Read Online Oxblood by AnnaLisa Grant - Free Book Online Page B

wanted to cry. I had gotten this far. I couldn’t start falling apart now.
    He shoved his hands into his pockets as he took me in and sighed resolutely.
    â€œWell . . . why don’t we start over?” He held out his hand to greet me officially. “My name is Ian Hale. And I’m a friend.”

Chapter 5
    I shook Ian’s hand hesitantly, and we stood there for a moment evaluating each other. Now that we had been formally introduced, and Ian’s gun was tucked away, I wanted to believe that he was an ally of Gil’s. I had started this venture flying solo, with almost no leads. I certainly wouldn’t say I trusted this Ian Hale, but I couldn’t deny that discovering him might make finding Gil much easier.
    â€œYou’ve had a long trip and you’re probably getting hungry. Why don’t you let me buy you dinner?” he offered with a crooked smile. “There’s a place not far from here.”
    â€œThat’s very nice of you, but unnecessary.” It’s true, I was starving, but I wasn’t about to go anywhere with this guy quite yet.
    â€œWe can walk there,” he said.
    â€œUm, okay then.” Walking was good. I had a better chance of escape on foot if Ian decided to wield his gun again. But mostly, I had a ton of questions, and a public place felt like a better location to get them answered.
    I grabbed my bag, Gil’s journal tucked safely inside. Ian held the door for me as we walked out of the building. It was a nice evening. Clear skies and a cool breeze. The streetlights were on the opposite side of the street, making our walk a bit too shadowy for my taste. We walked a block in silence before Ian spoke.
    â€œWhy did you come all the way to Italy just because you couldn’t reach Gil? That seems pretty extreme.”
    â€œHow was Gil working for you?” I replied.
    â€œDo you answer every question with a question?” He smirked with a cocked eyebrow.
    I gave a nervous laugh. “Only when I’ve traveled thousands of miles to find my missing brother.”
    â€œWhat makes you think he’s missing?”
    â€œBecause I know Gil. He . . . did something very out of character. Something that I interpreted as a call for help. When I tried to find him, I discovered that he hadn’t been entirely honest with me. I have no idea where he is and I’m pretty sure he’s in some sort of trouble. I knew I had to do something; I’m not a sit-around-and-wait kind of girl.”
    â€œI can see that. What did he do?” Ian asked.
    I didn’t answer, but instead looked at Ian over my nose as if to say, You think I’m really going to spill everything?
    â€œYou’re smart not to trust me. Not because you can’t, because you certainly can, but it will serve you well to not trust people you’ve just met.”
    The hostess began to seat us near the center of the small, crowded restaurant, but I requested, with some awkward pointing and head nodding, the back corner table instead. Once we were settled, our waitress came by and took our drink orders.
    â€œ Vino rosso, per piacere ,” Ian said in perfect Italian.
    â€œProper English and Italian? Impressive,” I teased.
    â€œIf I wanted to impress you, I’d make sure you knew I also spoke Russian, German, and French.” He flashed another crooked smile.
    I didn’t want to be so disarmed by Ian’s charisma, but his piercing blue eyes gazing into mine was making it difficult—and his strong jaw and day-old beard weren’t helping. His thick, messy hair told me he couldn’t be any more than twenty-six, if that. I knew he was dangerous, but he was hot, distractingly so. Less than an hour ago, he’d held a gun to my stomach and now he was buying me dinner—and flirting.
    â€œMission accomplished,” I said softly as I looked over the menu.
    Although there was a hotel down the street, the restaurant clearly did