The Guardian

by Donna Grant

  Eden opened her lips to speak, but Maks walked out. She stared at the doorway long after he’d gone, thinking of what he’d said. Then she turned her attention to the computer and began doing a deep dive on William Holder.

  20

  He knew the face. But no matter how hard Maks tried to place William Holder in his life, he couldn’t. Maks had always had a way with faces. It was a huge asset as a spy. One that he had used multiple times.

  Now, when he needed it most, his memory failed him. Maks couldn’t figure out why. Or determine why the face of the man seemed to register more than the name. The name William Holder meant absolutely nothing to him. But the face? It meant everything.

  Maks paced his room, his mind sorting through dozens of faces, going back to his earliest years. Yet he kept coming up empty. The more that happened, the more frustrated he became. Then, all of a sudden, he stilled. Every instinct inside him said that he and Eden needed to leave. Immediately.

  He had no idea how long his gut had been yelling at him. If he hadn’t been so damned focused on trying to recall William’s face, he might have heard it sooner. Maks ran from his room and down the stairs. He didn’t yell for Eden to gather her things. Instead, he went to the back room where the monitors were located, the ones connected to the sensors around the property. All was clear.

  For now.

  He spun on his heel and stalked to the office. Eden turned to him. There must have been something on his face, because she immediately closed the laptop, gathered the papers and the pen drives, and stood.

  “Do we have company?” she asked.

  He shook his head. “But we need to go.”

  “Do we take the car?”

  “They’ll have figured out we took it by now. We’ll have to go through the woods.”

  She didn’t bat an eye as she said, “All right.”

  “Give me all of that. Get your things together quickly.”

  “I’ll be right down.”

  Maks looked at the file and pen drive in one hand and the laptop in the other. Eden had made great headway here. He hated to leave it all behind. He had copies, but they wouldn’t contain her notes or anything else. No, it was better if it all came with them. They would just have to be doubly careful about internet connections because the Saints would be scouring the Net for them.

  Eden was down much sooner than he’d expected. “Take the laptop,” he told her.

  She immediately put it into her backpack as he went to find a pack for himself. He put the folders inside, but the pen drives he stuffed into the front pocket of his jeans. Then he went to the pantry and got as much food and water as he could hold and carry for them. When he turned around, Eden was waiting for him with her jacket zipped and her scarf in place.

  He hesitated, because going into the wild in such weather was hazardous at any time, but especially with someone who wasn’t used to it. He took in her jacket. It wasn’t thick enough, but it would keep her warm.

  “I’ll be fine,” she said, lifting her chin as if daring him to call her a liar.

  “It’s going to get cold.”

  She nodded, her gaze never breaking from his. “I know. I can handle it.”

  “We’ll be moving fast.”

  “I’ll keep up.”

  He wanted to believe her, but he couldn’t help but worry about her. “You could remain behind. Tell them I kidnapped you.”

  She walked past him to the back door, then turned to face him. “I know too much now. Besides, I chose my side.”

  “This is real now.”

  “It was real before. Stop arguing and let’s get moving.”

  He strode to her and took her hand to get her attention. There might be time for him to steal another car, but Maks didn’t want to leave Eden behind. So much could happen to her while he was gone.

  Finally, he set his mouth because he realized that he didn’t want her to leave his side. “It’s night, so we’ll have to move as quietly as we can. I won’t leave you behind.”

  “If you do and I die, I’ll haunt you,” she replied with a cheeky grin.

  Maks smiled despite himself. “Ready?”

  “As I’ll ever be.”

  He punched in the code to unlock the doors and ushered Eden outside after grabbing some weapons from his stash. Maks then set another code, one that would blow up the house if someone tried to force themselves in. He didn’t want to lose the house, but it was better that than their lives.

  “Let’s go,” he said as he spun around.

  He sprinted to the forest, Eden right on his heels. It was already dark outside. The Romanian countryside was pitch black. Once inside the cover of the trees, Maks slowed to a walk. There were predators in the woods, and he wasn’t sure there weren’t Saints, as well. He glanced behind him and saw the outline of Eden’s head. Breath billowed from her lips in the cold.

  One of the things he’d done after purchasing the house was to learn routes through the forest. There were two different spots he could get to in order to hide out. One was farther than the other, and unfortunately, that’s the one he was going to. The farther from the house they got, the better at this point. He’d hoped they could stay at least one more day, but they had been on borrowed time from the moment they got off the train in Romania.

  The snow crunched beneath their boots as they slowly made their way. Maks stopped every few minutes and listened to the forest. So far, the sounds were normal. The moment it got quiet was when he knew someone was near.

  He looked up through the snow-laden branches above him to the night sky. The thick clouds were moving quickly and hiding the moon. Still, it shone brightly enough that it illuminated the ground from behind the clouds. Any other night, he would’ve been happy to stare at the sky for hours. The tall conifers loomed around them, providing shelter. But they also hid unseen enemies.

  Maks looked at Eden, who smiled at him, letting him know that she was fine. More snow was on the way, and he wanted them to be sheltered before then. The odds of them getting there before the snow started falling were slim, though. It all depended on how quickly they could move.

  He started walking again. Because they sank into the deep snow, they expended more energy. Maks stopped often to let Eden catch her breath. She had kept up with him thus far, and even though she was breathing heavily, she hadn’t said anything. He was cognizant of the fact that he might be used to moving in such conditions, but she wasn’t. Between the winter conditions and the Saints, everything was stacked against them.

  Maks wasn’t one to give up, however.

  And he was coming to learn that neither was Eden.

  After nearly forty minutes, he removed his pack when he paused and took out a bottle of water to hand to Eden. She waved it away as she sucked in huge mouthfuls of air. He pushed the water at her again. “You’re going to need it. It may not feel like it, but you do,” he whispered.

  Without question, she took it. Then drank it down to the last drop. She winced when she handed it back to him. “Sorry.”

  “Don’t be. You needed it.”

  He gave them another two minutes before they started moving again. There were very deep sections of snow that Maks had to help Eden through. It would’ve been easier to find another route, but the one he was on kept them hidden, and right now, that was more important.

  Just as he was pulling Eden toward him, her leg gave out, and she fell forward into the snow. Maks quickly got her on her feet. She was past exhausted. He could see it in her face and feel it in her muscles that shook from the prolonged exertion. He glanced over his shoulder to the destination.

  “I can make it,” she whispered and pushed away from him to stand on her own.

  His head swung back to her. “Let’s get out of this and into the group of trees up ahead. The ground is higher, so the snow shouldn’t be as deep.”

  She nodded and started walking, not bothering to wait for him. Maks stayed beside her instead of walking in front of her. Eden kept putting on
e foot in front of the other, and each time she wobbled, he was there to keep her upright. Once they reached the trees he’d pointed out, she leaned against one and closed her eyes.

  At that moment, the snow started falling.

  So far, the ground they’d covered had been relatively flat. In just a few, they would be headed downhill. And after that, everything would be upward, making it even more difficult. He thought about telling Eden beforehand, but he realized it wouldn’t make a difference. She was on autopilot now. And maybe that was a good thing.

  He gave her another bottle of water as well as half of a protein bar. When she wrinkled her nose, he raised a brow. “You’re burning a lot of calories. Your body needs fuel.”

  With gloved fingers, Eden took her portion and brought it to her mouth. She ate with her eyes closed. Maks had done this trail many times in all conditions. He knew how long it would take him to reach the shelter in any situation. But he’d never thought to have someone with him. That was the one thing he hadn’t factored in.

  His instincts pushed him to get moving, but he was keenly aware that Eden couldn’t handle the pace he wanted to set. He had to slow things down. Otherwise, he might be carrying her. Not that he couldn’t do it. Frankly, he had been expecting that to happen. The fear of being chased, knowing her life was on the line, had her adrenaline pumping. But that only lasted so long before the body just gave out—and Eden was close to shutting down.

  “Don’t look at me like that,” she said.

  He frowned as he stared at her closed eyes. “Excuse me?”

  “You’re looking at me, clearly wondering how we’re going to get to wherever we’re headed. I can do it. I’m stronger than I look.”

  That made him grin. “You might have the mental fitness to get through this, but there is only so much a body can handle.”

  “I knew I should’ve gone to the gym more,” she said with a sigh. “But coffee ice cream is just too good to pass up when you’ve had a bad day.”

  Maks turned his head away as he fought not to laugh. “No one is going to say anything about your ice cream preferences or habits.”

  Her eyes opened as her brows drew together. “Coffee ice cream is mana from the gods.”

  “Gotcha,” he said and briefly held up his hands in surrender.

  She nodded once. “That’s what I thought. And my body isn’t going to let me down. However, I will be making sure I’m more fit for the future. You know, in case I’m ever chased in the dead of night through the woods in Romania in winter. I bet you thought of that. Of course, you did,” she said with a roll of her eyes.

  “I did, yes.”

  “How much farther do we have?”

  He hesitated. “Do you really want to know?”

  “I don’t think I do. It might be better if I believe it’s just over the next hill.”

  They stood in silence while both finished eating. Maks kept his gaze moving, searching for any kind of movement that seemed out of the ordinary. Though with the dense trees and the darkness, it was difficult to see much of anything. He couldn’t even say that was an advantage since the same could be said for the Saints coming for them because they’d most likely have night vision gear.

  After one more look around, Maks took Eden’s hand, and they continued on. There were easy sections that Maks had chosen when he planned this route that would allow him to put some distance between himself and whoever might be after him. They were on such a section now.

  He maneuvered them through the trees, and the steep slopes that followed. Eden caught a second wind, and they were making good progress. The night was quiet as the snow fell. The only sound was their movements. Eden actually made it up a small, sharp incline onto a bluff before he saw that she was tiring.

  Maks tugged on her hand to let her know that they were taking a break. She bent over, her hands on her knees as she tried to catch her breath. He was surveying the terrain ahead of them when something snapped behind them, the sound echoing in the silence. His head jerked around. Eden straightened, her gaze following his.

  His mind raced with possibilities. It could be an animal. Or it could be the Saints. There were still packs of wolves in Romania, as well as bears and lynx. He didn’t want to be cornered by any of them. They weren’t in the best location to stay still for a bit while he determined what had made that sound. But to move now would definitely draw attention to them.

  Yet, they couldn’t remain here either.

  He looked at Eden and waited until her gaze met his. He leaned close to her and whispered, “Keep going. Straight up. Don’t deviate from the line we’re on. Don’t wait for me. I’ll catch up with you.”

  “Maks,” she replied, concern and fear in her gaze.

  “I’ll be fine. We can’t stay here. And I need to see what’s behind us. Just be mindful of where you’re putting your feet. You can do this.”

  Eden slowly nodded her head and forced a grin. “I can do it.”

  He shot her a smile of encouragement. “I’ll be right behind you. Go.”

  Despite the trepidation he saw in her, Eden did as directed. He watched as she started up the hill, moving steadily and taking her time so she didn’t fall. Once he knew she was doing as he’d asked, Maks turned his attention behind him. He squatted down to make himself as small as possible, less of a target. Then he scanned the darkness, waiting for something to move.

  21

  This was Hell. Without a doubt, Hell wasn’t some fiery pit. It was ice and snow and frigid temperatures.

  Eden kept moving her toes in her boots, but it didn’t matter. They were as numb as her fingers. She couldn’t believe how much heat Maks put off, she had been warmer just being near him. Now that he was gone, it felt ten degrees cooler.

  Or it could just be her mind freaking out because she was now alone.

  Yeah. That was probably it. Though she should stop thinking that way because there might be a real chance she could lose her mind. That made her pause. Could she go nuts from being in the cold? She’d never thought to ask something like that.

  “Oh, God. Stop,” she chastised herself.

  One foot in front of the other. It took her twice as long to pull her feet from the deep snow as when Maks had been there to pull her out. She then groaned aloud because she realized that he’d been expending much more energy helping her than if he’d been on his own. She hated being a burden in any situation, but this one was even worse.

  I’m not going to fail. I’m not going to fail. I’m not going to fail.

  Eden repeated that over and over in her mind, her resolve growing. She was cold, yes. Actually, she was fucking freezing and never wanted to see snow again, but that was beside the point. She wasn’t in the hands of the Saints, and that was all because of Maks. He had gotten her this far, and she was a capable woman who had lived alone for many years. She could take care of herself, and even though she didn’t know the first thing about surviving in the wild, she was a fast learner.

  With her lungs burning, she paused. Each breath felt as if icicles were scraping her esophagus and nasal passages. She put a hand on a tree to steady herself and not fall backward. Thinking about that had her looking back the way she’d come. Eden was shocked to see that the incline was as steep as it had felt. There was no sign of Maks, but she wasn’t worried. No doubt he was hiding someplace.

  Eden tried to even her breathing. She could already feel what little energy she’d had draining fast. It wasn’t just the altitude or the climbing, it was the extra effort just to walk in the snow. All of that, combined with the frigid temperatures, was zapping her strength at an alarming rate.

  She looked around, really taking in the sights. She might admire how the snow glowed in the night. Or how one side of the trees was covered with snow, showing how the wind had driven it against the bark. Or that the snow flurries hovering against the backdrop of the darkness was stunning.

  That is if she could stop her teeth from chattering long enough to appreciate it. />
  With a deep breath, Eden pushed away from the tree and continued up the path. The farther up the mountain she went, the more difficult it became. She had to stop frequently just to catch her breath. She glanced behind her often, hoping to see Maks and praying that there wasn’t an animal—or worse, a Saint—coming after her.

  The only thing helping her at the moment was the knowledge that she would most likely be a popsicle soon, which would make for difficult eating for an animal. Or would it? Something else she didn’t know and should’ve thought to ask.

  She rolled her eyes at herself. The thoughts that went through her brain at times were disturbing. Why should she care if it was hard for an animal to eat someone who was frozen? She didn’t want to be eaten or end up frozen.

  Eden paused to catch her breath for just a moment. She went to take a step when something out of the corner of her eye caught her attention. Her eyes rounded when she found herself staring into the yellow eyes of a Eurasian lynx. Its winter fur was thick and a silvery beige-gray with black spots. It’s belly and neck were white. She took in the black-tipped, bobbed tail and the long tufts of black fur on its ears. It was a beautiful animal, even with its really long, powerful legs.

  She knew from her love of animals that the lynx was a shy creature who liked to stay away from other animals and humans. With as much noise as she’d made on her trek up, no doubt it had heard her. However, it was half-hidden, so perhaps it thought she wouldn’t see it. And she wouldn’t have, had it not twitched an ear.

  “You are a beauty,” she whispered to the animal before giving it a wide berth and continuing on.

  When she glanced behind her, the lynx was gone. She spotted it going to the east as if giving chase to something. Eden was happy the lynx hadn’t been some other kind of predator that could’ve made a meal of her.

  She was beginning to think that she would never reach the top of the mountain when she heard something behind her. A look back confirmed that there was indeed someone coming, and it was Maks. She wanted to shout for joy. He was moving quickly, so she kept a steady pace, knowing he would catch her soon.