The Perfect Hostage (A Super Agent Novella) (Entangled Edge) by Misty Evans Read Free Book Online

ever had.”
    Sadness tugged at her heart. She wanted to tell him she was sorry, but from dealing with the kids like him at the studio, she knew he’d see it as pity and hate it. “A mixed blessing then, yes? If you hadn’t chosen the army, we would have never met. You have served your country and saved dozens of people during your time with Team Pegasus. People like me.”
    He put an arm behind his head. “Some days that’s enough. Some days it isn’t.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Nothing.”
    Nothing translated to the failures of his latest missions, she would bet. That she understood. She also understood he wasn’t ready to talk about them.
    Laying her hand on his chest, she traced the outline of his tattoo. “What does it mean?”
    He glanced down, followed her finger with his eyes. “Some kind of endless knot or luck symbol. It’s Buddhist.”
    “You don’t know the meaning of your tattoo?”
    “Not really.” A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Got it a long time ago when I was still a Beret undercover in Indonesia. We were looking for a gang leader, so I went drinking with some of his boys. Befriended them, you know, and ended up with this tattoo and a hell of a hangover.”
    What a life he’d led. “I’d like to hear more of your stories.”
    He glanced at her, looked away.
    “If they are not…” What had he called it? Zara worked these types of missions. Secret. Top secret and … “Classified.”
    He came up on his elbow, stroked her arm. “You’re amazing, Lucie. I want you to know that I, uh, I…”
    Overhead, a thud sounded. Then another.
    Lucie glanced up. “What was that?”
    John looked at the ceiling as if he had x-ray vision. “Tree branch, probably.”
    They fell silent, listening. The wind blew and the house grew quiet. John kissed her and she kissed him back, wondering what it was he wanted her to know.
    They were getting hot and heavy when there came a faint squeak, squeak, squeak downstairs.
    John tensed in mid-kiss and raised his head.
    Squeak, squeak, squeak.
    Lucie strained her ears. “Is that the refrigerator?”
    His focus went to the bedroom door. “You set the security system, right?”
    Had she? So much had happened since the party, her memory was a blur. “I think so.”
    A nerve jumped in John’s jaw.
    “You think someone’s trying to break in?”
    “After this storm? Nah.” He flipped back the sheets, pulled on a pair of sweatpants. Rummaged in his overnight bag and stuck something black in a pocket. “Probably the fridge like you said. I’ll go check.”
    He didn’t believe it was the refrigerator. She rose and grabbed one of his shirts from the floor. “I’ll come with you.”
    His ear was against the bedroom door and he looked over his shoulder. “You stay here. It’s probably nothing. I’ll be back in a minute.”
    No way. She was going with him. But a drop of fear entered her bloodstream. Fear—the emotion she hated most.
    John slipped out the door. “Lock this behind me, okay?”
    Lock it? The fear spread. “John—”
    “It’s okay.” He smiled, but his body language said it was not okay. “I’m just being paranoid.”
    Paranoia. Her best friend for months after leaving Paris. “Better safe than sorry, yes?”
    With a nod, he shut the door. Lucie crossed the room and laid a hand on the lock. This was ridiculous. Houses always made weird noises at night. The blizzard might be over but the wind was still blowing hard. That could be the cause.
    She locked the door anyway. Refusing to give in to senseless fear, she backed away and sat on the bed. Then she flipped on the bedside lamp.
    Nothing happened. The power was out. Luckily, the house had a backup generator. It would kick on momentarily.
    A minute passed. Deep in the bowels of the house, she heard a motor start. The light came on and Lucie breathed a sigh of relief.
    Another minute passed and she heard nothing downstairs. No John.
    Waiting sucked. Especially when adrenaline