The Immortal Hunter(35)

She understood that, but the rule still made her uncomfortable. What did they do to immortals who had more than one child in a hundred years? What did they do with the child? Before she could ask, Justin announced, "I think our rogue has just taken the Dixon Road exit."

"Dixon?" Dani swiveled her head to peer at the screen, alarm bells going off in her head and drowning out any worry about immortal babies. "That's where the airport is."

Decker cursed and unbuckled his seat belt to shift to his knees between the front seats so he could better watch the computer screen. Sure enough, the little black dot had taken the Dixon turnoff.

"He couldn't be thinking to try to catch a flight or something, could he?" Dani asked from beside him, and Decker glanced around to see that she'd unbuckled as well and was moving to join him.

"Get your seat belt back on," he growled, very aware that at the speed Justin was driving, she'd probably be killed if they were in an accident.

Dani ignored him, her eyes locked on the computer screen. "He can't be thinking to take Stephanie on a plane. She has no passport, or-"

"I'm sure he's not," Decker assured her, even though he wasn't at all certain of that himself. Lack of a passport wasn't an issue when you could control the minds of the people asking for it. "Now get back in your seat and put the seat belt on."

"It's hard to see this. It's too small," Dani said, ignoring him again, and glanced to Justin. "Is there a way to make the image bigger?"

"I'll do it," Decker grumbled, not wanting Justin to be distracted. He used the portable's mouse pad to zoom in on the section of map where the black dot was, and then sat back. "There."

"Oh God, he is on the off ramp," Dani said with horror as the image came into focus on a much larger scale. "He has to be going to the airport. If they leave the SUV we have no way to track them."

"Don't panic," Decker ordered, and then pointed to a brown dot that was also on the ramp. "Look, one of our guys isn't far behind him. And Nicholas is probably still on his tail. Besides, I don't think there are flights out at this hour."

"There are flights until half past midnight," Dani said tensely.

Decker glanced at his watch, frowning when he saw that it wasn't even midnight yet. He was a bit surprised it was so early. It felt like a lifetime had passed since he'd realized he couldn't read or control Dani.

"They'll get him, Dani," Justin said. Fortunately, he kept his eyes on the road ahead as he spoke. "We're like Mounties, we get our man. His stopping just means it could all be over and you could have your sister back soon."

Dani didn't respond. Her eyes were glued to the computer screen, watching the little dot as if taking her eyes off might mean it would disappear, taking her sister with it. Decker wanted to tell her to get back in her seat and buckle up again, but knew she would fight him on it. He almost had Justin take control of her and make her do it, but Bricker was driving so fast, Decker didn't want to risk taking his attention away from the road even long enough to perform that small task. So instead he sat silent, his worried gaze shifting between Dani, the screen, and the road ahead to take in the other cars on the highway. It wasn't as busy as it would be during the day, but it was busy enough, and Justin was weaving in and out of traffic at a scary rate.

Decker's gaze slid back to Dani and his gut clenched at the idea of losing her to an accident if one of those cars should suddenly cut them off. It made him shift a little closer to her, and raise one arm behind her back to brace it on Justin's seat. He then moved his other hand in front of his stomach, preparing to grab her and hold on if anything should happen.

Sitting so close to Dani, Decker found himself immediately enveloped in her scent. It was an aroma not dissimilar to strawberries, and rolled over him, sweet and delicious. He'd noticed it earlier while she'd tended his gunshot wound, but had been distracted at the time with both the phone call to Lucian and worry over her noticing something amiss with his wound. He was noticing now, however, and without thinking, he moved in closer, his head turning to allow him to inhale the slightly intoxicating scent more fully. It was like wine, sweet yet pungent, and for some reason, it made him hungry.

"He's turning," Dani said tensely.

Decker started to glance at the screen, but his gaze didn't make it that far. It paused on her profile as she anxiously licked her lips. He found himself watching with fascination as the pink tip of her tongue slid along a mouth that looked incredibly soft and full.

"How close are our guys?" Justin asked, glancing around.

"Keep your eyes on the road," Decker growled, his hunger adding gravel to his voice. His gaze slid reluctantly to the screen and he peered at it closely. The brown dot representing one of their SUVs was now on the ramp. A gray one was still on the 427, but only minutes behind. His gaze slid back to the first two dots and he murmured, "It looks like he's turned into the car park. Our guy isn't far behind."

"I think he's stopped," Dani said with concern.

Decker leaned in and made the image bigger still. "No, he's just going slow."

"Maybe he doesn't realize he's being followed and is looking for parking?" Justin suggested.

Decker grunted. "Our guy's right behind him now and the others are coming off the ramp and catching up."