Burning Ache by Adrienne Giordano

Author:Adrienne Giordano
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Steele Ridge Publishing

* * *

This might be above Roni’s pay grade.

Memories of lying on a lumpy mattress, huddled under the covers, praying for peaceful sleep and no pervs peeking in her bedroom door, assailed her.

That feeling, that lack of control devoured her, making her stomach pitch.

Before she did anything, she needed a second to regroup, think the situation through. She settled onto the stool by Way’s workbench and closed her eyes.

His warm fingers touched her skin. Childhood instincts roared back and she flinched, snapping her arm away before popping her eyes open.

He lifted his hand, held them both up. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t sneak up on you. You okay?”

Not even close. Somehow, her simple assignment to investigate Way Kingston had turned into a…thing. A thing that left her wondering if the CIA might be setting her target up.

Or if Way might be playing her. Slowly convincing her of his innocence just to get the agency off his tail.

Who to trust?

She shook her head and faced Way, gazing into intense dark eyes that might be holding all sorts of secrets. “You think threatening the CIA with the release of top-secret information is the way to go?”

“Part of this game is getting the killer’s attention. If someone in Harding’s department—maybe Harding himself—sold my design, I want them to know I’m not afraid of a public fight.”

“Even if it gets you killed?”

He waved that off like she was some fool woman. Well, this fool woman had seen enough criminal activity to know certain people had no soul. Zero conscience. And whoever was running around shooting acid bullets was driven by something. Something deep and angry and ferocious. Way Kingston shooting off his mouth would only fuel that anger.

A person capable of this kind of violence would have no issue with adding one more kill to their roster.

“I can take care of myself,” he said.

Idiot. As if any of this measured his ability to protect himself. “I’m sure, but taking on the CIA isn’t exactly the way to make friends in Washington.”

He shrugged. “I don’t care about friends in Washington. I won’t have my reputation destroyed because the CIA screwed me.”

She didn’t want to believe it. That the agency would so willingly sacrifice a contractor. But, she supposed, this was politics. Most times, politics stunk.

Her own phone rang. No doubt who this was. In her short time with the agency, she’d learned how fast information traveled. She pulled the phone from her back pocket and saw Karl Quigley’s cell phone number light up her screen.

She held it for Way to see. “Karl.”

He grinned. “See? That didn’t take long.”

At least someone was entertained. Roni? She had a hole burning through her stomach. After Karl’s impromptu visit last night, who the hell knew where he might be. He’d hopped into the rear passenger seat of the SUV and left.

Her best guess was he’d flown back to Langley after checking on her.

Might as well face this new round of wrath and get it over with. “I have to take this.

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