Hard Target. Barb Han

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       Chapter Three

      If Agent Campbell made one wrong blink, Emily had already decided she’d bolt. She’d put it out there and asked him to make a commitment. Now it was his turn to make a move.

      “It’s my job to—”

      “I want to know if you promise to protect me. And not just because of your badge.” Even though he was a stranger, everything about the agent next to her said he was a man of his word. If he made a personal pledge, she’d trust him a little.

      He finished chewing his bite of hamburger and swallowed before he set his food on the wrapper and used a napkin to clean his hands.

      “My name is Reed, and you have my word.” He stuck his hand out between them.

      She took it, knowing she shouldn’t. There was no way he could guarantee her safety. The instant they’d made contact, a spark ran between them. She didn’t withdraw her hand. Neither did he.

      Their eyes locked, and she felt another jolt. An underlying sexual current simmered between them, which was shocking given what she’d been through. He was the first person in ages who’d expressed interest in helping and protecting her, she reasoned, and it felt nice to have that.

      Under different circumstances, she might enjoy the spark. Not now. All she could think about was getting out of this mess and going into hiding.

      Another thing was certain. By the set of his jaw, she could tell that Reed Campbell meant what he said. No doubt about it. Could he deliver against a rebel faction that could have law enforcement officers bought and paid for?

      He looked like the kind of man who, once he gave his word, would die trying to deliver on his commitments. And something about the depths of his eyes had her wanting to move a little closer toward his strength, his light.

      All her danger signals flared.

      Getting too close to a man who could have her locked up was a bad idea, no matter how much honesty radiated from his brown eyes.

      His cell buzzed, and she pulled her hand back, breaking their grasp.

      A half-eaten burger sat on his knee on top of the wrapper. He answered the call, keeping his gaze on her.

      Was he afraid she’d take off? He had to know she’d scatter like a squirrel at one loud noise.

      At six-two with muscles for days, he must realize he could be physically intimidating. Was that why he seemed to make so much of an effort to keep her calm?

      Against her better judgment, it was working. She felt a sense of being protected with him near. A luxury she couldn’t afford.

      “Uh-huh, I have her right here,” he said. His gaze narrowed.

      Trouble?

      “Thanks, but I’ve got this one.”

      Was someone offering to take her off his hands? This seemed out of the blue. No way could it be standard procedure.

      A shudder of fear roared through her. She folded her arms to stave off the chill skittering across her skin.

      “No, I’m sure.” He shook his head as if for emphasis. “We’re heading northbound on I-45. Why?”

      Emily’s chest squeezed, and she knew something was wrong. Agent Campbell gave the person on the phone the wrong location. Why would he do that?

      “Will do.” Agent Campbell ended his call.

      “Who was that?”

      He sat looking dumbfounded for a second. “That was odd. Agent Stephen Taylor volunteered to meet me and take you off my hands. Said he was headed in and it wouldn’t be any trouble to take you along with him.”

      “I don’t know this area at all, but we’re sitting in a parking lot, and you told him we were on the highway. Why?”

      Using the paper wrap, he wadded up the few bites of hamburger he had left and tossed it in the bag. “That call doesn’t sit right. Something’s off.”

      Emily gasped. “That can’t be normal.”

      “Nope. Never happened to me before in six years of service.” He checked his rearview mirror.

      The last thing Emily wanted to do was tell the agent more about what had happened to her. In fact, she’d like to be able to forget it altogether. But both of their lives were in danger now, and he deserved to know the risk he was taking. “There was a man back in Mexico. They called him Dueño. He promised to...”

      Saying the words out loud proved harder than she expected. Tears pricked the backs of her eyes.

      Gray clouds rolled in from the coast as the winds СКАЧАТЬ