Secret Obsession (Carder Texas Connections #6)(45)

Sure enough, a sophisticated request had just come through. Zane hadn’t been able to trace the originating computer—no surprise there—but they knew Archimedes was following them.

For now, they’d succeeded.

Zane had headed to the UN, Elijah was in D.C. following up on leads, and Noah and Alessandra were alone.

In a motel room.

Spraying water sounded from the bathroom. His gut twisting with trepidation, Noah picked up the new prepaid cell phone and dialed a number.

“Chase Bradford,” his brother said, voice raspy with fatigue and worry.

“It’s Noah.”

“Where the hell have you been?” Chase shouted. “Sierra needs you. We need you. Are you on your way?”

Noah closed his eyes. “Archimedes took Sierra.”

For a long moment, Chase said nothing. “The serial killer? Oh, God, no.” Chase lowered his voice. “Is she...?”

“Listen carefully, Chase. This is about me. Archimedes wants me off the case I’m involved with. He’s using Sierra as leverage.”

“So, when you come home, he’ll let her go?”

Noah gripped the phone hard. “I don’t know.”

His brother didn’t say a word.

“Look, there’s a chance,” Noah said. “He told me she’s alive. If we can find her first—”

“So, when will you get here?” Chase interrupted. “We’ll pick you up. You obviously know this guy’s methods.”

Noah rubbed the back of his neck, the pain eating away at him. “I can’t come home, Chase. Lyssa, the woman I’m protecting, needs me, too. The only way to stop this is to catch Archimedes, and he wants Lyssa.”

“You’re choosing some woman over our sister? Do I even know you? Are you part of this family or not?”

The words cut through his core.

“I’m sending Rafe Vargas. Look for me when the flight lands. He’s in disguise, and Archimedes has to believe it.” Noah rattled off the details. “Treat him like family. He knows as much as I do about Archimedes.”

“Oh, so I just substitute some guy I don’t know for my brother and that makes it okay? Are you out of your mind?”

“The killer promised that if I left Lyssa, he’d tell us where Sierra is. I’m giving him what he wants and hoping I can save Lyssa’s life in the process. She’s lost everything, Chase.”

“You’re playing with Sierra’s life, Noah.”

Noah rose from the bed and paced the floor. “It’ll work. He’s trying to set a trap for Lyssa. I need to be here for her, Chase. I have to.

He had to give them the truth. How was he supposed to choose between his sister and the woman he...damn, the woman he loved.

“Chase, this is what I do. It’s the job I’ve never told you about. And Lyssa, she’s...she’s important to me. I can’t explain more now, but I will. I promise.”

“Noah, it’s Mitch. I hear you. We’ll find her, but Dad’s going out of his mind. We can’t put him off. What do we say?”

“The truth. I’ve learned the hard way that anything less gets you nowhere.”

“Truth, then. What are Sierra’s chances?”

The water from the shower stopped, but Noah didn’t turn around. “I don’t know. I think she’s alive because he wanted me away from Lyssa. As long as we can keep the pretense going, we have a chance.” Noah peered out the motel room window, then closed the curtains. “Sierra’s smart. And resourceful. Check her phone, check anything she might have with her. She’ll signal you if she can.” Noah gripped the phone. “I want to be there,” he said. “Believe that.”

“Come home soon, Noah,” Mitch said. “If the worst happens...we’ll need you.”

His brother hung up. With a low curse, Noah tossed the phone on the bedside table. The motel room was silent. The bathroom door snicked. Noah stiffened then looked over his shoulder.

Lyssa stood just inside the bedroom, hair wet, wearing a large T-shirt that left little to the imagination. Her eyes glistened with emotion. She took two steps toward him and launched herself into his arms. “I’m so sorry. There’s nothing I can say but I’m incredibly sorry I ever involved you.”

Like he’d had a choice. He wrapped his arms around her. God, he needed her. Noah buried his head into her shoulder. He’d tried to keep his emotions under control, but the thought of his baby sister at the hands of that madman...The big brother in him wanted to sob, the Falcon wanted to kill Archimedes with his bare hands, the man in him wanted to forget.

The man won.

He clutched her, lifted his head and fastened his lips to hers. She didn’t whimper or pull away. She held him tight against her.

With a desperation that had been building over days, if not years, Noah’s mouth explored hers, not tentatively, but taking her sweetness with a fierceness he didn’t recognize. He’d imagined his first time loving her gentle and reverent, but he needed more from her.

He needed everything.

He raised his head, his heart racing, his breathing quick and shallow. “If you don’t want this, tell me now, Lyssa. I won’t be able to stop.”

She placed her hands on the sides of his face, her lips already swollen from his kiss. She pressed her mouth to his then didn’t say a word. She simply pulled the T-shirt over her head and dropped it to the floor.