By the Horns by Rachael Slate Read Free Book Online Page A

finally directed the spotlight off Lucy, and Sheng would have Kassian’s ass if he did anything to beam it on her again.
    “Here is the information on your mission.” The Matchmaker handed the envelope to Nat.
    “Thank you, Matchmaker.” She received it with both hands, broke the seal, and removed the sheet of paper.
    Curious, he inched closer and read over her shoulder.
    “It’s an address for a warehouse in Hong Kong…” She bit her lip, her skin paling.
    He frowned at her reaction, but the print on the sheet caught his attention. “Wait, isn’t that the location of the mid-point for the vaccine shipments?”
    Nat twisted to address the Matchmaker. “Is this about the vaccine you smuggle?”
    “Indeed.” Her boss lifted a shoulder. “There’s an inconsistency in our numbers. The two of you must determine where the errors originate.”
    Taking over for Mei, Fang oversaw the production of the Red Death vaccine here at Kek Lok Si, while he, Lucy, and Sheng handled the smuggling side. The governments of the world had become too corrupt to be trusted with dispensing the vaccine. Selling the precious vials to the highest bidders, and keeping it out of the hands of those who needed it most. His fist clenched.
    If not for their operations, the virus would continue to ravage the poor of the world.
    Viruses didn’t discriminate.
    People did.
    The lesson left a bitter taste in his mouth. He swallowed and unclenched his fist. This was the first he’d heard of any issues regarding their smuggling. “What kind of inconsistency?”
    The Matchmaker’s gaze slid to his. “We are losing shipments. They’re disappearing, somewhere between Hong Kong and India.”
    “Fu—” He coughed back the curse. Doing so once in the Matchmaker’s presence had been enough. “How long has this been going on for? Why are you just investigating now?”
    Her obsidian eyes hardened on him. “Do not question me. You take your orders and I take mine. That is all you need to know.”
    “Sorry.” He bowed his head, though the apology stung his tongue. Bloody politics.
    “As I was saying, you will travel to Hong Kong, investigate our operations there, and report back to me.”
    “What will be our cover— Oh .” Nat’s knuckles whitened as she gripped the paper.
    He whipped his head back to read the sheet. Scanning down, he found what had tripped Nat up.
    Fuck.
    Nat dumped out the envelope’s contents, and sure enough, a tiny object clinked against the tiles.
    A ring. An engagement ring, to be precise.
    He scowled at the sparkling diamond. “A couple? Why not make us brother and sister?” The Matchmaker and her damned schemes. Well, screw her. Those games might have worked on Lucy and Sheng, but they sure as hell wouldn’t on him and Nat.
    “You are off on break from college and he surprised you with a trip to Hong Kong. One night, beneath the fireworks, he proposed. How romantic.” The Matchmaker folded her hands, smugness curving her lips.
    This was what he got for his disobedience yesterday. But, fuck. Making the celibate dude pretend to be in love? Yeah, that wasn’t the slightest bit messed up.
    “Are you ready, Natalie?” The Matchmaker inclined her head.
    What did she conclude about this whole shitty situation? He leaned back to study Nat’s expression, but he couldn’t discern any emotion in her features.
    “I am. Thank you, Matchmaker.”
    He breathed in and out through his nose, his jaw tight. Why the hell did she seem okay with this?
    “Prove it to me. Kiss him.” The Matchmaker’s lips pressed thin.
    Wait, what the fuck? He whipped his gaze from Nat to the Matchmaker, who drummed her nails against her forearm as though impatient. “No bloody way. I’m celibate.”
    The Matchmaker tilted her head. “You won’t be breaking your vows if the kiss isn’t real. And it won’t be, right?”
    He opened his mouth to contest her reasoning, but what could he say? Either way, he’d be screwed. His last chance lay