Shift by Sidney Bristol Read Free Book Online Page A

To keep her safe. If that wasn’t a vote in his favor she didn’t know what was. It could also be a ploy to keep tabs on her, but she didn’t think Emery’s frustration was make-believe.
    â€œLet’s go.” She strode to the passenger side of the car and slipped into the lap of luxury. The interior was black leather, silver and tech. It was a car perfect for Emery.
    She strapped in and wrapped her hands around the coffee, soaking up its warmth while the rest of her felt numb. The safety she’d felt with the crew was gone. If CJ knew, wouldn’t Aiden and Julian?
    Emery reversed out of the parking spot and within moments they were headed toward the highway.
    â€œHow many know?” she asked. Was Roni really safe?
    Emery glanced at her, but the voice in her head was silent. She couldn’t take false words right now. She needed the real thing.
    â€œCJ, probably Kathy, you and me.”
    â€œNot Julian or Aiden?”
    â€œJulian would never leave if he thought we were threatened, and Aiden wouldn’t have gone to Orlando. He’d have everyone off the grid or somewhere defensible.”
    His words comforted her, but only a little.
    It was just CJ then, and by extension Kathy. The two agents, husband and wife, did nothing without each other, though their roles were very different. CJ was ultimately in charge. Kathy was an odd mix of administrator, tech support, and communications hub. They’d also become family. But family didn’t turn their backs on each other.
    Tori drew in a breath and glanced at the road. The stoplight ahead of them flipped from yellow to red. It took everything inside of her to not scream at him to keep going.
    â€œWhy are you doing this?” she asked.
    Emery was FBI. He should have stuck to CJ’s plan.
    Emery eased the Tesla to a stop and turned to face her. She shivered under his intense gaze.
    â€œWe’re a team. Teams look after each other.”
    And I’m in love with you.
    She wished.
    â€œThanks.” The light turned green. The acceleration pressed her into the leather as he shot off the line. Oh, to race the Tesla . . . wouldn’t that be fun? “Tell me about the hit team. Why me? What do they want?”
    â€œThat is unclear.”
    â€œWhat do you know?”
    â€œI was undercover and received intel about Russians coming to Miami for a hit. They mentioned something about it being girls and a grudge. I’m making an educated guess based on information about Evers and the Russians. There’s no sense in putting our team in danger.”
    She wanted to lean across the console and kiss him. Sure, he might be doing this for whatever logical reason made sense to him, but to her, he was a knight in a shiny car. It was better than any fairy tale she’d ever read. Now if the hero would just like her back.
    â€œWhat next?” They needed a plan. And she needed to get her head out of the clouds.
    â€œDispose of our phones. Get supplies. Lay low. I tagged the hit team so TSA will check their bags. The cops will also receive a heads-up. Hopefully they don’t like the attention and call the whole thing off.”
    â€œWhy me?” And Roni, but for now Roni was safe.
    â€œI don’t know.”
    Tori had an idea, but she prayed she was wrong.
    She sucked in a deep breath, the Florida skyline blurring in her vision. How long would this go on? How could she continue to live like this?
    * * *
    Emery stared at his screen, tapping keys at random. The gibberish on his screen couldn’t pass for any known language. He couldn’t focus past the noise of Tori moving through the house. Her presence felt like a constant pulse against his skin. He’d always been aware of her presence, but this was getting ridiculous. He could work under any circumstances, anywhere, anytime. Except right now.
    Tori stepped out of the bathroom, a paper bag tucked under her arm. He watched her in his peripheral vision