Read Online Taming the Fire by Sydney Croft - Free Book Online Page B

kills he'd supposedly made, and videos of his sex life that, apparently, he'd recorded. Christ, his life before the brain injury had included a penchant for torture and a seriously fucked-up BDSM habit that went beyond safe, sane and consensual .
    Which was, in part, why he'd been tasked to bring in Ulrika. The shape-shifter seemed to have found a way to keep her animal side under control by taking sex to an extreme level.
    The other reason he'd been given the assignment had more to do with his special abilities than anything else. When Ulrika had been an operative—though rumor had it she'd been less an agent and more a leashed attack dog—he'd been assigned as her comms agent.
    She'd had handlers, men and women who operated the device that controlled and tracked her radio-shock collar, but when she went on a mission, she wore a mic to communicate with her handlers and Ryan. Ryan's special ability, electrokinesis, allowed him to see through her eyes, see what she saw, as long as they were in contact via an electronic device. So he knew her, but she'd never seen him. Handy, since he'd have to handle her capture delicately.
    Itor had lost one of the only two remote controls when her handler was captured by enemy agents, leading to her escape, but apparently the remaining device was enough to locate her. It had taken months, but they'd finally narrowed down her location to somewhere in London. Unfortunately, they couldn't isolate her exact position, which had seemed odd to Ryan, until his mission supervisor, Miljenko Zoko, explained.
    “We made modifications to the device to allow for a larger range than the ten-mile limitation. We were able to increase the collar's range to fifty miles. Unfortunately, the modifications ruined the device's capability of pinpoint accuracy.”
    “And you want me to track her down?”
    “We know she frequents BDSM and fetish clubs. That's where you come in. You're familiar with the lifestyle and the lingo, so you'll fit in. And there can't be that many in London. You'll have her in no time, especially if you have the remote. Turn it on, and you should be able to see what she sees. If she looks at a street sign, a storefront… You get the picture. Find her club, and with your background, you're set.”
    Yeah, well, he couldn't remember the lifestyle or the lingo. Not that he was about to tell Zoko that. He'd been itching to get the hell out of the island Itor compound he'd been stuck in for months. Especially since he'd tracked down Coco, and who the hell knew when she'd up and move again .
    “One other thing,” Zoko said. “Our modifications caused some power surges… it's possible that she's felt a mild buzz or shock in the collar. She may be extra-alert or even ready to run. Be careful.”
    That conversation had taken place this morning, and now he was on his way to London, but not until he had a little chat with Coco. Or, more accurately, a long, involved interrogation that would require her to accompany him while he hunted down Ulrika. He had a car waiting at the airport, Coco's address in hand, and he was taking her from her apartment if he had to kidnap her—which he was fully prepared to do.
    Because he'd had enough of not remembering his past. The people at Itor had told him all about it, had told him how he'd served in the U.S. Marines, using the military to illegally sell arms, and when he got busted, Itor had picked him up. He'd been with Itor ever since, and the things they said he'd done for them… Yeah, he was a coldhearted scumbag, even if he didn't recall any of it.
    But something didn't feel right, and he needed to know why. Somehow, he knew Coco was the key to his murky past, and she was going to unlock it, no matter how terrified he was that his past might be better left forgotten.
    “W HERE HAVE YOU been? You were supposed to check in with me last week.”
    “Don't get all big brother on me, big brother.” Meg pushed the glasses back up on her nose before taking a