Special Ops Exclusive Read Online Free PDF Page B

confiding in a woman he’d just met, he knew he had to offer a few more details if he wanted to convince Rebecca to back off.
    “When I joined the army, my father and I decided it would be wise if I didn’t use my real name. As much as I hate admitting it, the offspring of well-known public figures tend to have an easier ride, whether it’s in the corporate world or in government or the military.” Nick shrugged. “I wanted the other recruits to treat me like an equal, and I didn’t want preferential treatment from my commanding officers. Not only that, but I’d always intended on becoming Special Ops, and that’s hard to do when your last name is Barrett.”
    “I imagine a lot of our enemies would love it if they found out they’d captured the son of America’s sec def.”
    “Yep. That’s why I used my mother’s maiden name—Prescott.”
    Now she looked fascinated. “And throughout your entire career, nobody knew the truth?”
    “Some people did. My father, obviously, and a few high-ranking army officials, including my unit commander. But none of the men I served with knew.”
    “So, what, you’re here on some supersecret army mission?” Rebecca’s tone took on a skeptical note. “Are the rest of your men here?”
    “No to both of those questions.” Nick paused, knowing this was where he needed to tread carefully. “I can’t give you any more details, and it’s not because I’m trying to be difficult or coy or a jerk. This is a matter of life and death.”
    She grinned. “Sounds like my kind of story.”
    “There’s no story,” he said darkly. “I mean it, Rebecca. I need you to pretend you never saw me. You can’t tell anyone that we met, okay?”
    “Why? What’s going on here, Nick?”
    Frustration climbed up his throat. “I can’t say any more than what I’ve already told you, but this is no joke. If you value your own life, you need to let this go.”
    Her lips tightened. “Are you threatening me?”
    “The threat isn’t coming from me, darling. But believe me when I say that if the people involved discover you’ve been in contact with me, your life will be in danger.”
    Alarm washed over her face. “What the heck have you gotten mixed up in?”
    Without answering, he rose to his feet. “Good night, Rebecca.”
    She shot up like a light, her hand darting out to curl over his biceps.
    “You can’t just leave,” she said in a hushed voice. “Let me help you. Whatever crazy situation you’ve found yourself in, I can help. I’ve got sources and—”
    “You can help by forgetting you ever saw me.” He gently removed her hand from his arm and took a step back. “I mean it, Rebecca. You need to let this go.”
    “But I—”
    She was still protesting as he walked away.
    * * *
    Rebecca gaped at Nick’s retreating back. She fought the urge to hurry after him, knowing that chasing the man wouldn’t achieve a darn thing. He wasn’t going to confide in her—he’d made that very clear.
    If you value your own life, you need to let this go.
    A tremor of fear ran through her, and yet it didn’t come close to overpowering the excitement building in her gut. Her instincts were humming, her brain already working over the meager details Nick Barrett had fed into it.
    He was mixed up in something big.
    Life-and-death big.
    And he was the son of the secretary of defense.
    There was a story here. A huge, potentially Pulitzer-winning story.
    You need to let this go.
    Nick’s voice continued to buzz in her head like a persistent fly, but Rebecca yet again ignored it. She wasn’t the kind of woman who let golden opportunities pass her by. How could he possibly expect her to walk away from what could quite possibly be the scoop of a lifetime?
    Grabbing her purse, she left the bar and rode the elevator up to her sixth-floor room. Jesse and Dave were sharing the suite next door, but she wasn’t ready to fill them in yet. Instead, she strode into the living room of her suite and fished