Raging Fire (Guarded Secrets Book 4) Read Online Free PDF Page A

something ready to push them over the edge. How else could Demon and Sandstorm have found me so quickly? Someone must have seen that I had nothing left to live for and called it in. Hell, maybe even Demon saw it himself and thought I would make a good agent. They took me in, found out what my strengths were, and worked with me on them until I could be turned into a weapon.
    “What kind of family matter?”
    “I heard my biological father passed away. I just want some time to figure out if it’s true and if it is I’d like to take a day and pay my respects.”
    I could see the disbelief in Sharp Shooter’s eyes. In the seven years I’ve been here, never once had I mentioned my father to him. Frankly, I didn’t care whether he died or not because I partially blamed him for our family’s deaths. If he had watched out for us better, then maybe my siblings would still be alive. But if I had been more vigilant then maybe we wouldn’t have walked into that trap. It wasn’t right to blame him when my stepfather was the one responsible for sending us away, but it made me feel better to think it wasn’t entirely my fault. I couldn’t live with the guilt.
    “Are you sure that’s all that’s bothering you?”
    My gaze didn’t falter. I held his incriminating glare until he relented. Whether he believed me or not, I wouldn’t tell him the truth until everyone was safe from Harley and the remaining members of the Cardoza Cartel.
    “You can have all the time you need, Spit Fire, but I want to be kept up to date on it. Tell me when the director calls, what’s going on, and I want updates during the mission. As for your father, you can request a day of leave should you wish to visit him.”
    I nodded, waiting for more to come but it didn’t. We stared at each other in silence. His steady gaze seemed as if he was attempting to intimidate me into telling the truth, but if that’s what he wanted he was out of luck. I had my story and I’d stick with it until the end. I waited patiently to receive an order and eventually he gave in.
    “You can go now, Spit Fire,” he said with a quick flash of his gaze toward the door. “Thanks for coming in, and I still want a report when you get back from working with the CIA.”
    “Great.” The word lingered in the air longer than usual, showing my distaste for these useless meetings. At least this time I got something out of it—a cover story. I raised my hand as a quick goodbye before turning to leave the room, trying not to give him a chance to call me back. I wasn’t fast enough though.
    “Oh, Spit Fire.” Sharp Shooter’s voice picked up a few notches, as if he had suddenly remembered something. When I turned back I saw a familiar knowing smile that told me he knew what was really going on. “Night Stripe was in the team room with Renegade before they followed me in here. When you finish talking to them, send them back to me. I know they aren’t done talking about this.” He shook the file lightly in his hand. I noticed he didn’t mention the contents. He didn’t know I already looked inside, and thankfully he wouldn’t know that I intended to hold off their mission to Washington for as long as possible.
    I nodded again. “Thanks, I’ll send them right to you when I’m done talking to them.” I quickly left, pulling the door shut behind me. Thankfully this time I made it out. If I spent too much time talking my lie could fall apart before I was ready. I could mess up my story and I didn’t want to let that happen. The less I said, the better, at least until I had finished and could tell them what I’d actually done.

 
    Chapter 3
     
    I looked for Night Stripe in the team lounge, but didn’t find her. I couldn’t even find Renegade to ask where she was. I was sure he would know where his girlfriend had escaped to. They seemed to keep pretty accurate tabs on each other while in the building and on missions, but they may not know exactly where the other is