Free Edge of Surrender by Laura Griffin

tape.”
    â€œHave what on tape?”
    He hopped out of the truck and slammed the door. She did the same.
    â€œRyan?”
    â€œCome on, I want to get there ahead of her, scope out the area.”
    She strode up to him. “They have it on video? How do you know?”
    â€œJake said something about it when I talked to him this morning. Relax.”
    â€œI will not relax! You’re going to get in trouble, Ryan. You need to just . . . leave. Go back to San Diego, and let me handle this from here.”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œBut why are you helping me? Why is Jake?” This had gotten totally out of hand. She’d never meant to drag them into this.
    Ryan wasn’t paying attention. He was too busy scanning the parking lot, looking for God only knew what. Probably undercover FBI agents or assassins or both.
    â€œRyan?”
    â€œJake feels bad because he’s pretty sure he led a tail to the safe house. He thinks that’s how they found you.”
    â€œHe does?”
    â€œHe offered to check out Mays for us. He believes we can trust her, and Jake has a radar for that kind of thing, so as far as I’m concerned, she’s clear.”
    Emma shook her head. Jake was helping her out of guilt? It made no sense. Jake wasn’t responsible for her. Neither was Ryan. And yet they were risking their careers to get involved.
    â€œWe need to get inside.” Ryan put his hand on the small of her back and steered her across the parking lot toward the entrance. He pulled the door open for her, and the smell of frying bacon wafted over from the diner attached to the gas station.
    Emma caught Ryan’s arm as they reached the hostess stand. “You still haven’t answered my question.”
    He scanned the restaurant, and then his attention settled on her. “What’s that?”
    â€œWhy are you helping me?”
    He smiled slightly and picked up her hand. “You really don’t know?” He kissed her knuckles, and Emma’s heart skittered. Then his gaze darted over her head, and his expression darkened. “They’re here already. Let’s go.”
    â€”——
    Special Agent Alexa Mays wasn’t at all what Emma had expected, and she could see right away why Jake had offered to check her out.
    Tall and slim, with long chestnut-colored hair, she looked more like a supermodel than a federal agent. But the badge clipped to her belt reminded Emma not only of who she was but also the gravity of the situation. She shook the agent’s hand and slid into the booth across from her.
    â€œThanks for meeting me,” Emma said.
    â€œNo problem.”
    It was a lie, obviously. Everything about this meeting had been problematic for Mays. But Ryan had insisted on this venue, a full two hours outside of Los Angeles. Emma darted a look over her shoulder.
    He’d also insisted on sitting at a nearby table that faced the door. Emma figured he had some sort of tactical considerations in mind.
    A server came by and flipped up two mugs. “Coffee?” she asked sweetly.
    They both nodded. Mays waited until the waitress was gone to begin talking.
    â€œI’ll get straight to the point, Ms. Wright.”
    â€œIt’s Emma.”
    â€œYou’re in a dangerous situation here, Emma.”
    â€œI’m aware, thanks.”
    Mays tipped her head to the side, not liking the sarcasm. “After your friends reported you missing, we recovered traffic-cam footage showing a black Land Rover speeding away from the area where you were abducted. That vehicle is registered to Orion Shipping.” She paused. “You ever heard of them?”
    â€œNot before this, no.”
    â€œOrion Shipping also owns the building where you were being held. We were on the verge of executing a raid on that building when you managed to escape.”
    None of this was news to Emma. Ryan had told her all of it in the car the night before. She clutched her