Reckless Assignation by Denyse Bridger Read Free Book Online Page A

version of the
world, before you could contaminate him with your hate. He was better off.”
    “How would you know?” she said through clenched teeth. “You
never stopped long enough to care about anyone. I loved my son, I taught him,
protected him.”
    “You taught him only hatred.” Rick’s anger nearly matched
hers now as his attention veered back to the monitor.
    “I could kill you now! Here!” Leeza took one shaky step
toward Rick, leaning into the action, giving every appearance of a viper poised
to strike.
    Rick smiled up at her and took a gamble. He hadn’t been
searched, he had the small Derringer strapped to the inside of his forearm, the
harness one he could trigger easily when he wanted the weapon to drop into his
hand. It was still in place, and gave him a small measure of hope that they’d
survive this incident. She appeared to be alone now that he’d killed the men
who’d gone after Cindi.
    “If you kill me now, you gain nothing, Zia,” he said softly,
using the nickname he’d last used when they’d been lovers. “You’ve waited so
long. Your best revenge is down in that room. Are you going to waste it?”
    Her eyes followed his to the monitor where Cindi lay pale
and still on the bed, the unwilling instrument of Leeza’s vendetta. She drew in
a long, quivering breath and Rick watched the thin veneer of control slip back
over her face.
    When she spoke, her voice was once again icy calm. “It is
not over this soon, Rick. The game must be played out. You will not cheat me
again.”
    He breathed in relief. All he needed to win this game was to
get close enough to Cindi to free her.
    * * * * *
    Cindi was on her knees on the bed, her hands tied at her
back. Her head was held slightly back by a tight grip on her hair, giving Rick
a clear view of the thin wire that encircled her throat. Rick’s gaze followed
the path of the noose, which ran from the back of Cindi’s neck to a second loop
that bound her ankles. At best, Cindi appeared to be only semiconscious, the little
awareness she could summon focused on remaining motionless. All it would take
was a slight push from Leeza’s hand to upset the precarious balance—effectively
slitting Cindi’s throat before he could react quickly enough to prevent it. The
image came of its own accord―as though she were a rabbit in a snare.
    “Really, Rick,” Leeza said around a dark smile, “your little
act is wearing thin.”
    “Your revenge won’t be served by Cindi’s death. It’s a game
that you and I played, Leeza. Let her go and I’m yours. That’s really what
you’ve wanted all along, isn’t it?”
    Her expression shifted, becoming almost coquettish. “I can
have both. You see, that’s what I nearly missed when this thing started. I was
simply going to kill you, but you’ve made it so much more interesting now. I
owe you and her father, and taking her with me will teach you both what pain is
all about. What you put me through when you killed my son!”
    Rick watched the demented hate in her eyes, shivering at the
depth of her insanity. He inched forward another half step, but she noticed
this time.
    “I’ll kill her now,” she warned, fisting her hand tighter
into Cindi’s hair.
    Cindi’s tiny whimper of terrified pain triggered the
response, and Rick snapped his wrist, letting the Derringer drop into his palm
as he lifted his arm and fired, knowing this was as close as he was going to
get. Only later did he recall the choked “No!” from Cindi. His efforts were
concentrated on catching Cindi in a life-saving embrace as she toppled forward
and Leeza sprawled backward onto the bed, then sagged to the old hardwood
floor. Bracing Cindi’s head against his chest, Rick slipped the wires free,
then untied the rope that held her hands.
    When she was untied, he sat back and gathered her close
while she cried in choked sobs.
    After a few minutes, Cindi shifted in Rick’s arms and she
whispered hoarsely, “Are you okay?”
    Rick let his