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Noelle nodded The fact that he'd said anything at all about Mary was a surprise Somewhere in there, heto share so that close to his heart

"What about other fae the subject "Do you have sisters and brothers?"

David clutched onto the change in topic like a lifeline "One sister and a nephew He's five now," said David with a tender lilt to his voice

"What's his na to see on a hard man's face "David She na a ht blue eyes and deep brown hair

So, but she didn't dare focus on it Instead, she shoved it away and cleared her throat

"You reat kid, though I wish I could see him more often It's been a while"

"Why?"

His expression closed down, becaet near the people I love I worry that there are still men out there ould like to seemy family die one at a time They're only safe if I stay away"

Noelle shivered against the sudden chill of violence his words evoked "That seems like a horrible way to live--

isolated fro you can do?"

He gave her a level look filled with icy calo hunt them down and kill the, but even more, she hated the idea, that soether under extreh she sensed the thinly concealed violence inside hiinning to care for him and it scared her

"Do you knoho these men are? Could you find them even if you wanted to?"

"When I took this job, I gave Monroe a list of na to help me"

Noelle didn't even want to knohat Monroe was going to do to help She was better off not knowing "And after that, will you be able to see your nephew again? Will your life go back to so normal?"

"We'll have to see," he said, but Noelle kneas hiding the truth

"You do want it to go back to normal, don't you? Or do you just expect to die so it won't nored her question, his tone shutting down any chance of more personal Conversation "I've turned on the peri froet you out of here"

He passed the car keys back to her, sliding them across the table so there was no chance their hands would touch

Noelle didn't know if he'd done it on purpose, but she had a feeling that there was little David did that wasn't carefully planned

CHAPTER TEN

Three hours had passed and the Swar to worry that they aiting for hiet a clean shot at her Whether they still wanted to capture her alive or kill her to prevent her fro the code for the US, he couldn't be sure, but neither was going to happen as long as he drew breath

David glanced across the s room to where she lay curled up in an overstuffed recliner Her breathing was even, but he didn't think she was asleep She needed her rest, but after all the adrenaline puh her systeed her And that wasn't an option He needed her coherent enough to run away if it came to that

David prayed it wouldn't He didn't like the idea of her out there on her own

The short combat nap he'd taken had helped clear his head, but it hadn't done a thing to ease the burning grit in his eyes Only a few hours of real sleep would help that and he wasn't going to be getting that anytime soon Not if the Swarm held back out of his reach

Quietly, David went into the kitchen and dialed Monroe

"Is the girl safe?" were the first words out of the colonel's mouth

"Yes, sir"

"Where are you?"

"Location 1734 It looks just like location 1388 You reme Monroe would pick up on the clue and reht before David had left Delta Force He knew the chances of this call being intercepted were high In fact, he was counting on it Monroe had never been to location 1388, but he'd read David's report--the one detailing how he, Grant and Caleb had stayed behind and laid a trap while the rest of their tea back so that they could ambush the Shen the terrorists followed the trail of false information Monroe had laid Every one of the Sho showed up had died that night David planned a repeat perfored on the fact that every word he said to Monroe would eventuallyNoelle If he was lucky, every one of the bastards would coht into his trap

"Those places all look the same, don't they? Smell the same, too," said Monroe "I'll make sure your location is reported to the proper authorities"

Proper authorities,the mole David's eyes closed in relief Monroe understood "Thank you, sir"

"One of the decoys leaving the safe house was followed, so I don'tthink you have to worry about anyone finding you You should be safe there"

Like hell, thought David "Good," he said "She needs to get to work You knohere to find me if you need me"

"I can send some support your way if you like"

"No, sir I don't want to take the chance that the Swarm could follow anyone here and find us I'm not sure how sound the perimeter is, so I don't want to take the chance they could slip through undetected" It was all lies, but David was pretty sure Monroe would know that

"Agreed There should be plenty of provisions at your location to hold out for days"

"Weeks,in for an extended stay while she works"