She nodded, a little color coming back into her cheeks.“I’m sorry,” she said abruptly.“I know you’re not like them.I’m just tired.”
That made him smile, unfamiliar amusement tilting up the corners of his mouth.“It’s okay.We’re both tired.I’d be surprised if you didn’t distrust me.”
She reached for her door handle, and he grabbed her wrist without thinking.Electricity poured down his spine.“Wait for me,” he said softly.“Okay?”
She shrugged, pulling her wrist free of his fingers.He let her go reluctantly, then opened his own door.Crisp, cold morning air poured into the car.
She did wait for him to come around and open her door.But when she got out, she didn’t look up at him.Instead, she set off for the low stone building that served as the rest area.
Delgado let her go.
He followed her up the slight hill and used the men’s room, then came out and waited for her, leaning against the hood of the car.Metal popped and pinged, cooling.He would have to get gas soon, and coffee, and figure out how to extract himself from the mess of things he’d made with her.
When she finally came out of the women’s restroom, she picked her way down the walkway on the hill with deerlike grace.He’d been right—the dress boots suited her very well.Her pale hair caught fire in the morning light, and she swept it back over her shoulder as she scanned the deserted parking lot, looking worried and exhausted—and incredibly lovely.Delgado’s heart bolted inside his ribs.She saw him, and the sigh of relief she gave was audible even to him
Oh, man.I am in so much trouble.
He was involved.It was the one thing that should have never happened to him—he was too damaged once Sigma finished with him.He shouldn’t have been able to feel a goddamn thing.
But there it was.
“Ready to go?”he asked.“I need to look at the map and figure a few things out.”
She nodded.“I want something to tie my hair back with.”But she smiled at him, too, and that weary grin made something funny happen inside his chest.Not to mention his head.
“I put everything in the trunk,” was his lame reply.“Standard procedure, you know—just carry one bag with you.Makes it easier.”
She nodded, then looked at him expectantly.After a moment, he realized she was patiently waiting for him to open up the trunk so she could find a rubber band or something.“Oh,” he managed.“Sorry.Here.”He peeled himself up from leaning on the hood, and she followed him around to the back.“We’ll be okay, Rowan.I figured out how they’re tracking us, and a few minutes with my kit and some copper wire will fix it.”Shut up, you fool.
“Copper wire?”
“You get a headache when they get close, right?Means they’re probably using a migmeter—a Matheson electronic signature reader linked to a computer chip.It doesn’t work outside of a certain radius, but inside it’s pretty effective—and untraceable unless the subject has telepathic ability.”
She looked down at the suitcases.“Which one has an elastic?”
“Try the blue duffel, it’s got bathroom stuff in it.Anyway, a little copper wire and a little concentration will throw off the?—”
“I don’t want to know,” she said, digging in the blue duffel.“Please.”
He took a deep breath.“I’ve got to teach you something, Rowan.Either we have to get you buttoned down or?—”
“Or what?”She reached up, gathering her hair behind her head.He had to look down at the pavement.
“Or if you wanted, we could sedate you until we get to Headquarters.I don’t want to do that.”
“Sedate me with what?”
“A form of Demerol usually works.”
“Do you have any?”
“Some.”
“Fine.”She made a ponytail with a few quick, efficient movements.“I think I need it; I think I’m in shock.”
“I think you are too.”He closed the trunk with a sharp sound.“Are you sure?”
“Can we get in the car and get this over with?”The dull listless tone was back in her voice.His chest ached.She was hurting too badly to feel any fresh pain.It was a defense mechanism—one he understood and had suffered himself—but it made his guts twist to think of her going through this.
