Whatever It Takes Read Online Free PDF Page B

anyone.
    When Joe and Ty had vowed to find Marco, Nate had jumped at the chance to tag along.
    “Nogales. We leave tomorrow—­oh, wait, I guess it’s today already.”
    “Joe sent you after me?”
    “No. I volunteered.” She crossed her eyes and made a face.
    “Real mature, Alex.” A sparkle lit his eyes for a heartbeat before it faded. “How the hell did you find me?”
    She leaned low across the table, glancing both ways. “Walker pointed me in the right direction, but once I got on your trail, it was easy. Should have known you’d end up in some cockroach-­infested dive.”
    Nate held her gaze while a series of unrecognizable emotions flickered over his face. He slowly shook his head. “Do you want to talk about what happened back there?”
    An unladylike snort escaped her closed lips. “You mean the bar? Or the kiss?”
    His gaze held hers for a few too many seconds and his eyes darkened. Finally, he looked down at his hand where he touched her and stroked her arm with his thumb.
    “The bar for now, but only because you’re not ready to talk about the kiss. We’ll get back to that.”
    She did her best to hide the shiver his perusal shot through her. A deep breath calmed her nerves. “What do you want to know . . . about the bar?”
    “Why didn’t you get the hell out when you saw it going south?”
    Alex picked a spot across the diner to stare at and opened her mouth to speak, then closed it, opened it, and started over. “I . . . couldn’t. I made a promise a long time ago that I would never be helpless again, and if I saw someone who needed help, I would never, ever disappoint them. I remember what disappointment feels like, and no one should have to experience it.”
    The nightmare closed over Alex, and she couldn’t stop the words that tumbled from her mouth. “Every night I prayed someone would help me and the other girls, but every morning I woke up and faced another day in hell—­until Joe came.” She shrugged and focused on Nate again. “You looked like you could use some help tonight, and I couldn’t leave it alone. I had to keep my promise.”
    Nate scowled and turned away to stare out the window.
    Alex didn’t expect him to understand. How could anyone who hadn’t been taken from their family and imprisoned in a brothel for literally longer than she could remember possibly understand her warped sense of duty? She barely understood it herself, and some days confusion was her only companion. Dr. Grayson, the psychologist Joe insisted she see twice a week, had helped, but Alex had long since realized she was damaged goods and would likely remain that way. Just one more reason why she couldn’t let Nate get any closer.
    His hand tightened on her arm. “That’s a lot of responsibility you’ve given yourself. Maybe you could ease off just a little while I’m around to help?” He directed a crooked grin toward her. “I appreciate what you did, Alex. The evening would have ended a whole lot differently if you hadn’t been there. I suppose I should thank you so you don’t accuse me of being ungrateful.”
    A soft laugh escaped as she breathed a sigh of relief. “I’d never accuse you of being ungrateful. Shortsighted, maybe. Pigheaded, definitely.”
    He groaned. “Did I really deserve that? I’ll never win with you, will I?” Sliding his hand back to his side of the table, he scooted from the booth and stood, dropping cash next to their coffee cups. “Come on. If we’re leaving today, I’ve got some packing to do. Where’s Joe?”
    The lack of warmth where his hand had been left her chilled. She got to her feet and preceded him to the door. “Joe and the rest of the team are at your house. We made ourselves comfortable. Hope you don’t mind.”
    Nate shook his head. “Hell no. My high-­tech alarm system was just a test for you guys anyway. Rest of the team?”
    “Ty and Rayna, Walker, Jim Brady, and Joe.” Ty and Nate used to work together for the Portland