Drake went downstairs into the lobby of the Casa Bayou Inn and lifted the morning paper off the clerk's counter. Three days had passed since he'd last seen Sierra, and he longed to see her again, but he had to carry out his plan for their sakes, and this had meant keeping his distance so that William Hunter wouldn't become aware of his keen interest in her.

"Ready to get the hell out of here?" Girard sauntered toward Drake, cheekbones raised from smiling.

Drake dropped ...