But he was too proud. And too ambitious. And he was drawn to her. And he didn’t want her hurt, either—at least, no more than she had already been hurt by those damn kidnappers.

So he hadn’t spoken up. He hadn't insisted on another team member handling the job. And he hadn't taken a different assignment. And now he had left her to turn to her impetuous friend to find a way to escape him.

The town vanished behind him. The dark highway lay ahead, growing darker as clouds crept across the ...