The Mercenary and the Shifters (The Turning Stone Chronicles) Read Online Free PDF Page A

The night sounds, which had kept her awake in the cottage, transposed into a woodland lullaby. Soon, she found herself drifting off.
    But night creatures invaded her dreams, morphing from human to animals and back to humans. She fought them off with a knife, but the blade bent whenever she thrust. Rubbery and useless.
    In the wind, mixed with the sound of crickets, her mother’s voice sighed.
    Be certain you’re willing to take the risk, Fiona. There’s no turning back. You will live in fear. An evil rogue shifter wants to take your power.
    “I have to,” she told her mother. “I can’t stop now.”
    Something reached out of the darkness and grasped her arm. Fiona screamed as a hand dropped over her mouth.
    “Fiona. Wake up. You’re having a nightmare.”
    Mike’s voice brought her from the depths of terror, and she gasped as she jerked awake. She let her breath out in a shaky exhale.
    “Are you okay?” he asked.
    She nodded, then realized he couldn’t see her in the dark. “Yeah.”
    “The shooter?”
    “No. Monsters. People and animals. I couldn’t kill them.”
    “Assassins are monsters. Animals, too.”
    Her dream couldn’t be about the shooter—unless he was a shifter. Sleep had exposed her uncertainty over whether she could succeed with her planned double-cross of OmniWorld.
    “Funny you think so. As a security and bodyguard guy you might have to off someone. Wouldn’t killing someone qualify for the assassin category?”
    “I’m a mercenary for hire, but I’m not one of the bad guys. I fight the bad guys.” His tone told her, in no uncertain terms, she’d offended him.
    “Sorry. I’m sure you’re a good guy. Hugh recommended you.” She drew in a deep breath and exhaled slowly, trying to get a grip on her emotions. “Forget I said anything, please. It’s my nerves talking. I’ve never been involved with bad guys before.”
    “Aside from the smuggling,” he quipped. “Maybe I’m the one who should be careful dealing with you.”
    “I’m innocent. Homeland Security cleared me.”
    The sun peeked through the drapes, lighting the room just enough she could see the tiniest smile curl his lips.
    “But then you know, don’t you?” He’d baited her and enjoyed doing it. She nodded toward the lightening window. “I guess we’re safe for the moment. How about some breakfast?”
    Mike glanced at his watch. “The home improvement store should be open. I’ll get the wood for the window while you fix breakfast. Deal?”
    “Deal.” She rose from the floor and stretched her tense muscles. Mike stood, removed his weapons and ammunition bandolier, and stashed them in his duffel bag. “Okay if I put these in the front entry closet while I’m gone?”
    Fiona retrieved her gun from the floor and stuck it in her waistband. “Sure. Pancakes and bacon okay?”
    “A big stack sounds great.” As she picked her way over the broken glass at the room entrance her cell rang. She thumbed it on.
    “Good morning, Fiona,” said Mr. Swindell.
    “Hold on a minute,” she said to her caller. “Gotta take this,” she mouthed to Mike.
    “I saw a truck in the garage,” Mike said. “Mind if I take it?”
    She retrieved the keys from the front hall table and tossed them to him. As soon as Mike was out of earshot, she went back to the call.
    “Mr. Swindell, you’re calling early.”
    “We have a job for you, my dear,” Swindell replied.
    Her heart leapt, bringing her to a stop. “I thought I’d be meeting with my mentor before I got a job.” She drew a deep breath to steady her nerves. Some underhanded rogue job was not in her plans. She had to stop this. Now.
    “This deal seems one-sided to me. You’ve commandeered my ship for an illegal cargo of cigarettes, and now I have a job?”
    “Illegal? Who says the cargo is illegal?”
    “I’m not stupid, Mr. Swindell.” Although Mike certainly believed so, she couldn’t afford to let OmniWorld or the rogue shifters think she didn’t have the