Point of No Return by Rita Henuber Read Free Book Online Page A

guaranteed to shred any type of tires. The second heavy metal gate would not open and a security contingent hidden in a structure to the right would disable the occupants of the vehicle.
    The development’s wealthy, high-profile residents needed and could afford the arsenal of security. Some residents even had small cottages on their ten-acre properties to house live-in personal bodyguards. Her sister had no such setup. They did hire security when necessary. She doubted tonight would be one of those times. When her bossy older sibling insisted she come, she said it would be an informal party. She’d been instructed to arrive in her socialite persona, leaving all things Marine Corps at home.
    It should be an interesting evening. For one thing, Theresa didn’t know the meaning of informal and Honey had a suspicion dear sis was up to something. But she wasn’t going to smack the olive branch out of her hand and tonight she would be on her best behavior. She’d spent an admittedly relaxing day at the spa getting a full treatment. Hair, facial, mani-pedi. Tonight, going with informal, her hair was down, and even with the trim it fell past her shoulders. She dressed simply. Black slub-neck blouse, skinny pants and little heels with pointy toes. Turquoise jewelry. She parked the roadster in the driveway and sat a moment staring at the huge three-story mansion her sister shared with a world-renowned philanthropist doctor and their daughter.
    Every window was illuminated. Plantation shutters on windows facing the street blocked the goings-on to the prying eyes of neighbors. But then, residents of this neighborhood were too polite to pry. Honey released the steering wheel and took a deep breath. She and her sister had never been particularly close; different mothers and the twelve-year age difference put them at a disadvantage from the beginning. Big sis’s constant meddling in her life had finished them off. Honey stepped out of the car. It would take more than a party to mend bridges between them. But they had to start someplace, and truth be told she was looking forward to the evening.
    Honey was five steps from her car when a man came from the shadows. “Stop,” he ordered, blocking her advance. “You can’t park there.” Dressed in a dark suit, he definitely wasn’t a parking valet. Definitely security.
    “I just did,” she said, sidestepping the man. Another man materialized and reached out as if to hold her arm. She looked into his face. “Don’t.” He hesitated then continued to advance. “If you are at all fond of that appendage, stop now. You touch me, I swear to God you won’t be getting any part of that hand back.” He stopped. The first man came closer, hand on hip, jacket pushed back, revealing a Glock holstered at his waist. Informal, my ass.
    “Agents,” her vivacious twenty-four-year-old niece, Kara, called as she hustled across the lawn, “she’s family.”
    Honey kept her focus on the man who kept his hand on the butt of the gun. Agents? Honey looked at the man beside her and saw the communication cord going from his ear to the back of his collar. “Kara, what the fuck is going on?”
    “Auntie. Language .” Kara’s perfectly shaped eyebrows climbed her forehead. “Mind the Secret Service’s ears.” She gave Honey a hug and whispered, “Mama went crazy and invited the VP. He accepted.”
    “Ripley Jordan is here?” Honey disengaged from Kara’s embrace. “See ya.” She turned back to her car, giving the agent who blocked her retreat a get-the-fuck-out-of-the-way look. Kara held her arm, keeping her in place.
    “Honey,” called a petite form backlit in the doorway. “Come in.” Theresa waved her arm in a welcoming gesture. “We’re waiting for you.”
    “Busted,” Kara said. “You leave now and Mama will make your life miserable for months.”
    Like she didn’t already do that.
    “Come on.” Kara nudged her toward the house. “Ignore Jordan. Have a drink. I’m dying to