Warrior Rogue (The Drift Lords Series) Read Free Page B

same reason he’d left home.
    “I am a Drift Lord on a mission.” He didn’t see any reason to lie.
    “A Drift Lord? What’s that?”
    “If I tell you, I’ll have to kill you.” He grinned at the moue of displeasure on her face.
    “Please don’t joke with me. I’m trying to help you.”
    “Very well. I am a warrior sent to banish the horde back to where they belong.” He watched for her reaction and was gratified when she stared at him as though he’d sprouted wings.
    “The horde? Okay, fella. Maybe you are some kind of agent on a mission, and you ran afoul of the bad guys. You know what? I’ll drop you off at the nearest consulate. They can help you get home, or complete your job. Whatever.”
    “You are correct. It was the bad guys, as you call them, who did this to me.”
    He sank back in his seat and closed his eyes, memories flooding him. Along with them rode a sense of pain. His team had been captured by the enemy. One of their own had betrayed them. Paz had no way of knowing the final outcome of the battle because he’d been pushed into the pit, presumably left for dead.
    “May I borrow your communication device? I wish to call my colleagues to let them know I’m all right.” And to find out if any of them survived.
    “You mean my cell phone?” Jen fished it from her purse and handed it to him. “Maybe you should ask them to arrange for your return home.”
    “Indeed, I shall.” But when he dialed their emergency number, no one answered. Even if his mates were on board the Protector rather than planet-side, they should receive the transmission. The fact that even Zohar, their captain and crown prince of the Star Empire, did not respond made Paz’s jaw tighten.
    In silence, he handed Jen back her phone. It was up to him now to complete their assignment. Failure would mean the destruction not only of this world but thousands of others.
    His duty was clear. He would send the Trolleks back where they belonged, or he’d die trying.
    ****
    Jen ordered the driver to head for the American Embassy. She’d drop Paz off there where hopefully he could reconnect with his friends. He’d gone quiet, staring out the window, his profile frozen in consternation. Aware of his hulking presence beside her, she inched away on the seat. His magnetism tended to draw her closer, but they’d only just met and caution prevailed.
    He looked a wreck, his jaw unshaven, and his hair askew. Maybe he had been attacked. A mugging would account for his confusion and injuries. In that case, the man was lucky he hadn’t been hurt worse. But shouldn’t he have recovered his senses by now? All this talk of Drift Lords and secret missions made her wonder about his sanity.
    He seemed to be a decent guy otherwise. Growing up in Palm Beach had taught her to discern between men who were sincere in their admiration and men who wanted something from her. She yearned to find a guy who had enough cash and clout that he wouldn’t need hers. A prominent businessman might fit the bill, but she had yet to meet a magnate who lit her fire. Her dream of marrying a partner with whom to share her successes and start a family seemed to grow ever distant.
    She sneaked a glance sideways at her companion. He’d be fabulous in the role of a vengeful Norse god if he really knew how to act. Actually, with his powerful physique, he’d make a striking model for her upcoming Spring line. Maybe he’d consider a change in careers? He didn’t have to be sane. Just looking like a hunk would work well enough.
    “Tell me, are you an actor at all, or do you have another job?”
    He gave her an oblique glance. “When I am not employed in my current position, I work in telecom.”
    Jen gripped her seat as their driver jammed on the brakes. A trio of motorcyclists zoomed past a yellow light. Outside, solemn-faced workers scurried down the street while tourists craned their necks to regard the billboards. A popular department store loomed ahead.
    The car