Read Online Mission: Out of Control by Susan May Warren - Free Book Online Page B

suspected that perhaps she’d had to work hard to lose. Brody watched her—those eyes, which had layers of green and gold, lit right up, her laughter bright against the rainy pallor of the day.
    â€œShe might not be a classic but she has something special about her.” Luke turned away from the window and lay down on the bed still, perhaps favoring his leg after last fall’s gunshot wound. “I need some shut-eye. And, frankly, Wick, so do you. Vonya’s tucked into bed for the night, her door locked, bars on the windows. You need some shut-eye.”
    â€œActually, I thought I’d see if she’d like some pizza.”He heard the strange hope in his voice even as the words trundled out. Uh-oh.
    Luke heard it, too. He looked over at him, eyebrow up. “You’re bringing her…pizza?”
    â€œListen, she’s been on her best behavior all week. Even cooperating.” She texted him a picture of herself in her daily disguise in the mornings—see, wasn’t that helpful? And she hung back and let him lead the way when they went out in public, in and out of transports, to the studio and back. The German paparazzi had tracked her down, but so far, all she’d done was wave. Not one move that might add a headline to their trip.
    He had tried to reward her with silly gifts like making a latte run to Starbucks and meeting her in the lobby yesterday with a chocolate-filled kringle. So shoot him—they had looked delicious in the bakery case.
    Nearly as delicious as her surprise when he’d handed her the bag at her door.
    â€œDo I sense romance in the air? Because, you know, you’re still on the job.”
    Brody held up his hand, like a shield against Luke’s sentence. “No. I’m not that stupid. She’s a client, and my job is to watch her back. I just…well, maybe I over-reacted. Maybe I did have her pegged wrong. Maybe she’s not going to be any trouble after all.”
    â€œUh, is that you letting your guard down, buddy? Because—”
    â€œListen, she’s got a lot of baggage. Her sister died a few years ago after Vonya donated her kidney to her. That has to be tough, right?”
    Luke said nothing.
    â€œAnd her father is a real piece of work. Has theemotions of a piece of ledgerock. I have a feeling no one in their family has ever dealt with their grief.”
    Artyom came and stood in the door, leaning his shoulder against the frame.
    â€œI can’t shake the feeling that there’s more to her, and of course, I thought it meant she was up to something. Now I think she’s just trying to survive. And if she has to do it in costume…”
    He went over to the window, staring down at Luke’s view.
    â€œPeople do what they have to in order to survive.”
    Luke sat up. “Sounds like she’s pretty hard on herself, if you ask me. Like she’s blaming herself for her sister’s death.”
    â€œWhy would she blame herself? She had no control over her sister’s body.”
    â€œIt was her kidney. She has to feel responsible. Maybe she just can’t forgive herself.”
    Yes, he understood not being able to forgive yourself.
    You don’t even like me. Why did her words keep coming back at him? Especially since, in fact, he had begun to like her—a little bit more every day.
    Yes, the real Ronie had a startling sweetness. He saw it in the way she bantered with Lyle, and encouraged her band, and even kidded with Tommy D. In fact, Brody had started to suspect that perhaps there was something between them.
    Not that it bothered him or anything, but what on this green planet would she see in Tommy D?
    â€œYou don’t like him?”
    Oh, good grief, had he been mumbling again? He closed one eye in a wince at Luke’s question.
    â€œHe’s just…pushy. He picks all Vonya’s songs—especially the sexy ones. I saw her old stuff on You Tube—she used to