Caught in the Crosshair Read Online Free Page A

him.
    “Sometimes you want to believe in people,” he said, shaking his head wearily. “They can be damn disappointing, can’t they?”
    Her expression solemn, she nodded without speaking. Then came, “You radioed your agency before. They coming to pick us up?”
    He nodded.
    “Back there I saw a man get shot. Did you know him?”
    Perceptive. Street smart. She seemed the type to read straight through any situation, or man. He needed that about as much as he needed another bullet hole through his shoulder.
    “This job doesn’t allow for many friends if that’s what you’re asking.” He paused, not wanting to reveal just how much it hurt to say that. “What about your buddies back there? Why were you bringing them a briefcase full of money?”
    “To exchange for my brother’s life. And they’re not
my
friends.” Her voice rose and shook in anger. “Where are you taking me?”
    “To find your brother.” They could re-engage on the south side of the island, and then he could set up a meeting with Gunner for more men and supplies. There were only a few spots on the island where they could be holding her brother. “Unless you have a better idea.”
    “You think I like this? You think I want any of this?” Angry, frustration had her blinking back tears and her voice quivering as a look of repulsion crossed her face. If pressed, Jaden would have to admit he didn’t like being the one who put it there.
    “They’re going to kill him now, and it’s because of you,” she said.
    “Just how do you figure that?”
    “They told me to bring money to buy him back. That’s what I was doing. Until you came along and messed it up.”
    “Unless being kidnapped and probably killed was part of your plan, then you should be glad I ruined it, sweetheart,” he said. “Besides, we’ll find them.”
    ***
    A shudder ran down Lauren’s spine at the word
killed
.
    “How? How on earth will we do that out here?” she asked, eyes focused on the man who’d just saved her life. His face, sturdy and angular, brought a sense of maturity and dignity to the near-boyish pucker of his full lips. His body could’ve been ripped off a Calvin Klein underwear billboard, for all she knew. Perfectly muscled, tanned skin highlighted by his white V-neck. He was physically intimidating and had a certain predatory magnetism radiating from him. His cool blue eyes put her at ease.
    They shouldn’t have.
    He glanced at the bag. “They get the money?” His voice was dark, edgy and commanding, charging the air around him. No question he was used to being the man in control.
    “No.”
    “Then they’ll find us. Besides, your brother’s still alive.”
    “How could you possibly know that?”
    A slow smile spread across lips far too full for a face of sharp planes and hard angles.
    “This is not my first rodeo.”
    “Why would you help him? Me? Is that why you were hired?”
    “I catch bad guys for governments and private agencies. It’s what I do,” he said.
    This was his job. He was a professional. That she knew. What she couldn’t figure out was if he would help her or hurt her? She wasn’t sure if she should fight him or thank him.
    Best she could figure was he’d just saved her life. It was the first time in years someone had come to her rescue and taken care of
her.
And it felt nice to know someone had her back — a dark knight with sex appeal in buckets. Plus, he was the one with the gun.
    “Thank you.”
    “We’re safe,” he said. “For now.”
    “What’s going to happen to my brother?” she asked, hating the quiver in her voice.
    A thump threw her forward. Panic gripped her as the engine ku-clunked before dying.
    “What was that?” she asked.
    His hands went to work on the controls. “A bad sign.”
    The engine whirred but didn’t catch. He picked up binoculars from the hook next to the steering wheel and scanned the area. “We can’t stay here. You know how to swim?”
    Her heart beat in her throat. “Um,