“Don’t go funky on me, Del.I need you.Get the fuckoutof there.”
“Not without my subject.”
“Del—”
His entire skin tightened with electricity.There she is.She’s coming downstairs.How can I sense her today, when I couldn’t last night?“Got to go, I’ll call you back.”
Then he hung up on the old man.Sorry about that, General.But no Sig’s going to get his filthy hands on her again.He turned the phone off and looked down at the sleek black plastic.How the hell am I going to do this?
“Hi,” Rowan said.“Dad said you were in here… oh.”She saw the cell phone in his hand.“I’m sorry, I?—”
“No, I’m done,” he said, slipping it back into his pocket.“How are you feeling?”
She looked… well, unearthly.The circles under her eyes remained, but her gaze was clear and unshadowed now.Her pale hair, pulled back into a ponytail, begged to be touched.The flush of sleep was still on her cheeks, and she wore a black V-neck sweater that only made her skin look even more translucent, her collarbones more fragile.
Jeans and pretty bare feet completed the picture, and Delgado almost forgot the Sigma net closing around them.His entire body felt dipped in electric sugar, nerves resounding with her nearness.What is wrong with me?I just went against orders and hung up on Henderson.And what am I going to do?How am I going to get her out of here and to a safehouse?
She muffled a yawn.“Good,” she said.“I wanted to say thanks, you know.For… for saving my life.I didn’t realize until later that… well, anything could have happened.”Evidently nervous, she shifted from foot to foot, her cheeks even more flushed.
Why?Am I having some sort of effect on her?I hope so.
He realized he was staring into her eyes, fascinated.“Anytime.I’m just glad I was there.”God, am I ever glad I was there.If they’d taken you?—
“Are you…” She trailed off, glanced around the room, nervously.“I mean, my dad said he didn’t call the police.He said you were military.”
Several things about Henry’s signaling fell into place.Damn.He’s more observant than I thought, or I bled through with the push.Delgado realized he was moving forward, his hands buzzing and tingling with the need to touch.He stopped himself just in time, six feet away.
“I had no idea he noticed.”Then he could have slapped himself, because something crossed her face.
“You seem really familiar.Are you sure I haven’t—” She trailed off again, comprehension flooding her face.
Oh, no.His hands actually physically hurt, itching and throbbing.
“You were at the Taylor house last night.”Her cheeks drained of all color.“Why are you following me?”
He was about to start talking when two things happened at once.The first thing was a crash and tinkle of broken glass as the teargas canisters were lobbed through the front window.The second event was the sudden death of the lights.
Damn Sigs, coming in under dampers.He was already moving.“Don’t breathe,” he yelled.“Gas!Hold your breath!” He had her by the waist, swinging her around, his body between hers and the window in case they fired.They won’t.They want her alive.How am I going to do this with three civilians?Goddammit, I should have just snatched her myself.
Then he was scrambling, half-dragging her, as she screamed breathlessly.The hallway was utterly dark.He lifted her off her feet and dragged her toward the kitchen.His lungs burned.Clear air there, take a breath, hold it.
Two coughing sounds.Shots fired.Goddammit.Delgado’s pupils expanded to catch any stray gleam of light.Gas drifted through the air, sucking back through the broken window.The back door was open.Cold air kissed his skin.He clamped his hand over Rowan’s mouth.“Stayquiet,” he hissed in her ear.“I’ll take care of you, Rowan, juststay quiet.Please.”
She didn’t respond.If she started to choke on the gas, he would have that to worry about as well.
The kitchen was a shambles.Delgado met the first Sig with a strike to the throat, the man folded down, his larynx crushed.The other man shot again, missed both times.By that time, Delgado cleared leather and popped him twice.The Sig crashed to the floor.Del was dimly aware of the crash as the front door gave.
If it’s a standard Sig team they’re waiting for the points to get her out the front door.They must have identified the dad and the other woman through the window.If it wasn’t for Henderson calling me we might already be caught.They think Rowan’s upstairs.That’ll give me a few seconds to get her out of here.
He looked for Rowan.She had scrambled forward on her knees and was by the butcher-block table, holding her father’s limp body.“No!” She probably thought she was screaming, but the only thing coming out was a choked whisper.
Delgado leaned down.His hand closed around her arm.“Move,” he barked.“Come on, Rowan!You can’t help them now.”
The woman—Hilary—lay crumpled on the floor, her sleek dark head a mess of hamburger.The Major had taken one in the chest and lay unmoving in Rowan’s arms.She shook him, frantically, still making that choked mewling noise that tore at Delgado’s heart.“They’ll be coming down the stairs and sweeping the house next.Comeon, Rowan!”
She looked up, her eyes red and brimming with tears.“What’shappening?”
He hauled her up, trying to be gentle, and remembered she had bare feet.Can’t afford to holster the gun, might have to drop another Sig if they have units waiting on the side.He bent and hefted her over his shoulder.“Sorry, Rowan.”His boots crunched over broken glass.“Goddamn.”
