Hot on Her Heels by Susan Mallery Read Free Book Online Page A

“Some interesting information on Jed. A friend of his does work for the government. Mostly experimental military weapons. Some of the prototypes go missing for months at a time, then they reappear in inventory. Coincidentally, a few months after that, a dozen or so exactly like the prototype appear on the black market, usually in the Middle East. I haven’t connected all the dots, but so far everything leads to Jed.”
    Dana’s bravado faded, as did her color. Her eyes widened. “That’s not possible. You’re saying he really is guilty of treason.”
    â€œI’m saying there’s a possibility it’s real. When I have what I need, I’ll turn it over to the Feds.”
    Dana still looked stunned. “I’ve known Jed all my life. I can’t believe this. I’ll accept he’s a bastard and treats his daughters like crap, but this is on a totally different level. It’s beyond wrong. Why would he sell out his country?”
    Garth no longer cared about why Jed did anything. He simply wanted the old man ruined in every waypossible. Having Jed make it easy almost took away from the sweet taste of victory, but it was a disappointment Garth would live with.
    â€œI want to take this to Lexi,” Dana said.
    â€œThose are your copies.”
    She picked up the second folder, but didn’t open it. “You shouldn’t have gone after your sisters. They weren’t a part of any of this.”
    â€œA Titan is a Titan,” he told her. It was how he’d started the game—believing they were all the same. Now he wasn’t so sure. Not that he would tell her that.
    â€œYou’re a Titan.”
    â€œOnly technically. Besides, they’ll be fine. They have you to protect them.”
    She raised her chin, as if facing a challenge. “I’m more than ready to take you down.”
    â€œSo you keep telling me. Talk is cheap.”
    Annoyance tightened her face and he knew she was searching for some scathing comeback. Or something heavy to throw at him.
    Dana took her responsibilities very seriously. She would worry about her friends and do anything in her power to protect them. But who looked after her?
    She would say she didn’t need protecting, that she was fine. But was it true? Or were there vulnerabilities she hid from the world?
    â€œIs there anything else?” she asked.
    â€œThat’s all I have, unless you’d like to arm wrestle for dominance.”
    She ignored that and stood. He rose and stepped beside her as she walked to the door. Instinctively, he put his hand on the small of her back, as if to guide her out of the office.
    He hadn’t planned the touch. It was something a man did in the presence of a woman. A polite gesture, nothing more.
    But as he felt the warmth of her skin through her shirt, it seemed like more. It seemed…intimate.
    She glanced up at him, her brown eyes clouded with emotions he couldn’t read but could guess. Wariness. Maybe fear. Which made him want to tell her that everything was going to be all right. As if he could predict the outcome of any of this.
    â€œI can make it to the door on my own,” she said, moving away. “But thanks for trying to help.”
    â€œYou’re prickly.”
    â€œPart of my charm.”
    Part of the way she protected herself.
    He wanted to tell her that she could trust him—that he wasn’t her enemy. But that wasn’t true. He was exactly who she should be wary of—he was her worst nightmare. A man willing to do anything to win.
    â€œUntil tonight,” he said.
    â€œIt’s not a date. I’m there to watch you. My ultimate goal is to see you in jail for the rest of your life.”
    He tapped the folders she held. “Maybe it was, but it’s not anymore. I’m not the bad guy and you know it. But you’re welcome to watch anytime you want.”
    Her jaw clenched and then she was gone. Garth smiled as