Read Online Material Witness by Lisa Mondello, L. A. Mondello - Free Book Online
Authors: Lisa Mondello, L. A. Mondello
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who turned state’s evidence after his
wife was killed. He wanted to change his identity, live off Uncle Sam's dime
while planning his own operation on some tropical island. Grieve for his
wife in high style.”
Jake shook his head. “We're talking
about your safety. Real life, Cassie. Not some make-believe character in a
book.”
Haunted eyes, fringed with thick
black lashes, lifted to meet his gaze. He didn't need to have her soft body
trembling against his, like it had last night, to feel her fear. It was all
there in her eyes, like a line of mirrors reflecting a thousand images back at
him.
Cassie forced in a deep breath of
air, opening up the stored information held neatly in her mind after years of
research. She'd sworn after her cousin's murder she wouldn't allow herself to
feel this helpless again. All the research, all the books she'd written about
crime with CJ emerging victoriously, suddenly fell flat on dry ground. She was
no stronger than she was eight years ago, she realized. She was still the same
powerless witness in a violent crime she had no control over.
In her years researching crime,
Cassie had prided herself on her meticulous attention to detail. She wanted all
her books to reflect the true nature of the crimes they depicted. How could she
have forgotten this one important detail?
“I'm talking about my choices, Jake.
The FBI arrested the character in my book and locked him up in jail for his own
protection when he didn't get what he wanted. I'm their material witness. This
Agent Tate could do the same to me whether or not I cooperate. Sure, there is
concurrent jurisdiction, but the FBI could leave me with no choice at all until
they’re done with me. And that could take years. I hate that. I’ll never get my
life back.”
Jake moved behind her where she sat
defeated in the cold metal chair. Placing his strong hands on her shoulders, he
gently kneaded her tightly knotted muscles, bringing forth conflicting
sensations. Part of her welcomed his warmth and strength.
What was it about this man that made
her whole body come alive with a single look, or a brush of his hand? With his
fingers burning the flesh beneath her shirt, she couldn't keep her mind from wandering
into dangerous territory.
She was drawn to him in a way that
she’d never felt before. He was her safety net. Her safe harbor. It was only
right that she’d cling to feelings of security now, wasn’t it?
This wasn't like her. Cassie prided
herself on keeping a level head where men were concerned. It was true a part of
her didn't want to go through the same heartache she had three years ago, the
last time she'd been involved in a serious relationship with a man. But things
had changed since then. She couldn't blame Dennis for becoming bitter. How
could she expect him to spend the rest of his life with a woman who didn't feel
anything when he touched her?
Jake was impossibly close. She could
feel the heat of his body against her back as he moved his fingers into the
tender flesh of her shoulders. His hands were strong and warm, reassuring. In
less than twenty-four hours she’d let her guard down with Jake Santos. Why
couldn't she have done that with her fiancé?
Cassie couldn't let it happen. It
became painfully obvious three years ago that she was no good at romantic
relationships. That's why she'd purposely chosen not to write about them. She
knew crime. She could deal with guns and broken bones, not broken hearts.
Cassie had written her main
character, CJ Carmen, as an able-bodied heroine who knew just what to do in
every situation she encountered. She didn't cower in a barroom brawl or hide
from her enemy. She stood up and gave as good as she got. She wouldn't want a
man like Jake Santos to shield her from bullets. She'd turn the tables and
protect him and everyone else around her.
And when it was over, she'd have no
trouble taking a man like Jake Santos to her bed and sharing the pleasures that
only a man and woman could
wife was killed. He wanted to change his identity, live off Uncle Sam's dime
while planning his own operation on some tropical island. Grieve for his
wife in high style.”
Jake shook his head. “We're talking
about your safety. Real life, Cassie. Not some make-believe character in a
book.”
Haunted eyes, fringed with thick
black lashes, lifted to meet his gaze. He didn't need to have her soft body
trembling against his, like it had last night, to feel her fear. It was all
there in her eyes, like a line of mirrors reflecting a thousand images back at
him.
Cassie forced in a deep breath of
air, opening up the stored information held neatly in her mind after years of
research. She'd sworn after her cousin's murder she wouldn't allow herself to
feel this helpless again. All the research, all the books she'd written about
crime with CJ emerging victoriously, suddenly fell flat on dry ground. She was
no stronger than she was eight years ago, she realized. She was still the same
powerless witness in a violent crime she had no control over.
In her years researching crime,
Cassie had prided herself on her meticulous attention to detail. She wanted all
her books to reflect the true nature of the crimes they depicted. How could she
have forgotten this one important detail?
“I'm talking about my choices, Jake.
The FBI arrested the character in my book and locked him up in jail for his own
protection when he didn't get what he wanted. I'm their material witness. This
Agent Tate could do the same to me whether or not I cooperate. Sure, there is
concurrent jurisdiction, but the FBI could leave me with no choice at all until
they’re done with me. And that could take years. I hate that. I’ll never get my
life back.”
Jake moved behind her where she sat
defeated in the cold metal chair. Placing his strong hands on her shoulders, he
gently kneaded her tightly knotted muscles, bringing forth conflicting
sensations. Part of her welcomed his warmth and strength.
What was it about this man that made
her whole body come alive with a single look, or a brush of his hand? With his
fingers burning the flesh beneath her shirt, she couldn't keep her mind from wandering
into dangerous territory.
She was drawn to him in a way that
she’d never felt before. He was her safety net. Her safe harbor. It was only
right that she’d cling to feelings of security now, wasn’t it?
This wasn't like her. Cassie prided
herself on keeping a level head where men were concerned. It was true a part of
her didn't want to go through the same heartache she had three years ago, the
last time she'd been involved in a serious relationship with a man. But things
had changed since then. She couldn't blame Dennis for becoming bitter. How
could she expect him to spend the rest of his life with a woman who didn't feel
anything when he touched her?
Jake was impossibly close. She could
feel the heat of his body against her back as he moved his fingers into the
tender flesh of her shoulders. His hands were strong and warm, reassuring. In
less than twenty-four hours she’d let her guard down with Jake Santos. Why
couldn't she have done that with her fiancé?
Cassie couldn't let it happen. It
became painfully obvious three years ago that she was no good at romantic
relationships. That's why she'd purposely chosen not to write about them. She
knew crime. She could deal with guns and broken bones, not broken hearts.
Cassie had written her main
character, CJ Carmen, as an able-bodied heroine who knew just what to do in
every situation she encountered. She didn't cower in a barroom brawl or hide
from her enemy. She stood up and gave as good as she got. She wouldn't want a
man like Jake Santos to shield her from bullets. She'd turn the tables and
protect him and everyone else around her.
And when it was over, she'd have no
trouble taking a man like Jake Santos to her bed and sharing the pleasures that
only a man and woman could
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