Mine To Protect (Mine #6) Read Online Free PDF Page A

had been to get away from the FBI agent, Russell Aiker, who’d been guarding her. So she’d pretty much vanished with the clothes on her back. Now Zoe stood in the middle of the bathroom, her hair wet and a towel wrapped around her body. The mirror in front of her was too fogged up for Zoe to see her own reflection. That last bit was probably a good thing—she didn’t want to look at herself right then.
    After all this time, and, yes, looking in my own eyes is still too hard.
Because she didn’t like what she saw in the mirror. Didn’t like it at all.
    Luther’s daughter.
    Maybe she’d just put back on the clothes she’d worn before. She could do that. The long sleeved t-shirt and jeans would be fine for now. Far better to wear them than to prance around in front of Victor just wearing a towel.
    That would be such a bad idea.
As bad as sharing a motel room with him tonight?
Because Victor had only booked one room. One room with one bed.
    As if her night had not been bad enough.
    She heard a sharp knock—one that had her head jerking to the right. Only the knock wasn’t on the bathroom door. The sound had been too distant.
Someone is outside of our motel room.
    “Relax, Zoe,” Victor called out. As if he’d known she’d just gotten scared as all hell. “It’s my team.”
    Good. Fabulous. His team. Not the current killer on her trail. And with more FBI agents there—their presence definitely meant it was time to put her clothes back on. She dressed as quickly as she could, not bothering with her shoes, but wearing her underwear, jeans and that t-shirt. Then she yanked open the bathroom door.
    The group was waiting near the bed. Victor, looking confident and grim—his usual style. Victor’s dark hair wasn’t even tousled. His blue eyes glinted, and his broad shoulders were set with determination. Russell—he wore his suit, unwrinkled,
his
usual perfect style. Russell Aiker was a tall, handsome, African American in his early thirties. She actually
liked
Russell. And he seemed to like her, too. That was how she’d been able to give him the slip before.
Don’t make the mistake of being kind to me. I use kindness.
    “Hi, Zoe,” Russell murmured, his mouth lifting in a half-smile. “Glad to see you’re still alive.”
    “Glad to still be alive.” Her gaze slid to the right. Ah, a new agent. A woman with blonde hair that fell to her chin and brown eyes that were assessing as they slid over Zoe, lingering just for a moment on…
    My bare toes.
    Zoe wiggled her toes. Then she nodded toward the woman. “Hello.”
Hello, fresh meat.
    The woman nodded briskly in response. “I’m Agent Lauren McDaniel.” Lauren straightened her shoulders. “I believe I’m here to take over watch duty.” Her gaze slid to Victor. “I’ll make sure she doesn’t leave tonight.”
    Agent Lauren McDaniel was there to do what now? Zoe marched right into that circle of agents. “Sorry, but there is a huge mistake happening here.” She took up a position near Victor. She knew he was the lead agent in that room. And he was the one who’d made a deal with her. She wasn’t going with Agent Fresh Meat anywhere. The woman sure wasn’t about to become her bunkmate for the night. “I’m not in the market for a new guard.”
    Russell winced a bit.
Right, sorry. I ran out on him last night.
She cast a quick, apologetic glance his way.
    “Do you have a death wish, ma’am?” Lauren asked her, voice tight.
    Zoe’s eyes widened.
    “
I warned her,”
Russell muttered.
    “Because I have read your file,” Lauren continued doggedly, “and I know all about the risks you have taken. You keep running from us, when all we want to do is keep you safe. But how are we supposed to adequately do our jobs when you fight us every step of the way?” Lauren nodded toward Zoe. “You should be grateful for our assistance. You should be—”
    Zoe held up her hand. “I love it when people tell me what I should be. Truly, one of my favorite