Sin and Sacrifice Read Online Free PDF Page B

in, she
glanced across the car. “Where are we going? Who are
you?”
    “ Let me get us somewhere
safe, and I'll explain.”
    Whoever he was, he had a
pleasant, sandpapery voice and an efficient, no nonsense manner
that made her want to trust him. Like he could handle anything and
everything that came their way. Evelyn wasn't used to trusting
anyone but her sisters and cautioned herself against her own
instinct.
    He set the gun on the
console between them, started the engine, and reached over to
fasten her seat belt. A moment later he pulled a knife from under
his seat. It flashed sharp and silver and scared her half to death.
Even as she twitched in shock he sliced through her binds and
retreated. The blade disappeared with a sleight of hand move too
fast to follow. He gave her a look that seemed to chide her for
thinking he meant her harm after saving her.
    Then he pulled the car into
traffic. Black and sleek, the vehicle smelled new, a little like
pine, and handled like a dream. When he took the corners too fast
it hugged the road, growling like a panther after its
prey.
    Assaulted by his presence
and the distinct, masculine scent that clung to his skin, she
peeled the ropes off her red wrists and let them fall to the
floor.
    “ How did you know where to
find me?” She couldn't help herself. The questions came
unbidden.
    “ Can you just...give me a
minute? You'll get your answers soon enough.” He glanced at her
with mild impatience and took the next curve with a screech of
tires, seeming to know his way through the streets of Athens
without needing to consult a map. “You look like hell.”
    His blunt assessment would
have struck her funny any other time. Just then, her warm, fuzzy
feeling of safety and assurance was overridden by waspish
irritation. “I was kidnapped and tortured. I'm pretty sure I have
the right to look like hell.”
    “ Do you have any
idea why they
kidnapped you?”
    “ I thought you couldn't
answer questions right now?”
    His sudden smile was all
teeth. Checking the rearview and side mirrors with obsessive
repetition, he said, “I'm not answering. I'm asking.”
    Evelyn exhaled loudly. “I have no
idea--”
    “ Wait.”
    “ I just thought you said
you--”
    “ Hold on.”
    Evelyn saw that he wasn't
referring to the awkward question and non-answer session but the
light that had just turned red ahead. She pressed back in the seat
in reaction, feet jamming down to the floorboards, hands flying out
to the door and his arm. It was the first thing in reach to her
left. Pain shot in several directions from the sudden contact with
her damaged fingers.
    He shot into the
intersection doing about fifty.
    Evelyn saw a flare of
headlights coming from his side and was sure they were about to be
broadsided. Probably flipped. She tried to scream and couldn't.
Tires screeched, horns blared. By some miracle the two cars
hurtling into the intersection at the same time missed them,
spinning wild circles in the red wash of their
taillights.
    Evelyn glared at
him.
    “ Are you trying to get us
killed?”
    “ We're being followed. I
had to push it. Will you let go of my arm?”
    She snatched her hand away
from his biceps and twisted around in the seat. Behind them, a
tangle of cars blocked the thoroughfare. “How do you know for sure
we're being followed?”
    “ Just trust me. They're
back there.” He stomped the gas coming out of another turn and sped
through a residential area.
    “ I think you should take
me to the U.S. Embassy. They can help me.” She put her hands in her
lap and faced forward. Bringing herself under the direct scrutiny
of the officials there wasn't ideal, but it was better than being
hunted for the rest of the night.
    “ Lady, I am the government. We'll
be at the safe house in ten minutes.”
    Shocked, Evelyn glanced at
him. He didn't look like any government official she'd ever seen.
His hair was too long and his clothes were wrong. Didn't they wear
suits? And how had he known