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"Tell me what happened," said Zach "When the phone cut off last week, I was sure you were dead--sure I’d be too late"

Lexi prayed he couldn’t see the guilty flush she could feel spreading over her face That phone call last week had been one hundred percent theater, designed by the Defenders to get Zach to co hi on her motel room door, the way she disconnected the call It had all been a carefully devised lie to trick Zach into co for her

And it had worked like a char for injury, orto convince himself she was fine

She didn’t knohat toin confusion

"Were you attacked? Did you get hurt?" he asked

Lexi knew he’d have questions, and she had practiced her lie over and over, but with his hands running over her, so war, she could hardly remember the line "No I was in a cheapfor his cheating girlfriend I shouldn’t have called and bothered you, but I was scared"

Zach’s eyes closed in relief for a briefa silent prayer of thanks

"Excuse me," said Gus "I hate to interrupt your little reunion, but this floor isn’t going to mop itself"

"Sorry, sir," said Zach "But Lexi’s--Alex’s--days ofhome with me"

Gus’s eyes narrowed in suspicion "That true?" he asked her "You leaving with this guy?"

Best to just get it over with and get out of here before anyone else could get hurt The longer she put off the inevitable, the worse it would be "Yeah, Gus I’ fro," said Gus "Is he it?"

"No," she lied "I’ll be fine"

Zach still hadn’t let go of her His hand was splayed across her lower back, holding her close to his warreen eyes practically gloith anticipation "Tio, honey"

Honey He always called her that, like he cared about her Like he wasn’t planning on brainwashing her and killing her for her blood

Then again, Lexi figured turnabout was fair play Her trunk was packed with explosives, thanks to the Defenders’ plan Once Zach took her back to the co to detonate all that C-4 and kill every one of the Sentinels she could Including Zach

Chapter 2

Lexi was safe Zach could hardly believe it, even though she stood right there in front of hi He’d nearly collapsed with relief when he’d cleared the bar’s entrance and seen her safe and sound The doorfra, and he stayed there for a full ht of her whole and safe Whatever trouble she was in, whatever he’d heard over the phone last week hadn’t hurt her

He’d found her in time

It took Zach another h control over his e her He couldn’t screw this up He couldn’t scare her away Not again

When he was sure he wouldn’t hurt her with his desperation to get her in his aro to her And now here she was, pressed up against hied

He stroked her arhened her skin He wasn’t sure whether the goose bu to take care of it for her Whatever she wanted, whatever she needed, anything in his power to give would be hers

She felt good under his hands Maybe too good His fingers closed around her slim arms and he had to reain

Zach had planned for this moment for weeks--every day since he’d inning of his salvation He’d gone over their reunion again and again--aup his brain until it was clogged with possibilities In every single one, she’d stayed by his side because that hat he wanted

Based on the way she held herself stiff in his ar to be quite so easy

He’d lost her once She’d run away The bloodht and he couldn’t find her Even though it was supposed to be ied to find a way to hide froain if he wasn’t careful

Zach planned on being really careful

"I brought you so in his back pocket and pulled out a s one- handed, but he wasn’t about to let go of her with his other hand If he had his choice, he’d never stop touching her again

He pulled the delicate gold chain frons glinted off the links, giving it a tacky sparkle

"What is that?" she asked

"A present For you" One that would ain

"I can’t accept it," said Lexi Her dark eyes were locked onto the thing like it was a poisonous snake

"Sure you can I had it s, do you?"