Torkel's Chosen: A World Beyond Book 1

by Michelle Howard

  “Could it be Axan?” Kyele asked from where he leaned against the opposite wall.

  Faye kept one eye on the knife he flipped from one hand to the other.

  “Find out where the targot was tonight.” Torkel looked as if he could chew nails.

  “On it.” Jaron whipped out his handheld device.

  A knock at the door had all the men tensing. Faye jumped and tugged at the ends of Torkel’s shirt. He’d refused to let her out of his sight to get dress.

  Torkel answered the door and Dr. Maku came in. His tousled blond hair and the thin crease on his cheek hinted he’d come straight from his bed. He carried his silver case and sat on the floor in front of Faye.

  Torkel joined them and pulled Faye onto his lap. His arms curved around her waist and his heart thundered beneath her cheek.

  Dr. Maku frowned at the both of them but directed his comment to Faye. “I see you’re going to cause me as much work as they do. Where are you hurt?”

  “Someone tried to kidnap Faye,” Torkel snarled. He reached for one of her hands and held up the abraded wrist. “He tied her hands.”

  The doctor mumbled under his breath and selected the tool he’d used previously on her bruises.

  “Axan’s been home all night. His papan confirmed and I hacked security footage showing him there over the last hour,” Jaron reported to the room at large.

  “It doesn’t mean this wasn’t his work,” Kyele said.

  ***

  Torkel breathed deeply. In his worst nightmare he never envisioned Faye’s life in danger. He was used to being the target. It came with his job. But nothing and no one was to touch his Chosen. This didn’t make sense. She’d been in his life for two days. Not long enough for word to get out to any of his enemies to launch a planned attack of this nature.

  How would they have known about their security weak points with the balcony doors? He’d burn someone’s ass over that later. Every access point was a risk. Claiming one wasn’t was naïve and placed them all in jeopardy.

  “If Axan is behind hurting my Chosen, I’ll kill him.” This was taking rejection over the presentation too far. A female had the right to choose and Faye had made her choice. Torkel would ever be thankful for it.

  “All done.” Dr. Maku leaned back on his haunches.

  Torkel checked Faye’s wrists. Both were good as new. Some of his anger eased. He started to calm down. When he’d seen her going over the balcony with the black-clad figure, his heart had stopped. Her frightened expression was still stuck in his head. Shaking the entire way, she’d clung to him as he carried her into the building.

  “Now you, Torkel,” Dr. Maku announced.

  “What?”

  “Torkel,” Faye whispered and turned his hands over.

  His palms were scraped raw from rappelling bare handed down the cable. He hadn’t felt the burning sensation.

  Maku sighed and ran the neutralizer over the red welts until nothing but gold skin remained.

  “I’m glad you came after me, Torkel.”

  Torkel tipped his head down. Faye stared at him, biting her bottom lip.

  He caressed her hip needing to reassure himself that she was safe and by his side. “I’ll always come after you, Faye. I’ll tear the skies apart looking for you.” Torkel knew as he made the vow that the words were absolute truth. He’d waited too long for a woman of his own to lose her now.

  He kissed her, tongue gliding over her soft lips. “Always,” he promised.

  Dr. Maku rose to his feet. “My work is done. For the moment.”

  Faye’s head rolled from his shoulder and her lids drifted closed. Torkel jerked as renewed fear crashed through him. “What’s wrong with her?”

  “I gave her a sedative, too. She looked done.”

  Torkel relaxed and adjusted his hold. Her neck appeared fragile in comparison to the strength of his arm holding her. “Thank you, Maku.”

  The doctor brushed it off and left. Torkel met the gazes of the men on his three teams. His unit was as unnerved as Torkel that their defenses had been breeched.

  “Stay on alert,” he said. “Patrol the exterior and activate the motion sensors.”

  The motion sensors were a pain in the neck to deal with because every bird and curious creature set them off but Torkel didn’t care.

  “Everyone out, you have your orders.” They scattered.

  Torkel signaled the two remaining men, picked Faye up into his arms and carried her to their bed. Whatever drug Maku gave her knocked her out and she didn’t move as he covered her with the sheets and kissed her temple once more.

  After he settled her, Torkel returned to the living room to find Kyele and Faruk waiting for him. “Is it just us?” Faruk asked.

  “Yes.” He’d picked them because in a fight Kyele would always be the last man standing and Faruk’s accuracy with weapons was unparalleled. “I want everyone here keeping watch over the building. Team Three will be outside. Team Two will guard my quarters and Faye until I return and Team One will relieve them in the morning when we leave.”

  Faruk nodded.

  Kyele’s silence bothered Torkel. “This is a no kill reconnaissance, Kyele. We’re going to deliver a message Axan can’t misunderstand.”

  His friend’s mouth thinned but when his hand moved from the knife strapped to his thigh, Torkel accepted it as agreement. Kyele’s passion and temper were part of the reason, Torkel hadn’t promoted him to team lead but instead had selected Faruk. As much as he loved it and used it whenever needed, Kyele’s darkness wasn’t always under control.

  They left the building and took one of the stealth hover cars. Kyele drove taking the corners at maximum speed to deal with his frustration. Torkel didn’t mind. It got them there quicker and it allowed Kyele to control his anger so he didn’t go against his own orders and kill Axan if they discovered he had something to do with what happened to Faye tonight. Too long, Axan abused Naine’s position on the Committee to get his way.

  It was an easy matter to get into the secured building that housed Axan’s apartment on the outskirts of the city. His father’s prestige allowed him a more expensive residence than his office drone-type job would have permitted. In the lobby, they ducked past a sleeping night guard at the front desk and took the stairs to the sixth floor. Jaron had sent them the details and lay out for Axan’s place.

  The brightly lit halls were empty. Kyele made quick work of the flimsy locking mechanism on the door they identified as Axan’s. Torkel battled back renewed rage at the thought of Axan behind the attack on his Chosen. Tonight would be the only warning he received to stay back from Faye.

  Faruk signaled and Torkel closed in on his position. Kyele stayed at the door as an added measure to prevent them from being interrupted. Torkel and Faruk bypassed the cluttered living area. Torkel eased open the only closed door in the apartment and approached the lone man sleeping in the bed. He lunged, planting his hand around Axan’s exposed throat. Eyes wide, Axan jerked awake.

  “Lights,” Torkel snapped and Faruk clicked the sensors.

  “How’d you get in?” Axan asked and pushed at his restraining arm.

  “Don’t struggle. It’ll hurts worse,” Torkel warned.

  Axan’s blue eyes fluttered left then right. When he spotted Faruk in uniform, he stiffened. “What do you want, Torkel? My father could have your job for this.”

  Torkel let a smirk play about his face. “My work with the Jutak is too important for your father to bother. I’m sure he’d be interested in what I have to say about his son though.”

  Axan glared and pushed out with his hands. Torkel snatched up both wrists with his free hand and pinned them to the bed while maintaining his grip on the throat he could easily crush.

  “What do you want, Torkel? Haven’t you done enough?” Fear radiated from him.

  “I can do more,” Torkel whispered harshly and leaned close. “Stay away from Faye.”

  Axan sputtered, avoiding Torkel’s gaze. “I don’t know
what you’re talking about.”

  It was then Torkel knew he lied. He increased the pressure of his fingers and watched as the skin turned red. Axan choked, unable to break the hold Torkel had on him as he tossed ineffectively on the bed.

  “This is the only warning you’re going to get. Whoever you hired failed tonight. If I find out that you do anything more to harm my Chosen, I will come back and show you Jutak justice.”

  Axan blanched. “You have no proof.”

  “In the morning, you’re going to withdraw your formal complaint. This ends here and now.”

  The man’s looks shot daggers at Torkel but he didn’t care. He wouldn’t have Faye in danger because of Axan’s greed and selfish nature. Feeling as if his point was made, Torkel released him with a snort of disgust then directed at Faruk, “Let’s go.”

  When they reached the living room Axan followed behind in gold cloth pants and shouted, “My father will hear of this.”

  Torkel paused at the door beside Kyele. “You don’t want Naine involved, Axan. Trust me.”

  He, Faruk and Kyele left as quietly as they’d entered. Torkel wished he didn’t have to leave in the morning with Team Two and Team Three. He didn’t feel comfortable leaving Faye so soon. Unfortunately, the covert mission couldn’t be delayed. They had an escaped prisoner to put back behind bars and it was Torkel’s practice to accompany his teams on any of the high-level code red ops when possible.

  Tonight he’d hold Faye in his arms and put Axan out of his mind.

  Chapter 11

  Faye leaned over the stall and jumped when the swimming fish in the clear bowl waved his flipper and splashed green water on her. The bald man behind the counter laughed.

  “They do that all the time. Make great pets and are entertaining.”

  Faye shook her head. The idea of a playful fish sounded fun but she had no intention of taking home alien pets unless she fully understood what she was getting herself into. The thing could grow to the size of a shark and eat her while she slept.

  Faye wished Torkel was here to share in her discovery of his home planet but he’d been gone for two weeks and based on their last communication he and his team were due back tonight.

  “Is there anything else you want to see?” Geile asked, gaze roaming over the crowded marketplace.

  She’d begged to see something outside the walls of the building they resided in. It had been the brooding Kyele’s idea to visit the market place. Once Jaron explained what it was Faye had been excited to go.

  There was so much to see. Stalls and stalls manned by merchants lined both sides of the busy city street. Rich smells of foreign baked goods filled the air. Laughter spilled out from colorful carts where children were entertained by a juggler. Faye would never have guessed that the capitol city on Enotia had their own version of a flea market.

  Already she’d managed to purchase the equivalent of cookie dough which she planned to make tonight, a few twisting strands in gold that made a necklace and a potted plant with the cutest pink heart shaped petals.

  “I need a few things to wear.” She waved at her denims and top. “I want to blend in more with Enotians.”

  Jaron snorted. “Not likely.” His head tipped to the side in the direction of the masses of blond heads bent over merchandise.

  Gregir laughed. At least Kyele had the grace to only crack a small smile.

  Faye elbowed Jaron in the side. He constantly teased and flirted with her. The almost brother she never wished for. “You know what I mean. You all don’t have jeans.”

  “More the pity,” he murmured, eyeing the sway of her hips.

  Faye flushed and sped up her steps in search of someone who offered clothing. She spotted what she wanted four booths down. Clinging pants and tops she never would have purchased at home caught her eye. Soon she was hip deep in fabric and dresses. The shop mistress held up a scanner to Faye’s black watch and payment for everything she’d picked out was deducted. A girl could get used to this.

  Faye gathered her bags but Jaron took them from her. “Torkel told us to make sure we paid for what you wanted from his accounts.”

  “No need.” Team One stayed in contact with Torkel and the other teams which was how they’d gotten approval to take Faye out. For some reason Torkel worried that another attempt to snatch her would be made. The formal complaint from Axan had been withdrawn so Faye wasn’t sure who else would want to bother her. She didn’t know anyone else.

  “Where to next?” Gregir asked.

  It hadn’t taken long for Faye to notice he and Geile stopped at each stall that served food. She wasn’t sure where the slim men put it but they had a large appetite.

  “I wanted to pick up fruit and vegetables. Since Torkel said he’d be back tonight, I thought it would be nice to surprise him.” If she figured out how to cook the strange meals that she’d been served.

  “There’s a place ahead for what you want.” Geile pointed out a purple covered tent with an open front.

  Stacks of bins overflowed with yellow, green and blue round objects. Some of it she recognized. “Okay.”

  They headed that way when a child’s wail pierced the air. The men tensed, heads up. A woman screamed and the crowd surged behind them. Jaron hesitated. The men had a code of ingrained honor that Faye admired. Their roles weren’t just jobs to them.

  “See what’s going. I’ll be fine and stay at the food vendor.”

  Jaron’s lips firmed and his blue eyes hardened. “Do not leave, Faye.”

  “Scout’s honor.”

  Kyele snorted but the four men took off in the direction of the gathering circle of people.

  Faye smiled at the shop steward, an older man with graying blond hair, as he helped another woman wrap her purchases. She picked up a tan, weaved basket and cruised through the aisles for fruits she thought she recognized.

  “It’s good to see you settling in Faith Reid. I trust Enotia is treating you well,” a voice whispered by her ear.

  Faye turned. “I’m sorry?”

  A blond man smiled and handed her the green fruit she’d wanted. Faye hesitated then placed it in her basket. She scanned the crowd for any of the guys.

  “Don’t worry. We have a few minutes before your body guards return. Apparently someone knifed an innocent child right here in the middle of the marketplace.”

  Faye flinched. The comment wasn’t said with glee or malice. In fact, it was the lack of emotion in the statement that worried her. “I should join them. We’re not supposed to get separated.”

  Torkel made it clear she needed to be on guard in case Axan attempted to snatch her again. But this tall stranger with his light blue eyes wasn’t Axan.

  “One moment.” He touched her shoulder lightly.

  Faye paused and licked her lips. Fear skittered down her spine but she couldn’t place why.

  “I think you’d have five minutes to spare for the person that helped you find true love don’t you, Faith? Or should I call you Faye?”

  Her hands gripped the handle of the basket tighter and bumped the counter. “I go by Faye.”

  “Right.” He caught a rolling yellow oblong fruit dislodged by her move. He peeled back the outer skin and bit the green center. His eyes closed in feigned pleasure. When he opened them, the blue centers were dead. “Don’t mess with me, Faye.”

  Her heart skipped a beat. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  He grabbed her arm above the elbow. “I think you remember the twenty thousand I paid you to select Torkel as your Chosen.”

  Her lips parted.

  “Now you remember.”

  Faye pulled on her arm. “You should let me go. Torkel’s men will return shortly.”

  “Then let’s make this quick. When is your Chosen due back?”

  “Tonight.”

  He released her arm and smiled. “Thank you. That wasn’t so hard, was it?”

  She shook her head as adrenaline spiked through her nerves.

  “I�
��ll be in touch, Faye. I think we’ll get along fine.”

  “What do you want from me?” She demanded.

  “Nothing too drastic.” He handed her a small, silver curved object. “This is a mini-communicator.”

  He passed the coin-sized communicator over to her. The one in the home she shared with Torkel was the size of her laptop.

  “I’m going to call you every now and then Faye to check on you. Check on your Chosen. If you don’t want him to know you accepted money to be with him you’ll answer every time I call.” He stared down at her and ran a finger down her cheek, over her jaw then pinched her chin. “Earthlings are so soft. Breakable.”

  Faye jerked her face away.

  He placed two fingers at his temple and saluted her. “Look, here come your guards now. You’re all safe again. Bye, Faye.”

  He exited down the rows of fruit and vegetables and was gone by the time Jaron touched her arm. “A child was injured by a stranger and rushed to a medic center. The market’s getting crowded. I suggest we leave.”

  Faye swallowed thickly. “Good idea.”

  The men took up the same strategic positions they’d used when they escorted her to the market. Inside, Faye cried out in misery. What had she done?

  ***

  While Geile waited by the front door, Faye put away her new things and changed clothes. The men were going down to the recreation room and Faye decided to hang with them. Being alone in the quarters she shared with Torkel right now scared her. She hadn’t had any problem until the stranger cornered her.

  The recreation room was full of laughter when she and Geile arrived. She carried with her one of the packages she’d bought at the market. Gregir and Jaron tossed an oblong ball around from one to another. Arak focused on a table top game and Kyele manned his customary position holding up the wall with his arms folded over his chest.

  Over the last ten days they had opened up to her. Slowly Faye learned their quirks and odd mannerisms with the exception of Kyele. He was different. Standoffish. More than his scarred visage kept him separate but she couldn’t put her finger on the reason. He watched her constantly and this would have worried her if not for the fact he watched her more when she and Torkel interacted together.