Read Hold on Tight for Free Online Page A

her body and walked out to meet the pilot, who looked over her ID and granted her clearance.
    Within minutes, Chris and Saint walked out together, an orderly attempting to corral Chris into a wheelchair.
    Chris spotted her immediately—his wide smile nearly breaking her. She forced herself to stay strong, even as his long strides brought him face-to-face with her in seconds.
    “You didn’t need to meet me here. It’s early,” he murmured. “But I’m glad you did.”
    “I did have to meet you here,” she said, but Saint cut her off before she could say anything more.
    “Agent Michaels, to what do we owe this pleasure?”
    “Chief Petty Officer Waldron, I need to speak with you again,” she said, and his face hardened instantly. He took a step back and waited. “The FBI has decided to continue the investigation.”
    His mouth opened and then closed and then opened again. “You’re still investigating me?”
    “Yes.”
    “Saint, I need to speak with Agent Michaels alone.”
    Saint shook his head, as if he didn’t like that idea, but he walked away.
    Chris took her by the elbow and led her back toward the building. “Did you know about this last night?”
    “Not until after you left.”
    “What the hell is it all about?”
    “Josiah was killed.”
    “I know that, I was there.”
    “There’s evidence that he was killed before he ever had a chance to hold cover with you at the embassy.”
    “He was a member of my team. What’s my motive, Agent Michaels?”
    “That’s what I’m investigating.”
    “You think I killed Josiah during the mission?”
    “I don’t know what’s true right now, that’s why I need to dig further into exactly what happened that night—step by step. I’m hoping I have your full cooperation.”
    He snorted at her. “So what, am I under some kind of surveillance? Am I being arrested?” he asked angrily.
    “I need to escort you back home to Virginia. And then you’ll be turned over to the Navy’s jurisdiction.”
    “What about Cam?”
    “He’s been questioned. His story corroborates yours.”
    “So you’re going to keep us separated and see what you can do to change that, right?”
    She didn’t comment. Couldn’t, mainly because her throat had tightened, mouth dried. He could have easily turned her in for last night, because even though he’d been the one to approach her, she hadn’t stopped him.
    “So much for second chances, Jamie.” He brushed past his CO and headed onto the plane alone.
    She had no choice but to follow.

CHAPTER 3
    You can’t just keep breaking up with him and coming back like this, Jules.” Chris’s adopted brother Nick was barely able to keep the anger out of his voice.
    He only did so out of respect for Chris, and for her brother, Glen, who was one of their childhood friends as well. Jules Sinclair knew that if she pushed it, though, she’d feel his wrath.
    But something he said snapped her away from thinking about his temper. “What are you talking about, me breaking up with him?” she demanded as she stood in the kitchen of Chris’s childhood home, the place he still lived now, with Nick and their other brother, Jake.
    Jake sighed loudly and gave her an Are you fucking kidding me? look—that hadn’t changed from high school—and then spoke to her as if she was a small child. “You keep breaking up with him, the way you broke up with him back in January.”
    She stared between Nick and Jake, the exhaustion she’d felt earlier quickly fading with the sharp sting of their accusations. “I don’t know what your brother’s been telling you, but you’re wrong. Chris is the one who broke up with me.”
    Jake opened his mouth and then closed it, while Nick merely stared at her, and yes, neither of them had an answer for that one.
    She crossed her arms and waited for the inevitable response. Because although they could say many things about her, they knew she wasn’t a liar.
    “Having her here is not a good idea,” was all