Fatal Read Online Free Page A

bikini top into place.  
    “Oops,” she laughed. Her deltoids were amazing, six packs. He guessed she worked out. Or she was an army lackey. He had seen thousands of them, but none as beautiful.
    She beamed at him. She had a confident aura, one hundred percent relaxed with herself and her surroundings. Neil paddled, feeling the lactic burn in his muscles.
    “Mind if I join you?” he asked.  
    “Hop on.” She shifted farther back on the longboard.  
    He swam towards her, gripped the board with two hands, and pulled it between his legs. She laid back to keep her balance.  
    “Thanks,” he said when he was comfortably seated. “Tell me about your proposition.”  
    “Straight to the point,” she said and smiled, pulling her fingers through her hair. Her voice was subtly sensual and smooth.
    “You’ve flown me halfway around the world. I guess this is important, no time to waste.”  
    She leaned forward, paddling the water with her hands. “Tell me about yourself.”
    “Nope. I know nothing about you, and you seem to know everything about me. You first.”
    She smiled, seemingly amused. “Captain Alexa Guerra, French Foreign Legion.” She looked at him, squinting in the sun.  
    “Bullshit.”
    Alexa frowned, questioningly.
    “There aren’t any women in the FFL. Never have been, never will be.” Neil prepared to jump back in the water. “Let's not waste each other’s time here, Miss Guerra.”
    She grabbed his arm firmly. She was strong. “You are mistaken, Neil.” He turned to face her. “And please call me Alexa.” She released his arm. “I was the first female recruit to pass the Legion’s initiation test.” She smiled, leaning back on the board. “It helped that my dad was the Legion general’s best friend.”
    Neil studied her. “Bryden’s your dad?”
    Alexa nodded.
    Neil thought about this and the puzzle clicked into place. “B.B. The inscription on the knife.” He leaned forward. “He tried to kill me, you know.”
    Alexa laughed. “No he didn't.” She splashed some water onto her shoulders. “He doesn't 'try.' If he wanted you dead, you would be.”  
    Neil grinned. “It would be nice to meet your old man.” He wet his hand and wiped his neck. “Somewhere he’s not trying to murder me, anyway.”
    “Oh, you’ll meet him, don’t worry,” she said, grinning. “He has a score to settle with you.”  
    Neil groaned. “Is this about his broken finger?”  
    “Not exactly,” she smiled. “His daughter thinks you’re cool. And he is protective over her, especially when it comes to older men.”  
    “Aha,” Neil said. He was beginning to like this girl more and more. “You married?”  
    “No, why?”  
    “Why is your surname Guerra?”  
    “When you join the French Foreign Legion, you may rescind your original citizenship and take on a new persona. Your past is erased, and you receive a brand new French passport.”
    “Why?”  
    Alexa shrugged. “You get to start over.”
    “OK, I’ve heard about this,” Neil said scratching his chin. “Why did you need a new identity?”
    “To stay alive,” Alexa answered. “That’s as much as I’m willing to say right now.”
    Neil splashed some water over his back. The sun was beating down on them, and he fell backward into the water.  
    “Race you to the beach,” Alexa shouted, paddling hard.
    Neil hauled her in and overtook her, but she beat him by catching a wave and surfing back to the beach.
     

Maputo, Mozambique

    Perreira crouched next to the grave and propped a white daffodil in front of the gravestone. He stood and tugged at his collar, letting out some of the heat.
    These visits had become a monthly ritual. He eyed the gravestone. It had an inscription written in Portuguese.
    Here lies Maria de la Vosta Perreira. Born 1916, passed on in 1962. She had a heart of gold. Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust.
    Perreira sucked his teeth. He had come up with the caption on the stone. The bitch had a heart