Read Online An Obsession with Vengeance (Wanted Men Book 3) by Nancy Haviland - Free Book Online

had to protect, she brought to mind an image of her would-be savior and she nodded at the question. “Yes, Jerome.” She patted his shoulder and rose on shaky legs. “I do have someone to call.” She went to walk away but paused to look between the two of them. “Thank you, guys, for—”
    “Doing our job,” Jerome finished for her as he straightened to his full intimidating height. “No thanks necessary. We’ll keep an eye and let you know if they come back tonight. Should we expect them?”
    “I hope not. Actually, after I make my call I’m going upstairs. But I’ll leave my cell on. You guys are okay to close up?”
    They both nodded around insulted looks, and that made her smile a little. Grateful she had them at her back, she gave each a hug before aiming for the exposed grated staircase that led up to her office. Once closed into the secure room, she found she was able to breathe a little easier. She pulled her cell out and went over to sit on the edge of the sofa as she scrolled through her contacts. Maksim had left his card behind on his every visit in the past weeks, and she’d finally caved and entered the number he’d scrawled on the back into her phone. Now she was glad she had.
    Too jittery to sit, she got up again and began pacing as she pressed “Send.” The ringing in her ear was similar to what she thought a death knell might sound like, because she truly didn’t know if she was stepping out of the frying pan and into the fire.

CHAPTER 3
    Having prepared for their visitor as best they could, Maks stood next to the booth they’d altered and surveyed the club. He wasn’t sure whether to be glad the place was packed with witnesses or not.
    He looked at his Breitling as his cell went off and wondered what was keeping Morales. His tardiness was bordering on disrespectful, he thought as he checked the screen to see a private number displayed.
    “Yeah.”
    The feminine clearing of a throat had him pressing his phone harder against his ear.
    “Russia?”
    A ripple of awareness passed over his scalp and traveled down his entire body, leaving the hair on his arms and legs tingling. Seriously? He shook his head to clear it of the disbelief the reaction caused. “Australia?”
    “I hope I’m not catching you at a bad time . . . ?”
    His radar didn’t beep at the uncharacteristic tension in her voice. The fucker screamed long and loud, as though a tsunami had just been spotted on the horizon and was closing in fast. He moved around Vasily, who gave him a curious look, and traveled through the club and into the back hallway so he could hear better. “You’re not. Though I will admit I’m surprised to hear from you.” Somehow, coming back with a snide comment about missing him already didn’t seem fitting.
    “I’m sure.” She cleared her throat again.
    Almost every time they spoke, even though she placed herself on the defensive, she always deflected his come-ons with ease, and most times with a witty humor he couldn’t help but appreciate. Right then she sounded serious. Hesitant and uneasy, even. Vulnerable. And didn’t that draw out his monsters. The fuckers roared to the surface, ready to do battle on her behalf without so much as an explanation.
    “What’s happened, Sydney? Are you okay?”
    “No, actually, I’m not,” she said, astounding him with her honesty. “I’d like to see you, if you can make the time. Not now,” she said quickly, “because I’m taking the rest of the night off, but maybe tomorrow? Would you meet with me?”
    She hadn’t taken a night off in all the weeks he’d known her. And she sure as fuck had never requested a meet. “Time and place.” What was that clicking in the background? Was she pacing? If so, she’d changed into her requisite heels . . .
    “Er, how about . . . the beach? Do you mind meeting me at Coney Island?”
    “Coney Island?”
    “Yes. I usually go there when I need some space,” she said, sounding defensive. “If