Read Online Midnight Pursuits by Elle Kennedy - Free Book Online Page A

you live on the compound, then? Why don’t you just pick somewhere cooler to live?”
    â€œMy place is with the team.”
    â€œDo you have any family?” she asked, then kicked herself for it. Hadn’t she decided she didn’t want to get to know him?
    â€œNope. You?”
    â€œNope,” she mimicked.
    They eyed each other for a moment, sipping their coffee in silence.
    Until finally Juliet couldn’t take it anymore. “Seriously, kiddo, I don’t need a babysitter. I’ll be back on my feet in a day or two, and then I’m outta here. Wouldn’t you rather head to Izzy’s house in Vermont and go skiing or something?”
    â€œYou’ll be outta here, huh?” He tilted his head thoughtfully. “And where will you be going?”
    â€œNice try.”
    This time
he
sighed. “You can trust me, you know. Whatever trouble you’ve gotten yourself into, I might be able to help.”
    â€œWhat makes you think I’m in trouble?”
    â€œSays the woman with the hole in her side.”
    She waved a dismissive hand. “Hazard of the job. Believe me, I’m not in any trouble.”
    â€œYou said something about a run-in with a competitor? What exactly does that mean? Were you working a job for Noelle and someone else interfered?”
    â€œWhy do you care so much? Can’t you just trust me when I say it’s nothing for you to worry about?”
    â€œCan’t you just trust me enough to offer a few measly details?” he countered.
    Argh
.
The frustration returned, lodging in her throat like a piece of gum. She didn’t understand Morgan’s men and their need to throw themselves into matters that didn’t concern them. Kane Woodland had done it with Juliet’s colleague Abby a couple of years ago, inserting himself into Abby’s mission, and Morgan seemed to call on Isabel whenever he needed someone to do undercover work for him.
    And whenever those dudes found themselves in a jam, they had no qualms about reaching out to anyone they could.
    Juliet
never
asked for help. She was even loath to contact Noelle when shit went south, only doing so as a last resort. And truth be told, “favors” aside, she’d helped Morgan’s team last year because her boss had instructed her to, not out of the goodness of her heart. In Juliet’s world, people looked out only for themselves, and when they came to your aid, it was only because they wanted something in return.
    Well, she didn’t want to owe any favors, and she certainly didn’t trust anyone to look out for her. She’d been taking care of herself since she was five years old. Whatever obstacles she encountered, she was perfectly capable of facing them alone. She would be the one to avenge her brother. She owed him that.
    â€œLook, if you’re worried I’m going to interfere or pass judgment, don’t be.” Ethan’s quiet voice broke through her thoughts. “I just want to know what happened.” He paused. “I won’t even offer to help with whatever it is you’re planning, not unless you ask me to.”
    She heaved out another sigh. “You really won’t leave unless I tell you, huh?”
    He just grinned.
    Damn it, he looked cute when he grinned. Boyish. Which only cemented the fact that he was, essentially, a
boy
. In theory, the six-year age difference between them wasn’t that huge, but Juliet had always felt older than her years. At six years old, she was already preparing meals for herself and her foster siblings. At ten, she was shopping for groceries. At twelve, she was working illegally at a dry-cleaning place to pay for her foster dad’s booze.
    And at thirty-one, she felt ancient. Far too hardened and embittered for someone as bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as Ethan Hayes.
    Not that she was interested in the guy or anything.
    â€œFine, I’ll tell you,” she grumbled. “But only