Rules of Protection (Tangled in Texas) (Volume 1) by Alison Bliss Read Free Book Online Page B

replied, grinning. “I’m waiting.”
    “For what?” It wasn’t like my nipples were going to sprout tassels and dance for him.
    “The nervous breakdown you haven’t had yet.”
    “Why would I do that?”
    “You’ve had some rather calm responses to what most people would deem disturbing situations. I thought you’d be crying by now.”
    I put on a brave face, not wanting him to know how scared I really was. “I’m more of a screamer. But if you want to cry, by all means, don’t let me stop you.”
    “Jesus. Always a smartass,” he said, focusing his attention back to the road. “Get some rest. We’ll be on the road for another couple of hours before we get to the airport.”
    “Airport?”
    “A private jet is waiting to take us to a safe, undisclosed location.”
    “Which is where?”
    “You do know what undisclosed means, right?”
    “You’re not going to tell even me ?”
    “Not yet,” he said, shaking his head. “You still have phone calls you need to make to your family. I have a secure line you can—”
    “No.”
    His eyes widened. “You can’t call them later. It’s now or never.”
    “Fine,” I said with a shrug. “Never.”
    He stared at me strangely, not understanding my refusal. “You might want to reconsider and call them. You won’t be able to attend family reunions or even their funerals if someone dies. You need to say good-bye—”
    “I don’t…have anybody to call.”
    He was taken aback by my response, his brows lifting in questioning slants.
    “I buried both of my parents when I was fourteen and don’t have any siblings. I’m alone.”
    “Who did you live with when your parents died?”
    “Foster homes. Lots of them. Nobody wants a smart-mouth teenager. I figured that out quick.”
    “Any other relatives?” he asked.
    “No. Probably some distant cousins somewhere who I don’t know, but no one who would know I’m missing, except Gina and Dale. They’re the closest thing I have to family.”
    “Your friends from the club? Why don’t you call them?”
    I kept my eyes on the window, watching the trees blur past. “I can’t.”
    “Why not?”
    “Because I can’t—no, I won’t—say good-bye to anyone else I care about. I’ve already done it too many times.”
    “Look, it’s your last chance to contact someone from your former life. It doesn’t matter who—family, friends, an old boss, or even an old boyfriend. You won’t be allowed to do it later.”
    I shook my head and, for a moment, there was nothing but silence. He kept looking at me as if I were going to change my mind. “Okay, fine,” he said. “Then you’re officially in federal custody.”
    “Now will you tell me where we’re going?”
    Jake smirked. “Omaha, Nebraska.”
    “What happens when we get there?”
    “There are some rules you’ll have to follow.”
    “Wait. You didn’t say anything about any rules. I hate rules. Too damn restrictive.”
    Jake rolled his eyes at me. “Heaven forbid the feds have rules that could save your life.”
    “Too many rules in life already,” I argued. “Wear sunscreen, buckle your seatbelt, practice safe sex. Nothing good ever came from following rules. Okay, well, except for maybe the ‘practice safe sex’ one.”
    Jake smiled. “It’s simple. You’ll lay low at the safe house under a new identity until we need you to testify. No outside contact of any kind.”
    “And what if my cover is blown?”
    “ You’re the only one who’ll blow your cover. Don’t ever tell anyone your real name. It would be like voluntarily ejecting yourself from the program and would most likely get you killed. You are Emily Foster. Remember that, because one slipup can change everything.”
    “Anything else?”
    “Refrain from doing things you’ve done in the past. Change your routine…in fact, don’t even build one. It’ll keep you alive longer.”
    “You say that like you don’t expect me to live.”
    “Some haven’t,” he said,