Betrayed: Days of the Rogue

by Nicky Charles

  He’d hardly slept at all, and keeping his mental barrier in place so he didn’t accidentally intrude on her privacy was wearing him down. Then, to top it off, he was trying to keep track of Damien all day without appearing to actually have him under surveillance.

  “Damn!” He missed the nail and hit the roof, driving the hammer right through the wooden sheeting.

  Damien paused in his labours, looking from him to the hole in the roof and then back to him. He raised an eyebrow. “I thought you wanted to repair the roof, not destroy it.”

  “Not funny.” A growl rumbled in his chest. “Now we have to take off these shingles and put down a new sheet of plywood.”

  “Well, don’t get pissy with me. I’m not the one taking his temper out on the roof.”

  Rafe held back the snarl that threatened to erupt. He had to maintain control; he was a professional after all. “Sorry.” The apology was curt but it was the best he could do.

  Damien shrugged and hunkered down on the roof, his hands hanging loosely between his knees, an air of weariness about him. The man looked exceptionally scruffy today; unshaven, dark circles under his eyes. “I saw Eve leave with someone. Where’s she going?”

  Cursing one last time at the hole in the roof, Rafe eased himself down beside Damien. The sun wasn’t too warm for spring, but with the heat of its rays beating off the shingles, the temperature felt as if it had soared. He grabbed a bottle of water from the small cooler he’d lugged up earlier and tossed one to Damien as well.

  “She’s headed into Calgary for the day with her agent, Caro Dunkirk.”

  Taking a swig of water, Damien wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Is she going to be gone long?”

  “Why do you want to know?” Rafe eyed the man beside him, trying to determine his reason for asking. Except for a few brief words, Damien had stayed clear of Eve, just as he’d asked. And there was nothing definite from the neighbours with regards to local wolf sightings; a few discreet inquiries had revealed that beyond some large paw prints of indeterminate origin, everything was as it should be. To all intents and purposes, Damien was being a good little rogue. Almost too good.

  “No reason. Just curious.”

  They sat in silence for a while. Rafe thought of the call he’d placed to Reno a few days ago after Eve’s latest wolf encounter. Reno hadn’t wanted to believe the report at first, suggesting Eve was exaggerating or misinterpreting what she’d seen.

  “Misinterpreting a show of teeth, snarling, and chasing her car? You’re grasping at straws, Reno.” Rafe was used to denial from family and friends of a rogue, but he hadn’t thought Reno would fall into that trap. The man was usually a realist.

  Reno had sighed. “Yeah. I guess I don’t want to believe it. I appreciate you calling me. How long can you hold off before contacting Somerset?”

  Rafe had hesitated to answer. He was going against all protocols by not reporting Damien.

  “Come on, Rafe,” Reno had cajoled. “One week. Surely, you can give me that.”

  His request for additional funding from the Academy could be jeopardized due to his blatant disregard for safety. “Reno—”

  “Look, I’ll pull some strings, call in some favours and get there by the weekend. I swear.” There was a hint of something in Reno’s voice, though exactly what Rafe wasn’t sure. “I’ll even bring my mate, Brandi along. She’s a top-notch DC. No one will be any the wiser.”

  He’d agreed, albeit reluctantly and with a disclaimer. “But if there’s any sign of danger to the public, all bets are off.”

  “Yeah, I know.” Reno had sighed heavily. “You’re going out on limb for me and I appreciate it. There’s stuff happening—major shit that has to do with Damien and Beth—and I really need to be the one to deal with him.”

  That had piqued Rafe’s interest, but he knew better than to try and force information out of Reno. The man was as close-lipped as the ex-partner that now sat beside him.

  Rafe took another drink of water and studied Damien out of the corner of his eye. Rogue traits were readily apparent in the man; minimal hygiene, poor eating habits, uncommunicative, a surly attitude… Of course, the attitude wasn’t new. While he’d never taught Damien at the Academy, being solely involved in research at the time, rumours of his antics had been bandied about the staff lounge. From what he recalled, giving attitude had been typical in Damien’s younger years. Smart aleck remarks and a disregard for rules were his trademarks, along with a devilish grin and a predilection for the ladies.

  None of that was evident right now though. Instead he appeared lost in thought, his eyes fixed on some distant point, his posture conveying weariness that had nothing to do with his physical self but rather his spirit.

  Rafe wished Damien would shift in his presence. In wolf form, the man’s true feelings would be readable but right now, he could only make educated guesses. And he knew all too well that his educated guesses weren’t even worth a cup of coffee anymore.

  “Do you know anything about Eve’s background? “ Damien suddenly turned to look at him.

  “No. Not really. Why?” His continued interest in Eve caused Rafe’s senses to go on alert.

  Damien shrugged and got to his feet without answering. “Is there any more plywood?” He gestured toward the hole Rafe had made in the roof.

  Rafe wondered about the random question and if he should press the issue. His gut was telling him yes, but look what happened last time he’d tried counselling a rogue. No, he was on a sabbatical. All he had to do was keep Damien here and out of trouble.

  “No. I’ll have to head into town to get some.” He silently cursed the inconvenience and his own stupidity. “See if you can finish the other side of the roof while I’m gone.” With Eve safely on her way to Calgary, he felt confident leaving Damien alone for a while. There was no one within a ten mile radius and finishing the roof should keep him busy until he returned.

  Chapter 15

  Eve giggled as her friend, Aly, flirted with the handsome young waiter that was serving their table. They were at a small Bistro not far from the University of Calgary and the place seemed to be a mecca for good looking young men.

  “All the cute ones are usually gay or taken or too young,” Caro groused when the waiter was out of earshot.

  “If he’s making a play for me, I certainly doubt he’s gay.” Aly twirled a strand of her long red hair around one finger and eyed the man as he walked away. With her crystal blue eyes and gorgeous red hair, she was never short of men.

  Caro drank some more of her martini before replying. “Maybe he has a parking ticket he’s hoping to get out of.” Aly was part of the local police force, though from her ‘off-hours’ persona one would never guess it.

  “You must be between men again, Caro. It always makes you extra nice.” Aly gave a saccharine sweet smile, well used to Caro’s griping.

  “Be nice, ladies. This is a supposed to be a happy occasion.” Eve warned both her friends. They’d met taking an exercise class together and despite their vastly different life styles usually got along well together. Tonight they were supposed to be celebrating the signing of the contract Caro had finagled for her.

  According to Caro, she’d charmed the author with her vision for the book covers, and could soon expect to have clients lining up at her door begging her to be their illustrator. And even better than that, when she’d stopped by the gallery that wanted to do a showing of her work, the director had been effusive over her paintings.

  A celebratory dinner had seemed to be appropriate and now she was relaxing, enjoying the good food and camaraderie. She’d missed going out with her friends, the steady pulse of city life, the numerous venues there were to choose from. Grassy Hills had one gas station, two traffic lights and three restaurants. The department store and a few shops provided only a minimal selection when it came to clothing, and outdoor wear was the predominant theme displayed on the racks.

  Something must have shown on her face for Caro nudg
ed her. “See? You miss the big city, don’t you girl? You know you really need to move back.”

  “Move back?” Aly beamed. “Oh we’d have such fun together! Remember the time…” And she launched into a recount of experiences they’d shared.

  Eve smiled and laughed. It was good fun but the strain of being around so many people was starting to tell on her. A dull throbbing was developing in her temples and she longed for the peace and quiet of Rafe’s home.

  She envisioned herself there, curled up on his leather sofa, reading a book. Her bare beet would be shoved between the cushions to keep them warm and he’d walk by shaking his head and muttering about the benefits of socks. But at the same time, he’d be dropping the afghan over her legs and starting the fire for her before leaving the room.

  A funny aching feeling developed in her chest and she realized that for all the fun she’d had on her day out, she missed Rafe. She wondered how his day had gone, if he and Damien had finished the roof of the shed, what project he’d be tackling tomorrow.

  Her dinner arrived and she ate it, trying not to compare it to the amazing meals Rafe seemed to pull out of nowhere. A man that could cook. Now there was a find.

  “Eve?”

  With a start, she realized Aly was talking to her. “Sorry. You were saying?”

  “She was asking if there were any cute men in Grassy Hills.” Caro supplied the answer then turned in her seat and propped her chin in her hand. “I’m wondering how you’re going to answer.”

  “Well…” Eve hesitated, not sure what to say.

  “Come on, Eve. Spill the beans.” Aly leaned closer, clearly anticipating some juicy story.

  “Um…” Glancing between the two eager women, Eve felt rather like a bug under a magnifying glass.

  Caro snorted. “Obviously, she’s not going to tell you, Aly, so I will.” Caro looked to both sides and then leaned closer to the other woman. “Eve’s living with two of the most gorgeous men you’ve ever seen.”

  “What?” Aly shrieked.

  “I am not!” Eve countered hotly.

  Caro leaned back looking smug. “Okay, technically you’re living with one of them and the other just shows up every day to provide needed services.”

  Eve huffed in exasperation and began to explain the situation to Aly, doing her best to ignore the innuendo that Caro kept tossing in. “So you see, it’s all very platonic.”

  “Which is why you called to tell him you’d be late getting home.” Caro murmured her comment into her drink.

  “I was being a considerate guest.” Eve countered while surreptitiously checking her watch. It was getting late and she’d be pressed to be home by the time she’d stated. A glance out the window revealed that the rain had not let up yet, either. It had been falling steadily for the last hour and she hoped it tapered off soon. Driving at night wasn’t one of her favourite activities, let alone dealing with inclement weather.

  “Isn’t there some famous quote about protesting too much?” Caro added.

  Eve glowered at the woman, Aly laughed and the arrival of the waiter with the dessert menu finally turned the conversation in a different direction as they conferred about their selections..

  Despite the good natured teasing, the night had still been a success. However, Eve was happy when it was over. After hugging her friends and making Aly promise to come visit her in Grassy Hills one weekend, she climbed in her car and began the journey back to Rafe’s.

  Now in the car by herself, and with the lights of the city fading behind her, Eve let her mental wall drop and the ache in her head slowly eased. Yep, the city was fun but she couldn’t imagine having to be vigilant all the time. How did other Fae manage? Surely, it must get easier with time. At this rate, she’d be living in Grassy Hills for the rest of her life!

  Strangely enough, that idea didn’t seem nearly as unappealing as it had a few months ago. Eve smiled, playing with the idea of becoming a full-time resident while humming along with a song on the radio. The miles passed by, traffic on the highway thinned out and the rain continued.

  At one point she stopped at a small service centre to use the washroom and get a cup of tea. She debated about calling Rafe to warn him she’d be later than anticipated but finally decided not to. He likely wouldn’t even notice, and even if he did he’d realize delays happen.

  By the time she left the service centre, the rain had started to pick up and distant rumbles of thunder could be heard. Unfortunately she was driving right into the path of the storm. Eve felt her stomach muscles clench as she listened to the radio reports of heavy rain and possible flooding. She eased off on the accelerator and gripped the steering wheel firmly. The road was becoming slick and visibility was getting worse. A glance at the dashboard clock showed the lateness of the hour and there was still quite a distance to go. Rolling her shoulders to ease the tension that was gathering there, she let out a slow stream of air and willed herself to relax. There was nothing she could do about the travel time; safe driving was her main concern.

  Flashes of lightning began to appear and the rumble of thunder increased in volume. The brief spurts of brightness provided tiny glimpses of the terrain that flanked either side of the road; stands of trees, a distant farm house, rows of fencing. Nothing really remarkable, especially when compared to the grandeur of the distant mountains. Not that she really cared about the scenery at the moment. Mostly she was hoping she’d make it to Rafe’s before the heart of the storm struck.

  Turning up the volume on the radio, Eve tried to lose herself in the music but an oncoming transport truck zoomed past, the backdraft from it buffeting her small car. With a curse, Eve slipped her wipers onto high and they beat a furious rhythm in a vain attempt to clear the windshield from the tire spray. Tightening her grip on the wheel, she struggled to keep the vehicle on the road, her heart hammering as she envisioned hydroplaning out of control.

  When the windshield cleared, she began flicking glances at the side of the road, wondering if she should stop and wait the storm out. Dimly illuminated by her headlights through the curtain of rain, all she could see on either side of the road was mud and soft gravel; definitely not a safe place to pull off. With no other town between her present location and Rafe’s, her only choice was to continue on.

  The lights of another transport came into view and she braced herself for the next barrage of blinding water.

  Chapter 16

  Rafe stared out the window, his arms braced on either side of glass. Heavy rain was turning the gravelled parking area in front of his home into a large lake. Experience told him that the drive from the main road would be a sea of mud, and negotiating it in the dark without getting stuck would take considerable skill. His jaw clenched as he thought of Eve trying to make her way through the slippery mess in her tiny car. Even in his old truck, he’d be hard pressed to navigate the sorry excuse for a roadway.

  The sun had set three hours ago and she still wasn’t back from her impromptu trip to Calgary, despite his request that she return before dark. She might argue that she’d left a message saying she’d be later than expected, but the time she’d given for her return had long since passed. He’d even called her cell phone but all he’d got was her voice mail. Was the battery dead or had she turned the device off?

  Droplets streamed down the window pain, blurring his vision as he watched and waited. Was she still on the highway or in an accident? Not knowing was eating away at him. He didn’t like standing around helplessly worrying, yet what else could he do? Shift forms and go running down the road looking for her? Yeah, that would go over real well. Not only did he have no idea how far he’d have to search but if he did find her, she’d be scared to death given her last encounter with a wolf.

  What if her car became mired in the mud? Would she dare leave the safety of her vehicle to walk to the house? And if she did, it would be easy enough for her to slip and fall, possibly breaking an arm or a leg. Or a tree could come down in the storm and strike her. The idea of h
er lying injured in the dark, with the cold spring rain pounding down, made his gut clench.

  Rafe paced the length of the room, dragging his hand through his hair. He’d gone over every possible scenario of why she might be late and was no better off for it. The inactivity was killing him. With one final frustrated glance at the clock, he made his decision.

  He’d search for her as far as the main highway. If he didn’t find her somewhere along the way, well, he’d decide what to do when the time came. Grabbing his keys and a flashlight, he left the house.

  Mud squished beneath his feet as he slipped and slid his way to his truck, splashing through puddles and grimacing as water filled his shoes. Big, cold droplets pounded against his skin and soaked his clothing. By the time he reached his truck, he was drenched.

  Dashing the water from his eyes, he climbed into the cab and was about to start the engine when a sweep of light through the trees caught his attention. Someone was approaching the house, travelling slowly down the twisting lane. Given the weather, the possibilities of who it might be were extremely limited. He cracked his door open and strained to hear over the sound of the rain drumming against the hood of the truck. Relief filled him as he made the identification; it was definitely the sound of Eve’s car.

  Throwing out a quick prayer of thanks that she was safe, Rafe shoved his keys in his pocket and slammed the truck door shut. Leaning against the side of the vehicle, he waited for Eve to arrive. He could have walked up to the house, but seeing as he was already wet there didn’t seem to be much point. Besides, the cold water might cool his temper.

  As soon as Eve brought her car to a stop and shifted it into park, he stormed over and yanked her door open.

  “Rafe! What are you doing standing out here in the rain?” She stared up at him, her eyes wide, face pale and strained. He ignored those signs, intent on his own agenda.

  “Get inside the house, Eve.” He spoke through clenched teeth, his famed control crumbling.