Page 5 of Phoenix Rising

Audria pushed away the tangled, sweat-covered sheets and got out of bed. She walked to the bathroom to splash cold water on her face. After returning from her first assignment as an official COBRA Securities agent, and before she’d fallen asleep, she had been basking in the euphoria of a successful mission. She’d been injured, but not badly, as had Luca Russo, the lead agent. While she’d suffered a mild concussion, he’d been shot. He would make a full recovery, as would she, but the best part of the ordeal had been when she’d pulled the trigger and ended Ted Rader’s life, a notorious serial killer. When it came down to it, she was able to use her weapon again. For a while, she wasn’t sure that would ever be the case again.

Ring. Ring.

Audria grabbed her phone from the bathroom counter and goggled at the display. Reese Reneau. Why would he be calling her? Maybe he wanted to continue what they’d started in Miami Beach. No, that couldn’t be it. The only way to find out was to punch the talk button, so she did.

“Hello, Reese.

“Hello, Audria. How are you feeling?”

That deep, whisky-smooth voice wrapped around her heart, and her pulse triple-timed. This man had been plaguing her dreams lately, too, but not in a bad way. No, those nocturnal visions had most definitely been of the wonderful variety. The sexy kind. And, oh, had they been wicked. The kiss they shared had been all she could think about on the trip home.

“Great.”

“No side effects from the concussion?”

“None.”

“Good. Any trouble getting home?”

“Nope.”

“How’s Luca?”

“Doing well.” Reese and Luca had become friends. “You could’ve contacted him for an update on his condition.”

“You’re right. I could have, but I’m calling for a different reason. I want to hire you to work on a case with me.”

“You mean for the FBI? Did you forget I quit the Bureau months ago?”

“No, I didn’t forget. This one is off the books.”

Straightlaced, rules-follower Reese circumventing the FBI? “Okay, you’ve piqued my interest. Go on.”

“Paige Stockton is missing.”

“So?”

“We’re going to find her.”

Audria chuckled. When he remained silent, she prompted, “What’s the punchline?”

“There isn’t one.”

“Wait . . . you’re serious?”

“I am.”

“Reese, she almost single-handedly destroyed the company you work for.”

“No, our coworkers, the men and women who took bribes, opened sham investigations, and forged reports, did that.”

Audria sighed. “You’re right. They are the guilty ones. The country owes her a debt of gratitude for exposing the corruption. The rot would have festered without her report. But how do you know she’s missing, and why do you want to find her?”

“I don’t know if you remember, but she’s Genevieve’s best friend.”

Genevieve Reneau. Reese’s former love. “You’re doing this for your wife and want my help?”

“Ex-wife, and yes. Gennie is footing the bill.”

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