Read Online Radiant Surrender (CSA Case Files Book 6) by Kennedy Layne - Free Book Online Page B

for unfamiliar vehicles that looked as if they didn’t belong. The house would be monitored, so she took the third street on the right just inside the entrance of the development. Mrs. Steiner, a neighbor and fellow Bunko player of Jessie’s mother, lived by herself and went to sleep around nine o’clock every night. She’d lived down the block and up two streets for as long as Jessie could remember. She shut off the headlights before pulling the car into the driveway, averting any glare flaring in the windows. She cut the engine and listened to the silence around her. Several moments passed before the familiar sounds of a typical residential neighborhood in any town started to register. Crickets and frogs interrupted by the occasional distant bark of somebody’s dog chasing a cat as they hashed out the universal design.
    Jessie’s parent lived in the back of the community so she would walk the quarter of a mile to her destination. Grabbing the handle, she used her shoulder to shove the low-slung heavy door open…the car had suffered from lack of use. She’d made sure to turn off the overhead light earlier and was now grateful. It would have to remain latched but ajar until she returned. She also didn’t want to slam the door shut and have the sound echo through the moist night air.
    Grateful for the new running shoes that Nick had stopped for along with fresh socks and a few bare essentials every girl should have, Jessie used the darkness to maneuver through the yards. She stayed close to the houses, using the shadows to obscure her form when the clouds parted enough to allow the moon to peek through. She was only one street away and surveying the vehicles to make out which ones the FBI or whomever else might be hunting her were using to monitor her childhood home when a warm hand covered her mouth.
    The adrenaline spike that shot through her body had her instantly struggling against the firm hold. Her scream was muffled and as she kicked her legs they made contact with the man behind her. It wasn’t nearly enough to get him to release her and fear started to consume her. She frantically grabbed the wrist and sunk her nails into the flesh as hard as she could while bucking her body away from her captive.
    “For the love of God, would you stop already?” Gavin had spoken in a low, harsh voice into Jessie’s ear, although it took a moment for her to register who the hell it was. “Now.”
    Jessie stopped struggling, suddenly limp with exhaustion and utter frustration at her failure to avoid detection. She felt like she’d run a marathon. The adrenaline was flooding her body and her anger was quickly fueled by it. She swatted at his hands and spun around to face him, barely making out his features in the darkness. Placing her palms on his chest, she shoved with all her might and became even more furious when the results were the same as pushing against a marble statue.
    “You son of a bitch,” Jessie whispered, practically spitting the words out. “What the hell are you doing sneaking up on me like that? What if I’d been armed?”
    “I’m more than capable of taking care of a female who isn’t using the God-given intelligence she was born with.” Gavin wrapped his fingers around her arm, pulling her deeper into the shadows. “We aren’t dealing with—”
    “Wait.” Jessie stepped forward, not wanting her voice to carry. Something wasn’t adding up. “How did you know I would be here? Nick didn’t even know.”
    “That’s irrelevant.” Gavin started to turn, taking her with him. She snatched her arm away from his grasp, refusing to leave here without what she’d come for. He had her up against the house before she could utter a word. She could feel his breath against her lips. “When will you learn to just do as you’re told, woman?”
    “When you give me reason to, Master .” Jessie couldn’t help but emphasize the double meaning. He was infuriating and until he admitted that she meant