Depths of Salvation (Love on the Edge) by Molly E. Lee Read Free Book Online Page A

eavesdropping.
    “Gather the troops. We’re ready.”
    “Copy that,” Liz said and turned around. “All who have to be on the boat, do so in ten minutes. Those staying behind, don’t break my shit!”
    Sadie grinned and motioned her head toward the door in which I still hovered. She led the way outside, to the closest of the yachts docked next to her lab. I grabbed the bag stuffed with my gear I’d left outside and followed her silently as she climbed on board, trying unsuccessfully not to stare at her ass. It was perfect. Of course. The woman couldn’t only have a mouth on her, and a brain, but had to have a rocking body, too. What were the odds? I glanced at the sky, wondering if Conner was looking down on the scene and cracking up at his brother getting paid to betray the first woman to get under my skin in . . . well, years.
    Once we were on board, she turned around and eyed the large black bag in my hand. “You didn’t trust me to have proper gear?”
    “I don’t leave that sort of thing up to chance.”
    “Fair enough,” she said, taking a seat on one of the cushioned benches that hugged the railing on the ship.
    Liz and the kid—Nemo—came on board next, followed by two more men I didn’t bother asking names of. All but Nemo followed Liz to the pilothouse. He, not surprisingly, came to sit next to Sadie. The boy wasn’t smitten in the sexual sense, but he had that loyal puppy vibe about him. It was equally annoying and endearing. Having a reliable team was essential when taking the risks her line— our line—of work held. Though I preferred to work alone.
    Twenty minutes later and I was breathing easier as the ship cut through the blue waves of the ocean, the sea air cool against my face. It never got old, the feeling of losing connection with the land, and how freeing it was. Second best to actually diving beneath the surface for a good length of time.
    I sat next to Sadie and stared outward. She watched me but didn’t know I noticed because of the sunglasses I donned. I wondered what made her forehead pinch together in the center as she looked me up and down, but I guessed if she wanted me to know she’d tell me. I’d only known her for a day, but she was really good about speaking her mind. I liked that, seeing how most girls made you guess for days at what they really wanted. I bet she’d be vocal in bed, which would be a fucking turn on—
    “How much is he paying you?” Sadie’s voice stopped my thoughts right in their tracks.
    “What?”
    “Slade. How much is he paying you to do this?”
    I scrunched my eyebrows together. “To do my job? He pays me well. I’ve earned it from my experience in the field.” I shifted in my seat.
    She raised her hands in defense. “Sorry, seems like he’d be the type to make you an offer. You know, to do whatever it took to get my site demolished. Get me out of the way.”
    Damn. She was sharper than I’d given her credit for.
    “If he didn’t,” she continued, scooting closer when it was evident I wouldn’t add anything to the conversation, “then why’d you do it?”
    “I didn’t do anything.” I swallowed hard. She was so close I could smell her. Salt, ocean, and sun. Good god, the woman smelled like a dream.
    “Yeah you did. You bought me time. And somehow became the deciding factor, the all authority . . . I need to know why.”
    “You know, I’ve told you all you need to know .”
    She leaned back against the silver railing, crossing her arms over her chest and staring out to sea. “We’ve got two months to spend together, Connell. You might want to entertain the idea of actually talking to me.”
    “Why would I want to do that?”
    Her eyes returned to mine and pierced me even through my shades. “Because you might lose whatever weight is crushing you in the process.”
    I huffed and shook my head. She had no idea, but the fact that she hit so close to home rattled me, so I leaned closer to her. “You’ve got no idea what