Wicked Games Read Online Free Page A

looks and instant charm fooled many people in the boardroom.  They would never guess she was the biggest shark in the water. She knew what she wanted, and she was accustomed to getting it. 
    Alexa had made it clear , on more than one occasion, that what she wanted was a commitment and a ring from Noah. He had made it abundantly clear to her that scenario would never happen. 
    He frequently encouraged her to find someone else and get married , because that was not in the stars for him. She always sidestepped the conversation and acted as though she hadn’t heard him. He wasn’t playing hard to get, and deep down he thought Alexa knew he was telling her the truth. But for now they would continue to use each other and take what they needed, whether that was an occasional escort to a high society function, or for sex.
    Alexa’s father, William Bishop, built his business in exporting and shipping goods to other countries.  Through his business dealings, he became quite familiar with various foreign dignitaries, ambassadors, business leaders, and other officials at all levels of the U.S. government. William would be rubbing elbows with all the right people at the event tonight, who could grease the wheels at the shipping ports, speed up the customs’ red tape, and make him even wealthier than he already was. 
    Noah opened his email to double check any last minute security changes that would be needed for the evening. He found an updated attendee list adding Richard Hollingsworth to the party.
     
    ***************
     
    Richard closed the door after Noah left and smiled. So far, so good. Noah was so shocked to see him, he didn’t doubt his concocted story at all. Not yet, anyway. Now, Richard was intent on getting his side business back up and running.
    Richard picked up the phone and dialed.  “ Remember me, old friend? It’s time for me to come back to work. I will need your help in getting started, and I will make it worth your while.”
    The voice on the other end hesitated, then answered, “Richard. Saw your picture in the paper.  What can I do for you?”
    “Meet me tomorrow night. We need to talk, live,” Richard demanded.
    “Let me know where and what time. I’ll be there ,” the man replied.
    “One of my men will contact you tomorrow.  Looking forward to it .”
    Richard fisted his hands and paced in the hotel suite. That stupid little bitch. She thought she could beat me. Three years I’ve had to lay low, and now I’m going to make her pay for it. Slowly and painfully. 
    He had quite the business set up before Brianna somehow got ahold of incriminating information against him. She went into hiding and took that information with her. Until he got it back, his life was on the line. Technically, he had always been in danger, due to the type of people in which he conducted business, but he could handle them. As long as he obtained the goods they needed, there was nothing to worry about.
    But Brianna was on a mission to tell his story and nothing would sway her from that. Nothing but Noah. He thought he had made sure his tracks were covered, but somehow Brianna found out. He wouldn’t make the same mistake again.
    Richard had gotten word that there was a dirty CIA agent looking to make a small fortune. That agent turned out to be an old friend from his military days.  He would use his friend to make his business lucrative again, and just as importantly, keep his customers from cutting his head off. His CIA friend would have the right connections to get the specific weapons he needed for this shipment.  
    Richard made a few more calls to old friends and business partners. Most of the men he used as his security team had less than stellar backgrounds , but he was fine with that. Someone less educated, less cunning, and with a criminal history makes a great fall guy, in the event something went wrong. Still, he would be very careful in how he set up business meetings. 
     
     
     

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