Cynthia Eden - Alpha One

No, no, that wasn’t the way that Aaron wanted to go out.

“I’m sorry, Juliana …”

JULIANA HELD HER BREATH as the small plane touched down, bounced and touched down again on a landing strip that she couldn’t even see. Her hands were clenched tight in her lap, and she didn’t make a sound. Fear churned in her, but she held on to her control with all her strength. The men and the woman with her weren’t scared, or if they were, she sure couldn’t tell.

The woman was flying them. Sydney—that was her name. Juliana had heard Logan call her Sydney once. The group hadn’t exactly been chatty, but that was probably due to the whole life-and-death situation they had going on.

The plane bumped once more and then, thankfully, settled down. She felt the plane’s speed begin to slow as it taxied down what she sincerely doubted was a real runway. They’d taken off from some dirt road in Mexico, so she figured they were probably landing in the middle of nowhere.

“And we’re back in America,” Logan murmured from beside her with a flash that could have been a brief grin.

She pushed her fingers against her jean-clad thighs. The better to wipe the sweat off her hands. “Does this mean I’m safe again?” she asked. He’d been her shadow nearly every moment. Close but not touching. And that was fine, right? She didn’t want him touching her.

“This means …” He leaned forward and unhooked the seat belt that had kept her steady during the bumps and dives of the flight. “It means that it’s time for you to get your life back.” His face came close to hers. The face that she’d never forgotten. His black hair had once curled lightly but now was cut brutally short.

The old adage was annoyingly true—a girl really did never forget her first lover.

Over the years, Logan had grown harder. A thin scar under his chin looked as if it could have been a knife wound. And his eyes now creased with fine lines. No one else had eyes that shade of bright blue.

Only Logan.

Right then, his lips were only inches away. Had she really kissed him hours before? At the time, it had seemed like a good plan. Some hot, fast action to chase away the chill that had sunk into her bones.

John is dead . She’d left him behind, and he’d died.

She’d almost died, too, and she’d been so scared. Had it been so wrong to want to feel alive? For just a few moments?

Then Logan had pulled away from her.

Again.

Apparently, it had been wrong. Same story, same verse. Logan Quinn wasn’t interested.

And she wanted to forget. She wanted passion, not just him.

Not. Just. Him .

They climbed out of the plane. The guy called Gunner went first, sweeping out with his weapon up. Logan stayed by her side. A giant bodyguard who took every step with her.

Two black SUVs waited for them. Logan steered her to the front one. Climbed in and slammed the door behind him.

As soon as he and Gunner were inside, the SUV started moving. The driver tossed back a cell phone to Logan. “Another mission down, Alpha One.”

She glanced over and found Logan’s eyes on her. Should a man’s gaze really feel like a burn? His did.

He had the cell to his ear. Who was he calling already?

“Alpha One checking in,” he said into the phone. “Package delivered safely.”

Being referred to as a package grated. She wasn’t a package. She was a person.

Juliana glanced away from him. Empty landscape flew by them. Miles of dry dirt, dotted occasionally by small bursts of struggling green brush.

“Sir?” Logan’s voice was tight as he talked to whoever was on the other end of the line. “Yes, sir. I understand.”

The called ended. Short. Sweet.

“Juliana …” He caught her right hand. Oh, now he was back to touching? “I’m sorry,” he told her, and he actually sounded as if he was.

Curious now, she glanced over at him. “For what?”

Logan’s handsome face was strained and his bright blue eyes told her the news was going to be very bad even before he said, “Senator James is dead.”

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