Heart of an Assassin (Circle of Spies) by Laura Pauling Read Free Book Online

Savvy?”
    This was it. He was offering me a chance to stop this crazy scheme. I could back out and pretend I never talked to him. I opened my mouth to say the words, but then I thought about Mom lying, refusing to talk to me; and her dates with Constance, leaving me alone. “Yes, I’m sure.” Then I leaned forward and added confidence to my words. “Are you sure you want to do this, Will?”
    He smiled. “I look forward to it.”
     
    I had to figure out what to wear.
    My closet overflowed with a pathetic assortment of clothes. I needed something that would give the clear message that I was someone to be feared. I ran my fingers through my shirts. Not the red top with sequins or the blue sleeveless. Both were way too snazzy. I whipped out a white button-up shirt and black jeans. They’d have to do.
    “Savvy?” Mom called from her bedroom. She didn’t have to call too loud because our walls were paper thin and right next to each other. “Someone’s at the door. Could you get it?”
    Oh, crap. Oh, crap. I did the last button of my shirt. What if Will came to the door? I hadn’t brushed my hair or expertly applied lip gloss yet. I fluffed my hair for extra body then rushed and opened the door with a breathless, “What are you doing here?”
    “Why, Savvy. I’d think your mom would’ve alerted you to the fact I was arriving for dinner per her invitation.” Constance brushed past me and into our tiny abode, the smell of his aftershave cloying and obnoxious. It screamed slime ball. He was like the blob, rolling into our place, glomming onto everything and leaving behind a distinct layer of sticky ooze.
    After a quick glance into the darkening streets, I didn’t see a sign of Will, thankfully. I shut the door and whirled around. Mom’s dinner date was the perfect excuse for me to leave. She flounced into our small living room, her skirt swirling around her legs. She had her hair up in some ridiculous hairdo and plastic beads around her neck.
    “Constance, so glad you could make it.” She batted her eyelashes.
    I strolled back toward my room. “After I finish getting ready, I thought I’d hit the town tonight and do some shopping.”
    Mom trilled this ridiculous high-pitched giggle. “Don’t be ridiculous, Savvy. We have company and I’ve prepared a special dish. Fresh Salmon steaks.”
    I hesitated at the edge of the hallway. So that was the way it was going to be? I got stir fry with mushy veggies and birdman gets Salmon? “Well, no one ever informed me, and I made plans,” I stated rather firmly.
    Mom poured the Blob a glass of wine, which he swirled like an expert and sniffed with his hawk nose. I swear he cast me a haughty glance when Mom wasn’t looking.
    Her voice lost its light tone. “No, Savvy. You’ll be dining with us tonight and then staying inside.”
    I smothered the anger rising like a strong rip current. Constance smirked, a big cheesy grin on his face, but before he could speak, I stated, “I’m going to my room.”
    I sank onto the bed, my bravado fading, wanting, wishing for Dad, for Mom, for us to hit rewind and go back in time before everything got messed up. A slight knock at my window startled me and my back stiffened. I crawled across the bed and peered through the window.
    Malcolm.

 
     
     
Nine
    I lifted the window a crack.
    “You scared the crap out of me!” My words rushed out, laden with the stress from the evening. “You can’t be here…my mom…” I didn’t even need to ask how he and Will happened to know where I lived. It came with their line of work.
    “Whoa. Sorry. Did you want me to use the front door?” He pushed the window up the rest of the way and leaned his elbows on the sill. His sly grin teased me and I couldn’t help notice his resemblance to Will.
    “No.” I sank to my knees, drinking in the sight of him. I wanted to trace my fingers down his cheek and press my lips to his. But I couldn’t, not with the secrets digging at my conscience. I