a Touch of Revenge (Romantic Mystery - book 6): The Everly Gray Adventures by L.j. Charles Read Free Book Online Page A

people will understand that I need to do something. I’ve been waiting months for some kind of clue to follow. Pierce has been searching, too, but this one is mine. I have to believe Mitch left it for me.”
    “Who?” Jayne spit the question out from between tight lips.
    “Fion Connor. There was no address, but he’s in Torquay, England.” I hated to tell her, but there was no way she’d let me leave without a plausible reason.
    “Jayne, darling? What is it?” My former mother-in-law. I knew from experience she wouldn’t be put off. There was a lot of like-mother-like-daughter going on in the Hunt family.
    I summoned up a truckload of courage. “I found a clue to follow, Mrs. Hunt, and need to leave. I’ll let you know what I find out.” It was such a lie.
    Parker’s mouth quirked, amusement dancing in his eyes. “I’ll phone the airport. They’ll have one of the Steele Management jets waiting for you.” He dipped his hand in his pocket and came out with keys, handed them to me. “For the BMW. You can leave it at the hangar, and I’ll have someone pick it up tomorrow.”
    Jayne wrapped me in a fierce hug. “I’m trusting Mitchell’s revenge to you, Everly Gray Hunt. Whatever you need, let us know.” She stepped back and turned to Parker. “Give Everly some money. She’ll need it to—”
    My temper hit the danger zone. “I don’t think so.”
    “Please.” Jayne’s voice wobbled. “We can’t leave, or I’d be on my way to the airport with you. It would mean a lot to me if you’ll accept something from us. It would help me…”
    Well, damn it. Sure as bloody hell if I touched Jayne I’d be blasted with her grief and frustration. Not something I could easily brush off since my empathy was at an all-time high, and I completely understood where she was coming form.
    “Fine.” It wasn’t a gracious acknowledgement, but it was the best I could do. Accepting financial support from Parker Steele? Could my world get any stranger?
    “I’ll be right back.” Parker’s words faded as he strode toward his office.
    Jayne inhaled, deep. “I…want you to do this. Need you to, but stay safe, Everly.”
    When her voice cracked, my own tears threatened to spill. We’d done this. Cried together. Grieved together. But it was time to move on now. My head knew it. If only I could convince my heart.
    Parker stepped onto the porch, shoved a leather envelope into my hand, and then pulled me in for a tight hug. “They’re large bills. No reason to give you a mix when you’ll be changing them for British pounds.”
    I nodded, backing away. “Thanks. I’ll keep in touch when I can.”
    One last look at the hopeful sadness etched in their faces, and I turned and ran for the garage, suitcase bouncing behind me. It wasn’t a graceful exit.
     
    SHARING A STEELE MANAGEMENT JET with Jayne, Parker, and his colleagues had been a pain in the butt. Rattling around in one by myself for six hours when I wanted to be chasing Fion Connor was only tolerable because I drank two glasses of very expensive wine, and then slept until the co-pilot woke me an hour before we landed in Devon. I used the time to shower and fumble around with a plan that would hopefully include Tynan Pierce.
    I knew better than to take on Mitch’s boss by myself. That would be so far beyond stupid it wasn’t worth mentioning. I’d phoned Pierce and Annie with my flight info and destination right after takeoff. Pierce hadn’t answered, so I’d left a voicemail. Annie, true to form, lectured me while I’d sipped my first glass of merlot and nibbled on some cheese and crackers I’d found in the galley. There was no question that Annie’s protective mom genes had flourished since she’d had Madigan, and I gladly endured her lecture. She was becoming a super mom, and I loved her for it.
    My plan, and Annie’d agreed, was to hang out on the English Rivera, sightsee, and stay under the radar while I checked out simple, non-dangerous things,