Secret Obsession (Carder Texas Connections #6)(20)

Right now, Archimedes had the advantage.

Noah didn’t anticipate the situation to last long.

“Appears clear,” Rafe said, taking another turn around the block in the suburb north of Fort Worth.

“Agree,” Zane added.

“Go inside,” Noah ordered. “Check it out.”

The SUV pulled up to the house. Zane jumped out and keyed in the code to the garage door. The metal slid up, strangely quiet.

Lyssa slipped her hand beneath her coat. Noah didn’t say a word.

A few minutes later, Zane motioned them forward. Rafe pulled the car into the garage, but Noah didn’t breathe until they were sealed inside the house.

Lyssa finally removed her hand from her .45. “You’ve got me here. Now what?”

Her gaze dared Noah. He knew very well he didn’t have much time. Lyssa was resourceful; she’d find her way back to Chicago if that’s what she really wanted.

“Now we locate Archimedes.” Noah punched in a code in the garage. “I’ve scrambled the garage-door signal. If anyone was watching, they won’t be getting in. He walked directly into the small dining room. “Set up here.”

Zane nodded, tugging his laptop from its case. “I need secure internet.”

Noah glanced over at Lyssa. He could almost feel the nerves shooting through her body. “Want to go out back? I have to hook up a satellite system.”

She gave a sharp nod and followed him onto the porch then into the yard. There was a chill in the air, but not so much that he needed gloves. He positioned the small dish so that it faced the sky and flipped open a case from inside his jacket.

He twisted a few screws and lifted the weather cover. “How are you feeling?”

She scuffed the grass with her shoe. “Embarrassed. Rafe and Zane must think I’m certifiable.”

“Nah. They know you’re exhausted and that you’ve been through hell.” Squatting down, he secured the equipment before pulling out his phone to position the receiver.

Lyssa said nothing. She crossed her arms over her jacket then slipped her hand inside, as if reassuring herself that protection was near. Noah observed her carefully. Even while she spoke, she scanned the backyard, searching for anything out of place. Noah had been in life-threatening situations more often than not since he’d joined the Marines, but there was always an end to the mission. How would it be, month after month, year after year, to never let your guard down?

Walking the twelve-foot concrete wall encasing the rear perimeter of the house, she reached the gate and yanked. It didn’t budge; it was secured shut with a series of large steel bolts.

Finalizing the satellite positioning, he strode to the screen door and cracked it open. “Check out the connection, Zane. We’ll be a few more minutes.”

He studied Lyssa across the yard. She stiffened, her expression one of caution.

“Are you planning to run?” he asked.

She didn’t respond but returned to the gate and tugged at it again. “If he finds us, how do I escape? I’m trapped here.”

Noah joined her. Without hesitation, he flicked open a panel painted to look like concrete. “The code is seven-nine-one-three.” He pressed the numbers. The bolts slid back.

With an easy push, Lyssa swung the heavy gate open and peered into a small carport behind the yard. An escape vehicle waited.

“Gassed and ready to go.” Noah resecured the backyard. “The keys are in a similar hiding place on the backside of the wall. Satisfied?”

Her incredulous expression, then quick nod made his lips quirk. Her body seemed to relax a bit.

“Are you going to use the code and car to leave?”

With a sigh, she rubbed the back of her neck. “I may have lost it on the plane, but what I said was true. You’re in danger. It would be better if you and your friends let me finish this on my own.”

She gazed up at the cloudy sky. “I want it over.”

He could see the emotion welling in her eyes. She’d used up all her reserves.

“I want you safe, Lyssa. You’re not a prisoner, even though part of me would like to lock you up at the North Pole until this psycho is out of your life.” Noah rubbed his hands up and down her arms. “We’re hundreds of miles away from Archimedes. You’ve been battling him solo for too long, Lyssa. Lean on me...on us. We can help.”

She blinked several times in quick succession. “I’ve been alone a long time, Noah. I can’t promise anything. I don’t know how to trust anymore. That ability died with Jack.”

Turning away, she walked back to the house. He cursed himself for listening to Reid and abandoning her to the system back then. When Archimedes had found her in hiding shortly after being placed in WitSec, Noah had hoped he was doing the right thing. What if somehow the killer had broken into Noah’s systems, using him to track Alessandra. He couldn’t chance it.

He’d been wrong. He refused to let her go. Not again. She wouldn’t get rid of him, no matter what she said or did.

He scanned the periphery then followed her inside, locking the doors and setting the external alarm.

Lyssa hovered near the dining room table. “What are those?” she asked, staring at the six-inch-tall group of files at one end.

“The information from WitSec connecting to Archimedes,” Zane answered.