ZAP!
She held the metal against the back of his neck at the same time his teeth pierced her flesh. She cried out as warm blood trickled over her shoulder, but held on until he released his grip.
She pushed him off her, then scooted out from beneath him. On her feet, she scrambled for the shovel. “I swear … if you even move to get up, I’ll bring this shovel down on your head until you don’t have a head.”
Kevin peered up at her, but remained where he was, cheek smashed against the floor.
She snatched the blanket off the bed and threw it on top of him. “Not another word from you! I swear to God I’ll kill you.”
She pulled her sweater back, tried to see how bad the bite was. Blood stained her fingers … her new white sweater, but she couldn’t see how deep the bite was.
“Freaking animal!” she growled under her breath. She snatched up her toiletry bag, pulled out the face wipes. She wadded one up and pressed it into the bite.
“Everything for a reason? Ugh! Thanks for nothing!”
A knock on the door pulled a yelp from her.
“It’s me, Irene.”
She pulled on her jacket. What would Alex do if he saw what Kevin had done to her? Should she let him kill the man?
She inhaled deeply to calm herself, then unlatched the door.
Even though the temperature had fallen into the thirties, Alex was sweating. Not a good thing in the cold.
“Get in here and warm up,” she barked. He shouldn’t have left her. He shouldn’t have gone for the drugs. She looked down at his empty hands. “You didn’t find them?”
His eyes were wild. “No. The plane wasn’t there either.” Alex looked at her face, then the lump of blanket on the floor. “What happened?”
Irene shrugged, then cringed. “He fell.”
Alex stared at her. “Did he hurt you? Why did you flinch?” He pulled back the lapels on her jacket and hissed. “What the fu —” He charged across the room, heading for the lump that was Kevin.
“Alex!” Irene followed him, grabbing the back of his jacket. “Stop!”
Alex turned on her. “Why? He caused you to be in a wreck, nearly killing you. Took you hostage, and now he … what? How did he hurt you?”
“I was stupid. I was trying to give him some water.”
“How?”
“He bit me.”
Alex kicked the lump, and Kevin shrieked. “You like to hurt women?” He kicked several more times as Irene tried to grab him.
“Alex! Stop! I mean it!” she screamed, since her attempts to pull him away did nothing.
“Give me one reason why I shouldn’t kill this asshole.”
“Because I’m begging you not to.” She stared at him, pleading with her eyes. “We’re not like him.”
His eyebrows shot up.
She shook her head. “Please. You said so yourself, Alex. You’re not like him. You’re a rescuer, a hero, not a murderer.”
Alex grabbed the shovel from her, setting it on the back of the chair. “Move a muscle, asshole, and I will kill you. I may be a rescuer, but I’m not above killing the son of a bitch who hurts someone I love. Try me.”
Alex took her hand and led her to the sink. He pulled a chair next to the cabinet. “Sit.” He grabbed the kettle and then his backpack. He rustled through it, pulling out a white box with a red cross on the front. He pulled off her coat, then gently removed the wipe. He lifted the sweater over her head and one shoulder, and then carefully held the opening wide as he slipped it down her hurt shoulder and arm.
As much as she wanted to feel embarrassed, his face was passive, focused. “Watch him, Irene, not me,” he ordered.
She cringed when he poured the water over the site, dabbing it with gauze. Then he poured a dark solution into it, and she bit down on her hand to keep from screaming.
Alex loosely applied more gauze, tape, then he stared down at her. His eyes were glassy. “I’m so sorry, Irene,” he whispered. “I’m not doing a very good job of taking care of you, am I?”
She blinked back her own tears. “You’re doing a great job. If it weren’t for you, I would already have been dead.” It wasn’t Alex’s job to take care of her — or her problems.
“I’ve screwed up right from the beginning. I should have offered to take you to Saint Paul the first night. I shouldn’t have trusted your life in anyone else’s hands.” He rested his head against hers. “I ran all the way back from the beach. I just … I knew something bad was going to happen. Something bad always happens.”
“Oh … Alex.”
What was she going to do? Every time she wanted to tell him the truth, he said something that made her realize she couldn’t. She had no doubt Alex would accept her, short lifespan and all, but she couldn’t do that to him. As soon as they made it to the mainland … if they made it to the mainland, she’d have to make a clean break. She couldn’t hurt him more than she already had.
Chapter 16
~ Alex ~
Alex sat watch while Irene slept. She’d offered to take a turn, but it wasn’t the first time he’d stayed up all night.
When he was on-duty, he was working. He’d worked rescues where they’d searched for days, taking only two-hour naps before continuing. Besides, if he were correct, and he sure hoped to God he was, Vince would have a search party out today. The grid wasn’t that large. Vince knew he left from Lake Hood. He had to know that he would have headed out into the gulf. After Cordova, Middleton was the logical place to start a search.
He needed coffee. He stood, stretched, cracked his neck, then reached for the kettle. Empty.
“Want me to go find some snow?” Irene whispered.
Alex walked over to her. “You’re supposed to be sleeping.”
She yawned. “I was, but I’m awake now.”
He handed her the zapper and moved his mouth to her ear. “I’d rather go. Don’t let him move an inch. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
She nodded, so he quietly slipped into his boots and unlatched the door. “I’ll put another log on the fire so it gets hot in here before the sun comes up.” He spoke loudly, even though Kevin would be able to hear him even if he whispered. He wanted Kevin to think that Irene had left, not him.
Outside, Alex ran to where he knew the only mound of snow remained. He filled the kettle and darted back toward the cabin.
Hopefully the embers were still hot enough to melt the snow because it was too late to get the fire going again. The eastern sky was already a bright orange. He stood for just a second as he watched the golden ball quivering at the horizon, rising slowly like a giant Mylar balloon that had slipped through the fingers of a child.
Would Irene slip through his fingers today? As much as he wanted a search party to arrive as soon as possible, especially since Kevin had made a reappearance, he knew that the longer he was on the island, the more time he had with Irene.
With that thought, he rushed back to the cabin. He doubted the man would try anything again, knowing he was only seconds away, not on the beach, but he still didn’t like her alone with him.
At the door, he kicked the sand free, then hustled inside, not concerned with being quiet now that he was back.
He made a quick summation of the cabin and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw her on the opposite side of the room, curled up, the stun gun held at the ready. Kevin’s lump hadn’t moved, so she was obviously just being cautious.
Alex peeked into the kettle, making sure no foreign objects were inside, and then set it on the stove. He poked the fire just enough to cause a spark. It was still early. Most rescue missions would wait until the morning fog burned off, as it would be impossible to see any plane wreckage anyway.
Irene walked to the sink but didn’t say a word as she readied the two cups of coffee.
Alex approached the counter where her back was turned. He bent his head over her good shoulder. “You okay?” he whispered. Not that he cared what Kevin heard, but she was obviously uncomfor
table.
She nodded and turned, tears in her eyes. “It freaking hurts,” she said softly. “That’s what I get for being nice.”
“I know, honey. Here …” He pulled the chair beneath the window so he could get a good look. He pushed the curtain to the side as she sat. Carefully, he removed the gauze.
Seeing the deep indentations where Kevin’s teeth had lacerated her skin, he wanted to kick the man again. Hell, he wanted to bash the man’s teeth in with the shovel so he could never do this to anyone again.
“Is it that bad?” she asked.
“There’s no pus, but it’s swollen and red, so we need to watch for infection.” He reached for the first-aid kit and repeated the process he’d done yesterday. He added a clean gauze square and tape, then kissed her forehead. “I really am sorry, Irene.”
“It’s not your fault.” She stood and made her way back to her luggage, pulling out a clean sweatshirt. She lifted a protein bar. “I’m down to my last protein bar. Do you have something to eat?”
“I have a couple left. We’ll make it.”
Irene walked back over to him, then motioned to go outside.
Alex looked in Kevin’s area of the floor, then followed her lead. “What’s up?”
“Kevin said there’s fuel in the radar station. With tools, maybe we could break in.”
He shook his head. “The plane’s not there, Irene. What good is fuel going to do if we don’t have a plane?”
“But how did he get back?”
“If I had to guess, the life raft.”
Her brow furrowed. “And the drugs?”
“Gone,” he lied, but he had his reasons for not telling her. He couldn’t let her know that they were here. Her actions spoke louder than words. No way would she be able to lie if it came down to it. And those drugs were the only leverage they had if the owner showed up before a search team.
“I don’t understand. Why would he lie? How would that benefit him?”
Alex clenched his fists. “So he could do exactly what he did: get me out of the cabin.” She shivered, so he directed her back inside. “Let’s get some coffee in us.”
“I’m down to my last four packets.”
“After this, it’s nothing but hot water and eggs. Sure hope Vince is as good as I think he is. The man’s got a sixth sense. He’s almost as good as Sam at tracking people.”
“Which one is Vince again?” Irene filled up her mug and sat at the dinette. Her eyes traveled to where Kevin had spent the night. “You sure he’s okay? You might have given him a concussion.”
Alex resisted rolling his eyes. “He’s fine. He was sawing logs earlier, and I can see him breathing. Not that I’d fall for that whole I’m unconscious routine again anyway.” He grabbed his mug and sat beside her, making sure his back was to the wall. He inhaled the aroma, took a sip, and then set down his cup. “Vikentiy Kolya, or Vince as I’ve always known him, was a neighborhood kid who followed my adopted brother Erik home from grade school twenty years ago.”
“So you’re not really brothers.”
“We’re as close as any blood brothers could ever be. Hell, we’re the Midnight Sons. When you have to trust someone with your life, you tend to get close. Plus, as I said, I’ve basically lived with him since I was thirteen.”
Irene took a sip of her coffee. “I don’t understand.”
“His father wasn’t a good man. Even as young as eight, he’d whipped Vince with a belt until he sliced open his skin. But thankfully, the ogre hadn’t minded when his eight-year-old son decided he liked another family more than his. One less mouth to feed, I guess.”
“What about his mother? Why didn’t she stop him? Didn’t she care?”
Alex shook his head. “Of course she cared, but he was a big man, and she had a three-year-old to protect. As soon as Vince came to us, she took off. When Vince turned eighteen, he tracked her and his brother down, and —”
“What happened?”
“Vince has had a hard life, that’s all.” Alex closed his eyes as he realized what his death would have done to Vince. Sam and his mother were strong. Although Vince was always the rowdiest in the room, seemingly indifferent to what life had tossed at him, he was more sensitive than any man he’d ever known. He also had a heart of gold. Vince had already lost one brother; it would have devastated him to lose another. Alex could literally kick himself for even considering throwing his life away.
Irene nodded, but didn’t press him for details. Then she looked up.
Alex peered through the window.
CHK-CHK-CHK-CHK. CHK-CHK-CHK-CHK.
CHK-CHK-CHK-CHK. CHK-CHK-CHK-CHK.
The CHK-CHK-CHK-CHK sound rose and fell, a mind-numbing rhythm that he sometimes played on his iPhone to help him decompress. A chopper. A rescue copter, to be exact.
Kevin finally joined them, squirming and griping, “Untie me. You’re gonna need me.”
Alex scoffed. “That’s a rescue copter. You’ll be behind bars in a few hours.”
Alex pushed the stun gun toward Irene, then opened the door, peeking out. Sand whipped up in a twist of dust. He picked up the shovel and stepped outside. Whether the crew was there to rescue them or not, they’d check the cabin, so he might as well meet them head-on, do what he could to protect Irene. But he was sure it was a rescue chopper.
Alex stepped a few feet from the door and stared up at the red and silver Temsco chopper. He blew out a breath of relief when he recognized the registration numbers. Not that Cal Landrum was his favorite person in the world — they’d had more than one difference of opinion over the years — but unlike the man’s brother, Abe, Cal ran a first-rate charter business. When needed, Cal would pitch in with search and rescue efforts. Obviously, Vince had already been on the horn, calling in favors from all the charter companies.
Alex shielded his eyes with one arm and waved with the other. The glare on the windshield made it difficult to see, but it looked like Cal was in the co-pilot’s seat. As always, Cal flashed a million-dollar smile. His pearly whites stood out more than others because, even in January, his skin was always golden brown. Cal was one of the only men Alex knew that sported a year-round tan. Probably had a tanning bed in his million-dollar home. Not to mention a personal barber that kept his hair highlighted as if he didn’t live in Seward’s Icebox. If Cal lived in Cali, he’d probably look like an everyday Joe, but here in Alaska, he looked like an out-of-place Ken doll. Obviously, Cal had done well in the charter business … better than Alex’s family had done in the search & rescue business. But SAR Team Alaska wasn’t about money — not a lot of money, anyway. Alex — and his brothers — just wanted to make a living without closing the doors.
The skids touched down and Cal hopped out, a rifle slung over his shoulder. Not uncommon for Alaska, but unwarranted on Middleton. Cal knew polar bears don’t live this far south, and grizzlies certainly hadn’t swum to the island.
“Morning, Alex!” Cal crooned as he slipped the gun forward in his grip.
“Uh … morning, Cal. Um … you can put down the gun. We have everything under control.”
Cal lifted a brow. “Not what I heard.”
In his peripherals, Alex saw Irene pocket something, then move to the back of the cabin. He prayed she’d stay put — rather, hide. He hadn’t thought to tell her to hide, since he’d been sure that the helicopter was here to rescue them. It didn’t compute, though. Why would Cal level a gun on him?
Alex laughed. “What did you hear, Cal? I was just out on a routine service check, and I heard an SOS. I hadn’t planned to fly so far, so I hadn’t fueled up. Isn’t that what Vince relayed?”
Cal sucked his teeth and laughed. “You always were a good liar, Alex. Even in school.” He motioned Alex to the side with the gun. “Where’s my man?”
“Man?” Alex feigned ignorance. Kevin had been right; he was in over his head. Alex had always known that Cal’s brother was a tweaker, but he hadn’t known that Cal had been the one keeping Abe high.
A few seconds later, Cal dragged Kevin out by the scruff of his collar as if he were an animal that had gotten into a scuffle. Cal’s cold dark eyes moved from Kevin to Alex. “Where’s the woman?”
Alex remained silent, hoping a back door had mysteriously materialized at the rear of the cabin and that Irene had escaped. The windows were too high and narrow, but she was small.
Cal nodded to the pilot. “Go find her.”
The pilot made a wide arc around Alex and Kevin and stepped into the cabin sideways. Seconds later, Alex heard a THUMP, and the sound of the zapper, but then a second crash told him the big man had knocked the stun gun out of her hands.
“Let go of me!” Irene screeched.
The big man pushed her through the door, and she landed in a heap on the sand. “Bitch tazed me.” He rolled his shoulders then stepped next to Cal.
“Put her in the chopper,” Cal ordered.
As much as Alex wanted to scream, No! what good would it do? The men had two guns trained on him. Well, one now, but if Alex made a move, the other guy would be back in a second.
Cal motioned the gun at Alex again. “Sit down!”
Again, now wasn’t the time to play hero. All he could do was wait for the moment when Cal didn’t find his drugs.
Cal approached Kevin, eying the restraints. “Where are my bags, Kevin?”
Kevin stared up at him but didn’t speak. He’d warned that they would need his help. So he’d known that Cal also worked search & rescue. Here Alex had thought that Cal’s charter business had been doing so well, and it was just a cover for dealing drugs. He had to give it to the man; it was a great cover. Perfect way to not only deliver the drugs, but also to launder the money. After all, who knew how many passengers the planes were carrying? Kevin’s plane could have held ten tourists, and yet, he’d only had Irene onboard. One passenger was a lot easier to convince that the pilot needed to travel a different route than ten.
Alex's Atonement (Midnight Sons Book 2) Page 17