Fatal Wild Child Read Online Free PDF Page A

He'll be with you in a moment. Would you have a seat?"
    Seth looked around the room. It was obviously being used as an office. A desk with in-laid leather panels dominated the corner, with armchairs pulled up to it. But he didn't want to sink into one of those and lose his footing. "Thanks," he said, setting his butt onto the arm of a sofa against the wall.
    Darlene smiled brightly, pushing a hand into her very short hair. A nervous mannerism. He was putting her on edge. "Well, can I get you something?" She waved towards decanters on the sideboard.
    "Coffee, thanks."
    Her hand dropped. "Er...espresso, macchiato...?"
    "Just black."
    She smiled again. "I'll be right back."
    "I'm sure you will." He crossed his arms and she almost jumped. He knew then she was aware of who he was. Not just his name, but his record. That was the reason for her nervousness. Only people familiar with his history got jumpy around him like that. She almost but not quite skirted him on her way to the door and that confirmed it. Someone had checked up on him since Gabrielle had phoned Daddy. Which meant Daddy had a very long arm indeed because Seth worked for people who didn't like their names mentioned loudly.
    Very interesting.
    Then Cameron Sherborne himself walked into the room and Seth knew he was in the presence of a man with a very long arm indeed. Seth had met more than his share of truly powerful men—politicians, businessmen and world leaders. He knew how to measure true power. Sherborne had it in spades. There were no grandiose gestures. It radiated along with the complete assurance that enveloped him.
    Sherborne didn't sit behind the desk. He didn't need the shield. Instead he walked over to Seth and held out his hand. "I owe you my thanks," he said. He spoke with an interesting preciseness. "Gabrielle made light of it, but I've seen what's left of the Mustang and the side of your truck and I've listened to enough stunt men over the years to know that what you did today was more than many men would have had the courage to try, let alone the stamina and speed of thought to pull off. For that I thank you. It's a paltry return for your services, but I have a feeling that anything more would feel like an insult to you."
    "Yes, it would." Seth had been braced by Gabrielle's warning to somehow defend himself against Cameron Sherborne. Now he felt his shield slipping in surprise. "You're an insightful man."
    Sherborne settled himself on the front edge of his desk. "I'm a relieved one, Mr. O'Connor. With your skills, you may already be aware that we've done a background check on you. These things are standard procedures in our family whenever a stranger appears amongst us, so you must not feel insulted about being singled out, or that we are suspicious of you in any way."
    "I'd figured it out," Seth agreed. "But I doubt that you found out as much as you think."
    "I know that you're part of Joint Task Force 2, Captain O'Connor," Sherborne said calmly.
    Seth took a breath. Then another. "You do have reach, if you were able to dig up that fact." He could feel his heart slamming against his chest.
    Sherborne held up his hand. "Oh, I won't pass it around. We also understand discreet in our family, too. I confess I find it puzzling that Canada does not make nearly as much fuss of its bona fide war heroes as America does."
    Sweat broke out on his temples. "Just how much do you know?" Seth whispered, his lips dry.
    Cameron Sherborne's eyes were almost identical to his daughter's, but Sherborne's gaze was hardened steel. "Afghanistan, Honduras, Haiti, the Sinai, the Persian Gulf...should I go on?"
    Seth shook his head. All of it. Sherborne had all of it.
    "Relax, Captain. I'm not about to trade Canadian military secrets away. I was making a point."
    "You made it," Seth said and wasn't surprised to find his voice emerged hoarse. His military record was supposed to be buried so deep even his immediate commanding officer only knew his name, rank and serial