Ultimate Escape Read Online Free PDF Page A

released so much as a peep, and he knew that shock was taking hold. Her wide eyes were shadowed, and if he’d had any doubt about the veracity of her story, it was gone. In its place now resided responsibility. He had to take care of her, at least until he had a better hold on what was going on and who was involved.
    When they’d put some distance between themselves and the hotel, he stopped and faced her, the ever-present crowd moving around them like a river around a rock even as the hour got later.
    “Nola Bailey, right?” he said, and then she nodded.
    “I’m Cruz. Just stick with me, okay?” he said, holding her eyes with his own. “Okay?”
    She nodded again, and he continued, eyes scanning the crowd for any threat, his senses heightened in a way he knew wouldn’t leave until they reached their destination. He marched Nola through Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1, passing expensive, high-end hotels and shops and other tourist destinations as they went. Cruz watched the crowd like a hawk, but he and Nola didn’t seem to be garnering any extra attention. When they finally got to the safe house, he entered quickly, relieved when he saw Ace and Sam waiting, curious but otherwise unruffled.
    Nola looked at the two men and then moved a bit closer to Cruz, something that gave him an unexpected sense of satisfaction.
    “Is there a restroom?” she asked.
    Neither Ace nor Sam spoke, so Cruz jumped in and led her to it.
    “You good?” he asked, gaze searching her face.
    She nodded quickly and after one last searching look, he left her.
    “What happened?” Ace asked when he returned.
    “That’s Nola Bailey. And there’s a mess at the hotel,” he replied.
    “You recognize them?”
    “No, but I got what they were looking for,” Cruz said, handing the memory stick to Sam, who brightened immediately.
    “Let’s see what we got,” he said, rushing to his computer.
    Sam had only been with the team for a couple of years, one of Lucian’s projects, but if he could help unravel this, he’d more than earn his keep.
    “You’re buying her story,” Ace said, voice gruff and suspicious.
    “Yep. I don’t think she knows anything, and she’s definitely never seen anyone die before.”
    Ace shrugged. “That’s not proof. She could be in operations and not necessarily involved with the more messy aspects of the business.” Ace then turned to Sam.
    His friend was unconvinced. The two men had been through more fires than Cruz could remember, but Ace’s mind was his own, and he wouldn’t change it until he was good and ready.
    “What do you see, kid?” he said to Sam.
    “Stick is encrypted, so this might take a while,” Sam responded, gaze moving across the screen as he typed furiously.
    “But you can find out what’s on there?” Cruz said.
    Sam stopped typing and glanced up from the screen, looking offended. “Of course. It’ll just take some effort.”
    “That’s your priority. Figure it out.”
    Ace looked over Cruz’s shoulder, and then turned and watched Nola as she eased back into the living room.
    “Have a seat, Ms. Bailey,” Ace said, his voice easy, but the wolfish grin on his face anything but.
    ••••
    “So you’re from Thornehill Springs?”
    Nola wanted to scream in frustration, but she bit back the urge. “Yes, I am, like I told you a hundred times already,” she said, letting at least some of her frustration out. It was bad enough that she couldn’t really remember what had made her think this trip was a good idea, when, as the evening’s events and this relentless third degree proved, it had been a very bad one.
    The man who was questioning her narrowed his eyes, and Nola slammed her mouth shut quickly.
    “Ace,” Cruz said, sounding as dangerous as he had when she’d first spied him in her hotel.
    But Ace didn’t let up.
    “Name the three high schools in Thornehill,” he said.
    Nola’s patience snapped, and she sat up straighter and met Ace’s gaze