Siren's Call (A Rainshadow Novel) Read Online Free PDF

He had a hard profile, a lean, tough, broad-shouldered build, and a raptor’s eyes. But it was the invisible shock wave of dark energy that infused the atmosphere around him that riveted her senses. It was as if he had brought an invisible thunderstorm into the chamber.
    The sound of bells clashing discordantly made her realize that her talent was still sparking and flaring, no doubt intensifying the impact the newcomer was making on her overheated senses.
    Deliberately, she reined in her talent. Not much changed. The man in the doorway remained a force of nature with the power to dazzle her senses.
    Get a grip. You’re still riding the rush. You need to settledown and think clearly
. He might be working for the good guys, but that did not make him any less dangerous.
    Ella heard a small chortle. She glanced down just in time to see the dust bunny vanish out into the hall. She was on her own.
    She looked at the man in the doorway.
    He held a flamer somewhat too casually in his right hand. It was the easy, sure grip of someone who’d had a lot of experience with the weapon.
    She finally managed to breathe. “Let me guess—you’re Vickary’s client?”
    “Not exactly.” He flashed a badge with his free hand. “Rafe Coppersmith, consultant for the FBPI and Guild task force that has been planning to take down Vickary’s operation for the past five months.”
    So much for making a couple of discreet, anonymous phone calls to the authorities.
    She cleared her throat. “I can explain this situation.”
    “That will be interesting. Who are you?”
    “Ella Morgan. I’m just a dream counselor. I’m not running Alien tech. I’m not involved in this operation, I swear it.”
    “You can explain the rest later. One thing I do know, you’re not the client Vickary was expecting today, so we need to get you out of here before he arrives. Go. Now.”
    He glided into the room and moved the flamer in a small arc, urging her toward the corridor.
    As a rule she was not big on taking orders, but in this instance there did not seem to be any reason to refuse. She started toward the door.
    But it was too late. Three men barred her path. One was dressed in an expensively tailored business suit. He would have looked like any other high-powered executive if it were not for the two men at his side. They were built like bulldozers and their eyes were pitiless.
    Enforcers, Ella thought. The one in the business suit was no doubt the boss.
    “Trent,” Rafe said. “Fancy meeting you here. I’m afraid there’s been a change of plans.”
    Trent glanced down at Vickary and then looked at Rafe. “Who the hell are you?”
    “Let’s just say that I’m taking Vickary’s place. Are you still in the market for Alien tech?”
    Ella realized that Rafe was improvising. He was literally making up the script on the fly.
    “Depends.” Trent looked at Ella. “Who is she?”
    “My assistant,” Rafe said without missing a beat.
    “Yeah?” Trent looked amused. “What kind of assistant would she be?”
    “She does odd jobs for me,” Rafe said. He smiled a knife-sharp smile. “Like taking care of Vickary, for example.”
    Ella froze. Rafe had just told a mob boss that she was his personal hit woman. Visions of her future as a top-flight dream counselor were going to go up in smoke if the situation did not improve.
    Trent raised his brows and gave Ella an appraising look, one that held a measure of curiosity as well as a hint of respect. “You’re that good at assisting?”
    Ella shot Rafe a veiled glance. She had no idea wherethe script was going, but it was clear he had just given her a part to play.
    “I’m very, very good,” she said with what she hoped was the right degree of professional-hit-woman cool. After all, she reminded herself, it wasn’t as if she didn’t have a talent that would have taken her far in that particular field—assuming she had been a total sociopath.
    In spite of her best efforts, she knew she hadn’t