Guardian

by Loribelle Hunt

  She didn’t know how much he’d changed, but she’d grown a lot. She could handle his prickly side now, found she liked sparring with him. Grinning, she found the boxes and dug through them. She pulled out jeans, a T-shirt and short boots, tossing them to the bed before walking into the shower. She made it quick and was in the office just in time to meet Gabe, Mason, Brax and Zach, who pulled her close.

  You’re okay? he whispered in her mind.

  Fine. She smiled up at him, surprised to find she really was.

  “We’ll get the report on your patients in a minute,” Brax said to Zach and then turned to her.

  “You thought someone was watching you. Are you sure they weren’t watching me?” Brax asked.

  Oh great. She waited for Zach to explode, but he was suspiciously silent. “It was me.”

  “How long?”

  She hesitated. “When we went outside, definitely.”

  “And earlier?”

  “I think I was just nervous before then.”

  “I’m not so sure about that,” Zach interjected. “You were nervous all day, but there were a couple times I felt your anxiety spike.”

  She thought back over the day. He was right. Two times her unease had risen sharply. She’d looked around, not noticed anything unusual, and the sensation faded. She’d put it down to worry of one of them getting caught.

  “Twice I thought maybe someone was there, but the feeling only lasted a few seconds. Not like when we left,” she finished, mulling it over.

  “What did you feel then? Describe it to me,” Zach demanded.

  A week ago that order would have pissed her off. “I’m not an empath.”

  “Maybe not, but you are very intuitive and you share some of my strength through our bond.”

  “But not your abilities.”

  “I’m not so sure of that, baby. Quit stalling and tell me,” Zach said gently.

  “Earlier in the day it felt general, like someone was studying a crowd the way you’d do in a bar.”

  He squeezed her hand. “You wouldn’t be checking out anyone in a bar, would you, baby?” His tone was teasing, but she felt the displeasure in his mind.

  She rolled her eyes. “You want to hear this or not?”

  “Absolutely. Go on.” His voice gentled, almost conciliatory.

  “When we left there was…intent behind the watching. And suspicion.” She shrugged. “I’m not Elect. Not a telepath. I could be completely wrong.”

  He squeezed her hand again. “You’re not. I wonder what they suspect?”

  “I don’t know.”

  But she was pretty sure they suspected something. By now the missing patients must have been discovered at least. Most likely they hadn’t fooled them at all since the guard was searching cars at the gate. Stirling knew something was up and would suspect her of the fire when she never returned.

  “Damn it, I wish we knew what they know.”

  “I got eighty percent of the database,” Gabe said. “We’ll know something soon.”

  What about the other twenty percent? What if someone had been caught on tape or identified later? This was crazy. Why was she panicking now when her part was done?

  “We’re fine,” Zach tried to reassure her, whispering as he pulled her away from the others. But she just couldn’t shake the feeling it wasn’t over. “All of us got in and out without incident, and trust me, as much as Gabe irritates me, he’s good at this stuff. No one has a clue who we are and no one saw him.”

  “You sound very sure of someone you referred to as that irritating brat three years ago.”

  He half-snorted, half-laughed. “And he still is an irritating brat. But the brat knows what he’s doing.” He sobered. “Don’t tell him I said that.”

  “Wouldn’t dream of it, honey.”

  She bit her lip when she realized how easily that had come out, an old response, the way she used to tease him. And her heart kicked when he gave her a sexy, rakish grin. She almost groaned. What the hell was she doing encouraging him? That was a huge mistake, committing her to a course she wasn’t decided on yet.

  Before she could respond, her phone chimed.

  She read the message twice before it sunk in and shoved aside a spurt of disappointment. She wouldn’t be gone that long, after all. She had the rest of the day and night with him. First she called her boss at the fire department.

  After the usual greetings, she told him, “I’m on vacation, remember? You practically danced a jig in your office when I requested it.”

  He sighed. “I know. I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you.”

  She knew he would. “Okay. What’s up?”

  “Busy day, too many fires, and half my staff is out sick. I need you go check out a warehouse fire.”

  She wrote down the address, hung up and turned to find Zach. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. I need to go check out a fire scene.”

  His eyes narrowed. “You’re supposed to be on leave from the fire department.”

  “They need me.” She shrugged, wondering if he’d protest. How she’d deal with it if he did. He ground his teeth together, jaw clenching hard with the action. Then he nodded and told the others he’d be right back.

  “I’ll walk you out.”

  He didn’t speak again until her car door was open. He crowded her, cupping her face with his hands. “Be careful,” he whispered.

  Then he kissed her and the world tilted on its axis. It was hot and hungry, demanding and possessive. Her body flared to life with a demand of its own, and groaning, she moved closer, plastering herself against him and resenting the hell out of the clothes that separated them. He broke away, panting, and leaned his forehead against hers.

  “You make me crazy,” he said softly.

  “Ditto.”

  She didn’t have the words to elaborate, but she didn’t need to. Finally, he stepped back and waited until she was settled in the car. Leaning in through the window, he kissed her again.

  “Hurry back and keep in contact.”

  “I will.”

  She smiled. He was such a worrier. It was kind of sweet. Irritating as hell, but she knew he loved her more than anything. At the thought, her last resistance to the bond re-forming between them melted away. It was a zinging sensation from her to Zach, then back to her. His eyes widened.

  “Sure you have to go?”

  “Yeah. We’ll…talk later.”

  “Whatever you say, baby,” he said lightly, but the heat and hunger in his eyes almost made her change her mind. He stepped back and shut the door. She watched him until he faded from her rearview mirror, shook her head and tried to regain her focus, but it didn’t work.

  She was distracted when she reached the warehouse and spoke briefly to an engine captain who was leaving. The fire was out, it was safe to go in and she rarely took anyone with her when she physically checked over a scene. So why did she feel so uneasy when she walked inside?

  She shook her head. It was just the day catching up with her, the eerie light filtering through bits of missing ceiling, creating weird shadows in the burned-out hull. Flipping the on switch on her heavy flashlight, she played the light around the cavernous space and her feeling of unease returned. She tapped the power that not only let her start and stop fires, but read the origins and progression of one.

  This felt accidental, electrical in nature, and what she was seeing supported that instinct. The fire had started in the walls and ran up to the ceiling. She saw no signs of accelerants, no signs it was intentionally started. The crew that had put the fire out should have seen that too, so why did her boss send her here? Maybe she was missing something. Her instinct wasn’t always right. She moved farther into the ruin, looking for the source of the fire. The power was off and it was dark and gloomy inside, but there were several holes in the ceiling where moonlight shone through. She stuck to the walls. When she was so far in she couldn’t see the open door behind her, a voice stopped her.

  “That�
�s far enough, Mrs. Littman.”

  She froze, because that voice shouldn’t know her married name. She turned to her right and stepped out of the shadows. He’d been pointed out to her on her second day at the Stirling Institute and been close enough for her to hear his voice. She hadn’t seen him since.

  “Dr. Stine. What are you doing at a suspected arson scene?”

  Thankfully, her voice didn’t betray her nerves, but he gave her a creepy smile nonetheless.

  “Oh, I think you know this wasn’t an arson and you’re wondering why you got sent here.”

  “Really? Do tell.”

  The flashlight was a comforting weight in her hand.

  “I have to give your people credit. The last name you used is common enough that it didn’t ring any bells when we first checked you out. Your identity only became known after a deeper check. By then you were in. I wanted to see what you were after. I know what that is now and I want them back.”

  She felt something push at her mind, recognized the touch of a telepath and reached for her mating bond with Zach. It would protect her. For a time.

  “You’re keeping people prisoner, Stine.” It didn’t hurt to acknowledge that much. “We wanted to know why.”

  “And what did you discover?”

  “Not much,” she responded dryly, honestly.

  “So who are you? Why do you care? And why set the fire?”

  This was where it got tricky. There was at least one telepath around. She could feel pressure on her mind that she’d only felt in the past when telepaths were close and using a lot of power. She’d bet it wasn’t Stine.

  She shrugged. “I felt endangered. I started the fire and got out.”

  And she was afraid she might have to do the same now. But they needed information, and she felt Zach drawing closer, knew he wasn’t coming alone. It was time to turn the tables on Stine.

  “Why did you go after Esme?”

  This time he shrugged. “She was unconnected to the Elect. Her disappearance shouldn’t have created any ripples with your people.”

  He kept talking like Esme was one of them, and in some ways she was.

  “But why?”

  “To study her of course. Her DNA, your DNA…if we can find a way to harvest your healing abilities, your immunities to human diseases, to reproduce your mental abilities…the person who does that will rule the world.”

  His eyes shone brightly in the dim room. He was brilliant…and mad. Worse, she was human, not Elect. She got the impression if she informed him of that little fact her lifespan would be greatly reduced. She might be able to use fire to help defend herself, but it wouldn’t make her able to dodge bullets and she’d never had the super-healing abilities of the Elect. She sent a silent plea to Zach. Please hurry.

  “You want to experiment on us. You want to use us for your own gain.”

  She took a step forward, prepared to swing the heavy flashlight at him if that was the only way to escape. Someone grabbed her shoulders from behind with a brutal, claw-like grip. The pressure on her mind increased and she knew he was the telepath.

  “Sorry, my dear. No one knows this was a trap. Some human minds are so susceptible to suggestion; your boss doesn’t even remember sending you here. You’ll be coming with us.”

  She felt the fire rage inside her, but she held back. She’d never used it to kill and she didn’t want to start now. There were few things worse than being burned alive. She thought of Zach, of the new relationship they were forging, and struggled to make a choice. She wanted him, wanted the promise, wanted his love and new acceptance, but to do it she’d have to use the fire and she wasn’t sure she’d ever forgive herself for using it that way. She would poison her new relationship before it ever began.

  But she was going to have to make a choice and soon. She wouldn’t let herself be taken. She almost sagged with relief when she felt Zach with her. He must have left just minutes after her. She stopped fighting their mate bond and suddenly he was in her mind. Comforting and reassuring and drawing closer. She shrugged away the hands holding her.

  “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

  Zach watched until she disappeared around the bend in the road, then went to join the others in Mason’s office. They were grouped around his desk, leaning forward to look at the computer screen.

  “Find anything?”

  Brax straightened. “He’s downloading the patient files now. Where’s Mallory?”

  “She got a call from the fire department.”

  “You let her go alone?”

  Brax sounded more amused than disapproving. Unconcerned. Zach wished it was a sentiment he shared, but he couldn’t help the nagging feeling he shouldn’t have let her go. He wrote it off as the instinct of a mated Elect male to keep his woman close and protected, but as the minutes passed and the download continued, the unease grew worse. He began to pace the small office and reached for the bond that connected him. He didn’t read anything other than focus on her work. There was no alarm, no fear, nothing that could lead him to believe she was in trouble, but the more time passed, the more convinced he became that she was.

  “I have to go,” he said abruptly. Brax blocked him at the door. “Get out of my way, Brax.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I don’t know. I have to get to Mallory. Now.”

  “Okay.” Brax nodded to the men behind Zach. “We’ll all go.”

  Zach turned to see Mason grabbing extra guns and ammunition, but he didn’t wait. As soon as Brax moved out of the doorway, Zach hurried outside. He had the SUV started and in gear when Brax, Mason and Carter jumped in. A few minutes later he sensed her arrive at the warehouse and enter. They were five minutes behind her and he hoped like hell that was enough when he experienced a spike of fear. It took a moment to realize it was hers and then she opened the bond between them so he could communicate with her.

  We’re almost there, baby. What’s going on?

  Stine is here. He has a telepath.

  You have a weapon?

  Just my flashlight. She hesitated. And fire.

  He felt her revulsion at the idea of using fire as a weapon. But if it saved her life? Do what you have to do.

  She fell silent as the warehouse came into sight. Her vehicle was the only one parked in front. He drove around back where they saw one of the nondescript black SUVs they’d come to associate with the Stirling Institute. The others followed him inside. What he saw enraged him and he acted on pure instinct, using his telepathic powers to lash out at the man holding Mallory’s shoulder. He staggered under the blow, but he didn’t go down.

  “Well,” Stine said, turning his head to look Zach over but not shifting the gun, which still pointed at Mallory. “I came for one and I get a group. How wonderful.”

  Brax, Mason and Carter had split off when they entered. Zach heard the sounds of fighting as they engaged Stine’s security force.

  I’m sorry. I thought there were only two of them, Mallory said.

  Don’t worry about it, baby, but we could use a distraction.

  He knew he was asking a lot of her. Starting a fire with this much adrenalin raging was dangerous. It could easily get out of control.

  She took a deep breath and let it go on a shaky exhale. I’m going to try to make it a shield. Surrounding me. This asshole should release me if his arm catches fire.

  Do it.

  He sent a telepathic warning to the others a split second before fire erupted in a circle around her feet and jetted up. It stopped just short of the ceiling and the man holding her jumped away with a cry, gripping his head in both hands.

  For a moment Stine’s face reflected fanatic enthrallment. Then he fired.

  Roaring, Zach leapt forward, taking the older man by surprise. They fell to the ground with a crash that forced all the air out of his chest and knocked Stine out. He rolled to his feet, and thankfully Stine’s shot had missed. Mallory was still on her feet, still surrounded by fire. Brax was directing th
e roundup of the guards they’d taken by surprise.

  “Mallory,” Zach said, raising his voice over the crackle of the blaze and moving as close as he dared. The heat was intense. He hoped she was okay in there. “Baby, we’re safe now. Let the fire go.”

  She didn’t respond, didn’t acknowledge him at all.

  Mallory!

  Zach? Her mental reply was weak.

  Turn off the fire, Mallory, he ordered. He made his tone hard and cold, hoping to get through to her. It worked. The fire abruptly cut out. He caught her as she fell, unconscious and a little singed around the edges.

  “Take her home,” Brax said. “We’ll take care of this.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Bright sunlight poured through the bedroom window, making her wince and roll over to bury her face in the pillow and pull the blankets over her head. They were immediately yanked back and a hand tapped her ass. She groaned.

  “Time to get up, baby,” Zach whispered close to her ear.

  “No,” she whined. “Vacation. Remember? I’m sleeping in.”

  “If you do that you’ll miss the Stirling debriefing.”

  The memory of the previous night came back in a rush. She jerked up, clutching the sheet over her breasts as her head whirled. The dizziness would pass. It was a result of all the power she’d expended yesterday, but for the moment she squeezed her eyes shut and prayed it would pass sooner rather than later.

  “What time is it?” she asked, daring to crack open one eye. Zach perched on the edge of the bed, torso turned toward her as he visually checked her over. He was in physician mode.

  “Dizzy? Anything else?”

  “No. The time?” she prodded.

  “Noon. We’re meeting over lunch.”

  “You let me sleep for twelve hours?” She couldn’t believe he hadn’t woken her up every hour to check her out.

  “You needed to sleep, and our bond is fully functioning again.”

  Right. All he had to do was open his mind and the bond and he’d know if she was in trouble. She wasn’t ready to talk about the implications of that yet. He nodded.