Wolfsbane Read Free Page B

then?”
    Eyeballing the man, Canyon tried to think past his drumming pulse. “My life.”
    Lambert nodded. “Good … good.”
    Good? How could he say that? What use was a dissenter now anyway? But that unflappable grin and knowing eyes—this man knew something.
    “You.” Canyon stumbled back as if hit by a squall. “It was you. You were the dissenter.” He slid a hand over his head and neck. “General, I— It has to stay buried. Or I go down hard and fast. I’m not playing with this fire.”
    Hands in his pockets, Lambert smiled up at him. “I am not here in any official capacity related to the U.S. government.”
    Dare he hope that this nightmare was over?
    “How do you like working as a physical therapist?”
    Canyon shrugged. “Not bad. It’s work. I help people.” He hated it.
    “That’s what’s important to you, helping people, is it not?” When Canyon shrugged again, Lambert continued. “Thought so. I have a proposition for you, Captain. One that will get you back in your game.”
    Wariness crowded out hope. “What game is that?”
    “The one you do best. The one that allows you to serve your country, use the medic skills crucial to saving lives, and be part of a winning team.”
    “They benched me, said I was done, no more or they’d—”
    “What do
you
say?”
    A wild, irregular cadence pounded in his chest. “I’m ready to get off the bench.”

CHAPTER 1
    Love is whatever you can still betray.
Betrayal can only happen if you love
.
    J OHN L ECARRE
    Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Two Years Later
    I f she had a heart, she might be capable of tears. If she had feelings, she might hurt.
    But she had neither. Not anymore. Hard mortar sat in her chest forcefully pumping the blood through her veins. Curled on her side, Danielle Roark closed her mind to her naked body, to the bruises, the blood. Moving had dire consequences—namely waking the snoring slob behind her. When she made the last escape attempt, he’d beaten her unconscious.
    She shoved her thoughts toward the plan. Weeks of preparation. Weeks of rape and torture. Were it not for the discovery she’d made, she would lie down and die. But they’d taken enough of her soul to stir the embers of revenge. Now, she’d make sure there was nothing left to identify of these barbaric apes. Back home in the States, her father and stepmother were celebrating Thanksgiving. Today, she’d celebrate with them, by gaining her freedom.
    A loud snort and the subsequent long sigh that always signaled when the drunk general entered a deep sleep echoed in the dank room.
    Now!
    Using her tongue, she pushed the plastic from her mouth and moved with the grace of the demolitions expert she was. She slipped from the bed, slowed her breathing, and stretched one foot forward. Her toe touched the chilled cement. Shivers danced through her. Darting a glance to the disgusting form on the thin mattress, she glided across theroom to his bag. Though she itched to put her clothes on, she knew if he awoke and found her dressing, it’d start all over again.
    Eyes on him, she stealthily allowed her hands to search his bag for the thumb drive he used last night. If she could find that, if she could get the proof … then she could end this. And in days, he’d be dead.
    Her fingers closed around a thin, plastic object. Exultant, she drew it out. Jaw clamped, she watched for any sign of him waking as she encased the stick drive in the cellophane. Shivering in the chilly November night, she unwound the long thread from her back tooth that she’d secured yesterday, tied it around the device, leaving just enough to anchor it to her molar, then forced herself to swallow. She might as well have tried to gulp a grenade, it felt so large.
    The savage was still snoring. Temptation pushed her to the chair where his weapon lay on the cushion. All she had to do was lift it, aim, and pull the trigger. It’d be over. Right now. She could kill him. He deserved that.
She
deserved