by Bianca D’Arc
*
Georgio got up from the bed when Matilda dozed off. His inner bear needed to prowl the perimeter, to make certain they were secure. It was all part of caring for his mate. The thought made his chest bloom with joy…and hope. The ember had fanned into a flame that burned steadily in his soul.
He had a mate. At long last and against all odds. He’d found a woman who was absolutely perfect for him.
He wasn’t sure she felt the same way, but at least now, he had hope, again. He wouldn’t blame her if she rejected a cripple like himself, but he thought maybe—just maybe—the bond between mates would mean that there was a chance for them. For a future. Together.
Georgio left the bedroom silently and moved around the bunker. He’d been over the perimeter once already, but that had been a fast pass when they first arrived. He was more thorough, now, and he stopped at Frank’s door to check on the older man. He knocked softly, but there was no response. When he peeked in on the human, he discovered that Frank was sleeping deeply and didn’t appear to be in any distress.
Satisfied that they were secure and that there was nothing Frank needed at the moment, Georgio went back to the guest bedroom he was apparently sharing with Matilda, only to find that she was gone from the bed when he arrived. Only place she could be was in the attached bathroom, so he sat down on the edge of the bed to wait for her to come out. Nerves got the better of him, and he imagined all sorts of confrontational scenes where she came to her senses and kicked him out of the bedroom.
He wouldn’t blame her. He was a broken man, physically. He’d never walk right, again. Not in his human form and not even in bear form.
When she came back into the room, her sleepy smile nearly undid him. “Everything secure?” she asked, yawning as she walked, lusciously naked, toward the bed.
He had to clear his throat before words would come out. “Frank’s sleeping, and the bunker is totally locked down.”
She yawned, again, as she got under the covers and fluffed her pillow with one hand. “I’d check it myself, but I trust you.” A strange little smile touched the corners of her mouth. “That’s nice, you know. I haven’t had anyone to depend on in a very long time, but my lioness recognizes your ability to keep us safe. You should be flattered.”
“I am.” He couldn’t help the rumble of his bear that sounded through his voice. He wanted to say more, but he couldn’t find the words to express the feelings her simple words inspired in his soul.
“Come to bed. I don’t think we could be any safer than inside this mountain.” She yawned, again, and he realized she was finally relaxed enough to sleep fully. A deep, healing sleep was just what she needed, and just what she hadn’t been able to achieve since her escape.
He might want to talk more—if he could get the words out—about their new relationship status, but he’d be a cad not to let the woman sleep. She’d been living on the run, in the wild, just surviving, for way too long. He wouldn’t interrupt the first night of true rest she would have. His bear wanted to care for her, see to her safety and recovery—just as much as his human half did.
He got in the bed beside her and drew her close. She didn’t resist as he spooned her from behind. In fact, she snuggled into him as if they’d done this a million times before. Everything was just so damned easy with her. As if it was meant to be.
He marveled, again, at the way they fit together and how blessed he was to have found his true mate. Now, all he had to do was get her to agree. Tricky, but not completely out of the realm of possibility…if he played his cards right.
He kissed the crown of her head and reached behind him to turn out the light on the bedside table. Before he turned back and adjusted the covers up over them both, she was fast asleep in his arms.
Georgio woke just before dawn to the low beep of something on the bedside table. He reached for the communication unit he’d taken from the comms room the night before that would alert him if anything triggered one of the alarms.
“What is it?” Matilda asked, her voice rough with sleep. Georgio couldn’t resist bending down to place a gentle kiss on her forehead.
“I think the cavalry has arrived, but I’ll need to check the camera feed from outside to make sure. Go back to sleep. I can handle this,” he told her gently, then smiled. “And, if I can’t, I’ll give you a call, okay?” He had to give that respect to her inner lioness.
Matilda wasn’t a woman who would sit on the sidelines while the male protected her. No, she was fierce in her own right. She’d expect to be part of any defensive—or offensive—action he might take. He wouldn’t take that away from her. He knew what it felt like to be discounted by your allies.
His buddies in Grizzly Cove might not think they were doing anything bad by not including him in their operations after his injury, but it had hurt all the same. He knew they were doing it from a place of care…even love…but it still rankled. He loved them all as brothers, but they were still thick-headed, stubborn bears most of the time, and they didn’t see how their consideration, after he’d been disabled, had hurt more than the injury, in some ways.
He wouldn’t do that to Matilda. She might’ve been hurt, but she would never be discounted. Especially by him.
Matilda could have gone back to sleep after Georgio limped out of the room, but it wasn’t in her nature to let him do all the work. They’d had a glorious night together, but now, it was time to get back to reality. Much as she wanted to live in the daydream of being in love with the big bear, she didn’t think it could work in the harsh light of day. Not after everything they’d both been through.
They were both damaged goods, if she was being brutally honest with herself. The only difference between them was that a lot of his damage was visible on the outside. Hers was mostly internal. Psychological. Down deep, where it hid in the darkness of her innermost thoughts. It was a scary place that might never fully recover from what had been done to her.
Georgio had had more time than she to get over his capture, confinement and torture. She wanted to get to a place where she could cope better with what had happened to her, but she suspected it would take time. Much as she wanted to lean on Georgio’s seemingly limitless strength, her inner lion wouldn’t be happy until she could stand on her own feet, strong and whole—or as close as she could come to it—once again.
She showered and dressed quickly, wanting to check on Frank as soon as possible. Luckily, she wasn’t one to take a long time getting ready in the morning. Five minutes of soap and water followed by three minutes of throwing on clothes, and she was out the door of her borrowed room. In borrowed clothes. Well…it couldn’t be helped.
Her first stop was Frank’s bedroom. She knocked lightly, not sure if Frank would be awake yet. If he was still sleeping, she wouldn’t wake him, but she would still check on his rest. If he was awake, it was only polite to warn him of her impending entry into his private space.
“Who is it?” Frank’s words were groggy and a bit slurred. Matilda was both relieved to hear him speaking and concerned by his grouchy tone.
“It’s just me, Matilda. May I come in?” she replied as politely as she could. It wouldn’t hurt to humor the older man. After all, he was the owner of this amazing bunker. And he’d been her friend when she had nobody else.
“Go ahead,” Frank replied, his tone weary.
She opened the door and went inside, seeking out her friend. “How are you feeling?”
Frank looked worse today, if that was possible. Half of his face was swollen, which was probably what had made his words slur.
“I feel about as good as I probably look. Do me a favor,” he went on before she could say anything in reply. “I’ve got a supply of antibiotics and painkillers in the bathroom. I could use some of both.”
“Of course,” Matilda replied immediately.
She hadn’t really thought about it last night, but humans were prone to infections, and drugs could help them feel less pain. Those drugs didn’t always work o
n shifters.
When she came back into the bedroom, Georgio was there, talking quietly to Frank. Georgio took the bottles of medicine from her when she approached Frank’s bedside. Georgio read the labels and gave a low whistle between his teeth.
“This is the good stuff, eh, Frank?” Georgio took over, rummaging through the first-aid kit, which was still out on the small table from last night. He selected a needle and expertly drew a measured dose of medication from one of the ampoules. “Good thing for you I’ve had military medic training,” he told Frank as he leaned over the older man’s bedside to administer the shot. “This will take care of any bad germs, and I’m going to give you a nice dose of painkiller that ought to last until we can get you to a real doctor.”
“I’ll stay in bed, but don’t give me anything that’ll put me to sleep,” Frank insisted. “I want to know what’s going on.”
“No problem,” Georgio replied, already getting another sterile needle from the kit and measuring out the dose of painkiller. He administered that shot, as well, and then disposed of the materials he’d used. “The good news is, we now have allies. The only possible downside is that they’re on the surface and we’re down here.”
“These are the mercenaries Sam Kinkaid was sending?” Frank asked, the lines of pain around his mouth seeming to lessen just the tiniest bit. “How can you be sure of them?”
“They’re ex-soldiers. I’ve worked with many of them. I’ve trusted them with my life in the past, and I have no reason to believe that they’d have switched sides to work for the enemy,” Georgio answered at once.
“Who is the enemy?” Frank asked, his gaze narrowing on Georgio.
“Evil, my friend. And anyone who works for it.”
Frank’s eyes went from Georgio to Matilda and back again. “You sound very sure of that. How can you know who, of any of us, is truly evil?”
Georgio shook his head and smiled softly. “When you’ve been around as long as I have and seen the things I’ve seen, you know. There is no question in my mind. Matilda’s, either.” Georgio looked at her, his face, with its small scars, speaking of understanding. Of caring. Of…love?
“He’s right,” Matilda said, moving closer so she could stand next to Georgio as they both looked down at Frank. “Evil shows itself in so many ways. By its actions, we know it.”
“Forgive me,” Frank said, “but that sounds as if you speak from personal experience.”
“I do,” Matilda replied in a clear voice, her lioness backing her up internally. “I wasn’t always the hot mess you find before you,” she went on, her smile and casual words inviting them to join in her humor.
“You’re anything but a mess, my dear,” Frank told her, smiling back just a bit, despite his cut lip.
“Sam Kinkaid is my cousin,” she clarified. “He and I are a lot alike.”
She wouldn’t go into full detail about the Alpha lion spirits they both contained within their souls, but it was enough to let Frank think about the way Sam presented himself to the human world. That alone made him formidable. Matilda had been pretty formidable until her abduction, though she had been more focused on her brother and family than on the business Sam headed.
“Or, I should say, we were a lot alike,” she went on. “I was enjoying a day out with my little brother when we were both abducted.” She said it fast, like ripping off a bandage, and tried not to let Frank’s appalled reaction stop her from finally telling him her story. “We were held for…well…a long time. I lost track of the days. Then, finally, there was a commotion, and one of the others being held prisoner with us was able to get out of his cell. He freed us, and we escaped together, but I’d been hurt by our captors, and I couldn’t run with them. I begged them to go on without me. I know it was hard for that other man to leave me behind, but my brother had to come first. He’s just a kid. He needed the best shot of getting out of there alive, and I was slowing them down. Plus, I can usually take pretty good care of myself. They left, and I heard later that Eamon—my little brother—made it out safely. I went to ground and made my way overland until I ended up here. You know the rest,” she said in a soft voice, glancing away. She’d told the bare bones of the story. It was all she could manage for now.
“My dear…” Frank seemed at a loss for words. He tried, again. “I had no idea…” He cleared his throat. “I mean, I knew something had chased you into my woods, but I never dreamed…” He lifted one hand, reaching out to her, but let it drop when she didn’t move closer. “I would’ve called in help for you, had I known. Medical help, at the very least.”
“Not your fault,” Matilda told him. “I was pretty traumatized by the whole experience. I didn’t want to be near anyone for a very long time.”
Silence held for a moment before Frank spoke, again. “I know how that feels. I can’t stand to be around most people anymore, but you two… You’re okay. I have no idea why, but you two are almost comforting to be around.” Frank shook his head. “No matter. This isn’t about me. What can I do to help you?”
Matilda smiled at him. “You’ve already done it. You were my friend when I needed one,” she told him. “You let me be at peace while I healed. You didn’t chase me off or ask too many questions. You made all the right moves, my friend, and for that, I thank you.”
Frank waved away her thanks, but she could tell he was gratified by her words. After a pause, he spoke. “So, you’ve seen evil firsthand. Those people who…abducted you… Are they still on the loose? Is that who came looking for you at my cabin?”
“I’m sorry, but yes,” she told him, feeling the weight of having been the cause of his beating. “You’ll never know how sorry I am that they hurt you. Can you forgive me?”
“Forgive you?” Frank looked surprised, though almost his whole face was swollen and bruised. “You didn’t do this, Mattie. Those goons did. And I, for one, won’t take it lying down.” He laughed, which turned into a ragged cough. “Well, I suppose, I’ll have to stay in this bed for a while, but you know what I mean. It’s time to turn the tables and punish the guilty.”
“I’m all for that,” Matilda said, kneeling at the side of Frank’s bed and taking his hand in hers. “But I’m still sorry you were hurt.”
“You’re a sweet kid,” Frank said, smiling somewhat lopsidedly.
“Frank, I’m a tracker,” Georgio said after a silent pause where Frank squeezed Matilda’s hand with more strength than she’d thought he could muster. “I came here tracking Matilda, but having found her, I’m more than willing—heck, I’m eager—to put my skills to use in finding and then bringing justice to the men who did this to you, and whoever they work for.”
“Is Kinkaid paying you?” Frank asked, his eyes narrowing.
“He’s reimbursing my expenses for finding Matilda, but there weren’t many,” Georgio admitted readily. “But I’m not the kind of guy who needs to be paid for every little thing. If I were, I’d have signed up with the Wraiths. They’re the mercenaries, not me. Nor any of my friends who live in Grizzly Cove. We do what’s right simply because it is right.”
“I wouldn’t sell Moore’s men short on that score,” Matilda warned him as she stood up and moved to stand next to Georgio. “From what Sam says, they only take on assignments where they’re sure they’re fighting on the right side. That’s unique. And I can’t blame them for accepting payment. After all, they’re putting their lives on the line, and they have a lot of travel and equipment expenses, I’m sure.”
“All right, all right,” Georgio gave in with a small grin. “You’ve got a point. And I fought and trained alongside some of those guys while I was still in the service. I know they’ve got heart. Frankly, I’m glad your cousin hired them. At least we know they’re all above board and nobody’s a double-agent.”
“You’re that sure of them?” Frank asked.
Georgio nodded solemnly. “I’d stake my life on it.”
“Well, then. Did you say they’d arrived?” Frank sounded more and
more alert as the conversation went on.
Chapter Ten
Frank gave Georgio a temporary code and instructions for getting in and out of the maze they’d taken to get to the bunker. Matilda stayed behind to help Frank while Georgio went up top to interface directly with Moore’s men. Once he had a better grasp of the situation outside the bunker, they’d talk about whether or not it was safer to move Frank out, now, or wait until after whatever action they planned had taken place.
Georgio went up top and signaled the leader of the Wraith team. They rendezvoused in the woods adjacent to the cabin. Frank had given Georgio instructions to an alternate exit that brought him out near the base of the mountain. It was a tight squeeze, but he managed it and marveled at how well Frank and his people had hidden various entrances to the old mine. It really was like something out of an old spy novel. Or maybe a superhero story.
The point man on this was a fellow named Arlo that Georgio knew of old. He was a werewolf, but Georgio didn’t hold that against him. He was a bit smaller than Georgio, but the man had skills. This Georgio knew firsthand.
Arlo met Georgio in the woods. Georgio didn’t see any sign of the rest of the team—nor did he expect he would. The Wraiths had earned their nickname and lethal reputation with good reason. They were silent and stealthy. Even more so than other shifters because they had each trained hard to be the best of the best at invisible infiltrations.
Some of the men had other specialist skills. Some were trackers. Some snipers. Others had underwater prowess, and many of them had skills with explosives that went beyond most experts in the field. All were expert martial artists and sharp shooters. That went without saying. All in all, Georgio respected the team, made up mostly of wolves with a few other odd shifters thrown in. They weren’t exactly like the all-bear Spec Ops team Big John Marshall had put together, but they were similar.
“Where’d you come from?” Arlo asked with a tilted grin when they met up.
