3 Chapter 3 (2/2)

”I am just doing a thing down at The Barrel.” ”Another fight?” He asked. ”You could call it that.” I said. But then I thought, ”I will want to fight Farren for touching me, and my fists will be itching to try and get near Wilker. I would call it an internal fight. Self-restraint versus everything I have ever been taught in my life.” Garret put a hand on my shoulder. ”Jaycie, are you gonna answer?” I jump. ”What?” ”I asked if you actually thought the stake out was a mistake. That is why I came here. I needed to talk to you, and I knew there was no where else I could.”

I sighed and stood up. ”Garret, if I answer you honestly, neither of us will like the answer.” ”I rather have your honesty than your cold shoulder.” I laughed at his choice of words. ”Garret, I can't like you. Sure I kissed you, but like I said. It was a mistake.” Garret stood up and walked around the bad to where he was standing in front of me. ”Give me one good reason why you can't like me.” ”I already told you, Wilker-”

”No.” Garret practically yelled. It made me jump back in surprise, and a hint of fear. ”Wilker isn't the reason. I can tell you have another. Stop hiding behind him.” My feelings immediately turned to anger. My way to mask out what ever this was. ”Fine. You want my reason. I. Don't. Like. You. The kiss was just a kiss. Nothing more. Nothing less. No ulterior motive or anything like that. I don't like you or anyone else. So just butt out of my life and start hating me like everyone else in the Guild.”

Garret was staring at me. He was trying to figure something out. ”Jaycie, why do you hide behind anger? When something gets to personal for you, you hide behind your anger. You let it control you. Why can't you let me in?” I was baffled. No one had ever figured that out before. He was the only one to realize my anger took control. ”I...because...wait. You figured that out?”

He smiled. ”Yes. It happens like clockwork. Why do you do it?” My answer came out on its own. ”It is what i have always done. One of the assassins insult me, I throw up a shield. It is just how I work.” ”Why are you so against everyone at the Guild, and they so against you. I mean, when one of us gets captured, you have seen what happens. Two months ago, Zachery got captured on his mission. You were the one that lead the team to find and rescue him.”

I laughed. ”I don't know. I mean if anyone at the Guild gets captured, I would go find them. Its is basically the first rule of being an assassin. Pain, loyalty, and trust. No matter how much pain they put you threw, you stay loyal to the Guild. And you always trust that they have your back. We had to get him out of there.” Garret took a few steps back and leaned against the wall.

”There is it. The part of you that cares about the Guild. You hate Zachery, but you literately almost got yourself killed to save him. I have seen you do it a dozen times for various members of the Guild. But now that I try and show you that I care, you push me away. What is the real reason?” I shake my head. I want to hit him for seeing through me, and being so smart. ”Jaycie, please. Just answer this one question.”

I shake my head in defeat. ”Fine. The reason I push you away, that I push everyone away, is because I don't want to be the reason why someone gets hurt. If I don't get attached to anyone, no one can be used against me. Every time I have been caught, I have been able to know that I don't have any family that can be used to get information out of me. If I decided to let you in, and then I got caught, they could get you and use you against me.”

Garret laughed. I felt anger start making a shield around me again. Pushing him away, pushing him out. He must have seen it in my face because he quickly said. ”I am sorry. I shouldn't have laughed. But I am an assassin, just as you are. If they caught you, they would have a hell of a time catching me. You know when someone is caught, everyone goes on high alert. Not only would we be trying to get you back, but we would also know they were trying to get us.”

I stood up and stormed into the living room. ”You think you can't get caught. I use to think the same thing. Do you remember Lavren? The assassin that got killed a few years back.” Garret's face went solemn. ”Oh course. You were...” He trailed off, putting two and two together. ”Finish that statement. Now.” I ordered. ”You two were pretty close. He was the only one you talked to.” I get a huge fake smile on my face to hide the sadness that the memories brought.

”Yes. We were close. But when he got caught, they found out how close I was to him. I was extra careful, but they still caught me as well. I had to watch him die. I had to watch my only friend in the whole Guild die. Then I almost died my self. Had you guys not found me when you did, I would be in a grave right next to him. So, yes, even though you are a assassin, you could still get caught.” My next words came out as a small whisper. ”And I don't think I could watch another friend...if that is what you could call us...die.”

He came up to and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into a hug. ”Jaycie, I am know you are scared, but you can't distance yourself from everyone for ever, just to keep them from getting hurt. You are hurting yourself by doing that. I want to be there for you, I am willing to take the risk.” I looked up into his eyes. ”Do you really mean that. Because let me tell you. On the rare times people catch 'The Female Assassin' they take no chances for me to escape. I have seen how they treat me over others they have caught, I always get the worse end.”

He smiled down at me. ”I am mean this with all my heart. I am willing to take the risk if you will let me.” I feel tears fill my eyes. I bury my face into his chest so he doesn't see them. My voice comes out muffled. ”You have no idea how happy I am to finally hear someone say that.” His tone changes to a humorous one. ”Good, because you made me jump through hoops to get to you.”

When I look up at him, he wipes a few tears off my cheek. ”And I am not letting you push me back out.” Then he kissed me. I didn't push him away, of try to get away. I was just fine with having him stay right here with me.

When my eyes looked up to the clock a while later, I jumped off the sofa. I hadn't remembered sitting down, and by the look on Garret's face, neither did he. ”Jaycie, whats wrong?” He asked. ”My mission. I need to get ready. I completely lost track of time. I have a shower to take, I need to eat. Oh god. Garret, you distracted me.” Garret laughed, ”From what I remember, you didn't say one word about me 'distracting you', if that is what you want to call it.

”You kissed me first. So you distracted me.” I rushed into my room and pulled my swords out of there sheaths so I could un buckle my suite. Garret was leaning against the door way. ”Are you just going to watch me?” I asked. ”Make yourself useful and go make me some dinner.” ”So bossy.” He said with a smile. ”And I thought Wilker was harsh when he was rushed.” I laughed. ”Just get going.” He left the room and I quickly showered. I put on some regular clothes and, then did my hair. Next came makeup, and finally, I put several types of poison in my hidden pockets.

When I rushed out, Garret made a wolf whistle. ”Even when you rush, you still look nice.” ”Oh stop, I am not dressing to impress. Were is my food?” I asked. ”Table.” We both sat down. ”So how do you know he will pick you?” Garret asked. ”Think about it. I tried to show him up in the fighting ring, and I lost. He made pointed out several times I should have been on the other side of the bar, but I said no. What would you do if you saw me up there after that?”

”Point taken. So how are you going to kill him. I mean, they would never let someone in there with a blade. At least not a courtesan.” ”Calling it a courtesan doesn't make it any better.” He shook his head. I know, but I rather call them that because it is nicer.” ”Okay, whatever. I am going to use poison. Either on my nails, lipstick, or just drop it into his drink.” ”Good idea.” Garret said.

”I need to get going. See you tomorrow.” I said walking towards the door. He walked out with me and I locked up. ”I am walking you there, and don't you even say no. You don't have a single blade on you and I know the kind of men who hang out in those back alleyways at night.” I rolled my eyes. ”Fine, but hurry up. Lets go.” I lead the way, making sure to stay out of big crowds and to not draw attention to myself. When we got to the back alley way of The Barrel, he stopped me about half way down the alley way. ”So, you are entering the back door, like the common...courtesan.” ”Yes I am entering the back door like the common courtesan. I have to make everyone believe Wilker kicked me out and this is my new job.

Garret held gave me a quick kiss on the lips. ”Fine. If you must. Though just know I hate that you have to do this.” ”Garret, are you trying to make it worse for me?” Before he could answer, two guards came around the corner. They made sure woman weren't jumped. ”Looks like someone can't wait to see her.” One of them grabbed Garret and shoved him away from me. ”Look Mister. You can go in a bid for her like the rest of them.”

Garret laughed. ”I know. But I wanted to make sure she got here safe.” I guard glared at him. That is our job. Now scoot along before we escort you away.” Garret threw up his hands in defense. ”Okay. Okay. Bye.” He walked off, and I was about to go in the back door, when one of the guards grabbed me. ”Hey Missy. Aren't you at least going to thank us?” I tried to pull away, but the other one grabbed my other arm. ”Thank you for what?” I asked. ”We saved you from him.” One guard said. ”I think we should be payed back.” The other said. The first one leaned down to kiss me, but he pulled back and howled with pain.

I took the moment to pull away and fall into a defensive stance. The second guard came towards me. ”What the hell did you do to him?” He lunged at me, and I took one of his arms and used it to propel him into the wall. He fell to the ground, but a pair of hands wrapped around me before I could get away. My hands were pinned at my side, and my feet were no longer on the ground. ”Let me go.” I screamed.

I didn't do anything as he dropped me and fell to the side knocked out. I turned and the other guard was also passed out. Someone slipped something into my pocket from behind me, but when I turned, no one was there. I ran threw the back door and leaned against it, taking a breath. ”What just happened? I barely did anything.” I thought. After I caught my breath, and took out what ever was in my pocket. It was a note.