Wild Card Read Online Free Page A

Wild Card
Book: Wild Card Read Online Free
Author: Mark Henwick, Lauren Sweet
Tags: Literature & Fiction, Fantasy, Contemporary, Urban Fantasy, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Urban, Paranormal & Urban
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Jesus, that was quick.” She looked uncomfortable. “I thought I’d have a day clear.”
    “Keith arrested, you AWOL. Petersen knew you’d be here. What cover are you using?”
    “My private backup.”
    “We have to assume he’s cracked that. You need to disappear. You have anything valuable in the room? Security problem?”
    “No.” Her eyes flicked to Victor and back. “Some proof of the things I was telling you about. You, the command structure, the whole mess.”
    I shrugged. I wasn’t interested in the proof about me. Julie had convinced me. As for the rest of it, I’d trust the FBI to crack open every file, and then some, if Agent Ingram was running the show.
    “I’m clear,” Trey said. “They’re still parked. No, wait, I can see their truck. They’ve pulled out behind me.”
    Trey sounded a lot less confident suddenly.
    “Vic, we may need backup in a hurry,” I said, and Victor started dialing on his cell.
    But I had Trey turn onto the interstate and they didn’t follow him there.  After a couple of minutes without pursuit, I told him to get off the interstate, swap the plates on his car and then go home.
    Another cell chirped. It was my cell’s ringtone, so I reached for my pocket, but I’d given it to Victor to hold.
    He fumbled it out, muttering about charging for being a telephone exchange.
    I chuckled, but that stopped as soon as I heard the voice on the cell.
    “Amber, it’s Pia. We need you here, now. Jen’s coming around.”
     

Chapter 3
     
    “You’re with me,” I said to Julie as Victor drove us to where my car was parked.
    “I can take care of myself,” she said.
    “What did you say to me not fifteen minutes ago? You think you can handle it if a team comes looking for you?”
    She didn’t have an answer to that.
    I wasn’t going to let her go. She didn’t know Denver, didn’t have any contacts except me and there were a hundred ways the Nagas would be able to find her. And I needed to hear the rest of what she had to say.
    “You’re with me,” I repeated. “In fact…” I hesitated. This was really flying by the seat of my pants. “In fact, I have a job for you while we wait to spring Keith.”
    “I’m not a…” she said, her face closed. I was pretty sure she’d been going to say ‘blood donor,’ but we were in the cab with Victor and she knew I was keeping the paranormal side away from him.
    I snorted. “Not that sort of job. You were on that oil company gig in Nigeria , back in ’07, weren’t you? Close protection is your specialty.”
    “I have all my little Ops 4-10 badges,” she snapped back. “And I wasn’t on that gig, I led it.”
    Victor wiped a hand over his chin, hiding a smile.
    I needed to protect Jen and I needed to do a hundred other things. Unfortunately, none of my warring paranormal abilities seemed to include cloning myself. Having Julie available was incredible luck. Victor’s people were good, but I wouldn’t put them up against the Nagas. And Julie already knew that there were paranormal threats. I couldn’t start briefing Victor’s people for a possible attack by Basilikos. At least Julie was only a single breach in the confidentiality rules. I’d have to figure out how I squared that with House Altau when the time came. And I’d need to argue for Altau to give me David and Pia back, to work with Julie on the protection detail.
    “You’re hired.” I said, and didn’t give her time to argue. “Part of the deal for Keith. You too, Victor. I know Jen’s going to want to be back at Manassah. I’ve got other tasks, so I need Julie coordinating the protection, because she understands the threats. But I’ll need you to provide rotating crew for 24/7 security.”
    He nodded, his lips pursed. “Long as Ms. Kingslund wants us there.”
    Jen had fretted at the security before, but after her kidnapping, I doubted she’d be complaining. And if he was worried that his men had failed in their job, I thought Jen would focus
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