Blink of an Eye (Kendra Michaels #8) - Roy Johansen Page 0,97
every direction. “Delilah, now you have to come out. Don’t be afraid. Come on, honey.”
No response.
“See?” Jessie said. “She’s sitting in the cab of a big rig talking on the phone to the local police. And you’re gonna have some serious ’splainin’ to do.”
Noah turned and rammed the barrel of his assault rifle against Jessie’s throat. “Delilah, show yourself in the next ten seconds or I’ll kill your friend. You’ve always told me that you’ve never had anyone you trusted as you do Jessie. Is that something you want to live with?”
“She isn’t here.” Jessie hoped she was speaking loud enough for Dee to hear. “You’re wasting your time.”
“Five seconds!” Noah yelled. “I’ll have no problem pulling this trigger. You know I never liked Jessie.”
Jessie half smiled. “I’m finding this out now?”
“Stop!” Dee ran from her hiding place and stood in the clearing. “Noah, put down the gun. I’m here.”
He smiled. “Of course you are.”
Jessie’s shoulders slumped. Damn.
Noah lowered the gun barrel from Jessie’s throat. “Come closer. Delilah.”
Dee stepped from the shadows and stopped about ten feet away. “Noah…I didn’t understand. I’ve been thinking about it ever since we ran away and wondering if I hadn’t made a mistake. I didn’t know you felt this way about me.”
“Of course I do. I never stopped loving you, Dee.”
Her voice softened with wonder. “You actually fought the entire world for me? The FBI and everyone else? I feel like Helen of Troy or Cleopatra or some other vamp. And you really built a place for me where no one could ever bother us?”
“Yes. And it’s beautiful, Dee. You’ll love it.”
She smiled. “No one’s ever done anything like that for me before. I know you know how people have always used me. My mother…the record companies…”
“I’ll always take care of you from now on.” He took an impulsive step forward. “Think about what I’ve done for you already.”
“I can see that now. I don’t know any other man who would do what you’ve done to prove how much you care about me. It’s incredible.”
Noah stared at Dee for a long moment, as if trying to size her up. “You should realize by now I don’t do anything halfway.”
Dee laughed and flipped back her red hair. Her gray-green eyes were glittering, and she stood there in the moonlight vibrantly alive and totally desirable. “That’s for sure. It made me remember all the good times we had when we were together.”
Jessie looked between the two. Noah appeared totally bemused; he might actually be buying Dee’s abrupt change of heart. Maybe.
Dee took another step toward him. “That’s why I’m willing to give it a chance, Noah,” she said softly. “I’m willing to give us a chance.”
“Really?” He actually sounded as if he was getting a little choked up.
“Don’t believe her,” Charlotte said. “The girl is lying. She’s trying to make a fool of you.”
“Shut up!” Noah shouted. He stared at Dee for a moment longer. “She’s right, you know. How do I know I can trust you?”
“Let me prove it.”
“How?”
She stepped closer to him. “I’ll go with you, Noah. Willingly. No force. Tonight. Right now.”
“You’ll do that?”
She nodded. “Yes. I just wish I’d known before what you felt for me.”
“I tried to tell you,” he said, frustrated. “I knew we were meant to be together. You wouldn’t listen to me.”
“My life just got crazy, Noah. I couldn’t focus on the things that really mattered. You know how that is, don’t you? Like you said, we’re the same type of people.”
“Yes. I do.”
Charlotte clicked her tongue. “Don’t be an idiot, Noah.”
Noah turned. “I told you to be quiet. I want this. You never understood. I know what I’m doing.” He turned back to Dee. “I’d like to believe you.” He paused. “But I don’t. I’m not a fool, Delilah. This is too fast, and what I did you’d instinctively find horrible. You’d have trouble forgiving me.” He smiled wryly. “Yet I stand here looking at you and I know that someday you will. Because I won’t accept anything else.”
“You’re wrong,” Dee said quickly. “Let me show you.”
He shook his head. “Tempting. But I know that the next thing you’re going to demand is that I let Jessie go. That’s not possible. She’ll tell. She’ll ruin everything.”
“She won’t if I ask her to keep quiet. It would spoil how I feel about you now if you hurt her.” Her voice was soft, pleading. “You’ve convinced me we have a chance for something wonderful. Let her go. Jessie always