Edge of Betrayal Read Online Free Page A

wake.
    “I can’t believe she would do that to me,” said Mira. “She knows how I feel about you.”
    “Everyone who works here knows how you feel about me. The question is, are you adult enough to put your feelings for me aside and do your job?”
    “Easy for you to say.”
    “Of course it is. Compartmentalization was merely one small part of my training. Was it part of yours, Mira?”
    She flinched and tucked her brown hair behind her ear with shaking fingers. “What my father did to me is none of your business. You gave up the right to care when you sold me out.”
    “I am responsible for everything stemming from my actions last year. There’s plenty of blame to go around, certainly, and I willingly accept my fair share for what was done to you. The question now is do you really think that your hatred of me is going to help anyone in need now?”
    She closed her eyes and let out a weary sigh. “Probably not. My father left one hell of a mess, and there aren’t nearly enough of us left to clean it up.”
    “We’re making progress. Today, you and I will make more.”
    Her green eyes lifted, meeting his. That connection rocketed through him, startling him down to his bones. He didn’t know what it was about her that pulled him in and held on, but whatever it was, its grip was tight enough to drive the breath from his chest.
    “I won’t trust you,” she promised.
    “I know. I won’t waste time asking you to. But we do have to find a way to work together.”
    Her gaze slipped away and her voice rose slightly, giving away her tension. “Give me some time to accept the situation and do the research. Tomorrow I’ll find a way to get past my feelings for you and do what’s right.”
    She was lying. Hiding something. The list of reasons why she would do that was short.
    Adam nodded, struggling to keep his disappointment hidden. “Tomorrow, then.”
    Before he could destroy her willingness to put herself within his reach, he turned and left. Mistrust was a two-way street, and while she didn’t trust him not to betray her, he didn’t trust her not to do something foolish and go out on this assignment alone, just to prove she could.
    Adam had promised Bella he’d keep Mira safe. If that meant checking on her every hour to make sure she didn’t do anything foolish, then so be it. It wouldn’t be the first sleepless night she’d caused him. And likely not the last, either.

Chapter Three
    M ira glanced up as Bella poked her head in the doorway of the computer room that doubled as Mira’s office. She quickly closed the program she’d had open on her desktop, hiding the evidence of her spying efforts.
    Bella’s dark hair was pulled into a tight ponytail that dangled down her back. Dressed in clinging workout clothes that showed off muscles Mira could only dream about having, Bella was either on her way to the gym or had just finished there. There was no sign of sweat or fatigue to give away which one, but then again, Bella always looked fabulous, even when she was sweating.
    “Ready for some sparring, sugar?” asked Bella. “As mad at me as you are, I thought you might enjoy it.”
    Mira was mad, but not at Bella. Adam was the real villain here—something Mira refused to forget even if others here did. “I thought you were leaving town.”
    “I am. Plane leaves in a couple of hours. Thought I’d kill some time in the ring. Wanna join me?”
    “Not today. I have something I need to go do.”
    Bella propped a hip on Mira’s desk, showing off an envy-inducing body of Amazonian proportions. “You’re not planning anything stupid, are you?”
    “Just a personal errand.”
    “Liar. You’re up to something.”
    “You’re imagining things. I have a very secretive pile of laundry that needs to be dry-cleaned.”
    “It’s not even six yet. Since when do you leave work before ten?”
    “Since I was shot. I’m still not one hundred percent. I get tired easy.”
    “Bullshit, doll. Since we’ve