Read Online The Road to Redemption by Nicky Charles - Free Book Online Page B

house.
    “I’ve had some
experience working as a handyman. I repaired cabins at a fishing
lodge once.”
    “Repairing a
fishing lodge?” She scrunched her face in disbelief. It seemed a
strange occupation for a rogue. Somehow she pictured him doing
something more dangerous than pounding nails. His dark features,
brooding eyes and sullen expression made one think more of a thug
who’d pull a knife on you at a moment’s notice. “You’ve got to be
kidding me.”
    He shrugged
but made no effort to elaborate on his statement so she let it
drop. It wasn’t as if his background really mattered. Still, she
couldn’t help cast one last speculative glance his way. Her rogue
had hidden depths. Interesting.
    As they
reached the back of the house, Damien turned towards the door no
doubt assuming they were going inside.
    “Not yet. We
need to talk in private first.” She went to the far side of the
house and grabbed the handle of an old wooden hatch.
    “In the
cellar?”
    “Yep. Scared
of the dark?” She tossed the question over her shoulder as she slid
the door aside. It moved easily since she’d added a sliding track a
few years ago.
    “No.”
    Flicking the
light switch, she nimbly descended the cement steps.
    “If I had
been, were you going to leave the lights off?” He followed her
down.
    “Perhaps.” She
shrugged. “Confronting your fears is the only way to overcome
them.”
    Damien didn’t
reply. She wasn’t sure if that meant he agreed or not, not that it
really mattered. She was in charge and he’d do as he was told.
    The
temperature below ground was a pleasant contrast to the heat and
humidity of the streets and Sam took a moment to enjoy the cooler
air. The cellar had been excavated and extended over the years and
now served as an exercise room though that hadn’t always been the
case. It was historical fact that, during the days of Prohibition,
some members of the pack had originally made their money from the
illegal liquor trade. Working as ‘rumrunners’ or ‘bootleggers’ as
such miscreants had been called, the cellar had been used to hide
the illegal beverage. As a child she’d often re-enacted the
adventures, hiding from the authorities as she snuck her illegal
cargo of penny-candy home from the corner store.
    It was during
one of those games that she’d discovered the trap door to a secret
passageway that led to various rooms in the house. She’d never
shared her find with anyone; it was often useful to be able to
enter and exit the building without the others knowing. She
chuckled to herself as she recalled some of her escapades.
     
    Damien studied
the bare light bulbs that hung overhead and the exposed floor
joists from the house above. Nothing fancy, but it was clean with
no cobwebs or mustiness. The walls had been whitewashed and several
mirrored panels hung along the far wall, while the middle of the
room was occupied by an array of workout equipment. Most of the
floor was cement, though one area sported a set of mats for
wrestling or sparring.
    “Nice.” He
wandered over to a punching bag and gave it an experimental
push.
    “What I’m
about to tell you goes no further. Is that understood?”
    Damien turned
to where Sam was leaning against a weight machine.
    “Depends what
you tell me.” He propped himself against the wall and folded his
arms. The expression that passed over her face made him smile
inwardly. She wasn’t used to anyone talking back to her and hadn’t
been expecting his response.
    “What the
—”
    “I’m just
being truthful. Would you really believe me if I agreed outright?”
Damien gave her a level look.
    Sam snapped
her mouth shut and appeared to consider the point. “Perhaps not.”
She paused. “Are you always such a pain in the ass?”
    “Pretty much.
I’m a rogue, not an Omega that toes the line every second of my
life. If that were the case, I doubt you would have hired me, would
you?”
    A reluctant
grin spread over her face. “I think I like