Read Mistaken Trust (The Jewels Trust Series) for Free Online

and ring fingers on his right hand, squeezed them together and waved, “Scouts honor, Miz Andrasy, I’ll save it for behind closed doors.”
    “You were never a scout,” she razzed, her eyes dancing with mischief.
    With a sly grin, he waved his brows at her then turned on his heel, sashaying out the door.

    • • •

    EARLIER THAT MORNING IN A REMOTE LOCATION. It was never her intention to spy. She just happened to be passing the partially open door of the general’s office at the exact moment four of the compound’s most high-powered men were standing in a tight circle, talking, their tone hush-hush but somewhat heated.
    If it wasn’t the devil that made her do it, then it was innate curiosity. Stopping in her tracks, she glanced up and down the gloomy hallway.
    No one in sight.
    Backtracking on tiptoe to the partially opened door, she softly leaned against the stone wall of the hallway, inching her body closer toward the door until she could stretch her neck into a position where her ears could hear all and her eyes could capture a peek.
    “The Commander wants Phase One implemented within the next ten days to two weeks,” Cooman said.
    “This is no good. Now we’re kidnapping women for the Commander’s pleasure,” Doc commented with disdain.
    “Not women, just Julia Andrasy,” Cooman corrected.
    Disgusted, “Since when did we start fulfilling his personal agenda?” Watters asked.
    Tank snickered, slugging Watters on the shoulder. “No need to worry your pretty little head. I’ll take care of nabbing the bitch. All you have to do is keep her locked up.”
    “That’s not the point—”
    “As long as I’m the C.O. of this compound, whatever the Commander wants, the Commander gets, including Julia Andrasy. And if he wants to dress her up, tie her up, beat her up, or mutilate her, so be it. We owe him that much.”
    “With all due respect, Sir, word has gotten out. The men are asking questions,” Watters pressed.
    Cooman glared. “The men, or just you ?”
    Sighing, “I’m just saying, Sir...,” Watters said with a submissive tone, waving open hands in front of his body and lowering his head to look at the floor.
    Tank leaned into Watters, “I recall you have a little sister in Denver—”
    “Don’t even think about her,” Watters snarled, bolting to attention and clenching his fists, glaring at Tank.
    “Simmer down, gentlemen,” Cooman barked.
    Tank laughed. “Hey, I’m cool.”
    Watters relaxed his fists, but continued to glare.
    “Now let’s discuss what needs to happen before she gets here.”
    Dread scorched her body like hot tar. This was worse than she had imagined. Before this moment she had only gleaned bits and pieces of information. Now it all made sense ... at least in a sick, gruesome kind of way. Gotta warn her , she thought.
    Cautiously, once again on tiptoe, she retreated from the door as the men hammered out the details involved in the kidnapping and imprisoning of Julia Andrasy. But before she reached the crossing in the hallway, the tiniest of sneezes sneaked up on her. Despite her efforts to contain it, the little expulsion of air from her nose might as well have blared like a tripped security alarm.
    Abruptly the hubbub of brisk voices went silent.
    Shit! Had the wimpy sneeze betrayed her? Not taking any chances her eavesdropping may have been discovered, she hurriedly sneaked to the intersection of hallways, turned the corner, and bolted toward the stairs.
    Voices urgently talked over one another. A moment later, “Bring her back,” a male voice hollered. The general’s she presumed.
    During the nearly two years she had resided at the compound, it had become apparent death was a common punishment for seemingly minor infractions. The message: do exactly as you’re told, no more, no less, or be killed. No doubt, regardless of the special skill set she brought to the organization, overhearing a privileged conversation would warrant a death sentence if they caught