They stopped behind a large row of reference books. He kept one hand on her side, close enough to catch a hint of his tea tree scent, while he pushed some books down the shelf to peer at the entrance.
“Tavians?” Nora whispered.
Tobin nodded grimly. “Henry detected a signature. Charlotte is erasing our history on the computer.”
That was brave for someone who didn’t seem too concerned about Nora’s wellbeing until recently. “And then what?”
His gaze fell to hers and flashed with an emotion she couldn’t understand. He dropped his hand. “You don’t have to be afraid. I’ll keep you safe.”
She bit the inside of her lip. How would he do that? With the car at least thirty minutes away, they were sitting ducks.
Charlotte rounded the corner. “Done. They won’t be able to access our history.” Her voice was even, but her dark skin seemed drained of color.
Tobin nodded. “Henry, any change?”
Henry shook his head. “No, they haven’t gotten any closer. It’s like they’re waiting along the perimeter of the detectable range.”
Her heart pounded. They were being hunted.
Tobin grabbed one of the grocery bags. “Charlotte, in a minute, you’re going to calmly walk to the front desk and tell them you saw smoke coming from the field next to the library.”
“Like a fire?” Nora asked, then almost bit her tongue. Asking questions the last time the Tavians had gotten close hadn’t gone well.
“Yes. This is Colorado. They don’t mess around when it comes to fire danger.” The patience in his voice surprised her. “Emergency vehicles will be here in full force in a matter of minutes. When you see them, walk out the side door and to the restaurant across the street. Henry, ask the restaurant to use their phone—they should be pretty obliging given the circumstances—and call the car company. Tell them what happened and that you’re now at the restaurant.”
Nora nodded, then frowned. “Wait. Where will you be?”
“I’m going to start a grassfire that can easily be put out,” he replied, eying the door. His features darkened. “And then I’m going to hunt some Tavians.”
No.
She wanted to demand he stay with her, but it wasn’t out of fear for her own safety. She knew he’d keep her safe. This was something more.
I’m worried about him?
“Okay.” He ran a hand through his dark curls then pointed. “Look through that window. When you see smoke, stick to the plan.”
He backed away from her, and her arms ached to reach for him. They couldn’t be more different, but it was there: a desire to be close to him.
She had seen him fight. She had no reason to believe he would be hurt, but this went beyond reason. Deep emotions stirred.
“Tobin,” she called to him, but her mind went blank. What could she say? He could barely stand her a couple of days ago. She should just be thankful he hadn’t left with Amber.
He turned to her, his eyes as cold and intense as they had been at the cabin but softening as they settled on her.
“Be… just try to be careful.”
He took a step toward her. For a split second his arms reached for her but then dropped to his side. “They’re maintaining their distance. It’s likely a surveillance detail. Everything will be okay. I promise.”
Nora dropped her head and nodded. She wanted to believe him, but what if there were more Tavians this time? What if he got hurt? When she lifted her head again, he was gone. She craned her neck one way, then another for any sign of him out the window.
Minutes passed. She inched to the edge of the book case, hoping for a better view out the window. What could be taking so long?
She turned to Charlotte and Henry, whose wide-eyed expressions seemed just as worried as her own. “You don’t think—”
Henry’s hand shot out from his side. “Look.”
Nora spun. Gray wisps of smoke blew by, and she released a breath. Tobin was safe—at least for now. Charlotte’s sure footsteps clicked away behind her.
Just as Tobin had promised, the response was strong and fast. Emergency vehicles of every kind descended on the parking lot and choked off traffic in both directions. Nora led the way through the maze of organized chaos.
“Do you see him?” she asked over her shoulder.
“No, but the Tavian signatures are gone,” Henry replied, staring at the flashing lights on top of a fire truck. Charlotte tripped over a hose. Apparently, they didn’t have emergency responses like this in Nios.
Nora rushed across the street to the restaurant, hoping Tobin was already there, but when she opened the doors and searched the tables, most were empty.
A young server with a high ponytail led them to a table with a full view of the havoc outside. Nora slid into her chair, combing the scene for him. As big as he was, she shouldn’t have had any trouble spotting him, but he was nowhere to be seen.
“And you, ma’am?” a perky voice asked.
“Huh?” Nora pulled her gaze from the window.
“What can I get you to drink?”
Would they be eating here? Tobin had only instructed them to come here; he’d said nothing about a meal.
The server’s smile faded.
Her panic had to have been written all over her face. She cleared her throat, forcing a smile. “I’ll take a strawberry lemonade.”
The server’s smile returned. She nodded and walked away.
Nora continued scanning the scene outside, squinting at every firefighter and police officer that passed. She’d know those broad shoulders and dark curls anywhere, but no Tobin, so far.
A gentle hand laid on top of hers, and she startled at the warm touch. Charlotte’s concerned eyes were fixed on her. “He’s dealt with far worse than this. I’m sure he’ll be here soon.”
Nora pulled her hand away but forced another smile. It still wasn’t the time to argue, and she had a bigger question at the moment. Was her worry for him that obvious? Drumming her fingers on the table, she waited.
The chair next to her scraped against the floor, and Tobin sat down, wearing a blue trucker’s hat pulled low over his face—as if that would disguise him.
She smiled like an idiot before forcing herself to relax. “Did everything go okay?”
Tobin shrugged, a move that emphasized the muscles under his cotton t-shirt, and examined the menu. “They won’t be a problem as long as we can get out of here soon.”
Nora couldn’t take her eyes off the hat. Why would he stop to grab it? Was it some sort of a trophy or something? She squinted at his hairline. Blood seeped down to his ear.
Without a thought, her hand flew to his head. “Are you okay?”
His cheeks flushed as he gently deflected her hand. “I’ll be fine.”
“What happened?”
“Just a minor cut,” he said in a reassuring tone. His chestnut eyes flickered to her—soft and warm, nothing like they’d been before. Her insides melted. “Happens all the time on missions.”
Nora raised her eyebrows. Heart-melting eyes or not, she needed more of an explanation than that.
He cleared his throat. “It’s a long story. I’ll tell you when we’re settled.”
“Speaking of which, I’m pretty sure that’s the car,” Henry said, pointing to a silver sedan pulling into the parking lot.
Tobin laid some cash on the table. “Ready?”
Chapter 15
Hours later and hundreds of miles away, Nora leaned back on the headrest of the passenger seat, waiting. Nothing had changed. They were still running, still trying to hide, but everything felt different.
Her cheeks flushed. The difference sat next to her in the driver’s seat. She glanced at Tobin, whose alert gaze darted around the parking lot.
At the library, he’d promised her that everything would be okay, that he would keep her safe.
And he did.
There wasn’t any question that the day had been filled with surprises: Amber’s warnin
g, the Tavian surveillance detail, the way Tobin ushered her through the library with his hands along her side…
Her cheeks burned anew.
She was being ridiculous. People like Tobin didn’t fall for people like her. He was the football player who belonged with the pretty, popular cheerleader, not the quiet, workaholic nerd. Time had been of the essence; he had done what had been needed to keep her safe.
But it hadn’t felt that way.
She shut her eyes, trying to block the thought before giving up and staring ahead at the resort's grand entrance. After the Interstate Lodge, she’d never thought she’d be excited to be hiding in another hotel room; the sprawling complex had her rethinking that presumption. Nestled in a valley with mountains rising all around it, the resort’s brown-painted wood mixed elegantly with natural stonework.
Tobin shifted next to her. “Remember, the Tavians use automated programs to monitor surveillance cameras. They’ll be scanning for your face or a group matching our descriptions. I’m not sure if they have a physical description for Charlotte and Henry, but they certainly know I’m with you after I killed those Tavians on my property. Keep your head down until you get into the hotel room and stay away from people that look like me. We just need to wait for the right moment.”
Nora tried not to laugh. Those strong shoulders, that smile, the slight golden hue on his cheeks from being out in the sun? She doubted she could find someone that resembled him if she tried.
The blood along his hairline gleamed. The wound must still be bleeding. She bit her lip. He didn’t seem to be as angry as before. “Are you going to tell me what happened?”
Tobin’s gaze remained fixed on the front entrance. “Huh?”
“Your cut. What happened?”
He cleared his throat. “It’s nothing.”
She raised her eyebrows. “It doesn’t look like nothing.”
Tobin’s shoulders sank. It was almost funny to watch a man of his size sulk.
“Did the Tavians—”
“What? No.” His face contorted into a scowl. “Those morons teleported out of there the second they saw me. If they’d been working for me, they would have been put on desk duty for years after a cowardly move like that.”
Clearly, he wasn’t talking about his life in the mountains.
Who were you?
He glanced at her and rolled his eyes. “It’s part of the treaty that when we’re out on mission, we conceal our abilities. Typically, both sides try to blend in with the rest of the world—cars, hotels, clothes, everything—so it didn’t take me long to find them hiding in a car along the perimeter of detectable range, but when they teleported out, I wanted to teach them a lesson about abandoning your resources. I would’ve disabled the car anyway, but I slashed their tires and kicked out their windows, too.” He shook his head. “I’m not even sure how it happened, but some of the glass flew back at my head.”
She smirked. “So it wasn’t the Tavians at all. The car fought back?”
The corners of his mouth twitched upward. “Something like that.”
Then a smile stretched across his face. His shoulders shook with laughter—real laughter.
She pressed her lips together. There was no denying it—she was falling for him—hard.
A large bus passed their car and pulled up to the front door. Tobin pulled himself upright in his seat, focusing on it with wide eyes. “Okay, I think this is your window.”
Passengers disembarked at a snail’s pace and spread out in every direction, crowding the entrance.
“Mix in with this group. Don’t take the elevator by yourself.”
Nora nodded and reached for the door.
“Make sure to keep your head down. Remember, Charlotte said the room was 719. Go straight to the seventh floor.”
He’s worried again.
Her heart fluttered before she could silently scold herself. He might not be angry now, but he had made his feelings about her quite clear when they’d met, and she needed his help if she wanted any chance of surviving this. They’re relationship was already complicated enough without adding her feelings to it.
Smiling, she grabbed the new black baseball cap he had bought her. “I got it.”
“Okay, just be careful.” His eyebrows pulled together.
“This will work,” she reassured him. Truthfully, he couldn’t have kept her from the hotel room much longer. She needed some space from him before she made a fool of herself, and she was dying for a proper shower.
He nodded, but his frown didn’t fade. She gave him one last smile before pulling the baseball cap low over her face and heading to the main entrance, just as he’d instructed. She merged with the group of tourists moving slower than lava through the doors. Families with children, honeymooners, and international tourists speaking a variety of languages had created a chaos of lines and luggage, but she slowly weaved her way around toward the massive fireplace that divided the lobby from the elevators and halls behind it. She crammed into the elevator with a group so large, it would have made Tobin proud.
“Hold the door!” A voice came from outside, and the surrounding people pressed against her. There was barely room for one person, let alone the three people that wedged themselves in. Careful not to lift her head, she glanced at them. Standing with their backs to her were three men with platinum-blond hair.
She had to stop herself from scaling the wall of the elevator and crawling out of the ceiling vent. Her tongue seemed glued to the roof of her mouth, and the elevator was suddenly scorching hot. Every second was an eternity.
At last, the elevator stopped on the second floor, and all three men stepped out. She peered at them from behind the bill of her hat. Dull blue eyes set in round, friendly faces. The man in the front waddled closer to a sign on the wall and adjusted his glasses as he studied it. The two others followed with their large bellies leading the way. They looked more like elves from the North Pole than Tavians. Strolling down the hall out of view, they were completely unaware of Nora’s suspicions.
It’s a good thing I didn’t panic.
When the doors slid open on the seventh floor, she was the only one to step out. The halls were quiet, peaceful, and spared no expense on the upgrades. She had to admit that Charlotte outdid herself with this place. Wood beams and large paintings adorned the walls. Hiding here would definitely not be an imposition.
Charlotte answered the door in a plush white robe, smiling blissfully. Nora stepped in, shaking her head and grinning widely herself. The long room was lined with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the mountains. Drawn to the view, she passed the oversized leather couch and chairs situated in front of a large stone fireplace.
“Welcome to a hideout, Niotian Style. Unlike the Interstate motel, the bed springs aren’t broken, the blankets don’t smell like onions, and the showers have teak-wood floors instead of orange stains. I’ve ordered food. It should be here shortly.” Charlotte bounced on her toes. “I think you’re really going to be pleased with the spread. I’ve worked with this chef before. He’s a culinary genius.”
Nora’s mouth watered.
“Oh, and I took the liberty of ordering you some new clothes. The concierge had some wonderful personal shopper contacts. Size six? I hope that’s acceptable.”
Nora glanced down at her stretched-out cardigan. It was still damp from unsuccessfully trying to clean it at a gas station restroom before they’d gotten here. “You’re kidding, right?”
Charlotte beamed, but the smile fell from her face as she glanced at the door. “Nora, I wanted to apologize for the discussion we had earlier today.”
Nora bristled. She had meant every word she’d said and would stand by it; what they’d done to her was awful, and she didn’t want to help Nios.
“I can see why you would be angry. Just be sure that anger doesn’t extend to Tobin.”
Having braced for more of Charlotte’s idealism, Nora frowned. What did this have to do with Tobin?
Charlo
tte sat on the arm rest of the couch. “He may seem a little rough around the edges, but he fought harder than anyone against your exile. He’s a good man.”
Nora folded her arms. Her memories were gone. The pain from that might never go away, but she already knew Tobin wasn’t the cause of any of it.
That was the problem.
She knew what Tobin wasn’t, but she had no clue who he was. “Charlotte, what was he to me?”
Charlotte’s eyebrows sprang upward, and she pressed her lips into a thin line. “Pardon?”
“How did Henry know to go to him? Why is he protecting me?” Her voice sounded more desperate than she would have hoped, but she couldn’t help it. “Clearly, he was someone I should remember, and it hurts that I can’t.”
Charlotte scanned the ceiling. “I’m not sure I can be the one to tell you that.”
Nora’s cheeks burned. “You took my memories, and now you won’t help me fill in the blanks?”
Her eyes were sincere; they didn’t carry any of the proud pretenses they’d had earlier. “I didn’t mean it that way, but it isn’t for me to say.”
Nora glared. Charlotte knew the truth and had to tell her.
Charlotte shrank from Nora’s attention, fidgeting with a pillow on the couch.
“You have no idea how it feels to know that all my memories are gone,” Nora argued.
“No, I didn’t say all your memories were gone.” Charlotte shook her head without looking at Nora. “We never touch the emotional centers, motor cortex, speech centers. You never forgot how to walk or speak.”
Nora opened her mouth to counter but paused. “Emotional centers?”
Charlotte’s wide-eyed gaze darted to her but returned to the pillow just as quickly. “Yes. We wouldn’t touch those. We don’t know enough about them.”
A spark. Her mind had been dark for days, and finally there was a glimmer. It was dim almost like a loose thread that, if pulled, could reveal more, but it was something. Perhaps her feelings for Tobin made complete sense. Maybe they were remnants of something deeper they hadn’t erased. “So, it’s feasible that if I felt something for someone before, those feelings might remain.”
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