Alpha One (Shadow Agents 1)

Logan shoved Gunner into the nearest wall. “You aren’t dying.” He tossed that back without glancing her way. His focused fury was on the other man.

Sydney cleared her throat. “Your father...indicated that you had the evidence we need.”

Her words had Juliana blinking in surprise. “I don’t. I didn’t even know about Guerrero until—I just thought I was being held with a man named John Gonzales, until Logan told me the truth! John said that he’d been kidnapped just like me. When those men put me in the room, John was already there. I didn’t know he was Guerrero, and I don’t know anything about his weapons.” She wished that she could help them. She wanted to make this nightmare end, but she just didn’t have any evidence.

“Your father left a suicide note.”

She didn’t want to hear any more. Juliana pushed to her feet, found Logan by her side. For someone so big, he could sure move fast. She stared up at him. “I wasn’t told about a note.” He hadn’t told her.

He glanced back at Sydney. Glared. “We didn’t...want that part leaking to the media.”

Rage boiled within her. He was so close. In that instant, she wanted to strike out at him. To hurt him, as she was being torn apart. “I’m not the media! I’m his daughter!”

“Exactly.” From Jasper, drawling Jasper. Cold Jasper. “In his note, he said you had all the evidence. We kept that bit from the media, but Guerrero would have put a spy in your father’s life, someone who could keep close tabs on him. That someone...we believe he told Guerrero about the evidence.”

Her head was about to erupt. The throbbing in her temples just wouldn’t stop. “I have no evidence.” Could she say it any plainer? “I can’t give you anything!”

“Guerrero thinks you can. And he’s just going to keep coming for you...” Jasper didn’t have to finish. She knew what the guy had been about to say....

Until you’re dead.

“So you see now why you must have protection,” Sydney said with a firm nod. “Until we can recover the information we need, you’ve got a target on your back.”

A giant one. Yes, she got that. “And what happens to my life?”

“With Guerrero out there, you don’t have a life.” Blunt. Cold. Sydney could have an edge just as hard as Gunner’s—or Jasper’s.

“We’re going to get him,” Logan promised her.

She wanted to believe him. But then, she’d gone for his lies before. Juliana wet her lips. Lifted her chin. “This protection...what does it mean?”

Sydney cast a quick look at Logan before her attention returned to Juliana, then she explained, “It means an EOD agent is assigned to stay with you 24/7. You’ll be watched, monitored and kept alive,” Sydney told her. “What more could you want?”

Now Juliana’s eyes were on Logan. He seemed even bigger to her in that moment. More dangerous. So far removed from the boy she’d known. Maybe she’d never really known him at all. “Which agent?”

The faint lines around Logan’s eyes deepened.

“Which agent?” Juliana demanded again.

A beat of silence, then Sydney said, “Given your...history with Logan...”

Did everyone know that she’d given the man her virginity? Had the team been briefed about that? Her breath heaved in her chest, but Juliana managed to speak from between her clenched teeth. “There’s a thing about history. It’s in the past.”

Logan’s expression didn’t change.

“If I’m giving up my life...” For how long? Until they caught Guerrero? Until the magical evidence turned up? “Then I want a say on my guard choice.”

But Logan was already shaking his head. “No, it’s—”

Not wanting anyone else to overhear, she closed in on him. “We’re done, Logan.” A whisper that she knew he’d heard, but hopefully the others hadn’t. Juliana turned away from him. Pointed to the man that Logan had shoved up against the wall moments before. Gunner. Then, raising her voice once more, she said, “I’ll take him.”

“Hell.” Gunner’s shoulders dropped. “I knew this wouldn’t be easy.”

Juliana stepped toward him. “Actually, all things considered, I think I’m being pretty agreeable.” Another step. “If this is going to work, then—”

Logan’s hand wrapped around her shoulder, stilling her. “We’re not done.”

She saw Gunner’s gaze dart from Logan’s hand back to her face. Juliana wondered just what he saw, because Gunner gave a little whistle.