Only One (Ward Sisters Book 2) Read Online Free

his program supervisor. For what reason, he had no clue. When the door opened, he attempted to keep calm. He'd tried, very hard, to toe the line.
    “Neely,” Agent Marx said. “We have a problem.”
    “Sir?”
    “What can you tell me about Mia?” Liam told his boss every single thing he could recall. When he was done, his boss said, “And what do you think she can tell me about you?”
    Liam was floored. “Uh, I don't know. Plenty, I guess. Why?”
    “Hence our problem, Neely.”
    “I don't understand.”
    “Mia's real name is Agent Cassandra Wilkes. We planted her to see how much you'd divulge to someone close to you, and you failed the test. Luckily, this is training. You're a prime example of why we do the exercise now. Better to fail in here than out there, where you could put more than your own life in danger.”
    Oh, shit . He'd been duped into believing Mia cared about him.“I'm sorry, sir.”
    “No apologies. Just be smarter next time.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    His gut had saved him more times than he could count, and he could trust it for everything but his love life. For his safety and self-preservation, Liam vowed to avoid romantic relationships from that moment forward.
     
    **********
     
    Reagan International Airport, eight and a half years ago...
     
    On his fourth official field assignment, things went south and Liam was shot in the shoulder. He escaped with a small physical scar and a minor recovery from surgery to remove the bullet.
    The PTSD had promised nightmares every night for years.
    They sent him to therapy and insisted that he take an analyst job for the short term. Faced with the prospect of sitting at a desk for any length of time, Liam balked and took the option of leaving the agency instead. He figured he'd start a PI business in Boston. It had to be better than getting shot or sitting at a desk all day.
    Strolling toward his gate at Reagan International, Liam was emotionally preparing himself for the insanity his life would now become living in close proximity to his family. Maybe he should go back and talk to Stu about a short-term leave instead. A desk job wouldn't be worse than dealing with his sisters.
    Would it?
    Ahead of him, he saw someone who couldn't possibly be in the same airport. When the man turned, Liam knew for certain that he hadn't seen a ghost.
    “Robbie!” he yelled. Robbie turned and smiled.
    Liam ran toward his best friend and was reaching to give him a hug when huge arms clamped around his shoulders and wrestled him to the ground.
    “Jesus, Rick! Get off him! That's Liam!” Robbie yelled.
    Robbie shoved his brother away, pulled Liam to a stand and gave him a bear hug. “Damn, you are a sight for sore eyes! How the hell have you been? You fell off the radar!”
    “Yeah, Langley kept me pretty busy. Saw you once, in L.A. You're a big man on campus now, huh?”
    The geeky college kid was gone. Robbie Deacon was now an up-and-coming movie star, with a lead role in a blockbuster under his belt and a stage name – Deac Roberts – which Liam thought was ridiculous. His lankiness had disappeared in college, but Liam had seen the movie, Freedom Isn't Free. W hile Robbie wasn't as big as his brother, he could probably kick Liam's ass now if he tried hard enough.
    Well, maybe not. Liam did have martial arts training under his own belt these days.
    Robbie blushed. “You could say that. Sorry about before. Rick, you remember my best friend, Liam Neely.”
    “Oh, right. Hadn't seen you in a while. You should know better than to run up to Rob like that.”
    Liam scoffed, “Fuck you, Rick. He's my best friend. I'm not some fucking groupie. I'll come up to him however I want. I don't need your permission.”
    “Actually, you do, since I'm his bodyguard.”
    “Give it a rest, Rick. Can you tell me where you're headed?” asked Robbie.
    “Actually, I can. I'm on my way home to Boston. I left the agency. Thinking I'll start a PI business.”
    “What? Why'd you