Sweetest Surrender Read Online Free PDF

but decided against it.
    He had all the information memorized and this was definitely the correct address. The woman had proven more resourceful than he’d given her credit for when she’d run from him. She didn’t have a bank account in her name, didn’t use any credit cards and as far as his investigator could find, she wasn’t using her social security number for work anywhere. She also hadn’t been in contact with any of her friends since she’d gone on the run. Had even deleted all her social media accounts.
    It was as if she’d literally vanished into thin air. But he knew that wasn’t the case and his very expensive investigator finally had a lead on her place of residence.
    Slowly cruising by the apartment building that was supposed to be hers, he was surprised by the level of activity this late at night. The place was older, set up almost like a motel with visibility of the front doors from the parking lot. An older man stepped out of the apartment next to hers carrying a bucket in one hand and a folded up plastic sheet in the other. He set the supplies next to a paint can before returning inside the apartment, but he left the door open. On the other end of the upstairs balcony three teenagers were smoking cigarettes and talking.
    Since there was a parking spot open, he slid into the space. They didn’t appear to be marked for guests or residents, but he wouldn’t be staying long anyway.
    Taking a gamble that the man with the plastic sheet was in maintenance, he pulled a few bills from the center console and shoved them in his jacket pocket as he exited the vehicle. Instead of his normal suit he was wearing jeans, a plain T-shirt, a nondescript windbreaker and a ball cap. Nothing to make him memorable. It was one of the reasons he’d rented a standard four-door car with no bells and whistles. Just a plain, domestic car that wouldn’t stand out anywhere.
    Scanning his surroundings as he made his way up the stairs, he breathed a sigh of relief when the older man exited the apartment again, this time locking the door behind him. He didn’t want to wait around to talk to this guy, didn’t like being in this neighborhood.
    He smiled as he approached the older man. “Hi, you got a second?”
    The man just watched him, his body tensing.
    So he hung back a few feet, not wanting to crowd the maintenance guy. “I’m just looking for someone.” He pointed to the apartment door behind him, the one that should be Angel’s. “My friend’s sister has gone missing and we’re just trying to find her.” He had a picture of her, but didn’t pull it out yet. “She’s got red hair, dark green eyes, about this tall, really cute looking in that girl-next-door way.” He held up a hand to measure her height and kept his smile friendly. When the guy didn’t respond, he reached into his pocket, figuring he wanted money.
    Everyone did. It was how the world worked. You could buy any damn thing you wanted with the right amount of cash.
    He froze when the man spoke, his words harsh and guttural. In another language. He watched the older man who started talking to him in rapid-fire…was that Russian?
    When the man took a breath, he said, “I don’t understand.”
    Shrugging, the man shoved the plastic sheet into the bucket, then picked it and the paint can up before striding past him, muttering under his breath in the same language.
    He stood there for a moment, debating his options. He could just knock on her door and surprise the hell out of her. It wouldn’t be hard to take her off guard. Just punch her in the face and barrel his way into her apartment. If she even lived here. But that left open too many variables.
    When he realized the teenagers had stopped talking and were watching him curiously, he turned and headed back to his car. That was exactly the variable he didn’t want to deal with. Witnesses.
    He’d been patient for two years, he could wait another night before he started scoping out her place.