Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 66515 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66515 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
“He saved my life,” I bite out, “and he’s not dirty.”
“So every lie he told you doesn’t matter now that he has his hand back in your pants?”
I punch his shoulder. “Asshole. Why are you being such an asshole?”
“Because I care about you.”
“Enough to dump me in some safe house and forget me?” I challenge.
“That’s not fair.”
“He didn’t forget me. I never forgot him. I love him, and I thought you were my friend.”
“I am, which is why I’m standing here right now.”
“If you’re my friend, you’ll help him. I can’t lose him again.”
“I don’t want you to end up dead or used and discarded again, Ashley. Let me get you out of here.”
“He’s not guilty. He needs help. I told him he could trust you. I was wrong, obviously. Let me go and we’ll leave, and we’ll leave you alone.”
“I’m trying to help you, woman.”
“Someone was following him, and we’re standing at the bottom level of a bagel shop while he needs us. That is not helping me.”
His teeth clench. “I can’t let you stay with him.”
“You don’t have a choice. Let me go, Smith. I can’t lose him again. How many times do I have to say that? What part of that do you not understand?”
“Apparently, all of it.”
At the sound of Aaron’s voice, I can finally breathe again. He’s alive. He’s safe. He steps beside us, and his hand comes down on my arm. “Let her go, Smith. You might be a solider, but you’re not the killer I am.”
Smith’s eyes meet mine. “This is who you love and want to stand by?”
“Let me go, Smith.”
“No,” he says. “He can kill me and then maybe you’ll see who he really is.”
“The man who loves her,” Aaron says. “The man who would die for her, and the longer we stand here, the more of a target we become.”
“Let her go before he kills you,” another voice bites out.
Smith grimaces and flicks the newcomer a look. “What the fuck are you doing, Adam?”
“I know Adam,” I tell Aaron softly. “He’s with Walker, an ex-SEAL.”
“I am,” Adam confirms. “I worked closely with the CIA. I talked to someone I trust. He believes Aaron was setup.”
“Holy fuck,” Aaron curses. “Who did you tell?” He looks at Smith. “I told you to keep this between us. We need to leave now.” He pulls his gun and points it at Smith.
“Aaron,” I gasp. “Stop. No.”
Aaron stays focused on Smith. “Let her go now, or I’ll kill you right here.”
“Easy, man,” Adam says. “I didn’t tell him you were here. I told him our overseas operation had an encounter with you. Step back, Smith.”
“Ashley,” Smith murmurs, a plea in my name.
“I’m okay,” I say. “I promise you. He’s a good man, but thank you for risking your life for me because that’s what you’re doing right now.”
“Step back, Smith,” Adam orders, yet again.
“Now,” Aaron orders.
Smith inhales and lets me go, taking a long stride backward. Aaron pulls me to him, holstering his weapon. It’s only then that I realize that the lower level we’re inside is empty, thank God. “We’re leaving.”
“We can help,” Adam states. “I talked to my boss. He knows the situation and that was one of our men following you.”
“I’m aware of that now,” Aaron states. “He followed me like a man with no skill.”
“He’s not a man of no skill,” Adam replies. “You’re simply a man of great skill, and I assure you, I am as well. Talk to me. Let me help.”
“Why would I trust you?” He eyes Smith. “Your track record thus far isn’t to my liking.”
“You can’t do this alone,” Adam says. “You knew that or you wouldn’t have come to us.”
“And yet, I can. We’re going to walk out of here, and you’ll never see us again.”
“But that’s not what you want,” Smith interjects. “You said you want to give Ashley her freedom. Leave her with us.”
“So she can be a sitting duck waiting on her slaughter?” Aaron challenges. “No. Never. You’ve proven how you take care of her.”
“Let us earn your trust,” Adam offers. “Let us help you find the answers you need. Give us the questions you need answered. We’ll find the answers.”
“And bring attention to us we don’t need?” Aaron counters. “No, thank you.”
“Blake Walker, my boss, is a world-class hacker,” Adam says. “Even governments come to him for help. Everyone comes to him. He can go unnoticed. Give me something, anything, we can help with to prove we’re trustworthy.”
“We’ll think about it,” Aaron states. “Right now, we’re walking out of here, and you don’t want to try to stop us. You might as well not follow us. That won’t go well.”
Smith eyes Adam, and the two men share a look before they slowly step back and leave us a path to exit. Aaron links his fingers with mine, and we start walking, and just when I think we’ll keep walking, Aaron stops next to Adam and says something to him I can’t make out. I don’t catch Adam’s reply if there is one. Smith and I are staring at each other, and he’s tormented. I see that in his eyes. He does care about me. He does. We did have chemistry, but he wasn’t “the one” for me. I wasn’t “the one” for him. But I know he’s honest. I know he won’t betray me. I just hope his need to protect me doesn’t make him do something stupid.