Temptation in Shadows Read Free Page B

notified immediately when hers were scanned. She’s here in New York, a waitress at some nightclub. Eye Candy, it’s called.”
    “You want us to kill her?” Sean asked with a tinge of . . . regret. Yes, regret. That didn’t meanhe’d hesitate. He might admire the woman’s spirit, but he always did his job.
    “No. No, no, no.” Bill held up his hands, that little black remote anchored between his fingers. “We want to study her, question her, so we’re sending you in to gain her trust. And if you hear nothing else I say, hear this. Gaining her trust is imperative. When we questioned Quatre, the stuff in his brain self-destructed, killing him. Six didn’t want to work with us, but she didn’t want her ability any longer, either, so we operated on her, hoping to deactivate what had been done. But again, the chips and wires caused some sort of self-destructive reaction and killed not only the girl but the people operating on her.”
    Rowan leaned forward and propped his elbows on the square tabletop in front of him. “What happened to the last? Neuf?”
    Bill’s shoulders slouched ever so slightly. “We made him comfortable but kept him locked up. We didn’t know what to do with him, but didn’t want him free, others able to use him. The continued anxiety caused a meltdown. After only fifteen days, we found him dead in his cell.”
    Sean and Rowan shared another look, this one pure
Oh, shit.
Sean thought,
No pressure.
Gain the girl’s trust and be careful not to incite her nerves for a prolonged period of time.
    He rubbed the tattoos at his temples. They were swirling Celtic designs he both loved and hated. Usually the action calmed him. Not this time. “How do you want us to do this?”
    “Remember I told you she works at a nightclub?” Bill waited for their nods. “Well, the owner, ThomasWayland, was dealing on the side and was happy to give us the club and a smooth transition from his rule to ours in exchange for his freedom and a one-way ticket out of the country.”
    “Nice of him,” Rowan said with a laugh.
    Bill grinned. “Wasn’t it, though? We’ve had an agent inside for two weeks, a female, but she hasn’t had much luck. Gabrielle keeps to herself. We think a boyfriend can get her to open up and ease her into helping us.” There at the end, his gaze had zeroed in on Rowan.
    “Me? Again?” Rowan asked, pointing at his chest. He was grinning. While he wasn’t attracted to Gabby, he liked variety and sex—however and whenever he could get it. “Is it Christmas already?”
    Sean wasn’t surprised the blond had been chosen as the romancer. Like every Rose Briar agent, Rowan possessed an unnatural ability, and it sure as hell beat the shit out of Sean’s. Sean could manipulate the shadows. Rowan could read a woman’s desires—and give her exactly what she craved—without her ever saying a word. Gabrielle Huit wouldn’t stand a chance.
    And that did not cause every muscle in Sean’s body to clench with anger. It didn’t. Really.
    “You are to be a rich, up-and-coming entrepreneur,” Bill told the agent.
    “Easy. But what do you think this Gabrielle will like?” Rowan rubbed two fingers over his stubbled jaw. “Well, besides this beautiful face of mine.”
    Bill strode to the table against the far wall, lifted several sheets of paper, and handed them to Rowan. “Bentley, our woman on the inside, compiled a profileon what she thinks the target will prefer in a man. Gabrielle is disgusted by the club’s patrons, thinks they are cheaters and liars. She enjoys lattes, but doesn’t often venture into coffee shops. Too many pervs with laptops, I suppose. Therefore, you will be as un-pervy as possible. You will drink coffee and be sensitive. Maybe pretend to read poetry and that kind of shit. Oh, and if she thinks you’re interested in marriage, even better. That might prove how trustworthy you are.”
    Rowan’s grin never wavered. “I’ll put love quizzes and letters to my mom