Read Online His Devious Angel by Mimi Barbour - Free Book Online Page A

help the disgust evident in his words.
    “No! Never! They forced Isobela’s father to work for them, and then they killed him. The escoria …how you say…?”
    “…scum.”
    “ Si! They think Isobela witnessed this-this atrocidad —”
    “Atrocity?”
    “ Si! And they want to kill her so she can’t testify. But she saw nothing. We fled with only the clothes we wore.”
    Liam could see the man was done. He looked so tired that he reminded him of soldiers coming off days of advanced training, exhausted and beaten.
    “I’ll leave you to your family now, but I’d like to come back and talk to you again, if I may? I might have a job for you, one that will pay proper wages for the hours you work.”
    Hope lit the man’s eyes. A little light that started small, then flared and grew as he stared at Liam and looked into his soul. 
    “You are the man in this morning’s accident, si ?”
    “ Si! ”
    “Then I owe you twice. You have managed to save both my children today.”
    “No. You have it wrong. You saved your daughter, and Miss Bertolli saved your son. Twice I’ve managed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Chapter Eleven
     
     
    By early Sunday, Sadie’s patience had vanished. She had to get out of the loony bin. Of course, before Bea would let her leave, she made her call Greta to be sure she’d be there.  In case Sadie got into trouble. What the heck kind of trouble did she think she’d get into?
    Thank heavens Greta had answered and agreed to stay home.  And they still balked. Finally, she sweet-talked them with promises. Like spending the next weekend together at their beach house for a pajama party. They’d watch chick flicks and eat junk food. It didn’t seem too dreadful to her right now, but she knew when the time came that would change.   It was their idea of a good time. And her idea of a nightmare.
     But right now, she’d do anything to get away from their constant singing, their mind-numbing cheeriness, and their maddening references to her new boyfriend, spoken with tongue in cheek, of course. Any chance to tease, they took.
    Right from the beginning, their sickeningly sweet tones had warned her of just how much they’d taken to Liam. If that wasn’t enough, the proof became very clear in the way they’d opened up to him while he’d been their dinner guest. They talked to him about business, things that would normally only be shared between the family. They’d lit up when he praised their food. In fact, you’d think the player had never had a well-cooked meal before he met “the sweet gals,” as he’d referred to them more than once. All the time he overstayed his welcome—in her opinion—he’d overplayed his part and they’d simpered disgustingly.
    Considering that they had very few men to cater to, since neither of her sisters had a serious beau at the time, nor her mom, she supposed she shouldn’t mind so much that they’d sucked up to Liam like glaze on a honey donut.
    But she did.
    Both her sisters had made a play for his attention. When that didn’t seem to work, since he teased them equally, they did their best to sing her praises.
    It had curdled her stomach.
     

Chapter Twelve
     
     
    Early Monday afternoon, at the approximate time specified and the address Bea had written down, Liam showed up ready and willing for work—more fool he!
    Impatient, Sadie stood clicking her booted heel against the sidewalk—fists planted on her hips. Her tight sweater and jean-clad body drew stares from other drivers, but she never even noticed. She was too busy eyeballing her watch, and as he approached, her eyes drilled him.
    The words popped out before he could stop them. “Traffic was slow.”
    “Not the way you drive.”
    “I had an unwanted guest who kept me within the speed limit.”
    He watched her look at his car, angle her head questioningly and then turn back his way.
    “He got out on the last block. You’re obviously ready so let’s