Atonement by Winter Austin Read Free Book Online Page B

connections.”
    “The hell you say! If you located me that easily, then he can, too.”
    Slowly, Cassy placed her hands on the edge of the counter. Nic tensed, bracing herself for a quick draw. When they were younger, they’d spent a lot of time watching old Westerns and pretending to be gunfighters. While Nic was taking down terrorists and insurgents with her sniper rifle, Cassy had gone into law enforcement. Nic didn’t want to find out who was the better shot.
    “Right now, I’m all that stands between your location remaining secret and Pop finding you.”
    “Not buying it. You were his favorite. Like hell he’d let you just disappear.”
    Cassy shook her blonde head. “I never disappeared. He knew exactly where I was living. I didn’t let on how close I was to you. Having one daughter off the radar was enough.”
    “It should have stayed that way.” How long did Nic have before The General pulled strings to locate Cassy? Two, maybe three days? He wouldn’t be out of contact with her long.
    “He won’t find you. I took precautions.”
    Nic caught her sister’s meaning. Emma, her stepmother, Cassy’s mother, was onto what Cassy was doing and probably had The General under constant surveillance to ensure he didn’t break his word.
    “How’d you get in here? This place is always locked up.”
    The corner of Cassy’s mouth twitched in what could be the hint of a smile. “Picked the lock.”
    Nic bit back a curse. One of those vices she’d taught Cassy that came back to bite her in the ass. Stepping aside, she pointed at the door. “Go home.”
    Sighing, Cassy’s shoulders drooped. “No.” A flame flickered in her eyes. “I’m not going anywhere, and this time you won’t run me off at gunpoint.” Her fingers rested on the butt of the Ruger. “Don’t force my hand.”
    Li’l sister’s backbone had thickened. Hard lines dragged on Cassy’s features. Those hadn’t been there the last time Nic saw her. Suddenly, the aroma of peppers, cumin, and tomatoes crashed into Nic’s senses. Her anger seeped out of her veins, and her arm dropped.
    “Since when did you learn how to cook?”
    Her sister lifted one shoulder. “People change. Some for the better.”
    Point driven home. She wasn’t going to get rid of her sister anytime soon. Time to retreat and figure out a new strategy.
    Nic huffed and stalked to her bedroom. She shed her jacket and uniform, leaving them on the floor where they dropped. Dragging open the middle drawer of her dresser, she froze. The neatly rolled and arranged T-shirts were askew. She rummaged through the stack, and her fingers didn’t bump the sidearm she’d hidden under the shirts.
    “Damn it!” She slammed the drawer closed and ran out of the room. “Where is it?”
    “Where’s what?” The mild expression on Cassy’s face stirred Nic’s hornets’ nest into a frenzy.
    “My gun. I had one in—you found them. All of them.”
    “Ten? Why would a cop need ten guns in her home?”
    Swallowing the acidic words that wanted to explode from her mouth, Nic balled her hands at her sides and glared at Cassy. Her chest heaved. “Where are they?”
    Bent over the open oven door, Cassy reached inside. “Safely tucked out of your sight.” She slid out the glass baking dish. “When I leave I’ll tell you where they are.” The baking dish clattered on the range top. “After I’ve left the state.”
    A nasty name tickled Nic’s tongue. No, she wouldn’t let Cassy bait her anymore. It would prove what Cassy suspected and bring a heap of trouble on Nic.
    Aluminum foil crinkled as Cassy pulled it back, and steam rolled off the enchiladas. “Get some clothes on, sis. I don’t want to see you in your skivvies while I eat.”
    Nic glared at her sister. “Then leave.”
    Cassy tossed the potholders onto the counter, braced against it, and smiled blandly. “No.”
    Silence suffocated the room as they stared each other down. Once more, the uncontrollable urge to rail at