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She knew Mac’s history, and if she had a choice, she’d choose her agency to turn the vial over to, not Mac Not a once petty, now probably professional thief

"A virus like that could be worth a fortune" She shuddered to think what so to create cheanizations

The possibilities were endless

"I can’t tell you what I’ bad," he said

"And I’ed "You have no reason to, but yeah, I’d like you to"

The look hadn’t changed at all--street toughness mixed with charm God, it was so sexy, had always served to dissolve her hesitations It had worked so well back then It didn’t now, and that actually hurt He had stolen soerous and destructive Despite their connections to each other and to the past, she couldn’t allow it She grabbed her bag froround and pulled out her cell phone Thank God she’d looped the long strap of her purse around her neck and shoulder or she’d have lost her purse in the scuffle in addition to her gun

"I’m sorry, Mac, but I have to call this in There’s no way I can allow this virus to get out, nonuhtning He was on her in seconds, jerked the phone out of her hand, threw it on the ground and stomped it to pieces She stared dumbstruck at the crumbled remains of her phone, not sure if she wanted to cry or kill hi up inside her, probably both She forced a cal to break down in front of him

"I’m sorry too, babe, but I can’t let youyour boss or the cops, that would spell bad news forher wits about her, she said, "You should have thought about that before you broke into the museum"

"Tell me who your client is"

"I was hired by the ht security

Which obviously sucked since you rinned She shook her head He was proud of his prowess as a thief Frustration ate at her,so ter citizen, a former cop

She followed the rules And Mac had never followed the about him once, to her detriain

"I’, Lily"

"Give me a reason to believe you" This hy she had paused when she saw hi that call Instinct, maybe, but she’d so hi herself and needed so at all that would make her believe in hihed "Yeah, I do I know you’re a thief"

"Okay, you’re right But do you really think I’m the kind of person who’d sell a killer virus to terrorists?"

She didn’t think so But ten years could change a person Had Mac changed that much? "I don’t know"

He reached out and skientle, the action so incongruent with his bad boy ie That’s what always made her insane about him He was unpredictable, never fit into any kind of a mold, part of as attractive about him And she’d always been able to see beyond the surface, past what everyone else had seen of Mac Canfield She’d seen the goodness in him Was that part of him still there?

He hadn’t hurt her, and he could have If he’d changed enough, becoh, he could have shot her, or left her behind to fend off the shooter Instead, he’d grabbed her and taken her with hi hi you see, Lily Things aren’t always as they seehed "Then if there’s a reasonable explanation for what you’re doing, tell me" She wanted to believe hi was souys

"Sometimes you have to rely on faith and your instincts What do your instincts tell you?"

"They didn’t serve o," she muttered, more to herself than to his For ten years ago, for this I can’t change the past and I can’t change you being in the wrong place at the wrong tiot caught in theto have to come with me I know you don’t like it--I don’t like it But I don’t have any other choice"

She paused, herwhat he’d just said

"You can’t mean to kidnapit

"I’ to do with you I hadn’t expected to run into anyone and especially not you, but I sure as hell can’t let you go"

Her frustration returned She couldn’t believe she’d al?

Oh, right She hadn’t been Just like when she’d offered her body like a sacrificial lainity to Mac would soreatest thing in his life

It hadn’t made a damn difference to him He’d taken what she offered and still dumped her She’d been stupid then, just like she’d been stupid a few o in the bathroom

What was it about him that made her IQ drop a hundred points and turned her into a quiveringanywhere with you voluntarily, and I can’t believe you’d stoop to kidnapping"

He tightened the tent ropes and stood, wiping his hands on his jeans before he approached "Look, Lily I wish I could give you answers I’oing to do with the virus and I can’t let you go, so you’re just going to have to ride along"

She was about to start another argu and probably into ‘illegal’ up to his neck But it occurred to her if she ith him it would be a perfect opportunity to bide her tio with hione

And no way could she let that deadly virus get out there in the world And while she was at it, ure out what Mac was really up to If she was clever enough, she could wait until just the right moment, uncover his secrets and steal the virus before he made delivery to…whoain, she’d be bringing Mac dohile doing it, and that wasn’t soure that out later First thing she had to do was cooperate, gain his trust Maybe even ply hiht with their cocksher feive her what she wanted And what she wanted right noas inforency happy Good PR, right?

Okay, sotorch for Mac That much was obvious after the episode in the bathrooainst the wall, the promise in his touch and in his kiss She wanted o Payback tiuard down, she’d be history--along with the virus