Secret Obsession (Carder Texas Connections #6)(34)

Chapter Eight

The thin air of Denver made it hard to breathe. Archimedes took out his inhaler and wrapped his lips around the mouthpiece for a puff. Within seconds, the invisible clamp around his lungs eased. He glared at the medicine before pocketing it. He hated the telltale weakness. One more reason the kids at school had teased him, made him the fool.

Didn’t matter he’d earned a perfect score on the SAT in math. Or that he’d been accepted to MIT. He still wound up dumped in the garbage bin behind the school. And with his clothes stolen out of his gym-class locker.

The world preyed on the weak. It’s why he’d become strong.

He would have respect. He’d earned it.

The luxury rental car purred and the warmth of the heater circulated around him. He opened his laptop and connected to the internet via a secure satellite connection. A few quick taps on the keyboard and the search result for “Bradford” appeared.

Fools. He hadn’t even had to work for the information.

Five addresses. Paul, Sierra, Mitch and Emily, Chase and Noah.

Archimedes knew exactly where Noah Bradford was. He glanced at the small screen. A red dot blinked at an airport in Texas.

He imagined the uncertainty, and the fear. Archimedes smiled. They had to be wondering when and where the next surprise would hit them.

Soon. Very soon.

Archimedes had left enough clues to know where they were heading next. Exactly where he wanted them to go.

Alessandra had the means to get to Connecticut.

Everything was proceeding precisely as planned.

With one exception.

Archimedes flicked the screen and stared at the still from the video from Lyssa’s apartment. He studied Alessandra’s hand clinging to Noah’s. Archimedes zoomed once more onto her face.

She wanted Noah.

He wanted her.

Archimedes tossed the offending image away. He had to get that man away from Alessandra. Noah Bradford needed to be taught a lesson, and Archimedes knew exactly how.

A few more taps at the computer and he hit the enter key. The executable file did its job. Within minutes, five feeds from traffic cameras displayed on his screen. Live shots in front of the five Bradford residences.

Now all Archimedes had to do was wait.

*

AS IF THE heavens heard Lyssa’s cry, they opened up and small bits of hail pinged off the metal of the SUV. Her devastation tore at Noah’s heart.

She gripped his wet hands and tugged her necklace out of his grasp. “It’s not possible. He can’t be using my ring to find us.”

Knowing what he asked of her, Noah simply held out his hand. “I need it, Lyssa.”

For a moment he wondered if she’d refuse him. Finally, reluctantly, she lifted the chain over her head and handed it to him.

“Let’s get out of this weather,” he said.

Zane and Rafe followed as they all raced into the hangar, the hangar where she’d kissed Noah, where she’d clung to him. Now she looked at him if she wished he would disappear. Noah slammed the door closed behind them. Wet and cold, she wrapped her arms around her shivering body, not once leaning into him for comfort.

Not that he’d expected her to.

Not that he’d hoped she would.

Liar.

Noah gave the ring to Zane. The techie pulled a small magnifying glass from his bag. He studied the diamond then handed the magnifier to Noah. “Take a look.”

Noah peered through the glass. Archimedes was damn brilliant.

Lyssa clutched his arm. “What is it?”

“A microtransmitter attached to the diamond. He definitely used the ring to track you.”

His fingers held the ring that Jack had presented to Lyssa—a piece of jewelry Lyssa clearly still cherished.

“But...it was hidden in the jewelry box. How could Archimedes know I would take it?”

“He knows you love Jack.”

It hurt Noah to say the words. Even though they were true. All he had to do was look at Lyssa to recognize the truth of her feelings.

“We have to get rid of the ring, Lyssa,” Zane said. “Or he’ll follow us.”

“No! That ring is important. I can’t give it up.” Lyssa grabbed the jewelry from Noah, holding it close to her heart. “Please. Find a way for me to keep it.”

Noah winced at her desperate longing. He glanced at Zane. “We can remove the chip without damaging the ring.”

A smile tilted the corner of Zane’s mouth. “I like your devious mind, Falcon. Use it as bait. Yep, I love the idea of putting one over on this guy for a change.” He crossed the room and created a makeshift workbench out of several crates.

Noah pulled out a chair for Lyssa. “This could take a while. And with this weather, we’re not going anywhere.”

“I’ll take first watch,” Rafe said quietly, pulling his hood over his head and stepping out into the weather.

Noah grabbed a small space heater from the corner of the hangar and set it up near Lyssa.

The fan blew warm air toward her. She rubbed her hands and slipped out of her soggy coat, draping it over a wooden crate. Noah did the same before crouching next to her. For a few moments he’d wondered if there was a chance for them...but he should have known better.

He could never live up to Jack’s memory; he would never earn her trust. He might understand that, but he didn’t like it.