Shadow Soldier by Dana Marton Read Free Book Online

Didn’t see what it could hurt at this point. “Treehouse.”
    She blinked her gorgeous green eyes. “Zak McKenzie’s?”
    He nodded. “Too old for playing fort, too young for necking, too smart for sneaking joints.”
    â€œHe’s a good kid.”
    Better than I was, that’s for sure. Alex finished his meal, down to the nutrition-packed power bar, and tossed the packaging. “Neat treehouse. Whenever I can, I take higher ground. The empty place on your other side was tempting, though. It has air-conditioning.”
    â€œThe Slocskys’? They’re on vacation,” she said. “Who else was watching?”
    â€œJust me.”
    â€œYeah, right.”
    He shrugged, not much bothered by what she believed. “Up until today the case was fairly low priority.”
    If he hadn’t been back in the U.S. anyway, to take some time to regain his strength, the FBI would have probably taken the case. It wasn’t high risk enough for the SDDU to get involved. More than anything, he was there as a favor from the Colonel, who knew how much he would have hated hanging out at the office and had found a low-key assignment for him.
    â€œNo one watched me when you slept? Doesn’t seem like thorough work.” She pursed her generous lips.
    â€œThe security system watched.”
    â€œI don’t have a security system.”
    â€œThat you know of.” In reality, her house was wrapped in electronics, hooked to his multitasking cell phone that reported any movement on the premises. During the day, she moved around too much for the system to be of any use, but at night the sensors were his eyes and ears, allowing him to rest his own.
    â€œYou put up cameras?” Outrage gave surprising strength to her voice.
    â€œSound and motion sensors.”
    She seemed to relax at that. She’d probably been worried that he had spied on her in the shower. Hefelt a fleeting moment of guilt but shook it off. Not his fault, she should have closed the blinds.
    â€œDon’t take this as an invasion of privacy. If I hadn’t been watching you, I wouldn’t have been there in the parking lot this morning.”
    A quick succession of emotions flashed through her expressive face, and made him wonder if she was remembering the bullets, the driver of the brown van.
    â€œYou’ll be fine,” he said. He should have been able to find something more intelligent to say, but for the life of him he couldn’t. He hated the sight of her shoulders sagging as she nodded.
    She took a deep breath in a visible effort to pull herself together. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be treating you like a stalker. You were trying to protect me. I mean, you did. You saved my life. Thank you.” She got up and walked over to him, her right hand extended.
    He took it, so surprised at her frankness he forgot to let it go.
    â€œI’m sorry I’ve been such a witch. I just—I have no idea what’s going on, and I’m not handling it well, am I?”
    â€œYou’re doing okay.” Another brilliant response. He finally regained his equilibrium and released her hand, immediately missing its soft warmth. “You took it better than most.” Not that he knew what other women did in similar situations. Still, she hadkept her cool and, aside from demanding the finches, hadn’t been much trouble.
    Of course, the day was far from over. God only knew what awaited them. That reminded him. “I’m gonna run out to the car. I’ll set the alarm behind me. Don’t open any doors or windows. Don’t turn on the lights.”
    â€œWill we have to stay in the dark when night comes?”
    He nodded from the door. “We’re trying for the abandoned-farmhouse disguise.”
    He disarmed the system, restarted it, then, gun in hand, opened the door. Nothing moved outside. He stepped out and closed the door behind him before the system