Read Online Dead By Nightfall by Beverly Barton - Free Book Online Page B

the pseudo-York and anything like the real York had been, then he was capable of terrifying atrocities. Hadn’t he already hired Linden to murder six innocent people associated with the Powell Agency? Hadn’t he, by holding her seven-year-old niece hostage, forced a Powell agent to kill one of Yvette’s psychic protégés and ordered her to kill Maleah Perdue?
    A man such as that was capable of anything.
    Sitting quietly on the edge of the chaise longue, doing her best to steel her nerves and prepare herself for whatever might happen, Nic jumped as if she’d been shot when the bedroom door opened.
    Anthony Linden, freshly shaved, his bald head smooth and shiny, his white slacks and shirt slightly wrinkled, entered the room. “Good afternoon, Nicole. I trust you’ve been provided everything you need.”
    She rose to her feet and faced him. Surveying him from head to toe, she realized several things all at once. He was a sturdily built man in his early to midforties, muscular and fit. He wore no disguise, allowing her to see the real man. Since she would be able to identify him, it was highly unlikely he would allow her to live.
    â€œYou’re really quite a beautiful woman,” Linden told her. “Dressed and undressed.”
    Nic’s stomach clenched. He had seen her naked. Had he done more than look at her?
    She hated the way he smiled at her, cocky and self-assured, with a hint of mockery. When she glared at him, her contempt no doubt visible in her expression, he laughed.
    â€œYou are not my type, Mrs. Powell,” Linden assured her. “Some men may like the statuesque Amazon warrior type of woman. I prefer a smaller, less fierce female.”
    Nic glared at him.
    â€œYour virtue is intact. Lina undressed you. All I did was enjoy the scenery. Besides, you are off-limits, except by special permission from our host.”
    â€œAnd who is our host?”
    â€œYou will find out in due time. He’s eager to meet Griffin Powell’s wife.”
    â€œGriffin Powell’s estranged wife.”
    â€œYour choice, I believe, not your husband’s. A decision you made after he received a letter informing him where he could find Yvette Meng’s long-lost daughter.”
    â€œYou seem to know a great deal, Mr. Linden, for a mere employee.”
    â€œPlease, I insist you call me Tony.” He held out his hand, which she ignored. “Our host would like for me to give you a tour of this house and the grounds and allow you to observe one of several pastimes available to his guests.”
    â€œDo I have a choice ... Tony?”
    â€œNo, Nicole, you do not.”
    â€œThen by all means, give me a tour. The sooner that’s done, the sooner I’ll meet our host, right?”
    After giving her another unnerving smile, he called out to the guard in the hallway. She walked up beside Linden, but refused to touch him. When the door opened, he escorted her out into the hall, down a long corridor, and straight to a double set of stairs leading down to the ground floor level of what appeared to be a rather large mansion.
    â€œThere are nine bedrooms in this twelve-thousand-square-foot house, one of many around the world owned by my employer,” Linden told her as he led her through the marble-floored foyer, into a huge parlor, then a dining room that easily seated a dozen people, and out onto the patio and pool area that she could see from her upstairs bedroom.
    â€œYou may use the pool whenever you like or you can sunbathe in one of the lounge chairs.” Linden raked his gaze over her breasts. “I have no doubt that your lovely olive skin tans beautifully.”
    He was flirting with her, playing host as if she were a willing guest, and prolonging the inevitable for a reason. She suspected that he was deliberately trying to lull her into a false sense of security. If so, there could be only one reason—he wanted whatever happened next to