The Winning Element

The Winning Element Read Online Free PDF Page B

Book: The Winning Element Read Online Free PDF
Author: Shannon Greenland
Tags: Suspense
“What can we do to make sure you stay?” Her soft tone, so unlike her, made tears press against my eyes.
     
     
    “Nothing.” I swallowed. “TL knows where I stand.”
     
     
    bzzzbzzzbzzz.
     
     
    My cell went off. I reached over to my dresser, picked it up, and checked the display: ***. It was TL’s stat code.
     
     
    Wide awake, I quickly swung my legs over the side of my bed and tiptoed into the bathroom. Since it was five in the morning, Cat, Bruiser, and Beaker still slept.
     
     
    I washed my face, swished mouthwash around in my mouth, and then tiptoed back across the girls’ room. I tugged on jeans and a T-shirt and quietly made my way out.
     
     
    The long, dark hallway seemed to stretch to eternity as I strode down it toward TL’s room. My stomach flip-flopped in anticipation.
     
     
    Coming to a stop at his door, I closed my eyes and took a couple of deep, fortifying breaths.
     
     
    This was it. In a couple of minutes, I’d find out if I was staying or leaving. I’d gone over our conversation an endless number of times last night. I felt no regrets for giving TL an ultimatum.
     
     
    I’d had to do it.
     
     
    I hoped he understood and didn’t make me leave. I loved my new life and wanted more than anything to stay.
     
     
    Opening my eyes, I tapped on TL’s door.
     
     
    “Enter.”
     
     
    I turned the knob and stepped inside. David sat in one of the metal chairs in front of the desk. What was he doing here?
     
     
    He didn’t look at me as I took the seat beside him. I sensed he was upset about something. He was probably mad I hadn’t told him about the ultimatum. I would have, but I hadn’t seen him since my conversation with TL.
     
     
    Behind TL, his bedroom door sat propped open. His covers and pillows didn’t appear disturbed.
     
     
    TL picked up his mug with a tea bag dangling over the side. “I’m going to say this only once, and there will be no more discussion on the subject.” He made eye contact with first me and then David. “My marriage to Nalani Kai is no one’s business but mine. Neither of you will tell anyone she is my wife. As far as you’re concerned, she’s a field agent. Nothing more. Do we understand each other?”
     
     
    “Yes, sir,” David immediately answered.
     
     
    “Yes, sir,” I echoed.
     
     
    It occurred to me then that David had probably gotten in big trouble for telling me about TL and Nalani’s marriage.
     
     
    I chanced a quick look at David, but he still didn’t make eye contact with me. I owed him a huge apology.
     
     
    “GiGi,” TL continued, “you’ve turned into someone I wasn’t expecting. I’m not disappointed. Surprised is a better way to describe what I’m feeling. You proved your psychological profile wrong in stepping beyond your comfort zone of reclusiveness, of living inside your brain, of not taking chances unless forced to. I thought one day you might. I’d hoped one day you would. I just wasn’t expecting it to happen this soon.”
     
     
    I didn’t know if I should take his words as complimentary or not, but I remained quiet and kept listening.
     
     
    “As I mentioned last night, the IPNC has been after Eduardo Villanueva for years. He’s managed to squirm his way out of being captured every single time we came close.” TL rubbed his fingers over his shaved chin. “As you two already know, the Specialists are now private. We’re no longer run by the government, by the IPNC. Legally, we can’t go after Eduardo Villanueva unless the IPNC hires us.”
     
     
    TL dunked his tea bag a few times. “I’ve spent most of the night on the phone with senior IPNC officials. They’ve agreed to give us the case.”
     
     
    My heart skipped a beat in anticipation. I hoped this conversation was leading to where I thought it was.
     
     
    TL sat back in his office chair. “They’ve given us sixty days to find, apprehend, and bring down Eduardo Villanueva.” TL picked up a folder and tossed it
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