Read Online Protecting the Enemy by Christy Newton - Free Book Online

nice as the rest of the house with high ceilings and recessed lighting. After he was sure the room was clear, he went to the desk and started yanking on drawers. Pens, pencils, notepads, paperclips—things one would expect to find in a typical office. The only thing that seemed odd was the travel-sized, rose scented hand lotion. Could be the wife’s or that the man just liked soft hands. Somehow he didn’t think Boss’ hands were smooth or smelled of flowers. He looked around for a file cabinet and saw none.
    Frustrated, he walked back over to the oak desk. There was a framed picture on top next to the computer. A man standing next to the woman upstairs. He looked familiar, but no way was he Boss. His eyes were a deep blue and Boss’ were hazel, also this man was thinner. The man’s image nagged at him. He’d seen his face before, but couldn’t place when or where.
    Reid sat down in the comfortable, brown leather chair. He opened the drawer again and ran his fingers underneath the wood, then along the back. Something was taped to the backside of the drawer. He removed the folded paper and opened it to reveal nothing more than phone number written in black ink. Excited, he jotted the number down. Then carefully replaced the paper exactly as he’d found it.
    Reid’s instinct told him to pick up the phone and dial the number, so he did. After two rings, Boss picked up. He’d recognize that rough voice anywhere. Without hesitation, Reid disconnected. Got you, you son of a bitch. He removed the cloth from his pocket. After he wiped away his prints from anything he’d touched, Reid made his way back upstairs.
    Too late. Julianna was already thanking the woman for her kindness. Before the woman could turn around, Reid headed toward the back door and made his quick exit.
    Julianna was waiting for him in the car. “It’s about time you joined me.”
    “Sorry, some of us didn’t get to waltz out of the front door. I had to climb over the fence.”
    She tossed her hair over her shoulder and grinned. “I was only joking. Did you find any black masks lying around?”
    “This isn’t Boss’ place if that’s what you are asking.”
    “I didn’t think so. What did you find?”
    Reid smirked and put the sedan in drive. He glanced at her. “We have Boss’ personal phone number.”
    She raised an eyebrow. “And what are we supposed to do with that? Call him and ask for a meeting, so he can finish what he started?”
    “No, but we are going to get his location.” He couldn’t wait to confront the SOB. He’d taken so much from him. It was payback time.
    “How?”
    He shrugged. “Weasel can track him for us.”
    Julianna frowned. “Isn’t his debt paid now? He may refuse to help you.”
    “Yes, but if I come bearing gifts, I’m sure he wouldn’t turn me away.” He put his arm around her. “Especially, if I show up with a hot chick.”
    ***
    Julianna stood behind Reid as Weasel opened the basement apartment door wearing dark jeans and a black ctrl+alt+delete T-shirt. His shaggy hair didn’t look any more combed than that last time. Then again, hers probably didn’t either. She really needed to get her hands on a brush.
    Reid held up the extra large meat lovers’ pizza a cold six pack of Mountain Dew. “Hungry?”
    Weasel looked from the pizza box to Julianna and grinned like he’d just won the Maryland Lotto. “Always.” He stepped aside and motioned them in. The laundry pile was smaller this time, but empty food containers still littered the room. The kid took his arm and swiped away the trash and then pulled out a chair for Julianna. “I didn’t expect to ever see you two again.”
    Reid opened the box and helped himself to a slice. “We need your help. Eat, then we’ll talk.”
    The kid grabbed a piece of pizza and nodded. From the look on his face, one would think the kid didn’t have any friends. But she didn’t either. She had more in common with this computer geek than she would have