Read Online Lust by Francine Pascal - Free Book Online Page A

wouldn’t be a lot of time for sleep once they got there.
    A Record
    THE RUSSIAN AIRPORT WAS AS different from JFK as an airport could be. About the only thing they had in common were theairplanes. The New York airport had a mall’s worth of food shops and magazine stands. This place was clean, but it was distinctly more low-rent than the gleaming American version. It was clear to Gaia that she was not in Kansas anymore.
    They hadn’t checked any luggage, so she, Oliver, and Jake hitched their carry-ons onto their shoulders and began strolling toward the exit.
    â€œTsst, tsst. You vont cab, nice lady?” A slimy-looking guy approached them, wearing a shoopy-sounding vinyl tracksuit and sporting a moustache that would have made a porn star proud.
    â€œNo, thanks.” Gaia shook her head, and Oliver and Jake moved in more closely to her. She looked around for security guards, but there didn’t seem to be any. As they stepped out through the sliding glass doors, Gaia got the very distinct feeling that something wasn’t right.
    â€œYou vont cab, yes?” The guy sidled up to them again, and this time he had a friend. A beefy friend.
    â€œNo,” Oliver said firmly. Jake looked at him, waiting for a sign that they should fight. But Gaia knew the sign wouldn’t come. Not now. They were trying to avoid detection. And getting in a fracas—that would be a dead giveaway. Three tourists with fighting skills like theirs? Not likely.
    â€œThis way,” Oliver said, and led them back toward the airport door. Their way was blocked by two more locals. They eyeballed Oliver, Jake, and Gaia as thoughthey were adding up how much everything they were carrying would net them in resale.
    â€œDangerous to leave airport without a cab,” the first guy said. “Not safe. I know these men; I can help you get away from them.”
    â€œYes, all right,” Oliver said. “Let’s get into the cab. Can you put this in the trunk?” He acted as if he were handing the guy his tote bag, then swung it into his face and turned to run.
    â€œCome on!” he shouted, but Gaia and Jake were already heading along the sidewalk to the well-populated area on the other side of the airport.
    Gaia heard their shouts as her feet thudded along the pavement. She’d been here five minutes and was already in trouble. This had to be a record.
    â€œWho are those guys?” she shouted to Oliver.
    â€œNobody,” he shouted back, as they rounded a corner and saw a clot of black cars and security guards. Lord only knew what godforsaken corner of the airport they’d wandered into. Bad rescue party. Bad!
    Oliver slowed them down and looked behind him. Their four local assailants were standing in a forlorn-looking huddle; the big beefy guy lit a cigarette in defeat. Then they turned and headed back to the side exit of the airport.
    â€œThose are some brazen muggers,” Jake said. “Are you sure they’re not after us specifically?”
    Oliver shook his head. “There’s no way. Men likethat seem to pop up wherever there are tourists, over here. They’re leftovers from the old Soviet Union.”
    â€œIt’s good we didn’t fight them, then,” Gaia said. “Too bad, though. It would have been easy.”
    Oliver patted her on the shoulder. “That’s my girl,” he said, shaking his head.
    Oliver got in the front seat of the cab and murmured to the driver in expert-sounding Russian. Despite the seriousness of their mission, Gaia felt something . . . nice. Comfortable. She knew she was on her way to her dad, and she was making the trip with people who seemed to know her. To understand her. Well enough to tease her, in fact. In spite of her annoyance, she looked out the window and smiled.
    â€œCheerleading team,” she muttered out loud. “You guys can go to hell.”

GAIA
    I know I’m on a serious mission. I know that at