Read The Predator for Free Online Page B

had a string of night shifts and was at last coming to the end of them. For now.
    Her reluctance to leave the parking garage had nothing to do with the job. She’d checked the roster in Patrick’s office on her way out the door yesterday morning and had cringed when she realized she was working with Brandon again.
    His harsh words the night before had sent her reeling and she’d left the squad room at the end of her shift still angry and shocked.
    She’d had no idea he thought she was so low… To accuse her of not knowing the father of her child? It was unbelievable. It hurt her that he’d even thought that.
    Okay, so their marriage breakdown hadn’t been amicable. A spouse’s decision to walk out on their marriage with no explanation tended to do that. But she hadn’t dreamed he’d turn so nasty. After all, she was the one who’d been wronged. It wasn’t like he knew she’d lied to him about Sam.
    A swift stab of guilt pierced her and she let it run its course. Brandon may have broken his marriage vows by leaving, but she wasn’t exactly without sin. Having a child without the father’s knowledge was up there on the scale of dishonesty, even if the said father had long vowed he didn’t want anything to do with children.
    Her shoulders slumped on a sigh. It was clear he was going to be in the unit for the foreseeable future. She needed to find a way to work with him or she wouldn’t survive.
    “Hey, Alex, you going up?”
    Ryan had walked up behind her and she blinked and hurried to reassemble her thoughts. Work. Right . Upstairs. Right . With Brandon. Not so right .
    Gritting her teeth, she drew in a deep breath, determined to get past it. Ryan shot her a curious look, but followed her up the stairs in silence.
    * * *
    Brandon spotted Alex the minute she stepped into the room. His heart stuttered. Nerves gripped his belly.
    He hadn’t spoken to her since their confrontation the night before. From the moment the ugly words had left his mouth, he’d wished them back. He burned with the shame of it then and now, and wondered how he could make amends.
    She looked great. With her hair loose and flowing around her shoulders, she looked a lot younger than her thirty-two years. Her tailored navy skirt and matching jacket hugged her curves.
    His hands clenched at the memory. The thought of another man caressing that satiny skin knotted him with jealousy. He knew on some sane level that she’d have found comfort in someone else’s arms, but to discover the harsh reality was taking some adjusting to.
    She had a son. The child she’d always wanted. The child he hadn’t been willing to give her. Thoughts of her sleeping with another man long enough to create a baby were driving him crazy.
    Of course, he hadn’t expected her to remain celibate. After all, it had been four years. But he hadn’t expected to find out she’d jumped into bed with someone else quite so soon after he’d left.
    It just wasn’t right. No, scrap that. To be truly honest, he’d admit he was hurt. He hadn’t thought she’d replace him quite so easily and quite so soon.
    She’d been his one true love. He’d have given his life for her. But he hadn’t been able to bring himself to give her the one thing she’d pined for.
    Then Jakarta had happened and it was all over.
    An exotic mix of expensive perfume and freshly brewed coffee tantalized his nostrils. He looked up from where he sat at his desk and braced himself. Alex had stopped beside him, brandishing two coffee cups.
    “I just came from the tearoom. I thought you might like a cup.”
    Brandon stared up at her, trying to gauge her sincerity. “Thanks,” he said and took the offered mug.
    Their fingers touched and his breath stilled. Silently he cursed his reaction. Setting his mug down, he met her gaze again. She stared at him, her expression somber.
    “Brandon, I’m going to come right to the point. You said some pretty awful things last night and you really took me aback. I