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He feared that nothing would ever be enough when it caer he wanted to be with her, like so to walk away froation measures Monroe would subject her to next? Monroe wouldn’t stop until he’d gotten what he wanted out of her

Maybe that was the safest thing for her As long as Lana was silent, she’d be in danger

Caleb released her and watched her get out of the car Her easy glide over the paveh so much, and al he wanted for her was to be happy With hiht had cohtly in his brain, blocking out al other thoughts He wanted to stay with her--to be with her--and not just because he had a job to do or because she was in trouble He wanted her al for hith, al that stubborn sweetness

He knew a lost cause when he saw one, and that’s exactly what this was No ould Lana even consider being with hi more than a tereat, but that was al just a trick of hormones Relationships were based on trust, and Lana didn’t have enough for hi the unwanted thoughts away A few hours of hard labor would help hi as she was safe, there was hope that one day she’d co theto do Happened every day

He’d never knohat false hope felt like until this very moment, and he decided it sucked

"You’re cheerful this reeted Grant Sweat darkened his shirt and ood swift kick in the ass wouldn’t cure,"Caleb a set of tent spikes "Get to work"

Caleb did He lifted and ha and sweat roled off his body The bright sun sank into his black hair,tents and booths, Caleb spotted Lana talking with a few people, and so bels in his head

He broke into a jog, crossing the hard ground quickly, trying to figure out rong There wasn’t any one thing that alarmed him, just this iid, her chin up, and though everyone else in the group shifted froestured with their hands as they spoke, Lana was eerily stil

Caleb didn’t even stop to think what he was doing--he just caroup and puled her away by her hand

When they were far enough away not to be overheard, he bent his head over her, wishing he could see her eyes behind her sunglasses "What’s wrong?"

She sed visibly "Don’t look, but there’s a un on the roof"

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Caleb resisted the urge to glance up Instead, he stepped to the left to shield Lana’s body with his own "Where’s the roof access?"

"Back of the building By the eet the women and Phil inside I’l take care of it"

"What about your o alone"

"Don’t worry I’ve got plenty of backup I won’t do anything stupid"

"I’l cal the police"

"No We’l deal with this our way Sirens ht scare him away"

Lana nodded She puled in a breath, and just like that, al the terrora few feet away, and in a calm, steady voice she announced, "It’s too hot out here Let’s h he was only fifty feet away Grant, being the suy he was, didn’t even bat an eye or let on how odd it was that Caleb was phoning him

"Yeah?" answered Grant

"Sniper Rooftop," whispered Caleb "I’ up"

"You arh"

"I can take him out from down here"

"Once he knoe’ve seen hi to hile you set up your rifle?" asked Caleb "We’re going to do this quietly I want hi I need you to scan for more men He may not be alone, and you know al the best sniper tricks"

"I’et the others to back you up"

Lana and the civilians disappeared behind the doors, and Caleb ignored the wave of relief he felt His adrenaline was puh alert The phone was suddenly too loud, the scent of the grass and asphalt too strong as he

"Make sure no one tips hiet the men behind some conceal us off because he can’t get to his real target"

"I got it covered Stay on the line I’l be right behind you with my eyes open"

Caleb left the phone on and clipped it to his belt The knife he carried wasn’t designed for co , but then he heard a faint scraping sound and smeled hot male sweat

Soe It was hot up here, the sun searing his skin fro off the roof below There were only a couple of places a man could hide, and Caleb headed for the first--the one that had the best view of the carnival area