The Mercenary and the Shifters (The Turning Stone Chronicles) Read Online Free Page A

backup. Hugh trusted Mike. She needed to do the same.
    “I’m handling some freight for them. I don’t think they want to off me, at least until the deal’s finished.”
    Mike swore under his breath. “What are you mixed up in, Fiona?” When she didn’t answer he continued, “If I’m going to help, you have to be completely honest with me.”
    She cringed at the word completely. Honesty with anyone, at this point, could only be partial. How much could—should—she tell him?
    The shifter world was definitely off the table. Hugh knew about shifters, but Mike probably didn’t. Mike continued to scrutinize her, the angular planes of his face growing harder by the second.
    She had to give him something. “It might be possible the attack had something to do with the shipment, but why anyone would want to kill me over cigarettes makes no sense.”
    “Cigarettes?” Mike echoed. “Crap, Fiona. Don’t you know cigarettes are one of the biggest contraband items of the underworld? It’s a felony offense to smuggle them. You could go to prison.”
    “Why would I know that?”
    “Because you’re in the shipping business?”
    Heat flooded her face at his condescending tone. She shoved her pajamas and underwear into the overnight bag, then swiveled to face him.
    Prison? Crap!
    “Apparently I’m not very good at it.” Her chin trembled as the thought of prison hit her. She fought back the tears. “Smugglers infiltrated me two years ago, and now you tell me I could go to prison for shipping possible contraband cigarettes. A cargo with my stamp of approval. I didn’t know it was a felony, honest.”
    Mike closed the small gap between them and patted her awkwardly on the shoulder. “Don’t cry on me. I believe you.”
    His warm hand unhinged her. The flood of emotions she’d been holding burst, and she flung herself at his strong chest, weeping. The metal ammunition shells crisscrossing his body pressed into her.
    He smelled like gun oil and spicy aftershave. Between sobs, Fiona inhaled his scent. After a couple of seconds, Mike’s arms wrapped around her shoulder, and his awkward pats became more natural and soothing.
    “We’ll talk about this more in the morning,” he said, as he eased her away from him. “You’re still in shock. I shouldn’t have pressed for an answer.”
    She grabbed a tissue from the bedside table and dried her tears, ashamed she’d lost control. Her father would have never caved. He had been hard and tough. She needed to be, too. “I’m sorry. I don’t normally break down like that.”
    “Someone shot at you. You’d have to be pretty calloused not to get upset.”
    “It didn’t bother you.”
    “I’m a soldier for hire, Fiona. Not much bothers me now.”
    Good thing. Because if this marked the beginning of the relationship with OmniWorld, she hated to think what would happen when she got even deeper.

Chapter 4
    After Mike settled Fiona in the guesthouse, he dug out one of the bullets from the wall. Then he scrounged some wood from one of the outbuildings on the property and fashioned a temporary barricade on the window. He swept the broken glass into a two-foot strip under the window and laid a layer at the threshold to the room. If anyone entered he’d hear the crunch and be alerted. After making a pot of strong, black coffee, he set up camp in the living room and dialed Hugh.
    “What the hell did you get me into?” Mike asked when Hugh’s sleep-filled voice came across the line. “Someone tried to kill her tonight.”
    “She did mention she might want bodyguard services.” Hugh yawned, and Mike fought the urge to reciprocate. “Any idea who’s after her?” Hugh asked.
    “She’s not saying. I got some cock-and-bull story about a cigarette shipment OmniWorld forced her into. She acted as if she didn’t know contraband smokes were a hot commodity.”
    “Damn,” Hugh said. “Sounds like it’s happening all over again.”
    “What’s happening?”
    “The rogue