Lethal Pursuit Read Online Free PDF

that softer side of her. What would it take for him to earn her trust, get her to let him in that far?
    Maya glanced down at Fila’s hand twined with hers and smiled a little. It softened her whole face and lit the pilot light on Jackson’s protective instincts. “Yeah. We’ve been through a lot together, haven’t we, guys?”
    This had to be the girl Maya tried to protect the day the base had come under attack in November. Ryan had told him Maya had charged the fence to shout instructions to her young friend. Apparently Maya had stayed there through automatic gunfire to make sure Fila was okay, only moving when Ryan had forcibly ripped her away from that fence and hauled her behind cover. Jackson had no difficulty whatsoever imagining her standing her ground to protect the girl. Maya might be a badass, but he was on to her now. There was so much more to her than that tough-chick image she preferred to show the rest of the world.
    By the increase in noise behind him, the youngsters were getting restless to resume playing. He indicated the stalled game behind him with a jerk of his thumb. “Care to join in?”
    Her expression turned startled, those big sea-green eyes staring up at him. “I don’t...” She glanced down at Fila, gestured to the ball at her feet and said something in Dari. The girl shook her head shyly. Maya met his gaze. “I think they’re both done for the day, but thanks. I’m going to find us a ride back to their village.”
    “You going with them?”
    “Well I’m not letting them walk all that way again, especially without an escort. This little guy has a death grip on me anyhow, and I don’t want Fila to have to be alone with any other soldiers.”
    Something flashed in her eyes at the last part. A spark of buried anger. That and the fierce way she said it made him think there was something more than protectiveness behind her words. Had someone abused Fila? The idea made him feel sick. He shifted his gaze to Maya’s hand, locked with the girl’s. “How’re the knuckles?”
    “Good.”
    They weren’t. He could see the bruising and swelling from where he stood. He’d bet money she’d at least cracked one of them, yet she held Fila’s hand without complaint to offer reassurance to her young friend. That sweetness pulled at him. “Your cheek looks better.”
    She nodded, her expression closing up. “Yeah, I’m fine. Here.” She nudged the ball toward him with the toe of her boot.
    “Thanks.” He didn’t want her to go yet, but navigating this situation was tricky. Their difference in rank didn’t seem to bother her though. Thank God for that. Technically she could have reported him for rounding on her that day in the hospital. He’d been on edge, just back from a mission where he’d lost a patient on the way back to base. Normally he had a long fuse, but she’d managed to push every one of his hot buttons within the space of a few minutes. “By the way, I apologize for the way I spoke to you that day.”
    She shook her head, looking straight into his eyes. “I deserved it. Never realized you spoke Spanish. Guess I’ll have to swear at you in Dari from now on.”
    Her response startled him so much that he chuckled. “No, those words I know.”
    “How did you learn Spanish, by the way?”
    “My mom worked two jobs when we were kids, so she hired a nanny and she was Mexican. My accent’s not perfect and I can’t speak it as fast as you, but I understand it well enough.”
    “Yeah, you sure do.”
    He admired that she took responsibility for her attitude that day. He hadn’t expected her to. “If you can’t find a ride, let me know. I’ll go with you.” Even as he said it, he knew she’d never take him up on it.
    “Thanks, I appreciate it. Come on, guys, let’s get you home.” She tossed him a cocky grin. “See you.”
    No Sergeant tag, so she wasn’t hung up on protocol like Ace had been with Ryan. That had to be a good sign. “Yeah. Take care.” He admired