Playing With Fire Read Online Free Page B

She’d run from him, but their little cat and mouse game was almost at an end.
    Cassandra should have known there would be no escape. Her father had brought her into the program years ago.
    And once you were in, death was the only way out.

CHAPTER TWO
    S he was . . . not beautiful.
    Dante told himself that even as he leaned toward her and let his fingers trail over the curve of her nose. A few freckles rested on the bridge of that nose. His finger slid to the side, tracing the curve of her cheekbone. Her face was oval, pale, and he didn’t like the dark shadows under her eyes.
    She wasn’t beautiful.
    He told himself that again . . . and realized he was such a liar. This woman, the woman who’d killed him in his dreams, had him staring at her like some kind of lovesick fool.
    He pulled away from her and clenched his hands into fists so that he wouldn’t touch her again. They were in some two-bit, pay-by-the-hour motel room. She was spread out on the bed and he was beside her.
    She was still out cold, and he was far too distracted by her body.
    Far too—
    Her eyelids began to flicker. His stupid heart beat faster.
    Who is she to me?
    There was something between them. Death, yes . Hate? Betrayal? Maybe .
    Something.
    She moaned softly, and he didn’t like the sound of pain on her lips. He found himself leaning forward and tucking the pillow beneath her head.
    When he bent forward, she screamed. The sound was high and desperate and absolutely terrified. She tried to bolt from the bed.
    He couldn’t have that, so he caught her arms and—as gently as he could—pushed her back against the mattress. “Easy.”
    At his voice, her scream died away. Her eyes widened as she stared up at him. Her gaze wasn’t clear as it had been before. Instead, her green gaze was hazy, a little lost.
    â€œDante?” Cassie whispered his name. Smiled. “I missed you.”
    His heartbeat seemed too loud. That smile of hers . . . yeah, she was fucking beautiful, all right. And dangerous.
    She was also trying to lean up and kiss him.
    What had been in that drug?
    â€œYou left me,” she told him, voice husky, “and I thought you were supposed to—” Cassie broke off, blinking. Then she groaned and shook her head. “Where the hell am . . . I?” Her voice wasn’t quite as husky, but he still found that he liked the sound.
    â€œNot hell,” he told her as he eased back a bit. “Just a cheap motel.”
    When he moved back, Cassie bolted upright, then winced. “My shoulder . . .” Her right hand lifted and touched the wound. “They shot me.”
    Yes, they had. And they’d almost died for that crime. He didn’t know why the fury had blasted through him so hard, but it had.
    â€œThey shot me,” she whispered again, then she shoved against his chest. “Get away from me !”
    He rose slowly. “You’re welcome. Maybe next time, I’ll just leave you on the floor.” The words were deliberately cold and brutal, but she didn’t even seem to have heard him.
    She was climbing from the bed, nearly falling on her face. He locked his body and refused to go to her. If she was so desperate to get away from him—
    Wait. Why would she want to leave? She’d been the one to seek him out. He frowned.
    â€œThey’re coming . . .”
    He heard her whisper as she ran into the bathroom. Then there was the sound of drawers being opened. Slammed shut.
    He glanced toward the motel room door. She’d told him to get away from her. There was no need for him to stay with her any longer.
    Yes, there is. She knows about my past.
    â€œI want answers,” he said, raising his voice so that she’d have to hear him over her mutters—
    And the sound of breaking glass.
    What was happening in the bathroom? He hurried to it and saw that, no, it hadn’t been glass shattering. It had been the mirror behind the sink.