American Heroes Series - 01 - Resurrection by Kathryn Le Veque Read Free Book Online Page A

the rain they’d had the previous night that had seeped into the walls of the basement. The concrete was porous and soaked up the ground water like a sponge; hence, it always smelled like a swamp.
    Cydney ignore the smell, indicating her guest chair as she rounded her desk. “Have a seat,” she told him. “Can I get you some coffee or water?”
    “Thank you, no,” Ethan replied. “Mind if I take off my coat?”
    Cydney shook her head, eyeing him as he peeled off his expensive suit jacket and laid it across the other chair.  She tried not to stare at his arms, the muscles straining against the dress shirt.  The man had a seriously muscular build on him but she tore her eyes away, furiously at herself for taking any interest. But it made her cheeks warm simply to think about those muscular arms. Sitting down in her chair, she faced him with a certain degree of self-preservation.
    “I didn’t know anyone wore suits anymore,” she commented.
    Ethan gave her a crooked smile as he made sure the coat draped so it wouldn’t wrinkle. “The Bureau is still old-school that way,” he said. “I’ve got a suit for every day of the week.”
    “Your mother must be proud.”
    It was a surprising attempt at humor; his smile broke through and he chuckled softly.
    “Yes, my mother and father are extremely proud of my ability to dress appropriately,” he settled his big frame into the chair. “Now,” he took a deep breath as he composed his thoughts. “What more, exactly, do you want to know about this situation? I’ve told you as much as I can.”
    She lifted a well-shaped brow as her smile faded. “You may have told me as much as you can, but you certainly haven’t told me all that you know.” She held up a hand before he could perjure himself. “I can see it in your expression every time we discuss it. You’ve got a good poker face; I’ll give you credit. But it’s too good, if you know what I mean. You’re too emotionless to be totally convincing.”
    A smile played on his lips. “I think you have an active imagination.”
    His statement should have infuriated her, but instead, she found herself fighting off a grin again just because he was.
     “Bull,” she snapped softly. “What do you think I’m going to do? Tell the enemy everything you tell me to make their job easier when they try to rob my museum? I think it’s unfair for you not to tell me absolutely everything you know so at least we know what we’re up against.”
    He sat back in his chair casually, his dark eyes fixed on her. “And do what?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Just that,” he insisted with a flick of his hand. “Even if you know everything, is that going to make your security tighter or your people better able to deal with it?”
    “It might.”
    He held her gaze a moment longer, realizing that he was thinking about more than just her question. He was thinking of the soft pout of her lips and the way her eyelashes brushed against her brow bone. He was thinking about just how beautiful she really was. He already knew he was going to answer her question; he was just debating how much to tell her without frightening her.
    “All right,” he finally said, sitting forward in the chair. “Fair enough. I will answer your questions specifically but I won’t volunteer any more information than necessary. So what’s your first question?”
    His response puzzled her slightly but she didn’t take the time to analyze it; she was afraid he might rescind his offer.
    “Is the threat against us specifically or just general?” she asked. “Last night you mentioned zealots. Any zealots in particular?”
    He nodded. “Yes.”
    “Who?”
He cocked his head slightly. “They call themselves Die Auhänger .”
    Her brow furrowed as she translated the words; having worked in museums for much of her adult life, it was necessary to have a working knowledge of several languages, German included. 
    “The Disciples?”
    “Yes.”
    She stared at