But would getting him involved put him in danger? There she went again, weighing other people's lives against her own. But it wasn't just her life on the line now. It was Leslie's life. It was Ana's life.

Nate typed, I'm sorry. I can't.

Marisa sat back and surveyed the small office. Nothing had changed. Her little corner of her little village seemed exactly the same. The people here were at peace, while for Marisa, a storm raged.

Nate had kept her safe before. She wasn't willing to expose herself without knowing he'd be there to keep her safe again. It wasn't just for herself, either. It was for Leslie, too. And Ana. Marisa squeezed her eyes shut and prayed again. When she opened them, she typed, Then I can't meet you, Leslie. I'm sorry.

Chapter 3

NATE FORCED HIS GAZE from Marisa's message to face Leslie.

She hugged herself as if she were trying to keep from flying to pieces, though from fear or something else, he wasn't sure. Her entire body seemed to tremble.

He stood and let her sit in his chair.

"Why does she want me?" he asked.

Leslie sniffed, though he saw no tears in her eyes. "I don't know."

He filtered back through his memory to his conversations with Marisa. She'd only had good things to say about her sister. "What am I missing?"

"I can only guess here, but I assume she thinks you can keep her safe. You did it before."

The laptop dinged with a new message. You guys still there?

He snatched his computer off the table and set it on the kitchen counter. Give me a minute, please.

I know it's a lot to ask, her next message said. I'm scared.

He stared at those last two words before he turned the laptop away, as if that would keep Marisa's words from swaying him. He met Leslie's eyes. "Does she not trust you?

"I don't think it's about trust. You kept her safe before. She didn't believe I could protect her."

"But if you don't tell anybody where you're going—"

"I wouldn't, obviously. But the trick is convincing Marisa she doesn't need you."

He turned to the computer, then to the kitchen counter, strewn with stuff he still needed to pack. True to her word, while they were waiting to hear back from Marisa, Leslie had packed five or six boxes of Nate's books and other items from his office, which was now nearly empty. He was almost ready to leave, to escape to New Hampshire.

Go where he would be safe.

"Nate, what are you thinking?"

"I can't go."

The computer dinged.

I only have about five more minutes on the computer, Marisa said. I won't be able to get back on until tomorrow, if then.

Five minutes to make a decision that could cost him his life. Okay, fine. So he was being a little melodramatic. He hoped. Still.

Leslie looked over his shoulder. "She says—"