Secret Obsession (Carder Texas Connections #6)(17)

“No,” Lyssa said. “I’m not leaving with you. Two people are dead—and Reid could die—all because of me. I have to do something, and I’m not involving anyone else.” She opened her hand. “Give me the keys to the SUV, Noah. Archimedes won’t follow you. You’ll be safe, but I’m staying. When this is over, I’ll leave the car for you. I’m sure you can find it.”

He gripped the keys in his hand. “Hell, no. You’re not remaining in Chicago while that guy’s still on the loose.”

“I made a mistake. I shouldn’t have called Reid.” She met his gaze with an unwavering one of her own. “I’m doing what I should have done in the first place. I’m going to my apartment and wait with my 12-gauge across my lap and my .45 at my side. He won’t get away again.”

“You try this alone, and he’ll change it up. He’ll attack from behind or poison the air, or God knows what,” Noah argued. “We need to flank him.” He slammed out of the SUV’s front seat and scooted in the back beside her. “We’ve just gotten started. Give us a chance, Lyssa.”

“You’re not going to stuff me in some fortress in the middle of Texas. I can see it on your face, Noah. You want to hide me away. Tell me I’m wrong.”

“The idea has merit,” he said but retreated the moment she glared at him. “Look, we need to regroup. We’ll be analyzing every minuscule piece of information that’s been collected about Archimedes. We’re going to uncover the connection, and we’re going to find a way to trap him.”

“I gave you two chances. Reid’s in the hospital. Chastity is dead. Go back to Texas.”

Noah gritted his teeth. “Rafe, finish the preflight for me.”

His friend said nothing. He exited the vehicle and walked out to the plane. Noah gripped her shoulders. “I’m not letting you do this.”

“You can’t stop me.” She turned her palm up. “Keys.”

He shoved them into his front pocket. She followed the movement with her eyes. The challenge in them scared the hell out of him.

“There’s only one way for this to end,” she said softly. “He wants me. I’m going to give him what he wants. Hand me the keys.”

“I’m not going to convince you to come with us, am I?”

She shook her head. “You did what you could. Tell Reid...if he wakes up, tell him I appreciate what he tried to do. And that I’m sorry.”

“Damn you, Lyssa. You’re going out there to die, aren’t you?”

“I’m not planning on it.” She straightened her back, her chin lifted in determination. “But he’s going to die, Noah. And if I die, too, I’ll have done the right thing. For everyone.”

“I’m not letting that happen.” Before she could say another word, Noah grabbed her by the waist and tugged her out of the SUV so fast she didn’t fight him.

He’d obviously taken her by surprise. Good.

He heaved her up over his shoulder and placed the keys on the driver-side front tire.

The calm lasted for a second or two. She twisted against him, squirming. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Saving your life,” Noah said with a grunt when she kneed him in the gut. “Stop it or I’ll drop you.”

She didn’t obey.

Fighting against the she-cat in his arms, pretty sure she’d bruised some ribs, he climbed up the plane’s steps. Zane’s mouth fell open but he moved aside.

“Let me down, Noah,” Lyssa bit out, “or I’ll call the cops.”

He dumped her into a seat and clicked the seat belt around her. She unlatched it and sprang to her feet. She shoved her hands at his chest, then heaved her body weight at him, shoulder first. He stumbled back and gripped her arms. “Lyssa, calm down. I’m not leaving you. You’re not in this fight alone, do you hear me? You. Are. Not. Alone.”

She shook her head back and forth. “Don’t you get it? You could die. You could all die! And it would be my fault. Again. I won’t let that happen. I can’t.

“I can’t,” she whispered over and over again.

Her fists gripped his shirt hard and he hugged her against him, tight. She tried to push him away, she fought against him, but he wouldn’t let her. Not now. He strengthened his hold, waiting for her struggling to stop. The torment in each movement and groan stripped his heart. He didn’t know how long it took, but finally, her body sagged in exhaustion, her breathing ragged.

With her energy gone, he cradled her in his arms and sat down in one of the leather seats. He ran his hand along her hair. He met Rafe’s gaze over her.

Take off? he mouthed, knowing his friend could do it, also knowing he hated to pilot the plane.

Rafe gave him a curt nod, then motioned to Zane.

They disappeared into the cockpit.

Noah shifted her off of him, and she let him rebuckle her seat belt.

“You shouldn’t do this,” she said to him, her voice flat, her face haunted. “You know how many lives he’s ruined. He’ll ruin yours. I know he will. It’ll be my fault.”

The plane lifted off. He’d never have known the runway was too short. Rafe had quite the touch. Noah took in Lyssa’s nearly ghostlike complexion. He tugged her hands between his. Her fingers were ice-cold and he rubbed them, warming the frigid skin. “It’s not your fault. It’s his. He made the choice.”