Deadly Games - Cate Noble [75]
“Gena told me you helped her out this morning. I appreciate it, buddy. She said she was pretty shaken up.”
“It had been raining and her car hydroplaned.”
“Yeah, well, come in and let me buy you a drink,” Harry said. “This is our new favorite place. Gena loves to come here.”
Rocco shook his head. “Thanks, but I’ve got another meeting.”
“That’s code for a hot date,” Harry said to Gena. He stepped back. “And you don’t want to keep a hottie waiting. See you tomorrow. Come on, honey.”
Gena nodded a farewell and fell in beside Harry.
As Rocco watched them leave, he realized he had the answer he’d been seeking.
Gena would never be his. Period.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Morgantown, West Virginia
October 5, 9:45 P.M.
Taz watched Erin sleep. They were still in the car but hidden behind a couple trailers in the back lot of an all-night truck station.
After leaving Springfield last night, they had driven a few hours, but stopped before sunrise. Erin had wanted to continue, denying that she needed rest.
Taz had refused to go farther, not wanting to be on the road during daylight hours when the police were more alert. His will prevailed, of course, and once they were settled, he’d induced her to sleep, which allowed him to rest too.
Now, however, he needed her awake. He wanted to be on the road again. He nudged her shoulder and waited.
Taz knew the moment Erin awakened. Her dreams stopped. Their connection allowed him to voyeuristi-cally watch her dreams.
One moment she was thinking of Hades, imagining herself in his arms, the next she was confused. Taz let the disorientation begin to seep into her consciousness. He felt the lingering kiss Erin’s dream self gave Hades as she reluctantly released her imagined grasp on Hades’ body.
The bond between Hades and this woman amazed Taz. Hades should be dead for daring to risk true love, but instead, he seemed … more alive.
The deep emotional healing Hades experienced with Erin defied logic. And yet Taz felt its truth. How amazing that while Taz’s own memories of love could cripple him, observing another’s didn’t.
Taz’s head started to ache. He urged Erin to open her eyes.
The heat of Hades’ disdain blasted through.
In order to establish an independent bond of his own with Erin, Taz had been forced to temporarily deepen his connection with Hades, the host. Hades wasn’t pleased. If you harm her, I’ll kill you, Hades threatened.The mission will never be complete then.
To keep her safe, stay out of my head, Taz shot back before cutting the connection completely.
From here on, Taz’s skills were going to be tested as he juggled the task of maintaining a link to Erin while simultaneously blocking Hades.
Erin was fully awake now, no more pleased than Hades. She met Taz’s gaze, her recall perfect. “How do you do that? Get inside my head?”
He straightened. Beneath her anger over feeling mentally violated—her term, not his—she was curious both personally and professionally. She wondered how he could read thoughts. If she knew he could manipulate her as well, she’d really be pissed.
“What you’re really asking is how to block it,” Taz said. “Which I can’t tell you.”
“Can’t or won’t?”
“Take your pick.”
“Where are we?”
Taz realized that Erin changed the subject to mask her frustration. While Hades was ready to kill him, she had no wish to see Taz harmed even though he’d abducted her.
Intrigued, Taz probed her sense of compassion. Part of it was her nature, but another part was born of her conviction that she understood Taz. She had talked with Dr. Rufin about him and Hades. About what had been done—
His headache spiked.
Erin leaned forward, concerned. “Are you feeling all right?”
“Peachy. Do you need to use the facilities?”
“Yes.”
Taz climbed out and came around to her door. The restrooms by the truck wash were deserted since it was closed.
“Two minutes, then I’m coming in.” He’d given her the same warning before and she had honored it.
Two minutes later, they headed back to the car. Taz’s headache had worsened and just as he opened her door, a blinding pain took