Seduced by His Target by Gail Barrett Page B

were waiting for him at the airstrip. He had an attack to stop. He’d spent too many years working toward this moment, sacrificing everything he’d once cared for, to lose sight of the mission now.
    Shaking from the effort, he pulled away. His breath sawed in the silence. His pulse thundered out of control. He tucked her head to his shoulder and held her against him, absorbing the shivers racking her slender frame. Then he tipped his head back and closed his eyes, his frenzied heart working overtime.
    Dumb, dumb, dumb. He had no business touching Nadine, no matter what she made him feel. Even if she weren’t the daughter of his target, even if he wanted to be different, he’d spent too many years living amidst the bottom-feeders of society to ever lead a normal life. He didn’t have it in him anymore.
    And she was a woman in his care, a woman depending on him to keep her safe. He had to keep his wits about him, no matter how much she made him burn.
    With difficulty, he pulled away. But the sight of her kiss-swollen lips, her incredible eyes blurred with desire, nearly obliterated his resolve.
    “Listen, Nadine.” His voice came out like gravel, and he cleared his throat. “I’m sorry about that. I shouldn’t have... It was a mistake.”
    A flush climbed up her cheeks. Her gaze skidded away. “Right.”
    “It’s the mission. We can’t—”
    “You don’t have to explain. I understand.”
    “Do you?” He lifted her chin, forcing her gaze back to his. “This isn’t a game. These men, Amir and Manzoor...they’re ruthless. They’ll kill us in a heartbeat. I’ve spent years training with them. I know how they think. They don’t value life like we do. They think their reward comes after death. And they won’t listen to excuses or reason. They won’t forgive any mistakes.
    “Right now, my cover is the only thing that protects you. I can’t show any weakness. I can’t reveal any concern about your welfare, or give them a reason to doubt my loyalty. Because if I slip up and they suspect I’m not what I’ve been pretending to be, we’ll both die.”
    Her eyes stayed on his. She touched his face, the feathery feel of her soft fingers sparking eruptions inside his veins. “I said I understand. I grew up around men like them, remember?”
    “I know.” And without warning, he saw yet another side to this remarkable woman—the woman who’d fled her abusive home. She’d defied her powerful father. She’d gone on the run in pursuit of freedom, surviving despite the odds. Then she’d faced down a gang killer and outwitted not just her murderous family, but the CIA, staying hidden for fifteen years. She was courageous. Incredible.
    A woman he feared he could care about too much.
    Needing to create some mental distance, he stepped away. “We’d better go. They’re going to be waiting for us at the airstrip. They’ll get suspicious if we take too long.”
    He opened the door to the alley and looked out. Safe. For the moment.
    Now he just had to keep her that way.
    * * *
    Nadine didn’t know which decision was crazier—forfeiting her only chance at freedom or kissing Rasheed again.
    She walked beside him down the dirt road leading to the airstrip, still trying to make sense of what she’d done. She had to stop her father. Even though the idea scared her, she was convinced of that. It was bad enough that he intended to kill her out of some sick, misguided belief. But she could not stand by and let him unleash a terrorist attack, extinguishing thousands of unsuspecting lives.
    But kissing Rasheed...that had been total insanity. She couldn’t begin to justify her reaction to him. He was exactly the kind of man she didn’t want— secretive, dangerous, violent. Definitely not a long-term bet.
    But the amazing way he’d kissed her... Shivering at the sensual memories, she slid a glance his way. She couldn’t deny that he compelled her with that rock-hard physique and unkempt jaw. His rough good looks,