervous. Actually, a little scared was more the truth. Sure, she wasn’t that worried about crawling into a drug dealer’s house, but attending her own birthday surprise? That terrified her. A room full of people, some she probably didn’t even like, all staring at her. That kind of limelight petrified her more than being in the dark with Cujo trying to bite off her foot.

With a sigh, she reached for her white dress. Facing her fears was something she was getting good at and she’d do it a hundred times over if it meant not disappointing Anna.

The soft material was cool against her skin as she slipped it on, and she was pleased to note that it covered her newly acquired bruise on her ribs from her sparring with Taylor yesterday. Copping that blow from Taylor had made her so proud; he’d finally managed a solid hit after a long week of getting belted up by all of them. Jaz had shown Anna the mark, like a proud mum showing off her talented kid’s first drawing.

He still had a long way to go, but this just proved how determined and focused he was to succeed. Jaz couldn’t wait to show Ryan. It had been a few days since she’d last seen him, and each day seemed rather boring without him.

She hoped he was coming to her birthday party tonight. If he did, it meant he wasn’t with the other lady. Jaz didn’t even want to think her name, that only made her more real.

‘Oh, look at you,’ said Tasha as she walked into the bathroom and did up the back zip on Jaz’s dress. ‘It’s a very beautiful grown-up dress,’ she said.

‘Thanks Mum. Feels like it’s taken forever to get here,’ said Jaz, meaning her eighteenth.

‘Well, for me it’s all come far too quickly. Just the other day I was helping you tie your shoe laces and showing you how to do a high kick.’ Tasha frowned as she watched Jaz slip on her white high heels.

‘You’re not going to cry tonight, are you Mum?’

‘I might,’ Tasha said with a smile. ‘Mums are allowed to do that. It’s our given right to cry over our children.’

Jaz rolled her eyes. ‘I’ll pack some tissues.’

‘Ha ha. Come on, are you ready? It’s time to go.’

‘Go where?’ Jaz asked, trying again for birthday details. She reached for her father’s medallion and slipped it on over her head.

‘Somewhere fancy,’ said Tasha, who was looking gorgeous in a long flowing sapphire dress. ‘Do you really have to wear that? I’ve got some pearls that would go nicely?’

Jaz looked at the mirror, seeing the gold circle resting just above her breasts. It went with her dress, simple and understated. Plus how did she tell her mum it made her feel like she had a piece of her real father with her on her birthday? ‘I like it. It’s me.’

Tasha lifted the medallion. She didn’t turn it over to see the engraving but her fingers moved across it as if feeling the words. Something Jaz did quite often. Tasha let it drop and smiled sadly. ‘I can’t believe this day is here.’

‘Now that I’m eighteen, will you tell me more about my real dad?’

Tasha swallowed quickly and her face almost screwed up as if she’d bit into a sour lemon, but you could see she was trying to control her expression. Was she a little out of practice after nearly nineteen years out of the Agency?

‘Let’s not talk about this now, we’re running late.’ With that, she turned and headed out of her room.

Her real dad was in her mum’s old life and by discussing him, she probably risked revealing the secret of her old identity. No wonder she’d never given Jaz anything on him. She always assumed he must have been bad or done something wrong, but it all made so much sense now. To divulge him was to divulge her past.

Minutes later Jaz sat in the back of the car with Simon while her dad drove through the night and passing streetlights.

‘You excited, sis?’ Simon asked as he pulled his dress jacket together.

‘About being eighteen, yes, the party, not so much,’ she whispered.

‘It’ll be okay, you’ll see.’ Simon kept her busy with talk about school and a few questions about girls. He must have his eye on someone, she thought as she glanced out the window.

It had been a nice birthday, pancakes for breakfast before she’d gone to the gym to train with Tay. Then on her way home she’d detoured past Marcus’s house, just because. Seeing the ‘for sale’ sign out the front made her feel a little sad and she’d even sat at the beach where they’d shared their first coffee. No matter who you are, you can’t just forget people and the effect they’ve had on you. She didn’t want to forget Marcus. He was a good guy. She hoped wherever he was, he was happy and safe.

Jaz focused on the passing buildings, realising they were familiar. ‘Hey, why are we here?’ she asked as they pulled up at the gym.

‘Getting Pax. You didn’t think we’d leave him out of your birthday celebrations, did you? We even brought him a suit to wear,’ said Paul, turning in the front seat.

‘Oh my God, really? That I gotta see,’ she said, relieved that someone else would be out of their comfort zone.

‘Well, then you can go and get him,’ said Tasha. ‘Be quick as we don’t want to be late.’

‘Okay, okay.’ Jaz got out and went to the front door of the gym, wondering if she’d need her keys. But the door was open. She stepped inside the dark room and reached out for the light switch. The lights flickered on and Jaz turned to head to the office when an almighty roar scared her.

‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY!’

A crowd of well-dressed people were in the gym with drinks in hand. Anna, the first person she recognised, was walking towards her with the biggest grin. She wore a blue dress with silver accessories and her hair gathered elegantly at the top of her head.

‘Happy birthday, my gorgeous friend.’

It took Jaz a moment or two to comprehend what she was seeing. The gym had been decorated in balloons and streamers and had tables set up with food and drinks. She’d never seen it look so colourful. Nor had she ever seen this many people in it.

Faces became clearer as she focused on them; Pax, Bags, Tick, Niles, Ryan, Steph, Cody, Mr Stewart, Anna’s parents and her own parents as they snuck in the door beside her.

It wasn’t the fancy affair she thought, instead it was perfect.

‘And you doubted me,’ said Anna beside her.

Jaz hugged her friend and before she knew it, everyone had come forward to hug her and wish her a happy birthday.

‘Here, have a glass of champagne,’ said Taylor, handing her a glass flute. ‘You can legally drink now.’ He bent his head close to her ear and whispered, ‘No need for fake IDs.’

Jaz downed the champagne, hoping it would take the edge of her nerves. ‘Thanks, I needed that.’ Tay rolled his eyes and took the empty glass away.

Steph and Ryan were mingling closer her way, even so, she knew where he was the whole time, keeping him in her peripheral vision. He looked relaxed in dark jeans and long-sleeved fitted white shirt with three buttons near his neck, which were undone. He laughed with his sister and her eyes danced with delight at having her brother beside her. Did Jaz look as mesmerised when near Ryan? Probably.

The pull to go to him was great. She wanted to know what they were laughing about, wanted to be close enough to feel his heat and wanted her birthday hug.

‘Who’s that, Jaz?’ said Tasha, who appeared beside Jaz.

She’d been so caught up on Ryan she’d missed her mum’s approach. For an old retired agent, she still had some stealth moves.

‘Who?’

‘The cute guy you’re watching,’ she said softly.

Jaz turned to face her mum. She was sure Tasha remembered meeting Ryan at the hospital. She was just fishing for more information. ‘You met him at the hospital when Pax was taken in, remember?’ she said, playing along.

‘Oh, yes. He’s very handsome, and older.’ Tasha’s eyes narrowed slightly. ‘Is this what
happened
with Marcus?’ she asked.

‘I don’t really want to get into that here, Mum,’ Jaz whispered harshly. ‘And he’s just a good friend.’

‘Uh-huh.’ She didn’t sound convinced. ‘Just be careful. Something about him worries me.’

It was too late to be careful. Jaz had to turn away from her mum to hide her smile. She’d thought the same thing about Ryan when she first met him. It was the darkness in his eyes, mysterious and dangerous, or maybe it was just his sexy muscled body? Either way she’d been drawn in and seen past all that to see the man inside. Watching him with his sister, he seemed almost normal, but nothing could erase the scars he carried, permanently, on his skin, and mentally.

As if sensing her, Ryan glanced across and met her gaze. They shared a smile. The pull was too great as she sauntered towards them. Each step felt slow and the party around her seemed to fade away into a soundless blur. All she could hear was her heartbeat pounding in her ears.

‘Happy birthday, Jaz.’ Steph launched herself in her arms, hugging her madly.

‘Thanks, Steph, great to see you here.’ Even though she was talking, all she could think about was Ryan as he moved towards her. He wrapped her up in his arms and wished her a happy birthday. Every part of her body tingled as she hugged him back. He smelt so good she forgot herself and the gym full of people. The embrace was much too long. Quickly she pulled back.