Her Hidden Falls Bodyguard Billionaire Cowboy - Taylor Hart Page 0,39
have no idea what’s on it?”
“I tried to look and couldn’t get past some of the security encrypted into the dark websites it leads to.” She didn’t want to tell him the next part, but the truth was the truth. “I think this is how Rafael’s men tracked and found me.”
“What?” He looked aghast.
“I was being pretty assertive and trying to get a look at the information, but it kept coming back that it was restricted.”
Sean ran a hand through his hair. “Have they tracked you with it now?”
“No. I’m pretty sure not. They would be here already. I mean, they didn’t track me for three years until I started trying to get into their little dark network.”
Sean held the little chip and turned to face her. “Why didn’t you tell my boss?”
“I don’t trust him,” she admitted.
His head tilted to the side like he was acknowledging that she had a point.
“I told you I would tell you the truth. The truth is, I don’t trust anyone at the FBI. And the truth is, I was going to try to figure out how to negotiate with Rafael for my freedom.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “How?”
“I don’t know.”
“Negotiate with Rafael? Do you really think it’s possible to negotiate with a man like him?”
Zoey had her doubts, but it was the only card in her hand. “I don’t know, Sean, okay?” She moved past him and walked through the living room and out to the deck patio. “I honestly don’t know what is possible or what is not possible. But when my brother gave me the necklace, he kept telling me that it was my ticket to freedom if I used it right.”
“What did he mean?”
She threw her hands up. “I told you, I have no idea. Brian gave me the necklace, and the next day, when I came back from work, he was dead.” The realization of it hit her.
Sean snapped his fingers. “Whatever you triggered that activated Rafael’s men …”
“Brian triggered it too.” Zoey knew it was true. It all made sense now. “That was why Rafael got to him, because Brian tried to get into whatever he didn’t want him to get into.”
“And that’s how they found you in Hidden Falls.”
She nodded jerkily. “I tried to get in and the next day they showed up.”
Sean held the chip tightly, taking a long breath. “So whoever tries to get inside and find information on this is immediately traced.”
“Seems that way,” she said, unable to believe it. Maybe it wasn’t the FBI who was putting her life in danger.
“So it’s not our guys.”
“I don’t know.” Then she thought of what Agent Sears had said. “But the FBI had to have known, too, because they showed up the next day as well.”
Sean shook his head. “No, Agent Anderson told me that they’d known you were in Hidden Falls for a couple of months, but everything was getting hot with the trial. They wanted to make a play for you when it got closer.”
She frowned. “That’s right.”
“Something doesn’t add up, though,” Sean said, staring into her eyes.
The way he was thinking so hard and considering every angle made her smile. “No, it doesn’t.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “Why do you seem happy about this?”
“I’m not happy, per se. But …” She reached out and took his hand. “I’m grateful I can trust you.”
Sean squeezed her hand. “Of course you can trust me.”
That warmth she’d felt earlier when she’d been praying seemed to grow and flood the whole inside of her.
“What?”
“Nothing …” But tears were brimming in her eyes. She might as well tell him. “I prayed today.”
“Did you?” His expression softened.
She nodded. “I prayed to know what to do, and I felt the distinct impression that I should trust you with this.”
A tiny smile played at his lips, and his eyes became misty with tears. He pulled her to him quickly and held her tight. “Thank you for trusting me.” He kissed her forehead. “And I’m so glad you trusted God, too.”
“You know what else?”
He looked down at her. “What?”
“As I was praying, do you want to know the biggest thing I told God I was grateful for? You.” She put her hand to his shoulder. “And I know that I’m going into WITSEC, but you have to know that I …” No. She couldn’t admit this. How would letting him know this do any good?
He pulled back, putting his hands on her shoulders. “Know what?”
The words were stuck in her throat. She couldn’t say