by Sasha Cain
****
Pete tossed Brendan a paintbrush as he loped up to where they’d been working.
“Well, you’re not all bruised and bloody,” he said, “So I’m guessin’ things went well.”
Brendan shrugged. “Yeah, he just chewed me out for leaving my post. I told him I was sick. Apparently I amuse him.”
“I’ve learned the less attention you get around here, the better off you are. Trust me.”
“I’m figuring that out,” Brendan said with a chuckle.
Chapter Sixteen
Maggie sat on the living room floor playing with Lucan. Darrios peeked out at her from the bedroom to make sure she couldn’t see him. He quietly opened his top drawer, reaching into the back of it to retrieve a fabric-wrapped bundle. He unwrapped the fabric to reveal a gleaming, silver knife. The blade was about four inches long, small enough to conceal, but big enough to defend against an attack.
Darrios placed the knife back into its sheath, rewrapped it, and slid it into his boot. Glancing down the hallway toward his wife and son, he stood up and left the room.
Smiling at Maggie, Darrios crouched down to tickle Lucan and kiss him on the forehead. Then he pulled Maggie to her feet. She wrapped her arms around his waist, smiling up at him.
“I gotta go, babe,” Darrios said.
“I know,” she said. “Tell Brendan I love him and to hurry up, okay?”
Darrios kissed Maggie and promised he would. He stepped out onto the porch trying not to feel guilty about the knife hidden in his boot. He planned to take it to Brendan, but didn’t want to worry Maggie so he’d concealed it from her. Seeing Brendan all beaten up had shaken him and made him question if perhaps this undercover mission wasn’t such a good idea.
As he walked to the farm, he pondered other strategies that they could use to nail Guarros, but came up empty. Brendan was their only real option. At least having a knife would offer him some protection if he needed it.
Jerric and Alden were loading the meat onto the wagon as Darrios approached. They waved to Darrios. He nodded at them, stopping to check the wheels on the wagon.
“Just changed them this morning,” Alden said. “That left one looked a little wobbly to me.”
“Thanks, Alden. I appreciate how well you guys are doing...all of you.”
Jerric and Alden beamed. Darrios told them to continue and headed inside. Evan met him outside the door.
“Are you ready?” Evan asked.
“You bet,” he answered with a grin. “Always.”
They hitched up the hoodlas while their trustees finished loading. It was a large order, so they’d have to go slower than before.
“Man, I wish Bernie was coming with us on this one,” Evan said.
Darrios climbed onto the wagon. “Why’s that?”
“This is a big one, Darrios,” Evan said, gesturing to the back of the wagon. “Travelling slower makes us more vulnerable, don’t you think?”
Darrios scowled. “I hadn’t thought about it. Even if that’s true, we’ll handle it. Quit being paranoid.”
Evan rolled his eyes and snapped the reins. When Guarros placed the order, they had arranged for him to have a few men meet them at the Inland-Midland border. Once they left the hoodlas behind, the wagon would be too heavy for just the two of them to manage with an order this size.
Three big, beefy guards waited on the other side of the entrance. The two largest men took the yoke while the other one picked up the rear. Darrios and Evan looked at each other.
“Jeez, I feel incompetent,” Evan muttered.
Darrios chuckled. “I’m not touching that.”
Evan glared at him. They joined the man in the rear of the wagon. Darrios hollered “Ready” and they threw all their strength into getting the wagon moving. Once they did that, the pushing got easier.
“Hey, I wrote Brendan a note,” Darrios whispered so the guards wouldn’t hear him. He pulled it out and handed it to Evan.
Brendan,
Don’t get all caught up in your fake-inmate role. You need to make a move toward talking with Bashua. Talk to the girl. Be your charming self and find out what we need to know. The sooner you make contact, the sooner we can end this and pull you out of there. Besides, Maggie’s getting impatient and wants you home. She wants me to tell you she and the baby love you and miss you. Is there anything else you need?
“Sounds good,” Evan said, handing the letter back to him. “Did you get him what he wanted?”
Darrios nodded, reaching into his boot. He unwrapped the cloth to reveal knife and took it out of its sheath, holding it so Guarros’s men wouldn’t see it. Evan whistled.
It was at that moment, while both men admired the knife in Darrios’s hand, when the scabras attacked. There were two of them. Without even thinking, Darrios leaped up onto the wagon then off the front, grabbing the scabra, stabbing it in the throat, and twisting the knife. The creature clawed at its throat, gurgling and choking on the blood.
Meanwhile, Evan kicked the other one in the chest, sending it stumbling backward. He pounced on it, grabbing one of the cables holding down the cargo, and yanking it off. He wrapped it tightly around the second scabra’s neck. As the scabra gasped, flailing its arms wildly about, taking its last breath, Darrios called out to Evan, “You all right?”
“Yeah, fine, just give me a minute.”
Darrios jogged around the side of the wagon. “Thanks for all the help, fellas,” he said to the guards.
“I...I...it...” one of the guards stammered.
Darrios gave Evan a sideways glance.
“You may be right about being more vulnerable, Ev.”
“Ya think?” Evan replied.
Darrios cleaned the blade of the knife then resheathed it. He set it in the bed of the wagon and pulled out his own knife, which was more like a machete. “I think I’ll keep these handy.”
“Good idea,” Evan said, glancing around.
When they finally passed through the prison gates, Evan breathed a sigh of relief. He could see several people in the loading dock waiting for them. One of them was Brendan. Evan nudged Darrios then nodded at Brendan.
“I see him,” Darrios whispered.
****
Isela glanced out the window to see Brendan on the loading dock. She smiled to herself. Since she hadn’t seen him in three days, she figured the warden had purposely instructed they be assigned on opposite ends of the prison just to keep them apart. She sighed as she watched him push open the heavy gate, the muscles in his arms taut and firm. If he was opening the gate the hunters had arrived.
The hunters’ wagon came into view moments later, obviously overloaded. It occurred to Isela that she’d never asked Brendan about the exchange with the golden-haired hunter. She’d ask him later...if she ever saw him again, she thought, being melodramatic. She smiled dreamily when she thought of him telling her he’d do anything for them to be together. Her only question was, when would that be?
Suddenly, Isela saw a group of creatures running toward the wagon. Neither the hunters nor the inmates saw them. Isela pounded on the window, screaming, “Hey, look out, oh no!”
There was no way the men could’ve heard her. There were seven of those things. Four had hair or fur, but the other three were hairless. They grabbed one of the guards before he knew what happened.
“Scabras and viocomen,” she breathed.
Isela’s hand flew to her mouth. Her eyes darted around, frantically searching for Brendan. The hunters jumped into action immediately, working together, fighting the monsters. The way they moved was more like a dance, how they ducked and dodged, while still administering blows of their own.
They’d killed two of them before the guards even reacted. Unfortunately, the downed guard remained on the ground not moving, his blood pooling next to him.
The guards on the loading dock threw a few spears, unsuccessfully, then screamed at the inmates to get inside. Oh my God. Were they going to shut the doors and lock the h
unters out? They weren’t going to help them? Isela stood up, her face nearly pressed to the window. She held her breath, terrified.
The hunters killed two more of them and the remaining two guards worked together, back to back, fighting a large viocomen. It gnashed its teeth at them. The hunter with the golden streaks in his hair stumbled and fell. Isela gasped. One of the remaining viocomen noticed and began running toward him.
Isela let out a little cry when Brendan vaulted off the loading dock, grabbing one of the guard’s thrown spears off the ground. Bounding forward, he hurled the spear. Isela watched breathlessly as the spear connected with the viocomen’s chest, piercing its heart. The beast dropped where it stood.
Finally able to take her eyes off of Brendan, Isela noticed the hunters had killed the monster they’d been fighting. The last remaining one had fled. She blew out a breath, but sucked it in again when she saw the loading dock guards tackle Brendan and throw him to the ground.
“No,” she wailed. “He just saved the hunter’s life.”
They hauled him to his feet, dragging him inside. The blond curly-haired hunter extended his hand to the golden-haired one. He took it, allowing the man to help him up. They embraced.
Isela had to fight the urge to run down to the loading dock to make sure Brendan was all right. She didn’t. If he was in trouble for jumping off the dock and saving the hunter, her showing up wouldn’t help his case.
Instead, she finished her work at a nearly frantic pace, anxiously waiting for some word from Brendan. None came. Isela tried to tell herself that no news was good news. Hours had gone by and she’d seen nothing of Brendan or the hunters. Nobody seemed to know anything. Was she the only person in this place who had seen what happened?
****
Isela sat across from Mae at their regular table, tapping her fork on her plate, staring at the door, waiting for Brendan to walk in.
“Isela. Hey, Isela,” Mae said. “Can you say subtle?”
Isela jumped, startled, as if she hadn’t known Mae was there. “What?”
“You’re acting like a spooked hoodla in a room full of moltergs. Stop it. He’ll get in touch with you when he can. You know he’s all right. You saw him.”
“Yeah, being hauled away by the guards. Who knows what Guarros did to him after that? He wasn’t trying to escape. He saved the hunter’s life. I need to see him.”
“If you don’t stop being so obvious, you’re going to get him killed. Now relax. I’m sure the hunter appreciates what he did. He won’t let Guarros hurt Brendan.”
“Yeah? How’s he going to stop him?”
Mae glanced around the room, mostly to avert Isela’s gaze. She was right, of course. Guarros did what he wanted. No one could stop him.
Isela threw down her fork in frustration. Dropping her head in her hands, she sighed heavily. “I wish I knew if he was okay. He could’ve been killed out there. I hope I never see any of those creatures ever again.”
Mae said nothing. She simply patted Isela’s hand.
“I think I’m going to turn in early,” Isela said. “I can’t stand all this waiting around doing nothing.”
“I think that’s a good idea. Try to get some rest. If I see Brendan, I’ll come get you right away,” Mae promised.
Isela smiled weakly. “Thanks.”
After clearing her dishes and left. She glanced around the dining area and then the parlor one last time before heading back to her room.
Isela opened her door and went inside, the heaviness in her heart becoming unbearable. She fought the tears welling up in her eyes, telling herself Brendan was fine and praying it was true. She leaned her forehead against the door as she turned the lock. “Please let him be all right,” she said softly.
“Isela,” he whispered huskily.
Isela whirled around, startled by his voice. Brendan leaned against the wall. She gasped then plastered herself to him.
“Oh God, I was so worried about you. Where have you been? Are you okay? What did he do to you?” she rambled.
“Can we please talk later? Right now I just want to hold you.”
Brendan buried his face in her hair and inhaled deeply. She snaked her arms around his neck, kissing his ear. He turned, taking possession of her mouth, his kiss hungry and full of emotion.
She pulled away and breathlessly whispered, “Won’t they be looking for you?”
He smiled. “No, we have all night. They threw me in my cell a while ago, but then Keeri happened along and offered to bl...um, service the guard, if you know what I mean. He got so caught up in her...services that he forgot to lock the big gate. I packed my extra clothes and pillow into my cot to make it look like I was sleeping and I slipped out without him noticing. All I could think of was how much I wanted to see you...how much I want you.” He gently cupped her face in his hands. “Isela,” he rumbled.
She turned to him, hypnotized by his gaze burning into her soul. She closed her eyes as he palmed her cheek. His touch sent heat spiraling through her body.
“I’m yours,” she told him.
“I know,” he whispered, tipping her chin up, lowering his lips to hers, and kissing her softly. Her arms slid up around his neck as if they moved on their own. He tightened his grip around her waist, pulling her to him, deepening the kiss. She clung to him, fire racing through her veins...just like in her vision.
Brendan ran his tongue around her ear, nibbling on the lobe. Isela shivered. Her lips sought out his. He moaned into her mouth. Moving his hand over her breast, he paused to lightly squeeze. She gasped, leaning into him, a liquid heat rising up from her core.
He took her by the hand and led her over to the bed. Brendan sat down, pulling her down on top of him. He kissed her softly as his hand slid under her shirt and over her bare flesh. Isela trembled with anticipation, certain she would combust at any moment.
Brendan rolled over, putting Isela on her back and lying over her. She could feel his arousal, hard and heavy, pressing into her thigh. He rested his forehead against hers.
“I want you so much it hurts,” he said.
“Please, Brendan,” she said, just above a whisper, “make love to me.”
He covered her mouth with his, kissing her with a raw, lusty heat, simmering with need. Isela gave it right back with a hot urgency.
Brendan stood up, peeled off his shirt, then tossed it onto the floor. Isela followed suit, staring at his perfect chest and chiseled abs. He grabbed the chair and pressed it up under the handle on the door. Nobody was going to interrupt this.
She gulped when he kicked off his pants. His legs were long with muscular thighs but his...my God, he was huge. Thrown for a moment by his beauty, she didn’t move.
Not only was this her first time, but she was about to do something she swore she’d never do. She’d have thought she’d be nervous, scared even, but she wasn’t. The only emotion she felt right then was a primal need to be one with this man.
“Isela,” he said, “Are you all right?”
“Huh? Oh yes, I’m...” she stammered, embarrassed to have been caught so blatantly staring. She wriggled out of her pants and pulled the blanket down so he could climb in next to her.
Brendan fought a smile as he lay down and took her in his arms. As soon as he did, the smile disappeared and emotion flooded over his face.
Isela touched his cheek. “What is it, Brendan?”
Shaking his head, he took a deep breath. “I never could’ve imagined holding you...like this could feel so good. I’ll never forget this moment, Isela, no matter what happens after tonight. I’ll cherish this forever.”
She pulled him to her, opening her mouth to his, swirling her tongue with his in a lover’s dance. He took her breast in his hand, caressing it, squeezing her nipple between his thumb and forefinger. Isela arched up to him, her body aflame from his touch. Burning only for him, the ache between her legs begged to be attended to, slick and hot with desire.
Brendan pulled away from the kiss only to t
ake her nipple in his mouth, nipping and teasing as he brought his hand down between her legs. Isela cried out when he slid a finger inside her. He stopped.
“Did I hurt you?”
“She shook her head back and forth like a woman possessed. “No,” she panted, “Lord no, please don’t stop.”
He returned his attention to her other breast, giving it the same treatment as the first. He pushed two fingers inside her while lightly rotating his thumb over her nub. It wasn’t long before Isela clung to him, writhing and bucking as she cried out his name.
Her chest heaving, still trembling from her orgasm, Isela lay there, tears in her eyes. Brendan grazed over her face with soft kisses. He pushed her wild mane out of her face.
“That’s just the beginning,” he promised, smiling wickedly.
Isela smiled back. “I don’t know how you did that to me...but I hope you can do it again.”
Brendan laughed heartily. “I’m counting on it,” he said before crushing her mouth with a wet, lingering kiss. He positioned himself over her.
“Brendan, wait,” Isela said nervously. “I’ve never done this before. Any of this.”
“I’ll go slow. If I hurt you, tell me and I’ll stop.”
She nodded. “But...what if I do it wrong?”
He smiled and kissed her forehead. “You have me so hot right now, you couldn’t possibly do it wrong.”
He eased himself into her, slowly, his eyes never leaving hers. She winced when she felt the tight barrier inside of her give way, but relaxed when she saw the look of pure bliss on Brendan’s face.
“Oh my God, Isela, you feel so good. I want to stay here like this forever.”
She moved her hips, rocking them forward. Brendan moaned.
With every stroke Brendan sent a new wave of pleasure crashing over Isela, building and building until an explosion of ecstasy like she’d never known overtook her. She arched her back into him, clawing at the sheet, moaning.
His thrusts became faster as did his breathing. “You’ve got me so worked up, I don’t think I’m gonna last much longer. Baby, I’m gonna come.”
