T E R

hands palms up, noti

nport had received a message from the owner of the cabins, he'd

ep her away had clearly failed, but s

nce they had significantly less to work with: no air support, drones, or missiles. Mini

ng within U.S. borders with no desire to leave, an

t of date," he said since the woman's

ers to wisdom-he knew the depth of one's intelligence. He could tell from one long

the length of his body. "You're lying. You're n

fraud even though TSA at JFK cou

slam the door, but he wedge

flowed so strong through her voice he kne

at if she fell back and cut herself? He couldn't let an innocent woman get hurt, b

location in New York: 100 acres of unoccupied land

entally stabs you or herself,"

his sister was right. A second l

sten, you'll need to subdue her. I don'

I don't have any drugs on me

He didn't want to breach the place if he didn't have to, but could he ta

it out a

me inside on my own, but I'd rather have an invitation." He pressed his ear to the door

ed, and she asked,

e bowed his head as he thought about what to do.

had no intention of leaving because of t

lace to go where she wouldn't find me. But she tracked my

again," she snapped back. "She's right, you k

danger, and if you stay here, y

click of the lock. But this time when the door opened he foun

r day, he'd almost find the sight amusing. He'd bet the petit

ce, hoping to come across as less threate

e about who you are?" "I'm safe." He lifted his

his heart.

s Tahoe parked in the driveway. "Please

said, "Drop her off at the rest stop three klicks e

until the op is over. We can't

r captive it was better than havin

her way, noticing the tremble of her trigger finger. The safet

soft pink flush crept

n her direction, scanning the surroundings behind her, en

rapped a hand around the stock of the gun, tip

held her palms facing him

hen tossed the weapon onto a nearby couch. He didn't need to wipe it d

hat on. I'll grab your bags,

ening to him, thank God. She slid her arms into the

er." He lifted her bags and

strapped in next to him in the Tahoe, and he

sked as they reversed out o

you?" She removed her semi-foggy glasses and rubbed th

rmal?" Jessica, th

t Eva would officially think he was nuts. "

t belie

her glasses back on and dug her fingertips into her denim- clad thighs. Her nails were s

shoulders, no makeup, a straight nose, high cheekbones, pouty lips, and gorgeous

nd she cast him a quick look before

as he drove. He needed to focus, but it was hard with the sweet smell of her perf

he hadn't had time to take a moment to

gorgeous woman on a beach somewhere. That's all it'd be, though-sex. He

n, especially not someone who'd need mor

ice broke through his clouded tho

him wanting to speak the truth-a woman he'd known for all of fifteen minutes? Before he could say anything, Owen's voice was in his ear. "Tw

ures i

the cabin,"

ul not to slide on the snow

trained with concern and her han

breath. "There's be

ve to run that by m

p as he held on to them. "Run into the woods as

yo

started gasping for air. "Listen, some really

back, snatched a phone from inside his jacket, and pressed it between her palm

led back, almost falling ont

me? You're going to die if you

eath in the woods

men who are coming probably won't burn the house because they

d the phone into the

I said, but I'm also telling the tru

ming right at you. The snowfall is slowing them d

so if you hurry, it'll hopefully

goggles he wouldn't be able to see well for much longer.

r two bags from the Tahoe. "Wait! What are you

r

e didn't have time for explanat

s my life!" she screame

e thirty-foot drop on the

ward, pressing her

tion burning the blood in his veins as

he asked, even though she continued to stare over th

lster, which had been tucked out of sight beneath his j

stumbled over the cliff upon noticing h

worry a

ould hear Jessica. "We've lost visua

nna go dark n

e'll rescue her; don't worry

bed Eva's arm, forcefully yanking her in the directio

t want

said gruffly, having reached the edg

like a fierce and dangerous dance wi

esn't

to die, I want

d, and then he turned his back to assess

th me,"

king back at her over h

e I'm t