Anna tapped past him. Shane wondered if she even realized he was there. She had one of the small silver laptops they liberated from the urgent care center tucked under her arm. He watched as she found the couch and sat down. Birdie, her shadow in all things hopped up onto the couch next to her and circled once before he lay down. Anna folded up her cane and opened the laptop booting it up. Shane wondered just what she was doing, as she moved the cursor around on the screen. Then he heard it.
“Open office.” A strange voice came from the computer. Shane watched her begin to type furiously. He looked at Charlie who was smiling brightly as she kneaded the dough. “She asked me to download a program to let her use the computer. She hovers the mouse over something and it speaks the words,” Charlie explained happily.
With an impressed shrug, he took a drink of his milk. Swallowing it down, Shane sat the glass on the counter. He smiled down at her lovingly, watching her roll out the dough. It was slowly dawning on him that he was happy. He was finally beginning to unwind from the past year of his life. And he had Charlie to thank for it. A small voice told him that he had Ellie and Vincent to thank for it too.
“My hands are kind of full, second cupboard, third shelf. There is a mason jar with my cinnamon mixture, grab it for me?” Charlie asked pleasantly.
He did as she directed, pulling out the Mason jar. He unscrewed the cap and sat it down on the counter with another smile. “You're making cinnamon rolls?”
Hers still hadn't faded. “They are your favorite,” Charlie said.
“You sure know how to make a man happy,” Shane told her.
Charlie wiggled her eyebrows. “Are you calling me a slut?” she asked in mock anger.
Anna looked up. “What is that?”
Charlie and Shane looked at one another confused. “What is what, honey?” Charlie asked looking at her.
“That whoop-whoop sound,” Anna said, looking vaguely around the room. Birdie sat up looking out the windows behind the couch. Shane shook his head. But he did stop to listen. Both of them did. Birdie barked and then they heard it. Loud. Shane knew exactly what that sound was.
Helicopter! Shane ran toward the windows, not wanting them to see him come out onto the porch if it was a security team. He looked over his shoulder at Charlie. She looked around wide-eyed. “The shotgun!” he demanded, eyes wide with his fear. Charlie pulled it off the top shelf under the island. She ran it over to him. Shane checked to see that it was loaded.
“What is it?” Anna cried.
Shane spotted the helicopter. It flew over the house. He held his breath, eyeing it carefully. He moved from window to window to get a better view. “Vincent!” Charlie cried when she saw him come through the hallway. Shane looked over his shoulder at him. Dressed in nothing but light gray pajama bottoms Vincent came rushing into the room with wide eyes.
“A helicopter,” Shane said. “But I don't think it's here for us,” he told Vincent. “Look it's leaving,” he breathed.
“Is it a security team?” Anna cried. She practically curled into a ball. Every one of her muscles went rigid.
Vincent crossed the floor in the blink of an eye. It made Shane gasp, his hands tightening on the shotgun. It took everything he had not to point it at Vincent. “They didn't drop anything. I don't see anything,” Vincent said staring out the window. “I'll get Reese, we'll go check!” He looked around the room. “Where is Edward?”
Charlie shook her head. “He's out there.”
“Damn,” Vincent cursed with conviction.
The front door opened. Shane raised the gun. “It's me,” Reese told him. He shut the door behind him. “I saw the helicopter. It flew right by. No security team.”
Shane dropped the gun to his side. Anna sat there trying to breathe through it. “You're sure?' Charlie asked. Reese nodded.
“I think we’re alright,” Reese told them.
“We should do a check anyway,” Vincent said still staring out the window. Again, Reese nodded. “Can you handle the house?” Vincent asked Shane. “I'll go get El,” he said. “She's in the shower.”
A tense twenty minutes later, Ellie’s phone rang. She clicked on. “Talk to me,” she said. She listened to the voice on the phone.
“We're good. It's a sightseeing thing,” Vincent told her. Ellie exhaled, relieved. “Edward is with us, we'll be back soon.”
“Be safe.” Ellie clicked off. She slid the phone back into her pocket, breathing a sigh of immense relief. “Sightseeing,” she told the others.
Shane nodded and headed back over to Charlie. He hooked an arm around her, kissing the top of her head. Ellie could smell the cinnamon baking in the oven. While Ellie and Shane walked the perimeter and kept look out, Charlie finished breakfast. She had nothing else to do. Charlie kept whispering the mantra ‘Morning always comes.’ It made Shane smile.
Anna relaxed by inches, her and Birdie sat huddled in the chair near the fireplace. She pet him nervously. Ellie was worried Anna was going to rip the poor things fur out. Never once did the dog even consider leaving her side. Ellie looked down at her shaking hands, angry at herself for it. This close call pulled up too many emotions from her most had, most terrifying dream.
With the threat over Ellie flopped down on the couch, her dreams flashing like colored strobes in her mind. She slid the Heckler away slow. Shane looked at her. Ellie’s face was pale. Her eyes haunted. She shook. He wandered over. Shane put his leg up on the cushion next to her, resting his body against it. He gazed out the windows. Shane kept a close watch on her. “You okay, kid?” he asked.
“Just dandy,” Ellie told him, still staring at the wall. Her tone was grave. Ellie licked her lips, not blinking.
He eyed her. Raising an eyebrow, Shane told her, “You check the exits every two minutes. You make sure your back is to the wall. And your breathing is heavy, almost hyperventilating,” he observed.
“Your point?”
He smiled and it wasn't pleasant. “Ever hear of a thing called PTSD?” Shane asked. “A couple of guys in my unit came home with it. It's pretty rough.”
“I do not have PTSD,” Ellie said looking up at him.
Shane pressed his lips together. His eyes were kind. He exhaled. “You're a teenager,” he said. “And you have seen more shit than some fully trained combat soldiers. It's nothing to be ashamed of, Ellie.” His voice was gentle.
Ellie blinked at him, her green eyes shining. She breathed in and her face shattered. Ellie closed her eyes. “I keep having this dream. They burst in shoot Charlie, then Anna, you. I kill them. I keep killing them. But they just keep coming.” Ellie made a sound in her throat that was part laugh, part sob. “They drag Edward and Vincent away. Reese. They take them back to that place. I can't save them,” Ellie admitted. “No matter how hard I try. How many of them I kill. I can’t save them. I can’t save any of you.”
Shane watched as a tear slid down her cheek. For the first time since meeting her, Shane felt like he understood her. He felt a pang of guilt so strong it nearly brought tears to his eyes. She was just a kid. Fear had a grip on her so hard. She tried to be ever vigilant, ever watchful. It was enough to drive anyone crazy. She shouldn't have to worry about saving them. Shane mussed her hair. Ellie frowned at him.
“Do me a favor,” Shane asked. She simply looked at him. “When they get back, go watch an episode of Sesame Street.”
That tore a laugh from her. “Fuck you.”
“I'm not calling you a kid,” Shane assured her, his voice kind. “I'm just saying you need to laugh. You need to see something innocent.”
Ellie heaved a heavy sigh. She gave him the closest approximation to a smile she could muster right now. “I think I'm finally starting to understand what Charlie sees in you.”
Shane smirked. “I don't,” he admitted looking over his shoulder at Charlie. She gave him a warm smile and waved from her favorite place in the house. He turned back to Ellie. They couldn't exactly go to a therapist in their situation. Shane chewed o
n the inside of his cheek. “If you ever need to talk to someone. I'm here,” he offered.
Ellie nodded her head at him. Plastering her lips together in a long thin line, she said, “Thank you.”
They both looked up as the front door opened. Ellie instinctively went for the Heckler. Vincent came in first, followed by Edward, and then Reese. Ellie breathed a sigh of relief. “We're good?” she asked. Ellie pushed up off the couch and threw her arms around Vincent.
He hugged her tight, his hands slipping into her hair. Vincent smiled. He nodded. “Safe. There isn't a security team within a fifty-mile radius.”
“Good.” She let him go and crossed over to Edward. Ellie batted his arm. “You need to tell people where you're going!” Ellie grumbled and slid her arms around him as well.
“Cinnamon rolls are ready,” Charlie said with a brittle voice. Vincent gave Charlie a smile and crossed the floor. He hugged her. “I’ll never let anything happen to you, Charles,” Vincent reminded her. She nodded her head.
“I know. I'm so glad you're safe,” Charlie said. She held out the plate full of sweet rolls. Vincent plucked one. He took a bite and chewed, licking at the frosting on his lips.
“Yum,” he said with his mouth full. Vincent gave her the benefit of that devilish lopsided grin that Ellie found so sexy.
That brought a real smile to Charlie's face. When Ellie let go of Edward, Reese gave her a look. His bottom lip pouting, his eyes round, he held his arms out to her. Ellie laughed. She hugged him too. He closed his arms in tight around her, pressing his cheek against the side of her head. Luxuriating in the softness of her hair, Reese’s eyes slid to Edward across the room.
“What were you doing outside?” Ellie asked still in his embrace.
“Huh?” Reese asked. His thoughts were swirling around where they found Edward. Well, more like the several dead and not eaten animals that led up to him. Reese really didn't like Edward and that distrust was growing by the day. Charlie, Anna, hell even Vetler were alright. But Edward was just a tad too familiar for him to let his guard down. Reese certainly didn't like him around Ellie. “Oh, I was setting up a range for ya.”
“That's sweet,” Ellie said. Pressing her hands against his chest, she stood on her tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek. The look on Vincent's face drew Edward’s eye.
“Ya think ya can handle it, today?” Reese asked, still not willing to let her go.
Ellie smiled. “I'm supposed to go watch Sesame Street first, but, then I'm good.” She laughed.
Reese gave her a look. “Sesame Street?”
“Promised the G-man,” Ellie explained, gesturing to Shane.
Reese shrugged and shot a glance at Vincent. “What about ya?”
“Shooting?” Vincent asked his lips pulled up in a sneer. Guns had never been one of his favorite things.
“Actually, hand-to-hand. I figured we could show her a few things. That way Vetler won't get so pissed,” Reese said looking toward Shane. “If I'm hitting ya. I ain't hurting her,” he said.
“I'm game,” Vincent said with a shrug.
“You mind if I tag along?” Edward said narrowing his eyes. Both Reese and Vincent looked at him. Reese worked hard at keeping his face neutral. So did Vincent. Neither of them liked Edward much, for wholly different reasons.
“I don't think ya should get in the ring with Goldie there,” Reese said with a smile. “Ya got control of the Beast. But I don't know how well ya control the strength.”
“Fair enough,” Edward said.
“This sounds like fun,” Ellie said snatching a cinnamon bun. “I still get to fight, right?” she said around a mouthful.
Reese flashed her a sexy grin. “Of course ya do. I’ll just try harder not to bruise that pretty face this time,” he told her. “Then we shoot. Ya said something about the personality having an M1911. Ya still got it?” he asked looking down at her.
“Yes, sir, I do,” Ellie said with a smile. Then she frowned. “You're not going to make me use it are you?” The Colt was the hardest gun she had tried to this date. It was just too heavy for her. Her aim sucked with it.
“No, the Heckler is a better fit for ya,” Reese said. Finally letting her go, Reese walked past her, running his fingertips across her back. He flopped down on the couch. “The Colt is for me. I'm just a touch out of practice,” he said, laughing at his own joke.
Chapter 20
“Come on, Vince hit me,” Reese called.
Ellie and Edward sat on the bench that Reese had stolen from Ellie's room. Vincent and Reese were about ten feet away from them. Vetler stood on the deck watching, out of curiosity more than anything else. Reese stood in a typical boxer’s stance, hands up and ready. Vincent just stood there. Every punch Reese threw at him Vincent dodged easily. Ellie was beginning to believe Reese when he said that Vincent was faster than him.
Edward had put on a sweatshirt to fight the bitter cold. Ellie had a hooded sweatshirt, two layers of shirts. A thermal, with an oversized t-shirt, layered over top of it, and her leather jacket. Her hair pulled back into a ponytail at the nape of her neck. Edward spared a glance at her.
“This is how you learned to fight?” he asked.
“Well, it was just me and Reese. The personality. Vincent has always been too afraid. He's worried that he will lose control if I piss him off too much,” Ellie explained, never taking her eyes off the boys.
“By that criteria, you should already be dead a hundred times over,” Edward mocked her.
She shrugged her shoulders. “Can't argue that.” Ellie laughed.
Reese hurled a hook that Vincent ducked, followed by a jab to his ribs. It missed Vincent by millimeters. “Ya are never going to teach her anything like this. She is nowhere near fast enough to dodge like ya,” Reese told his little brother.
“Vincent is fast. I'll give him that,” Edward said. Ellie simply laughed. “What?” he asked his eyes narrowing.
“You ain't seen nothing yet,” Ellie told him.
Reese stopped. Dropping his hands, he shook his head in exasperation. “This is getting us nowhere,” Reese grumbled. “Hey, Blondie, come here.” He beckoned with his hand. Ellie shrugged walking toward him.
She stopped in front of him. “What?”
Reese gave her one of those jaw clenchingly gorgeous smiles. “Hows about ya give me a peck on the cheek.”
Ellie smiled, her shoulders moving with her laugh. “What, you need some good luck?” Ellie mocked.
“Yes, I do,” Reese said, with a wink of one eye.
Edward watched the look of annoyance spread across Vincent's face. Those dark eyes hardened, narrowed. His lips plastered together in a long thin line. His head moved minutely. His fingers danced at his side. Ellie pressed her hands against Reese's warm chest. Standing on tiptoe, she leaned in to kiss his cheek. Reese's arm snaked around her waist lifting her off her feet. He laid his mouth on hers, stealing a wet kiss that for a half a beat she didn’t fight. Edward heard the growl echo out across the field. Ellie pulled away from Reese, pushing at his shoulders, her feet dangling.
“You're an ass, you know that,” she snapped. “Put me down!” Ellie demanded, not half as angrily as she should have.
Reese turned slightly and set her down on the snow without a single extra caress. “I'd get out a’ here if I was ya,” he warned. With those words, realization dawned on her. Ellie jogged back to her seat.
Vincent exhaled a smoky breath that hung heavy in the air in front of him. Both hands in tight fists at his side, he watched Ellie walk across the snow. His right eye twitched. She had gotten almost to the bench. It took every ounce of will Vincent had to let her get all the way to it. She stopped at Edward's side, turning back to look at them.
“Ya going to hit me now?” Reese called out to Vincent.
Edward saw a tracer. That was all. Blood splattered across the snow. “Told you,” Ellie said to Edward staring in awe. Knowing they weren't going to come after her when it was all over didn't help the w
ay Ellie’s heart sped as she watched them. Shane stared with wide eyes.
Vincent hurled punches so fast all they could see was Reese's body reacting to them. He managed to block one or two. Even get a hit in on Vincent’s midsection, but nothing like the beating Vincent laid on him. Ellie was sure the force of the blows shattered every bone in Reese's chest. She winced every time he took a punch. “Vincent!” Ellie cried, her voice full of concern for Reese. “Teaching, not killing!”
Edward's eyes opened a touch wider when Vincent appeared next to Ellie and he had not seen him move. Vincent stood there, his chest heaving. His hands bloody. Reese came up on his hands and knees, giving his head a shake. His shattered bones forging, the rents in his skin knitting closed. Vincent dropped his head to his chest, visibly fighting for control. Ellie took a step toward him. Without fear, she touched the side of his face.
“Hey,” she said, her voice softer. “I love you?”
Again, Vincent moved so fast that Edward couldn't track it. He shot to his feet when Vincent lifted Ellie. One arm secured beneath her ass. He kissed her. The blood on his hand stained her hair, the side of her cheek. Ellie put everything she felt for Vincent into that kiss. She knew exactly what Reese had done. She was a little pissed at him herself, but not so much to think he deserved that punishment.
Vincent pulled back, staring into her face. The anger slipped away a little. “This is supposed to be teaching me, Vincent. I can't learn if I can't see it,” Ellie said, reaching up to brush the hair out of his eyes. “And Reese is right. I will never be able to dodge like you. So either you play nice, or you let me get in the ring.”
Vincent took in a heaving breath. He leaned in kissing her again. When he finally pulled back, Vincent pressed his forehead to hers. “Fine,” he said. “I'll go slower.” He flashed her a sheepish grin. Vincent set her ever so gentle on the snow in front of him and stalked back to his place in the ring. Shane could not believe what he’d seen. It was some kind of magic Ellie held over Vincent. It had to be. How else could he tear into his brother with the power of a speeding train and then touch her so gently?
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