Agent in Training by Jerri Drennen Read Free Book Online

implied. Who would have sent her a picture like that? Obviously, someone with a vendetta against her. Nick wondered if she’d thought he sent it. Would she assume he was capable of something so awful?
    He hoped not.
    One thing was for sure, the picture had been a definite warning, and if she didn’t take it seriously, he sure as hell would. He wasn’t going to let anyone hurt her if he could prevent it. He may not exactly like her as director, but for some strange reason he felt protective of her––cared for her as a woman.
    Probably his single mother’s upbringing. He’d always been a sucker for a woman in trouble, and Shiloh would be no exception… if she were in trouble.
    What confused him was that something weird was going on between them. He found himself physically aroused whenever they fought. Could it be some kind of sick foreplay? He’d heard of such things, but had always thought it was something a talk show made up for a boost in their ratings.
    Maybe he needed professional help? A good shrink who dealt in strange sexual issues? It couldn’t be normal for someone to get turned on by arguing with another person, could it?
    Shaking his head, Nick entered the office, pushing Shiloh and his feelings away until he had more time to examine them. Apparently he had a ton of paperwork to do right now.
     
    “Daddy, drink this.” Shiloh placed the cup of juice to her father’s lips and waited for him to take a sip. On the last two visits to the nursing home, the nurses told her he’d been very quiet. Withdrawn, maybe even depressed. They hoped she could somehow draw him out of his shell.
    After he’d taken a drink, she set the cup down on the bedside table and picked up one of his favorite books of poetry by Shelley. “Would you like me to read to you, Daddy?”
    He just sat, staring at the wall, as if he hadn’t heard her.
    “Is something wrong, Daddy?”
    His gaze darted around the room, then settled on her. “He said if I told, he would hurt you.”
    “What are you talking about? Who?”
    “That man.”
    Shiloh thought it had to be the dementia talking. “What man?”
    “The one who talked to me outside. The nurse left to get me a drink. He was hiding behind a tree in the yard and told me that you were bad. And if I told anyone about his visit, you would get hurt.”
    Shiloh inhaled as panic set in. Someone knew her father was there at Oak Haven and that person was threatening her through him. How could anyone be so cruel? Her father was paranoid enough.
    “Daddy, nothing is going to happen to me. I’ll be fine. You know I can protect myself.”
    He didn’t look relieved, but rather, was becoming more agitated.
    “He told me that you were a slut. Are you?”
    Her eyes instantly burned with unshed tears. Shiloh wasn’t sure if he meant what he said or if it was the disease talking again. “No, Daddy. He lied to you. I am a good girl. You know that.”
    “Your mother was bad. You aren’t going to take after her, are you?”
    “What do you mean? Momma was good.”
    He snorted. “She was a whore.”
    “Why would you say that, Daddy? Momma was always home. She would never have cheated on you.”
    He turned away, refusing to say any more.
    Shiloh couldn’t believe he would say something like that about his wife… her mother. He was wrong. This was the disease talking. It had to be, because the woman she remembered was perfect. Nothing like what her father insinuated. He must be confused again.
    But the strange man he mentioned talking to on the grounds worried her. Could it be the same person who sent her the pictures?
    Either way, she would inform security to watch her father more closely from now on.
    If someone intended to get to her through him, they would have to think again. She’d give her own life to keep her father safe, and nothing, or no one, was going to take him away from her before this cruel disease did.

 
     
    CHAPTER SEVEN
     
     
    Nick handed Hank a cup of coffee and sat