Free The Echo of Violence by Jordan Dane Page B

her—and not sacrifice their working relationship to do it.
    “Sure. What’s up?”
    With Seth in earshot, she was careful not to mention Garrett’s name. Her work would be off-limits.
    “I have an assignment. It’s urgent, I’m afraid.”
    She listened to what he had to say. Even on an encrypted cell-phone connection, Garrett was careful not to provide too many details. He’d wait until they met to disclose more. He told her what she’d need to know about a trip out of the country.
    “How soon can we meet for a briefing?” Garrett asked.
    Alexa took a deep breath, looked at Seth, and forced a smile as she brushed back her blond hair and changed the cell to her other ear.
    “Let me work something out. I’ll call you back.” She didn’t wait for his reply. She ended the call and turned toward Seth. “Let’s grab that bite to eat. I’m starved.”
    “Is everything okay?” he asked. “What’s going on?”
    With a straight face, she raised an eyebrow, and said, “I could tell you, but then I have to dump you in the East River. And I’m running low on cement.”
    Seth blinked twice with a deadpan look on his face. “Is that your idea of New York hospitality? A double tap to the head?”
    “Yeah, if I like you.” She grinned.
    “Well…” He shrugged. “Do you?”
    “Come on, Harper. I was kidding. What? TSA doesn’t allow humor in carry-ons these days?”
    “Only if it fits in a Ziploc.” He still hadn’t cracked a smile. Definitely cute.
    When she called him Harper, it reminded her again of the bounty hunter who’d become her friend. She remembered the look on Jessie’s face when she told her about Seth coming to town. Jessie admitted not having any better plans for the day, yet she turned down a chance to pick Seth up at the airport. Her reaction didn’t feel right, so Alexa had questioned her again. Jessie only reiterated that Seth was fair game, and it was open season. The woman had always struck her as a straight shooter until then. When it came to Seth, however, she sent out mixed signals.
    And that wouldn’t do.
    Alexa didn’t like the way that made her feel—as if she were intruding on something she wouldn’t understand. She wished she knew more. And maybe one day Jessie would trust her enough to tell her.
    In the meantime, she had a guest to feed.
    “Come on. Let’s blow this place.”
    Alexa pulled from the curb, subconsciously cursing the bad timing of her new assignment. She’d break her change in plans to Seth over breakfast. And with any luck, the job would be over soon, and she’d convince him to stay at her place until she got back. He’d probably appreciate saving money on a hotel.
    When she merged into traffic with Seth on her mind, she missed the dark sedan maintaining a safe distance behind her.
    “Stick with them until I tell you to break it off,” Garrett Wheeler told the driver, a trusted operative who worked for him. From the backseat of the sedan, he watched the rental car as it changed lanes.
    He hadn’t planned on close surveillance of Alexa Marlowe, but after he’d seen her meeting a man at the airport, he had to admit that a pang of jealousy had caught him by surprise.
    Over the years, he had played countless games with her and arranged for clandestine encounters that had turned sexual. They both enjoyed them. Yet this time on the phone, she had played him as much as he played her. This he knew because he’d seen her do it. He’d listened to her guarded responses on the phone as he watched her from a discreet distance.
    What could he expect after what he’d pulled a few months ago? For her own good—and for the good of the Sentinels—he’d let distance grow between them. And later he knew it would take more than that for Alexa to realize their relationship was over. He’d set up a scenario that looked as if he were having an affairwith another woman. It didn’t take long for Alexa to do the right thing and dump his sorry ass.
    Her playing him