Heart of an Assassin (Circle of Spies) Read Online Free PDF Page B

followed the natural path they always found and led me to the shoreline. In no certain words, I’d told Adamos that I’d needed some air before we went home. I wasn’t happy with my spoiled brat moment but my whole life had fallen into pieces on my first real mission. The rocky sand shifted under my feet and I found a spot to plop down and feel sorry for myself.
    The waves licked the rocks and a cool breeze whipped off the sea. I shivered and rubbed my arms. The sun had disappeared completely. I grabbed a nearby stick and dug at the sand, something, anything not to think about my life. Both Mom and Adamos wanted to keep me safe. That was the justification behind all their decisions. On the wake of this last disaster, I could never talk with Mom about Malcolm. Kissing him and succumbing to his charms—and his lips—was like playing with the devil. At any time the heat could turn dangerous. Was his family connected to the break in at Constance’s house? Maybe they were looking for hard, cold facts before slitting his throat over a bowl of granola.
    I was so consumed in and enjoying my pity party, that I didn’t even hear the footsteps behind me. So when a hand touched my shoulder, I screamed and jumped away.

 
     
     
Seven
    “Holy crap! Way to sneak up on a girl.” Then I was thankful the night hid my blush. Of course, he was nearby.
    I expected a lecture, or one of his famous riddles, but instead Adamos dropped a stack of kindling in front of me. He piled the pieces of wood up in a circle of bigger rocks and within minutes a fire warmed me. His silence wasn’t abnormal. I mean the guy wasn’t much of a social butterfly. Darkness shadowed his face so I couldn’t even tell what he was thinking. He’d want to know why I’d fraternized with the family who had held him hostage. I could explain about Malcolm and the connection we formed in Paris. I could tell him that Malcolm had plans. My heart fluttered. Or I could tell him I didn’t realize how strong my feelings were for Malcolm until I saw him again.
    When he spoke, his voice cut through the dark.
    “There is much we do not know for I left the brethren and the monastery too early, before learning the whole truth.” He poked at the fire and I wasn’t sure if he was talking more to himself or me. “If I’d known that pulling your mother from the ocean that day would mean my life would change forever I would’ve dug around for the truth a little earlier.”
    Holy moly—hold the phone. He slipped. He totally slipped. He pulled Mom from the ocean? “Say that again?”
    A smile carved his face and I knew he wouldn’t leak any more secrets.
    “The whole time in Paris is dark for me,” he said. “I remember talking to you but I can’t recall the details of my abduction.”
    I tucked my knees close to my chest. “To tell you the truth, I’ve been trying to forget the whole experience.”
    “Do you remember anything?” he prodded.
    His words were soft, but they did the job and brought the memories to the surface. My experience in the catacombs of Paris might be a blur, but certain conversations were branded into my brain forever. I couldn’t help but glance right and left into the darkness, trying to see an invisible enemy.
    “Something about monks trying to kill off two ancient societies, meaning my family and Malcolm’s,” I said, studying the fire. The flames constantly morphed but stayed the same too, consuming the air, out of control but in control at the same time.
    “Yes. Monks I once respected and called brothers.” He gazed across the Mediterranean. “I’m afraid we’ll never know the mystery behind their actions.”  
    I followed his gaze. “Yeah, but they’re holed away up on some mountaintop, right?”
    He pointed across the sea. “They are on an island not too far from here. That is why I’ve been so protective and wish your Mom would move you to another country. Anywhere but here in Greece.”
    Crap. It was worse than I