Read Online The Paris Assignment by Addison Fox - Free Book Online Page B

urge in her quiet moments of solitude to give in to feelings of gloom or self-pity—Abby also knew few people were without both parents in their early thirties.
    Yet here they both were, in the same position.
    It was a strange bond, but it was one all the same.
    And no matter how she fought the moments of self-pity, she also knew she lived with the very real circumstance that she didn’t have a parent to fall back on. A listening ear who was absolutely and completely on her side.
    The press was fond of calling her a soulless leader, but she knew better.
    When she walked into a boardroom, she was alone. When she traveled, she was alone. And when she went home at night, she was alone.
    So why couldn’t she shake the feeling, staring into Campbell Steele’s eyes, that she wasn’t quite so alone anymore?
    * * *
    The gunman moved through a darkened path in Central Park, the smell of fall in the air on the late-September evening as the distant whir of police sirens pulsed in the distance. The job had been an easy one—he was meant to cause confusion, but no real harm.
    The chase was as unexpected as it was exhilarating.
    As jobs went, he’d taken this for the pay, but knew full well the purposeful lack of action was a disappointing detail he’d have to accept.
    The fact the hellcat gave chase was almost too delicious for words. Add on the unexpected new boyfriend and nothing about this job had gone quite like he’d planned.
    He loved when that happened. It kept him on his toes. Kept him sharp.
    Kept him prime.
    The new boyfriend was also convenient.
    Here he’d spent the day waiting for the perfect time to approach Abigail McBane’s house, her office all but impenetrable, and instead her new boyfriend dragged her straight out into the open. In front of a wall of windows, no less.
    Hot damn.
    The gunman moved deeper into the park, on paths that were nearly empty save for an occasional jogger or bicyclist passing by in the cool evening breeze. Satisfied he wouldn’t be overheard—and that his racing pulse had slowed enough for him to maintain the stoic calm he prided himself on—he pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed the number he’d been given.
    “Yes?”
    The cold voice never failed to give him a jolt, which spoke volumes. He’d spent his professional career working with individuals who made it their business to hurt others yet this man unsettled him more than he wanted to admit. “The job was completed to your satisfaction.”
    “You staked out her home as we discussed?”
    “No.”
    “Why not?”
    “It was a game-time decision. I followed her from work as we discussed, but she had an event this evening, along with her new boyfriend. He was an unexpected wrinkle, but I handled it.”
    “New boyfriend?” The somber tone grew harder. Sharper. “I assume you left both of them untouched. The instructions were to create fear only.”
    “You’ve got plenty of that.” The gunman ignored the swell of pride and held himself in check, saying nothing further. It wouldn’t do to explain the footrace. Nor was it a meaningful discussion point to let on the tall boyfriend had gotten a bit too close for comfort a few times.
    “Excellent.”
    The gunman continued to wait through the long pause on the other end of the phone. He always allowed his clients to speak first; he simply awaited their instructions.
    “We’ll move on to phase two. And if you ultimately need to deal with the boyfriend, as well, you will be compensated for the additional effort.”
    A rush of adrenaline spiked through his system, that glorious high the reason he stayed in the game. “Thank you.”
    “Good night.”
    * * *
    Campbell slid into the cab line at the Plaza, his arm still pressed low against Abby’s back.
    “We need the car.”
    “We need a cab. We’ll call the car separately and send him home.” He stood calmly and allowed the doorman to open their cab door, slipping him a quick tip before climbing in after Abby. As she