turned halfway to the sink, then swung at him so hard and so fast, she blindsided him with a punch right to the jaw. It hurt like hell, too.
Her left arm came at him, but he snatched her wrist halfway to his face. “Ow.”
“Let me go, you big oaf.”
“No.” He could feel her trembling with rage.
She pulled as hard as she could. “Let go. I’m not kidding.”
“Not if you’re going to hit me again.”
“Eating ice cream isn’t going to make a damn bit of difference,” she said.
He dropped her hand and walked out of the kitchen. It was everything he could do not to put his fist through the wall.
CHRISTIE WRAPPED HER ARMS around her stomach, nausea making her breathe hard for a moment before she could even look at Boone. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to screw this up.”
“You won’t.”
“How do you know that? I can’t even remember what I’m supposed to say.”
He touched her shoulder, and she jumped. “Christie, look at me.”
She met his gaze, fighting tears, fighting the urge to run until she couldn’t run anymore. She felt terrible about how they’d left things, what she’d said.
“You are the strongest woman I’ve ever met. You’ve faced this thing for months, all on your own. Now we have a plan. A way to get your life back. We’re not going to let this prick take everything from you.” He looked at the front door, then back at her. “This is your home. It’s your right to have your privacy. This man is scum, you understand me? And he might have some sophisticated equipment, but underneath all that, he’s a coward. Nothing more. We can take him. We will take him.”
She took another deep breath, this time letting it out slowly, focusing on Boone’s eyes. She thought about that day at the supermarket, how that clerk had looked at him and turned white with fear. Boone hadn’t even been trying. Then she thought about last night. He might not have the kind of feelings she wanted him to have, but he cared whether she lived or died.
He was a warrior, a fighter, and he was putting all his fierceness and his focus on one thing. All she had to do was trust him. Trust that his plan would work. That Seth and Kate knew exactly what to say and how to act. And she had to trust herself. That was the big if, wasn’t it? Could she come through when it counted most?
“I believe in you,” he said. “I believe in you the way I believed in Nate.”
She sucked in a breath at the sincerity in his eyes, in his words. He meant that. He meant it from the heart, and dammit, she knew Boone Ferguson wasn’t a liar. He’d spent his whole life fighting for the righteous cause, just like Nate. And if he thought she could play this part, maybe she’d better believe him.
“Christie?”
“Okay,” she said. She sat up straight, put her shoulders back. “Let’s lock and load.”
“That’s the ticket.” He looked out the kitchen window one more time. “They’re gonna be here any second. Remember, you’re agreeing to all this because you’re in love. You’re going to be married.”
She nodded, resisting the urge to touch him. He needed to concentrate on the bad guy. Only that.
IT WAS TOO WEIRD, KNOWING the bastard was listening. Watching as Boone opened the door for Seth and Kate.
Christie had watched the tape of the bastard in her bedroom, pouring that horrible syrup all over her bed, and she hadn’t recognize him at all. Not on the first viewing or the fifth. She’d finally given it up, but now she wondered if she’d missed something.
“So what’s the plan?” Boone asked, walking his friends to the living room.
“Look, we tried, but this guy’s just not coming out. There’s really only two options,” Seth said, folding his arms over his chest. “Stay here and hope he makes a mistake, or get the hell out of Dodge.”
“I know what I vote for,” Christie said. “I have no interest in staying here. Not with him peering over my shoulder.” She moved closer to Boone. “Especially not now.” She held out her left hand, showing off the glittering diamond. “We’re going to be married.”
“Congratulations,” Kate said.
“Thanks.” Christie threaded her fingers through Boone’s. “So, will he know? That we’re leaving?”
Seth didn’t answer right away. He looked around the house, then met her gaze. “We got his cameras. And his microphones. He may be watching, however, so you’ll have to be damn careful you’re not followed.”
“We can be packed and out of here in an hour,” Boone said.
“That would be great, except we won’t have your papers until morning.”
Boone cursed. “I don’t want to be here a second longer than we have to.”
“We’ll be back by six,” Seth said, his voice so serious Christie believed him completely. “Be ready to go. Leave everything that could identify you here. If I were you, I’d destroy your address books and reformat your computer. Don’t take pictures or mementos. They’ll only come back to haunt you.”
“You don’t think I’ll be coming back?” she asked.
Seth shrugged. “I don’t know.” He pulled his wallet out of his pocket, and took out a card that he handed to Boone. Christie glanced at it and saw it wasn’t a business card at all, but a note. She couldn’t read it though.
Boone put his arm around her shoulder and led her to the kitchen. Seth and Kate joined them, all in the corner by the fridge. Once there, Seth’s demeanor changed. He winked at Christie and clapped Boone on the back. “That RFID? It only had a half-mile range.”
“Which means he’s been close.”
“Too close. Be careful.”
“You think he’ll come tonight, right?” Christieasked, afraid even here where she knew there were no microphones.
“Yeah, we do.”
“Let’s get out there,” Kate said. “I want to reiterate the wedding thing.”
“Let’s get it over with.” Christie took Boone’s hand and led the group back into camera range.
“Thank you again, you guys,” she said. “It has to be expensive to get new identities.”
“No sweat,” Seth said. “And congratulations again on the wedding.”
“I thought about waiting,” Boone said. “But I’m not taking any more chances with her. No matter what, I want her safe. With me.”
“We won’t give up on finding him,” Seth said.
Boone
