The Hunted. Elle Kennedy

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СКАЧАТЬ terrorism. They were responsible for the bombing of government buildings, along with the deaths of countless politicians, and they’d even started robbing their own people—the people they claimed to be fighting for—in order to fund their activities.

      “We were friends for a while,” Eva went on, shamefaced, “but then he became obsessed with me. At the time, I was involved with another relief worker. John. We … we had a child together. Rafe—he’s three. But Hector decided I belonged to him, and he—” she swallowed again “—he had John killed.”

      Tate stared at her thoughtfully.

      “I ran away. I didn’t want to have anything to do with that crazy son of a bitch, so I took Rafe and I ran. But Hector is always on my heels. When I found out he was thrown in prison two months ago, I thought it would finally be over, but then his men broke him out and …” She trailed off in frustration.

      He could relate—that damn prison break had royally screwed things up for him, too. Two months ago, Cruz had been responsible for bombing the home of a well-known political figure in San Marquez. In a major feat for the military, Cruz had been caught and arrested, and he’d been awaiting trial when his fellow rebels orchestrated an escape and whisked their leader right out of jail.

      Since then, Cruz had gone underground. Nobody had seen or heard from him in months, which made it annoyingly difficult for Tate to locate the bastard.

      “For whatever messed-up reason, Hector believes that he owns me.” Eva’s voice jolted him from his thoughts. “Every time I think I’m safe, every time I settle down in one place, he finds me.”

      She grew quiet, her tale coming to a close, and an alarm went off in Tate’s head. Something about that sob story didn’t sit right with him. Something about it sounded … false.

      “I’m tired of running,” she blurted out when Tate didn’t respond. “I just want that maniac to leave me alone.”

      As misgivings continued to course through his head, Tate met her gaze and saw that the fear had returned. Whatever lies she’d just told him, she definitely wasn’t lying about her feelings for Cruz. She loathed the man. She was terrified of him.

      Because he’d killed her lover? Because he’d developed a sick obsession that had sent her fleeing with her kid?

      Raking a hand through his hair, Tate finally chuckled. “That was a nice story, Eva. I’m sure parts of it might even be true. But here’s the thing—I don’t trust you. I don’t trust anyone, for that matter. So I think I’ll have to pass on your proposition.”

      Desperation exploded in her eyes like a round of fireworks. “No! You can’t. I know you’re after him, too.” Her features hardened in an expression that resembled defiance. “But you can’t find him, can you? He’s flown off the radar since he escaped from prison, and seeing as you’re on the run, you can’t exactly go traipsing around the globe looking for him, now, can you?”

      He opened his mouth but she cut him off. “I don’t know why you’re hiding, and frankly, I don’t care. I just want your help to get rid of Hector.”

      “Did it occur to you that I would need to come out of hiding in order to do that?” he said, rolling his eyes. “I’ve got my own problems, sweetheart. Like you said, I don’t have the luxury of globe-trotting, and even if I did, I won’t come along on a wild-goose chase for a man I may or may not want dead.”

      “But you do want him dead.” Triumph crept into her voice. “And it won’t be a wild-goose chase. I know where his hideout is.”

      Son of a bitch.

      Tate faltered, unable to stop the rush of hope that swelled in his gut. She knew where Cruz was? He’d been trying for months to unearth the rebel’s location, and he’d come up empty-handed each time.

      If this woman truly knew where Cruz was holed up …

      He’ll kill me regardless … Forget about me, Robbie.

      Like hell he would.

      “And if you don’t want to go to his hideout,” Eva added, “all we have to do is find a way to contact him. Trust me, Hector will come to me if I make contact.”

      He didn’t doubt her. With that gorgeous face and sexy-as-sin body, Tate couldn’t see any man staying away from Eva Dolce. Hell, he was semihard just being in the same room as her. But common sense and honed instincts trumped the unfortunate desire she seemed to inspire in his body.

       Trust me.

      Yeah, right. He wasn’t about to hand out his trust to a complete stranger. Especially not one as beautiful as her.

       Not even one who can lead you to Cruz?

      The nagging thought was the sole reason he didn’t turn her down outright. He wasn’t about to admit it, but she was right about one thing. He wanted Cruz dead. Annihilated. Wiped off the planet.

      And he wanted it more than he wanted his next breath.

      So … to trust, or not to trust.

      Rubbing the stubble on his chin, he met Eva’s pleading eyes, then rose from his chair. “Where are you staying?” he asked briskly.

      She blinked. “Camino del Paraíso—it’s that little motel on the east end of town. Room twelve.”

      “I’ll contact you when I make a decision.”

      She shot to her feet, despair radiating from her petite, curvy body. “Please,” she exclaimed. “Just give me an answer now. I need you, Tate.”

      Shrugging, he shot her a sardonic smile. “If you need me that bad, sweetheart, then you’ll just have to wait.” His smile transformed into a rogue smirk. “Besides, don’t you know that anticipation is half the fun?”

      As her eyes blazed with indignation, Tate strode out of the room without looking back.

      “I don’t like it,” Sebastian Stone declared. “Are you sure she’s not messing with you?”

      Tate downed the rest of his beer and set the bottle down on the ledge. “I’m not sure of anything. That’s why I’m running this by you boys.”

      “I think it’s a trap,” Sebastian said flatly. “They must have found us.”

      “Or they didn’t,” Nick Prescott chimed in. “And this chick really just wants Cruz dead.”

      Tate swallowed a groan. Nope, didn’t surprise him that Stone and Prescott were yet again on opposite sides of an issue. Stone said up, Prescott said down. Stone wanted to go, Prescott wanted to stay. Out of all the men he’d commanded over the years, these two knuckleheads were the most difficult, stubborn and unbelievably exasperating.

      But they were also loyal, intelligent and absolutely deadly when circumstances called for it.

      He glanced from one man to the other, his chest going rigid with regret. Two men. Eight men had been with him on that extraction mission in San Marquez. Only two were still alive.

      “Or СКАЧАТЬ