Transference by Sydney Katt Read Free Book Online Page A

sudden stop in the middle of the deserted road. "You're actually serious about this."
    The pain in his eyes confused her. "Um...I'm starting to wish I hadn't said anything. I don't see the big deal."
    He shook his head and refocused on the road, bringing the car slowly back to life. "That explains so much in retrospect. She had another go-to guy the whole time. Bitch set me up from the beginning."
    "Who? My father?"
    "This isn't a love story, princess. I'm talking about whichever agent was on duty when they were together."
    "Oh." So he was that upset about not being the top agent? "So, the booty call that wasn't?"
    He chuckled. "Long story short, she gives me the song and dance about being her best guy and wanting to transfer me out because there was no one else she could trust to oversee an off-the-books op she was coordinating with her intelligence cronies."
    "The thing with Eli?"
    "Not at first, but that was the end result."
    "And you left the Secret Service because...?"
    "I failed to contain the situation after Barrows escaped. My op went bad, so it was my ass. And when an op that big goes sideways, everyone involved gets dead."
    "You've been on the run too?"
    "Yeah. Stafford always played things close to the vest, so I thought she might have something incriminating stashed at the residence." He shook his head slightly. "She didn't."
    "And that's when it seemed like a good idea to assault her?"
    Brad turned his full attention to her without slowing the vehicle. "No. That was an accident. It was dark and I thought it was someone on her security detail coming in." He turned back to the road. "But I'm glad the broken nose ruined all her photo ops for the next week."
    "You really think she somehow set you up?"
    "I know she did. Whoever's running the op has a lot of leeway, but there are limits. My kill order had to come straight from her."
    "Oh. So you were just in charge of the minor things, like framing innocent men for murder?"
    "Something like that." He grinned over at her. "Of course, now that I've told you that, I'll have to kill you."
    "Bring it on, Markenson." Allison flicked her tongue over her dry lips. "I'd love to wrap my shoelaces around your throat again."
    His voice finally relaxed the rest of the way. "If we're going to get all nostalgic then I can try to find another room with...were those gnomes?"
    "No way. I still have nightmares about that fucking wallpaper."

    * * *
    After that, the remnants of the sexual tension simmering between them dissipated and they managed to maintain a companionable banter for the remaining hours of the road trip. It reminded Brad of the time he'd spent befriending her in AA. Despite playing a role that was his polar opposite, he hadn't felt as comfortable with anyone else in quite a while.  
    Certainly, he'd never felt as at ease with Stafford, even after they got on a chummy first name basis while she set him up.
    Nina Stafford. He still couldn't quite believe how thoroughly she'd played him. If there was a history of secret rendezvous with Waverly, what else had she hidden from him? Too bad he didn't know this new bit of news sooner. Just thinking about how he might've been able to stop his fall from grace and subsequent exile made him a little ill.
    In fact, he could hardly concentrate on driving, missing the turn he'd planned when mapping out their route. That wasn't like him. This shouldn't affect him. If they were going to make it to Costa Rica then he was going to have to get back on his game.
    Sleep. That's what the problem was. He hadn't gotten much the night before. Maybe a few extra hours today would help sharpen his focus again.
    Rattled, Brad pulled into the lot of the first motel he ran across after that. Before Allison could comment on the time, he hopped out of the car to get a room for the day. This time, it was a room with two double beds.  
    No repeated mistakes this time.
    As they had the previous night, Allison showered while he secured the room. She exited