Ellie struggled to swallow, but couldn’t even work up enough spit to do so. Her heart pounded and her mouth was so dry it felt filled with cotton. The body she was pressed up against was rock hard, massive, and intimidating. Struggling with him would be a futile endeavor, but her every instinct compelled her to try.

Nevertheless, her paltry efforts had gone unrewarded. In return for her abuse, he’d merely tightened his grip.

Was he telling the truth? How could she even know? Did she take a risk on avoiding her shadow on the streets or agree to go with this stranger?

Ellie froze. The noises she’d heard in the hallway outside of her apartment the night before might not have been so innocent after all. Had her apartment been compromised? Had she?

The questions whirled through her brain. Just minutes ago, she had stared in dumbfounded amazement at her computer, more specifically her bank account. Her balance showed zero funds. She knew damned good and well she had several thousand dollars in that account, but it had disappeared.

No doubt about it. She’d been hacked. But by whom? Had someone figured out who she was? The Guardian Knights? Or one of dozens of well-known hackers that commonly cruised the dark web? Even employees of the State Department or major organizations were there. Hackers were always hacking. Coincidence?

No. Her money wouldn’t instantly disappear, and if she could get her hands on her computer, she could get it back. The moment she did, she’d pull it out of the bank. These days, it was safer to keep your cash under your mattress than it was in a bank account.

“Well? Which is it to be?”

The deep voice in her ear repeated the question. Warm breath against the side of her neck caused a tingle to race down her spine. And not a bad tingle at that. Despite her precarious circumstances, she couldn’t help but feel the slightest shiver of desire. The body behind her was well muscled and warm. Offering protection. She’d never considered herself prone to be a damsel in distress, but yet here she was.

Finally, she nodded.

“You better mean it,” he said.

With that, his grip on her mouth loosened. The first thing she did was lick her lips, then she opened her mouth slightly to make sure it would work, her jaw aching. She tried to turn and look up at him, but his grasp on her prevented it. “Who are you?” Her voice came out in a whisper.

“Not important right now,” he replied, equally quiet. “What is important is getting you out of here. To my truck. It’s not far from here.”

Who was he? How many people were following her? Supposedly good guys and bad guys? Why? All questions she would be sure to ask as soon as they made their way out of this dark and smelly alley. Oddly, she didn’t feel nearly so frightened by this man as she had by the one she’d noticed following her, twice already. Coupled with her hacked computer, it didn’t bode well. She was still wary of her supposed rescuer’s intentions, but she allowed him to keep a loose grip around her upper arm as he made his way through the alleyway. His footsteps were so light they made no sound at all, something she tried—and failed—to mimic. Ellie left her guard up, prepared to jerk her arm from the mystery man’s grasp and bolt at the slightest suspicious move on his part.

Her mind racing with unanswered questions, she paused when he did at the end of the alley, carefully glancing up and down the dark streets. Her street. One that no longer felt safe. Not for her. No safe haven, no anonymity.

“It’s about three-quarters of the way down the block. The dark blue F-150. See it?”

She felt his gaze on her and nodded, but didn’t want to look at him, not fully, not just yet.

“I’m going to put my arm around you, like we’re a couple. Don’t fight me, and don’t run. Got it?”

She couldn’t help it. Ellie risked a quick glance. Only half his face was visible in the shadows. Strong profile. A straight nose, strong jawline, and the dark glitter of an eye watching her. She swallowed and nodded.

Casually, as if out on a date, she allowed the man, her rescuer, to drape an arm around her shoulders and snuggle her close against him. Her arm squished uncomfortably between his body and hers, and so she maneuvered it behind him, clasping her fingers around one of his belt loops. She startled when her hand brushed against something hard. A gun. She almost bolted right then and there.

He paused to glance down at her. “I’m not going to hurt you,” he repeated. “And yes, that’s a gun you feel.” No other explanation was offered, no conversation as he appeared to casually stroll down the sidewalk.

You’re a stupid fool, trusting a total stranger like this. For all you know, he’s one of the bad guys.

Nevertheless, and for some odd reason she couldn’t define, she didn’t think so. He’d had ample opportunity to slit her throat or do whatever he wanted with her back in the alley, and no one would’ve been the wiser.

He paused by the vehicle, keyed open the door instead of using a remote, and helped her inside, like she really was his date. She clambered up into the seat. The truck still had that new-car smell. The man eyed her for a moment, and then closed the door, hurrying around the hood toward the driver’s side. It would’ve been a perfect opportunity for her to scramble out the door and run, but she didn’t. Why, she had no idea. Perhaps sitting locked inside a car with someone who hadn’t yet taken the opportunity to kill her was less scary than the complete unknown that was still waiting out there somewhere, hunting her.

He climbed in, locking the doors behind him, then started the truck. Still staying casual, he pulled away from the curb, drove down her street, made a left, then a right, and then drove along the frontage road until he found an onramp to the interstate. They got on it. The dull blue glow of his dash lights cast his face in shadows again, but she saw more of it this time. Even more so when he glanced at her before turning back toward the windshield.

So, her rescuer, her so-called knight in shining armor was pretty good looking, and with a hard body to match. Now for the questions. “Who the hell are you?”

“I’m not sure I’m ready to tell you yet,” he admitted. “My first instinct is to get you away from your apartment. A man got inside last night, was lurking around on your floor.”

So, she’d been right. “And you followed? You’re following me too?”

He glanced at her. “Put on your seatbelt. I don’t need any tickets.”

She sighed with frustration but did as he asked, twisting slightly in the seat so she could keep a better eye on him. He kept both hands on the wheel, paying attention to the speed limit as well as the road.

“Yes,” he finally answered. “I’ve been keeping an eye on you.”

“Why?”

He shrugged. “You’ve managed to catch our attention.”

“Whose attention?”

“The attention of somebody who’s curious about you. And someone else, obviously, who isn’t only curious, but seems intent on perhaps doing you harm.” He glanced sideways at her again. “Then again, hardly unexpected, someone with your hacking skills, right?”

She swallowed. Just how much did this guy know? “So, are you a good guy or a bad guy?”

“I guess that depends on what side of the fence you’re standing on, doesn’t it?”

At his words, her stomach burst into butterflies and a hot flash erupted deep in her belly, causing her pulse to once again accelerate. Ellie tried desperately to tamp down her ever-growing nerves. She began to fidget, glancing around at the darkened streets beyond the freeway as if looking for answers. She tried to gather her thoughts, but her curiosity got the better of her.

“Yes, I’m a hacker,” she admitted. “Now, who are you?”

He surprised her by grinning, casting yet another glance at her. “Who exactly are you, Ellie Jespersen?”

Her heart skipped a beat. He knew her name. Obviously knew where she lived. “Are you responsible for draining my bank account?” His response was a lifted eyebrow and a slight shake of his head. He offered a low chuckle.

“So the hacker’s been hacked. I suppose you would call that one of your job risks, wouldn’t you?”

“Not funny,” she scowled. The truth of the matter hit her hard, like a punch to the gut. No money, not safe back at her apartment, but her computers! She needed to erase the hard drives, to protect her vulnerabilities. But how could she do that with no money or access to her place?

“No, I suppose not. It’s also obvious that your apartment is no longer your safe haven. So, what exactly do you propose to do about that?”

She looked at him as he glanced once again at her. Damn it, why did he have to be handsome? Why did he have to have that wayward lock of hair that draped over his forehead the way it did, the way that made her want to reach out and slide her fingers through it, tucking it back into place? And who the hell was he, anyway? More importantly, why did she feel she could trust him?

Damned if she knew, but she’d always relied on her instincts, and her instincts were telling her that for the moment at least, she was safe.

“My name’s Asher,” he said, his tone low and somber. “And like I said, Ellie, I have no intention of hurting you. But there are some questions I have for you, and it would be in your best interest to answer them.”

Her heart raced at the subtle confrontation and her stomach tightened into a hard knot. Every sense on high alert, she tried to tamp down her fear, her unease, and the niggling sense of growing panic that rolled up her spine. She clasped her hands so tightly together, she felt her fingernails digging into the palms. She had no doubt whatsoever that she hadn’t covered her digital tracks as well as she thought she had. Maybe the Guardian Knights were behind this. Did Asher work for them?

She was almost afraid to ask.

“You’ve been snooping around where you shouldn’t be,” he said suddenly, pulling off the freeway and taking the off-ramp into downtown Boston, driving aimlessly. More lights, more traffic, more people. At least that made her feel a little safer.

He glanced at her, obviously wanting an answer. She merely shrugged. “Maybe.”

“No maybe about it.”

He paused at a stoplight, a nearby street lamp more fully illuminating the interior of the truck cab. For the first time, Ellie got a good look at Asher, and when she did, her heart nearly stopped. She stared, then quickly turned away, not wanting him to see her startled gaze. Something about him looked familiar.

“So what do you plan on doing?”

She sighed. What indeed? “The first thing I need to do is get my hands on a computer. And get my money back. Only then can come up with a plan.” She turned toward him, sucking in a deep breath. “Until then, I guess I’m at your mercy, aren’t I?”