Read Online Lie by Night: An Out of Darkness novel (Entangled Ignite) by Cathy Marlowe - Free Book Online Page B

pocket. She took the letter from her robe and slipped it in with her passport. She needed answers from Cole, but now, at least, she’d have time to get them.
    As presentable as she could be with what she had, Emma returned to the sitting room, her few personal items wrapped in Cole’s T-shirt.
    He looked up, eyes veiled as he scanned her from head to toe. “All right. Let’s take everything with us. You can have the backpack. Consider it a memento of the night you saved me from starvation.” This time when his lips curved, the humor reached his eyes.
    She shot him a sideways glance, a reluctant smile threatening as she unzipped the bag and placed the T-shirt parcel inside.
    “After we eat, we’ll head for the airport.” His eyes lingered on hers. “And while we eat, we’ll talk.”
    He shrugged into a dark brown, canvas coat, different from the one he’d worn on the island. Cleaner than the one from the island, she thought wistfully, looking down at her own worse-for-wear jacket. She wished she’d sent it to be cleaned with her clothes, but she’d been unwilling to risk losing the zip line she’d sewn inside to anchor her Mace.
    “Emma?”
    She looked up. He waited near the door, duffel bag and backpack in hand. They left the room and headed down the marble staircase.
    When they departed the inn, Cole turned right, and she followed, determined to let him make the calls for now. As long as he kept her with him. They walked in silence for a couple of blocks before he stopped in front of a café that featured burgers.
    “This okay with you?”
    Ugh, hamburger was not her favorite. “Sure, sounds great.”
    He grinned. She disliked how well he seemed to read her.
    “You’ll like it.” He opened the door, and she entered ahead of him.
    The waitress brought menus and water. Emma’s stomach growled so loudly that Cole looked up.
    “Excuse me,” he called after the waitress. “Can you start us off with cups of your seafood chowder? And, we’re in a bit of a hurry to catch a flight.”
    He raised his brow at the look on Emma’s face. “If you don’t like yours, I’ll eat it.” One corner of his mouth quirked up. “I’ve been here before, and it’s delicious.”
    She ordered grilled tilapia and spinach salad. He surprised her by passing up the burger to order swordfish.
    The chowder arrived. Emma took a small bite. Delicious. She dug in, finishing her cup before Cole finished his.
    “Okay, let’s talk.” He placed his palms flat on the table. “What exactly were you doing on that island?”
    “What gives you the right to search my things?” she asked at the same time.
    Expressions somber, they faced off. She had nothing to say until he addressed the invasion of her privacy.
    He sighed, acknowledging her need for answers. “Me first. When you came to the island, you plunged right into the middle of a snake pit. The five men who were there? They’re part of the contingent behind a very dangerous man. People’s lives are on the line, good people. And now you might be in danger as well.” When she failed to respond, he shrugged. “I needed to know everything as quickly as possible.”
    “I’d already told you about the note. I would have shown it to you if you’d asked.”
    “Yes, you did. But I needed to be sure. So I searched your pockets. It helped me to see the note. I’m trained to notice things you might miss.”
    “Like the fact that whoever wrote it disguised their handwriting in children’s script?”
    “Yeah.”
    She raised her brow. “So, Mr. Trained Professional, what else did you learn?”
    Cole paused as the waitress placed their food on the table. “Whoever wrote the note either wants you to find Jacob or wanted to capture you. Given the welcoming party they sent for you, I’m thinking they were after you.”
    “Or after you.”
    “When the men were on the radio, I heard them reference the lady .”
    She forced a bite of tilapia down, her appetite suddenly gone.
    “Any