Training the SECRET (Corrigan & Co #6) Read online

  Training the

  SECRET

  Book #6 of Corrigan & Co.

  By Crystal Perkins

  Copyright © 2015 by Crystal Perkins

  Cover Design by Helen Williams

  www.allbookedout.com

  Ebook Formatting by Jesse Gordon

  adarnedgoodbook.com

  All trademarks are owned by their respective companies and are denoted by the use of proper capitalization of the company and/or brand. All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book. This contemporary erotic romance is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners. This ebook is licensed for your personal use only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with, especially if you enjoy sexy, emotional, romance novels with alpha males. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  About Training the SECRET

  Other books by Crystal Perkins

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  About Training the SECRET

  A woman who’s already lost too much, but still has more to give...

  The government couldn't protect a teenage Jade Garrett, but Corrigan & Co. could. She joined the Society, and has built a life for herself, surrounded by friends who love her, and the man who doesn’t. Thinking she’s finally safe, she runs home to her ailing father, leaving her new life behind.

  A man who escaped his past, but not the hold it has on him...

  Nate Anderson doesn't hesitate to go after Jade, finally admitting that he loves her. Being with her helps to keep the darkness inside of him at bay, but he knows it’s only a matter of time before the ugliness of his past rears its head, demanding payment for his sins.

  When one SECRET is discovered, the rest will follow, and all the training in the world may not be able to save what’s broken.

  Other books by Crystal Perkins

  The Griffin Brothers series

  Gaming For Love (The Griffin Brothers #1)

  Building Our Love (The Griffin Brothers #2)

  Creating A Love (The Griffin Brothers #3)

  Learning To Love (The Griffin Brothers #4)

  Designing The Love (The Griffin Brothers #5)

  Working On Love (The Griffin Brothers #6)

  Keeping Their Love (The Griffin Brothers #7)

  Corrigan & Co. series

  Fielding Her SECRET (Corrigan & Co. #1)

  Devouring the SECRET (Corrigan & Co. #2)

  Rocking a SECRET (Corrigan & Co. #3)

  Lessons in SECRET (Corrigan & Co. #4)

  Uncovering His SECRET (Corrigan & Co. #5)

  Publicly, The Corrigan & Co. Foundation has been supporting women for years. Secretly, five powerful women led by Jane Corrigan have recruited ten agents, sending them to rescue women and children in need, and take down those who exploit the weak. This secret society of women all have unique skills they’ve brought to the foundation. Additionally, they’ve all had training in weapons, etiquette, martial arts, technology, and languages. Helping out friends and family of their five mentors from time to time is something they were told to expect. What they didn’t plan for is falling in love.

  About the Corrigan & Co. Foundation and the Society:

  • Mitchell Corrigan created the Corrigan & Co. Foundation for his wife as part of his company ten years ago. He stipulated that the foundation would continue as long as there is a Corrigan woman to oversee it.

  • Jane Corrigan, Cyndi Evans, Maggie Griffin, Mallory Daniels, and Helen Wilson are the founders of the secret society within the foundation. They focus on helping women and children, but take on other missions from time to time.

  • While they assist government and private organizations on a regular basis, they only take referrals for private missions.

  • Each founder has recruited, and mentors, two agents.

  • The company was founded in Chicago, but has now moved to Las Vegas, where Mitchell was born. On his deathbed, he asked his grandson to move the company headquarters to help revive the economy in his hometown. There are satellite offices all over the world.

  • Jane’s grandson, Matt, who is President and CEO of Corrigan & Co., knows of the society. His friends Nathan and Aiden, who he brought in when they all left the military, know as well. This was a decision by the five women when they needed help on a mission that went bad. They do not know all mission details, but help when they are asked. Jake Mason is now also part of the Corrigan security team, and aware of the Society.

  For everyone who thinks that they

  can’t overcome their past, or thinks they have

  no reason to live. Please know that even in the

  darkness, you’re a light to the world.

  Prologue

  Jade

  I never thought I’d be able to come back here. That I’d be allowed back home. Yet here I am. When I got the call, I hopped on the first plane I could find using my real last name for the ticket. I know Ainsley will find me, but I needed a little bit of a head start. This is hard enough as it is without everyone I know getting involved. I’m going to need help at some point, but I have to be alone for tonight’s reunion. Even if I’m battling emotions that I didn’t know were there. As I pull into the parking lot, I’m beginning to wonder if I’ll be able to get myself out of this rental car.

  I’ve dreamed of coming back here from the time I was forced to leave. Even though it’s safer for me, now that the man who wanted me dead is gone, I know I’m still not completely free. There’s always going to be someone who wants to make a name for themselves, and I’m the perfect person to help them do that. They won’t get my help, though. I may be feeling nervous, a little scared even, but no one’s taking me down—or out—without a fight.

  I take a deep breath and walk inside the gym, ignoring the peeling paint from the sign above the door that reads “Garrett’s”. That will be one of the first things I take care of. I have both the means and the motive for wanting to make this place sparkle. Well, as much as a fighting gym can sparkle, yet still be manly enough for the guys to want to come here to train. It was once a boxing gym, but since I’ve been gone they’ve expanded into MMA, and everything else.

  I look around as I enter, and see
all the additional work that needs to be done. I can get it done. I have to, there’s really not another option after all of the trouble I caused. A big bear of a man stops me before I get too far inside the first room.

  “This isn’t a place for a girl like you.”

  I smile at him. “This is the place that created me, so I think I belong here more than anyone else.”

  “Jade. Oh my God. It really is you.”

  I turn and run into the arms of the gray haired man who looks like he’s seen a ghost. “I’m home, Daddy. Sullivan’s dead, and now I’m home.”

  * * *

  Nate

  Jade disappeared three days ago. She went completely radio silent, disabling her tracking device, and taking almost nothing with her. At least Stella says that almost nothing is gone. No one knows why or how she did it, and I’m going out of my mind. If she’d just left, that would be one thing. But she left. Not only her friends, but me too.

  I know I kept pretending there was nothing going on between us, but we both knew I was lying. Now I have to not only find her, but also prove to her that she matters to me. I should’ve told her that sooner, and a part of me has to wonder if she left because I didn’t. Admitting that I love her would’ve meant eventually telling her everything, and I know she’d never love me if she knew what I’ve done. Yeah, I did it to survive, but is that really justification for all the blood on my hands, or the darkness that nearly consumes me? I don’t think so, and I doubt she would either. I still should’ve told her something. I could have probably fucked up worse, but her leaving is pretty bad.

  Helen Wilson is Jade’s mentor, and she’s called an emergency meeting for all of us. I’m not surprised that she called it, but I am surprised to walk in and see the head of WITSEC sitting at the table. I stop and look to my friend, Matt Corrigan. He shrugs, and motions to the seat next to him. Once we’re all here, Helen speaks.

  “Thank you all for coming. You all know that Jade has disappeared. I can tell you right now that I know where she is, and why she’s there.”

  “Where, Helen?” I ask, before I can stop myself.

  “She’s gone home, Nate.”

  “To Chicago?”

  “No. Jade is not from Chicago. Diana Jericho was from Chicago, but not Jade.”

  “What does some other chick have to do with Jade?”

  “Because Jade is Diana Jericho. Or at least she was until she joined the Society. That was Jade’s WITSEC name.”

  “That’s all they need to know Ms. Wilson. They shouldn’t even know that much,” the fed tells her.

  “The fuck we shouldn’t,” I say, standing so fast that my chair flies back. “You think you could take me, suit?”

  “No, Mr. Anderson. I don’t think that at all. I think you could help me, and Jade, if you could control your temper. But we both know that’s probably not going to happen.”

  “Nate, please sit down,” Helen tells me as she glares at him. “Jade’s father owns a boxing gym on the East Coast. Five years ago, a murder took place outside of the gym. Jade saw it happen and went to the police. The killer was the head of one of the biggest crime syndicates in the city, so Jade was immediately put into protective custody. They were able to protect her long enough for her to testify, and then she was kidnapped. We helped get her back, and I asked her if she wanted to join us instead of going back with WITSEC.”

  “Who here got her back from the kidnappers?”

  “I did,” Reina tells me.

  “Thank you,” I say, and then look at Helen. “Why would she bolt now?”

  “The killer recently died in jail. She thinks she’s free to go back home. But there are other men—and women—who would kill her for a chance at power. She’s still in danger.”

  “She has to know that.”

  “She does.”

  “Then why?”

  “Because of her dad,” Ellie answers. “She heard he was sick, and it’s been killing her not to be with him. This was her chance, and she took it. She went for him.”

  “Her family stayed there, and they’re still alive? How is that possible?”

  “It’s just her father, and he is one of the most well respected men in the fighting world. No one will hurt him because they know the fallout from all over the world would be crazy. It’s kind of like when those guys returned the car they stole once they realized it belonged to Mr. Rogers,” Helen tells me.

  “But that doesn’t extend to Jade?”

  “No. It broke his heart that he couldn’t protect her, but she was just relieved that he’d be okay.”

  “I’ve never heard of a Munroe’s Gym. If it was so famous, I would’ve. Which means there’s something else you’re not telling us.”

  The WITSEC guy shakes his head, but Helen stares him down. “It’s not a secret anymore. Jade’s there, and Nate’s going after her. At least I think he is.” I nod to let her know that yes, I am going after Jade.

  “Fine. Jade’s real last name isn’t Munroe, it’s Garrett.”

  “Garrett? Hunter Garrett is her father?” I ask, swallowing hard.

  Shit just got a whole lot worse for me. If I go after Jade, I’m putting myself at risk. Hell, I’ll be signing my own death warrant. I can see that the WITSEC guy knows it, since he’s smirking at me.

  “Not so quick to run out and save the day now, are you Anderson?”

  “What’s going on?” Ellie asks.

  “My past is coming back to haunt me, El.”

  “You didn’t really think you could outrun it forever, did you? With what you’ve done, it was bound to come and get you one day,” the guy reminds me.

  “I guess today’s that day, because I’m going after Jade,” I say getting to my feet.

  “Nate, you don’t have to do this. We can send someone else. I’ll go,” Matt tells me, almost pleading with me to stay.

  “I’m not going to turn down your help when I need it, but Jade is mine to protect. Any risk to me is secondary. Can you have a jet ready for me?”

  “Yeah. And you damn well better call before you need me.”

  I nod at him before practically running out the door. I hear Ellie start to argue, but Reina tells her to let me go first. As head of the Society, she has access to all of my secrets, but I trust her and Matt to keep what they know to themselves.

  Jade is my only priority right now. No one’s going to touch her, and if they do before I get there, God help them. I lost my soul a long time ago, but I’ll take down anyone who goes after her

  Chapter 1

  Jade

  I wasn’t expecting a warm welcome from anyone other than my dad, and I was right. The big guy I met the first night, Heath, treats me with respect because of who I am, but no one else has extended me the same courtesy. That’s slightly hindering my plans for the gym. It’s pretty telling that in a small suburb that is still feeling the effects of the recession, my money isn’t good enough to hire anyone.

  I was able to order in the equipment I wanted from a place in the city, but I can’t find the help I need to paint or reinforce the beams in the old building. My dad told me to just ignore it all, since he knows he won’t be able to run it much longer, but I can’t. This gym is his legacy, and even if he’s not going to be around forever to run it, I’ll be damned if I let it fall apart. Especially when I have more than enough money to pay for everything that needs to be done. I just need some workers who aren’t afraid of getting hit by a stray bullet meant for me.

  Until then, I’m doing all the minor things myself. Which is why I’m on a ladder right now, trying to overcome my fear of heights while painting the building. I’ve already gone over the whole structure with rollers, but our name requires me to use a brush. So here I am, straddling a ladder in my t-shirt and leggings—there won’t be any short skirts or tight dresses for me while I’m here, it’s all about hiding what I’ve got while I fight to stay alive.

  “Oh look, the little snitch thinks she’s an artist too.”

  I r
ecognize the voice, but I don’t acknowledge him. I had a crush on Andy when I was in middle school and he was a teen fighter, but he never paid attention to the tomboy I was back then. I obvious dodged a metaphorical bullet, and I intend to keep up my good luck in that department.

  “You think you’re too good to answer me, bitch?”

  “Yes, actually I do. So do us both a favor, and go away.”

  “I remember when you used to follow me around, Jade. I’m willing to give you a pity fuck before you get killed. You might actually look good if you cleaned up a little. But we’ll keep the lights off, just in case.”

  “Umm, let me think about it for less than a second. No.”

  “You think you can do better than me?”

  “I know I can, and I have.”

  “A fighter?”

  “It’s really none of your business.”

  “So, that’s a no then.”

  I shouldn’t do it, but my mouth is working faster than by brain. “Nate Anderson. I’ve had him, and you couldn’t dream of ever coming close to how good he is.”

  “That’s a lie. I’ve seen his girls. Anderson wouldn’t touch you.”

  “I would definitely touch—and taste—Jade as often as possible.”

  I turn so fast that I nearly fall off the ladder. My paint can does fall, splashing all over the sidewalk, but I barely register that fact. There he is, in all his sexy glory, with his arms crossed and a glare on his face.

  “Nate.”

  “Hi, Angel. Making friends everywhere you go, I see.”

  I shrug. “You know me, Miss Congeniality.”

  “Holy shit. You’re Nate Anderson.”

  Andy’s voice breaks me out of the trance I was in as Nate and I locked eyes. Damn, but he’s the sexiest man I’ve ever met. And despite what I just said, he’s one of the only men to turn me down since I grew up—and out. I knew someone would come for me, but I didn’t expect it to be him. I hoped and prayed that it would be, but I didn’t let myself believe it could really happen.