The Boss Assignment (Rogue Protectors Book 3) by Victoria Paige (summer beach reads .TXT) 📕

could have been involved, it was still hard to hear, and he couldn’t fully accept it. “You think she’s still alive? They could be getting rid of loose ends?” This gave him hope that she wasn’t really in on it.

“Could be. I don’t know enough about her disappearance other than she’s linked to the case. If you can put me in contact with your man doing the investigation in Brazil, we can compare notes. But we can now link Lev Skoryk to Renata and Claudette, and we know that he was with Pierre in that neighborhood in Rio. So, what do you say, Mr. Andrade, should we flush out some rats?”

It had been a busy day shuttling from the CDC to Downtown Medical to train medical personnel on the usage of the antiviral. Charly and Sandra walked into the lobby of the hospital where they were ambushed by a reporter and cameraman.

“Are you Dr. Bennett?” a reporter she recognized from KTVR crossed their path. Good thing Declan was right behind them because, before the reporter could shove the mic in front of her, he had stepped in and shoved it aside.

“Wait, I know you,” the reporter told Declan. “You’re Gabby Woodward’s husband.”

Declan cursed and hurried them along.

Sandra was tittering as they passed the guards who intercepted the news crew.

“How did they recognize me?” Charly asked.

“Forget recognizing you,” her colleague said, still controlling her laughter. “Looks like our bodyguard here attracts more attention.”

Charly grinned, glancing at Declan. “You can’t really be a bodyguard now, can you?”

“I imagine that would be hard if he’s better looking than the actor hiring him,” Sandra said as they stepped into the elevator. “But I bet a lot of female stars would like it though, but I don’t remember you accompanying any of them.”

Declan grunted and waited for them to get into the elevator before punching the number for the biosafety floor. He was familiar with this part of the hospital because this was where Gabby’s boss was admitted when he got struck down last year with the Z-91 virus.

The elevator slid open and the three of them stepped out.

Her grip tightened on the mini-biocase containing the antiviral. Time to thwart the evil plans of the assholes who created the bioweapon.

Charly reheated the food Declan got her from the cafeteria. Because Gabby’s husband was not medical personnel, he could only wait in the lobby in front of the negative air pressure section of the floor. They were almost done giving the nurses and doctors a crash course on the antiviral that was developed in the CDC lab. Because her work was developed in response to a bioweapon, its usage would invoke the Emergency Use provision under FDA guidelines. The DHS had already worked out the necessary paperwork and approvals.

Meanwhile, she decided to take a break and have coffee. Her thoughts strayed to Antonio and Claudette. She looked at the clock and was tempted to get her phone from her locker to check for messages. She hated, hated this unfinished business between him and Claudette. Ida had told her how wily the other woman was. Would she play on Antonio’s sympathy? His deep sense of responsibility?

And why did Charly keep fretting? Why couldn’t her mind and heart be in agreement that Antonio promised her nothing as well.

Movement at the door drew her attention and she was shocked to see the person who stood there.

Dr. William Bennett.

“Dad?” she whispered.

“What’s going on, Charly?” Her father didn’t look pleased to see her at all. She hadn’t seen him in almost two years and this was the first thing he said upon seeing her. Fighting the sting in her eyes, she forced herself to smile.

“I told you I was accepted as a scientist at the CDC.”

Her father walked into the room. He was wearing a doctor’s white coat over his regular uniform of long-sleeved shirt, tie, and slacks. He was five-ten with a stocky build that made him look shorter than his height. Charly inherited her skinny frame from her mother.

“And after Raul Ortega escaped,” he continued. “You were suddenly reassigned to an aid mission in Africa. And now you’re working on an antiviral for this new Ebola bioweapon threat?”

She ground her molars. “I thought you would be pleased that I’m working on something that will make a difference.”

He moved closer. “You know what I’ve been hearing?”

She stilled herself as he stopped in front of her, studying her face intently. Her dad was the hospital administrator of Sinai-Rhodes hospital in Burbank. For some reason, Charly couldn’t seem to get away from him. He seemed to take positions in places she’d moved to.

“Something flattering, I hope,” she said lightly.

“That Dr. Leigh wasn’t really the culprit, but it was someone on his team.”

Why beat around the bush? “And you think it was me? You really think I’m capable of something so evil?”

“You’re driven,” he said.

It was because you expected so much from me, her mind screamed.

“You made me that way,” she couldn’t help saying.

“I made you that way?” His eyes flashed in anger and she took a step back.

“Why are you really here, Dad?” she asked. “Why, when we couldn’t stand to be in the same room together without this happening. Why do you keep following me to wherever I go?”

He leaned into her and snarled softly. “Because you’re dangerous. Like a virus.”

She gasped when he grabbed both her wrists, squeezing tightly.

“You destroyed everything I love. You’re the reason Mary died.”

Charly closed her eyes because she knew what he was going to say next. “Your brother should have been the one who survived, not you. You took everything from him. From me.”

“You’re hurting me,” she gritted. “You’re not drunk. You have no excuse now.”

Anguish marked her father’s face. He loved her, Charly knew this, but he seemed to believe she was a scourge.

“Do you want to destroy me? Would that make you happy?”

“No, I want you to stop!” he said.

“Stop what?”

“Stop trying to get attention. I wouldn’t put it past you