Secret Obsession (Carder Texas Connections #6)(44)

Noah’s knuckles whitened. “Maybe.” He motioned to Zane, but the computer tech was already at his laptop furiously typing away.

Lyssa clutched at the phone, but Noah placed his finger on his lips. She wanted to scream and yell, but Noah held on to his emotions with a strength she couldn’t fathom. His eyes had turned icy, though.

“You’re probably a good liar most of the time, Mr. Bradford. You can’t fool me.” Archimedes paused, dragging out every second of torture. “I know you. Your family is your weakness.”

Noah didn’t say a word.

“You have discipline. Well, so do I, but I won’t keep you in suspense. Tell me, Mr. Bradford, did you love your sister?”

Lyssa couldn’t stop the gasp from escaping her mouth. Noah quickly pressed the mute button, but not quick enough.

“Alessandra, my love. At last we speak in person again.” The man’s voice purred through the phone. “I’ve sent you messages. All you have to do is decipher them and you’ll find me.”

“Don’t say a word,” Noah hissed.

Lyssa chewed on her lower lip and nodded.

Noah unmuted the phone. “Where’s Sierra?” he said quietly.

Lyssa could tell he wanted to reach through the phone and strangle the man.

“Oh, she’s not dead yet. You have a chance to save her.”

“What do you want?” Noah bit the words out.

“Simple for a man of your intelligence. All you have to do, Mr. Bradford, is leave Connecticut. Go back to Denver. Once I know you’re in Colorado and away from Alessandra, I’ll contact you with your sister’s location. But let me be clear. Your sister doesn’t have a lot of time left. You should hurry.”

Noah’s expression grew fierce. He looked at Zane. The man shook his head. Keep him talking, he mouthed.

“I need a guarantee,” Noah said. “How do I know—?”

“Don’t insult my intelligence, Mr. Bradford. Your clumsy efforts to trace the signal won’t get you anywhere. And Alessandra, I expect you to behave from now on. Haven’t you learned yet that you will be mine?”

Lyssa couldn’t speak. The man on the phone chuckled. “By the way, you might want to check the location where your friends left the tracking device. I’ve provided you another clue. We will meet soon, Alessandra. I’ll be disappointed if you aren’t smart enough to decipher it. Very disappointed.”

The phone went silent. Noah stared down at Lyssa. She wanted to throw up. All of this was because of her. And she had no idea what to do about it. She backed away from him. “Go, Noah. Go home.”

“I don’t have a choice,” Noah said aloud, then his narrowed gaze met Rafe’s. The man smiled, but his eyes were deadly.

She didn’t know what the look meant, but Rafe immediately walked out of the room. He returned with a suitcase in hand. Lyssa noticed Rafe’s hand subtly signaling Noah.

“I’m sorry, Lyssa. Family comes first.”

She understood, but a chill swept through her. He clasped her hand and met her gaze. He didn’t say a word. She simply nodded.

“He’s won then, hasn’t he? I guess it’s back to plan A. I find him.”

She walked out the back door.

Noah, Rafe and Zane followed. Noah didn’t speak until they reached the vehicle. Rafe scanned the interior. They piled in and Rafe turned to Noah. “He had the place bugged. I didn’t take it out.”

“Did you see a camera?”

Rafe shook his head. “Zane’s better at spotting the electronics, but it wouldn’t surprise me.”

“Zane, get to the UN. Find out what Archimedes has left us. Rafe, in the meantime, you and I are switching places.”

Lyssa stared at them. “What are you talking about?”

“Archimedes isn’t dictating this investigation. Rafe’s going to find Sierra—as me. I’m staying with you and we’ll make this guy regret the day he ever came after you.”

*

THE OUT-OF-THE-WAY motel wasn’t Noah’s normal style, but Rafe...well, Rafe stayed anyplace that no one would expect. His friend had lost so much, Noah got it. Rafe didn’t have a home base or a permanent address—except for CTC.

For now, Noah would behave exactly like his friend. Except he had Lyssa with him.

She hovered by the door while he swept the room for surveillance.

“We’re safe.”

“For the moment,” she said. “Noah—”

He looked over at her, knowing what she saw, the fake beard, the eye patch. He and Rafe had switched places. They’d done it before. With similar sizes and builds the misdirection had come in handy more than once. It hadn’t taken long to get Rafe on the next flight to Denver, looking more like Noah than Noah himself. Clean-shaven, sunglasses to conceal the small patch he’d rigged over his eye.

“We’re here for the night, Lyssa.” Noah sat on the bed. “Why don’t you take a shower. I need to call my family.”

She hesitated for a moment, picked up her duffel and nodded. “I understand.”

She disappeared into the bathroom. Noah rubbed the bridge of his nose. A text came through. From Zane. He’d been using highly illegal means to track unknown queries about Rafe’s flight.