Alpha One (Shadow Agents 1)

Guerrero glared at him and said, “Always the hero...”

The guards scrambled back to their feet. They lurched forward as they came for Logan again, only this time, they stayed away from his legs. One slugged him in the jaw. The other grabbed his fallen knife and charged at Logan.

That’s right. Focus on me. Leave her alone.

“Stop!” Guerrero’s order froze the men.

And Logan realized...Guerrero was still focusing on Juliana. He’d grabbed her hair and tangled it around his fist. That knife was pressed against her throat, and Juliana’s eyes were on Logan.

There was fear in her stare. But more, trust. Faith. She thought he’d save her.

I will.

There was more emotion burning in her eyes. But he didn’t want to let himself believe what he saw. Not then.

Guerrero yanked back hard on Juliana’s hair. “You both have information that I want. She has my evidence.”

“I...don’t,” Juliana gritted. A tear leaked from the corner of her eye.

“And you...” Guerrero’s eyes narrowed on Logan. “You’re EOD.”

Logan shook his head. “What the hell is that?”

The blade dug into Juliana’s skin. “Don’t lie, agent,” Guerrero snapped. “I can see right through lies.”

Oh, right, because he was clairvoyant? No, just your standard sociopath.

“My men have been digging into your life. Ever since Juliana here was so helpful in sharing her lover’s name. A SEAL, but you’re not working in the field any longer. At least, you’re not supposed to be.”

Because he was with a new team now and had been for the past three years.

“The pieces fit for you. The more I dig, the more I know.”

Guerrero’s eyes reminded him of a cobra’s watching his prey, waiting for a moment of weakness so he could strike.

Come on. Strike at me. Leave her alone.

“The EOD has dozens of teams in operation.”

Guerrero’s intel was good.

“I want to know about them all. Those agents...their names...their lives. I can sell them all to the highest bidder.”

And there would be plenty of folks willing to pay. “Don’t know about them.” He tried for a shrug, but the ropes pulled on his arms. “I’m just an ex-SEAL who did a favor for a senator.”

Guerrero’s laugh called him on the lie. “And after the senator died, you stuck around because...?”

“Because I asked him to!” Juliana tossed out before Logan could speak. “I was scared. After the explosion at the cemetery, I asked him to stay with me.”

She was protecting him.

But Guerrero wasn’t buying it. “He took out my men at the cabin. Eliminated them in an instant.”

“What can I say? Once a SEAL...”

Guerrero lifted the knife from Juliana’s throat. His eyes were on Logan’s arm. On the blood that dripped to the floor. Logan wasn’t moving, not making a sound.

“Trained to withstand anything, were you?” Guerrero asked.