"And I knew you'd jump at any chance to get to Chavez. I wanted to beat you to it." His lips twisted. "We think too much alike. Like Forbes said, the private club."

"Privacy isn't a bad thing," Judd said as he stepped out of the trees. He held out his hand to Elena. "My property, please."

She handed him the rifle. "Sorry. I needed it."

"You could have asked."

"Would you have loaned it to me?"

"No." His hand moved caressingly over the barrel. "I have a very special relationship with this rifle."

"It's a Heckler and Koch PSG1, right? Specially modified?"

"Yes."

"I didn't think you would lend it to me. That's why I didn't ask you."

"Makes sense. But don't do it again or you'll regret it. I don't give second warnings." He turned and strode ahead of them in the direction of their camp.

"He meant it," Galen said. "That rifle has been part of him for a long time."

"I needed a rifle. And I'd do it again. But it didn't do me any good anyway. I was hoping." She shrugged. "It didn't happen. So we might as well pull up stakes and head out. I want to get Barry somewhere safe."

"He won't be safe anywhere now, Elena."

She knew that was true. Now that Chavez was here in the United States, it would be only a matter of time until he found them. "Safer. Do you have any suggestions?"

"He's probably been tipped off about my place in New Orleans. I have an idea of a place that might work for us, but I don't want to involve any of my friends directly, because it's going to get nasty."

"Where are we going?"

"You're going to leave it up to me? Amazing." His tone was faintly sarcastic.

"I'm a stranger in this country."

"You seem to want to do everything else on your own."

She whirled on him. "What do you want me to say? I did what I had to do."

"And you did it alone," he said through his teeth. "You couldn't ask for help. You couldn't ask me to go with you."

"I'm not used to asking for help."

"That's pretty clear. What have I got to do to get through to you?" He grasped her shoulders and shook her. "You are not alone. Do you hear me? Let me help. You're not alone."

He didn't understand. There had been moments since they left the ranch when she'd been too terrified to think. She had been alone too long, and she was afraid to act except in the way experience had taught her.

"Trust me, Elena."

"I trust you."

"Not enough. Not enough to break through that glacier you've had around you since Chavez appeared on the scene."

She stared at him helplessly.

He shook his head and his hands loosened. "Lost cause."

"I'm. sorry."

"Me too. It's going to make everything a hell of a lot harder." He checked his watch. "I have to make a few phone calls and see what I can do about finding a safe haven. I've already set tentative plans in motion in case this happened. There's a small airport near here where we can get a hop to Portland and then a jet from there." His lips twisted. "After all, I have to live up to my reputation as the great provider."

She had hurt him. He was being flip, but the pain was there. She wanted to reach out and comfort him as she did Barry, but she couldn't seem to move. "Thank you. I know it's difficult for-"

"For God's sake, shut up." He drew a deep breath and tried to temper his tone. "We'll let everyone sleep for another hour or two while I make sure we have a place to go."

"You didn't tell me where we're going."

He turned away. "Atlanta."

Chapter 10

Atlanta

The cottage on the lake was rustic but spacious, and the surroundings were absolutely beautiful, Elena thought. The hills and woods and the lake itself were spectacular.

"Hey, come back here."

She turned to see Judd running after Barry as he streaked toward the lake. "Barry!"

"I've got him." Judd scooped Barry up and tucked the giggling child under his arm. "Come on, brat. If you're so set on jumping in the lake, I'll see if I can find something you can wear for a swimsuit. Does he swim, Elena?"

"Like a fish," Dominic said. "I taught him in the creek a short distance from our house."

"Then you'd better come along and keep him in line," Judd said as he set Barry down and started unloading the car.

Judd seemed to be doing a good job, Elena thought. He'd kept Barry cheerful and busy on the long cross-country flight that brought them here. In fact, it surprised her that such a solitary man as Judd had made so much effort to care for Barry.

He looked up and caught her gaze. "I like kids," he said quietly, as if he had read her mind. He took a duffel and grabbed Barry's hand. "Come on, let's get you unpacked."

She turned to Galen. "Whose house is this?"

"Joe Quinn. He and Eve Duncan took their kid to Hawaii for a couple months. They said I could use the house while they were gone. It's secluded, and I thought Barry would like the lake." He picked up the other two suitcases and closed the trunk. "I'm sure you can't wait to scout around and make sure it's safe, hut be back by dinner." He turned toward the house. "I've already contacted David Hughes, who provided the security people I've used before in Atlanta; they'll show up tomorrow morning for you to vet. I wouldn't want you to take one of them down by mistake. Hughes would be most upset. I figure Judd and I can handle the security of the cottage, but we need some good men to patrol the woods and lake. They won't be obtrusive."

"You seem to have thought of everything. Do you have a key to the house?"

"No, but I have a talent." He carried the cases up the steps to the porch, where Barry and Judd were waiting. He tried the door and then knelt before the lock. A few seconds later the door swung open. "Piece of cake. Remind me to tell Quinn that his security sucks." He waved Judd and Barry into the house and then went inside himself.

"Judd is getting along very well with Barry," Dominic said from behind her. "It makes me feel a little useless."

"Don't be silly." She turned to face him. "Judd and Galen are new and different to him. He'll come back to us when the first shine wears off."

"I wasn't complaining. I know it's natural, maybe even healthy. I was just stating a fact. You may not need me any longer. Perhaps I should go home for a while."

"I'll always need you, Dominic." She reached out and grasped his arm. "And there's no home to go back to."

"I could build again. I'm needed there, Elena."

A surge of fear went through her as she realized he was serious. "It's not safe. What if Chavez has a watch on the area?"

"That's not likely."

"I don't want to take the chance. Not with you, Dominic." She stepped closer and laid her head on his chest. She whispered, "I don't know what I'd do without you. You and Barry are my family."

"I'm not going to run out on you yet, and I'm not talking about leaving you permanently. You and Barry mean too much to me." He gently patted her shoulder. "But I had to tell you what I'm thinking. I can't stay where I don't have a purpose, Elena." He pushed her away. "Now, I'm going to go swimming with Judd and Barry. Why don't you come with us?"