Chapter 9
1900 Words
Chapter Nine
When Sadie awoke, Declan was no longer by her side. She felt a pang of sadness at waking up alone. The makeshift bed of leaves felt cold and empty without him.
She emerged from the cave to find him gathering up their meager possessions, obviously getting ready to leave. “Looks like you figured out our next move.”
He looked up from what he was doing and grinned at her. “Morning, gorgeous.”
She laughed and ran her fingers through her tangled hair. “Oh, please. I look like crap.”
Declan closed the distance between them and gathered her up in his arms. “You look like a little slice of heaven.” He punctuated the compliment with a kiss.
When he broke the kiss, she leaned her head against his chest. “I wish we didn’t have to leave this place. Is that weird?”
“That’s not weird at all. I know exactly what you mean. But we’ve got to get moving.”
She nodded. “Where are we going?”
“We’re heading back to the Sanctuary.”
She pulled away from him, panic flaring in her chest. “You said we couldn’t go back there. They’ll be waiting for us.”
“Yeah,” he said grimly. “That’s what I’m counting on. We need answers. Whoever they left behind, they’ll have those answers.”
“It’s not like they’re just going to tell you everything.”
“I’ll ask nicely.”
The comment had a sinister tone to it. Sadie felt like she was catching a glimpse of the soldier in him. It was so different than the man she’d come to know in the past few days. There was a hard edge to him now, sharp and dangerous.
“And what if there’s too many of them?”
He shook his head. “I doubt they left a whole army of guys back there. It’s probably just two or three guys.”
“Probably?”
“Well, it’s what I would do. If I’m wrong, we’ll just have to improvise. Besides, it’s a long walk to the city. Too long. We need a vehicle.”
“The van?”
“Correct.”
Sadie sighed. “So the Sanctuary it is. At least I can look in on the animals. They should almost be out of food at this point.”
“We’ll make sure they’re taken care of, before whatever comes after.”
“Thank you. I can’t let anything happen to them. It would break me.”
Declan walked over to her and placed his hands on her shoulders. His eyes locked with hers. “That’s exactly how I feel about you. Above all, I need you to stay safe. None of this matters to me if you get hurt in the process.”
“I can handle myself. Don’t worry.” She looked back at him defiantly.
“Well, one way or another, we’re about to find out.”
Sadie and Declan lurked in the tree line around the Sanctuary, not too far from where they’d entered the forest three days ago. The setting sun cast a golden glow over the Sanctuary grounds, while keeping them wreathed in shadow.
Declan surveyed the grounds. His eyes alert and focused. Sadie couldn’t see any movement around the main building.
“Looks clear to me,” she said, eager to check on her home.
“Wait,” Declan said. “They’re here. Look.”
He pointed towards the main building. Sadie saw nothing. “What am I looking for?”
“I forget sometimes that my eyesight is better than most humans. There are shapes moving inside. I can see them through the windows.”
“Can you tell me how many?”
“No. I can’t be sure. We’ll have to draw them out somehow. Come on.”
He guided her south along the tree line, staying just inside the shadows as they moved. They edged around until the front of the main building came into view. A black SUV was parked in front. The vehicle was empty.
Declan searched the ground and came up with a flat, heavy stone. “You think you can hit the SUV from here?”
“Definitely.”
He looked at her, unconvinced. “Are you sure?”
“We were state champs in softball four years running. I could make that throw in my sleep.”
He nodded curtly. “Perfect. I’m going to swing around to the back of the main building. Wait exactly five minutes, then throw that rock at the SUV. It should set the alarm off.”
“What if it doesn’t have an alarm?”
“I’m sure it does. But just in case, maybe aim for one of the windows. Once you do that, they’re going to come running and I’ll sneak up behind them.”
“Then what do I do?”
“Then your job is done. Fall back into the trees and keep hidden. I’ll take care of the rest.”
Sadie frowned. “What, that’s it? I can help more than that.”
“Please don’t argue with me. I can move in quietly, take them out one by one. But I have to know you’re safe. Promise me you’ll do as I ask.”
“Okay, I promise I’ll stay safe.”
That seemed to satisfy him. He hadn’t caught the fact that Sadie had only promised to stay safe. She hadn’t promised to retreat in the woods. If she had to get involved, she would. That wouldn’t be breaking her promise.
“Okay, five minutes.”
“Got it.”
Declan slipped away into the dark woods, merging with the shadows so quickly he might as well have been invisible. Sadie looked down at her watch and started counting down the seconds.
The next five minutes were the longest of her life. The second hand ticked slowly, as if time itself were stretching out. Yet somehow, when the time limit was up, she wasn’t ready.
The rock felt heavier in her hand than it did five minutes ago. The distance to the SUV seemed too far. She took a deep breath and reminded herself that Declan was counting on her. She couldn’t let him down. If she couldn’t be brave for herself, she could be brave for him.
She took aim with the rock, choosing the driver’s side window as her target. She whispered the name of her guardian angel, Seraphina, praying her aim would be true. Then she threw the rock as hard as she could.
The sound of shattering glass ripped through the quiet dusk, followed by the annoying blare of the vehicle’s alarm. It was so much louder than she’d expected. There was no way the men inside could miss it.
Sadie ducked quickly behind a tree, only peeking her eyes out around the side of the trunk. Three men in suits swarmed from the main building’s front doors, rifles held up at the ready.
Two of them went to investigate the vehicle while one stayed back on the front steps, covering them. A dark shadow appeared behind the lone gunman. It had to be Declan. Surprisingly, he was in human form. Then she remembered that it was painful for him to shift with the poison in his veins.
The shadow slid up behind the unaware guard, and the man dropped silently to the ground. It was quick and efficient. Sadie didn’t want to think about whether the man would ever stand up again. These men had attacked her home. Whatever happened to them, it was what they deserved.
She watched with baited breath as Declan crept up behind the next man. His back was to the main building as he inspected the car. His buddy was on the other side of the vehicle, looking in. But one glance up and the second man would see Declan.
Her lion was quick, but he wasn’t faster than a hail of gunfire. If they noticed him, he was as good as dead. She couldn’t let that happen.
Sadie wracked her brain for something to do. Some way to help. There was only one thing she could think of.
She jumped out from behind the tree and shouted, “Hey assholes! Over here!”
Two surprised faces turned to look at her. The men swung the barrels of their guns to point at her. She dropped to the ground with her hands over her head, as if that would stop what was coming.
Gunshots filled the air like thunder. Bullets whizzed over her head, ripping through the air around her. She heard them tearing at the trees behind her and the dirt on either side of her. Then it stopped.
When she dared to raise her head, she saw the two men sprawled on the ground, not moving. Declan was running toward her, shouting her name.
Sadie lay on the ground, her body shaking. She looked like she was crying. He knelt down beside her and lifted her up.
“Sadie, are you alright? Are you hurt?”
She looked up to face him and he realized he’d been wrong. She wasn’t crying. She was laughing. “Holy s**t, that was intense,” she said between fits of laughter.
“Did they get you? Are you in shock?”
She shook her head. “I’m fine. But damn, what a rush.”
“Don’t tell me this is fun for you,” he said, frowning.
“No, I mean, not when it was happening. But now that it’s over, I feel amazing. I feel alive.”
“You are just full of surprises, Sadie Fisher.”
“You’re telling me. I’m just as surprised as you are.”
“That was either the bravest thing I’ve ever seen or the stupidest.” She shot him a hurt look. “I’m pretty sure you’re not stupid.”
She grinned at him, eyes shining with excitement. “Well, maybe it’s a bit of both. But you needed help. What was I supposed to do?”
“I don’t know. But you did good. I’m proud of you.”
She glanced over at the three men lying on the ground. “Any of them alive?”
He nodded. “All of them. I just knocked them out.”
“Good. They probably deserve to die, but that’s not for us to decide. What do we do with them now?”
He thought about it. “We need to interrogate them, once they wake up. So for now, I figure we’d find some rope and tie them up.”
“I have a better idea.”
“Is that right?”
She nodded. “Yes. Remember where we first met.”
He smiled. “The cages. That’s perfect.”
She fished in the backpack and pulled out a ring of keys. “Here. Throw them in the cages and then meet me in the house.”
“What for?”
“I’ve got a surprise for you. Just hurry.”
Declan strode into Sadie’s house less than fifteen minutes later. He’d secured the guards in separate cages easily, since they were out cold. He had a feeling they wouldn’t be waking up any time soon.
“Sadie?” he called out. Curiosity gnawed at him as he wondered what kind of surprise she might have in store for him. The fight was over. There was nothing he needed at that moment.
But she’d been so sure when she told him. So pleased with herself. It had to be something good.
“I’m back here,” she responded from the recesses of the house.
He picked his way through the dark hallway, keeping an eye out for whatever she had for him. The house was quiet and still. All the more so after the thundering sound of gunfire from before.
He could still feel the adrenaline pumping through his veins, heightening his senses and filling him with a tense energy. He felt like he needed to run ten miles, to climb a mountain, or take on the whole goddamn world.
It wasn’t the first time he’d felt like this. He’d had plenty of chances to experience this rush of excitement after battle. He knew it would wear off eventually, but in the meantime, he could enjoy it.
Sadie seemed to feel it, too. Instead of freaking out after the close call with the gunmen, she’d been filled with an intense joy. Maybe she was more like him than he’d imagined, finding thrill in danger and excitement in taking risks.
“Where are you?” he called out.
“I’m in my bedroom. Hurry up! I think you’ll want to see this.”
He lengthened his strides down the hall and walked through the only open door. Sadie stood there in the dim light of dusk wearing nothing but her underwear and a smile. She held her arms out to either side of her with a flourish, as if presenting herself to him.
“Surprise!” she said, laughing.
Desire surged within him. All the energy from the adrenaline rush now turned into s****l energy. He was rock hard in an instant.
“Holy s**t, you’re beautiful,” he breathed.
“No time for talk,” she said. “I don’t know what’s gotten into me, but I need you to take me to bed right now.”
“Are you sure—”
“Right f*****g now,” she commanded.
He didn’t need her to ask him again. Declan swept her up in his arms and pulled her into bed.
- Writer
