No One Heard Her Scream by Jordan Dane Read Free Book Online Page B

down payment on his investment," she had said.
    The attractive detective sized him up as a man who could be bought. Diego couldn't argue the point. Her sentiments reflected the dread in his own gut. The wealth surrounding him had taken some time to get used to. But now, the attached strings weighed heavy—an anchor around his neck. Somewhere along the way, he had turned a blind eye to his conscience, in complete denial of how much he'd changed over the years. Every day, a darker side of him emerged—and he had yet to draw the line. He'd convinced himself he couldn't afford to. So much had changed, Diego wasn't sure he could find his way back from the precipice. His only way out might involve a treacherous leap.
    He turned onto Citadel Drive, minutes from the elaborate front gates of the Cavanaugh estate. A mantle of oak trees gave an air of timelessness to the shaded driveway dappled by the sun. His cell phone rang as he picked up speed. Diego reached into the pocket of his suit and glanced at the display.
    With a grimace, he answered. "Galvan."
    "I expected a report before now." Low and intimate, the voice of Hunter Cavanaugh raised the hair on the back of his neck. "Where are you?"
    He thought for a moment and said what came to mind.
    "I get paid to be thorough . . . not to report to you every five minutes like some mindless sycophant." One day, Diego knew his sarcasm would get him killed. And it would probably be at the hands of the man on the other end of the line. With reluctance, he responded to the question. "I'll be there in five minutes."
    Dead silence. Finally, a raspy whisper came through the cell phone.
    "Why do you continually try my patience? One of these days, I might surprise you and grant your death wish, Diego."
    "If you put me out of my misery, people might think you've grown soft."
    The breathing on the other end of the line changed. A low, menacing noise turned into full-blown laughter, devoid of any real humor. Diego pictured the older man's face, aristocratic features tainted by fierce eyes of ice blue.
    "You still amuse me, but don't take that for granted." The contempt was hard to miss. "I want a full report when you get here."
    The line went dead.
    "What the hell are you thinking, Galvan?" he muttered, dropping the cell phone onto the passenger seat.
    A death wish? An astute observation. For him to deal with Cavanaugh, a death wish made the job interesting, like playing catch using a live grenade. Yet, at some point, his insane game would come to an abrupt end. Diego could accept the consequences with only his life on the line. But Detective Rebecca Montgomery posed a problem.
    She'd confront Cavanaugh on the arson fire, no wiser than dangling a red bandanna in front of a deranged bull. The man would fix his sights and not let go, toying with her for mere sport. No matter how gutsy and smart she might be, the detective would have her hands full trying to outwit him. His vast resources and unrivaled cruelty would give Cavanaugh the advantage. Diego had seen him in action too many times.
    With the growing demands of his job, Diego found his life tough enough, but Rebecca could bring down his makeshift house of cards. At first glance, the woman didn't have the savvy to play on Cavanaugh's turf. But what she lacked in expertise, she more than made up for with nerve and determination. Gut instinct told him Rebecca wouldn't back off. He'd seen the conviction in her eyes.
    Would he stick his neck out for her? Taking on that kind of responsibility might tip the scales of his balancing game, force him to make a move off dead center. The risk might get him killed.
    "Don't get stupid. Not now." Diego swore under his breath as he turned onto the cobblestone drive of Cavanaugh's stronghold—his gilded cage.
    Becca spent the late afternoon behind her desk, dredging up the tragic past of two young women still missing. Their lives had taken a perverse detour—severed from their families by a faceless evil. She