The Sway Read Online Free PDF

your father. When will he be in town next?”
    Not good. I couldn't tell if I was made or not yet.
    â€œI'm Julia Statton. This is my dad's busy season. He won't be back until the end of the month and, even then, he will probably only stay for a day or two to refuel before heading to Prague.”
    My fingers were going numb from the force of Hank Thomas' grip. Cole placed a strong hand on his father's arm.
    â€œWe go to school together, Dad. Julia's dad is gone as often as you are. Stop grilling her. You know what it’s like to have the majority of your clients overseas.”
    Hank Thomas slipped on a mask I was familiar with: the fake happy one.
    â€œYou’re right, son. I'm sorry, Miss Statton. I tend to be a bit protective of my son.”
    He finally released my hand. His eyes twinkled as he waited for me to show weakness by shaking off his crippling grip. I didn't give him the pleasure. Cole grabbed my other hand and entwined our fingers.
    â€œWe’re going for a ride. I’ll see you when I see you.”
    Anger showed on Hank Thomas' face as he took in our hands and his son’s attitude. He quickly replaced it with a calm façade.
    â€œI am going to be leaving tonight for a while. I'm not sure exactly when I will be back,” he said.
    Cole shrugged. “You never are. It doesn't really matter.”
    Hank eyed me and dropped his gaze to our linked hands again, then looked up at Cole.
    â€œI want you to join me this week. I have one of the jets set up to bring you to me on Wednesday afternoon. I've already cleared it with your school.”
    Cole tensed and gripped my hand a little tighter.
    â€œDad, you know I want nothing to do with you and your business. I just started a new semester and changed classes. I can't just take off whenever you feel the need to try to act like a real father,” he spat out.
    Hank Thomas glared at his son. The animosity wasn’t something I had been expecting; our intel hadn’t pointed to any disruption in their family unit at all. In fact, it was the exact opposite. They went to Yankees games together and brunch every Sunday. Was this teenage rebellion, or had we been that wrong?
    â€œNot up for discussion. I already cleared it with your school and told them I have provided a tutor for the time you will be missing. Enjoy your night.”
    Hank walked past the two of us toward a door that had a fingerprint scan to allow access to the room. He placed his thumb on the device and waited as his identity was verified.
    Cole pulled me toward his room. This wasn't good for the agency. Hank taking his son out of the states would be for very specific reasons. He had done it in the past during intense discussions involving his dealings in the Middle East. Hank pulling him now meant something was coming.
    Cole slammed his door shut and pulled his fingers through his hair.
    â€œHow wrong is it to hate your father? Is it because I’m seventeen, or is it because he’s the biggest asshat on the planet?”
    I laughed and then covered my mouth. Cole had just described the agency’s biggest problem as an asshat. Hank Thomas really was, in all honesty, exactly that.

Chapter Three
    I sat at Cole's desk and looked out over the darkening skyline. He was changing his clothes back in a closet beyond my field of vision. Even after the confrontation with his dad, he remained calm, calmer than I had expected him to be. I had to admit it impressed me. For a boy with no real understanding of what his father was capable of, he held his own. Cole was his own person, unapologetically, much to his father's dismay.
    â€œReady, Julia?”
    I stood up from the desk and turned to see him dressed in tight jeans and a leather motorcycle jacket. I swallowed my lust for him and reminded myself we’d never even have crossed paths in this world if I hadn’t been assigned to babysit him by the government.
    â€œYeah.”
    A smile crossed my lips