Strike Back by Marliss Melton

Author:Marliss Melton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: thriller, military, hacker, terrorists, seal, hack, washington d c, hot target
Publisher: Marliss Melton

Chapter Seven

On Tuesday evening, at ten minutes to seven, Hilary dragged herself out of her apartment for her date with Elias.

“Just get it over with,” she muttered as she locked her door and started for the stairwell. It was obvious she and Elias weren’t going to end up in a relationship—not when her every waking thought was still of Stu. But she had to get over that damn SEAL. That damn sexy, smart SEAL. She sighed. Going out with someone else was the first necessary hurdle. She couldn’t spend the rest of her life pining for a man who didn’t know how to love her.

As her head cleared the third floor, she spotted Elias standing by his door waiting for her to join him. In contrast to the amber sky behind him, he struck her as especially swarthy, dressed in a maroon sweater and black slacks. His compelling gaze jumped up to intercept hers, but the smile she expected from him never came.

“You look great,” he said, taking in the jade green dress and leopard-print heels with an intense regard.

“Thanks,” she said while thinking her shoes sent the wrong message.

“Shall we?” Offering her his arm, he led her out into the parking lot. The burnished sun shimmered behind the branches of the trees in the park across the street.

“Do you mind driving?”

The unexpected question made Hilary blink.

“I’m having an issue with my car,” Elias added, gesturing toward it as he marched them toward her Mini. “I need to take it to my mechanic tomorrow.”

“Uh, okay.” Hilary gave a shrug. “Sure, I can drive.” She caught herself thinking she would have the option of ditching Elias in the middle of their date if she felt like it.

“Great.” He walked her to her car door, holding it while she slipped behind the wheel. Then he rounded the vehicle and got in next to her.

The car seemed to fill with tension.

“Where to?” Hilary asked, turning up the heat as a sudden chill raised goosebumps on her arms.

“It’s a surprise,” Elias said rather shortly. “I’ll give you directions. How’s that?”

“OK.” Hilary forced a laugh, while thinking longingly of her cat and her warm pajamas. Following Elias’s instructions, she pulled away, heading toward the beltway.

“It feels like we’re going to work,” she commented as he guided them in the direction of McLean.

Apart from giving her directions, Elias kept quiet. Hilary cut a curious glance at him. He sat rigidly in her passenger seat, eyes glued to the four-lane highway before them. Where was the easy-going companion she had spent the other day with? How would they get through an entire dinner if he didn’t relax?

“Does my driving make you nervous?” she inquired.

He swallowed visibly. “Well, you do drive a little fast,” he said, causing her to slow her speed and move into the right lane.

“Sorry.”

He said nothing in response to her bid to put him at ease. God help me, Hilary thought, snapping on the radio to ease the tension.

“Take the next exit,” Elias ordered as they came up on the exit she took each day to work.

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