The Omega Team: Precious Cargo (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read Online Free Page B

With a haircut and dressed differently, he could blend into a crowd with no one the wiser. A perfect phony. A perfect lying phony bastard.
    Patience.
    “I’ll see you in the morning, Poppa.” Mila escorted her father to the door and kissed him on the cheek. “All will be well. I promise.”
    “Are you certain?” he asked, his voice low.
    She dared not hesitate with her answer and give fuel to his worry. He might be tired, but Yure was no fool.
    “Yes. Of course. Everything is fine.”
    “I’ve heard you say that before, heart of my heart.” Yure placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. “And we both know how that ended.”
    His tone, both light and teasing, matched the mischief dancing in his eyes. Perhaps he wasn’t as weary as she imagined.
    “Mila,” Duke said when her father and Laramie were out of sight. “We need to talk.”
    She raised a flattened palm. “Not here. I’m afraid too many people will hear you scream for mercy once I get my hands on you.”
    “You want to get your hands on me? Darlin’, I’m touched. And here I thought you might be a tad upset.”
    His arrogant response shot adrenaline into her already agitated blood, making her see red. If she shot him right here, right now, she could plead he’d attacked her. He was a crazed American and she was still in shock from her recent incident in the bar. No one would question the situation and no decent Ukrainian judge would convict her. Plus her father had connections. Loads of them.
    “You are a disgusting pig,” she snarled, marching toward him.
    “Yes. I know.” He patted his stomach. “I’ve gained a little weight. But just give me a few weeks. All this fat will melt off in no time.”
    Her long, livid steps ate the distance between them.
    “A filthy swine!”
    “Hold on there, toots. I showered before I came down here. Even put on cologne and wore my best shirt.”
    Mid-step, she grabbed a water goblet from the conference table then launched it at his head. He ducked. The glass flew past him and shattered on the floor. Water splashed in all directions. She picked up another, took aim at his crotch and hurled it. He responded quickly, lifting a knee in defense. The goblet ricocheted off his lower leg with a dull thud, bounced twice then came to rest near his booted foot.
    “Hey,” he protested. “You’re going to hurt someone if you don’t settle down.”
    “Only if I’m lucky, you slimy, bottom-feeding scum sucker.”
    “Okay. Now you’re just being mean.”
    When she reached him, she beat on his chest, his arms, his stomach with every ounce of anger and strength she could rouse.
    “You’re nothing but a lying son of a bitch.”
    Bam!
    “A phony, repugnant asshole!”
    Pow!
    Blow following shuddering blow, she pounded and cursed him. He didn’t attempt to stop her. He simply stood, arms down at his sides, absorbing it all. All the rage. All the hurt.
    “That’s it, darlin’,” he softly murmured. “Get it out. I deserve it. I know I do. Get it all out.”
    The sincerity in his voice only infuriated her more.
    “Don’t. Don’t say another word.” She stepped away and pointed backward toward the double doors. “I want you to leave. Go back to where you came from. You aren’t welcome or wanted here.”
    “Your father might have a thing or two to say about that. Plus I owe you an explanation. A long-overdue explanation.”
    Swinging her stretched arm back around, she switched her pointing index finger to her middle finger.
    He took a step forward and held out his hand. “Ten minutes. That’s all that I ask for. If in ten minutes’ time you’re still pissed at me, I’ll leave. I’ll tell your father to find another guy to protect you.”
    “After what you’ve done and the lies you told, why should I believe anything you have to say?”
    “Because—” Duke started, but faltered.
    After a few beats, he closed his eyes and bowed his head as though searching for some internal strength to continue. When he