Sapphire Read Online Free Page B

I should be having this discussion with you in private, Gabriella. In a conversation where we would decide if you have a future at LOTN. But Ian came to me with an important mission that you may be particularly suited for. That’s the reason I asked Col. Malone to be in this meeting and why I showed him the video. To help him decide if he thought you were right for the op and if he thought that he could work with you.”
    Gabriella wanted to get up and walk out the door, to make as dignified an exit as she could. But not before she told them all to go to hell, and, in the process, that they could shove the mission up their collective asses. But she wasn’t totally self-destructive. As good as it would feel, she knew that it would be impossible to saunter out of the room and slam the door behind her. God, she was shaking so hard she could barely sit, much less stand. Instead of responding she bit down hard on the inside of her cheek determined to keep her humiliated tears at bay. She chose to ravage her cheek rather than her bottom lip as she usually did when she was upset. At least now they wouldn’t see the blood.
    Not content to give her a graceful exit, Diamond continued pouring acid on her already ravished spirit.
    “Against my better judgment, I agreed, with Col. Ross, to give you another chance. We felt it was only fair to let Jase know what he was likely in for.” She glanced at Jase but Gabriella couldn’t follow her gaze; she couldn’t bear to see the victory on his face. Her humiliation was complete. She didn’t need to see his amusement at her dressing down to feel worse. Diamond ensured that she would when she added, “But, Col. Malone seems to think that he can keep you on task.”
    Intentionally or not, Diamond’s insulting words goaded Gabriella to action. She sat up straighter and glared at her boss. Her fury calmed her, added strength to her cutting response.
    “That won’t be necessary, Riley. You can ask any of the LOTN agents that I have worked with. I’ve never let any of them down. I am perfectly capable of keeping myself, and the rest of the team, on task.”
    “I agree, Gabriella. The reports from the teams you’ve worked with have been exemplary. However, in all of those missions you were in charge, you led the op. In this case your role is different. This is an ongoing mission that Jase has been working for some time. He and Ian needed a female agent and asked me if LOTN had anyone who could play the role.”
    Ian broke in.
    “Perhaps it will be useful for Gabriella to know the nature of the mission before she decides if she wants to participate. Jase, how about you fill her in?”
    “Certainly, Ian, I’m pleased to do so.”
    Gabriella forced herself to meet her new nemesis’s gaze. She gripped the arms of the chair knowing that if she did decide to flounce out of the room in a temper she would need to be able to rise gracefully. Hanging onto the chair was the only way she could ensure that she wouldn’t crumple to the floor. Fortunately, Jase was regarding her carefully, as if he was testing her, deciding if she was up to the mission—whatever the hell it was.
    Jase rose to his feet confirming that Gabriella’s estimate had been off. He definitely was taller than six feet and even more impressive standing than he was sitting. He directed his remarks to her giving her an excuse to stare at him.
    “Here’s the ten-cent version, we’ll go over the details later. Essentially, an important government leader was convinced that his daughter had been kidnapped. I traced her whereabouts to a ‘Gentleman’s Club’ and was able to confirm that she was there at her own volition. Unfortunately, the more I investigated the Club, the more I came to believe that it is a front for an international human trafficking ring. My concerns were confirmed two days ago when our client’s daughter disappeared. At this point our goal, mine and Ian’s, is to not only find our client’s daughter,