Whispers in the Dawn by Aurora Rose Lynn Read Free Book Online

the only woman you think you’ll ever love is unbearable. Time and space will heal some of that,” Justin Torrance said. He faced the blue-green ocean and the palm trees waving in the breeze. It was a true Paradise, but without Abby, what did natural beauty mean?
    Harley said nothing. All he had the energy to do was sit in the folding lawn chair and stare listlessly at the pounding surf.
    “I also know,” the old man said, brushing a wisp of hair from the side of his head, “that you want to get back at whoever killed Abby.”
    Harley sat straight up. “Have you ever been married, Torrance?”
    “Once. Long ago. When I was your age. It didn’t work out, but it doesn’t mean I don’t miss her still.”
    Harley pursed his lips. “So what do you know about the perfect woman?”
    “Not much,” Torrance admitted in a husky whisper.
    “Put me back on the job,” Harley pleaded.
    “I can’t do that. Your loss is too fresh and might impair your judgment on your next assignment, when your partner needs you the most.”
    Like Abby , Harley thought.
    “When your shrink has assured me you’ve dealt with this satisfactorily, I’ll send you on an assignment. But not before that.”
    Harley squared his shoulders. “What do you mean by ‘satisfactory’? That might be years.” He’d never get over Abby. She had been his light, the being that had kept him going during the darkest hours. He admitted that sounded as corny as a sappy greeting card, but it was true.
    “Just as long as it takes.” Torrance spread out his hands in front of him. “It’s up to you how long that will be.”
    Harley grunted. He wasn’t about to tell Torrance he’d kill the son of a bitch who had murdered Abby. He didn’t need the GDA director’s permission for that.
    “Don’t ruin your career, Harley. I know what you’re thinking.”
    Harley gnawed his lip, frustrated with the man’s unrelenting determination not to let him back on the job.
    “You know I lost another agent in the warehouse, not just Abby. I can’t afford to lose more of my finest people.”
    “Someone betrayed us. Someone knew we were going to be in the warehouse. Roland Baylon was our informant. He was the only one who knew we would be there that night.”
    “That’s only speculation. That particular fact doesn’t make him the guilty party.”
    “It’s a lot more than speculation. She knew who the traitor was.” The four-week-old memories resurfaced to torment Harley. A raw emptiness persisted in his gut. He would never forget how the warehouse had exploded, leaving stumps where Abby’s sexy legs had been.
    “I’m not saying she didn’t.” Torrance finally directed his wandering gaze to Harley. “All I’m saying is, we have no evidence of who turned on us. It could have been Baylon, or it might not have been.”
    “I have proof. Abby told me,” Harley blurted.
    “Possibly. Simmer down, son. There’s nothing you can do to bring Abby back.”
     
    Shortly after the older GDA man had departed in the helicopter that had flown him to the island named Lost Paradise, Harley had hatched his plan for revenge. Having a plan had made him feel marginally better.
    Now, Odessa strongly reminded him of Abby, but Odessa was more feminine, without the rough edge Abby had cultivated to deal with their tough GDA assignments.
    Harley sighed, getting to his feet slowly as if he was three times his age, and sank into a chair at the dining table. If he had carried a videograph of Abby, he would have dug it out of his black carryall and examined her face. Lord, he couldn’t remember exactly what she’d looked like, or how her skin had felt against his searching hand. All he saw was Odessa Grante’s eyes flashing a dazzling blue as her anger flared to life.
    Goosebumps trickled along his forearm. He groaned in dismay. She had overheard the Murrach’s conversation with him. Or had she? She had given no sign she was awake when he had sat on the bed and began his