Dangerous Desires Read Online Free PDF Page B

keep him from the truth. “Will had certain needs. And…” she trailed off. “Did you say ‘was’?”
    “Yes.” He held out another photograph.
    She took it, her stomach threatening revolt, as her brain struggled to process the scene depicted. Will lying in the street. His body crumpled like a rag doll, his blood staining the pavement. “Oh, my God.”
    “You left me no choice,” Ortiz said, his voice devoid of emotion. “I had to clean up your mess.”
    “You killed him?” The words came out a strangled whisper.
    “I gave the order.” Ortiz shrugged, his gaze never leaving her face.
    “But he hadn’t done anything to you.” She shook her head, the photograph falling from trembling fingers, drifting to the floor.
    “Ah, yes, but if he’d helped you escape…”
    “I told you he was my lover.”
    “And I’m telling you it’s a lie.” He slapped her hard and she jerked back, eyes wide as she covered her cheek with her hand. “I’m certain you were asking him for help. And I know why.”
    She froze, her heart threatening to break through her ribs.
    “You were in my office.” His voice was soft, but there was a thread of steel.
    “I’m in your office all the time. I work for you, remember?” She clenched her fists, praying for a miracle—certain that none would come.
    “Yes, but this time you were there without my permission. And you found the letter.”
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    “The hell you don’t.” He raised his hand again and she shrank back, but instead of striking her, he clenched his fist, his hand dropping back to his side. “Shall I spell it out for you? Your sister is dead. And you decided you wanted out. And you thought William Richardson would help you, but you miscalculated. And now he’s dead.”
    “But I’m still alive. Why is that?” she asked, anger pushing away her fear.
    “Because we believe you can still be useful to us.” His gaze had turned speculative.
    “And why would I want to help you? You killed my sister.” She spoke through clenched teeth, hanging on to her control by sheer force of will.
    “I did nothing of the sort.” He waved a hand in dismissal. “Your sister killed herself. She was a junkie. And like all junkies, she simply couldn’t stop.”
    Madeline swallowed her tears. “I should have been there with her. You should have told me.”
    “There was nothing you could have done,” he said, his expression impassive. “And I needed you focused on your work.”
    “So you lied. You let me believe she was still alive.”
    “I did what was best for our operations.”
    “And now?”
    “Now,” he shrugged, “you will continue to pay off her debt. Besides the drugs, there is the small matter of the hospital.”
    “And if I refuse,” she said, clenching her fists. “Then what?”
    “Then I’ll be forced to tell the authorities where you are. They still believe you’re in San Mateo. And murder is a crime punishable by death.”
    She shivered but held her ground. “You’re bluffing.”
    “I never bluff,” he said, his gazed locked with hers. “And if that isn’t enough to keep you in line, consider the information you’ve stolen. The men you’ve deceived. There are bound to be consequences for such duplicity.”
    “But I was working for
you.
If you bring me down, then you come with me.”
    “You always were naïve.” His laugh was harsh. “There are ways of releasing your identity without involving the di Silva organization. We’ve been careful to insulate ourselves in case you failed. And that protection will only play in our favor should I choose to throw you to the wolves.”
    “You wouldn’t.” The words came involuntarily as she thought of the men she’d duped. Powerful men who’d like nothing better than to make her pay.
    “Oh, believe me, Madeline,” he said, jerking her forward, his fingers biting into her skin, “if you make any further attempt to betray us, one way or another, your