Read Online Deadly Deception (SCVC Taskforce) by Misty Evans - Free Book Online Page A

talk to me, couldn’t absolve me, because you wondered why I didn’t stop Valquis before he put that knife in your back. And you’re right. It was my fault. I was on duty. I should have had your…” He stopped before he said “back”. A heartbeat of embarrassed silence passed. “Before he hurt you.”
    Her chest constricted. Her pulse jumped erratically. Shut. It. Down.
    Thomas grunted softly. “Hell, even now, you can’t look me straight in the eye for longer than a minute.”
    She forced her eyes to meet his. “That’s not fair.”
    His lips were a grim line. “But it’s the truth, isn’t it, Punto?”
    Back to last names. Dammit.
    Some of it was true. Her emotions were intricately tangled up when it came to him. “Our relationship is complicated, but part of that is because you’re hanging onto your guilt. There were two other agents at Celina’s apartment that night. None of us were prepared for Valquis’s appearance. Stop blaming yourself.”
    He didn’t waver. “Guilt. That’s my problem. Take it or leave it. I feel guilty for nearly getting a fellow agent killed.”
    Too much tension eating away at her nerves. “Fine.”
    She needed space. Jumping up from the table, she paced to the sink, back, headed for the sink again. Finally, she settled, focusing on her plan to stop the emotions churning in her gut. She could work with this. She had to work with this. “We need to alter your appearance.”
    He made a what-the-hell gesture. “I’ve already showered and shaved.”
    “Adam will know I’m an FBI agent, but I’ll be a disgruntled one and ripe for the picking. Earlier, I talked with Agent Dyer, and had him set up a backstop identity for you as Thomas Lane, a former analyst—nothing threatening—and a fellow disgruntled Bureau agent. We need to cut your hair and find you some glasses so you look the part. You need to exude intelligence, not brawn. Think you can handle it?”
    “Does Harry catch snitches?”
    Frustration erupted inside her, but at least they weren’t talking about the past. “Can you go longer than thirty minutes without referencing a movie?”
    “Just getting my geek on.”
    He couldn’t be a geek if he tried. She hung her head, massaged her temples. “This isn’t going to work.”
    Rising, he spread his arms. “Why not?”
    She waved a hand at him. “Look at you. You exude attitude, and…and…”
    He grinned. “Alpha male?”
    “You seem to think that’s a compliment.”
    “Isn’t it?” The grin widened. He came to stand next to her, leaning against the counter, his hip brushing hers. “Relax. I’ve got this. I can do angst-ridden intellectual. I’ve done it before.”
    Oh, this she had to know about. “When?”
    “Long time ago. A gig with the DoD. Believe it or not, they wanted me for my brains, not my brawn, although the brawn came in handy a couple of times.”
    There was a lot of brawn in all the right places. “I assume that story is classified?”
    “You assume right, but I mean it when I say I can play whatever role necessary to back you up on this operation. I’m coming off an op that required I be all brawn and no brain, so I have to shift gears, but I will do it.”
    Ronni nodded, staring at the floor and trying to ignore her pounding pulse. He was too close again, too…male. Alpha male.
    Guilt . I feel guilty for almost getting a fellow agent killed and I can’t get over it. He wasn’t the only one dealing with guilt, but hers was intertwined with her attraction to him.
    And now she was about to face the old guilt over Adam. She’d saved her brother’s life and created a monster in the process. She had cataloged most of his followers living at the farm. Every one of their faces burned into her brain.
    If I had let him die…
    Thomas interrupted her thoughts. “How old were you?” At her questioning look, he added, “When your mother joined the cult?”
    She swallowed, played with a lock of her hair. Stopped. Such a juvenile thing