Alpha One (Shadow Agents 1)

“Easy.” They didn’t have time for this. Logan knew that if he yanked up his mask and revealed his identity, she’d drop the weapon. But he had mission protocol ruling him right then. Their team was to stay covered during this rescue, until the target had been taken to the designated safe zone. No team member could afford to have his identity compromised at this site. Not until everything was secure.

“Back up and get out of my way,” Juliana snapped right back at him, showing the fire that had first drawn him to her years ago.

He hadn’t obeyed the dead guy. Did she really think he’d obey her?

But then Jasper leaped into the room at the same instant that Gunner barked on the comm link, “Extraction. Now.”

Logan caught the whiff of smoke in the air. Smoke...and the crackle of flames. Fire wasn’t part of the extraction plan.

“Two hostiles got away,” Jasper grunted, shifting his shoulders, and Logan wondered if he’d been hit. He’d seen the Ranger take three bullets before and keep fighting. One hit wouldn’t slow him down—Jasper wouldn’t let it slow him down. “And I think those fleeing hombres want to make sure we don’t get out alive with her.”

No, they wouldn’t want her escaping. Too bad for them. Logan spun for the window. Using his weapon and his fist, he broke the glass and shattered the old wooden frame. He glanced down at the street below. Second story. He could handle that drop in his sleep, but he’d have to take care with Juliana.

“Clear,” Gunner said in his ear, and Logan knew the guy was still tracking the team’s movement. “Go now...’cause that fire is coming hard for you.”

Juliana’s captors had probably rigged the place for a fast burn. The better to leave no evidence—or witnesses—behind.

Logan grabbed Juliana’s hand. She yelped. He hated that sound, hated that he’d had to hurt her, but now wasn’t the time for explanations.

The knife clattered to the floor.

Now was the time to get the hell out of there. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close against his body. “You’ll need to hold tight,” he told her, voice low and growling.

But Juliana shook her head at him. “I’m not going out that window. I have to—”

“You have to live,” Jasper said from his post at the door. “That fire’s coming, ma’am, and you need to get through that window now.”

She blinked. In the faint light, Logan saw the same dark chocolate eyes he remembered. Her face still as pretty. “Fire?” Then she sucked in a deep breath, and Logan knew she’d finally caught the scent of smoke and flames. “No!” She tried to rip out of his arms and lunge for the door.

Logan just hauled her right back against him. Now that he had her safe in his arms, he wasn’t about to let her get away.

“Area’s clear,” Gunner said in Logan’s earpiece. “Extract now.”

Logan tried to position Juliana for their drop. The woman twisted against him, moving like a slithering snake as she fought to wrench back and break free. “I’m not leaving!” she snapped at him. “Not without John!”

Who?

“Extract.” Gunner’s order.

“Stop fighting,” Logan told her when she twisted again. “We’re the good guys, and we came to take you to safety.”

She stilled for a moment. Heaving a deep breath, she said, “Me...and John.”

Seriously, who the hell was John?

“He’s back there.” Her hand lifted and one trembling finger pointed to the doorway. The doorway that was currently filling with smoke. “We have to get him out.”

No other civilians were in the building. Only Diego Guerrero’s killers. Logan’s team members were pulling back and—

“I’m not leaving without him!”

An explosion rocked the building. Juliana fell against Logan’s chest.

Jasper staggered. “Go time,” Logan heard him say.

And yeah, it was. Keeping a hold on Juliana, Logan tapped his receiver. “Is there another civilian here?” He had to be sure. He wouldn’t leave an innocent to burn.

He motioned for Jasper to take the leap out. He had Juliana; there was no need for the other agent to stay any longer. Jasper yanked out a cable from his pack and quickly set up an escape line. In seconds, he began to lower his body to the ground.