Read Online Total Surrender by Rebecca Zanetti - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Rebecca Zanetti
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“You need a good guy, one who knows the difference between right and wrong. One who is spontaneous, protective, and would kill or die for you.”
“Oh, do I?” she muttered.
Yeah. How would she take a bit more truth? He watched her carefully. “While you’re obviously independent and very smart, you do like to be told what to do, Piper. Possibly only in bed, but I’d bet the idea of an overprotective mate would make you feel safe. Whole and complete.”
She paled, her chin lowering, sparks flashing in those gorgeous eyes.
He kept her gaze. “The prick you’re dating isn’t just overprotective, or you wouldn’t have gotten pissed at him last night. My bet is that he’s condescending, and that doesn’t work for you.”
She swallowed. “Have you made up enough stories about me?”
“No. Your ideal guy would have to be absolute in his beliefs, and he’d have to end up on the right side of the line, every time. You’re a true believer, baby, and God help anybody who crosses the line.”
She set down the cup. “Are you describing yourself?”
“No. I lost the line a long time ago.” Had there even been a line? If the woman had an idea of what he’d done, who he’d had to become to survive, she’d run screaming from the room. “Although I think you should consider the timing with this prick. When you work for a covert operation, don’t trust anybody.”
She shifted on her chair. “Including you?”
“Definitely including me.” He’d use her to get to safety and rescue his brothers, whether he wanted to or not.
“I don’t trust you.” She spoke the words quietly, while he could hear her heartbeat speed up with what had to be anger. “And while I appreciate your attention to my love life, maybe you should be more concerned with your own. As in, you’re never going to have one… ever again. Might want to get used to solitude, asshole.”
Fuckin’ direct hit. Jory’s temper, already frayed by the close confinement, sprang free, surprising him so much he didn’t have a chance to reign it in. “I’m just trying to help you out, feisty. Don’t trust the commander. Blood or not.”
Her eyes hardened to green chips of ice. “You don’t know him.”
“The bastard raised me, so I think I know him pretty well.” The words popped out before Jory could stop them,his laconic temper flashing in a rare moment. What the hell was going on with him? “Although I wouldn’t let him know I said that. How safe do you really think you are here?” He had to get his emotions under control, but even at the thought, the walls seemed to close in.
Who the hell was Piper?
She rose and hitched toward the cell wall. Her hands slapped together, and her boots stomped on the rough concrete. Red spiraled through the pink still under her smooth skin, and air hissed out of her mouth. “He raised you? My father raised you.” Her voice rose at the last.
“Not really.” Jory sighed. He was fucking losing it in the cell. The guy who
never
lost control suddenly couldn’t hold on to it with both hands. Damn it, he really shouldn’t have told her that, and while she remained unaware, he could hear the hum of cameras busily recording. “The commander and Dr. Madison were constantly there, training us and studying us. I have brothers, and my brothers definitely raised me. The best they could, anyway.”
Piper frowned. “What in the world are you talking about?”
She didn’t know her father at all. “We should forget this entire conversation. Trust me.” Man, he’d screwed up this time.
“Too late. Spill it, Jory.” She put her hands on fit hips. “Now.”
“No.” He stood, easily towering over her even through the glass. Although he appreciated her fight to stay in place and not move back. The woman had grit, now didn’t she?
“Then I’ll ask my father.” Her lips stumbled over the last word.
She wasn’t accustomed to referring to him as such, now was she? Interesting. Jory shook his head.
“Oh, do I?” she muttered.
Yeah. How would she take a bit more truth? He watched her carefully. “While you’re obviously independent and very smart, you do like to be told what to do, Piper. Possibly only in bed, but I’d bet the idea of an overprotective mate would make you feel safe. Whole and complete.”
She paled, her chin lowering, sparks flashing in those gorgeous eyes.
He kept her gaze. “The prick you’re dating isn’t just overprotective, or you wouldn’t have gotten pissed at him last night. My bet is that he’s condescending, and that doesn’t work for you.”
She swallowed. “Have you made up enough stories about me?”
“No. Your ideal guy would have to be absolute in his beliefs, and he’d have to end up on the right side of the line, every time. You’re a true believer, baby, and God help anybody who crosses the line.”
She set down the cup. “Are you describing yourself?”
“No. I lost the line a long time ago.” Had there even been a line? If the woman had an idea of what he’d done, who he’d had to become to survive, she’d run screaming from the room. “Although I think you should consider the timing with this prick. When you work for a covert operation, don’t trust anybody.”
She shifted on her chair. “Including you?”
“Definitely including me.” He’d use her to get to safety and rescue his brothers, whether he wanted to or not.
“I don’t trust you.” She spoke the words quietly, while he could hear her heartbeat speed up with what had to be anger. “And while I appreciate your attention to my love life, maybe you should be more concerned with your own. As in, you’re never going to have one… ever again. Might want to get used to solitude, asshole.”
Fuckin’ direct hit. Jory’s temper, already frayed by the close confinement, sprang free, surprising him so much he didn’t have a chance to reign it in. “I’m just trying to help you out, feisty. Don’t trust the commander. Blood or not.”
Her eyes hardened to green chips of ice. “You don’t know him.”
“The bastard raised me, so I think I know him pretty well.” The words popped out before Jory could stop them,his laconic temper flashing in a rare moment. What the hell was going on with him? “Although I wouldn’t let him know I said that. How safe do you really think you are here?” He had to get his emotions under control, but even at the thought, the walls seemed to close in.
Who the hell was Piper?
She rose and hitched toward the cell wall. Her hands slapped together, and her boots stomped on the rough concrete. Red spiraled through the pink still under her smooth skin, and air hissed out of her mouth. “He raised you? My father raised you.” Her voice rose at the last.
“Not really.” Jory sighed. He was fucking losing it in the cell. The guy who
never
lost control suddenly couldn’t hold on to it with both hands. Damn it, he really shouldn’t have told her that, and while she remained unaware, he could hear the hum of cameras busily recording. “The commander and Dr. Madison were constantly there, training us and studying us. I have brothers, and my brothers definitely raised me. The best they could, anyway.”
Piper frowned. “What in the world are you talking about?”
She didn’t know her father at all. “We should forget this entire conversation. Trust me.” Man, he’d screwed up this time.
“Too late. Spill it, Jory.” She put her hands on fit hips. “Now.”
“No.” He stood, easily towering over her even through the glass. Although he appreciated her fight to stay in place and not move back. The woman had grit, now didn’t she?
“Then I’ll ask my father.” Her lips stumbled over the last word.
She wasn’t accustomed to referring to him as such, now was she? Interesting. Jory shook his head.
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