Smoke and Fire: Part 3 by Donna Grant Read Free Book Online Page B

they mention me and looking through my house and things for information on you and Dreagan.”
    “Let’s no’ forget they want you to remain at Dreagan.”
    Kinsey made a face. “They’re so obvious. Oh, and we can’t forget the picture they have of us and how they followed us, taking pictures while we were together.”
    There was something in Ryder’s gaze that warned her there was more coming right before he said, “They’ve continued to follow you, Kins.”
    “That’s not funny.” She really wasn’t in the mood for jokes, but she prayed that’s exactly what this was. It was bad enough to discover her every move while she was with Ryder had been observed. If they continued to follow her after he left, she just might lose what little restraint she had.
    “No, it’s no’,” Ryder said and blew out a breath. “I went in behind you yesterday onto Kyvor’s servers and I found a file labeled KEY . It was buried under dozens of useless files. I probably wouldn’t have even found it except for the layers of firewalls and viruses surrounding it. That’s what I was working on when I sent you to bed last night.”
    “But you got through?” That was a stupid question. Of course he’d gotten through.
    He rubbed his jaw and gave a slight nod. “After hacking through another five-step process, I did. These people wanted whatever was in that file to stay hidden and protected.”
    At this Kinsey laughed wryly. “I hope that whatever was locked away so securely was something we could use—like a list of names associated with Ulrik.”
    “If only that were the case.”
    Kinsey couldn’t take much more. She cocked her head to the side. “Just tell me.”
    “It was a week-to-week account of your movements for the past three years. Who you saw, what you ate, where you went. They even mentioned what you wore.”
    She couldn’t draw breath into her lungs as the room began to swim around the edges of her vision. My God. How could these people be there every day and she not have seen them? Was she that oblivious?
    No. It wasn’t her. She’d had no reason to think she was the object of some study. Perhaps if she’d known Ryder’s secret she might’ve paid more attention.
    “There are pictures to go along with every report turned in,” Ryder added.
    Kinsey turned her chair clear of the table and got to her feet. It felt as if the room were closing in around her. She was shaking and she was chilled to the very marrow of her bones.
    Her mind was stuck on the fact that someone knew every detail of her life. She grabbed her stomach as it rolled viciously.
    “Take a deep breath,” Ryder said, his voice right by her ear, soothing and deep. His arms came around her gentle and secure. “Close your eyes and concentrate on my voice.”
    That she could do. It was much better than thinking of the other. Kinsey let her eyes close and focused on his voice and the warmth of his body.
    “I’ve got you, Kins. It’s going to be all right. Just breathe. That’s it. Breathe.”
    She stopped hearing his words and laid her head back on his chest. His strong arms supported her body and her worry. And it felt so bloody good. She couldn’t imagine facing this alone, but as long as Ryder was near, she wouldn’t have to.
    Little by little, the overwhelming emotions began to subside.
    Ryder tightened his hold around Kinsey. He closed his eyes in relief when he felt her relax against him. She’d gone white, her body tense as she began to hyperventilate.
    He hadn’t wanted to tell her what he’d discovered, but Kinsey had a right to know just how much those at Kyvor had violated her privacy.
    All because he’d been with her.
    After all Ulrik had done to the mates, Ryder had actually assumed he’d escaped what the other Kings had been put through because he’d left Kinsey years before.
    Ryder couldn’t have been more wrong had he tried.
    A sound behind him had him turning his head. He saw Dmitri just inside the doorway. Dmitri