Next to the man was some blood on the ground. He could smell her there. Her fear. They had hurt her.
Sol stopped and listened closely. He could hear them up ahead. She was so close to him now. He had to get her back. Onward he pushed further into the woods. Lucius and Apollo followed.
They had called for him to slow down at first but didn’t bother now. He would do what he had to in order to reach her.
The closer he got, the more aware he was of the sound he made. He let his feet only barely touch the ground as he ran, avoiding the loud brush that they seemed to favor.
He approached from the side as they came into view. Two men with guns, the doctor and Erica. He watched as they moved. Neither of the guards seemed particularly aware. Maybe they assumed they would have the upper hand with guns. He smiled grimly. There was nothing that would save them now.
Sol glanced around, but the others were nowhere in sight. If he didn’t go in now, there was no telling when he would have a chance again or if he even would.
“You’re going to like the room we’ve got made up for you. Everything a mother could ever want. You’ll even get to raise the baby.” The doctor nodded his approval. “A very big honor.”
Erica shivered. The Horatius Group was so mechanical in everything.
Before she could even think to respond, someone picked up the guard standing next to her and tossed him into the next. She screamed loudly as they crashed into a tree and crumpled to the ground. An arm snaked around her body, and she felt a prick on her neck.
“I never had the chance to work with you, Sol,” the doctor said from behind her. “But you are famous around the Horatius Group recently. Congratulations are in order.”
Erica felt a sob escape as Sol stood in front of her. His clothes torn and dirty, he was the best thing she ever saw. His growl cut through the air.
“Take it out!” he roared.
“Can’t do that.” The doctor held the syringe higher. “It won’t kill her, but you might wish it had by the time it works its way through.”
“What do you want?” Sol said after some time. His shoulders hung forward in acceptance.
“Well her of course,” the doctor laughed. “You could always come with us. Be the loving little family raising the first second-generation hybrid. You’ll go down in history.”
“No,” she shrieked. “I won’t let you.”
Her eyes held his. Sol broke the contact to look back to the doctor. “Fine.”
She shook as the word came out. He would go back to that life all to be near her. It was too much. The syringe came away from her neck but lingered near her head.
“Great,” the doctor laughed. “Oh this was such a good trip. I knew something was going to happen.”
Gunfire rang through the air. At first she thought Sol had been shot and screamed for him. He raced forward and yanked her to him as the doctor fell forward, the syringe just missing her back.
Erica turned. A scarred hybrid with black hair emerged from the trees, Lucius. His gun was raised. He had a clear shot to the doctor and had taken it. She nodded and turned back to Sol. Finally, safe in his arms, she let out a sigh.
* * *
Sol watched her in the back of the ambulance. They had called in an emergency crew from the local hospital in case she needed more care than could be provided with their limited medical resources. Rachel led the crew in examining her, but at the moment, things looked normal.
Major Carter was overseeing his men as they dealt with the two thugs. After all the warnings, in the end, it was Lucius who killed someone. Sol wasn’t surprised though. Lucius was a predator through and through. He was also the man he wanted to have at his back just about any day.
“Thanks for taking the shot,” he said.
Titus sighed as he looked between the two. “You know this means a world of trouble, right?”
Apollo came over and winked at him. “Seems to me as if you’ll be needing a PR person.”
Titus frowned. “Shit. I really am going to have to hire her aren’t I?”
“Only if you want to get through this,” Apollo said.
Titus groaned.
“Why are you so against her?” Lucius asked.
“She just rubs me the wrong way,” Titus huffed.
“Or maybe you just want her to rub you the right way.” Apollo grinned.
Sol rolled his eyes. “If that’s all, I’m going to go see about Erica.”
Titus nodded. “Go see to your woman.”
Erica sat in the back of the ambulance surrounded by instruments. There was so much to think about and not a place to actually do it. She glared at the paramedic that kept coming over to poke, push, twist and hydrate her. If they tried to push one more sports drink on her, she was going to shove it where the sun didn’t shine.
She looked up as Sol came into view. His strong sure strides gave her comfort. There was no way he would allow them to make an experiment out of her. The excited way the doctors and nurses had been talking hadn’t been much different from the Horatius doctor. She was no science experiment, and her child certainly wouldn’t be either.
Sol came to stand in front of her. Tired and weary, she held her arms out for him.
“Get me out of here,” she said quietly.
He nodded and began removing all the attachments.
It was a flurry of activity for all of five seconds. Everyone flocked to make sure she was doing fine. They stopped when Sol stood in front of her and prevented their intrusions.
“You really should let us check you out more,” Rachel said from around Sol.
Erica kept removing the pieces. “I want to go home.”
Dr. Fisher came out from the side. “We really can’t release you.”
Erica stopped and looked at the man. “I’d like to see you try and stop me.” Everyone around them stilled.
She felt Sol rumble in front of her, and several other hybrids tensed, readying for what might come.
“Let me make this perfectly clear to all of you.” She stood on shaky feet and leaned on Sol for support. “This is not some experiment. This is my life.” She looked up to Sol and smiled. “Our life,” she said quietly. “And we’re going to do whatever we see as best for this child. But if you think you’re going to keep me in some hospital bed, so you can monitor me like I’m so specimen in a jar, well, fuck off.”
She was certain she heard a few of the hybrids snort at her statement. If anyone could understand, it would be them.
“Erica,” Rachel said. “That’s really not the intent. This is just new, and we don’t know how things are going to go with you.”
“We’ll deal with things as they come.” She squeezed Sol’s hand. “Until then, I’ll see you Monday for the appointment.”
Sol led her off to a waiting car. She watched as he signaled to Titus, who nodded. Somehow she understood. He’d deal with it. That was good because she was at her limit. At this point she wanted a long bath and sleep. Everything else could wait.
* * *
They drove in silence. She was so tired her eyes drooped as she climbed out of the car. Within seconds, she was being lifted in the air and carried into the house. She smiled at the sexy man whose arms she was wrapped in.
“Off to bed with you,” he said quietly.
She shook her head. “I want to wash this filth off of me and be clean of this day.”
Sol paused when they got to the bathroom. He opened the door and turned on the water. Warm steam helped heat her aching body. He stripped off her clothes. She gasped when his warm shirtless body came up behind her.
“You’ll drown. Just let me wash you,” he whispered. “Let me love you.”
Tears leaked from the corner of her eyes, and she cursed the pregnancy hormones, although she wasn’t all that sure it wouldn’t have moved her to tears otherwise.
She sighed as she sank into the warm water with his solid form behind her.
“You’ve got scratches on you,” he sa
id tightly.
Erica held up her arm. “Just from branches. I’ll be fine.”
His strong arms wrapped around her. “I want you to be more than fine,” he whispered in her ear.
“I will be,” she said. “They didn’t break me.” She turned her head to look at him. “Pissed me off though."
They sat in the warmth of the water and listened to the early morning sounds outside.
“It was so close,” he said after some time. “Things could have gone so wrong.”
“Could have, but they didn’t.” She leaned her head back on his chest and kissed his jaw. “I’m one smart cookie. I would have found a way.”
He shook his head, and she reached up to cup his face in her hands.
“I knew you would come. No matter what happened, I knew you would come.”
“Always,” he whispered. “I will always come for you.” His hand snaked around to her stomach. “Both of you.”
Erica leaned back and sighed. She really didn’t know if she was up for this conversation, but there really was no great time to do this.
“I thought you said you couldn’t have kids,” she said.
“We can’t,” he said. “Or we couldn’t. They tried so many times without any success. We just assumed.”
Sol looked up to the ceiling and sighed.
“The scientist mentioned that there was some thought about not being in captivity might have played a role.”
She leaned her head on him and sighed.
“So what are we going to do?”
His hand danced back and forth across her stomach.
“We’re going to have a baby,” he said in awe.
Erica smiled at his sweet words. “I meant about us,” she said.
His arm tightened around her. “I thought you were staying here. With me.”
She moved her hand up and down his arm in soothing motions. “I am, but I mean, we can’t just live like this.”
Erica nearly laughed at how silly it sounded. She knew being unwed when they had the baby was the most practical thing to do, but there was nothing about their relationship that was practical.
She turned to look at his frowning face and turned completely around. “I want a family for this baby,” she said, her hand involuntarily rubbing her tummy.
“That’s what I’m offering.” Sol grabbed her and pulled until she was straddling his lap.
She put her hands around his neck and smiled. “I need more.”
Sol frowned again, and she couldn’t help but laugh. He just didn’t seem to understand.
“Sol,” she said, smiling widely. “Will you marry me?”
“Is that what will make you happy?” he asked.
She nodded.
“Then I’ll marry you.” He smiled. “But when we tell the children, let’s say that I asked you.”
“And maybe that we weren’t in the tub.”
Sol pulled her closer, grinding against her. “I don’t know. I think that’s my favorite part of the story.”
She laugh and squealed at his easy humor. They were going to be fine.
“Ready for bed?” he said roughly.
Erica shivered and nodded. It was amazing how potent love could be.
Chapter Twenty
Sol paced the floor outside of the closed courtroom. Knowing those scumbags were inside and there was nothing he could do just pissed him the fuck off.
“That’s not going to make it go any faster,” Titus said.
“They have to lock them up and throw away the key,” Sol growled.
“And if they don’t?” Titus asked, his eyes resting heavily on Sol.
“If they don’t, then I’ll deal,” he said and shot a sour look at Titus.
“Do you think they’ll get anything useful out of them?” Titus asked.
Sol shook his head. “Erica said the ring leader’s death sort of ended any chance we have at finding more out.”
Titus stared toward the door and strummed his fingers. Sol could see the nervousness in him as well. This was a step in finding more people. Erica had mentioned that she overheard them talking about another facility. There were more of them out there.
The door opened. Major Carter walked out.
“They are going to a maximum security prison,” he said. “You can thank Gold for that. It seems that we’ve got some luck on our side with all of his. If it had been up to Woods, those men would be walking free.”
Sol snorted. “Not for long,” he mumbled.
They walked from the courthouse to the car. As Sol climbed into the car, he spotted Woods across the way, who stared at him with hatred. Woods opened the door to climb in, and a glimpse of snow-white skin came into view from the car. Sol shook with fear. Even after being out for nearly a year, just a glimpse of that man made Sol nearly fall to his knees. Frozen, he watched as they drove out of sight.
After a few moments, he crawled into the car. The two men in front turned to stare at him.
“What?” Titus asked.
“The Pale Man was here,” he said.
Titus’s eyes grew big with shock. “Are you sure?”
Sol nodded. “He was in the car Woods got into. You know what this means right?”
“That things are worse than we expected,” he said.
Titus turned to Carter. “We need to step up security.”
“Why?” Carter asked. “Who is this Pale Man?”
“We believe he was the first to successfully apply the Group’s DNA manipulation techniques outside of the womb. They say that he was once a scientist for the Group that believed fully in the benefits of a superior race of men. He did the treatment on himself to prove the benefits. It had some serious side effects that they did not expect.” Titus paused and then went on. “It bleached his skin of all color. His eyes are almost completely black. It also changed his personality. Where we are still part man, he has been made into most beast.”
Carter looked between then, a shocked look on his face as pulled the car onto the street to return to the lodge. “Well it doesn’t sound like we have much to worry about if it was such a failure.”
Sol laughed harshly. “It wasn’t a failure, Major. He became as ruthless as they always hoped we would be. He’s faster than us, stronger, can hear further away and tracking is child’s play. The only true weakness he has is his light sensitivity.”
Carter frowned. “Well if they considered him a success, why didn’t they make more?”
Titus shook his head. “They tried, but no one else seemed to be able to convert. Some think he altered something so that no one would be able to gather the power that he had.”
“Well,” Carter scratched his face, “What are we going to do about him?”
Titus turned to Sol who shrugged. “Beef up security. Maybe add in a few UV lights. There’s not much we can do besides be ready for the worst. If the Pale Man decides he’s going to take us down, there might not be much we can do about it.”
Carter nodded once, frowning. Sol sighed and checked his watch.
“Shit,” he said. “I’m going to be late.”
“Late to your own wedding. Boy,” Titus said. “You’ll be lucky if you get to have a honeymoon.”
Sol grinned. He was certain he would get a honeymoon.
* * *
Erica paced in the back office, trying not to picture her hands wrapped around their necks.
“He’s late,” she said for about the millionth time.
“He’ll be here,” Kate said.
Hannah giggled. “Pissing off his pregnant woman. Not the wisest idea.”
They all jumped when a knock came at the door, and Apollo’s head appeared.
“Damn.” He grinned. “Shouldn’t you all be having pillow fights in your nighties?”
Kate rolled her eyes. “Ready?”
He nodded and stopped for a moment. “Erica, you really do look great.” He whispered loudly. “Also, Titus is very proud that you asked him to walk you down.”
“See?” he asked and then disappeared.
Slowly the woman began to make their way out of the room, until Kate and Erica remained.
“You ready for this?” she asked.
Erica sighed. “Yes.”
“Good.” She smiled. “He’s good for you, and you’re good for him.”
Kate squeezed her arm and made her way into the hall where Titus was waiting. Kate walked past, and Erica could feel the tension between them. She hoped they could work something out.
“Erica?” Titus said from the door.
She smiled and took his waiting arm.
“Nervous?” he asked.
“More like nauseous,” she said.
They paused outside the doors to the great room, and Titus looked at her.
“I have to say this. Please be good to him. He is a special man.”
She smiled at him. “I know.”
“And if you ever decide to leave him, you just give me a call.” He grinned.
They pushed open the doors and walked into the room. At the end of the aisle, Sol watched her with open hunger. She grinned. It was a good dress.
When they reached him, Sol glared at Titus. She snickered at their exchange and took the arm Sol offered to her. He smiled at her when she squeezed his hand.
It had only been a few short months since the day of her kidnapping, and she was sure she should feel more anxiety about marring so soon, but Erica just couldn’t seem to work it up. He was the man for her. The one who would go through hell and back just to make sure she was safe and that was enough in her book.
No question on her end. Sol would be everything she ever wanted.
She turned to smile at Major Carter. He had agreed to marry them, and she had been a bit surprised that Sol would even ask him. As far as she knew, the major and his men pissed him off. Maybe they had actually started to rub off on them.
Erica sighed when Sol stood next to her, his hand slipping over to rub her small bump. She smiled. It was a growing occurrence. She’s wake up and find his hand had made its way to her stomach or when they were watching TV. It was hard not to fall in love with him all over again.
Luna Lodge: Sol Page 14
