Read Online Man with the Muscle by Julie Miller - Free Book Online Page B

tonight.
    He exhaled the smoke from his lungs with a deep, satisfied sigh as the lights filtering from her upstairs windows drew his attention. For a moment, he saw her slight figure silhouetted against the interior lightsbefore she quickly moved away from the blinds—as if she knew he was out here—watching, wanting, relishing her distress.
    He’d been right about her Achilles’ heel. For one woman it had been about protecting her child. For the last one, he’d found it far too easy to prey upon her looks and her fear that once her beauty was gone, she’d have nothing but her money to offer to anyone who might care.
    So he’d taken her beauty. He’d struck right at the heart of what terrified her most.
    Now, he was free to toy with Audrey Kline. He knew what she wanted—independence, respect, professional success—and he knew how to take it from her.
    He’d give her a chance to make things right. Perhaps the smile she’d given him tonight would prove more sincere than the others had been. Everyone deserved a chance.
    But if she was playing him…
    â€œI’m still here.” He dropped his cigarette and ground it out in the leaves beneath his shoe, turning his attention to the impatient summons on his cell phone. “Yes, I’ve made all the necessary arrangements,” he assured the simpleton who was paying to do his bidding. “I’ll take care of everything.”
    â€œIs it safe?”
    How tedious. “Blowing up anything is never completely safe. But if you follow my directions to the letter and you position yourself where I instructed, then you won’t be hurt and you’ll have the perfect alibi.”
    Just as he would.
    â€œYou’re crazy, man. This better work or I’ll be coming after you.”
    Crazy? His hand curled into a fist down at his side. Although it wasn’t the first time he’d heard that word, he’d long ago learned to let the offensive misconception slide off his back. The man on the phone was the real fool if he thought insults or threats could hurt him.
    The telltale buzzer of the Klines’ security system warned him that the front gate was sliding open and one of the guest’s cars was approaching. Forcing his fingers to relax, he backed into the shadows of the ancient oaks that lined the circular drive and blocked him from view of the estate’s security cameras.
    An unexpected snap froze him into place. It took a therapeutic mantra through his clenched jaw for him to ignore the twig jabbing at his shoulder and retreat another step.
    The smooth hum of a finely tuned engine—a Bentley, by the sound of it—passed by before he responded to the nagging insistence of his caller.
    â€œWill it work? Will this freaking plan of yours work?”
    He ran his fingers along the broken twig, counting the dry brown leaves that had withered with the change of seasons. “You handle my problem, and I’ll take care of yours.”
    He flipped the phone shut and slipped it into his slacks, pausing a moment before pulling out his pocket-knife.
    In three strokes, he sawed away the fragmented wood and dropped it to the ground. With one more cut, he sliced off a leaf, leaving two on either side of the branch.
    Something eased inside his brain at the symmetry of his handiwork, and he folded the knife and put it away.
    Then he plucked his cigarette butt from the ground and stuffed it into his pocket. He straightened his jacket and tie and stepped onto the curving brick driveway, lengthening his stride as he headed to the house. The evening was winding down. It was time for him to get back to his duties before he was missed.

Chapter Four
    Winter was in the air. So was something Alex couldn’t quite put his finger on.
    The powdering of snow that had fallen through the night was still clinging to the grass in the park across the street. Christmas was only three weeks away, but with all the freaks