Page 40 of Hot Pursuit

“What?” she muttered, mouth half full of pretzel.

“That man on the bench?” he whispered. “I think we’re being followed.”

Jo tilted her head. “I thought he was with you.”

“No, definitely not.”

Nate gritted his teeth.

A Russian. It has to be a Russian.

Following Jo.

Following us.

“You swear to me you don’t know who that man is?” he asked, one more time, looking directly into her eyes, trusting her not to lie.

“I swear.”

Her voice didn’t falter. Didn’t break.

It was firm. And honest.

He had to believe it was honest.

Which meant he’d been right about her—Jo didn’t know about the real work her father was doing, the real work Ryder was doing. But even if she didn’t know about them, the Russians knew about her.

Nate’s chest pinched, tense and burning.

His fingers curled into tightened fists.

His jaw clenched. The nerve in his neck started ticking.

For the first time since joining this operation, Nate wasn’t worried about Jolene Carter. He was worriedforJolene Carter. For her safety. For her life.

“What, Nate? What?”

He looked down, meeting those probing eyes.I can get you out of this, he wanted to say.I can get you immunity. I can give you a future. But if they had a tail, the man could be listening. Anyone could be listening. Nate couldn’t say those words aloud.

Not yet.

Not here.

And the longer they were together, the more dangerous it would be for her. If the Russians thought she was talking to him, really talking— If they thought she was a turncoat— Nate shivered. He didn’t want to start down that road. “You should go.”

Her brows pushed together.

He pressed on, harsher than he’d intended. “Jo, you should go, now. We had a fun day. But I have things to do, and so do you. We both knew this couldn’t last forever.”

“Nate,” she started.

“Goodbye, Jo,” he said firmly, interrupting her and darting his gaze toward their tail for emphasis, an explanation he couldn’t voice. Stilted understanding flickered in her eyes, but she didn’t move. So Nate did the only thing he could to keep her safe. He turned and marched off, leaving her behind.

- 15 -

Jo

Jo watched Nate walk away, resisting the urge to turn and glance over her shoulder. She had noticed a man following them. But who? And why had he spooked Nate so much? And why had fear sparked like lightning across his eyes? Was it for himself…or for her?