Page 2 of Jason Bourne (Seals on Fraiser Mountain #7)

Lane

I didn’t care if the chains cut my wrists raw — I wasn’t staying here without a fight.

Zoe. God, please be alive. They’d left her on the docks, bleeding. They dragged me onto this rusted Chinese freighter like a sack of rice. I’d been kicking and biting until they snapped the cuffs tight enough to bite bone.

A tear slipped free. I cursed myself and wiped it on my shoulder. Don’t you dare, Lane Ann Brewer. You don’t cry in front of these bastards. I just wanted Zoe to be alive.

They think they scare me. Okay — maybe they do. But not enough to break me. Not yet.

Jason. My brain whispered his name like a prayer. Where are you? I’d give up my badge, my career — hell, my whole damn life — just to feel his arms around me one more time. I’d almost called him. So many times. But pride was a vicious thing.

I jerked at the rattle of the door. Heavy boots. Then him — the bastard who shot Thor. My throat closed up.

“You killed my dog!” I spat, every syllable a blade.

“Your dog killed my man.” He shrugged. “You think I wanted to shoot a dog? He didn’t give me a choice. I would have rather shot you!”

“And you left my sister to die!”

“She was breathing when we left her,” he said calmly, like he was discussing the weather.

“Why take me? Why not kill me there?”

His eyes glittered. “You pissed off my boss. He wants to handle you himself.”

“Oh, I’m shaking,” I sneered.

“You should be scared, Agent Brewer . We knew all about you. Too bad for you that one of your team doesn’t love you as much as he loves gambling.” He leaned in close, breath rancid. “They’re going to slice you apart — piece by piece. Sell your pretty organs on the black market.”

I forced a laugh, even though my guts coiled tight. “Yeah? How many women have you butchered for them, huh?”

His smirk didn’t reach his dead eyes. “Keep talking, sweetheart. You’ll find out soon enough.”

When the door slammed shut, I let my head drop back against the bulkhead. My chest heaved. Fear coiled like a snake, but I swallowed it down.

Jason. I’m sorry, I broke us up.