Guardian Ranger (Shadow Agents 2)

She didn’t think that she liked Logan Quinn. His gaze was too guarded. His words were too careful. She had the impression that he was a man who carried secrets, a lot of them.

Veronica took a few steps toward Jasper’s truck; then she hesitated. Her instincts were screaming at her. She looked over her shoulder at the agent. “Logan, do you know my brother?” She wasn’t going to “Mr. Quinn” him.

She caught the flicker of surprise on his face. “Yes, I do.”

Her heart iced. Suddenly, everything was making a whole lot of sense to her.

The agents’ presence in town. At least two agents from the FBI...both in little Whiskey Ridge. All of those guys in suits. The fast response to Jasper’s call.

When they’d been at the police station, Gunner had insisted on questioning her kidnappers—questioning them alone.

He hadn’t wanted to say anything in front of me.

And now Cale’s code name had been the last one listed in Reed’s deleted files.

She had to face the facts, even if those facts scared her to death. It wasn’t just a coincidence that the federal agents were in town. The agents were in Whiskey Ridge because they were hunting Cale.

She reached for Jasper’s hand, pulled him close. “W-we’ll stay out of your way. Don’t worry.” Because she and Jasper were going to hunt and find Cale long before the agents could.

Jasper stiffened a bit at her touch, but she just curled her arm around him more. Then she started pulling him away from that apar

tment that smelled of death and away from the agent with suspicious eyes.

They didn’t speak until they were inside Jasper’s truck. He turned on the engine, and his gaze flickered toward Gunner and Logan.

The agents who were staring right back at them.

“I know what you said,” she began quietly as her hands clenched in her lap. “But I can’t trust them.”

His gaze darted to her.

“Don’t you see what’s happening?” she demanded. “They think that my brother is a killer. They’re tracking him down because they want to take him down.”

“Veronica...”

“Are you working with them?” The question had to be asked. Gunner and Logan both knew Jasper. Jasper knew Cale. It would be foolish of her to ignore the coincidence. But...

I trust him.

Her heart seemed to stop as she waited for Jasper’s response.

“I’m working for you.” Anger roughened the words. “Until last night, I was taking a break, enjoying a little R and R in a spot on the map that I thought most folks didn’t even know about.”

A spot Cale must have told him about.

Jasper’s stare seemed to burn into her. “I’m not FBI.”

She could see the truth in his gaze.

“I swear, I’m not part of the bureau.”

Why would he lie?

“I am going to help you find Cale. The agents... I’m going to use every connection that I have to them and—”

“They’re hunting my brother.” Would he deny that?

A muscle jerked along his jaw. “They’re hunting a killer.”