Read Online Viper's Kiss by Shannon Curtis - Free Book Online Page A

in her jaw as she fought to keep her tears in check. Her mother had been undergoing hospice care at home for the cancer. In the last few weeks she’d weakened. Her breathing had worsened. She barely ate, and she’d only allow certain visitors to come by. The reason Maggie had been able to go into work that morning was because Sister Mary Catherine, her mother’s childhood friend, had insisted she get out of the apartment for a while.
    Maggie knew the end was coming. She’d researched and read as much as she could. Her mother’s lassitude, her difficulty swallowing the pain medication and her reluctance for social visitors were all signs of approaching death.
    In the darkest hours of the night, when the lights were off and no one could see the tears tracking down her cheeks, she had listened to her mother’s rasping breaths and gurgling sounds, and wished for the end. She’d wished for the sweet release of death for her mother, a painless passing, and had cried harder, ashamed of that dark hope. It was her secret guilt, her vision of a life without the heartache of watching her mother waste away, where all the medical bills were paid and where she could afford to actually buy a scarf or a blanket instead of knitting it from donated scraps of wool. Where there was no longer the strict routine of medication to administer, or the need to constantly reassure and comfort her mother when she grew distressed or confused, and where her mother was at peace.
    Maggie took a deep, shuddering breath. She’d grabbed at the chance for a little freedom—damn it, didn’t she deserve it? So why did it feel so shameful? The opportunity to escape was a double-edged blessing, bearing a sense of relief as well as a pressing guilt that flattened her.
    There was no time for regret. Maggie pulled another gown down from the shelf and shrugged into it to hide the clothes she still wore. The gowns only covered so much area, and the gaping back revealing her jeans and top would be a definite giveaway. Pulling off her shoes, she hid them underneath some blankets, then rolled up the legs of her jeans and pushed up the long sleeves of her T-shirt so neither was visible beneath the gowns. She would not let her mother die thinking she was a thief and a spy.
    She opened the door and peered out into the hall. Visitors, patients, nurses and orderlies passed, oblivious to her hiding spot. Lots of people, but no cops. She took a breath, hunched her shoulders, and shuffled out into the hall. A number of IV stands were clustered in a group. She grabbed at one with an empty bag and tubing. Wrapping the line about her wrist once and holding the end in her palm, she made her way to the elevators, bowing her head and trying to look like she was in pain. That wasn’t too hard. She was in pain.
    She entered the elevator without notice, and rested her head against the side in relief.
    “Hold on,” a male voice called. A large hand wrapped around the closing doors, forcing them open again. Maggie kept her face against the cool surface of the interior wall, and her one free eye blinked in shock. She knew that voice. She swallowed as Luke Fletcher entered the elevator, followed by two other large men with dark hair. Luke stood in contrast, like a blond warrior amongst his darker companions.
    One man with dark hair and green eyes nodded briefly at her before turning to face the doors, as did Luke and the other man. Maggie’s hand tightened around the IV stand, and she tried to control her breathing. She wanted to scream. No! She was so close to her mother, damn it. She needed to see her, to reassure her. She couldn’t get so close and get caught. The fates wouldn’t be so cruel, surely.
    “So, you’re sure she’s here?” Green Eyes asked Luke.
    Luke nodded. “Her mother was rushed to this hospital. I saw Viper’s face when she heard the news. She’ll try to see her.”
    The big man with the dark hair and brown eyes snorted. “It’s hard to believe this