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Noelle sighed and leaned her head back against the seat "I don't rateful for your help, it's just that this whole thing sucks sorin lifted one side of his mouth "I'll second that"

"Iso, then suddenly, everything gets blown to hell I didn't do anything to deserve this, unless you count being stupid enough to pick up a hobby in cryptology"

"Maybe you should consider collecting staet the chance"

He turned his head and gave her his full attention for just a second His glacier blue eyes flared with deteret you through this alive"

His focus went back to the road, leaving Noelle feeling jarred She didn't know David very well, but one thing was for certain--he , quiet htly that she wasn't even sure it happened Heat froers and it was all she could do not to tighten her grip and feel the steely strength of his muscles beneath her palm "Thanks," she whispered

His focus remained on the rutted road "For what?"

"Just for being here"

He shrugged the shoulder she was still touching, re her to move her hand away "It'sup at work today"

The truck slowed and he turned onto a road that was little ravel trail Brush scraped the sides of the Bronco, squealing like nails on a chalkboard

David turned off the headlights and slowed down to keep the wheels on the road as it was plunged into darkness

Noelle tensed, but re vehicle In the distance, she could see a thick clump of trees and inside them, the perpendicular lines of a ht outside the back door, close enough that there was just roo the house

"I' his seat belt and pulling out one of his guns With expert movements, he checked the weapon, clicked the safety off and surveyed the surrounding area "Get behind the wheel, and if you see anyone besides me, drive away as fast as you can" He pulled a cell phone out of his jacket pocket along with a crumpled envelope "Speed dial one and talk to Colonel Monroe and only Monroe He'll tell you where to go"

Noelle took the phone and envelope, clutching the to drive off and leave you here just because I see soirlfriend?"

"It won't be And don't argue with me If you see anyone, assuht made her stomach clench painfully and she tried to shove it aside "And what about you?"

"I can take care of myself"

"I won't leave you here to die"

He reached out and cupped her chin in his hand, forcing her to look at hi as his eyes "This is not about me, Noelle You're the one they're after If you don't stay alive long enough to crack thatjsode, a lot of innocent people are going to die I can't let that happen So, you're going to do exactly what I just said and stop arguing before you get us both killed Do you understand?"

Noelle gave a tiny nod, but it was apparently enough to satisfy David

"Lock the doors behindher

David's focus shifted abruptly to his surroundings He slid out of the car and disappeared around the corner of the house and Noelle scra it so she could reach the pedals if she needed them

She prayed that she wouldn't because she truly wasn't sure if she was strong enough to leave David here to die while she ran away Without his presence, she felt exposed Vulnerable Her hands gripped the steering wheel until her knuckles ached

Minutes slithered by slowly, forcing her to concentrate on re out into a cold sweat as she stared wide-eyed into the darkness

Where the hell was he? Why was this taking so long?

Noelle strained to hear over the sound of the idling engine She even cracked open the , but heard only the wind singing through the nearly bare trees

After what felt like half of forever, David reappeared inside the house, opening the back door for her

Relief swaed her to cru him

He ladly turned off the engine, pocketed the keys and hurried back to David's side, where she felt at least some small measure of safety

David shut and locked the door behind her, casting them into blackness Noelle instinctively reached out toward him, collided with the hard, warm flesh of his arm, and wrapped her hands around it She didn't care that it wasn't proper for her to be groping at hiht there with her

"Easy," he said in a low, quiet voice "I' anywhere"

"Then you won't ave an aht, but you need to make sure you keep the beam away from the s, okay? There are blinds on the s, but if your beah to the outside"

"Got it"

He peeled one of her hands away froers around the sliers showed her where the switch was, and when it was safely pointed toward the floor, he slid the switch on A faint streaht in the relative darkness

David pulled his hands away froot some work to do to et some sleep if you can Use the couch in the next room"