Driven by Fire Read Online Free PDF Page A

responsible for it. You’re too nice a girl to know people messed up in something like that. Unless it’s your family.”
    Jenny wanted to throw up. She jerked her face up to look directly into his dangerous blue eyes. There was no expression in them—he was playing with her, though she wasn’t quite sure why.
    Their eyes caught and held for a long, tense moment, and she didn’t dare back down. Finally he leaned back. “However, even your family steers clear of child prostitution and sex trafficking, at least as far as I’ve been able to discover. Even if you’re closer to them than you pretend, they’re unlikely to have been involved. So that rules out one possibility.”
    It wasn’t the most reassuring thing he could have said, and she hid the shiver that went down her back at his prosaic words. Before she could say anything he rose, clearly dismissing them. “All right,” he said, bored, “you told me what you want—I’ll do my best to get it as long as you promise to leave me the fuck alone.”
    She could feel Soledad’s faint tremor at the sound of the word. The girl knew that word, and knew it meant anger, danger, and trouble. “Watch your language,” Jenny said.
    “Or what?” He eyed her coolly. “I don’t think you have much leverage in the situation. You can’t tell my mommy on me.”
    She wanted to tell him what an asshole he was. She didn’t trust him, didn’t like him. She knew the negative feelings were mutual, but he was the only one she could go to for help. Her only solace was that there was no way he could find out what she had done that day on the freighter—only she and Billy knew.
    She turned to Soledad, trying to ignore him. “I’ll take you back to my place for the time being—I’m sure Mr. Ryder will do his best to get you settled as soon as possible.” She turned and gave Ryder an even glance. “You will, won’t you.” It wasn’t a question—Ryder was someone who would use any uncertainties to his advantage.
    “Your wish is my command,” he said, moving toward the door. He stood there waiting for them to precede him into the hall. At least that mama she couldn’t tattle to had taught him good manners.
    They walked in silence down the darkened hall, with Jenny reaching the front door first. It had an array of locks and safety measures that looked as if it belonged in a nuclear facility, and she waited for him to start unfastening them. He did so quickly and efficiently, pushing open the door into the bright, hot midday sun of New Orleans.
    “Have a good day, Ms. Parker,” he said, and she knew he was mentally saying don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out. She could feel relief and regret pulsing through her.
    “I have every intention of doing so. I’ll call you first thing tomorrow morning to see what the plans are.”
    “It depends what you consider first thing. I don’t get up before ten o’clock.”
    She didn’t believe him, but she was hardly going to say so. “I’ll call at eight.” Moving past him, she stepped out onto the marble entranceway when something whizzed past her and a piece of stone went flying. For a moment she froze, looking back in confusion, and then the sound came again, like some crazed bumblebee had decided to attack. It stung the side of her head and she put her hand up when suddenly Ryder grabbed her, yanking her back into the darkened house so quickly she stumbled and went sprawling on the hardwood floor. He slammed the door behind them and Soledad quickly knelt at her side, her soft small hands touching Jenny’s face, a look of worry in her beautiful dark eyes.
    And then it was Ryder’s face looming over her, looking both disgusted and inpatient. “Just how big a fucking idiot are you?” he demanded. “Don’t you know when you’re being shot at?”

Chapter Three
    “Shot at?” Jenny echoed dizzily. “Why would anyone shoot at me?” She reached up to touch the stinging spot on the side of her head, and