The Girl Next Door (Shadow Agents 6)

The car turned right.

Her fingers tightened their grip on the steering wheel.

She accelerated. That car accelerated, too.

Fear began to thicken within her. Fury had driven her away from Cooper, and she’d foolishly ignored the threats around her. Gabrielle couldn’t ignore those threats any longer.

Is it the killer? He’d been watching her before. Had he seen her leave the Inquisitor? Without Cooper at her side, the killer might think this was the perfect time for him to strike.

She fumbled and yanked out her phone. For an instant, she thought about calling Cooper.

But, instead, her index finger pushed the button to connect her to Lane. She held her breath. Another red light was up ahead. The light went green. Good. No stopping.

And Lane wasn’t answering. Where the heck was he when she needed him?

The green light had turned yellow. In a flash, it went red. She didn’t stop. She rushed forward and ran that light.

A horn blared as a truck came right at her. Screaming, she yanked the wheel to the side even as she slammed on the brakes.

The truck missed her by only inches.

Her breath heaved out. She’d dropped her phone. She fumbled, trying to find it.

Someone rapped on her window. “Ma’am?” A woman’s voice called. “Ma’am, are you are all right?”

Gabrielle rolled down her window. “Yes, sorry, I—”

The woman wasn’t alone. A man stood behind her. His posture was stiff, guarded, and when he shifted his stance a bit, she saw the holster under his arm.

“I’m afraid that you have to come with us, Ms. Harper.” The woman’s voice wasn’t so concerned any longer. It was authoritative and flat.

The truck that had nearly hit Gabrielle moments before had also come to a stop. Two more men were climbing from that vehicle. They headed toward her.

“You’re EOD,” she said, understanding as a chill seemed to settle over her body.

The woman stared back at her. “There are two ways to do this,” the woman said, voice soft.

“Let me guess,” Gabrielle muttered as she climbed from the car. “Easy and hard?”

A nod.

The armed man came closer to Gabrielle. The light from the streetlamp glinted off his dark hair. “No one’s going to hurt you, ma’am,” he assured her. “We’re here for your protection.” He smiled at her and offered his hand. “My name’s Deuce.”

Hesitant now, she reached for that hand. “No way is Deuce your real name...”

He yanked her forward. His left hand came up in an instant. Too late, she saw the handcuffs. Before she could jerk away from him, one cuff snapped over her wrist.

“No, it isn’t,” he agreed softly as he pulled her into his arms. “It’s a name for second chances. Maybe you’ll give old Cooper one of those chances when this mess is over.”

Then she was pretty much dragged into the waiting car. The doors slammed behind her, and the vehicle raced away.

Anger pulsed through her with every mile that passed.

Second chance? Hell, no.

* * *

COOPER SHOVED OPEN the door to Bruce Mercer’s office. “Where is she?” The door banged against the wall behind him. Judith Rogers, Mercer’s assistant, let out a screech as she tried to jerk him back.