Silent Pursuit by Lynette Eason Read Free Book Online

take in a shuddering breath.
    Ian clasped her hand, the warmth of his palm searing her,giving her strength to finish the letter. “I’m sorry I didn’t get the chance to show you how much. Ian’s a good man. He’ll know what to do. Grandmother thought the world of you. You’re the only woman in her life who didn’t disappoint her. Thank you for honoring her and keeping her memory close to your heart. All my love, Mario.”
    Silence filled the small rental. Tears dripped down Gina’s chin as she scanned the letter through one more time.
    Ian cleared his throat. Gina sighed.
    â€œYou…um…didn’t have to read that out loud.”
    â€œI know, but if there’s anything in there that can help us, you need to have the information.”
    â€œYou were close to his grandmother. Did he have any other family?”
    â€œNo, just the sister who died. I suppose his mother is still out there somewhere, but…” She trailed off with a shrug and stared out the window. Time for a change of subject. “So, are you going to check on Jase?”
    â€œYeah.” He dialed the number. Jase answered on the second ring. Ian asked, “Are you all right? What’s the situation?”
    â€œI’ve got it under control. I’ve also got a slight concussion but was lucky. I’m still alive.”
    Relieved, Ian said, “Good. Stay that way, will you? Listen, I’m going to take Gina someplace safe. I’ll be in touch.”
    â€œRight. Let me know if you need anything. I’ll keep digging into what Mario was doing before he died.”
    â€œYeah, I’m going to do the same. Hey, what is it you wanted to tell me, but…couldn’t earlier?” He let the question hang, hoping Jase would pick up on what he meant.
    A pause. Then a sigh. “I think Mario was cheating on Gina.”
    Shock and anger punched him, but Ian kept his voicesteady. After all, he’d seen the possibility with his own eyes. He’d just wanted to chalk it up to the alcohol fogging Mario’s brain at the time. “Why do you think that?”
    â€œAfter a mission in Colombia, I saw him with a woman. They were looking pretty cozy.”
    â€œProbably just some undercover thing,” he said, trying to justify it.
    â€œNo, we were done with the mission, coming down off the high that follows success.”
    â€œHuh. Then maybe…” He couldn’t think of another excuse for Mario.
    â€œI took some pictures of them.”
    That sparked some interest. “Why?”
    â€œI don’t know. Gina was such a great girl and it really bugged me that he would do something like that to her. I’ve been looking for a girl like her all my—” he cut himself off, but Ian felt a pang of sympathy for the man. “Anyway, I walked up and confronted him.”
    â€œIn front of—”
    â€œYeah, in front of the girl.”
    Ian winced. “How’d that work out?”
    â€œShe got up and left. If her words had been a sword, Mario’s head would have been rolling at her feet.”
    â€œOuch.”
    â€œAw, he deserved it. Anyway, I told him I had the pictures and if he ever did anything like that again, I’d give them to Gina.”
    â€œWhoa, Jase. Man, that was kind of…”
    â€œI know, I know. Anyway, as you can imagine, Mario was furious. Threatened to kill me if I did anything to jeopardize his relationship with Gina. Told me to get rid of the pictures.”
    â€œDid you?”
    Another pause. “No.”
    â€œSee if you can figure out who the woman was.”
    â€œWill do.”
    â€œGreat. Talk to you later.” Ian hung up.
    â€œSo, what was that all about? Is Jase all right? And where are we going?” Gina’s voice jerked his attention back to her.
    He turned left, then a quick right. Ignoring the first question, he pointed. “There.” Then he pulled to a stop in