Agent M4: Riordan by Joni Hahn Read Free Book Online Page B

glance at Natalie to see if she gaped at him with shock in her eyes.
    She listened intently, swallowing a spoon of ice cream every so often.
    His last case came up. He’d been called in to do intel on-
    “Clint Robinson?” Clicking pause, she looked over at him with raised brows. “You were hired to shadow D.I.R.E’s lead scientist?”
    She sat so close, he could feel her breath on his face. He’d kiss her like a crazed lunatic if he didn’t get out of there now.
    Jumping up, he walked over to the mini-fridge and grabbed a beer. Water wouldn’t cut it tonight.
    “At the time, D.I.R.E. was in the planning stages. Jim Monroe and Mitchell Jacobs courted Robinson like a debutant. I was told Naylor’s client wanted files on whatever project Robinson had going on at the time.”
    Natalie twisted around to look at him. “Does Mitchell know that?”
    He lifted an eyebrow and stared at her.
    She sighed aloud. “Of course he does.”
    Resuming the audio, Natalie sat back in her chair, Riordan standing beside her.
    WJP notified that St. James can extract project intel . Bank transfer made to Naylor account.
    AnonOne requested operative be taken out immediately after extraction.  Jaydan Rose assigned to case.
    Shock reverberated through Riordan, rendering him numb. He paused, beer bottle halfway to his mouth. “ What ?”
    Natalie’s cool fingers brushed his clenched forearm. His gaze shot to her peaceful face, her voice calm.
    “Keep listening.”
    WJP bank transfer made to Naylor account. Firm extraction assigned to St. James. AnonOne notified St. James will be taken out tonight. AnonOne bank transfer made to Naylor account.
    Holy shit…
    Dropping down in his chair, Riordan ran a hand down his face and hung his head. “ Screw … me …”
    Natalie’s hand rested on his whip-scarred back. “Robert Naylor had one client that paid for the project information. Another that wanted you gone. He made a nice, tidy sum that night, didn’t he? The bastard.” Her hand balled into a fist.
    Someone had wanted him out of the picture. Someone had paid his own boss to get rid of him - despite Cassandra’s feelings for him, despite the years he’d been a loyal employee.
    “Who would want you gone, Riordan? What were you involved in?”
    Jumping up, he started to pace. “Nothing besides Cassandra and my work for Naylor. I didn’t have time for anything else.”
    Turning in her chair, Natalie’s next words sounded stilted. “Did Cassandra have an ex-boyfriend that wanted revenge?”
    He shook his head before running his fingers through his hair. “No man had the balls to date her before me. They were all terrified of Naylor. Hell, Rose and I were – are - friends. I can’t believe he’d take me out like that and act like it never happened.”
    A short, succinct curse escaped as self-pity washed over him in waves. He’d been smart not to trust anyone. Now, he’d let in Natalie Meeks and she worked for Mitchell.
    Shit. He should’ve never let her stay.
    “There’s got to be an explanation for Jaydan and Mitchell, Riordan. Maybe Jaydan refused.”
    Hell, you’d think she had a vested interest in all of this.
    St. James reported files download complete.
    He pointed at the screen. “I remember that. It was dark, I stood up from the chair and… wham . I got hit in the head and blacked out.” He walked away to pace again. “When I woke up, I was in that freaking cave.”
    Who the hell gave a shit what happened to him? Whether he’d existed or not?
    Natalie came up beside him, her fresh scent reaching him before her hand on his shoulder. “I’m so sorry. What they did to you was despicable.”
    He shrugged off her touch. “I don’t want your pity, Meeks.”
    Grabbing his arm, she turned him to face her. “I wasn’t gracing you with pity, Riordan. I was expressing my own feelings. And dammit, if I want to express my feelings, I will do it .”
    He yanked away his arm. “Express them somewhere else. I don’t want