Read Atomic Beauty for Free Online Page A

a flash. And wasn’t life like that? The most ridiculous fucking curveballs always came at the worst possible time.
    After a quick check of her apartment just to be sure she remembered correctly, Erika was certain her necklace had to be at Jace’s. He knew where she lived, and just in case he showed up trying to convince her to stay—or put a bullet between her eyes—she needed to be gone.
    Time to hit the lower forty-eight.
    And then what?
    Phone in her failure and arrange for a pickup? Erika thought about it. Her boss had given her an order, which she’d failed to carry out. It wasn’t like she could go back to Jace’s and finish the job, either. If she’d blown her cover, and most likely she had, he’d be long gone by now. At the very least he’d be watching for her, ready. Without the element of surprise on her side, he’d be a tough target to take down even if her body cooperated this time and managed to pull the trigger, which she doubted.
    No easy answers there. Even the remote thought of seeing him again sent a trill of excitement skittering across her nerves.
    Worse yet was the sickening feeling she’d let Murdock down. He hadn’t once failed her or her father.
    Murdock had ensured her father had been laid to rest a hero, attending to every last detail. Murdock had been a pallbearer. And, Murdock had presented the American flag to her father’s only remaining family—Erika.
    Now that she had information from Jace’s hard drive, she would find out what he’d gotten himself into. Her mentor deserved no less from her.
    Her cell buzzed. She checked the screen. Jace.
    Her heart pounded against her rib cage. Logic said he’d figured her out. There was a reason he was the best and it wasn’t because he was stupid, or careless. What kind of game was he playing?
    Even though Erika didn’t doubt her skills, she had no idea what she’d said or done during one of her blackouts. It was highly possible Jace’s brokenhearted facade was just that, an act. He might be calling to arrange to meet with her so he could eliminate her. Everything he’d said and done in that hallway could’ve been calculated actions meant to test her. Yes, that had to be it. It was the only explanation that made any sense. The notion he could have real feelings for her was her brain playing tricks on her. How could he? Relationships were based on honesty. Everything she’d told him so far had been a lie, except the part about wanting to be with him.
    The phone buzzed again. No doubt Jace was getting impatient. She palmed it, considered chucking it against the wall for a second, but pressed it to her chest instead.
    Gathering her few belongings didn’t take long. She traveled light. There were a few clothing items she couldn’t live without, plus a stash of cash and passports she kept in a loose floorboard underneath the fridge.
    After wiping the place down for prints, she closed then locked the door behind her.
    If Jace were trying to keep up the concerned-boyfriend act, then he was most likely back at his place. She could set up camp across the street to watch him, or do what she did best…disappear and figure out what was on that drive.
    Her work phone buzzed, the satellite cell she always carried with her. Murdock. He’d want confirmation of Jace’s death.
    She needed to wrap her mind around exactly what had happened to her before she reported in.
    Erika took a deep breath, and for the first time in her life, was uncertain what to do next.
    Her boss would understand if she had to be out of pocket, so she ignored the call and phoned Charlie, her pilot friend.
    Another text came through on her personal cell, the one Jace knew about. It had to be him. He was the only one who knew the number despite having multiple fake contacts on her list just in case he got curious.
    She ignored it, pulling a cigarette from her purse instead as she