Cold Day in Hell by Monette Michaels Read Free Book Online Page B

touching her, he lifted a hand and stroked a finger down her arm. She inhaled, goose flesh arising along his finger’s path. She bit her lip to smother the gasp threatening to emerge.
    “You’re lucky he wants this photo shoot to come off for reasons of his own—or he would’ve taken you the first night.” She shivered, not from his touch this time, but relief that she’d had the chance to call for help. “Hey, it’s okay.” His voice was just as gentle and soothing as his touch. “It didn’t happen. Don’t think about it. The fucker screwed up and now I’m here. He won’t get you. I promise.”
    “I know. Keely and her husband trust you. I trust you.” She worried her lower lip with her teeth. “Will you get rid of the eyes and ears … in the room? When we go to change? Please.” She leaned into his hand as he moved to caress her neck. His words and touch warmed her, chasing away the throat-clenching fear she’d lived with over the past two days. On the surface, she’d called upon all her modeling skills and put on the performance of her life, but inside she’d been a quivering puddle of goo. Just having Risto here made her feel safe, feel as if she’d make it home and back to her life.
    “Sorry, can’t. It would tip him off…”
    “…that you were more than just a husband.” She nodded. “Sorry, I wasn’t thinking.
    I’ve had some training about potential abduction. My dad saw to that. There was always the chance we military dependents might be kidnapped from the base housing in foreign countries. I have some survival skills, but nothing like what you’re used to with Keely.”
    “Keely’s unique. Don’t compare yourself to her. From what she tells me, you’re talented, just in a different way.” He massaged the knots in her neck with a firm, but gentle motion. His touch, while it eased the tension in her neck, created new tension farther down her body. It was all she could do not to rub her thighs together to ease the aching in her sex. “As far as I can tell, you’ve done everything right to this point,” he said. “You figured out you were in big trouble as soon as you saw Cruz and you called for your extraction and protection for your brothers. You held up.”
    “Thanks, I needed to hear that. I’ve been so afraid.”
    “Hey, fear keeps you sharp.”
    “Then I’m a Ginsu knife.” She sliced the air as if she held a knife.
    Risto grinned as he switched from massaging the back of her neck to feathering her hair through his fingers. It felt wonderful, and she wondered if he was acclimating her to his touch for the act they had to put on for Cruz or if he did it because he wanted to.
    “Callie, you said you had some training. What kind?”
    “I told you about the failed attempts at teaching me how to take down an attacker. I couldn’t even knee a guy in the balls.” She frowned. “Although I think I have the proper motivation now. I’m pretty sure I could emasculate Cruz, the scum-sucking, Peeping Tom, lowlife fucktard.”
    Risto’s lips broke into a full smile and he chuckled. Jesus, he was gorgeous when he smiled—not GQ , metro-sexual attractiveness, but more Field and Stream masculine ruggedness. “Go on … what else?”
    “Um, I told you I excelled at shooting. Back at Lejeune, I was almost as good as Keely. I expect she’s better now since she’s attended Sniper School. My dad always said guns were the great equalizer for females in the military.”
    “What kind of weapons?”
    “You name it, I’ve probably shot a version of it. Personal sidearm?” He nodded, his black-eyed gaze fixed on her face. No nerves or awareness on his face about the bad guys watching them, but she knew he was aware of where everyone was and would act instantaneously if needed. “I prefer a Glock or a Ruger. I own a ladies Ruger since it’s lighter and fits my hand better. I like the Lapua or the Remington sniper rifles for long-range. And any of the submachine guns are just