Her Hidden Falls Bodyguard Billionaire Cowboy - Taylor Hart Page 0,20

he’d been pulled out of training? He moved toward the door. “I need to go.”

Agent Anderson blocked his path. “No. We need you here. We need you to convince her to testify. This is going to make her want to run. You stay by her to make sure she doesn’t do anything stupid. You get her to the trial next Monday, and we’ll put the Cortez sex trafficking ring in the ground.”

Sean cursed and turned away from his boss. “I can’t do this. I’m sorry, but I need to get home.”

“Agent Hardman,” the director said sharply, prompting Sean to look back at him. “Your country needs you.”

“Sir, I don’t know if I can.”

His boss looked him up and down. “Really?”

“Sir, I don’t think you understand. I love—or loved—this woman. Or I loved who I thought she was. I can’t go pretending to be married to her.”

His boss didn’t speak for a moment. “This was not in your psych evaluation.”

“What?”

“Part of the reason you were chosen for the FBI is because you have had struggles, Mr. Hardman.”

It didn’t escape Sean’s notice that suddenly his boss wasn’t using the title of Agent.

“Your father, your mother dying. It led us to believe that you could handle stress.”

“I can,” Sean snapped. He didn’t want to discuss all of that.

“Not to mention that your brother served and was MIA and how you and Beau kept the ranch going.”

“Right.” Sean sucked in a long breath. He was good at handling stress.

“I always knew that you cared for this woman. Do you want her to die?”

“Someone else can be her fake fiancé,” Sean protested, though internally he recoiled at the idea.

“I didn’t ask someone else.”

And that was the crux of it.

Someone knocked on the door, and Sean’s heart jumped into his throat. “She’s here now?”

His boss clamped a hand on his shoulder. “Can I count on you, Agent Hardman?”

Even though it felt like an insurmountable task, Sean managed to nod. “Yes, sir.”

Chapter 9

“Ms. Fletcher.” Agent Anderson stood in front of her, all professional. “How are you?”

“What is he doing here?” she snapped. Forget politeness.

Sean’s eyes locked with hers. “Believe me, it’s not by choice.”

Anger surged inside of her. She couldn’t believe he was here. Her gaze went back to Agent Anderson, and she wagged a finger at him. “Let’s get one thing straight. I’m not testifying.”

Agent Anderson had been the lead agent on her and her brother’s case along with Agent Sears. He had been the first man to promise that she and her brother would be safe from the Cortez family if she promised to testify.

Agent Anderson took a step toward her. “I’m so sorry about what happened to your brother.” He put his hands in the air. “I don’t blame you for being angry.”

This incited a skittering, high-pitched laugh that she didn’t even recognize. “Release me. I’m not going anywhere with you. I’m leaving. Disappearing, as a matter of fact.”

“The fact remains,” Agent Anderson said, his tone cool, “that Rafael found you. His men probably tracked the same dark web activity that we tracked.”

Dang it. She couldn’t focus. She grabbed at her necklace. The chip. Did they know about that? She hadn’t been able to get access to it yet, so they couldn’t know.

“We’re your best shot, Zoey,” Agent Anderson continued. “And I promise you, I’ll make sure you’re protected this time.”

“Heard that before.”

He gestured to Sean. “Why do you think I brought Agent Hardman in?”

“I have no idea.” She stared at Sean, and so much passed between them in that moment. She blinked and tried to keep her emotions under wrap.

This was Sean, the sweet police officer who’d confessed his love to her. The same man who had been her best friend up until months ago. Every part of her wanted to confess everything to him, to apologize and beg his forgiveness.

Agent Anderson turned and opened a file, holding up a picture. “Here are three of the women who were just freed from a sex-trafficking ring in Ohio that Mr. Cortez was part of. Just three.”

Bile rose in her throat as she stared at the bloody faces of the scantily clad girls.

He held up another picture. “Here are ten children recovered in a semi truck, all headed to a pedophile ring in California that Mr. Cortez so generously supplied.”

Nausea hit her. She put a hand to her stomach and looked away. “Don’t.”

Agent Anderson didn’t stop. He stepped into her personal space. “We have him. We are holding him, and the court date is next