Page 148 of Dangerous Men

Mason Sterling and friend, the caption reads,at last evening’s Sterling CharityBanquet.

Friend.

The photographer who captured this image was good. Real good. They had a real talent for capturing the emotions behind the picture.

With Mason’s fingers gently touching her arm, his head tilted toward Sydney as they waltz across the dance floor, it’s impossible to miss the look in his eyes.

Mason Sterling is a man in love.

And I can’t wait to take it away from him.

I toss the magazine back onto the table and lean further back in my chair. My back twinges as I settle in, the pain flaring in my leg again. I ignore it.

A voice cuts through the quiet of the empty room. Patient visiting hours ended hours ago. “He’s awake.”

I glance across the room to Annika, standing rigid by the hospital room door. My Annika, the spitting image of her mother.

The newspaper clipping is still lying on my thigh, and I tap it, fingernail sharp against the figure standing next to Sterling’s woman. The woman with bright hair.

“Find this one,” I order.

She doesn’t answer when she takes the clipping from me, eyes scanning the woman in the image. But I know she’ll obey. Loyal until the very end, my Annika.

It hurts to stand. Everything hurts now. I lean heavily on my cane as I rise, letting the worst of the pain pass before I head to the hospital room.

The man laid out in the hospital bed is barely conscious. His face is still swollen from the beating, his skin mottled with angry purple and red bruises. I’ve seen his file, and I knowthat isn’t even the worst of it. He has three broken ribs, and a partially ruptured spleen that almost killed him.

But most importantly, he has a grudge. One I can use.

“Good evening, Mr. Levine.” I approach his bedside with smooth, deliberate steps, despite the pain. You learn to keep up the appearances. You learn to let the pain fuel you from the inside out.

Chase’s head lulls against the pillow as he looks toward me. His eyes narrow suspiciously. “Do I know you?”

“No. But you will.” I smile at him. “I have a proposition for you. One I think you’ll quite like.”

THE END