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"You wouldn't have had to kill any of them if it weren't for me"

"This isn't your fault The Sere the ones who decided to start killing people in order to break that code That decision had nothing to do with you You just got caught in the ainst David's body, tucking her head under his chin She felt so right there, curled up against him It took all his willpower to remember that she was only in his lap because she needed comfort--and only comfort

"Is it over now?" she asked "They're all dead, aren't they?"

He was quiet for a long time and could feel the subtle increase in her tension that told him she realized the truth It wasn't over yet

"I don't think there are anyus," he said "But we have, to be careful The Sants that code broken and they won't stop until it is"

"I don't think I can take any more of this" Her voice broke on a sob, but she held back her tears Part of hiuilt and fear She'd cry, fall asleep exhausted and wake up feeling better

David really wanted her to feel better

"You're upset You have a right to be, but you can't let that get in the way offorward You still have a job to do and so do I"

"So, what now? Another safe house?"

"No I have a better idea"

"You know a place where the Swar his chin graze over her hair The stubble on his chin caught her curls, tying theo, they'll find us eventually, but 1 know a place they aren't likely to look"

"Why not?"

"Because it doesn't exist"

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Noelle only wished it didn't exist She eyed the cabin as David pulled the Bronco up near the weathered front door

Rustic would have been a kind euphemism for this place As it was, the cabin was more primitive than she would have hoped for

"What is this place?" she asked, hoping that the sound of good-Lord-please-don't-h in her voice

They'd been on the road for hours and David's ed a s cabin owned by a friend of mine He won't mind if we use it"

Noelle stared at the one-room cabin and detached outhouse within there Things with ood roo her and stifled a chuckle at the look on her face She noticed his a for hours and his weariness was beginning to show on his face He needed to rest, and if this here he could do that, she'd accept it And sleep in the car

"I'll clean it up a bit," he pro you'll see that it's not so bad"

Noelle pulled in a breath for courage and stepped up onto the porch "I'd rather be here than dead I'll give it that"

David grunted his agreerateful or anything," said Noelle "But why this place?"

David started to unload the Bronco "This is Caleb's secret hunting cabin, and I'm sure he won't mind if I use it"

"Who's Caleb?"

David's expression went blank as he shut down against her question "A friend of ether"

Noelle wanted to pull the limpse of the real man when he'd told her about his wife's death That rief and pain and guilt She wanted to do soh she had no idea how to go about doing so like that "Are you still friends?"

"Yeah, but I haven't seen him for two years" His tone was curt, his words clipped

"Then how do you knoon't e in here?"

He stared at her with a cold blue gaze for a moment before some of that ice rin "Because if there's one thing Caleb can't stand, it's turning his back on a woman in trouble

The man has a soft spot a otten hiht spots, but he can't seem to help himself It's a sickness"

"So because I'm a woman in need of a place to hide, he wouldn't care that we're taking over his cabin without his knowledge?"

"Hell, Caleb would hand over the deed to the property if he thought you needed it That's just his way"

Noelle smiled in response to the auy"