She took another deep breath, this time letting it out slowly, focusing on Boone’s eyes. She thought about that day at the supermarket, how that clerk had looked at him and turned white with fear. Boone hadn’t even been trying. Then she thought about last night. He might not have the kind of feelings she wanted him to have, but he cared whether she lived or died.
He was a warrior, a fighter, and he was putting all his fierceness and his focus on one thing. All she had to do was trust him. Trust that his plan would work. That Seth and Kate knew exactly what to say and how to act. And she had to trust herself. That was the big if, wasn’t it? Could she come through when it counted most?
“I believe in you,” he said. “I believe in you the way I believed in Nate.”
She sucked in a breath at the sincerity in his eyes, in his words. He meant that. He meant it from the heart, and dammit, she knew Boone Ferguson wasn’t a liar. He’d spent his whole life fighting for the righteous cause, just like Nate. And if he thought she could play this part, maybe she’d better believe him.
“Christie?”
“Okay,” she said. She sat up straight, put her shoulders back. “Let’s lock and load.”
“That’s the ticket.” He looked out the kitchen window one more time. “They’re gonna be here any second. Remember, you’re agreeing to all this because you’re in love. You’re going to be married.”
She nodded, resisting the urge to touch him. He needed to concentrate on the bad guy. Only that.
IT WAS TOO WEIRD, KNOWING the bastard was listening. Watching as Boone opened the door for Seth and Kate.
Christie had watched the tape of the bastard in her bedroom, pouring that horrible syrup all over her bed, and she hadn’t recognize him at all. Not on the first viewing or the fifth. She’d finally given it up, but now she wondered if she’d missed something.
“So what’s the plan?” Boone asked, walking his friends to the living room.
“Look, we tried, but this guy’s just not coming out. There’s really only two options,” Seth said, folding his arms over his chest. “Stay here and hope he makes a mistake, or get the hell out of Dodge.”
“I know what I vote for,” Christie said. “I have no interest in staying here. Not with him peering over my shoulder.” She moved closer to Boone. “Especially not now.” She held out her left hand, showing off the glittering diamond. “We’re going to be married.”
“Congratulations,” Kate said.
“Thanks.” Christie threaded her fingers through Boone’s. “So, will he know? That we’re leaving?”
Seth didn’t answer right away. He looked around the house, then met her gaze. “We got his cameras. And his microphones. He may be watching, however, so you’ll have to be damn careful you’re not followed.”
“We can be packed and out of here in an hour,” Boone said.
“That would be great, except we won’t have your papers until morning.”
Boone cursed. “I don’t want to be here a second longer than we have to.”
“We’ll be back by six,” Seth said, his voice so serious Christie believed him completely. “Be ready to go. Leave everything that could identify you here. If I were you, I’d destroy your address books and reformat your computer. Don’t take pictures or mementos. They’ll only come back to haunt you.”
“You don’t think I’ll be coming back?” she asked.
Seth shrugged. “I don’t know.” He pulled his wallet out of his pocket, and took out a card that he handed to Boone. Christie glanced at it and saw it wasn’t a business card at all, but a note. She couldn’t read it though.
Boone put his arm around her shoulder and led her to the kitchen. Seth and Kate joined them, all in the corner by the fridge. Once there, Seth’s demeanor changed. He winked at Christie and clapped Boone on the back. “That RFID? It only had a half-mile range.”
“Which means he’s been close.”
“Too close. Be careful.”
“You think he’ll come tonight, right?” Christieasked, afraid even here where she knew there were no microphones.
“Yeah, we do.”
“Let’s get out there,” Kate said. “I want to reiterate the wedding thing.”
“Let’s get it over with.” Christie took Boone’s hand and led the group back into camera range.
“Thank you again, you guys,” she said. “It has to be expensive to get new identities.”
“No sweat,” Seth said. “And congratulations again on the wedding.”
“I thought about waiting,” Boone said. “But I’m not taking any more chances with her. No matter what, I want her safe. With me.”
“We won’t give up on finding him,” Seth said.
Boone pulled her close. “Good. We’ll pack it up and be ready to leave before six.”
Seth held out his hand. “We’ll see you then. Don’t worry about it. By this time tomorrow, you’ll have disappeared.”
They walked to the door, and watched as Seth and Kate got into his truck. The whole thing had lasted twenty minutes, and everyone had played their part to perfection.
When Boone closed the door, he surprised her with a kiss. Not a fake one, either. She knew it was for the camera but she didn’t care. He held her tightly, both tender and anxious, and she forgave him for being a jerk, because who wouldn’t be with everything they had to face? By the time he let her go, she’d even forgiven herself.
“Let’s get packing,” he said.
She wished they really were leaving. That the ring on her finger wasn’t borrowed. And as long as she was wishing, it would be great if her feelings for him were real, and if he truly did care.
BOONE WATCHED HER AS SHE folded clothes, putting them neatly into her large suitcase. She was all business, and she wasn’t even terribly freaked out by being in the bedroom.
She really was remarkably strong. She’d held up better than most men would have, and he wondered again why there were no women allowed in Special Forces. Yeah, they went into dangerous situations, but the women he knew were amazing warriors. Kate had faced things no one should. Kosovo had been as tough as it gets, and all she’d been concerned about was saving lives and making sure justice was served. Not easy when corruption was the order of the day, and no one cared who died in the pursuit of power.
Then Harper and Tam, they’d nearly been killed too many times to think about. Not a whimper out of either of them. They just did what needed to get done efficiently and smartly. He was proud he’d gotten to serve with them, and it pissed him off royally that they were in hiding now, afraid for their lives, living in the shadows, like him.
And if they didn’t catch the geek? He wouldn’t wish his life on anyone, let alone Christie. It was lonely and difficult, and there wasn’t a moment that went by that he wasn’t aware he was hunted.
He’d thought a lot about the geek, and the possibility that he was connected to the Company. Just thinking about that made him angry, and he had to get up from the bed and walk off some steam.
Christie looked at him, but he just paced, waiting for her to get done with her business. Jesus, he wanted to get his hands on that prick. If he was connected, then there was no choice, they’d have to take him out. Then they’d have to find his place and clean it out. All that before going deep underground yet again. A new name, a new place to live.
He wished they could just leave