My eyes popped open. I laid still as a statue, expanding my senses, trying to determine what had disturbed my slumber. It wasn’t the threat of danger. My internal alarms weren’t ringing. Outside, the wind howled and waves crashed. Rolling off the bed, I crossed to the window and glanced out over the cliffs at the sea.
The storm that had been threatening all evening had finally broken. The rain blew sideways in heavy sheets. Just then, lightning lit up the night sky and a few seconds later, thunder boomed. Good thing I’d stocked up on supplies in town before leaving for the Mate Run. This didn’t look like it would blow over any time soon.
A quick glance at the clock showed it was barely six. Dawn wasn’t for another hour. I yawned and rubbed my jaw. Damn, I was tired. After giving the bed a longing glance, I resigned myself to my fate. Once my brain was alert and functioning, it was rare that I could roll over and go back to sleep.
It was good to be home. Every winter, I took a hiatus. This house was my retreat away from the world. I also had a small residence in town where I stayed when the forty-five-minute drive to return here was inconvenient. Living isolated afforded me the peace and quiet I didn’t get when in close proximity to my clan. Here, the phone didn’t constantly ring. No one showed up unannounced, knocking on the door. There were no disputes to settle or rules to enforce.
Some men were born to lead and thrived on the challenge. Others, like myself, were thrust into the role and took it because there was no one else. I led the clan and in return, the men of the clan gave me the winter to myself. Without these long-anticipated breaks from their petty bullshit, I’d be a homicidal maniac.
Despite our agreement, the clan women continued to push me to mate. They believed without a woman to settle me, one day I’d up and leave, despite this having been my family’s home for generations. Every year, as soon as the leaves changed colors with the fall, the clan mothers began harassing me to select a woman for the winter. The hope being she’d add softness to my stark existence and comfort to my bed during the cold winter months. They simply couldn’t bear the idea of me being up here alone. If they knew about Cherise, they’d be planning a wedding despite my protests to the contrary.
Sighing, I pushed those annoying thoughts to the side. After a quick trip to the bathroom, I dressed in a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt, and shoved my sock covered feet into work boots. Running my fingers through my shaggy brown hair, I glanced in the mirror. My hair tended to curl when it got too long. I was overdue for a haircut, but the mane and growing beard would serve me well during the coming winter months.
The minute I stepped into the hallway, Cherise’s scent hit my nostrils. Despite my wishes, the woman drew me like a lodestone. Sexual attraction was only a small part of it. There was something about her eyes, her stubborn independence, and suspicious nature. I even liked the way she stared at me as if I were a bug to be squashed under her feet. It spoke to me. Sparked my curiosity and challenged me to change her mind.
I wanted to wrap my mantle of protection around her and assure her that as long as I breathed, her enemies wouldn’t get to her. It was crazy. I barely knew the woman. She shouldn’t have this strong of an effect on me. I didn’t like the way she tugged at my heart.
Her bedroom was two doors down from mine. When we’d arrived at the homestead late yesterday afternoon, I’d helped her remove her belongings from the truck and showed her where she’d be sleeping. She’d gone inside, shut the door, and then I’d heard the quiet snick of the lock being engaged. I hadn’t seen or heard anything from her since.
A mixture of lust and concern had me glancing at her bedroom door. Was she still in there? Despite our agreement, had she changed her mind and made a run for it? I took two steps down the hall before reason kicked in. If she’d left, I’d have heard her. There was no doubt in my mind that she slept with her weapons and would go on the offensive the minute her bedroom door opened. My need to see with my own eyes that she was still here wasn’t worth getting a knife in my gullet or a bullet in the head.
In the truck, she’d stacked her belongings around her like a protective wall. She’d placed her gun on top, held her knife in her hand, and watched me the whole time. If I hadn’t been so amused, I’d have been offended. Her eyelids had been so heavy, she’d looked like she’d spent the afternoon smoking weed. Her head had nodded several times, and each time she’d jerk herself awake. It had reminded me of toddlers I’d seen fighting sleep. Her tenacity amazed me. I’d been sure her body would win the battle over her mind, but her determination to remain awake had proven stronger.
The amount of strength it took to walk away from her astonished me. The sooner her situation was resolved and she was out of my house, the better for my sanity. I was already working on the problem. Before leaving New Town, I’d contacted my second in command, Evan. “I’m bringing home a runner. Put the clan on high alert.”
“While the clan can always use more women, are you sure that’s wise?” Evan had asked.
“Cherise is smart, cunning, and looking for a mate. Her father, if he catches her, will sell her to the highest bidder. We have enough men to handle anyone he sends. Once the threat to her is eliminated, I told Cherise I’d help her find a male to settle with,” I said.
“Oh, that’s different. I’ll tell the boys to be on the lookout. You have anyone particular in mind?” Evan asked. His son needed a mate and so far, hadn’t shown an interest in any of the clan’s women.
“Let’s settle the issue with her father first,” I said.
After a few more minutes of conversation, we disconnected. Then I reached out to my most trusted contacts and put my plan in motion. The best way to find a shadow was to make it come to you. Anyone that wanted Cherise would have to come through me to get her, and I’d be waiting for them.
While deep in thought, I’d walked downstairs, through the open plan living room area and the connecting library. I now stood before the door which led to an older section of the house. It was connected by a glass corridor which was used as a summer porch in warmer weather.
I entered the corridor, and the cold slapped me in the face. I could see my breath. I glanced out the windows to the antique mercury thermometer that was almost as old as the historic home. The temp hovered around forty degrees. Any colder and this rain would turn to sleet. I turned the doorknob on the heavy wood door and entered the first floor of the lighthouse.
The bottom floor was an office, containing a wood stove, desk, several bookcases and a comfortable chair situated under a window. A circular staircase hugged the outer brick wall, extending three floors to the top. The second floor, which had previously been a bedroom, contained communications equipment, with the antenna and mini satellite being housed on the third floor. The electrical feedback from the apparatus would drive me crazy if not contained within these thick walls. The beacon of the lighthouse still helped boats navigate their way through the sometimes treacherous ocean.
I climbed the stairs, sat at the desk, and logged in to check my messages. No new information had surfaced from my contacts. I read the report from last night’s run. There were a few bumps in the normally smooth process, but fortunately nothing major had happened.
The woman with the child had been the first bump. As I read the details, I shook my head. That had been a cluster fuck in the making. Whose idea had it been to separate mother and child? No wonder the women had revolted. That had been going too far, even for Jillian.
Jeb was bump number two. Apparently, my friend had circumvented the process and shown up without an invitation. As predicted, he’d gone home with the woman he’d set his sights upon. Jillian was having a meltdown. Apparently, her computer program had selected a different match for Jeb’s woman, and Jillian was determined to see that he got her. She hated being thwarted.
A missing person’s report had been filed for Cherise. I grimaced. Mate Match’s staff probably had men out searching the woods for her, thinking she’d gotten lost. It had happened before. I tapped my fingers on the desk. Should I tell them I had the woman, or should I let them continue to worry? Remembering Jillian’s attitude the last time I’d seen her, I decided against calling the agency. She could use a little humbling. However, there was still the mole in my company to find. Maybe I’d lay a trap and see who fell into it.
I put out a few more feelers, this time searching further west for information about Cherise’s past. Her speech patterns indicated she wasn’t from around here. Neither was she from down south. That only left the Midwest and West coast. From my time in the military, I had connections all over the country. I wasn’t just one of the infected. I was an original.
Along with Jeb and twenty others, I’d been one of the first test subjects to successfully have my DNA remapped by the virus. Our history created a bond between us. One that had stood the test of time, no matter the distance between us.
I spent a good hour talking with friends, explaining what I wanted, and baiting my trap. When finished, the clock read eight, though you couldn’t tell it from the wall of gray outside. The storm hadn’t lessened its intensity.
I headed for the door that led outside, intending to park both vehicles inside of the garage before the weather got too bad. Bone tired, I’d left them in front of the house with the intention to unhitch them later. As soon as I opened the door, frigid air swept inside. I gritted my teeth as sleet lashed my face and body. Damn, this was an ice storm.
Though the lighthouse was closer, I switched course and darted toward the front door. I needed my cold weather gear. Didn’t matter how high my metabolism or tolerance to cold ran, I could still get frostbite if exposed to the elements for too long. My jacket hung right inside the entrance. I’d just grab it and my hat, put the vehicles up, and spend the rest of the day inside.
I bounded up the steps and reached for the doorknob. It swung inward as my fingers brushed the metal, and I came face-to-face with Cherise.
Recovering faster than she, I asked, “Going somewhere?”
Her eyes were wide, and she smelled of panic. She had her backpack slung over one shoulder and her go bag clutched in her fist. She’d dressed for the weather. “I’m leaving.”
I herded her further into the house and shut the door behind me. Rain slicked my hair and soaked my clothing, just from the few minutes I’d been in it. A chill shook my frame. Ignoring my discomfort, I said, “We had a bargain, you and I.”
“That was before,” Cherise muttered.
“Before what?” I asked, wondering what had spooked her. It couldn’t have been me.
She remained mutinously silent.
Sighing, I said, “This is the part where we discuss your reasons for wanting to leave and allow me to assure myself of your safety. You know, like we agreed?”
Cherise bit her lower lip, her expression showing how conflicted she was. This was not a woman used to trusting others. I had to somehow break through her barriers. Knowing trust could be coaxed but it couldn’t be forced, I stepped around her and ventured into the living room.
I heard the door open again and called out, “Your vehicle is still hitched to mine.” A fact that now made me extremely happy. I could feel her hesitation. “By the way, that’s not rain. It’s ice. There’s snow in the forecast. Even if you could get your vehicle free, you’d never make it on those icy roads.”
There was silence as the freezing cold continued blowing into the house. I knelt in front the fireplace and lit the wood that was stacked and ready. The fire was fully blazing before Cherise cursed and shut the door. Leaving her belongings by the door, a clear declaration of her intent to leave as soon as she was able, she came and perched on the edge of the couch.
Turning, I remained crouched by the fire. Its warmth felt good and helped me rapidly thaw out. Also, I knew I needed to give her space. Push too hard and she’d be out the door, ice or not. “Mind telling me what lit a fire under your ass?”
She stared at her hands, clasped in front of her. I waited with the patience of a hunter. Sometimes the best way to get a person to talk was to simply remain silent.
After long minutes, Cherise met my gaze. “Hiram put a bounty on my head. It isn’t safe for me to be here. I need to leave the country.”
“That wasn’t your father’s doing. It was me,” I said.