Circle of Desire by Carla Swafford Page A

out the door.
    When she looked back at her guards, they merely shrugged their shoulders. She had no illusions of who the guards would protect. She could only hope to get in a hit or two before they stopped her.
    Later in the day with no sign of Collin, she headed back to her apartment. Was he hiding from her? She laughed, thinking of the dangerous man lurking around corners to avoid her. For whatever reason, he’d told the guards she could come and go as she pleased from her apartment as long as she didn’t ditch them. The two big fellows hovered about eight feet away when she spotted a familiar face sitting on an overstuffed chair in one of the alcoves divided by potted plants. Eyes half-closed like a wild beast in captivity, he studied each person who walked by.
    Lucian Reilly hadn’t changed one bit. He still exuded coldness and mystery some women found attractive. The same ones who read vampire novels and thought they were hot. She never understood it or why The Circle used him as a lady killer, literally. His specialty involved getting up close and personal with a woman and using her, and if the need arose, to not be squeamish about using force or killing the woman. The last she’d heard was that OS had killed him during an operation in San Francisco. Apparently that wasn’t true.
    “Hello, Lucian.” With one eyebrow raised, she stopped in front of him.
    “I heard they had brought you in. I’m astonished they didn’t slice and dice you considering Collin’s second in command hates you.” Lucian’s British accent made it sound like he was discussing tea instead of her expected death. Did everyone know about Rex’s feelings toward her?
    “What can I say? I’m like a cat and land on my feet. Speaking of cats, is this your sixth or seventh life?” She sat across from him with one elbow on a knee and her chin in hand, staring at him with open amazement. Theo had said Lucian was one of the best in the business, never hesitated in killing a woman. The OS was smart to turn him. He glanced at her guards leaning against the wall across from the cubbyhole. The distance was enough to allow Olivia and Lucian time to talk without interference. She hadn’t expected a response but that didn’t stop her from teasing him further. “So, kitty cat, we were told OS had murdered you and dumped your body into the Pacific two years ago.”
    “Humph.” His cold eyes narrowed. “The Circle’s days are numbered. If you look around, you’ll see several of their dead operatives walking around here.” He lifted his chin. “I’m really surprised they kept you alive considering you’re Theo’s pet.”
    She stiffened and straightened in her chair, forcing herself not to turn to see if the guards had heard. “You’re hung up on my death, aren’t you? I might’ve been his pet at one time, but he lost interest in me when I turned eighteen.”
    “If you think he didn’t treat you differently than the other operatives, you’re sadly mistaken.” The man’s eyes narrowed.
    “Maybe. Maybe not. Luckily, he found another use for me or I would’ve been dead for sure.” She never pretended otherwise.
    “Luckily? If you want to call it that. More like smart.”
    What? Was that sympathy from him? He actually complimented her? He stood, yanked at the ends of his sports jacket. “Be careful. If The Circle captures you, you’ll be begging them to finish you off.”
    “I know.” She wanted to ask him more questions but the way he refused to look her in the eyes, she could tell he wanted to get as far from her as possible.
    “You do? Of course.” He smirked and then walked away.
    Happy to have seen a familiar face, she’d forgotten how much others had hated her in The Circle. Partly because of her personal time with Theo, but later for her part in punishing those who screwed up. Being an enforcer, the one who carried out Theo’s commands, never endeared a person to those punished. It had been six years since she controlled