Read Dare Me for Free Online

for Dante’s career, Sean hadn’t been programmed with
a stick-to-anything strand in his genetic code.  But while the two men no
longer worked together, they had remained friends.  Cheating death together had
created a life-long bond.
    “The game I’m watching is fascinating,” Dante answered,
gesturing his old friend inside.
    Situated above Bogdanov’s garage in a room built by the Arm,
the surveillance center allowed Dante an unhampered view of Macy as she
searched the arboretum.  For over three hours, he’d observed how cleverly she’d
ignored the plants, knowing their ever-changeable nature would likely provide
no clues to the counter-code.  She’d used ultrasound and radar technology to
explore the soil and when the technical search didn’t satisfy her, she dug in
the dirt herself.
    She’d counted and looked for patterns in the hand-painted
floor tiles and with attention to detail that would have made his eyes cross. 
She’d examined every weave in the antique wicker furniture, every shadow or
beam of light cast by the dim bulbs.  Nothing in the room, from the light
fixtures to the crevices in the wall went unnoticed or untouched.
    When she’d finally stood, dusted off her hands, glared
straight into the so-called hidden camera and announced the room was clear, he
hadn’t known whether to grin or frown.  Now that she’d completed the room, they
were one step closer to a second night of sensual delights, but as agents, they
were also no nearer to finding the code they’d both been sent to discover.
    Sean scooted onto the desk behind Dante and peered over his
shoulder.  “Is that who I think it is?”
    Dante flipped off the screen.  “Why are you here?”
    Though his eyes narrowed, Sean dropped the topic of Macy and
her unorthodox presence in the operation.  Though he trusted his good friend
with the secrets of his personal life, Dante had never been one to kiss and
tell.  Particularly when he’d hardly even kissed Macy yet.
    “Heard you were in New Orleans,” Sean said casually, as if
his appearance in the middle of a top-secret operation was completely
ordinary.  “Wanted to check out the action.”
    Dante grunted.  Sean had no more interest in
intelligence-related action than Dante did in the current National Football
League standings, which Sean undoubtedly knew by heart.
    “You’re checking up on me,” Dante decided.
    “Isn’t that what friends do?”
    Sean poked around Dante’s desk, chuckling triumphantly when
he found the small humidor tucked beneath a status report from an operation in
St. Louis.  Never mind that the document was marked CONFIDENTIAL and had the name of a celebrity
and several political dignitaries scribbled on the outer flap.  Sean didn’t
spare the file a second glance when he tossed it aside.
    “Friends who have phones can call,” Dante reminded him.
    “Not when the other friend is in New Orleans.  Have you
checked out that club near Tchoupitoulas and Canal?  I hear it rocks.”
    “I have no time for clubbing.”
    “Man, you gotta make time.”  Sean selected a premiere Romeo
y Julieta cigar, bit off the end, spit out the tip and then shuffled around
for a match.
    Dante extracted his Colibri lighter from his jacket pocket.
    Sean grinned in thanks, igniting a steady flame and then
rolled the cigar in the bluest part of the fire.  “That’s what’s missing from
your life,” he said between puffs.  “Time for fun…and a good woman.”
    “One in particular or will any do?”
    Sean wiggled his eyebrows and rolled off the desk, suddenly
interested in the technology around him rather than answering the question
Dante had posed.  Dante didn’t need Sean to point out that his life had been
missing much more than time for relaxation and a good woman.  He’d been missing
Macy, who probably wouldn’t fall into anyone’s definition of “good” except his
own.  She was cunning, cool and aloof.  If ordered to, she could lie