Read Still The One (Family Stone #4 Jack) (Family Stone Romantic Suspense) for Free Online Page A

well.”
    “Is the mother coming back to the States?”
    “We’re trying to get her here but it doesn’t look good? Why?”
    “So there’s no one else that would be vulnerable to Fernandez and possibly in danger?”
    “Not so far as I know. A close friend, or a mentor might be in danger if Fernandez thought that he could get to Maria by pulling them in and using them as leverage.” Bliss was analytical and almost emotionally detached. “But let’s face it, she hasn’t been around for eight years. I doubt anyone thinks of her any more as anything other than a tragic memory.”
    There was a distinct lack of emotion in both her tone and her face, which pissed Jack off. She was the one who lost her. Maria was the client. Didn’t she feel the slightest bit responsible? Jack was practically climbing the walls with the lack of progress on finding Maria and she’d only been his client for about twelve hours.
    But then he realized Bliss’s lack of emotion hid a profound sadness. And he wanted to ask…who didn’t miss you?
    Jack couldn’t dwell on that right now. He had to get his head back into this mission. He thought about Bliss’s assessment of who could be a target. He knew someone who missed Maria. Someone who’d remodeled her entire life after her friend disappeared. A cold fear spread through Jack.
    “Fuck.”
    “What’s wrong?”
    “My assistant, Ava, was Maria’s best friend.” Jack informed her.
    “That’s awfully coincidental,” Bliss said suspiciously. Jack didn’t understand the edge of animosity beneath her very flat monotone.
    “How do you mean?”
    “Your assistant is connected to the missing witness.” Bliss said calmly, “How did you become a part of this search again?”
    “I owed Judge Adams a favor. That’s why he called me and because he knew that Fernandez is a large political force in my area. He’s also aware of the relationship between Ava and Maria.”
    “Again, coincidental.”
    “Not really.” Jack shook his head. “I hired her because of her experiences, her empathy and her need to atone. She has the perfect mindset for GHR.”
    “Ah yes, the philanthropic arm of your business.” Bliss crossed her arms over her chest. “What about Stone Consulting? Is she perfect for that business too? Because the quiet word on the street is that Stone Consulting can get sensitive intel and has a knack for jobs that require...discretion.”
    Jack wondered how she knew that but now wasn’t the time to talk about his other business. “That’s not relevant.”
    “It is if you’re working for Fernandez.”
    “What?” Jack couldn’t even figure how she could make that accusation. “Jesus. I’m not working for Fernandez.”
    “It had to be asked.”
    “You have balls,” Jack muttered. “I’ll give you that.”
    “I don’t need you to give me anything,” Bliss snarled.
    Except an explanation apparently. “Judge Adams called in a favor and asked me to help out since he knows about my connection to this case.” Jack was annoyed that he even had to explain himself. His temper simmered at the suggestion that he was dirty. When had he ever given her the impression that he would turn out that way? Staying angry, rather than succumbing to poignant memories and old regrets, wasn’t going to be a problem. Calming down might.
    “Could your assistant, Ava, somehow tip Fernandez off?”
    “Not a chance. I didn’t tell anyone where I was going, or what I was working on.” Jack took a deep breath. “Let’s focus on the issue at hand. Ava is a link.”
    “Eight years ago, Jack.” Bliss waved her fingers. “Honestly, she wasn’t in a position of power then and she isn’t now either.”
    “I would still like to warn Ava to be on the lookout for anything unusual.”
    “Absolutely not.” Bliss was adamant. “The first rule of successful relocation with a new identity is no contact with your former life. The key to hiding is to completely change your way of life. So take