Blindsided (Sentinel Securities) (22 page)

It worked. Summer couldn’t lean back any further without falling from her perch.

“I want to see the file,” Tate growled.

“Once you get my sister back, then you get the file.”

“No deal. I want the file. Now.”

Summer held the flint like gaze before her, her own fear pushed aside as months of frustration, and disappointment bubbled inside her. “If you don’t help me, I’ll make sure no one gets the file, and you’ll be back to square one. Tre`ago will be free, and you’ll still be on the run.”

“That could be taken as blackmail lady.”

“Take it any way you want. The fact is we need each other. I have the key to your freedom, and you have the training to get my sister back.”

“I don’t like being threatened.”

“If I believed for one second, you’d willingly help me, I wouldn’t have to threaten you.” She eased back as far as she dared, “But I’m desperate, and you’re my last hope.”

A low hum came from his pocket. She saw his jaw clench and a harsh expletive whispered beneath his breath.

Without taking his eyes from her he reached into one of the leg pockets of his cargo’s, and withdrew a slim, silver, mobile phone, biting out a sharp, “What?” as a greeting.

Summer took the opportunity to slide from the barstool. Tate Maddox had unnerved her enough for one day, and she needed some space to recover her bravado. Without waiting to see if he would try and stop her, she made a break for the door. Dodging a rowdy group of party-goers as they entered, she slipped outside and rushed towards the road to hail a taxi.

Fearing that any moment, a large hand would clasp on her shoulder and drag her back inside that horrible place, she practically yelled at the startled driver to “Go!” as she slammed the door shut and locked it behind her.

Maybe the taxi driver had always wanted to be in a movie-like escape, or maybe, he’d simply been too scared to argue with her, but he didn’t hesitate. He pulled away from the gutter with a squeal of tyres and merged—with a dash of skill and a whole lot of luck—into the tangle of traffic. She wasn’t game to look out the back window. She knew without a doubt she’d be seeing Tate Maddox again. He hadn’t seemed like the take-no-for-an-answer, kinda guy.

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