Read Online Darkest Desire by Tawny Taylor - Free Book Online

something? Who takes those kinds of risks for nothing?”
    He was right. Nobody did anything out of the kindness of their heart. Not in her world. Now, what the hell did he want?
    She forced herself to inhale, even though her lungs were squeezing so tight barely anything could seep in. “So ... what do you want?”
    â€œThe Alexandre brothers have something I need. You’re going to get it for me.”
    She whirled around, her gaze jumping to the closed door. “What?”
    â€œI’ve seen the way they look at you. They’ll tell you anything. Ask them about their secret. Do whatever it takes.”
    â€œSecret? Isn’t there another—”
    â€œIf you fuck me over or tell them, Lei, you’ll find yourself on trial for two murders. Eve and her lovely grandmother.”
    â€œBut... but—”
    â€œWe have witnesses who put you at the scene of both crimes. Do you think anyone will believe the testimony of someone like you? An ex-hooker?”
    â€œI can’t—”
    â€œAnd your fingerprints are on the gun. Your gun. Which was found by police.”
    Her gun? The one he’d given her for her protection after she’d been released? The one she’d left sitting in the trunk of her car all this time because she’d been too afraid to do anything with it? How could I have been so stupid? “They’ve helped me. Been good to me. There’s got to be—”
    The call cut off.
    A shiver of dread quaked through her body.
    She hadn’t heard the last from Agent Nate Holloway. No doubt about that.
    What the hell had she gotten herself into now?
    Already knowing what she’d find, or rather, what she wouldn’t find in her trunk, she grabbed her car keys and ran down the stairs.
    Â 
    â€œA second young woman’s body was found in Southwest Detroit last night, this one here, behind this gas station . . .”
    Lei’s breakfast surged up her throat. She clapped her hand over her mouth and dashed down the hall to the bathroom. She got there just in the nick of time.
    After freshening up, she jerked open the bathroom door. Malek was in the hallway, scowling.
    â€œAre you okay?” he asked.
    Her hand shook as she smoothed her hair away from her face. “Yes, I guess I ate something that didn’t agree with me.”
    His gaze grew squinty. “You’re very pale.”
    â€œI’m still not feeling one hundred percent yet.”
    He grabbed her arm—such a gallant gesture—and helped her back into the kitchen. He steered her toward the breakfast counter. “Here, have a seat. I’ll get you something to drink.”
    â€œThanks.” She sat, listening to the news broadcast. They’d moved on to the weather. She’d have to go look up the details of that girl’s death online.
    A second girl she’d known from her former “career.” This one had also left the business with her help. In total, there’d been four girls whom she’d helped escape that hellish life. Now two were dead. Two. For the time being, two more were out there somewhere. In danger. And clueless. She had to find them somehow. Warn them.
    â€œHere you go.” Malek set a glass of ice water in front of her, then sat on the stool beside her. “Now, tell me, is there something going on?”
    â€œSomething, like what?”
    His gaze flicked to her stomach. “Like . . . ?” He cleared his throat as he stared at her belly.
    â€œOh! Am I pregnant? Not a chance.”
    â€œAre you sure?”
    â€œAbsolutely.”
    His body visibly relaxed. His smile returned. “Good. I was worried there for a minute that—”
    â€œThat one of my Johns had gotten me pregnant? Pregnancy is one of those things my former employer took some lengths to avoid. We were given regular Depo injections, whether we wanted them or not. But that’s only because having too many girls pregnant would hurt