The Deception (20 page)

Jaz put her hand over her mouth.

‘James believes she’s dead. He thinks she was caught during one of her undercover ops, was murdered and they hid the body,’ said Ryan.

All she could think of was Ryan’s friend Chris and if Ryan hadn’t been watching, then Chris too would have just vanished without them knowing what happened. Wow. Jaz got up and walked over to the shrubs, staring blankly at the tiny boats cruising along the river. Situation normal for them. But Jaz felt anything but normal. How was any of what Ryan said even possible? As the seconds ticked by, her mind raced, searching for the signs she’d missed. It was true her mum had an unknown past, no siblings, dead parents, no photos or connections from when she was a child. It was possible she was hiding something. Then the way her mum was when she was young, teaching her to fight, being at The Ring all the time with Pax and being so paranoid about Jaz being out of her sight. Jaz always thought her mum was just highly strung, but could it be that she was scared of being found out? Had she lived this life in fear that her past would come back to haunt her?

The thing Jaz was finding the hardest to swallow was her mum being an agent, like Ryan. The same woman who sang off-key in the shower, whose cooking isn’t that great and who works in an office in heels. Nothing said agent, except the commando boots Jaz had found in her closet.

Her mum always seemed a bit skittish when they were out at new places, was it possible she was scouting the place, keeping note of the exits and looking for possible tags? ‘Oh my.’ Jaz held her head. Brain overload.

‘You okay?’

Ryan had come up behind her; she turned to see his uncertain face. He looked like he wanted to comfort her but wasn’t sure if he’d be attacked.

‘I think.’ She leant against him, resting her head on his shoulder. ‘I don’t blame you, Ryan.’ The moment the words left her mouth, his arms wrapped around her. They stood like that for a while before he finally spoke.

‘Thank God. I wasn’t sure if you’d believe me or not.’

‘Of course I do. When I think about it, it fits. How else would Mum have known Pax? They are so different. And she taught me how to protect myself from a young age. Even though it fits, it’s still bloody weird and hard to imagine.’

He rubbed her back and she closed her eyes.

‘You can’t tell her, Jaz. Pax said she’d have a pink fit if she found out you knew, and even worse that you are now working for the Agency. She uprooted her whole life to escape it and yet here we are.’

‘My destiny, maybe? I was born to do this job,’ Jaz scoffed, not really believing her own words. ‘What about James?’ Could she talk to him? Tell him the truth?

‘I don’t know, Jaz. Do you think he could leave Tasha alone after finding out the truth?’

‘Maybe he’d be happy just knowing she was alive and well. He understands what it’s like in this business, he would know how to keep a secret.’ Jaz scrunched up her face. ‘Wow, James is my uncle. It’s so surreal.’ And yet when she’d first met him there was something about him that put her at ease, something familiar. It had been his eyes, just like her mum’s. So many things were making this unbelievable secret a reality.

They stood together for ages in their quiet patch of native bush, not really enjoying the panoramic view on offer. Nonetheless, the smell of the eucalyptus, rotting leaves and nature itself had a calming effect on her, not to mention Ryan’s warm body.

‘Come on, I’ll take you back to the gym. Don’t tell Pax I told you. He won’t let me near you again otherwise,’ he said with a grin.

Jaz felt the cold as he stepped away but his words continued to warm her insides.
He won’t let me near you again otherwise.
He liked being with her?

‘So when’s this big eighteenth birthday party happening?’ he asked as he walked back to his bike. ‘Am I invited?’

The way his lips curled up into a cheeky grin left her almost lost for words.

‘Um … I don’t know. Tay and Anna are organising something so God only knows what it will be. Probably something fancy and over the top, maybe a river cruise.’ Especially if Anna had anything to do with it. Balloons, fine dining, champagne. ‘I hope you’re invited. I’ll need some backup.’

She knew he was trying to brighten the mood after the bombshell he’d just dropped, but it didn’t work for long.

As Jaz got behind him on the bike, her mind kept returning to a question she had about her mum, which affected Jaz. It was an awful thought, and one she couldn’t ask Ryan about for fear of what he’d think. Maybe she could talk to Anna about it? But without asking her mum, she’d probably never know the truth.

With the pulsing thud of the bike beneath her and the man she loved but shouldn’t in her arms, they headed back towards The Ring as the afternoon sun warmed her skin.

Chapter 17

Anna rushed through the front door of the gym as Ryan pulled up outside, and before Jaz could get her helmet off she was reaching for it.

‘Can you take me for a spin, please?’ Anna yelled.

‘Sure, jump on.’

Jaz almost laughed at the pure delight on her face as she did the helmet up and climbed on. Wrapping her arms tightly around Ryan’s waist, she yelled out, ‘I’m ready.’ Anna squeezed her eyes shut as if she wasn’t sure about the whole experience.

Jaz was about to ask why she was doing it if she was scared, but then she realised it was Ryan on a Harley. How could you not.

As he roared off, Anna’s squeal could just be heard over the rumble of the bike. Jaz stepped into the gym with a chuckle. Inside Tick and Taylor were over on the large mat, facing each other without their shirts on. Up the back, Bags was giving a woman covered in tattoos a boxing lesson. She had her hair held back in tiny braids and her moves were strong, she could throw a punch. What was her story, Jaz wondered: bullied, anger issues, gym junkie or future fighter?

‘How’s it going?’ said Jaz as she stood by Taylor.

‘Early days, Jaz.’ Tick threw a punch her way, which she quickly deflected. ‘Good to see you haven’t lost your touch. It’s been a while. You up to a fight, give Tay a rest?’

‘I vote for that,’ said Tay, raising his hand. He had a shiner on his cheek already and a sheen of sweat over his naked torso.

Jaz grinned. ‘Tick, I thought you’d never ask. I’ll just change.’ She headed to the changing room and got into her yoga pants and sports top. She always made sure she had a clean set ready and waiting.

Grabbing a nearby skipping rope, she quickly warmed up. Her leg twinged a bit, but it wasn’t anything she couldn’t handle.

‘Right, I’m ready,’ she said. ‘Just don’t hit here, please. It’s still not quite healed.’ She touched her thigh and Tick nodded. He didn’t know it was from a bullet but if he saw the wound he’d know, as he had his own similar scars on his arm and shoulder. Both were hard to see due to his tattoos.

‘I’ll take notes,’ said Tay, who sat down against the wall.

Jaz and Tick circled each other for a while before she threw the first punch. Tick raised his eyebrows and smiled, as if she’d just given him a tell. But they weren’t playing poker so she spun and kicked out. He hadn’t expected it but nonetheless he was fast enough to react and turn it into a glancing blow.

Tick jabbed, then tried an elbow. She blocked them but missed his uppercut. Even though she moved, she couldn’t avoid it altogether and took a weak hit to her kidneys.

‘Ooh,’ said Tay.

Jaz didn’t let it slow her down and went for a couple of jabs to Tick’s face. She was limited, finding it hard to duck quickly as her leg was stiff with soreness. To compensate, she found other ways to dodge Tick’s punches and only kicked her healthy leg. Before long, she was covered in sweat and both of them had got in a few punches. They stopped for a breather.

‘Awesome,’ said Tay, getting up and passing Jaz his water bottle.

She squirted some water into her mouth. ‘Thanks.’

‘I’ve gotta get home to my sis, I’ll catch ya’s tomorrow?’ said Tick as he reached for his shirt and phone. He gave Jaz a wink.

‘Sure man. Thanks Tick.’ Tay fist pumped him before he left.

‘So, wanna show me what Tick taught you?’ she asked.

Even though he’d probably been beaten up the last hour or so, he didn’t pause to decide. ‘Yep. Let’s go,’ he said with determination.

Tick had taken him through the basic jabs and kicks, exercises to strengthen his muscles, as well as some dirty tricks to get out of sticky situations. Instead of teaching him anything new, Jaz just got him to go over what he’d learnt.

‘Look at you go,’ said Anna as she came back into the gym. Her face was flushed and her smile huge.

Ryan stood beside Anna, his eyes doing a slow long crawl over Jaz’s sweaty body. ‘How’d the leg hold up?’ he asked.

Jaz was too flustered to respond.

‘She did good. Even with a sore leg she was even-pegged with Tick,’ answered Tay.

‘Na,’ said Jaz, finding her voice. ‘He was taking it easy on me.’ She should know, she’d fought with Tick enough times.

‘Really?’ Tay frowned. ‘Damn.’

‘You good?’ asked Ryan.

She knew what he was implying. ‘The spar with Tick was good. Gave me a break from everything,’ she said with a weak smile.

‘Good. Look, I gotta go, so I’ll see you guys later. Stay out of trouble,’ he said with a smile.

‘Thanks for the ride,’ said Anna as he left. They both watched him leave and sit on his bike, which was parked out the front.

Tay clapped his hands to draw their attention. ‘Hello. So what was the big secret? Can you share it?’

There went her blissful moment. ‘Yeah.’ She glanced towards the office. ‘Is Pax here?’

Anna nodded. ‘He’s actually reading the latest Matthew Reilly book, why?’

Jaz took a slow breath. ‘Maybe we could go for a drive in the ‘Stang?’

Tay and Anna both raised their brows curiously but didn’t ask why. ‘Sure. Let’s go get a coffee.’ Tay reached for his Birds of Tokyo t-shirt and pulled it on.

Jaz went and got her grey hoodie and told Bags they were leaving.

‘Righto, have fun, kids,’ he said, before instructing his student. His big muscled arms could give Vin Diesel a run for his money.

They drove to Molly’s, picked a spot in the back corner, and huddled together after their coffees arrived.

‘So, is it as bad as you thought?’ asked Anna after sipping her drink. Some of the froth stuck to the top of her lip. Tay grinned and wiped it off with his napkin.

‘Yeah, and what’s it have to do with Pax?’ he added.

Jaz dropped her voice and told them everything Ryan had said. Coming from her own mouth didn’t make it any more believable.

‘No fricken way,’ said Anna.

‘That’s what I said, but it makes sense,’ she said and went on to explain the unknown things about her mum.

‘Yeah, I guess,’ said Tay. ‘Wow, that’s heavy stuff. Still doesn’t get you closer to knowing who your dad is though.’

Jaz leant back and stared out the window while twirling a small sugar packet between her fingers. Tay had hit the nail on the head. ‘I was thinking … Mum was an agent when she fell pregnant with me … what if my father is some drug selling, coke snorting abusive idiot? What if she was raped?’ She finally turned to see their reactions. This was the one thing she couldn’t ask Ryan today. What if she came from everything wrong he was trying to fix in the world?

‘No way, Jaz. As if your mum would let that happen. For all you know she had a secret boyfriend.’ Anna’s eyes lit up. ‘Oh my God, maybe she fell for an agent and knew it was against the rules and ran.’

Jaz knew they were thinking of her and Ryan. ‘I never thought of that.’

‘As long as you’re not related to Ryan, it’s all good,’ she added.

‘Well no chance of that, I’ve met his folks and they know nothing about the Agency.’ She didn’t mention that his uncle was an agent. But Tasha had come from Victoria so she didn’t think that was likely. ‘Who knows. He could have been a married man for all I know.’

They fell silent until they finished their drinks.

‘It’s funny, all those little things your mum did we put down as quirks, which made her fit with your dad. But now?’ Anna shrugged.

‘I know. Maybe Mum liked Paul for his quiet nature and slight gawkiness. Maybe that’s what she’d been craving after a life of killing, lies and pain. Something real and normal.’ That’s where Jaz and her mum differed. Jaz was attracted to the dangerous, risk taking, bad boys with dark pasts. Not that she’d dated any, but that was her preference on TV. Damon on
Vampire Dairies
, Oliver on
Arrow
, or Jax Teller on
Sons of Anarchy
.

‘So um … about my birthday,’ she asked, changing the subject. ‘Is Ryan getting an invite?’

‘Maybe.’

‘Gee Anna, don’t spill the beans, will you.’

Her friend grinned. ‘I’m not telling you anything, it’s all a big fat secret that I can keep from you.’

‘Is this payback?’ Jaz asked.

‘Maybe.’ Anna laughed. ‘Don’t worry about it, it’ll be fun. Just wear something hot for Saturday night.’

‘Finally I’ll have someone as old as me,’ said Tay, rolling his eyes.

Outside a black BMW pulled up at the curb and Jaz sat up, her heart racing. Her friends noticed and followed her gaze.

‘Is that …’ Anna began.

An old man climbed out of the car and they all seemed to deflate like a bouncy castle at the end of a fair.

‘Thank God,’ Jaz mumbled. ‘I really thought that might have been Marcus.’

‘Have you heard from him yet?’ asked Tay.

‘No, nothing. I haven’t been game to text him. I just hope they are somewhere safe.’ Jaz tapped her fingertips on the table. How would she ever know if Marcus was okay? Had Carl come clean with them, telling them why they had to leave? Maybe he’d told Marcus that Jaz was bad and not to contact her? It had only been a few days since she’d last seen him but already she felt a loss. Something told her she’d never see him again, which was a shame but it was probably for the best. Maybe he’d be some famous artist in years to come.

‘He’ll be alright. Carl wouldn’t let anything happen to his son.’ Anna gripped her hand and gave her a reassuring smile. ‘So, you still going shopping Saturday with Steph?’