Free Running Scared (Mercenaries) by Anne Kane Page A

in particular you need to find?”
    Saralyn opened her mouth, and was amazed to find herself telling the truth. Trust was a foreign concept and if a person knew what was important to her, they could use it against her. She had no reason to trust Jackson.
    “Not something. Someone. I’m looking for my brother. At least, I think he’s my brother.” She sighed, her gaze fixed on the mosaic tiles on the floor. That sounded dumb. Explaining herself was another foreign concept, and yet with this man it felt right. “I don’t remember a lot about my early childhood, but there’s this one really vivid memory of me and him running away from some guys in uniform. I was real small, always have been. He hid me in a dumpster and ran the other way, leading the enforcers away from me. I’m not sure why but I know they were going to kill me if they found me. They were hollering that we stole something from them, but I don’t remember what. Probably food.” In this ravaged world, stealing from the government goons was punishable by immediate execution. “Anyway, that’s the last time I saw him. He never came back for me and I’ve been on my own ever since. I realize there’s a good chance he didn’t survive, but I need to know. If he’s alive and out there, I want to find him. He risked his own life to save mine. I can’t let it go until I find out what happened that day. Somehow, I’m sure it’s the key to a lot of weird things in my life.”
    There might be a hint of sympathy sparkling in the depths of the mercenary’s dark eyes, but it was overshadowed by suspicion. He didn’t believe her. For once in her life, she’d told the pure unadulterated truth, and he didn’t believe her. That really stung.
    Whatever! She didn’t need him. She’d gotten this far on her own, and she’d finish on her own. She was so close. She’d find out what happened that day and she’d find her brother, if he were still alive. Tilting her head at a defiant angle, she swept past Jackson, heading for the door.
    “Wait.” Jackson caught her arm. “We can help. My team can help you find your brother.”
    “Why would you bother? You don’t believe me.” She spat out the accusation in cold tones.
    Jackson shrugged, not looking in the least repentant. “I saw what you did with that computer and I tend to be somewhat cynical. Most mercenaries are. Hazard of the trade, but if you’re serious about finding this brother of yours our charming little band is your best bet.”
    “I already have whatever was in that computer.” She might as well admit to mining the data in their computer banks. He’d caught her in the act. “If your buddies have any information, I don’t need you to give it to me.”
    Jackson shrugged. “Whatever you found on the computer is a mere pittance. Trace would have buried anything important behind more firewalls than you’ve ever seen.”
    What was it about this man? One look from those dark eyes and she found herself being honest with him when she hadn’t realized she knew how. This close, his scent teased her nostrils, a musky male scent that sent heat racing through her body. It had been a long time since any man had been able to elicit a response from her. Sex was a commodity, a means to getting what she wanted.
    Maybe it was just hormones. Sometimes her body had an annoying tendency to let her down. She inhaled slowly, trying to identify the reason his scent had such a huge effect on her.
    A quizzical frown creased the mercenary’s forehead. “Did I forget to shower or something?”
    Saralyn could feel the heat stain her cheeks, and she bowed her head in embarrassment. This whole encounter was bizarre. “No. It’s just… something about you.” Why on earth had she said that? Time to get this conversation back on an impersonal footing. “You think Trace would be able to help me find my brother?”
    “If anybody can find him, Trace can.” There was absolute certainly in his voice. “You want me to