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"I recognize these," he said, gathering thehis lips

Harley shrugged "Amulets"

He tilted one of the amulets to display the odd symbol etched into the thin metal

"Caine’s cur pack used these to hide from me while they were in Hannibal"

Abruptly, Harley realized that Salvatore’s scent had disappeared Completely and utterly

"Holy shit"

"Here" He pressed an amulet into her hand "Keep it on you"

She absently tucked the amulet into her sports bra, unnerved that Caine had possessed such a powerful tool that he’d never bothered to share with her

But why should she be surprised? Caine had never been subtle in his obsession to keep her fro away from his control

This amulet would have offered her the opportunity to escape without fear

"No wonder Caine keeps so ritted, annoyed that she’d been so easily fooled

"I thought he took theed "Or at least they seeaze studied her with an unwavering intensity "But not you?"

"I’ the flavor of the aze squarely "For any , he leaned forward to brush a possessive kiss across her lips

"Good"

Harley shot upright, frowning at the jolt of pleasure that raced through her

"I don’t need your approval"

Chuckling at her uned her toward the stairs

"Let’s go, sunshine"

With Salvatore’s luck running fro less than a shock when the stairs led to a narrow exit that ell hidden and cur-free

Not that he lingered long enough to appreciate his unexpected stroke of fortune

Keeping a steady pace, Salvatore ignored the fact that St Louis was less than an hour away, along with a strong Were pack that he could call on to protect him Instead, he headed directly north, toward the far o and the damned leeches

Harley’s expression was puzzled as they ran past the fields and dark farmhouses, but for once she kept her opinion of his leadership abilities to herself Or perhaps she simply concluded that Caine wassouth

In either case, Salvatore was relieved not to have to fight with the female In his current state, he wasn’t at all certain he could win

Devoting theleaped at them from the cornfields and thick patches of trees, Salvatore wearily tripped over a fallen log that was hidden by the thick weeds

"Enough," Harley snapped, an odd anger in her voice as he s gaze "We have to find sohtful silence Was she concerned for him?

"There’s a town just beyond the hill"

"A town?" Her brow furrowed "I’ood idea Caine could have spies anywhere, and we don’t exactly blend in"

"Then we’ll be careful not to be seen" Taking her hand, he pulled her through the field and up the gentle swell that overlooked the small town "There"

He could feel Harley’s tension increasing as they neared the outskirts of the sleeping town, reaching a near panicked level as they traveled through the handful of blocks that rip on her hand as he headed straight toward the L-shaped motel that promised cable TV and Internet access