Free Heart of Brass by Kate Cross Page A

their importance.
    “Do you often attend parties to which you were not invited and follow unsuspecting ladies into dark places?”
    Five’s head jerked up. His prey was watching him as though she had known he was there all along, which was, of course, impossible.
    Wasn’t it?
    “I would hardly call you unsuspecting,” he replied softly. “In fact, I’d wager you’re incredibly suspicious of people in general.”
    Her eyes narrowed. Even in the darkness he could see the odd expression on her face. “It is a flaw, I know, but it has served me well in the past. But then, this isn’t the first time you’ve followed me.”
    “Surely you knew I’d come for you again.”
    She inclined her head and regarded him without an ounce of fear. He respected that, despite being irked by it. “The last time I saw you was almost a week ago. I thought perhaps you’d forgotten about me.”
    Was she actually flirting? He shrugged. He had lost track of the days as he sometimes did when on assignment. Still, it bothered him that he was missing time. “And now I have you.”
    She smiled at that—an expression he couldn’t quite decipher. “You’ve had me before, sir. Or do you not remember?”
    Again that tickle in the back of his brain. An itch he couldn’t scratch. “I’m fairly certain you are a woman any man would loathe to forget.”
    Her smile saddened. “You don’t remember.”
    “Should I?”
    “No, I suppose not. Though I have many memories of you.”
    He walked toward her, slowly—as he might approach a feral cat. Unease tied a knot deep in his belly. “Then you have me at a disadvantage.”
    “I sincerely doubt that.” She sighed. “You obviously followed me for a reason. What is it?”
    Now that he was face-to-face with her, he found his readiness to end her life had waned considerably. There were many things he wanted to do to her, but killing her was not one of them. Still, he had no choice.
    “You murdered a man who was very important to my employer.” There was no need to lie to her—better she know why her life was about to be terminated.
    “I’m afraid you’re going to have to be more specific than that.”
    His eyebrow jumped. Was she sincere or mocking him? “You have that much blood on your hands?”
    She crossed her arms over her lovely bosom. “I have no trouble sleeping at night.”
    “It doesn’t bother you that Victor Erlich’s widow mourns him still?”
    She smirked at him. “Erlich wasn’t married. Is he what all this fuss is about?”
    “You killed him.” He wanted to hear her confess to her crime. Surely she knew there would be retribution?
    “And now you’re here to avenge him, are you?”
    Five gave a curt nod. “I’m here to make certain justice is served.” So why hadn’t he done it already? Why was he standing here waiting for her to tell him what he already knew to be true?
    “Hmm. What was he to you?”
    “I beg your pardon?”
    “Erlich.” She took a step toward him. Inexplicably he wanted to take a step backward. “Was he a friend of yours?”
    “I didn’t really know him.” Now who stalked whom?
    She came another step closer, but no more, keeping just out of reach. “You did—a long time ago. You once tried to kill him yourself.”
    Erlich had been part of the Company just as he was. There was no way he could have tried to kill the man. He might not remember his past, but he knew in his heart that he hadn’t been without a sense of right and wrong.
    “You’re fighting for the wrong side, Luke,” she told him. “You think you’re doing the right thing, but the Company is using you. You’re nothing but a weapon to them.”
    Five’s temper flared. The way she spoke—with that sneer in her cultured tones—made him feel like an idiot, but worse, she made him question the only thing he knew and believed in.
    No one else had ever inspired doubt in him like this woman did.
    He closed the distance between them in the blink of an eye, startling her.