Bound to Danger: A Deadly Ops Novel Read Online Free PDF Page A

her mother had been in there pierced through her numbed mind. Darkness edged her vision, but she started to run toward the fire, needing to get to her mom, when another ball of flames tore through the night sky. Her entire body trembled under the impact, heat warming her despite the distance from the building. She blindly reached for something to hold her up but collapsed to her knees as her legs gave way. Tears streamed down her face as, unable to help, unable to breathe, she watched the place implode on itself.
    Though she tried to fight it off, the darkness that had threatened to overtake her earlier suddenly claimed her as she passed out.

Chapter 2
    Agent: a person officially employed by an intelligence service.
    M aria held her phone to her ear as she listened to her dad talking and tried to rein in her tears. The sheets of the hospital bed beneath her were surprisingly soft, and the scent of flowers from the two dozen bouquets and baskets filling her large room gave off a too-sweet aroma. All of it made her want to throw up. And it had nothing to do with her previous flulike symptoms, which her body had finally kicked.
    Her mother and hundreds of people were dead, she was in the hospital because the doctors had been worried she might have a concussion—though they’d now ruled that out—and she was barely keeping it together. She also couldn’t remember anything from before the explosion. Hell, she couldn’t remember much of anything from yesterday. Not even leaving for the fund-raiser. But she knew she’d been there because she’d woken in a rumpled formal gown as paramedics lifted her up on a stretcher, talking about how it was a miracle she was alive. Waking up like that had been a nightmare of confusion and panic. Of pure freaking terror.
    But the real nightmare was learning her mother was really gone. She’d already lost her older brother in Afghanistan. To lose her mother too . . . she swallowedhard. God, why couldn’t she remember anything? The doctors said her mind was blocking out what she’d seen as a defense mechanism and that she might eventually get her memories back. Eventually wasn’t good enough.
    “We’re leaving now, sweetheart. I’m sorry I’m not there with you. . . .” His voice broke, her normally rock-solid father faltering.
    “I know, Dad,” she said, her own voice thick with unshed tears. “Just get home safely. Nash is here, so don’t worry.” Well, he was outside the hospital room, not with her. She closed her eyes as if that could block out the reality of the situation.
    Her father said something else, but it barely registered. After they said their good-byes, she hung up and laid the phone on the bed next to her thigh. Her chest ached so bad she just knew it was about to crack open. Her mom . . . no, she wouldn’t even think about what had happened.
    Not here. Not when she was about to have a breakdown of epic proportions.
    Forcing her body to obey her when all she wanted to do was curl into a ball and cry until she passed out, she got up. Cool air rushed over her exposed back and backside as her feet hit the chilly linoleum floor. She wasn’t wearing any panties and the hospital gown wasn’t covering much of her. She didn’t care.
    Right now she didn’t care about much at all.
    Sometime when she’d been asleep her dirty, rumpled gown had been removed from the room. And someonehad left a small bag of clothes on the bench by the window. No doubt Nash had brought her something to wear. He’d been in to see her a few times, but she’d asked him to leave each time. She felt like a complete bitch because she knew he just wanted to help, but she didn’t care. Nothing could help, and being alone with her pain was the only way she could cope right now.
    Feeling as if she were a hundred years old, she’d started unzipping the small brown leather bag when the door opened. As she turned to look over her shoulder, she found Nash, a uniformed police officer, and