“I’ll reshuffle my schedule.”Boy, will I ever.“I’d love to.I’m just glad I was here to help.That guy looked like he meant business.”You have no idea how close you were to losing your daughter, Major.No idea.And I’m the luckiest sonuvabitch on Earth.This was a godsend.Jesus God, I wish I could touch her—her arm, maybe, or just her hand.
Rowan handed over a slip of paper with her familiar clear, firm writing.“Can we at least exchange numbers?”she asked shyly, shaking her long hair back.“I just feel so—I’m sorry.It’s not every day I get grabbed in a parking lot.”
“If I give you my number, will you promise to call?”He was already digging in his own messenger bag for a piece of paper and a pen.Metal shifted inside the bag.What would she do if I pulled out a grenade or a scanner?I can’t believe I’m trying to flirt with her.This is so fucking wrong.
“Dad.”She appealed to the Major, but his eyes were twinkling.He looked proud.
“Take the man’s number, Rowan.”He folded his arms, and Rowan sighed.The sigh made her mouth turn down and turned her into a pensively pretty woman.
Delgado wrote his cell phone number down on a handy slip of blank white paper, using the pen that had a tiny digital camera concealed in the shaft.“Call me if you need anything.Anything at all.I’m sorry it had to be this way, but I’m glad to meet you, Miss Price.”
She nodded, accepting the paper and rubbing at her arm as if it ached.Did he bruise her?This was sloppy, even for a Sigma.He scanned the parking lot—nothing but Zeke in the blue van.Zeke would be jamming signals, taping, and erasing the store’s security footage, if it was possible.If it wasn’t, Del would go in and take care of it.Later.
“Likewise,” she said, with a polite smile.“Thank you.”Now she looked directly into his eyes, and his entire body tingled again.What the hell is going on?I just gave a civilian a private Society drop-number.Jesus Christ, what am I DOING?“I think you really might have saved my life.Who knows what that guy wanted?”
Delgado found himself nodding.“I’m glad I was here to help,” he repeated, and watched as she took her father’s arm.
“Come on, Dad,” she said.“Let’s get you into the car before you freeze to death.Nice to meet you, Justin.”
Delgado froze.I didn’t tell her.I couldn’t have told her.Oh, my God.
Neither of them noticed.He took a deep breath.Goddamn, he thought.Goddamn, she’s dangerous.“Nice to meet you too, Rowan,” he said, and watched her help her father into the car.He watched until she was safely in the silver station wagon and had backed out.She waved through her window before she pulled away.
As soon as she was out of sight, he crossed the parking lot and clambered into the blue van.“What the hell—” Zeke started.
“I’ve got an invitation to dinner at the Price residence tonight,” Delgado answered shortly.“Get Henderson on the wire, Zeke.Sigma just tried to grab our girl.And since I just blew my cover, they’re going to be back in droves soon.We need a workable plan, and I need some strategy help.”He looked out the front window at the parking lot, still eerily calm.“And we’ve got another problem, too.I think I really like her.”
CHAPTERNINE
Rowan’s hands shook.She pulled into the garage, almost clipping the mirror off the driver’s side.Sudden darkness filled the car, startling after the winter sunlight outside.“I’m glad we got the shopping done,” she said unsteadily.It was the first either of them had spoken.
“Rowan?”Her father sounded worried.“Sweetheart, are you okay?”
“I’m not okay, Dad.I just got attacked in the parking lot, and I can’t even go to the police because I didn’t get the license number and someone might find out what kind of a freak I am and?—”
Her father laid his fingers on her wrist.Rowan shut her eyes.His familiar mental aura wrapped around her like a cloud of aftershave and boot polish, an astringent smell she remembered from childhood.Her head hurt; she drowned in the wash of her father’s worry and attention.
“I didn’t say not to call the police because ofyou, Rowan.”Her father sighed.“Sweetheart, you’re shaking.”
“I can’t believe you invited him over for dinner,” she mumbled, taking a deep breath.Of course her father didn’t think she was a freak.He was supportive of and enchanted by her freakish talents.She’d always been his little princess.
But he wasn’t acting like himself.And that man—Delgado…
“Well, he’s military,” he said, as if that explained everything.
Thatwasn’t like her practical, suspicious Daddy.
“How do you know?”She finally opened her eyes and looked at him.“And why should that matter?We should have called the police.If that man tries to kidnap someone else?—”
“They won’t come back to the Shop’N’Save,” her father replied, with maddening illogic.“And we military brats can always tell each other.He was almost in parade rest, Ro.”
I think I’m going to throw up.I’m in shock.“I don’t feel so good, Dad.I think I want to go lie down.Let’s get the groceries inside.”
“I invited him to dinner because he stopped that man from dragging you off,” he said.“I couldn’t get there in time.I’m an old man, princess, and I couldn’t help you.Hecould—and did.He looks like a very nice boy.”
“Fine.I’m sorry, Dad.I just want to lie down.My arm hurts and I think I’m going to throw up.”
“I’ll get the groceries inside,” he said promptly.Rowan cut the engine and pressed a button on the garage-door opener.Darkness fell inch by inch, until the glow of the garage lamp was the only light.
