by Kris Norris
“How did you even find us? God, you can’t have been searching all this time?”
“Of course I have. You’re my bitch. Fortunately, Chad and Bobby caught a glimpse of you a few days ago while out on a recon trip. They’d just found another lovely lady in need of rescuing when you and those men popped out of the woods then continued right on your way. When he told me, it didn’t take long to figure out you were jumping from cabin to cabin.” He stepped out of his pants, grabbing the length of his cock through his underwear. “Damn smart idea. Traveling the trails. Shacking up in those remote buildings. Never would have put it together otherwise. But we knew you’d have to risk getting supplies sooner or later. Guess I just got lucky.”
“They’ll kill you. Maybe not today, or next week. But they’ll kill you. Am I really worth that?”
“I’d like to see them try.” He sauntered back over. “You going to play nice, darling?”
“Not with you. Never with you.”
Beau shrugged again. “Your loss. I can take your ass before I fuck your cunt. Makes no difference to me. And since I was able to take the time to properly restrain you… Kicking and screaming isn’t going to save you this time.”
Beau slapped her across the face, hard enough to dot her vision with black spots. A ringing noise roared in her ears as his weight settled on top of her. She bucked against his hold, finally resorting to head-butting him when he managed to wedge her legs apart. No fucking way she’d allow him to touch her short of being dead.
“Fuck, bitch. That hurt.” He pushed up, wiping at his brow, sneering at the smear of blood. “So I guess you want it rough. I can do that.”
He curled his hands around her neck, the crushing pressure dimming her vision. She squirmed beneath him, arching her back, nearly tossing him off her when the door crashed open, the wooden slab bouncing off the wall. He rolled off the edge, freeing one of her hands as he yanked her against his chest, the cold edge of a blade pressed against her neck. She coughed around the burning pain in her throat, blinking away the fuzziness as Ham and a woman stepped into the room. Ham’s gaze flew to her, his hands white knuckling around his weapon.
He took a single step forward. “I believe you have something that belongs with me. And I’ve come to get it back.”
Beau openly measured up the woman, dismissing her with nothing more than a passing glance. “Funny how our beliefs aren’t so crazy when you say them?”
“I said with me, not to me, asshole. Morgan’s our partner by choice. Not force. Now put down the knife and step aside.”
“Do you honestly think I’m afraid of you? Or that you have any power here?”
He increased the pressure, and she gasped when the tip broke the skin, a stinging pain flaring to life.
Ham growled. “Fucking big mistake, you bastard.”
His hand flicked, a flash of silver glinting off the lamplight before Beau grunted, falling back against the headboard. The pressure from the knife eased up, but he maintained his hold on her, his foul breath washing over her face.
“You fucking dick! She’ll pay for that.”
His armed tensed as he drew the knife across her chest, leaving a thin red line in its wake. Another flash sparkled in the room, this time knocking him hard against the wall. The woman flicked her wrist, slicing the rope holding Morgan’s other arm. She tugged on the line, breaking through the last few fibers before rolling off the bed, cursing as she hit the floor. The pain from the earlier impact pulsed through her body, and she had to hiss out several breaths just to gain her hands and knees.
The bed creaked as Ham flew over to it, grabbing Beau by the throat before tossing him across the room. Ham glanced back at the other woman. “Do me a favor and ensure the creep doesn’t leave.” He turned toward her before looking at the woman again. “But don’t kill him, Harper.”
She stuck her tongue out at him. “Buzzkill.”
Gentle hands cupped Morgan’s waist, lifting her up then placing her on the edge of the bed. He knelt in front of her, framing her face with his hands. “God, baby. Are you okay?”
Morgan smiled, the tears burning her eyes breaking free. “You came. But how…”
Ham frowned. “Was there ever any doubt?”
She shook her head, not resisting when he gathered her close, rocking slowly back and forth. Her heart warmed from his touch, and she knew she’d gladly spend eternity wrapped in his arms. “Gunner? Wolfe?”
“They’re fine. Gunner’s with Cogan’s crew. Wolfe’s taking care of Bobby and that other creep. Said something about sticking a baton up their asses.”
“But Gunner got hit by that damn truck!”
“Take more than a bump to get rid of us. Honestly. He’s fine. He’s got some busted ribs and looks like a damn punching bag, but he’ll be fine. I’m more concerned with you at the moment.” Ham kissed her forehead. “Did he hurt you?”
“I’m okay.”
He eased her back, studying her face before anger colored his cheeks. “The fucker hit you.”
He pushed to his feet, marching over to Beau. The man cowered on the floor, the hilt of twin blades poking out from his shoulder and bicep.
Ham hauled his ass up, tossing him against a small side table. “You like hitting women, asshole? Think it makes you some kind of big man? How about we go a few rounds.”
Beau turned just as Ham spun, kicking the guy in the jaw, sending him careening against a wall. Beau bounced, staggering forward when Ham jabbed him in the face, knocking him back on his ass. Beau’s head connected with the wall then lolled to one side as his eyes glazed over.
Ham bent down, fisting his hand around Beau’s shirt. “You’re a disgrace to what’s left of the human race. And not worth my time.”
He yanked out the knives, wiping the blades on Beau’s shirt before moving over to Morgan and scooping her off the bed. “Come on. We’ve got a car waiting.”
Morgan looked at Beau. Blood gurgled out of the wound to his shoulder, slowly pooling on the carpet. “What about him?”
“Bastard won’t last long at this rate. And we busted down the gates. Camp will fall by morning.”
“We can’t leave him. What if he survives? What…”
Hamilton drank in the rest of her words as his mouth covered hers. Morgan gave herself over to the kiss, feeling the room spin slightly when he released her.
He dropped a peck on her nose. “Looks like you and Gunner have matching concussions. And you’ve got bruises to spare.”
She looked away as pain constricted her chest. “What if I lost…”
“Shhh. Whatever happens, we’re here. All that matters is that you’re safe. Besides, I’m sure the little guy’s fine. Gunner took the brunt of the impact.”
“But… Wait. Little guy?”
“With all the testosterone pumping through the room, gotta be a boy.” He pulled her close. “No matter what, we’ll love you. And we’ll get through it.”
“And Beau?”
“Doesn’t deserve your pity. Or another moment of our lives. He’s a good as dead.”
She glanced at his body then looked away, resting her head on Ham’s chest. He headed for the doorway when the floor creaked behind him. He spun just as a blur of silver streaked past them, striking Beau between the eyes as he pushed to his feet, a small knife in his hand. The creep’s head snapped back, the eerie sound of bone crunching echoing through the room before his body fell limp on the floor, eyes staring blankly toward the door.
Ham turned, smiling at Wolfe standing in the doorway, another knife in his hand. Wolfe crossed over to them, kissing Morgan then turning to Hamilton and claiming his mouth.
Wolfe growled, trailing his hand down Morgan’s cheek. “Don’t disappear on us again. You just aged me ten years, sweetheart.”
She nodded, glancing at the other woman—Harper—leaning against the doorframe, looking far too amused.
Harper motioned to them. “You three good now or do you all need some alone time?”
Wolfe arched a brow. “Like we haven’t noticed how much Cogan, Sully and Jake touch you.”
“I’m actually more interested in the way you touch Hamilton. Wondering how I could get the guys on board with that.” She glanced at the body. “Assuming you’re done, we should go before Sully burns down the entire camp. The man tends to be a bit studious in his job.”
Harper took off down the hallway. Morgan watched her move, noting the way her body flowed through every motion. She gave Ham a quizzical raise of her brow.
Hamilton smiled. “Don’t worry. She seems pretty sweet once you get over the fact she’s basically a trained assassin.”
“I heard that. Wasn’t my primary objective.”
He chuckled. “She’s with another team from our compound. We just need to get back to the Hummer and we can head home. And before you ask, we’re taking the women and any men who might be victims as well.”
“How did you get the women to leave?” Morgan tightened her hold as he jogged down the stairs, still carrying her as if she weighed nothing at all. “They wouldn’t even talk to us before.”
Ham shrugged. “Turns out this new strain, as they call it, is afraid of fire. The ladies didn’t seem to have any qualms about leaving once Jake set the damn barn alight.”
Harper popped up beside him. “The boys know what they’re doing. Trust me. They’ve got it down to a fine art.”
Morgan didn’t miss the loving tone in Harper’s voice when she spoke about the other men, and she couldn’t help but wonder if they were one of these multi-partner groups Gunner had mentioned.
Ham carried her out the door, stopping at the glow of orange filling the sky. Flames crackled along the wood of the barn and in various piles throughout the camp, heating the cool air by several degrees. Orange flames colored the darkness, dancing amidst the shadows as the scent of smoke filled the air.
Wolfe huffed. “Fuck, Harper wasn’t kidding.”
Ham hurried across the grounds, heading for the gate. The line of burning debris had narrowed the exit into a thin corridor banked on all sides by intense flames. They’d gotten halfway to the Hummer when Harper stopped. Hamilton pulled up beside her, brow furrowed as he watched at her stare at the roaring fire.
He looked at Morgan then gave Harper a nudge. “Harper? Something wrong?”
She swallowed noisily, clenching and releasing her fists as she cursed under her breath. “Shit. Sully always makes the damn fire line into a bloody wall of flames. I swear the man doesn’t seem to know when to stop.”
“They really are better at putting them out, I suppose.”
She huffed. “That’s not it. They like the look of it, the smell. The way it seems to breathe and take on a life of its own. It’s a damn obsession.”
Wolfe shrugged. “They’re firemen. It’s in their blood.”
“I know that, jackass.” She took a couple of steps back when one of the piles flared higher. “You go ahead. I’ll find a better way around. Double check everyone’s out then meet you at the car.”
Wolfe blocked her way. “We don’t split up. That’s not how we do things. And don’t give me that look. I don’t care that you were an operative. We stay together.” He glanced at the open space between the flames. “They’ve left us enough room to get out. I say we take it.”
Harper’s eyes widened as she shook her head. Too fast to seem natural. “It’s too close.”
Morgan tapped Ham’s shoulder, and he begrudgingly set her on her feet. She moved over to the other woman, tentatively touching her arm. “You okay?”
Harper muttered under her breath, finally meeting Morgan’s gaze. “I don’t like fire, okay? Not this kind.”
“But aren’t you involved with these firemen you keep talking about?”
The woman laughed. “Trust me. No one gets the irony of it more than me. And I love that the boys are so damn good at what they do, but…” She rolled her shoulders as if trying to get out of her own skin.
Wolfe closed the distance. “I can carry you.”
Harper glared at him. “I’ll just find a way around.”
“Harper…”
“Trust me. This won’t end well for either of us. Not under these circumstances, and I’d rather not hurt you seeing as you’re a friend. I’m fine. I’ll go around.”
She took another step back when a silhouette appeared in front of them, his body dark against the glaring orange mass. He darted down the corridor, moving swiftly toward them. His face blurred into view as he jogged over to them, stopping at Harper’s side.
“Shit. I told Sully he’d been a bit overzealous. You know how he gets, love.”
Harper nodded, though it looked forced. “It’s too high, Jake. I’ll go around.”
The man smiled lovingly at her, stepping in front of her as he took her hands. “We’ll go together.” He scooped her up. “Trust me.”
She hit him on the chest then wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her head into his shoulder. “You know I do. And I swear you boys are getting payback for this.”
“I love you, Harper.”
She melted against the other man as he turned to them.
Jake glanced at the flames then back to them. “You two okay or should I grab Sully and Cogan to help you both through?”
Wolfe punched Jake in the shoulder. “Fuck off. We’re fine.”
Ham echoed Wolfe’s sentiment, scooping Morgan up again. “Got it covered.”
Morgan scowled. “I can walk, Ham.”
He bent in low. “I know. Just humor me, okay? I already had to watch you and Gunner get trashed by that truck. Cut me a bit of slack. Besides, if I don’t carry you, you know Wolfe will. There’s no getting around this so you might as well make peace with it. And I’d rather not have Wolfe bust my ass for doing it wrong.”
“The man’s going to get it again, anyway.”
“Trust me, that’s not the way he’d take it.” Ham nodded at Jake. “Lead the way. Let’s go home, baby.”
Chapter Eighteen
“What the fuck is taking them so long?” Wolfe paced the length of the walkway. “I swear Ham’s keeping her in there just to screw with us.”
Gunner leaned against the wall, doing his best to ignore the slight bite in his ribs that accompanied every breath as he stared at the door to Abby’s clinic. “I doubt Abby would let him. But you know how women are when they’re together. The exam probably took five minutes and they’ve been chatting ever since.” He chuckled. “I think Abby’s just happy to have another woman here… Well, other than Harper and Emersyn, but they’re both pretty intimidating. Morgan’s more on her level.”
Wolfe grinned at him. “I’m going to tell Morgan you said that and watch her kick your ass.”
Gunner chuckled. “I’d sure as shit let her if it made her smile.” His grin faded slightly. “You really think we got there before Beau had a chance to hurt her?”
Wolfe frowned. “I think so, dressed as she was, however skimpy. But I also think the bastard did more than she ever admitted. Not that it matters. Fucker’s dead. We won. And Morgan seems a bit better every day.”
“Her nightmares have lessened. And damn, did you see her sparring with Ham? The girl’s got moves.”
“Ham’s good that way. Has more patience than we would, and I certainly don’t mind knowing she’s even more badass than she was before.” He glanced at the door. “Though some of that shit will have to stop once she gets further along.”
“Shit, I can’t wait until you tell her that. Talk about an ass kicking.”
Wolfe eyed Gunner. “There’s a few things I’d like done to my ass, but that’s not one of them.”
Gunner’s dick jerked at the thought, making his pants feel overly constricting. They’d been back two weeks, but he’d been in too much pain to enjoy any form of intimate contact with them, despite the never-ending hard-on he’d been walking around with. Morgan had announced that they’d all wait until he could participate, and while that sim
ple act had made him love her and his buddies even more, the sexual tension was definitely at the breaking point. Hell, Wolfe had taken to wearing his shirts over his kakis just to hide the enormous bulge in his pants that didn’t seem to go away, and Gunner knew it was time to suck it up and stake his claim.
He clenched his jaw when a shadow crossed his face. He glanced up. Wolfe hovered well inside his personal space, the man’s blue eyes glinting gray. Gunner’s gaze fell to the man’s lips, his pulse increasing at the thought of tasting them again. Feeling them roam across his body, slipping around his shaft and taking him deep.
Wolfe chuckled. “Hell yeah. I’m into that.”
He leaned forward, taking Gunner’s mouth in a brutal kiss, expending some of the tension straining his muscles. Gunner fisted the man’s hair, keeping the contact rough, loving that he could touch Wolfe harder than Morgan. That the man thrived on the intense contact as much as he did.
A throat cleared behind them and Wolfe seemed to begrudgingly pull back, slapping Gunner’s ass before looking over his shoulder. Gunner shoved the massive man out of the way, flipping him off as he nodded at Colby, Darcy and Barrett. He’d had a meeting with the men, as well as Hunter, Rhys and Kace, as soon as Abby had patched him up, explaining the nature of their group. The men had raised a brow, but hadn’t mentioned a word, and Gunner wasn’t quite sure where they stood.
Colby glanced at Wolfe, chuckling under his breath as his held his hand out to Barrett. “Ten bucks, jackass.”
Barrett cursed, shoving the bill in the other man’s hand before glaring at Gunner. “Two weeks. It fucking took you two weeks to make an open display. You’ve destroyed my faith in you guys. I thought for sure Wolfe would have you pinned to a damn wall inside of a week.”
Gunner furrowed his brow, glancing at Wolfe, but the man merely shrugged. He looked at Barrett. “Am I supposed to have a clue what the hell you’re talking about?”
