The Edge: (Ignite, Book 1) (Ignite Series)

by Fleur Camcho

  “My name’s Laura.” He didn’t say anything but reached his hand forward. It reminded her of when he was reaching for Reece and a wave of compassion overcame her. She leaned in and he softly ran his fingers through her ginger red hair, studying the color. She melted. His hands, calloused at the fingertips, gently brushed the bruise on her face.

  She couldn’t pull back.

  A shot of warmth filled her cheek and her eyes watered.

  There was a loud boom outside and Laura jumped back. Dogs barked and a car alarm rang out.

  The stranger jumped out of the bed and yanked the IV out of his arm. His eyes scanned the room. “Where’s my stuff?”

  Laura went over to the window but couldn’t see anything.

  “Where’s my—things? Do you know?” He was bent over, looking under the bed now and Laura checked out his butt. “You didn’t have anything. You only had your pants.”

  He stood up and grabbed the bed for balance. She moved to help him but he straightened his back. “I didn’t?”

  She nodded. “If they saved your jeans, they’re in the closet.” She pointed at the wooden door.

  “Saved them?” He pulled on the door and, finding them clean and folded, put them on under the gown.

  Laura quickly turned away from him. “Yeah, they were pretty dirty.”

  He stopped buttoning them and stared at her. “You were there?”

  “Where?” She peeked over her shoulder and, finding him decent, turned back around. He had tucked the hospital gown into his jeans and she resisted laughing.

  “Where they found me.”

  She nodded.

  There was another crash outside and Laura peered out the window, trying to figure out what the noise was. She could see a group of people jogging towards somewhere outside her view. “You didn’t have shoes either.”

  He grabbed her hand and pulled her to the door. “Of course I didn’t have any shoes.”

  They zigzagged through the corridors of the hospital, not bothering to check out or even notify a nurse. “What’s going on? Where are you going?” Laura scanned the hallway for Kayla but she was missing. The rest of the hospital staff was rushing towards the doors to the emergency room. What was going on?

  Laura stopped. “What are you doing?”

  “Is there another exit to this place?”

  Laura nodded and pointed the opposite direction.

  “Show me the way.”

  “Why?”

  He grabbed her hand and started running, gaining momentum. It reminded Laura how fast he was going when she first saw him. She thought she’d imagined it but now she wasn’t so sure. Laura tugged on his hand. “Not that way, we need to turn down this hallway.”

  He made a ninety-degree turn to the atrium.

  This was crazy, what were they doing? Why was he pulling her along and why was she going with him? “Guy.”

  He didn’t answer her.

  “Dude.” She pulled her hand out of his and it took him a second to realize she was no longer connected to him.

  He stopped, raising his eyebrows at her impatiently, and glanced behind her. “We need to move. Now.” He didn’t look at her as he said this but followed something behind her.

  She stared at him, arms crossed, and raised her eyebrows back at him. “I asked you where we’re going.”

  “We don’t have time for this.” He tried grabbing her hand again but she refused to let him. Instead of explaining, he put his hand through his hair, thinking. His eyes scanned the area, watching the people rush across the sunlit room, and his attention caught on something down the hall.

  Suddenly, he was inches from her and the closeness raised the hair on her neck. He began walking forward and she was forced to walk back until she hit the wall behind her.

  He didn’t explain himself and she didn’t ask questions but stared up at his piercing blue eyes. His eyes traced her cheekbone down to her jaw. He seemed perplexed.

  “What’s wrong?” She couldn’t help asking.

  He glanced to the side and she tried to follow his gaze but a large plant blocked her view. “If you’re in trouble maybe I can help you. I have a few cop friends and they can look into—”

  “Shhhh…” He put his finger to her lips. His breath washed over her and it had a sweet, floral smell. His perplexed look was back.

  “Who are you? What’s going on?” She tried to whisper so he wouldn’t stop her again. He leaned in and, for a second, she thought he was going to kiss her. Her lips parted and her breath caught in her throat.

  “Why are you helping me?” His voice hummed in her ear and she shivered. He looked back at her; his intense, curious eyes studied hers.

  “Who are you?” She was determined to get some kind of answer, his name, at least. He bit his lip as he considered her and she had an urge to taste them.

  Waffles. Chocolate. Chicken salad. These are the things she wanted to taste. Not his lips. Not his lips.

  He backed away from her, indicating for her to stay there, and walked towards the atrium. She followed him and he looked down the hallways.

  When he turned back, he stared at her hard. “I told you to stay there.”

  She shrugged and crossed her arms. “Actually you didn’t. You just held your hands out, like I’m a dog.”

  He scowled. “Of course you’re not a dog. I’m just trying to prot—” He put his hands through his hair again. “Are you always this frustrating?”

  “Are you always this cagey?”

  He laughed and she couldn’t help but grin. Jeez, his laugh was infectious.

  “Okay, you win. We need to go… anywhere but here.” He pointed in the direction of where they’d come. “In the opposite direction of the men who are trying to kill me.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  Laura grabbed her keys from her pocket. “I have a car.”

  He grabbed her hand and pulled her forward at an amazing speed. Her phone buzzed from her pocket but she ignored it. When they reached the glass doors of the hospital, he pulled her to the side. Sunlight streamed through the skylight and it highlighted his dark hair.

  “Please wait here.” He looked behind her through the glass doors, checking the streets for any sign of the men. “Please. Is that okay?” She nodded and he was gone. A few minutes later he returned. “We need to hurry. Where’s your car?”

  ❦

  Laura’s old Honda wobbled as they weaved in and out of cars; they were driving ninety miles an hour on the freeway and Laura resisted the urge to reach over and slam her foot on the brake. It would probably just cause them to hydroplane on the snow.

  He’d insisted on driving.

  Of course.

  “Do you even know where you’re going?” The car slowed for a moment and Laura thought she saw him hesitate.

  “No.”

  Laura gripped the door handle as he swerved around a car. “Why are you driving so fast?”

  “Because they’re behind us.”

  She jerked in her seat to look through the back window. “I don’t see anyone.”

  “They’re a few miles back. In a black Lexus SUV and a white Toyota van.”

  She laughed. “We’re running from a van?”

  “And a Lexus SUV. What? Stop laughing.”

  She put her hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry, I just never thought I’d ever be in a car chase with a van.” She patted her seat. “Especially in this old clunker.”

  She looked back again and almost crashed into him as he switched lanes. She pushed herself back onto her side of the car. “How do you know? I can’t see anyone that looks like they’re following us.”

  He glanced in his rearview mirror. “I have good eyesight.”

  “So you don’t remember your own name, but you remember that these men are trying to kill you. And you even remember their cars.”

  He shrugged. “What can I say? Maybe I have selective amnesia.”

  “Humph.” She crossed her arms. “I’d say ‘selective’ alright
.”

  “Besides, I didn’t say that the Lexus and the van were theirs.” He suddenly shifted down to avoid hitting the car in front of them and they both jerked forward.

  She grabbed onto the dashboard. “Well, then why—”

  “They stole them. Or borrowed them. Just like I’m borrowing yours.”

  “Oh. They don’t sound very neighborly.”

  He looked at her, his eyes fierce. “They aren’t.”

  “Oh, okay.”

  “If you’re ever alone with them, you run. Okay? Just run as hard and as fast as you can. Okay?”

  “Okay.” She was uncomfortable with his sudden seriousness.

  “Promise me. Say it. Say you promise.” He still hadn’t looked back at the road and her leg reflectively stomped on the brake that wasn’t there.

  “I promise, I promise. Now look at the road.”

  He looked at the road, slammed on the brakes and she blew out the breath she didn’t realize she was holding.

  “This is wrong, I shouldn’t have done this. They must’ve given me something. I shouldn’t have…”

  He was mumbling now and Laura couldn’t understand him. “What are you talking about?”

  “I said I think they gave me something at the hospital.”

  “Yeah, I’m pretty sure they gave you morphine yesterday. And something else early this morning.”

  He nodded his head. “That’s it then.”

  “That’s what then?” She was very confused.

  “I’m not used to any drugs. I never take them.”

  “Not even Tylenol?”

  He looked at her and shook his head. “Nothing.”

  She pointed back to the road. “Can’t you talk and drive at the same time?”

  He laughed. “We’ll be fine.”

  “How can you say that? We almost hit a car back there.”

  “Almost. But we didn’t. I’ve got good reflexes.” He grinned at her.

  “Wow, you have good eyesight and reflexes. And you’re never sick. You must be quite the catch.”

  “I am.” He grinned, not taking the bait.

  Laura could’ve sworn she saw an actual glimmer in his eyes. She rolled hers. “Yeah, okay.” She drew the words out in obvious sarcasm.

  “And you… have mastered sarcasm quite well.” He was smiling again because he thought that he was so smart.

  “Yep. I sure have.”

  Laura looked away and stared out at the mountains. The car grew quiet and Laura wondered how far away they were now. They’d be leaving the city soon. “So what’s your plan? We’re just going to keep driving and hope they magically disappear?”

  He frowned. “I’m not sure. I’m just winging it.”

  “Look, I don’t know what your schedule is, but we can’t just drive forever. In fact, I should be getting home soon. I have to be at work in a few hours. I have an idea. Pull over up here.”

  He slammed on the brake and a driver blasted the horn at them. He slid through several lanes, causing a chorus of blaring horns and an assortment of particular words yelled out windows in the process. He stopped on the side of the freeway and looked at her. “Where to next?”

  “Get out.” She peeled her fingers from the car door. “You’re crazy. I’m driving.”

  “You should’ve given me more notice.”

  “I said ‘up here.’ Not right this instant.”

  “Oh.”

  She opened the door and a blast of cold air greeted her. When she got to the driver’s side, he didn’t move so Laura tried pushing him over.

  “I think this is a bad idea. You don’t have my reaction time for the speed we need to get out of here.” He didn’t move an inch, even with Laura pushing him as hard as she could while trying to keep her feet from slipping on the muddy ice.

  “We… don’t… have…” She was trying to pull him out of the car now, since she couldn’t push him over the stick shift. “…Far to go.”

  “Oh, you should’ve just said so.” He stood up, causing Laura to fall back and he grabbed her to stop her from falling into the traffic.

  He yanked her back and she fell into his arms. His embrace was warm and she felt an odd sensation. Confused for a moment, she realized that what she was feeling was safe. In a way that she’d never even felt with Matt. She looked up into his eyes, which were staring back at her, intense and warm. “I was trying to,” she mumbled.

  “Oh.” Now it was his turn to be uncomfortable.

  “There’s a sign, just up a little bit a way, that we can park behind. The old sheriff used to hide there to catch speeders. You can’t really see behind the sign from the road.”

  He peered up the road. “Okay, great idea.”

  “Did you see the sign, too? With your good eyesight?”

  He grinned but didn’t answer. She sat down behind the wheel and, instead of going to the passenger side, he crawled into the back seat.

  “What are you doing?” She started the car and cautiously pulled out onto the freeway.

  “Just in case they do see you, I’m going to duck down here. Maybe they’ll think your car broke down.”

  “What if they stop to help me?”

  He laughed.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “They won’t stop.”

  Laura swallowed hard; he was serious again.

  ❦

  Laura’s phone buzzed again and she pulled it from her pocket. Six missed calls, all from Kayla. He hadn’t told her anything but he was so serious that she’d felt the need to be silent. It was so quiet she could hear him breathing.

  They were waiting behind the sign and Laura was beginning to feel a bit silly. Finally she spoke up. “Are you sure we can’t leave yet? I haven’t seen any of those cars pass by. Are you sure that’s what they were driving?”

  “Yes, I’m sure.” He didn’t explain, or even say which question he was answering, so she just studied her phone. His seriousness was the only thing keeping her here.

  She turned to look at him. “How old are you anyway?”

  The corner of his mouth lifted in a half-smile. “Isn’t it rude to ask someone how old they are?”

  “That’s only if you’re an old woman. And,” she looked him over, “last time I checked you were male. And you can’t be that old.”

  He smirked. “How would you know?”

  She rolled her eyes. “I don’t. That’s why I’m asking. I’m trying to figure out when you graduated from school. I’ve never seen you before.”

  He stared out the window. “I didn’t go to school around here.”

  “Oh.” The car grew quiet and Laura studied her phone. “Can I make a phone call?”

  “Sure. But if I tell you to hang up, then do it right away, without question. ‘Kay?”

  She saluted. “Yes, sir.”

  His head popped up. “I don’t tell you these things to boss you around. I tell you them to keep us safe.”

  “Oh, okay. Sure.”

  He grabbed her hand. “I’m serious.”

  She swallowed her heart that was in her throat, all too aware of his touch. “Yes, I know.”

  He looked at her hard.

  “I do. It’s just…” She was having a hard time concentrating. “I get it. I’m sorry. I just… I don’t know how to act is all.”

  His eyes softened and a warmth melted her body. She felt like jelly.

  He stiffened and then dropped back down. “Shh… I think they’re coming.”

  Laura jerked forward and stilled, craning her neck to peer through the space in between the two signs. The sign was in a triangle formation, and it was unlikely that they would be seen.

  It was brief. A blur of a black SUV. Then a white van.

  She waited, holding her breath, for them to pull over. They didn’t. And yet, she still waited patiently in silence for him to say something.

  After what felt like an hour, he put his head on the back of her seat. “I think they’re gone.” His voice was soft and she tu
rned.

  “Good.” She whispered to match his tone. “So…” She was very confused about the whole situation and hiding behind a sign wasn’t a permanent solution for these kinds of people. “What next?”

  He didn’t answer, but studied her face, making her feel very self-conscious. She wiped her hair out of her face and he grabbed her hand, holding it. With his other hand, he ran his fingers through her hair. She held very still.

  “There was a queen of Ireland who, they say, had hair like the flame of the sun. She was very beautiful and yet, no man could satisfy her.” Laura blinked and blushed slightly. “And so she took a deity for a husband, crossing over to the land of the Gods, thus becoming immortal.”

  Laura didn’t know what to say.

  “Your hair reminds me of hers.”

  “You say that like you knew her.”

  He swallowed hard and sat back, slumping. “Maybe we should get going.”

  “Where?”

  He shrugged. “Good question.”

  Laura’s phone buzzed again. “I’m going to answer this; it’s my friend. She’s been trying to reach me. She’s probably worried about us.”

  He sat up. “She was at the hospital?”

  Laura nodded. “She’s one of the nurses that took care of you. She was about to get off her shift, but was going to check on us before she left.”

  “Laura, I need you to listen to me very carefully.” He was very serious again and Laura focused intently. “If she asks you where we are, don’t tell her.” Her phone kept buzzing.

  “But—”

  He held his finger to her lips.

  “Trying to keep us safe here. Remember?”

  She nodded and her phone stopped buzzing.

  “Here, come back here.” He pat the seat beside him and Laura crawled over the armrest. “Just tell her that we’ll meet her somewhere. Do you know a good place?”

  “Sure.” She tapped on her phone but he put his hand over hers.

  “Do you really trust this friend?”

  She nodded.

  “Would you trust her with your life?” He stared at her intently so she would understand him correctly.

  She swallowed hard. “Yes. With my life.”