"I hear them coming. We'll have you out in no time." He started to release her hand.
"No!" She grabbed frantically at the lifeline he was taking away. "Don't go."
"It's not safe for me to-" He stopped and then said, "I'm not going to leave you." His big hand tightened around hers once more. "See, I'm right here and I'm going to stay here. Hold on to me."
That feeling of infinite safety washed over her again. Warmth in the cold. Safety in danger. Light in die darkness.
She would hold on to him.
She would hold on forever.
ONE
"It's too dangerous." Evan's gaze slid away from Ronnie's face. "Eve changed my mind."
"The hell you have." Ronnie Dalton smothered the spark of panic her father's words ignited within her and kept her expression blank. She knew Evan would pounce on any show of weakness on her part as an excuse to abandon the plan. He would respond only to absolute determination. "No way, Evan."
"Falkner's too hot to handle. You'll get us both killed."
"You're not even going to be there. You make the final payoff and then head for the border."
"That doesn't mean they won't come after me if they suspect I was in on it. These terrorists are not ones to fool around with." He frowned. "I don't even know why I let you talk me into this."
"For Lord's sake, we're Falkner's last hope," she said, exasperated. "The discussions have broken down and they'll kill him if we don't get him out of there."
Evan shook his head. "Falkner's too important for them to waste. The Red December would have everyone from the CIA to the Associated Press breathing down their necks."
"They've had them breathing down their necks for over a year and it hasn't bothered them. The Red December are fanatics. Who should know that better than you?"