The Exchange Part 1 Read Online Free

next to his car, watching the men pile in like sardines in a can.
     His expression makes it very clear; he thinks I’ve gone mad.
    A flash of black and blue catches my attention out of the corner of my eye. The girl
     moves around me, and in the bright LED lights illuminating the outside of the power plant, the contrast of her hair is
     blatant.
    “This is too different.”
    What had Dr. Allen meant by that? Was he referring to the odd punk-girl style she
     has going on? Because it is different. Compared to the Magdalena I’d seen in the files, that is. Mr. Heaton’s
     daughter had seemed polished. Refined. The perfect society princess. As her father
     would want her to be.
    The girl now sitting in the car is edgy. Something about her screams rebelliousness.
     She might be nervous, but she’s also raw.
    It’s not your job to figure it out. It’s your job to deliver the cargo. That’s— Shit. My cargo just leaned back in her seat and crossed her legs.
    The hem of that short skirt seems to laugh at me as it rides up her thigh.
    Pale, smooth flesh . My mouth waters and I have to snap my jaw closed.
    I stop myself from slamming the door shut. Instead, I shut it gently, blocking out
     the visual. Although some things can’t be unseen. That was definitely fucking one
     of them.
    My heart beat is a vicious roar between my ears. Open the door, jackass, and get in there. Yeah. Inside that car. With that beautiful, weird, confusing girl. Blood burns hot
     through my veins.
    “Mr. Landen?”
    The sound of my last name makes me almost jump around.
    My last name. My actual, legal last name.
    Dr. Allen is behind me, expression full of determination.
    He knows my last name.
    A slight tremor goes through his limbs and he raises his chin, holding my gaze like the girl had. “I had to do my research,” he says, answering the question raging through my
     head.
    He takes me by surprise with what he says next.
    “She’s important. So important. Please help her.”
    This man invented a consciousness out of software and transferred that consciousness
     into a human body. He equipped that body with hardware and software advanced enough
     to hack into my systems.
    Somehow, he managed to get his hands on information so classified, so damned hidden,
     that not even Interpol or the CIA could get their hands on it.
    Who the fuck is this guy?
    Dr. Allen holds out his hand for a handshake before I can think to say anything.
    Or wrap my hands around his neck, cut off his air supply, and demand that he tells
     me what else he knows. Is he working for someone? What the hell does he want?
    “She’s important. So important. Please help her.”
    Some of the scientists had lingered to watch. Dr. Oshoro’s dark eyes are focused on
     us, watching with interest.
    I raise my hand and grasp Dr. Allen’s. As soon as I do, something presses into the
     palm of my hand.
    “Please help her,” he repeats, shaking my hand.
    Then he’s gone, walking away from me before I can tell him what I’ve decided.
    I’ll come back. I’ll find you. You will tell me what the hell is happening. How the hell you found out my name.
    Carefully, I close my fist and shove my hand in my pocket. The shape of what I’m holding
     seems familiar. Whatever it is, it’s metallic, rectangular, and small.
    I’d bet my left nut it’s a USB.
    I open the door to the K-Car. Gold and green eyes meet mine, curiosity in them.
    “Please help her.”
    Ah, shit. I fucking knew that this mission wasn’t going to be as cut and dry as it
     sounded.
    Dr. Allen is worried sick about his creation. Which means that she’s possibly in some
     form of danger. Dr. Oshoro’s beady eyes flash through my mind.
    As much of a headache as it’s going to be, I’m going to find out what’s going on here. Before I hand Ms . Heaton off to her father.

    En route to New Chitose Airport Terminal
    Kamikawa National Highway, Kamikawa, Hokkaido, Japan.
     
    SHE DIDN’T ASK ME ABOUT my conversation with