Read Online I Spy a Dark Obsession by Jo Davis - Free Book Online Page B

compound’s hospital. He glanced up and down the hallway before he spoke, and let go of her arm. “This morning, an attempt was made on Bastian’s life,” he said in a rough voice tinged with anger that wasn’t directed at her.
    The blood drained from her face. “Oh my God. Is he all right?”
    “Agent Kelly said he was, but I’m here to see for myself.”
    “Was it Dietz?”
    “The assassin is in lockup, isolated from the one who almost killed me, but yeah. I’m pretty sure it was Dietz.” He looked as though he would strangle his former colleague with his bare hands, given the chance.
    “But why would he target Bastian?”
    “Why else? To get to me.” He closed his eyes as though in pain. “It never occurred to me he’d go after Bastian. God, I’m so stupid.”
    “No, you’re not.” Reaching up, she touched his face. “You don’t think like a monster, that’s all.”
    Opening his eyes, he took her hand and held it between them. “I get paid well to outwit the monsters, and sometimes that means thinking like one. Why I can’t seem to get the drop on Robert is beyond me.”
    “You will,” she promised him. She believed that with all her soul. “In the meantime, let’s go see your friend.”
    “You’ll go with me?”
    A wistful expression crossed his face and tugged at her heart. This man had no one except Bastian, and someone had tried to take him from Michael. “Of course. Come on.”
    Keeping hold of his hand, she tugged him inside, where a nurse quickly showed them to the cubicle where Bastian lay on a small bed. A butterfly bandage was stark against his tanned forehead, but no other evidence of injuries was present. He looked fine, if a little bored. When they entered, he momentarily brightened, but immediately seemed to withdraw as he watched Michael come in. Katrina wondered again what was going on with these two lately.
    “Hey, buddy, how are you feeling?” Michael let go of Katrina’s hand and sat by Bastian’s bed, unable to hide his worry.
    “I’m fine. Ready to get out of here.” His attention strayed to Katrina and his face brightened again. “Hey there. Checking up on me?”
    She smiled. “Absolutely. I’m so glad you’re okay.”
    “Thanks. Me, too.”
    Michael interrupted. “Concussion?”
    “Mild. I only threw up once.” Bastian eyed his friend’s suit. “You’re awful dressed up for someone who’s not back at work yet.”
    “I am now,” Michael said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “This changes everything. I’m here to stay, and I don’t want to hear a word about it, other than ‘you can count on me to be here at your side.’ ”
    Bastian hesitated, appearing ready to argue, then relented. Probably realized it would do no good. “You always can. You know that.”
    “Good. Now, this assassin—did you recognize him?”
    “No, but he’s an amateur.”
    “How so?”
    “Other than the fact that I’m alive with barely a scratch? He thought he was taking out a cop. Demanded to be read his rights.” Bastian gave a short laugh and winced, holding his ribs. “Imagine his surprise to learn we don’t exist, and now neither does he.”
    Michael tapped a finger over his lips thoughtfully. “So, not only is Dietz resorting to amateur hit men, but he’s withholding crucial details. He’s letting his emotions rule, and since we broke up his small army, he’s getting desperate.”
    Bastian agreed. “Before, his goal was the money and power he’d gain from selling the stolen bomb. With those stripped from him, his only goal is revenge. Which makes him even more dangerous.”
    Katrina couldn’t help the shiver that crawled up her spine. “Sounds like you two ought to keep a low profile until Dietz is neutralized.”
    “That’s exactly what we don’t want to do,” Michael said. “If he can’t get to us, we can’t get to him, either. We need to lure him out of his hole, and that means being seen.”
    “With backup always on standby,”