Free Bound to Danger: A Deadly Ops Novel by Katie Reus

“I didn’t want to deal with your questions or seeing you. I felt like an idiot after I blubbered all over you and was afraid I’d do it again.” His expression softened but she continued. “I’m exhausted and back at the hospital I didn’t think I had any answers for your questions then.”
    He went impossibly still. “What do you mean
then
? Do you
now
?”
    Sighing, she leaned against the front of her desk, perching on the edge of it as she wrapped her arms around herself. “It’s probably nothing. I still don’t know why I was outside the Westwood mansion when paramedics found me. I keep trying to rack my brain, but I can’t think of any plausible explanation for why I would ever be outside and that far away from the party. And when I was washing my face at the hospital, I got a flash of . . .” She splayed her hands out in front of her as if that would help explain what she didn’t understand herself. “I don’t know. I was scared, like I needed to tell someone
something
. And I know that makes absolutely no sense to you, because it doesn’t to me either.” Maria stopped talking, feeling like she was rambling as he pinned her with that intense stare.
    He was silent for a long moment, assessing her, as if he was deciding if she was telling the truth or not. Finally he spoke, his voice grim. “I caught a man sneaking out of your bathroom at the hospital. He was armed with two knives. When he saw me, he ran and died during the chase—an accident, he was hit by a truck. On my way here one of our analysts informed me that according to his fingerprints, he’s a known Latvian terrorist. He’s worked with various outfits before, but things always end bloody with any group he’s been involved with. He likes to kill his victims with a blade. I can’t know the specific intent for sure, but he was in your hospital room for a reason. My guess is either you know something or someone thinks you do.”
    Maria was glad she was sitting down as Cade’s words slammed through her, because the blood drained from her face, leaving her dizzy. She didn’t know what to make of what he’d just said. Or what the hell she was supposed to do about some dead terrorist wanting to kill her. What did it mean? She’d been so convinced she didn’t know anything, but that nagging feeling in the pit of her stomach was growing out of control. Now it was even worse.
    “So what happens now? I can’t tell you what I don’t know. I wasn’t lying when I said I don’t remember the explosion or even being at the party. I wish I did, though, believe me. Wait a minute, if the man who was in my room is a known terrorist, then it stands to reason his partner orpartners would be in Miami, right? He can’t be working alone, and if some guy was sent to kill me or whatever—”
    Half smiling, he stepped farther into the room, his posture slightly relaxing. “My guys are already looking into all his known associates, how he got into the country, and what he’s been doing since he got here.”
    None of which Cade would tell her, she was sure. “Oh.” She still wasn’t certain what that meant for her.
    As if he read her mind, he said, “From this moment on, I’m more or less your shadow. I know it’s less than ideal especially with everything you’re dealing with. For that, I’m sorry. You can either fight me and I can tail you twenty-four-seven or you can suck it up and deal with me until we figure out why that terrorist wanted you dead. Because believe me, after reading his file, I have no doubt in my mind you would be if you’d stuck around the hospital. You’re a hell of a lot better off having me as your shadow right now.” There was a dark note in his tone she couldn’t read.
    It was impossible to believe that someone wanted her dead. But a couple of days ago she would have said it was impossible that someone could get away with such a horrific act of terror in her city, or that her mother would have died in a