Page 4 of Hard Asset

“Are you fucking for real, Raine?” Evan blew out a breath and shook his head, tossing the knife to the ground. He opened his door, slipped inside, and started the engine. “No, you know what? Don’t say another fucking word. But you go ahead and think about what you’re going to say.”

“About what?” Raine’s face tensed as she glanced in the side mirror. Headlights flashed in the distance. “We’ve got company.”

“The truth. That’s what the hell what.” Evan shifted into gear and slammed his foot on the accelerator.

The wheels squealed, and the scent of burnt rubber permeated the car’s interior. Evan wrenched the steering wheel to the right, taking the vehicle around a hairpin curve and down a side street. His eyes flashed to the rearview mirror, noting the lights behind him.

“Whatever shit you’re into, you’re in it deep. I want to know what shit. Whose shit. And how far you’re swimmin’ in it…” Evan paused as he raced into an underpass. Switching lanes, he passed several cars until they emerged from the tunnel. He slammed on the brakes, sending the car spinning, and by the time they stopped, they were facing in the other direction. Spotting a dark alleyway, he sped into it and shut off the lights.

“Just because I didn’t kill you back there for offering to sell government secrets,” he continued, “that doesn’t mean I won’t. You have secrets, sweetheart, but so do I. My guess is that you aren’t carryin’, but be prepared because I’m searchin’ your ass for weapons when we get to our destination.”

“And where exactly is that?” Raine twisted to look out the back window. “That’s them there. They passed. Jesus Christ, you’re right about one thing, we’re in some shit.”

“Correction, sweetheart. You’re in some shit. I’m not the one sellin’ what doesn’t belong to me.”

“I would never do anything to hurt Emerson Industries or this country, and you fucking know it.” Raine glanced to her blood-splattered dress and sighed. “Damn. I’m never gonna get that out. I just bought this. And I looked good in it too.”

“You’re cold, girl. I’ll give you that.” He shrugged and fired the engine up. “Tell you what. If I find you’re telling the truth, that what you were doing was something other than what I thought it was, then I’ll buy ya a new one. But I can promise you this. Lie to me? You’re goin’ to lose a lot more than an overpriced dress.”

“It’s not what you think,” she protested.

“Just stop. You just sit there and work on your story. Later. I want the truth. All of it.”

“But…”

“Not another word.” Evan shifted hard, his thoughts racing as he tore down the I-5.

Raine Presley. What the hell was she doing tonight? Not for a minute would he have pegged her as a corporate spy. A fearless skydiver, Raine had joined Club Altura a year after starting her employment at Emerson Industries. As the chief security officer, she reported to Garrett on paper, but it was Evan who oversaw her work.

For months Evan had fought his attraction to her. Office dating wasn’t an option. Not dipping his pen in the company ink had been a hard-and-fast rule that had served him well. A moment of pussy could be sweet as sugar but bitter as fuck the minute it turned. Although technically he wasn’t her boss, the managerial lines blurred, and it could easily be argued he’d pressured her into it.

As the months progressed, their unsated sexual chemistry morphed into a heated, quick-witted banter that only served to fuel his desire for her. Despite the ongoing fantasy and temptation, logic warned him to stay away.

Evan had found it particularly difficult to resist her at Club Altura events. From skydiving to rock climbing, the members skirted the edge of death and openly explored their sexuality within the confines of Garrett Emerson’s beachfront retreat. He found it interesting how the attractive executive would flirt yet never indulge in the more adventurous sexual activities. While Evan had publicly played with women, engaging in the occasional fling, he’d often catch her watching, a craving flickering in her hungry eyes.

He glanced to Raine who checked her phone. He noted the emerging bruises on her skin, a small trickle of dried blood on her shoulder. His mind churned as he recalled how she’d fought her attacker. He’d been in the military and had witnessed violence firsthand. She’d defended herself with an effortless precision and accuracy, which told him she’d been trained. The question was, by whom and for what purpose?

Evan focused on the road and sped toward San Diego. They’d have only hours to secure extra protection, decide next steps. Dom Marretta would want answers as to why he’d gone snooping at his party. Evan would claim he’d simply wandered in search of a restroom. As for Raine, he still couldn’t be sure of the consequences of her actions. Once they arrived at his house, he’d either get the truth or, if not, he’d turn her over to the authorities himself.

Chapter Two

Raine stepped into the darkened foyer and released the breath she’d been holding for what seemed like forever. Evan Tredioux. What the hell was he doing at the party tonight? She’d been close to gathering the names of over a half dozen suspects, ones who sought to harm the country. Marretta’s henchman had unexpectedly double-crossed her, refusing to give her the names she was promised in exchange for the data. As soon as he’d laid his fingers on her, she’d been set on taking him out, well before Evan made an appearance. She could have hidden her skills from him, but she’d chosen to defend herself first and then come up with a defensible lie.

Raine’s father had been in the CIA, so she was no stranger to the life. Concerned that harm would come to his family, her daddy had trained her to kill when she’d been ten years old. Living in fear most of her childhood, Raine had deliberately chosen a different life, a safe one. She’d studied hard throughout school, landing herself a full scholarship to Harvard. Her mother had prayed she’d major in finance or law, land herself a rich husband. But Raine had decided long ago she wouldn’t rely on anyone but herself. She’d majored in technology and secured a coveted internship at L-Tech. Within a year, she’d transferred over to Emerson Industries, quickly climbing the corporate ladder to lead their security team.

When Dom Marretta had approached her in a coffee shop, she’d immediately decided to take it to her contacts in the government. Ever since, she’d been a spy for a covert government organization. As she was deep undercover, neither Garrett nor Evan knew of her deception. It was true; she’d stolen bits of harmless information from Emerson Industries and delivered them to Marretta to show good faith. She’d systematically proved her worth to him, slowly earning his trust. But tonight he’d blown her off, instead choosing to delegate negotiation for payment to an underling.

As she reflected on the evening, she considered that if there was a bright side, it was that Dom would review the security footage and observe her taking out one of his best men. Although he’d be pissed that she’d insisted on the names, he’d always known it had been part of the deal, and she’d earn respect for her actions. Evan, however, was a complication. She’d have only hours to figure out how to explain his presence.

With spies everywhere, Marretta would find them eventually. Before that happened, she’d have to get the hell out of wherever Evan had taken her and go back to the event on her own. She’d save face by doing so, but if he suspected she’d told Evan about their criminal activities, he’d swiftly order both their deaths. Raine would play it off as keeping with her cover. She’d tell him that she’d been as surprised as anyone to see Evan and had decided to go with him to distract him from the deal, draw attention away from the gala.

As Raine ran through a litany of plausible lies in her mind, a door slammed behind her, causing her to startle. Evan. He’d press her for answers. She’d have to tell him just enough to satisfy him without divulging everything, exposing her mission.

“Whatever you’re thinking, it better be good,” he commented.

“I’m not thinking anything,” she lied.

Her anxiety rose as Evan pecked a code into a pad on the wall, activating the home’s security system. There was no way she’d escape without him knowing. She’d been trained in fighting, not disabling alarms.