Secret Obsession (Carder Texas Connections #6)(27)

The corners of Noah’s lips lifted. “Oh, yeah. You ever get tired of it?”

Rafe closed his eyes, regret clear on his expression. Rafe let very few see beneath his mask. He and Noah were kindred spirits that way.

“I paid the price. You just go on. It’s all you can do.”

Noah glanced at the room where he’d left Lyssa. His arms itched to hold her, to do way more than that, but giving in to wants and needs almost never turned out well. “She’s thinking about running again. To protect us.”

“You gotta love that about her.”

Noah narrowed his gaze. “You like her?”

“What’s not to like?” Rafe said. “She’s determined, gorgeous and knows how to use a gun. Zane’s got a crush on her. I’ve half fallen for her, too. My kind of girl.”

Noah glared at him. Rafe raised his hands. “And taken. I got that.”

“She’s in love with a dead man,” Noah said quietly. “She wears his ring around her neck.”

“A dead man can’t hold her in his arms. You have a distinct advantage, my friend.”

“Not possible.” Noah crossed the room and opened one of the files, deliberately changing the subject. “Archimedes has the upper hand. He’s got eyes and ears at Justice.”

“You know what we have to do,” Rafe said, fiddling with his patch.

“Yeah.” Noah’s jaw throbbed. “Make her vulnerable. We’re doing exactly what she wanted in the first place and more. It ticks me off.”

“Want Zane to start dropping bread crumbs?”

Noah closed his eyes. “I want to encase her in bubble wrap and put her in the middle of Antarctica.”

“Have you figured out what she’s hiding yet?” Rafe asked.

“No. But whatever it is, Reid knew. And they’ve both taken a lot of risks to hide it.” Noah studied the closed door. “Let’s hope Archimedes never finds out, because if it’s important to Lyssa, he’ll go after it.”

*

FIRE CRACKLED IN the fireplace, its glow eerie in the completely dark hotel room. The flicker sent shadowy tongues up the wall.

Archimedes—God, he loved the name the press had given him—watched the images play through the large television screen he’d connected through his laptop. He’d replayed it seventy-three times so far.

Alessandra. And that man.

Noah Bradford.

He zoomed in to their clutched hands. He’d memorized every second. The tightening of her fingers on Bradford, her leaning into him.

The man’s eyes following her every movement.

But, more importantly, Alessandra’s blatant desire. She wanted him, too.

This couldn’t be happening.

The stemmed glass shattered in his hand, red wine exploding and splattering onto the floor.

He rose from his chair, ignoring a mess for the first time that he could remember, but Alessandra needed his attention.

She couldn’t be this weak.

He tugged out his tablet and tapped a few keys.

A red dot blinked.

Still in Texas.

Bradford’s plane hadn’t taken off to California. He was still with her.

Archimedes knew the next step. He would have to pay them a visit—make sure Alessandra focused on her destiny, on her journey to become worthy of their life together.

She was his destiny.

He was going to prove it to her.

*

NOAH HADN’T SLEPT all night. He twirled the small screwdriver in his fingers and scowled at the tiny pieces of Archimedes’s camera lying on the table.

Everything about the gadget was generic; nothing could be traced.

“Please, no. Please don’t!”

Lyssa’s screams echoed through the house.

Noah sprung to his feet, palmed his Glock and ran into the hallway. He slammed open Lyssa’s door and rushed into her room.

Her body twisted under a single sheet, her hands in fists, her face damp with perspiration.

He felt Zane and Rafe’s presence behind him. One slight glance showed their guns were drawn and ready.

“Nightmare,” Noah whispered hurrying to her bed. “Close the door.”

They nodded, sympathy in their eyes, and the lock clicked, shutting him in with Lyssa.

He sat on the bed and gathered her into his arms.

Tears streamed down her face. With a gentle touch, he stroked her cheek. “Lyssa, it’s just a dream.”

Her mouth twisted in fury. “I’ll kill you. I won’t let you hurt us!”

Her head shook back and forth against his chest. She punched at Noah, but he held her fast. He bent closer, his voice soft and low. “Shh, honey. It’s not real.”

The trouble was, her nightmares could very well become real.

She whimpered and slowly settled in his arms. Her eyes blinked; she looked up at him. Swiping at her tears, she stared around the room. “What, where—?”

“You called out in your sleep,” he said, pushing her hair back from her face.

She grew pale. “What did I say?”

The vulnerability in her eyes twisted his heart. “You wanted Archimedes dead.”

“That’s true.” She scooted away from Noah, running her hands through her tousled hair. “I’m sorry I woke you.”