Angel Bait (Angel Assassins #1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

Patrick’s desk.
    Ionie skimmed it. “Why?”
    “It’s a simple question, Ionie Gifford.”
    She pressed her lips in a hard line and leaned against one of Patrick’s award displays. She glanced at
The Associated Press
plaque for Feature Writing, the editor’s name emblazoned across the brass nameplate.
    “What’s my work have to do with your visit?”
    The nephilim pinned her with a silver stare. “Merely curious.”
    “Jarrid told me you’re working a story that intersects with something he is pursuing,” Patrick said.
    Was she dreaming? She was tempted to pinch her arm, but resisted the urge. Barely. “What are you working on?”
    Jarrid’s smile seemed cautious. “It’s classified.”
    Suspicion stirred low in her chest. “Then why come to a newspaper?”
    “Reporters interact with many races,” he said.
    “So do cops.”
    Patrick’s expression pruned. “Jarrid wants to ask you some questions about a couple of your sources.” She opened her mouth to protest.
    “Before you complain, I’ve already approved his request. You don’t have many sources anyway. You’ll give him info about the city, its people. The works.”
    “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
    I’m not a freakin’ library!
    “What do I get out of this awesome arrangement?” Her voice sounded petulant to her own ears.
    Jarrid scowled down at her. “What do you want?”
    Her heart thundered. The Jeopardy game show theme looped in her mind. Could she find out about her mother’s last moments? A web of possibilities spun in her head.
    “An exclusive story on angels.”

CHAPTER FOUR
    Jarrid peered down his nose at the female reporter, cataloguing her.
    Ionie Gifford
.
    Twenty-five-years old.
    African-Caucasian mix.
    Short
. Her head barely rose above his midsection.
    Five-foot-eight.
    Dark-brown hair and eyes.
    Curvy
. Her baggy shirt contoured to the sides of the jeans she wore.
    “No.” He drew up to his full height.
    “Hear me out.” Ionie cocooned her upper body with her arms. “I can work up a Sunday feature on angels. A week-long series depending on the information I get.”
    “No.”
    She picked up the discarded newspaper, stabbing at the crime section with a finger. “The only interesting thing in here has to do with the burned body in River Rouge. That makes three bodies. All women. All burned beyond recognition. All dumped like trash.”
    Jarrid kept his face neutral.
    Smart woman. She’s already put them together.
    “Let me get closer to you,” she said in a tone just shy of pleading. “Let me write a story, and I’ll introduce you to my sources. You can drill them for the
classified
job you’re on.”
    Jarrid considered her in silence. His orders were clear — find the woman sought by the Renegade.
    Done
. The outlaw had to know the Order would recognize his involvement from the three stories she’d written. Now Ionie confirmed she was clever enough to draw the cases together.
    Was she always so dogged?
    He had to be careful — and keep her close. Heaven wouldn’t appreciate her exposing the Renegade in black and white.
    Maybe the bastard wanted to throw her off his trail?
“I accept your terms.”
    “If you decide … wait, what? Did you say yes?”
    Tanis is going to molt when he hears this shit.
“Your sources and information in trade for a … story on angels.”
    Never in a million years is that happening.
    Ionie hit him with a staggering smile then turned to face her editor. “We can send a photographer ahead and — ”
    Jarrid shook his head. “No photos.”
    Ionie’s attention whiplashed to him, her hands perched on her hips and her expression tight. The skin at her almond-shaped eyes pinched.
    Ready for a fight
.
    “Feature stories scream for pictures. If you’re shy, one of your friends — ”
    “No photos.” Jarrid ignored her irate look.
    Ionie turned away to plead with her editor. Jarrid zoned out, contemplating her. A flare of curiosity rose up within him. Her back was to him and