Pussycat in Peril (Pussycat Death Squad Book 3) by Roslyn Hardy Holcomb Read Free Book Online

to overcome such obstacles.”
    Kaeden didn’t belabor the issue. If push came to shove he could always go the American consulate. Though that was really his last resort. He’d planned to escape from Amaru the way he’d arrived, by smugglers; traffickers who made their money smuggling human cargo out of various African countries and into Europe. They were more than happy to make a little extra money ferrying over the occasional operative in what would normally be an empty ship, though sometimes they did actually have to pick up a cargo of fish as a cover to their more lucrative trade.
    Using official channels, especially when Astaria was not quite a U.S. citizen could be more problematic than he wanted to deal with at present. Of course, he didn’t plan to share this information with his current companion. Laria was a large, cosmopolitan city, presumably there would be accommodations to be had, and since it was port city it was sure to come with a full complement of smugglers as well. If not, surely he’d find another way to get them out.
    With that thought he unconsciously checked his jacket pocket, which concealed both a powerful handgun as well as a beautifully forged passport he’d picked up from his smuggler friends. He had another passport Lelia had given him, but as it had probably come through official channels he didn’t want to use it if he didn’t have to. The passport he had for Astaria had also come from Lelia. He hadn’t been able to get another one for her, but maybe he would be able to do so in Laria.
    He glanced at her again and almost smiled at the way she kept her head lowered diffidently, as though shy and afraid, while her eyes were in constant motion, assessing the situation like the good sniper she was. He wondered what it said about his character that he found her killer instincts so viciously arousing. 
     
    Astaria huddled against the door of the truck staring in amazement at her companion. Kaeden. For some reason it had never occurred to her that Lelia would send him. And that made no sense because he was the logical choice, and Lelia was nothing if not logical. While he was supposed to be a run of the mill Marine she knew that like Lelia’s husband, Patrick, Kaeden did some covert work too and specialized in hostage rescue. He had made it clear that he hadn’t told anyone they were married and since she had no idea what his cover was, she thought it wise to allow him to take the lead. Now she just stared at him.
    The three months they’d been apart was the longest separation since they got married. He looked tired. Given the circumstances, that wasn’t surprising and she was sure she didn’t look her best either. Like many olive complexioned people, Kaeden’s lack of sleep had a tendency to make him look rather haggard. Oddly enough though, it hardly detracted from his good looks. His strong bone structure was simply emphasized more, while his bright hazel eyes, which right now were showing more green than gold seemed to blaze against his dark skin. It was interesting to see her usually clean-cut Marine wearing a beard. It wasn’t a full-beard and was nicely groomed, but it gave him an air of mystery that was appealing. She wondered if it was scratchy, or silky like the hair on his head.
    Their gazes collided and she lowered her head, wondering at the fiery heat she’d seen in his eyes. He’d looked at her like that before, and she still didn’t know what to make of it, but right now she was so exhausted and confused she simply couldn’t cope with anything else. Her thoughts drifted to earlier, happier times.
    *****
    She looked around the small park. It was springtime in D.C. and everything was in bloom. It was one of her favorite things about the city—everyone was gardening mad and if something stood still long enough, someone was bound to plant something in it. Kaeden had invited her on a picnic and they were seated on a blanket in the warm sun.
    “How do you feel about