Free Agent E2: Aidan (Superhero Romance) (The D.I.R.E. Agency) by Joni Hahn Page A

good.”
    Scowling at Rachel, he turned to Cass. “Maybe you need to be taught a lesson, Cassandra.”
    She stilled, her father’s dark tone unleashing memories long buried in the bottom of her heart. He’d made that same statement, in that same vindictive tone, the night she’d told him she loved Riordan St. James. She’d blown it off, thinking Riordan would protect her.
    The next day he was gone.
    Would her father harm her? Rachel? Aidan ?
    The thought terrified her.
    Pasting on an apologetic smile, Cass patted herself on the back for flawlessly falling into her old, pleasing routine.
    “I’m sorry, Father.”
    Rachel whipped around to look at her with raised brows.
    “ No . How can you allow him to use emotional blackmail that way?”
    Rachel had no clue. It wasn’t emotional blackmail. It was a legitimate threat.
    “Cassandra knows that when I say something, I mean it. You will learn the same.”
    Shaking her head in disgust, Rachel grabbed her purse off the chair and headed for the door. Admiration and fear swirled in Cassandra’s stomach. Would she ever have the strength to do the same thing?
    “I don’t know what got into me, Father. I guess I’m just tired and frustrated with this whole situation.”
    Robert bared a confident smile. “That’s my girl.”
    #####
    Exiting the fourth floor elevator, Aidan stopped short when he saw Cassandra down the hall. She had pulled one of the waiting room chairs over to the bank of windows overlooking the back parking lot and the field beyond. Sitting with her knees propped up to her chest and her chin on her arms, she stared out at the bare asphalt and miles of desolate land. He wondered if she really saw it at all.
    She appeared incredibly lonely, like a child staring out the window on a rainy day. Aidan felt the overwhelming desire to wrap her in his arms and just hold her. To pull her onto his lap and stare out the window with her.
    What was wrong with him? Really? He’d thought that when he learned who killed his father, all would be right with the world. That he could have them prosecuted and move on down the road.
    Cassandra Naylor had muddied up the waters. Despite what he’d seen and heard last night from Buckner, she still managed to star in his thoughts throughout the day.
    He shouldn’t want this. His brain screamed at him to turn around and walk in the other direction. Caring about a woman brought nothing but trouble.
    Yet, he found himself standing beside her, staring out the window, too. She didn’t acknowledge him at all, just remained still and quiet, while air from the ceiling vent played with the blonde hair at her crown.
    What would she do if he did pull her up from the chair and sit her in his lap?
    He had no ill will against her other than the fact that she elicited this mind-blowing lust inside of him. When he thought about it, she’d done nothing that he wouldn’t have done for his own family.
    Could he fault her loyalty?
    “Have you ever discovered that something you believed in your entire life was just…” Sadness softened her voice.
    “Bullshit?” He looked back at her.
    Her beautiful, blue eyes were blank, expressionless. She nodded.
    “I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that my parents lied about Rachel’s parentage and that my mom tried to set her up to marry for money. I never would’ve expected that from either of them.”
    She brushed the bangs out of her eyes. “My father woke up today.”
    Aidan stilled. That bit of news changed everything. If the doctors said he would survive, there was nothing to keep them in Creekmore any longer. A decision had to be made on what to do with Cassandra and Dar.
    “Rachel and I were in there at the time.” She turned and gave him a half-hearted smile. “She’s tough. I like her.”
    That bit of news pleased him immensely. He couldn’t help but grin. “Yeah, she’s the best.”
    Cassandra frowned at the windows. “She spoke to him like no one I’ve ever seen