Careless Read Online Free PDF Page B

He smirked when his son raised an eyebrow.
“You know, just in case you said yes.”
    Mike picked up the sheaf of papers. “What the hell is this?”
    “Your proposed compensation package.”
    “Seriously?” They were offering to pay him more for the next twelve
weeks than he made during an entire year on the police force. He hadn’t
accepted the position for the financial rewards, he’d been thinking about
Tori’s safety and the debt he owed his old man, but he couldn’t deny it was a
nice perk.
    Josh handed him a pen. “Just sign on the dotted line.”
    “The police force is okay with me doin’ this?”
    Josh smiled. “You’re my son. You think I’m gonna do anything to mess
with your career?”
    Mike scribbled his name at the bottom of the page and tried to
ignore the little voice inside his head that told him he’d just signed his life
away.
     
     
    “No, hell, no, Luc! I don’t care what you say. I’m not workin’ with
that son of a bitch!”
    “What do you have against Mike? I’ve known him forever. He’s a great
guy and hell of a cop.”  Luc held up the bottle of scotch and waited for Tori’s
consent before he poured two glasses. “We need him right now, honey. I’m not
takin’ any chances this psychopath might make good on his threats while we’re
out on the road.”
    A wave of uneasiness skittered up Tori’s spine. The threats were
getting more depraved with each letter he sent, and that last one indicated he
intended to follow her wherever she went. She couldn’t imagine that anyone
would be crazy enough to trail her around the continent, but she couldn’t
afford to assume anything until they knew who they were dealing with. “We have
a capable security team. Why can’t we just step it up for the tour?”
    “Believe me, I intend to.” Luc passed her the glass. “That’s not why
we need Mike. I want someone with his skills as a detective to investigate this
case. I know the local cops have done the best they can, but I need someone
experienced, someone objective, who can afford to make this case his sole focus
for the next few months.”
    Tori threw back the shot, hoping it would help ease the tension
coiling in the pit of her stomach. She didn’t know which was worse: the
prospect of working with that pompous ass or having to look over her shoulder
every five seconds. “If you think he can be objective where I’m concerned,
you’re dead wrong.”
    She and Mike had seen each other plenty of times in the two years
since their night together, and each time, it took everything in her to pretend
he didn’t exist. How was she supposed to continue living in denial if the
people around her were determined to force him into her world?
    “I don’t get it. Why do you two hate each other so much? You and Jay
get along great.”
    “Don’t compare Jay to his worthless excuse for a brother. He’s a
good guy, a good husband, father... He doesn’t shirk his responsibilities or
make a fool of himself chasin’ after anything in a short skirt.”
    Luc raised an eyebrow as he brought the glass to his lips. “Those are
pretty harsh words, darlin’.”
    “Believe me, he deserves it.” She set the glass down on the counter,
wishing she’d accepted Luc’s offer of a driver. If ever she’d needed another
drink, this would be the time.
    “Regardless of your personal feelings toward him, this is my call.
I’ve made my decision, and Mike is the man I want on this case.”
    Tori crossed her arms. She wasn’t one to go down without a fight,
but she didn’t see how she could win this battle. It looked like her boss
already had his mind made up. “I can’t believe you don’t give a damn what I think
or how I feel about this.”
    “I care about your safety more than your feelings right now,
darlin’.” He poured himself another shot of scotch as Tori licked her lips,
wishing she could indulge. She knew she could hold her liquor, but her boss was
a stickler about his one-drink rule