Dark Cover (The DARK Files #2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

my temper get the best of me. I shouldn’t have lumped you in with that rat bastard Philip.”
    But like Philip, he was smooth and urbane. His confidence and exotic looks then had sent a current of electricity through her that scrambled her circuits. Out of self-defense as well as sibling loyalty, she went extreme on the attack.
    “Forget about it. I’m lucky you were wielding a paint roller and not that deadly Smith & Wesson.” His voice and gaze softened. His mouth twitched, but didn’t curve into a smile.
    Just as well. If he smiled, her heart might not be able to survive the impact.
    “I won’t be carrying the 640 again. Danielle wouldn’t have a firearm.” She grinned. “Back then, I was an FBI special agent. I had a Sig-Sauer 9mm.” She saw no reason to mention that on paint duty, she hadn’t been armed.
    His mouth thinned and one ebony brow arched. “I’m intrigued. How did a redhead from Brooklyn—”
    “Queens.”
    “Queens, then. How did a redhead from Queens get to the FBI and DARK?”
    “Don’t tell me you’re one of those sexist pigs who think women should be secretaries or socialites.”
    “Not me. Two of my company’s top executives are women. In spite of your militant defense of your sister, you don’t seem the cop type.”
    She’d heard that many times before. “I come from a long line of cops. My dad’s a desk sergeant in Queens now, but he walked a beat for years. Jason’s a detective in Manhattan. Troy’s a uniform cop.”
    “Where does Diana fit? Youngest? In the middle?”
    Ouch. So he was still interested in the cover girl. So what had happened? She couldn’t bring herself to ask. “Jason. Then me, Diana a year later. Troy’s the baby.”
    “So why the FBI and not NYPD?”
    Was he checking her qualifications? “New York City seemed to have enough Wades on the job. And I wanted to leave home.” Observing an FBI negotiator at a bank robbery when she was twelve had led her to the Bureau and their use of her people talents. Talents that seemed to fail her with this man.
    He sat as implacable as Buddha, awaiting the full story.
    Another memory constricted her throat. “Some of the cops who died in the 9/11 attack were family friends. I joined DARK years later when it was formed under the Homeland Security Department. I had to do what I could to prevent more carnage.”
    He nodded solemnly. “I’ll bet you never expected to trap terrorists by living in a Chevy Chase mansion.”
    “And you never expected to be in the midst of a terrorist trap.” When he didn’t react, she said, “I’m glad we’ve cleared up the past. But our having a past causes a small problem.”
    “And what’s that?”
    “You know my real name. You can’t call me Vanessa even in front of Officer Snow. Thinking of me as Danielle must be a habit. One slip could jeopardize the entire mission.”
    His features hardened, his expression closed and cautious. The soldier — or the CEO — was back.“I have no problem with you as Danielle. Trust me to play my part, or find another woman to be Danielle.” He paused. “Ah, is that it? Do you want out — Danielle?”
    Here was her chance. She hadn’t wanted this undercover gig to start with.She felt as false as the fake rock that weighed down her third finger, left hand.
    Director Nolan wouldn’t see this glitch as a legitimate out. He’d said she was the best one for the job. And finding a new Danielle double would take time they didn’t have. Stopping the terrorist attack was of prime importance. Her reluctance counted for nothing in the scheme of things.
    Surely her awareness of Nick as a very attractive man was a complication she could avoid acting on. But could she ignore the other complication her intuition nagged her about — the troubled soul that lurked beneath his strong facade? She had to. For the duration — four weeks, tops — she could remain uninvolved and play her role.
    “I don’t want out. If you have no problem, neither do