Джена Шоуолтер - Black and Blue стр 2.

It took him a moment to realize she was serious. Women just didnt talk to him that way. They fawned. They flirted. They teased. Did I kill your cat or something, and just dont remember? Whats your problem with me?

Where to start? she said on a sigh. Oh, I know. How about the fact that youre a he-slut? Or do you prefer the term man-whore?

His sense of irritation grew. No wonder Noelle had warned him about the girl.

Have you lived your life so perfectly youve earned the right to judge me?

John stopped in front of them and held out a tray of crab cakes, golden eyes bright with determination. May I get you anything, sir?

Blue wanted to say A rack and flogger, but didnt. John would have found a way to get the items for him. Not yet, he muttered, dragging the girl toward the terrace.

Are you daft? she demanded, picking up their conversation as if it had never lagged. Everyone but your girlfriend knows about your affairs. Have you ever dated a woman you havent cheated on? Wait. Dont answer that. If my opinion of you dips any lower, Ill be tempted to murder youjust like Im tempted to tell Noelle what youre doing to her. I happen to like her and think she deserves better.

All right. So. The worst had happened.

Through gnashing teeth, he managed to say, You know why Ive done what Ive done.

Yes, and at any time you could have told Michael no. My guess? You like sharing your love juice behind your girlfriends back, she said.

Love juice? What, were they fourteen?

Before he could comment, she tripped over her own feet, surprising him with her clumsiness when shed been so graceful before, and bumped into

Their target, he realized. The wife of a government official. A woman who had no idea shed been caught selling her husbands secrets to the highest bidders.

Im so sorry, Evie said to her. The big oaf hasnt learned to share the walkways.

Blue worked his jaw in an effort to release tension. The attraction hed first felt for Michael Blacks daughter had been in the process of withering, and this just finished the job. He moved his arm to her waist, locking her against him, just in case she decided to bolt from the coming wrath.

The curves of her body fit perfectly against him. The heat of her burned his palm in the best way. Not that he noticed.

Do you have any idea what you just did? he snarled softly.

Of course I do, she replied, using the language Michael taught all of his agents. A language of his own invention, ensuring no one else understood. I took care of things. Our target will be dead within the next five minutes.

He shook his head, but it only intensified his confusion. What are you talking about?

I stuck her with my ring. She raised her hand and wiggled her fingers. A walnut-sized sapphire twinkled innocently.

You what? he shouted. The people around him cast dark frowns his way. Lips pressed tightly together to silence a stream of curses, he hauled Evie past Solo and the terrace doors.

Solo sealed them outside, giving them a moment of privacy.

When Evie faced him, Blue was ticked to realize his attraction hadnt died like hed thought. In the moonlight, the woman was a goddess, and he was momentarily struck dumb. Her pale skin glowed, making her look like a priceless pearl trapped in a dark sea.

Then she opened her mouth and ruined everything. You heard me, she said, her tone snotty. She raised her chin. I just did your job for you. Youre welcome, by the way.

Harpy! Your arrogance is unprecedented.

Thank you. She fluffed her hair, as if hed just given her the best of compliments.

And undeserved, he finished with a snap. Its going to get someone killed.

Her brow furrowed adorably. Isnt that the point of tonights entire operation?

Someone. As in you, he corrected.

Are you jealous? Is that what this is about?

He snorted. Jealous? Please. Maybe a little.

Her smile was as sharp and cold as a blade. Liar. But Im afraid youve got a hard truth headed your way. I only get better. A lot better. Im as good at defense as I am at offense.

Cant kill her.

Shes Michaels daughter.

You respect Michael. Love him.

If he had to remind himself a thousand times, he would. And how foolish was he, to have craved a challenge? Challenges sucked. Just so you know, I will be writing a review of your performance, Miss Black.

Great. I will pretend to care.

Michael isnt that good a friend, he decided. You arent as superior as you think you are. You have no real experience. A slight gust of wind danced a lock of hair over the deep V of her dress, drawing his gaze to her cleavage. Little teacup breasts, perfectly displayed. His hands fisted. The targets death was supposed to seem natural.

And so it will. I used a potion of my own creation. Completely untraceable.

Nothing is completely untraceable.

You havent seen my work. Yet.

He scrubbed a hand down his face. He wasnt going to get through to this girl, was he? I should put you over my knee.

She snorted. A spanking? Really? Thats your solution?

To start. He wouldnt contemplate the way he wanted to finish.

Why are you so angry, anyway? It wasnt like you had many choices. You couldnt shoot or stab her. Your only real option was to sex her to death.

I think I hate this girl.

Look, she said on a sigh. Dark eyes softened, revealing . . . a hint of vulnerability? I admit I was predisposed to dislike you, John, and Solo becausewell, it doesnt matter. Its my problem, and Im trying to deal. Im sorry Ive been so harsh with you, but I needed to make this kill.

Blue had always been able to sense the emotions in others. In fact, at the start of each new day, he purposely deactivated all things empathic. Only, Evies emotions were so strong they penetrated his shields. He felt her bone-deep hurt. Raw anger. Gut-wrenching fear.

Why?

He was desperate to know.

Desperate? Him?

Never.

He stepped away from her. End this. Now. Apology accepted, he said. For future reference, you made two critical errors tonight. You didnt work with your teamand the plan we already had in placeand you allowed arrogance to direct you. Thats the best way to make the worst decisions. You wont be the only one killed.

Is that so? Her narrowed gaze slid past him, taking in the party still in full swing beyond the doors. I calibrated the poison to the targets specific body mass and chemistry. If my calculations are correct, this mission will be over in three, two, one . . .

Someone screamed.

Frantic footsteps sounded.

Evie grinned, all hint of vulnerability gone. The target is now bagged and tagged. All thanks to me. Good luck next time, Mr. Blue.

One

FOUR YEARS LATER

WHATS WRONG WITH ME?

Evie Black executed her fiftieth lap in the long, rectangular pool that consumed half of her backyard. The sun shone brightly, heating her skin as well as the water. Very precious water. Expensive. During the human-alien war, a good portion of the worlds supply had been contaminated.

But then, she was obscenely rich and wanted for nothing.

She also had a fantastic job. At twenty-six, she was the youngest surgeon at St. Anthony.

It wasnt the life she once envisioned for herself, but it was a good one all the same.

So why did she feel so utterly unsatisfied?

Fifty-one.

Her heart thumped against her ribs. Her muscles burned from the strain.

Fifty-two.

Something had to be missing. Not a man. She didnt have time to date. Besides, there wasnt anyone she wanted to date. Her hormones were in hibernation, and had been for years.

Fifty-three.

Ever since Claire had

No. No, no, no. Not an acceptable thought path.

Fifty-four.

Eden Black, requesting video conference, a computerized voice announced.

Perfect. A distraction.

Granted, Evie said, and swam to the pool steps. As she emerged from the water, her sisters hologram appeared in front of her.

Eden Black was a beautiful woman. One of the rare Rakans to walk the earth, with golden skin, hair, and eyes. Adopted by Michael, trained as an agent. One of the best. Respected as much as John No Last Name, Solo Judah, andas much as she hated to admit itCorbin Blue.

The males her father loved as if they were his own flesh and blood.

That had always been a sore point for Evie, who had not met Michael until her eighth birthday. And for ten years after that, she had seen him only a handful of other times. Yet, he couldnt seem to function without the Dynamic Trio.

Why does no one want to keep me around? Was she really so terrible?

Whaa, whaa, whaa. Baby! Stop whining.

She blamed No Daddy Syndrome. For most of her childhood, shed assumed Michael hated her, and it gutted her. Even now, knowing that wasnt the case, she struggled with self-esteem issues. But at least she was on the road to recovery. Step one: admission of a problem.

Look at Miss Hot Stuff in her teeny tiny bikini, Eden said, wiggling her brows. Im so freaking jelly.

Evie stalked to the chaise longue to grab her towel, her sisters hologram moving with her, so that they were always in sight of each other. Before drying off, she struck a pose and said, Thank you, thank you. I try.

Eden rolled her eyes. Goofball.

Hardly. Everyone else called Evie spoiled and haughty, a party girl without a filter, who let daddys money buy her a career she didnt deserve. Uh, try honest to a fault. And never mind the fact that Evie hadnt been to a legit rager in years.

Headed for another job? she asked, rubbing her hair between folds of the cloth.

Yep. Michael wants me to do a little recon from inside a Shanghai prison. Im set for transport tomorrow morning, and I dont know how long Ill be there.

Dude.

I know. Eden pouted for a moment, then brightened. Hey, hop on the jet and join me. We can tag team the inmates hard-core.

She didnt even try to hide her shudder. Id rather be cut up and sold for parts.

Come on, Evie. Its been three years since

Dont go there, she rushed out. Looking back hurt. Hurt bad.

Unfazed, Eden said, You have to forgive yourself.

Have to? No.

Would she ever? No, again.

Well, hell, why not look back? she thought then. She deserved the pain.

Once, Evie had been desperate to prove her worth to Michael. To outdo his favored boys. To be strong like Eden. And at first she succeeded. But with every mission, every victory, her confidence grew, and her arrogance intensifieduntil boom!

Blues prediction came to pass.

She led the worst kind of criminal straight to Claires door. Sweet, innocent Claire. Brutalized. Murdered.

Dead.

Acid churned in Evies stomach, splashed through her veins, scorching.

She quit Michaels agency, and spent the next few months spiraling out of control. Then Eden charged into her life and quite literally knocked some sense into her, and shed straightened up. Shed even fast-tracked her residency at the hospital.

Her father still used her on the occasional job, but only as an asset, when he needed to get another agent inside a high-class establishment or party. He never used her as an assassin.

Fine, Eden said on a sigh. Stubborn girl. Ill suffer through the mission all by my lonesome.

Like youre really going to suffer. Evie stalked into the house, her sisters image remaining at her side. Cool air kissed her bare skin as she bypassed the leather couch, glass coffee table, and forty-inch holovision screen. Guaranteed your boyfriend will be sneaking into the prison to secretly satisfy your every desire. Lucius Adaire was an agent, too, and lived to make Eden happy.

True. Edens smile was dreamy. Speaking of boyfriends . . . are you dating anyone?

Evie stopped in the kitchen to pour a glass of wine. You ask that question every time were together, and the answer has never changed. What makes you think today will be any different?

Because you arent the coldhearted bitch you pretend to be, and one day youre going to snap out of this funk and want some guy to give it to you good and hard.

No way.

Not so fast.

An image of Corbin Blue flashed through her mind. Though he had the white hair and lavender eyes quintessential to his Arcadian race, everything else about him was all his own. At least six and a half feet of pure, raw strength, he had a body layered with the mouthwatering muscle hed earned playing football. Such a silly name for the sport. He had the face of an angel, so beautiful it sometimes hurt to look at him. He also had the smile of a devil. Wicked. Total temptation.

And powerwowzer, but that man crackled with power. Standing next to him was enough to raise the fine hairs on the back of her neck. At their first meeting, Evie had been gobsmacked by her up-close-and-personal sighting of him and had scrambled to put up impenetrable defenses. Not only had he been the boyfriend of an acquaintance, but he also had the reputation of a gutter rat.

Becoming just another one of his conquests held no appeal.

At least Noelle Tremain wised up and dumped the cocky bugger soon after the peace gala. Not that hed cared. Over the years, hed dated too many women to countall blond, all stacked, making it perfectly clear Evie had never been and never would be his type.