Secrets Collide

“Does a one-legged duck swim in circles?”

“You could've just said yes.”

“And you’ve been in L.A. too long,” Miles grinned.

Gemma scanned the room and her eyes connected with Cy’s. Even at his parents’ house, he wasn’t really relaxed. Oh, he looked it on the outside—as he was just lounging and talking to his brothers. But she could see his lips were drawn slightly and there was tension around his eyes.

Catching herself daydreaming, Gemma smiled at something Annie said before she continued scanning the room with her investigator’s eye. What she realized frightened her slightly. She received the same looks from a number of people there. The room was full of people who were impossible to read, including Cy's mother, Marcy.

A shiver rippled down her back and she knew she was being watched. Gemma casually looked around the room and connected with a pair of cold, almost black, eyes. The man they belonged to stood quietly next to the door. She hadn’t even heard him come in. He wore a black suit with a black tie. For a second she thought the shirt was even black, but when he moved out of the shadow she realized it was the deepest red.

His slightly wavy black hair looked as if it had just been cut and was pushed back away from his strong face. It was his eyes that had made Gemma shiver, though. There was no emotion behind them. The mask this man wore weighed him down to a point where she didn’t know if the man behind it even existed.

Gemma fought the panic she felt trying to claim her. While looking nothing like the man with the shaved head in L.A., the black suit and dark eyes had her scrambling to escape. She knew the women were looking curiously at her, but she didn’t care. She had to get out of there—now.

Miles and Cy turned to where Gemma shot off the couch, her eyes wide with panic. “Does she know Ahmed?” Miles asked.

“No, but she might get him confused with the men after her,” Cy whispered before speaking up. “Gemma, come join me. I think it’s time to tell everyone why we’re here. I also want you to meet Ahmed, the man I talked to on the phone. Remember?” Cy added gently as he reached out for her. He felt her trembling as he brought her against his side to calm her.

“My apologies for startling you, my dear,” Ahmed said in a low voice as he slowly approached.

“I feel so silly. It’s just that you look, well, you don’t look like them. But the black suit and way you were looking at me . . .” Gemma shivered.

“Thick man with a shaved head. Eyes the same color as mine and a scar along his cheek?” Ahmed asked as if he already knew the answer. “Sergei,” Ahmed said as Gemma nodded. Obviously interested in Gemma, he asked, “Who are you?”

“I could ask you the same question,” Gemma shot back, her fear having subsided. She was surprised when one side of his lips quirked but didn’t smile. However, for some silly reason she felt triumphant.

“Son, are you going to tell us what this is all about? I know your mother is over there hoping you’ll tell her you’re married and have a baby on the way so she can die happy, but I have a feeling it’s nothing of the sort. What kind of trouble are you both in?” Jake asked from his chair in the man corner of the living room.

Cy had to grin as he saw Gemma flush with embarrassment and his mom shoot his dad the look, which only served to tell Cy that his dad had been right. His mom was on a major baby kick.

“I don’t really know where to begin or how to even tell you all what’s going on,” Cy stumbled. It was finally time to come clean, but he didn’t know where to start. College? His brothers going off to fight and being left behind? Last week?

“For cripes sake,” Miles muttered, “Cy’s an undercover agent with the CIA. He’s been living in L.A. for the past ten years working as a stuntman for his cover.”

The room froze as they all looked at him. “Thanks, Miles.”

“No problem. Now get on with it.”

Marcy stood up and placed her hands on her hips. “Cyland Dillon Davies, you tell me right now if that was you jumping naked from a window in that movie last year. Oh fiddlesticks, what was the name of it?” Marcy turned to the women around the couch. “You know, the race car driver solves a murder. He’s messing around with a married woman and jumps out her window naked when the husband comes home.”

“Oh, the movie with that hot guy with the great buns? Turn around, Cy, let’s see if it was you,” Kenna joked as Will just shook his head.

“Cyland, you tell me right now,” Marcy demanded.

“Blind Turn was the name of the movie. Yes, it was me.” Cy paused before putting his hands on his hips. “That’s what you’re most concerned about? Out of all Miles just said, you’re upset I jumped out of a window?”

“It wasn’t jumping out of a window, it was jumping out of a window as naked as the day you were born for all the world to see. What kind of wife are you going to attract running around naked in movies all the time? Not the kind I want in my family, that’s for sure.”

Cy’s phone alerted him to a new text message. He glanced at it quickly and tried to delete it, but it was too late.

“Holy sh . . . shoot,” Miles abbreviated after a stern look from his mother. “That’s Katrina Poklavich, the Polish supermodel. What is she doing sending you pictures of herself completely na . . .”

Cy delivered Miles a quick elbow jab to his side. “Nothing,” Cy said through gritted teeth, but it was too late. He saw Gemma roll her eyes and his mother toss her hands in a “see” motion.

“Let’s talk about me being in the CIA.”

“I already know about that. I want to talk about models sending you inappropriate pictures. Isn’t that a thing now?” Marcy asked the women again.

“Sexting,” Paige said with a huge smile on her face.

“That’s right. See, you run around naked for the entire world to see and now you’re sexting. What’s next? Eloping with a pinup? Oh, Jake, the mother of my grandbaby is going to be a pin-up girl posing naked in some magazine.”

“It happens all the time. Shoot, Autumn Hayes wanted a one-night stand with him,” Gemma told his family and friends nonchalantly.

Cy was going to kill Miles if he didn’t stop laughing. Then he was going to kill Gemma. After dropping that bombshell, she just leaned back and smiled.

“Autumn Hayes and Katrina Poklavich? Damn, I mean, dang. Why didn’t I become a stuntman? Or were they throwing themselves at you because you're CIA?” Pierce asked before Tammy swatted him hard against his stomach. “You’re right, then I’d never have met the love of my life.”

“That’s better, hon.” Tammy smiled sweetly.

“What do you mean you knew?” Cy asked his mother before turning on his brother. “I can’t believe you told her, Miles.”

“Oh, pish-posh. Your brother didn’t tell me anything. I’m your mother. I know everything. I even knew my own son’s bottom was plastered across the big screen. I was at that movie with my quilting club. Oh my, Edna was with us. The whole town is going to know by lunch.” Marcy dropped into her chair as if the world was now over.

Cy stood speechless as his brothers grinned and the women bit their lips trying to contain any comments that he could see sitting on their tongues. How had he lost control of this situation?

A sharp whistle pierced the air and all eyes immediately snapped their attention to Jake. “Now, I'd like to hear what’s going on. Just hand the phone over to me so we won’t get any more interruptions.” Cy grimaced as his mother threw a book and nailed his father right on the head.

“At least it wasn’t an iron this time,” Paige said before breaking out into peals of laughter.

“Dammit! The people who tried to kill Pierce are trying to kill Gemma and me,” Cy finally yelled. The room quieted down and Cy let out a breath. He finally had their attention.

Ahmed listened intently. It was exactly what he thought. Sergei. Debate raged inside of him. He could easily manipulate Gemma into becoming bait for Sergei, but she was an innocent and he wasn’t like Sergei. He didn’t hurt innocents. Besides, if Cy was anything like his records indicated, he wasn’t to be messed with. The family all