Darkness Calls Read Online Free Page B

she’s got a slight concussion,” the young woman proclaimed. “Next time, try to take it a little easier on the ladies. I thought you considered yourself a gentleman.” The doctor stowed the penlight in her pocket and reached into her bag. She took out a small foil packet of medicine and handed it to David.
    â€œHere are some meds for your partner. She should be watched overnight. If there’s no one who can—”
    â€œMy brother can do it, David. I don’t want to go to any hospital,” she replied.
    The young woman nodded and glanced at Ryder. “See you later, Ryder?” she asked.
    â€œI’ll be by, unless the agents need to keep me for some reason,” he replied, but David shook his head.
    â€œGreat, then. Thanks for your help, Danvers,” Ryder said. The doctor walked from the room, mumbling under her breath as she did so. The calming, pain-killing chill of the ice pack returned, however, and Diana wondered why this man was being so solicitous. And why she was wondering what kind of relationship he and the good doctor shared.
    She opened her eyes. This time it took only a few seconds for her to focus on his too-handsome face, which was filled with concern—and a trace of guilt. “It seems as if we should know each other’s names by now,” she said.
    It was amazing that such a small hint of a smile could transform the harsh planes of his face, brightening his dark countenance. She sensed he didn’t smile often. “Ryder Latimer. Proprietor of this club. And you two would be—”
    â€œSpecial Agent Harris.” Her partner walked up to Ryder, who sat on the edge of a low coffee table beside Diana.
    Ryder stood as the other man approached and they shook hands. He sat down once more and faced her.
    â€œDiana Reyes,” she answered, and held out her hand. He took it in his, and when he noticed the dull rose across her knuckles from their earlier fisticuffs, his lips thinned into a tight line. Smoothing a finger across the fresh marks, he gazed at her, his face hard. His touch sent a wave of heat skittering up her arm. “I’m sorry about hurting you,” Ryder said softly.
    â€œYou were watching me,” she pressed, disturbingly aware of him. This close, his face was striking, undeniably masculine. A sharp, straight slash of a nose. Those dark, nearly black eyes that made her feel as if she could sink into their depths to rest. And his lips—full and well-defined…
    Maybe it was the blow to her head that was distorting her sense of things, but it seemed she had seen that face before. That she knew him somehow…and knew she could trust him.
    â€œI read the papers the other morning,” he started with a shrug. “I was worried the killer might be here—”
    â€œMaybe because of your clientele and the bar’s motif?” asked David, sitting on the couch by Diana’s feet.
    Ryder shifted to face him, his legs spread. He rested his forearms on thick-muscled thighs and steepled his hands. He had capable hands. Large, with blunt fingers. Diana had to tear her gaze away from the sight of them. She was a sucker for men with strong hands.
    â€œThere are all kinds at the club,” Ryder answered. “For most, it’s a way to cut loose and be a little different.”
    â€œWhy did you follow me?” she asked, although she was quite certain he had been in the alley before she arrived.
    â€œI didn’t. I was already out there. Beat you down from the catwalks.”
    He caught her off guard with his answer. She had been expecting him to lie. Needing time to regroup and get a fresh perspective, she peered at her partner past the pack of ice she still held to her face and said, “I think I’d like to talk to Mr. Latimer in the morning. Bright and early.”
    â€œFirst thing in the a.m.?” Ryder questioned, dread in his voice.
    â€œNot an early bird, I gather,”