southern towns. It had taken Misha’s best bloodhound two months to find him the first time; if Riley slipped away again, there was no telling how long it’d be until Kolya ferreted him out once more. Too long, probably.

Misha could stall and bullshit and wriggle out of his family obligations for another month, maybe. Two, if he could find or engineer an emergency that would buy him some leeway. Then he’d either have to give in and forget about Riley, or break with his family over a man who was likely to punch him in the face next time they met. He’d rather not let it go that far, especially since there wasn’t really a choice. He was way beyond the point of no return. Misha couldn’t even imagine a future without Riley.

Trouble was, his cowboy had given Kolya a run for his money when he hadn’t known for sure he was being followed, and he certainly would do it again if given half a chance. He’d pull a Keyser Söze and disappear into thin air. Feeling the urgency like the pressure in his lower belly, Misha ground his teeth and forced himself to stay calm, in control. The trail was still hot and Kolya always had a plan B.

“What’s the alternative?” he asked, surprised by the evenness of his own voice. It didn’t match the acid churning in his gut.

“I ditch the car and take the next flight out to El Paso.” Kolya fidgeted at the other end, cursing in Russian under his breath. “Fucking rentals.”

Misha didn’t think about it for long. Kolya’s instincts were usually dead on, so if the man said El Paso was their best bet, El Paso was their best bet.

“Do it,” he ordered. “How long do you figure? Do you need more money?”

“I’m good. I’m already at the airport.” Cocksure bastard. He probably had bought a ticket already as well. “Next flight’s in half an hour,” Kolya added, which pretty much confirmed Misha’s suspicion.

Misha wasn’t about to complain. He didn’t mind Kolya anticipating him occasionally; it was part of what made them such a good team.

“Call me when you get there,” he told Kolya, and ended the call.

He slipped the phone into his pocket and went to finish his business.

The bathroom was as cool and quiet as the rest of the house. Everything felt different without Riley there, empty in a way that made Misha’s heart clench. He’d never understood how perfectly reasonable men could turn into broken wrecks over a pair of pretty eyes when there were so many

more fish in the sea who wouldn’t turn them inside out. Easier to love ’em and leave ’em. All the fun and none of the pain and embarrassment.