Steele Read Free Page A

been prone to headaches recently as well as weakness. “Siren? What do you mean?”
    “Those two men work for an outfit called Siren.”
    “How do you know that?”
    “Because I’ve seen them before. And because I make it a point to know most of Siren’s employees. Siren is an opposing project funded by an entirely different consortium of investors. While we at Sterling study the untapped resources of the human brain, Siren seeks to augment them with technologies that have no business being employed on any human.”
    “What do they want with me?” she asked.
    “They wish to exploit your gifts. Exploit and manipulate them to their own ends.”
    She had suspected as much. “And what are you doing here exactly?”
    “I’m here to ask much the same, but my intentions are honest, I assure you. Sterling is very interested in your gifts. We wish to study them, catalogue them, and perhaps help you to understand and therefore control them in time.”
    Marla shook her head in disbelief. “What makes you think I’ll accept your offer when I wouldn’t accept theirs? They offered me quite a handsome sum, you know. You haven’t offered me anything yet.”
    Steele smiled, revealing a row of very white teeth. “You haven’t given me a chance.”
    Marla couldn’t help but respond to his smile. He was quite handsome when he smiled. And despite his massive size, she felt no instinctive fear of him as she had with the two men from Siren. “So make an offer,” she grinned, feeling the last of her lingering panic disappear.
    “We’re prepared to take care of all your medical bills incurred during your coma and recuperation. We’ll also have our own doctors on staff to ensure your continued safety and well-being.”
    She grew dizzy and faint, and when her head stopped spinning she realized she was practically in Steele’s arms. He was keeping her from falling with gentle and patient hands. Her heart fluttered with an excitement she hadn’t felt in almost two years, as she felt the burn of his skin seep into hers. She was overly aware of his male magnetism, of his sheer strength and size. She wondered if he was this large all over. She shook her head as if to clear it of her wanton thoughts and eased her body away from him.
    “’Aren’t you going to offer me money straight up, as they did?” she asked weakly.
    “How much do you want?” he returned.
    “Are you serious?” She laughed tiredly.
    “Absolutely.”
    She eyed him for several seconds. “What, so I can ask for a hundred thousand dollars and you’d give it to me?”
    “How does a solid five hundred thousand sound?” he asked, deadpan.
    Marla reeled. “I don’t believe this.” She clutched her aching head and stepped completely out of Steele’s supportive arms, determined to stand on her own. She immediately, keenly felt the loss of his touch. “This is just too much for me.”
    “I could come back later, to give you some time to think it over.”
    “Are you crazy? I don’t have to think! Of course I’ll take your offer. I’d be insane not to. My medical bills alone will set you back something like a million dollars. Maybe more. I’ll take your offer gladly.”
    Steele smiled again and her stomach did a strange little somersault. “Good. I’ll leave you today to get your rest, but I’ll be by in the morning to pick you up. How does nine o’clock sound?”
    “It sounds great,” she said.
    “Be sure to lock your door after me, and don’t answer it for strangers.”
    Marla nodded. She didn’t have to be told twice. Steele gave her a small bow, turned and left the way he came, closing the door softly behind him. Marla moved to engage all three locks on her door and leaned heavily against it when she was done.
    She’d been having weird days ever since awakening from her coma. But this was, by far, one of the weirdest she’d ever experienced.

Chapter Two
     
    Later that evening, after the sun had sunk in the sky, Steele walked into Ryan