In For the Kill by Shannon McKenna Read Free Book Online

until she broke away.
    The Illuxit job was a bolt from the sky. It knocked her a few spaces ahead on the playing board, the game being to stop the filthy scum who kidnapped vulnerable people, used them, and tossed them. She would pound those bastards into powder. Rinse them down the drain with a high-pressure hose. She wasn’t afraid of death threats.
    Truth to tell, she was more afraid of Sam’s kisses.
    You don’t have to be afraid of me. Right. She squeezed her legs together around the buzzy throb of arousal. She’d been off balance since the day she met the guy, years ago. He’d been trolling for info with a stack of grisly photos, intent upon his task of finding killers and bringing them to justice. At which, from all accounts, he was very talented. Intuitive, relentless. A good detective, like her father had been.
    She’d tried so hard to hate him for it. It just wasn’t working.
    Her phone rang. Her heart thumped as she jerked it out.
    No. Not Sam. Hazlett, her benefactor, boss, and brand-new friend. The one who had pushed through the nomination for the Solkin Prize. He was an attractive man, who was showing all the telltale signs of being interested in her. Like she needed any more of that right now.
    She was half-dizzy with disappointment, but she put on her game face and hit ‘talk.’ “Good evening, Mr. Hazlett.”
    â€œI’ve begged you to call me Michael,” Hazlett replied, his deep voice jovial. “Is this your subtle way of keeping me at a distance?”
    Um, yes, actually. “No, it isn’t. I got Nadine’s e-mail, with the ticket. I told you that economy class would be fine, remember?”
    â€œAllow me to treat you, Svetlana. You deserve it.”
    â€œThat’s not the issue,” she said. “Donate the difference in price to an anti-trafficking nonprofit, if you want to make me happy.”
    â€œI do want to make you happy. And I will donate that money to the nonprofits, many hundreds of times over, I promise. And guess what—I’ll still put you in first class, given the opportunity. Sorry.”
    She gritted her teeth. “But I don’t need—”
    â€œThat’s the freshness of youth talking,” Hazlett said with a chuckle. “In twenty years, you’ll treasure that leg room, believe me.”
    She exhaled. “Michael,” she said slowly. “Don’t condescend.”
    â€œOh, never. Just joking. And I’m so glad you’re calling me Michael. So, how was the wedding?”
    Incendiary. Mind blowing. Outrageous. Orgasmic. “Ah . . . lovely.”
    â€œI wish you had been with me here in New Delhi,” Hazlett said wistfully. “These pompous blowhards at the seminar could have used a dose of distilled reality about human trafficking like only you can give. It’s so satisfying, seeing people’s faces change when you do your magic.”
    â€œI wish I could have gone, too, but I—”
    â€œCertainly you couldn’t. I understand completely. A friend’s wedding takes precedence. I stand rebuked.”
    â€œI’m not rebuking you!” she protested, flustered.
    â€œOf course not. I’m glad to know that you have your ticket. Forgive me for insisting on first class, but I can’t help myself. I can’t wait to see you in San Anselmo. Bon voyage, Svetlana.”
    She got through the rest of the pleasantries somehow and closed the call, red-faced and smarting. Feeling clumsy and stupid.
    Sam shoved her off balance, too. He rattled her cage, melted her into hot, mindless froth. But he never made her feel stiff or humorless.
    The cab was almost home. Soon, she’d peel off that dress and all the fantasies that went with it. She’d bought it for the gala in Italy, and decided at the last minute to wear it to the wedding, too. The rum breezers brought over by her upstairs neighbor Paul last night were also partly to blame. It was