Running Hot by Helenkay Dimon Read Free Book Online Page A

“We’re on a hike.”
    The slight vibration in her voice. The subtle rearming. Ward had to give her credit. She played it smooth and genuine right down to the intimacy she wove around them as a pretend couple.
    â€œKeep going.” The tall one kept up the nodding. This time he gestured inland and away from the direction of Tigana’s believed hideout. “That way.”
    Ward wrapped an arm around his back to touch the small of hers. He aimed for a loving gesture, but his focus stayed on the weapons—theirs and his. He wanted the guns he and Tasha held hidden and unseen. That required shuffling but innocent tourists would shuffle and panic and possibly even beg.
    Ward was about to try a few of those options when the smaller guy moved. Didn’t say a word, but that finger inched closer to the trigger.
    â€œWait,” the smaller one said. He stepped right in front of Ward, which sent Tasha crashing against his back. “How did you get here?”
    â€œHike.” Ward kept it short, just as he’d been trained to do. Too many details signaled lies. Too much information made it easy to get wrapped up and babbling. And Ward was not a babbler.
    The taller one now stood next to his partner. They both stared, and neither showed any signs of backing down, which was a shame. Ward had hoped not to kill anyone today.
    â€œWhere are you parked?” the taller one asked.
    â€œAbout two miles that way.” Ward pointed but had no idea how accurate the gesture came off. He hadn’t measured, but the distance didn’t matter. At this rate, at least two of them would not be standing by the time the discussion ended.
    The taller one maintained eye contact with Tasha. “A truck?”
    â€œNo,” she answered back in an equally clipped tone.
    Energy pulsed off her. Ward stood there, taking it in, feeling her body rev up even though she showed no signs of even sweating.
    The shorter one reached around Ward and grabbed her arm. The touch had Ward’s senses firing and rage burning his brain from the inside out. He shoved the man away. “What do you think you’re doing?”
    The men looked at each other before the taller one started speaking again. “You need to come with us.”
    â€œWe’ll head back to the resort and—” This time the guy yanked and Tasha stumbled. Ward guessed the pseudofall had some strategic purpose he couldn’t see behind his back. Not that the intent mattered. He took mental inventory of the weapons on him and picked the one guaranteed to inflict maximum damage on this guy. “Do not touch her.”
    With that the men moved back. Gone was any casual discussion. The air took on a suffocating thickness. The guns no longer hung in front of the men. Now the barrels pointed at the dead center of Ward’s chest. He didn’t love the change.
    â€œStep away from the woman.” The shorter one barked out orders as if he thought they’d strike fear.
    Not even close.
    â€œI don’t think so.” Ward’s arm inched farther back along the side of his leg and closer to the gun stored behind him.
    Tasha’s fingers tightened against his skin. “It’s okay, honey.”
    Ward barely heard her. The sensation of her pulling the gun away from his body filled his brain. “You sure?”
    She clearly had a plan; it involved bullets, and Ward wished he knew the rest. He’d have to make a solid guess based on what he knew—this woman would attack without remorse. He respected that.
    â€œWe’ll be fine.”
    That voice. The brush of her hair against his cheek. The woman did know how to soothe. Ward hoped her shot proved half as good, because his choices carried some limitations. Thank goodness for the knife within reach.
    The taps came next. Her fingers drummed a steady beat on his back. Her body barely moved. This woman had some practice hiding her movements.
    Ward’s admiration grew