Hard to Trust Read Online Free PDF Page B

thank you very much."
    "I'm sure you can, but somebody must have thought you needed help." He looked into the rearview mirror and winced.
    Her heartbeat jumped inside her chest. "You've got to be CIA. Only a moron would think I'd fall for that BS."
    "CIA?" It was his turn to laugh. "No way. They don't pay enough. Do you think I could afford these five-hundred-dollar boots on that measly salary? I don't think so."
    He was good at lying. She'd give him that. "I guess that would depend on who's supporting your cause. You wouldn't be the first agent to double-dip."
    "That's not who I am." Despite the fact they were travelling at a too-fast-to-be-safe rate of speed, he managed to scrutinize her like he was insulted at her insinuation. For the first time she thought badass instead of lightweight . Holy shit. What had she gotten herself into?
    "That doesn't mean I'm naïve enough to believe you."
    "I could show you my driver's license."
    "And what would that prove? Your name? Your address? Besides, it's not like I don't have a string of phony IDs myself. Working for the CIA has its perks, doesn't it?"
    "I wouldn't know, since I don't work for the CIA, as I already told you." Before she could respond, tires squealed behind them. "Do you have anything in that backpack that could help us out?" He pointed with his thumb behind them.
    Tessa turned around, and the hair rose on the back of her neck. Holy crap! There was a car no more than a half-block behind them and gaining. He wasn't kidding.
    She yanked out her gun. But at this speed it wouldn't do much.
    What exactly was an extraction specialist? He had skills. She had no doubt about that now. But if he wasn't CIA like he professed, who was he?
    "This is a rental, so they won't get anything off the plates." He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. "I used an alias when I rented it. So even if they trace it, they'll come back empty."
    She gave him a quick perusal. If she were the type of female to be sucked in by a handsome face, she'd be putty in his hands. But that wasn't her MO. That had never been her MO. His posturing spoke of the confidence she might expect in a federal officer, but his tactics and demeanor…not so much. Whoever paid him—if his story were even true—operated some kind of renegade operation to be sure. They were the worst kind. The unknowns.
    "Who are you?"
    "I told you. I was paid to keep you safe."
    "By who?"
    "I'm not privy to that information."
    She blew out a breath. Her whole life had gone to hell in a hand basket, and this guy was playing a game. She pointed the gun toward him. "Liar. I need to know who put you up to this. For all I know you could be involved somehow."
    He raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, I guess that would be why I just got shot at." He placed his hand on the barrel of the gun and pointed it downward.
    She shook her head. No. No. No. This could not be happening to her. After enduring the fiasco in Afghanistan, this should be over and done with. She rubbed at her aching shoulder. "I need to know your name."
    "My name is Jake Shaw. I work for a place called The Alliance."
    "I've heard about this mythical place called The Alliance. But I'm still not sure it exists, since I've heard that no one has any phone numbers for the place. And it takes a secret handshake to get in."
    He laughed despite the fact he was negotiating his way through town at a speed that had to be close to ninety. Whatever training he had must have put ice water in his veins. "Something like that."
    "So if you are who you say you are, who hired you or this Alliance place you claim to work for?"
    "I told you before. I don't know."
    It was her turn to laugh, even while she held on to the door as he took a corner. "All I know is you showed up, and so did a bunch of other guys determined to kill me."
    "You have no idea why somebody wants to hurt you?" When she nodded, he continued. "Then why would somebody pay a lot of money to protect you? What did they know that you