Diamonds Are Truly Forever: An Agent Ex Novel 2 Read Online Free

for someone, possibly a mad drug lord, to pick off. You can either come willingly or I’ll carry you out of here, kicking and screaming if you choose. But you’re coming with me.”
    Her lips quivered. Her eyes sparkled, on the edge of tears.
    “Hey,” he said more gently. “Cheer up. This isn’t a life sentence. It’s just for a few days, a few weeks at most, until we catch this bastard and my mission’s over.”
    “Then we go back to the divorce as scheduled?”
    Damn, she knew how to slice his heart in two. “Back to our regularly scheduled divorce, absolutely.”
    She nodded. “Okay.”
    “Come on,” he said. “I’m getting jumpy. Time to pack a bag and get out of here.”

 
     
    CHAPTER TWO
     
    Drew pulled his car into his secure condo garage and turned off the engine. Staci sat in the seat next to him, a pale imitation of her usually animated self. The fact that someone wanted her dead, once again, must have finally sunk in. Two streaks of blush were the only sign of color in her body, let alone her face.
    Drew could still not believe he’d lost the bastard. On the positive side, “getting back with Staci” had gone surprisingly well.
    He unbuckled his seat belt and hit the controller to close the garage door.
    Staci made no move to undo hers. “I could have driven myself, you know.”
    She was still pouting because he hadn’t let her drive her car here. For good reason. One, he didn’t trust her to follow him and actually show up at the condo. He wasn’t chancing losing her. And two, the shooter could have been following them, and Staci would have been helpless on her own.
    “I’m a better evasive driver than you are. I know how to lose a tail.”
    She turned to him. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”
    He resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Staying together was a terrible idea, and not his. But he was under orders and trying to protect her. As for Staci, she was always second-guessing herself and him. What was it with women?
    “Yeah, I suggested you stay here because the idea stinks.”
    She frowned at him.
    “You want to go to your mom’s? Put her life in danger, too?” As if it wasn’t already. “I can take you there. I’m sure she could protect you.”
    “Shut up!” She took a deep breath and looked instantly contrite. “Sorry. Stress.” She stared into her lap. “You could learn to sympathize.”
    He blew out a breath, trying not to lose his cool or be affected by her vulnerability. “I’m not one of your girlfriends.”
    She still didn’t budge. “Is it just me, or does this whole situation and you being undercover as yourself not make any sense?” She shook her head and gave him the flimsiest ghost of a smile.
    “It has a certain nonsensical ring to it.”
    She nodded and gave a single snort, possibly of laughter. He couldn’t be sure.
    “So I get to be me?”
    “Yep.”
    “Who’s going to believe this ruse of us getting back together? Who reconciles on the eve of their divorce?” She turned to look at him, her brown eyes filled with fear. “Do we have to be reunited? Why can’t I just hide out at your place?”
    He had to think fast. “From your mother and the world? Be a prisoner in the condo until this is over? Is that what you want?”
    She shook her head slowly. “No, I guess not.”
    “Then someone is bound to see us together. Besides, it’s better for my cover, Stace. People are less suspicious of married men.” He had no idea if that was true or not. He didn’t care. He made up statistics to suit his purpose all the time.
    Staci seemed to accept his reasoning. “Can we really pull off a happy reunion?”
    “I can.” He hoped.
    Her eyes widened. She studied him. He got the feeling she was looking for loving feelings. He reminded himself this was a mission and kept his expression neutral and unreadable until she gave up and frowned at him.
    “And we moved into your condo instead of our house because…”
    “I don’t know. We’ll think of