The Temptation Read Online Free PDF Page B

as well as formerly infamous hackers—who had disappeared from the scene once employed by RED. And of course we had many who weren’t well-known at all but who were among the best of the best.
    Within the CC were multiple team centers for every operation currently in progress. Along the wall to the right, the only breaks in the flow of smooth black granite were doors to several private conference rooms. I turned to my left and walked along the glass-walled offices for all Team Supervisors, including my office.
    At the end of the row was the office of our ASAC, Karen Oxford. She was tough, fair, and had no obvious sense of humor.
    I walked past offices for the Team Supervisors. Lee’s and Taylor’s were first followed by Nick’s, which had stayed empty since he left. The door was closed and it looked like lights were on, but it was hard to tell with the floor-to-ceiling blinds drawn. I almost paused to knock on the door, but forced myself to continue on to my own office. Beyond my office were Karchner’s, Martinez’s, Armistead’s and Blomstein’s and then Oxford’s at the end.
    When I entered my office, I turned on the lights and closed the door behind me then pressed the button on my desk that buzzed the blinds closed. I wanted privacy. Needed privacy. Soon enough I’d see Nick and I wasn’t sure I was ready.
    In one corner of my office was a punching bag that I used to work off stress and in the back closet were a few changes of clothing including workout clothing. A couple of chairs were in front of my desk and I had a few family photographs on my credenza. Other than my huge computer monitor along with the keyboard, there wasn’t a whole lot in my office. I like to keep things simple.
    I sat at my desk and scooted up my chair. As I looked at my desk, images came to me of all the times Nick and I’d had sex on it. Wild, crazy, animal sex.
    Trying to force the pictures in my mind away, I logged onto my computer and pulled up Bachmann’s files and key information for Operation Big Bad Wolf. My palms still stung a little, but I’m a fast healer. My knees hadn’t been bothering me at all.
    A knock at my door had me raising my head. The knock sounded like Nick’s. I don’t know why I felt that way, but I was sure it was him.
    “Come in,” I called out and waited for the door to open.
    Nick stepped inside and my heart melted at the sight of him. His gorgeous blue eyes met mine and I took in the features that I knew so well. I’d missed him more than I’d realized, and I knew it wasn’t just the sex… It was more than that. A lot more.
    His jaw was dark with stubble and his hair had a slight wave to it. He wore a dark blue T-shirt and over that he wore a long-sleeved shirt to hide a holstered weapon. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. His Levis were snug in all the right places and he wore a pair of athletic shoes.
    He closed the door behind him and walked toward me. Words wouldn’t come to me, which wasn’t like me at all. I was always ready with some kind of smart remark, but for the life of me I couldn’t think of anything to say.
    He braced his hands on the back of one of the chairs in front of my desk and he held my gaze.
    “Have you heard the news about Eckstrom?” he asked, breaking the spell that had held me hostage.
    I frowned. “I didn’t listen to the news this morning.”
    Nick pushed his hand through his hair. “He was found dead in a hotel room downtown.”
    My eyes widened and I stood. I felt off balance. “What happened?”
    “He’d been playing tie-up games with a prostitute,” Nick said. “They still don’t have all of the details, but right now they don’t think it was murder although they’re not ruling anything out.”
    “Eckstrom was one of the only people to know about RED.” Not to mention our orders came through him. I thought about the chain of command and the few involved in RED’s existence. “The President is going to have to fill in Eckstrom’s