Read Online Worth the Risk by Melinda Di Lorenzo - Free Book Online

scenery. She breathed in irritably, chastising herself for getting distracted. But her inhale brought a whiff of something. She drew in another breath. Yes, there it was again.
    Cigarette smoke.
    But there was no one in sight.
    Meredith scanned the shrubs on the edge of the apartments a little more carefully. And paused. There, just behind a particularly shabby tree, a tiny ribbon of gray swirled up. She brought her eyes down to the bottom of the foliage. She could see the edge of a thick black boot. Her heart thumped.
    It could be anyone. A resident. A visitor. A—
    Her thoughts cut off as a cigarette butt flicked up, then landed on the ground, and the booted foot followed it. She got a second-long glance at the person wearing the boot. And that second was all she needed to recognize him. It was the redheaded man who’d chased her down with his sedan.
    Oh, crap.
    Why was the man outside Sam’s apartment? Was he going in? Standing guard? Was it already too late?
    In a panic, Meredith reached for the phone, and in that same panic, she dropped it.
    Get it together!
    The silent, self-directed command could only help so much. She was too frazzled. Too worried about Sam’s safety.
    And when she did manage to retrieve the phone, it only got worse. Worm’s number had disappeared off the screen. Quickly, she scrolled through in search of an address book. It came up blank.
    “You’ve got to be kidding me,” she muttered.
    She eyed the keys hanging from the ignition. But she knew she wouldn’t use them. No way would she leave Sam alone.
    She popped open the glove box and retrieved the gun Sam had left behind. She grabbed a ball cap that had been stuffed in beside it, too, and shoved it down low on her head. Then she snapped up a wrinkly jacket from the backseat and draped it over her shoulders. She eyed herself in the rearview mirror. A shoddy disguise, but the best she could do.
    As she climbed from the vehicle, Meredith decided to take a direct approach. They—whoever they were—would be expecting a subtle entry. A sneak attack. She’d draw less attention if she acted like she belonged there.
    Unless they’ve all got your face on their radar.
    Meredith shoved aside the frightening thought and pulled her hat even lower. She commanded her feet not to slow as she neared the glass doors at the front of Sam’s building. Just inside, she could see a man in a police officer’s uniform. Her pulse quickened.
    Keep calm. Like you’re just coming home from a coffee date with a friend and there isn’t a shiny weapon stuck in your belt.
    She reached the door and lifted her hand. And before she could even fake dropping her key like she planned, the cop was there, swinging it open.
    “Miss,” he said, his voice full of overblown authority. “The building’s on a lockdown.”
    Uh-huh, Meredith thought, remembering all too readily that the little spy camera in her necklace had been police-issue. If it’s on lockdown, why are you un locking it?
    What she said aloud was “No hablo Inglés.”
    The cop blinked. “You. Can. Not. Come. In. Comprende? ”
    “No hablo Inglés,” Meredith repeated and moved to sidle past him.
    One of his meaty hands shot out and landed on her shoulder. “Stop.”
    “Qué?”
    “Seriously?” the cop grumbled. “Sit tight, all right? Just...stay.”
    He stepped back, turned away from Meredith and pressed down on his two-way radio.
    “I’ve got some chick down here,” he said. “Yeah, no. That’s not happening. She doesn’t understand English.”
    When the door had almost closed, Meredith scooted her foot to the edge of the door and propped it open, just an inch. She held her breath, waiting for the cop to notice. But he just continued to speak into his radio, growing more agitated with each sentence.
    “No, man. Spanish!” A pause. “It’s not funny.”
    Meredith wiggled her foot, widening the opening. The officer still didn’t turn, so she pushed the door even farther. And the moment