Free Elude by Rachel van Dyken

then started rummaging through my drawers. A T-shirt flew by my face and then a pair of skinny jeans.
    I ducked when my favorite pair of riding boots nearly collided with my nose.
    The socks I actually caught one-handed.
    When he was done, he didn't turn around, didn't say one word to me, just slammed the door behind him. I continue singing the Barbie song, while echoes of his curses joined my voice in harmony.
    All in all? Not a bad start to my first day of marriage.
    Because for the first time in a while — I felt really alive. And it was all because he was an ass. Who knew?
     

CHAPTER ELEVEN
     
    Sergio
     
    I DIDN'T FEEL GUILTY. NOT WHEN it was her own damn fault that I'd even seen her topless. I wasn't one of those guys, the kind that looked away.
    I think she knew that too.
    Which is why I felt like I was in some sort of warped version of chicken. She wanted me to look, but she also wanted me to get embarrassed.
    I didn't do embarrassed.
    So she was going to have to do a hell of a lot better than trying to flash me in nothing but a smile.
    Hands shaking, I braced myself against the dresser and tried to wipe my memory of her naked body.
    And when that didn't work…
    I focused in on every delicious curve that had teased and taunted me. She was gorgeous. A petite little thing with curves in all the right places.
    I white-knuckled the dresser a bit longer than necessary, nearly breaking the damn thing in half, then pulled out clothes and shakily put them on.
    It was going to be a long day — and something told me it was going to get worse if she was in one of her taunting little moods.
    With a sigh, I took one last look in the mirror then reached for the door. My cell phone went off.
    Not my usual cell — the one the guys used — but the one given to me by the agency.
    Cursing, I went over to my nightstand and slid my finger across the screen. "Yes?"
    "Agent..." The voice was low, mechanical. "…we've come to a decision."
    "Fine."
    "The report states you had no direct involvement in Director Smith's death."
    "No shit." I rolled my eyes and stared at the ceiling. "What? Did you guys think I was a double agent? Working for the mafia while still working for you?" I added in a laugh because, hell, that's exactly what I'd been doing, but I'd learned the hard way. Always beat them to the punch. Say the truth to their face, and they would take it as truth; they had no choice. Guilty people tended to cover up with a lie. Instead, I stated exactly what they were thinking and made them feel stupid for even coming up with the thought in the first place.
    "No. Of course not." He cleared his throat. "But it doesn't change our decision."
    I'd known it before he'd even said the words. Bracing myself for impact, I simply waited while the line cracked.
    "Your services are no longer needed, Agent."
    "My services are no longer needed," I repeated. "Should I expect a visit from another agent, or are you guys simply cutting me off without trying to kill me this time?"
    No response.
    I sighed. "Fine. I understand."
    "No need to clean out your desk. It's been done for you. Someone will be by to collect your badge and security clearance."
    "And by someone, do you mean someone with a gun?"
    "Goodbye, Agent."
    The line went dead.
    What else had I expected? I ran my hands through my hair and quickly reached for my badge, gun, and clearance. I didn't want to take any chances that they were going to send someone to eliminate me.
    So I called the only person that I figured wouldn't want me dead — at least not yet.
    "Nixon?" I hissed into the phone.
    "What?" he barked back, sounding less than pleased that I was calling him at seven in the morning.
    "The agency's sending a guy over to collect my things."
    "Ha." Nixon let out a snort. "So they're going to try to kill you?"
    "It's the FBI not the CIA." I sighed. "But I don't want to take any chances, not with Andi here."
    He was silent and then, "Are you asking for a favor?"
    "Damn straight, I'm