Blacklisted Read Online Free PDF

disappointed to become the focus of A.I.R. scrutiny. And you know what happens when I’m disappointed.”
    â€œYou have nothing to worry about, sir. I have as much at stake as you do.”
    â€œI’m a vault,” I said weakly. “Secrets are safe with me.” I closed my eyes and my head lolled against Erik’s shoulder. I think an eternity passed before we stepped out of the building and into the night. Warm, clean air brushed against my bare skin, against my arm, and I wanted to scream at the sharp ache it caused.
    â€œWhich one is yours?” Erik asked.
    I grit my teeth to cut off a moan. “Not mine. Shanel’s.” I don’t know why I felt the need to point that out. Like he cared who the car belonged to. “The black sedan.”
    â€œDo you have any idea how many black sedans there are?” He growled low in his throat, exasperated, irritated, clearly pissed. “Open your eyes and at least point me in the right direction.”
    I did, on both counts, then closed my eyes again. How could such a small injury be so painful? How had such a promising night morphed into such a nightmare?
    He led me to the car and held my hand out for fingerprint ID. My arm was so shaky I couldn’t hold it up on my own.
    â€œNow tell it to open,” he commanded.
    â€œOpen,” I said.
    Nothing.
    Erik uttered another of those menacing growls. “Is it programmed to accept your voice?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œThen speak as strongly as you can, so the car recognizes you. Standing out here in the open is dangerous.”
    I forced a rush of air from my lungs and said, “Open!”
    The car door popped open and Erik settled me into the passenger seat. “Tell the driver door to open now.”
    â€œOpen,” I said, even weaker than before. That door, at least, obeyed and soon Erik was settled beside me. “Accept new voice,” I commanded before he could instruct me. I wasn’t a complete idiot. Most days.
    â€œStart,” Erik said, and the engine instantly roared to life. He programmed in a destination and we were off.
    As the car rolled along the streets and highways, heavy silence surrounded us. I was finally alone with Erik Troy, just like I’d dreamed. Yet I’d never imagined these circumstances. Me, injured and covered in blood. Him, both my tormentor and my rescuer.
    â€œThat was cruel,” I said.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œThe napkin.”
    He didn’t reply.
    His silence hurt. Would it have killed him to apologize? To explain?
    I kept my eyes closed and my head against the seat rest. A little while later, the whoosh of fabric cut into my thoughts, and then I felt something cool pressing against my arm.
    My eyelids sprang apart and I gasped. Erik was leaning toward me, doing something to my wound. “Stop that,” I commanded. “Whatever you’re doing, stop.”
    â€œIt needs to be done,” he said flatly. “You’re still bleeding.”
    He had taken off his shirt—and was bare from the waist up—to apply pressure to the injury. I wish I’d had the presence of mind to enjoy the sight of his tanned skin, hard muscles, and a black cat tattooed on his roped stomach. As it was, I would have rather been lying on a gurney, an IV in my vein.
    â€œAre we going to the hospital?” I asked hopefully.
    â€œHell no.” He scowled at me. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done? Do you have any idea what you could have ruined?”
    His face was red with anger, his eyes bright with fury. I didn’t know what I could have ruined, no, but I knew I didn’t like being the target of that gaze. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”
    â€œâ€˜Sorry’ doesn’t fix the damage you’ve caused. I was this close. This close to success, and in less than two minutes you managed to destroy all my work, making these last few months a waste.”
    Rather than