Power Up 3: Whispered Words Read Online Free Page B

While the rest of the Cannon family took great pleasure in knocking the enemy down, he and his twin outsmarted, outflanked, and outraced them every time.
    “Doublemint gum,” the woman muttered and blinked. “This is so not good.”
    “What?”
    “Josh, put the gun down.” Xavier waved at him. “Introduce me.”
    “I would if I knew her name.” He snorted and tucked the gun away. Then he urged the woman face-first against the wall. “Spread ’em, honey. I’m sure you know the drill.”
    “Dick.”
    Xavier chuckled.
    Josh sighed. After unzipping her coat, he ran his hands over her from top to bottom, careful to remain professional when he really wanted to cup the full breasts straining beneath her now open jacket. Holy shit, this was one fine, pissed-off woman.
    She shifted under his hands. “You done yet? Or did you want to bend me over to make sure I don’t have anything stashed up my ass?”
    “I’m sure we can think of a better way to make sure you’re clean, honey.” An echo of lust spilled through him at Xavier’s words.
    “Back off. We don’t know who she is,” he sent his brother telepathically.
    Xavier answered back, “I know her . We know her.”
    “Then why can’t I see it? Have you spoken with her?” Only with one special woman had Xavier ever been able to mindspeak in that same way he did with Josh
    “No. But I’m sure it’s her. Bring her closer.” Josh rose from his crouch and put a hand on her arm to turn her around. She exploded in a flurry of punches and kicks that impressed the hell out of him. He didn’t want to hurt her, so he didn’t fight back as he could have. Then she shot past him, the couch, and his brother before they could so much as catch a breath. Several doors slammed in her wake.

    “Damn, she’s fast.” Xavier rose from the floor, where the small woman had shoved him when she’d vaulted over the couch. “Good thing the windows are locked down, eh? I’ll take the back, just in case.”
    “Whatever.” Annoyed because their intruder had interrupted some well-deserved rest, he hunted her down with brisk efficiency. He and Xavier worked in tandem. One took backup, the other point, and they moved together. In minutes he’d unlocked the master bedroom door and the bathroom, where she’d locked herself in.
    He dodged the burst of flame that nearly singed his brows and sent Xavier a message. With quick reflexes, he knocked the lighter and air freshener from her hands—explaining the mini flamethrower—and tried to cage her while he avoided hurting her. Xavier returned and used her split second of surprise to tackle her into the garden tub.
    Josh picked up the lighter. “She’s inventive.”
    “And squirmy.” Xavier let out a huff when she kicked him in the gut. “Okay, that’s it.” He hauled her out of the tub and over his shoulder.
    Josh watched with a keen sense of anticipation. He couldn’t say why, but her presence added to…everything. Yet none of this rang true. The consequence of her being here on the heels of what had happened just a short month ago didn’t fit. Had she been sent by Otis Werlin to kill them or to spy on them? Because no way in hell she’d arrived at the family’s cabin by accident. Not after what had gone down a month ago.
    Once in the bedroom, Xavier and he mentally agreed to take off her clothes to prevent the woman from escaping. But the she-devil refused to accommodate him.
    “Damn you. Get off me!” She knocked into Xavier with an elbow, and he finally lost his temper. That Xavier had lasted longer than five minutes without losing it surprised him. Those big beautiful eyes of hers had gotten to his twin too.
    “Okay, princess. Time to pay the piper. Tell me what Werlin offered you, and I’ll consider letting you go with your clothes on .” “Help me out, bro.”  

    Josh joined him. He straddled her waist and held her, and together they managed to drag her boots, jacket, hat, and gloves off her. The pants