Chaos (Phoenix Undercover Book 2) by C.A. Harms Read Free Book Online Page A

hearing crazy stories about my sisters, because right now they’re both living with me, and I swear I am hanging on by a thread. I’m even considering paying rent on another apartment just to free myself of their craziness.”
    That got a lighthearted laugh out of her. “I understand now just how my brother fell in love with you.” My earlier idea of holding it together only grew harder with each word she spoke. “He called me the night you ended things with him. He was so lost. I know things happened between the two of you that he chose to keep to himself, but I can tell you that he assured me he would win you back. He was never the type of guy to show too much emotion, but on that night, for the first time in a very long time, I could hear the despair in his voice. He truly adored you.”
    And I broke.
     
    ***
     
    “Twelve weeks,” Dr. Bali said as he entered the room. “And how have you been feeling?”
    Of course Brook, better known as Miss Mouth, spoke up before I could. “Well, I’m sure hoping now that she’s entering the second trimester, her morning puke fests will come to an end. It seriously sounds like she’s throwing up a damn lung. I have never in my life heard someone heave the way she does.”
    I narrowed my eyes at her, and she shrugged. “What, Godzilla? You gonna growl at me now too?”
    “Next time I’m leaving you at home,” I whispered—well, it wasn’t exactly a whisper, considering everyone in the room heard me.
    She laughed and wrinkled her nose at me. “Yeah right, you love me,” she countered, and I chose not to argue. She was right. Without her cocky retorts and daily distractions, I would be a depressed pregnant girl hiding in the darkness of my apartment. She forced me to get up daily and continue on, even though everything inside me told me to just give up.
    With each week that passed, it became harder to face that I would be raising my child without their father—a father I know for a fact would have loved his child dearly. Not to mention I still blamed myself for the fact Josh was kidnapped that night. Had I not pushed him and Audrey out, had I listened to them explain what had gone on between them at the hands of Leo, he may still be here with us all.
    “Besides the morning sickness, do you have any concerns or questions?” Dr. Bali asked. I could tell he was fighting back a smile. He had to think my sisters and I were certifiably insane.
    “No, I’ve been good. And the morning sickness is not as bad as she makes it sound,” I told him and chose to ignore Brook as she mumbled just a few feet away. Audrey had been so distracted today; I barely noticed she was there. She spent more time on her phone texting than paying any attention to Brook or me. I found myself a little worried that she may be working another case, and the idea of her placing herself in danger made my stomach hurt. I had already lost the man I loved and the father of my child to the cruel world of undercover work. I refused to lose my sister too.
    “Well, your weight looks good now, right on track. Your blood pressure is great.” The doctor thumbed through the file as I stared at Audrey, wondering what the hell could be so important on her phone right now. When she looked up finally and her eyes locked on mine, my stomach tensed. The look on her face told me whatever it was, I wouldn’t like it.
    After my appointment was complete and I set up my next one in a month, we left the doctor’s office. I hadn’t even made it to the car when I started in on Audrey. “What is going on? And please don’t tell me ‘nothing,’ because I know better. You’ve been too focused on your phone for it to be nothing, and something tells me it has to do with work.”
    Audrey hung her head for just a moment before she looked up at me, and I knew immediately that I was right.
    “I received an assignment. Sheppard has been supplying me with details.” Her words made my heart sink. “We have to catch him,