Free Hijacked (A Retribution Novel) by Cindy Stark

of her words. Not an easy thing to do with someone who used words as tools of her trade.
    “Can I buy you a cup of coffee, love?” he asked when the silence grew too long. From the look on her face, he was certain she’d decline, which would be a damn shame.
    “Okay.”
    Now it was his turn to be momentarily stunned.
    He didn’t stay that way for long, though. “I’ll drive.”
    She didn’t argue that, either, and she didn’t insist on driving herself so she could make a quick escape if she needed to.
    He didn’t ask, but took her hand as he led her to his Mustang. It might not be as new or sleek as her Challenger, but he’d restored it to mint condition, and the beast could haul some serious ass.
    He opened the passenger door for her and was helpless to keep from caressing her long, sexy legs with his gaze. The woman was a knockout. But beyond that, he couldn’t ignore the strange, yet comfortable connection he sensed between them, and he prayed their one night together wouldn’t be the only time he’d get to hold her in his arms.

Chapter Eight
     
    Christian pulled into the parking lot of a cozy, all night diner. He took her hand as they crossed the pavement to the building, releasing subtle shivers throughout Eliana’s body. A moment later, they sat in a booth across from each other, and she pretended she didn’t feel a million shades of excited and awkward as she glanced from her menu to Christian and back again. His dark hair, accentuated by the white t-shirt he wore, fell into his eyes as he, too, glanced down at the menu. He shook his hair out of the way as he lifted his gaze.
    Each time he caught her staring, interest twisted tighter in her gut. Physically, he was her perfect guy. Still, she’d never intended to see the man again after their one night together, because…well, because. But here they were. She could justify her acceptance of Christian’s request to take her for coffee as a way to infiltrate his brother’s organization. No explanation needed beyond that.
    As much as she wanted him, she wouldn’t sleep with him again. Couldn’t. Circumstances required her to harden her heart, because, when the time came, she would turn him in and make him, along with all the rest, pay for what they’d done to society all in the name of Howard’s honor. It didn’t matter how cute he was or how delicious his kisses were.
    “You’re working for my brother now?” he asked after they’d both ordered coffee.
    She nodded and did her best to appear happy with the prospect. “Extra income. I still have to pay off those student loan debts. Besides, it doesn’t sound like he’ll ask for much.”
    “Except to sleep with him,” Christian said with a touch of dark humor.
    She laughed. “Except that.” How could two brothers give off such different vibes? Where Gideon left her feeling like she needed a shower to clean off the slime, Christian made her want to jump in the shower with him.
    Strike that last comment , she thought to herself.
    “Why was he in the market for a new lawyer?” she asked. “Sounds like he had one in the past. Why didn’t he keep him or her?”
    Christian frowned. “I don’t know. I’m kind of surprised he didn’t keep Phillip. The man seemed happy to do my brother’s bidding.”
    His answer left Eliana uneasy. “You make it sound like something nefarious might have happened to him.” She laughed to lighten her comment, but darkness hovered in her question.
    He met her gaze. “I’m sure Mr. Desmond is fine.”
    Right… “How long have you been in business with your brother?” She changed the subject, hoping to garner more clues to the organization. After all, she was a part of it now. It wouldn’t seem terribly suspicious if she asked questions.
    “We’re not in business together. He does his thing. I do mine.”
    “I see.” But Gideon had said they’d concluded their business. So they had to be doing something together. Maybe that was the illegal part