She accessed the tracking device as she started trotting down the street, then ducked into the alley. It gave her a general location somewhere near the park but had not had time to pinpoint the exact location, dammit. She hadn’t really expected to get lucky. She ducked into an alley and ran toward the brightly lit street at the other end. Stay away from Celia’s and keep running until Kadmus’s men gave up the search.

Run.

Don’t get near Luke until it was safe.

Oh, God, when would it be safe for him?

That bastard, Kadmus. He had meant it when he’d said he’d chop him into pieces. Look what he’d done to Erin.

Watch.

Run.

She darted in and out of alleys and streets for the next ten minutes.

She finally stopped and drew a deep breath. She’d not seen any signs of pursuit, but that didn’t mean that she was free to go back to the house. Give it another ten minutes.

“Or fifteen.”

She whirled to see Cameron walking down the alley toward her.

She could only see him dimly, but his grim expression was not to be mistaken. She braced herself. “Ten should be enough. I haven’t seen any signs of Kadmus’s men.” She moistened her lips. “And I do have on a disguise.”

“Not much of one.” He stopped before her. “That scarf only makes you look more exotic.”

“I considered wearing a wig, but I decided the scarf looked more casual. I think it works.” Why was she standing here talking to him about wigs? she thought impatiently. “Why are you here?”

“Because you’re here,” he said roughly. “And because you didn’t see fit to tell me that you were playing Kadmus alone.”

“It was a recent development. I thought it had potential.” She paused. “I don’t have to ask how you knew about it.”

“It was too dangerous trusting you to be cool and reasonable after last night. I had to know what you were thinking.” He added, “And what you were doing.”

“And you found out. I’m sure you eavesdropped on my conversation with that bastard.” Her lips twisted. “Am I a threat to you, Cameron? Kadmus wants to use me as one, and he’s determined to find my Achilles’ heel. What do you generally do to threats?”

“That wouldn’t apply. It’s not the same.”

“You’d destroy them.”

“It’s not the same,” he repeated.

“No? Then what should I do if Kadmus does get his hands on Luke and wants me to hand you over to him?”

“Do as he said—betray me and save your son.”

“No!” Her eyes widened in stunned horror. She had not expected that answer. “That’s not acceptable either. You’re the Guardian and supposed to be able to solve all this kind of ugliness. What good are you?”

“Good enough to take on Kadmus. So betray me and let me do it. But that won’t happen. I promised you that I’d take care of your son.”

“Kadmus said that your promises aren’t worth a damn.”

“He lied.”

“I know,” she whispered. “I think I know, Cameron.”

“He shook you. He made you afraid,” Cameron said harshly. “I could feel him doing it. I wanted to kill him.”

“So did I.” She smiled with an effort. “I hate being afraid. I can usually control it. But there’s no rhyme or reason about any threat to Luke. I react instinctively.” She straightened her shoulders. “And I can take care of my own son, Cameron. You go take care of yourself. I was hoping against hope that I might be able to zero in on Kadmus’s location, but that didn’t happen. Which means we’ll have to go along with the plan for tomorrow night.” She started to turn away. “Now I’ll go back to Celia’s. I found a roundabout way to get there when I was wandering around waiting for Kadmus’s call that should be safer.” She looked back at him. “I suppose you were tuned in to that, too?”

He didn’t answer.

She shrugged. “It doesn’t matter.”

“Everything matters.” His hand was on her wrist, whirling her to face him. He tore the scarf from her hair and the glasses from her face and tossed them on the ground. Then she was in his arms, pressed against his body, his hand cupping the back of her head against his chest. “When it’s between us.”

Her heart leaped, and she went still. No, don’t touch me. Don’t let it be like last night. She was feeling vulnerable enough right now.

“Shh.” He was rocking her, his face buried against her temple. “I only want to hold you, help you. Don’t fight me.”

She couldn’t fight him. He had never been like this with her. He was showing her the same exquisite tenderness she had seen him show Erin that night at the hot springs. It was like being stroked with velvet, and that tenderness was flowing into her and taking out all the pain.

“If you’d just accept me, I’d never let you be hurt again,” he said thickly.

Just one more minute, then she’d step away from him. “Oh, yes, that would be just fine,” she said unevenly. “No responsibility for what I do or the safety of my son. All I have to do is act like a robot and permit you to run my life.”

“It’s not like that.”

“I think it is. It’s like your damn committee, who are trying to bring peace as they perceive it to the world. They do it by stealing brains and talent and cocooning the chosen to wait for the rest of us to destroy ourselves.” She moved away from him. “Only I wouldn’t be chosen, Cameron. I’d rather be in the trenches trying to keep the bombs from falling and the madmen from inheriting the Earth.”

“So did I at one time.” He didn’t try to touch her again, but she felt as if she could still feel his hands on her, hear his heart beneath her ear. His eyes were glittering, and the tenderness was no longer there. Intensity. Passion. Lust. This was the Cameron of last night, and she could feel her body begin to respond in the same way. He said recklessly, “And screw the committee, I choose you. No one would question me.”

“I’m sure they wouldn’t. You seem to be all-powerful in their eyes.” She turned away and grabbed her scarf and glasses from the ground where he’d thrown them. “Well, I don’t choose you.”

He wasn’t following her as she’d thought he might. He stood watching her as she hurried away from him.

“You will, Catherine,” he called softly. “You will.”

CHAPTER

17

“No sign of her,” Brasden said when Kadmus came in from the balcony of his hotel room. He went over to the coffee table where a map of the city had been placed. “But with the phone trace, we’ve narrowed down these blocks in Chinatown.” He drew a wide circle. “So the chances are that Sullivan and Ling are still in a safe house somewhere in that area.”

“And Cameron may be with them,” Kadmus gazed down at the circle on the map. It looked like such a small area that he felt a sudden surge of savage pleasure.

I’m closing in on you, bitch. Just a few steps more, and I’ll have you.

“I’ve doubled the men we have patrolling Chinatown and made sure all of them have photos. They’ll call if they see them on the streets or get any reports about anyone of their description.”

“Good.” He smiled. “I’ll be happy if they can move the timeline forward. But I’ve got her. It should take only one more phone call to narrow her location down even more.”

“If she’ll take the call.”

“She’ll take it. She’s not as tough as you led me to believe. I could tell that I frightened her with talk of the boy. When she picks up the phone, we’ll start closing in. She’s so scared, she’ll keep the boy with her. Once we have him, she’ll cave.”

“You’re very sure.”

“Because I have a destiny, and I know that she’s not going to be able to stop me.” He could feel the power coursing through him. “None of you will be able to stop me.”

“Unless you decide to betray me,” Brasden said. “But I’m sure you’re not thinking of that any longer.” He turned and moved toward the door. “We’re cooperating so nicely these days.”