Alpha One (Shadow Agents 1)

“I don’t.”

Logan offered his hand to her. “Then you’ll come with me.”

In order to keep living, she’d do anything that she had to do.

Juliana took his hand, and they ran past the now bullet-scarred side of the hotel and toward the waiting SUV.

Trust...it looked as if she had to give it to him.

Because there was no other choice for her.

* * *

DIEGO GUERRERO STARED at the television. The pretty, little reporter talked in an excited rush as the camera panned behind her to take in the destruction at the cemetery.

Smoke still drifted lazily in the air.

“Police aren’t talking with the media yet,” she said, “but a source has revealed that the limousine destroyed in that explosion was the car used by Juliana James, daughter of Senator Aaron James. Juliana was laying her father to rest after his suicide—”

Juliana’s old man had been a coward until the end.

“—when the explosion rocked the service.”

No, it hadn’t rocked the service. The blast had erupted after the service. His sources were better than hers.

“One man was killed in the explosion—”

The driver had been collateral damage. There was always collateral damage.

“—while four others were injured. Juliana James left the scene and is now in an undisclosed location.”

His eyes narrowed. The reporter rambled on, saying nothing particularly useful. After a moment, he shut off the television, then turned slowly to face his first in command.

Luis Sanchez swallowed, the movement stretching the crisscross of scars on his throat. The man was already sweating.

“Was I not clear?” Diego asked softly.

“Sí,” Luis rasped. His damaged voice was often limited to rough rasps and growls.

“Then, if I told you—clearly—that I wanted Juliana James brought back to me alive—” he shrugged, a seemingly careless move, but it still caused Luis to flinch

“—why did she nearly die today?”

Luis shifted from his right foot to his left. “I heard...word on the street is that...s-someone else has a hit on her. They’re offering top dollar...for her dead body.”

Now, that gave him pause. “Who?”

“D-don’t know, but I will find out. I will—”

“You will,” Diego agreed, “or you’ll be the one dying.” He never made idle threats. Luis understood that. Luis had been with him for five years—and he’d witnessed Guerrero carry out all of his...promises to both friends and enemies.

“Put the word out that Juliana James isn’t to be touched.” Except by him. They had unfinished business. She couldn’t die, not yet. He needed her to keep living a bit longer. “And when you find the one who put out this hit—” he leaned forward and softly ordered “—you make his death hurt.”

Because no one interfered with Diego’s plans. No one.

Chapter Four

The place wasn’t exactly what she’d expected. Juliana glanced around the small elevator from the corner of her eye. When Logan had said that he was taking her in for a briefing with his team, she’d figured they’d go somewhere that was...official.