The Anomaly Trilogy Boxed Set

by Hackett, Anna

  His gaze met hers straight on and she opened her mind, reaching out. She couldn’t describe how her ability worked, it was just something she knew how to do. Like it was imprinted on her bones.

  She saw the flash of panicked realization in his face but it was too late. His eyes emptied of thought and his face went slack.

  “Collins, you idiot.” Blondie backhanded her across the face and broke her raid on the younger man’s mind.

  A piece of cloth was wrapped over her eyes cutting out all light. Her pulse spiked. So dark.

  She was dragged across the floor. Something solid hit the back of her thighs. Then she felt cool metal at her wrists.

  Fear punched through her. “No.”

  “You know how it feels to be locked up, don’t you?” An edge of dark glee underscored his tone. He pushed her flat against the tabletop.

  Her gut spasmed. God, he reminded her of a man she’d once trusted. The man who’d sold her out to Leven. He’d taken pleasure in hurting her. “Fuck you.” She struggled like a mad woman.

  She wouldn’t be chained.

  Not again.

  Suddenly the hands on her fell away. There was a thud and a grunt.

  “What the hell?” The woman’s voice.

  Another thud and then silence.

  Mara held her breath until her chest hurt. There was someone else was in the room. She yanked on her chained wrists.

  “Easy.” A hard masculine voice that rasped over her senses.

  She stilled. Callahan.

  Mind Raider. Leader of Haven. Enigma.

  His big body brushed against her and strong hands steadied her. He touched one wrist, then the other and the chains fell away.

  Warm lips brushed her ear. “Breathe.”

  She did, sweet air rushing into her lungs. When he pulled back, she sat up and tugged the blindfold away.

  Clad all in black, Callahan’s lean frame was dressed to blend into the shadows. But he was the kind of man no woman missed.

  Wide shoulders, lean hips and the long legs of a swimmer. She’d seen him in the ocean every morning when she was on Haven. Her gaze went to a face too sharp to be handsome and midnight-blue eyes so dark they looked as black as his inky hair.

  Speculating about the leader of Haven was a favorite pastime of the residents of the island. He was their protector, but he never let anyone close. He ensured their well-being but he rarely showed any emotion.

  Power radiated from every inch him. Just like the others, Mara spent far too much time studying him. He reminded her of a blade honed to the sharpest edge.

  One that could leave you bleeding without you realizing you’d been cut.

  ***

  Cal watched Mara Ross slide off the table. She was all vibrant red hair against the palest skin. With a strong, curvy body designed to leave a man begging.

  But she wasn’t just beautiful. The first time he’d seen her, she’d been dragging an unconscious mind raider—a man far taller and heavier than her—from one of Leven’s warehouses in New York.

  Everything about Mara Ross stirred something in Cal long gone cold.

  A luxury he couldn’t afford.

  Mara looked past him to Leven’s motionless guards. They kneeled on the ground staring ahead like robots.

  Her mouth dropped open. “You’re raiding all three of them.” Her gaze swung to his face. “That’s…impossible.”

  Not something he intended to discuss. An ugly bruise was forming on her cheek. “Who hit you?” He lifted a hand and skimmed his fingers down her cheekbone.

  Her eyelids fluttered. “It’s nothing.”

  “Who?” Heated fury punched through his veins although he let none of it bleed into his face. He’d had years of practice at keeping his feelings hidden.

  She angled her head. “Blondie over there enjoys hurting people.”

  The man in question clutched his head and let out an agonized scream. He slumped to the floor and was silent.

  “My God.” She took a shaky step forward.

  “He’s not dead.” Cal stared dispassionately at the man. “But he’ll be unconscious a long time.”

  She looked up. “What are you?”

  A nightmare. He looked away. He didn’t want to see fear in her emerald-green eyes. “Did you find the soul stealer?”

  She released an impatient breath. “Her name’s Cate. And no.” Mara turned, eyeing the bloodstained table. “She was here but they moved her.”

  Cal’s gaze ran over the corpse in the corner. The man showed the classic hallmarks of having had his soul ripped from his body. They said it was the most excruciating way to die.

  “How’d you know I was going to be here?” Mara asked.

  He kept tabs on her. Had ever since she’d made Haven her home. Not that he’d ever tell her. “An informant mentioned Leven was here. Figured you wouldn’t be far behind.”

  She kicked a chair at the table, sending it skidding across the floor. “I can’t breathe knowing that bastard has an innocent. Is forcing her to kill.” Mara’s gaze fell to the blood pooling on the floor.

  Cal knew she’d once been at Leven’s tender mercy. He didn’t know what the crime boss had done to her, but he saw the terrible shadows in her eyes. They matched the ones staining his own soul.

  “I’d almost convinced Cate to come to Haven. I was this close.” Mara held her fingers a whisper apart. “If only…” her voice drifted off.

  “You aren’t to blame.”

  She tossed her head back. “I know. I’m more than happy to heap the blame at Leven’s feet.”

  “We need to go.” Cal headed for the door.

  She matched his stride. “If we’re quick enough, we can find them before they leave London.”

  He stopped and held out his arm. She ran into it. “We have no idea where they’re headed. We need to plan, tap our informants—”

  Her jaw clenched. “You’re too cautious.”

  Callahan was used to people—especially women—being afraid of him. But Mara was too stubborn to let anything or anyone scare her. She was one of the few people who dared to question—or outright ignore—him.

  “And you’re always leaping.”

  Her chin lifted. “If we sit around planning, Cate will die.”

  Cal backed Mara into the wall, watched surprise skitter over her face. Their bodies brushed and damn it, his responded to the feminine feel of her. It made his tone harsh. “You need to learn to follow orders.”

  Fire sprinted through her eyes. “You certainly love issuing them.”

  Her lips were so close. “Haven provides sanctuary and protection for anomalies. It only functions because we have rules.”

  “Your rules,” she spat.

  He leaned closer and their chests pressed together. He loved that she was tall and almost looked him in the eyes. “Yes.”

  “Let me go.” There was a barely detectable tremor in her voice.

  “Not before you listen to me.” Jesus, she made him want things he couldn’t have. “Most of the people at Haven can’t survive outside of the island. They’re hunted by governments, criminals and anyone else who knows about their abilities. They’re shunned by their families and friends. Freaks of nature who can stop time, control minds and kill with a touch.”

  She swallowed. “I know.”

  “If we don’t follow the rules, men like Leven will overrun us and turn us into unwilling slaves. Is that what you want?”

  She struggled against his grip. “I refuse to leave a woman in that man’s grasp—”

  “We won’t leave her. But we won’t take unnecessary risks either.”

  “I want—”

  Cal leaned in and pressed his mouth to her ear. Her scent hit him. No delicate flowers for Mara, instead something darker, more sensual. “I don’t care what you want. If you race in without planning, you’ll end up in Leven’s chains just like Cate Hartmann. Do you want to be tortured again?”

  She trembled and remorse tore at him. Sometimes
he had to be tough, had to make hard choices, but he hated making her relive what haunted her.

  He released one shoulder and cupped her jaw. “Mara—”

  She jerked away from him. “You’re a bastard.”

  He sighed. “I know.”

  A lone groan from behind them had them both tensing. Cal spun, pushing Mara behind him. When she stepped back up beside him, he cursed.

  The dead body in the corner moved.

  They both froze, gazes glued to the corpse.

  The man’s eyes were still clouded with death, but his head turned, his mouth opening. “Celebes.”

  Chapter Two

  “What the hell is going on?” Mara hated that she heard fear in her voice.

  But a dead body was talking.

  “Celebes.” A second croaking whisper then the corpse slumped back, motionless and quiet.

  Callahan stared impassively at the body. “Cate left us a clue.”

  Mara turned. The anger from their argument still hummed through her. Okay, and she was honest enough to admit the hard press of his body might have sent hers into overdrive, but they had other things to worry about right now.

  She sucked in a breath. “How?”

  “When she killed him, she left just enough soul in him to leave us a message.”

  Mara hadn’t had much to do with soul stealers before. “I didn’t know they could do that. Not much of a clue, though. What the hell does Celebes mean?”

  “It’s the original name for Sulawesi.”

  Mara’s eyebrows rose. “Indonesia?” It tickled a dormant memory. “Wait, Leven has a plantation on the island! Coffee or tea or something.”

  Callahan pulled his cellphone from his pocket and ran a quick search. “Celebes Cocoa, owned by Leven Enterprises.”

  She snorted. “I doubt chocolate is profitable enough for him. It’s a front for something else.”

  Callahan glanced at his watch. “I have a jet waiting at Heathrow. We can plan a trip to Indonesia on the plane.”

  “I work better alone.”

  He raised a brow. “We need to do what’s best for Cate.”

  Damn it, he was right. He had resources Mara couldn’t match. She drummed her fingers against her thigh. “Okay.”

  Together, they headed down the hall. There was a ping from the elevator ahead. They halted.

  More of Leven’s men stepped off the elevator. When they saw Mara and Callahan they exploded into action.

  She watched Callahan leap forward. He took down the first man with a swift punch. Another with a powerful front kick.

  A compact man barreled at her. She blocked his hit, spun and landed a chop to the back of his neck. She moved closer to Callahan and together they coordinated their attack.

  As they fought the remaining guards, she was surprised how well they moved together. Callahan had some sort of advanced training. He fought with a liquid grace that didn’t detract from the brutal power of his hits. Rumor said he was ex-CIA or NSA, but no one really knew.

  When the elevator dinged again, Mara’s gut tightened.

  “Mara.” Callahan punched the final man in front of him. Then he fished a set of keys from his pocket and tossed them at her.

  She snatched them out of the air.

  “Silver SUV in the side street. Take the stairs. I’ll meet you out front.”

  Everything in her rebelled. She never ran from a fight.

  More guards headed in their direction.

  “Go!” Cold demand edged his voice.

  With a heavy chest, she headed for the stairs at a run. He’d have an easier fight if he didn’t have to worry about her.

  She made it down one level when she slowed.

  She couldn’t leave him.

  Racing back up, she heard shouts. Flesh hitting flesh. She rounded the corner and saw Callahan surrounded by a group of Leven’s goons.

  His back was to her, his arms by his side.

  She kept running, watching Leven’s men closing in. Why the hell wasn’t he fighting?

  Callahan spun, lifting his hands to his temples. Then the men started screaming.

  They fell to the ground writhing, clutching their heads. But Mara’s gaze was caught on Callahan—and the scary look on his face.

  Searing pain speared through her head. A scream tangled in her throat and she dropped to her knees. God, it hurt. Bad.

  Callahan’s head snapped up. Their gazes met. With a curse, he ran to her.

  His face was blank now. “Damn you! Why the hell did you come back?”

  She tried to respond but the hot pain in her head made it impossible. It was like a molten spike covered in jagged barbs being driven into her brain.

  He dragged her into his arms, holding her with a gentleness she didn’t know he possessed.

  She felt tears slide down her cheeks. “What…did you do?”

  “I’m sorry.” He brushed her hair off her forehead. Remorse swam in the darkness of his eyes. “You just caught the edge of it. If I could take the pain I would.”

  She believed him. She didn’t know this man well—doubted anyone did—but she knew he never harmed the innocent. “S’okay.” But even through her pain she noted that he didn’t answer her question.

  She managed a glance at Leven’s men. They weren’t moving. If she’d been any closer…

  “I shouldn’t have done it.” Callahan bent his head over hers. “If you’d only listen to me…”

  “Everyone…cowers before you. Thought I’d keep you on your toes.”

  He rubbed a finger down her nose. “You’re the only person who’s never been afraid of me.”

  “Vowed I’d never be afraid of any man ever again.” Even though she didn’t want to pull away from his warm, hard body, she sat up a little. “Pain’s easing a bit.”

  He sighed. “It’ll ease off then you’ll lose consciousness.”

  Leaving her vulnerable. Her hands tightened on his arm. “Pretty scary talent you have.”

  Callahan scanned her face and his muscles tightened. “Are you afraid of me now?”

  “Will you take care of me while I’m out?”

  His hand clenched in her hair. “You don’t need to ask.”

  “Then I’m not afraid.”

  ***

  Her quiet words had the power to shatter all of Cal’s defenses.

  He pushed to his feet, Mara held tight in his arms. He headed for the stairs and soon was settling her in the passenger seat of the Audi he’d rented. He buckled her in and climbed behind the wheel.

  “We need to get to the jet before your brain shuts down.” He glanced at her, guilt a sharp blade through his insides. “How’s the pain?”

  Lines bracketed her mouth. “Manageable.”

  “You’re a bad liar.”

  The tiniest smile. “I’m a very good liar. Just not at my best right now.”

  As he cut onto Threadneedle Street and passed through Bank junction, three black sedans roared up behind them.

  He cursed. “Leven sure had a lot of manpower in place to catch you.”

  Mara let out a strangled laugh. “He hates me as much as I hate him.”

  “You do have a bad habit of stealing all his kidnapped anomalies away from him.” Cal concentrated on the road. He had more than a few tricks for losing a tail.

  They roared across London, Leven’s men close behind. Cal wrenched the wheel and cut across the oncoming lane, shooting into a narrow alley.

  “Shit, they’re good.” He watched a sedan follow him. He sped out of the alley and onto a busier street. He worked to put as many cars between them as possible.

  He looked at Mara. Her normally pale skin looked paler in the flicker of streetlights. Her head lolled back against the seat. He wasn’t used to seeing this vibrant woman so still.

  Anger chewed on him. He should have been more careful. He’d known she wasn’t far away when he’d sent out the mental burst.

  A mutated gene had given him an extraordinary power. But the CIA had m
ade him into something else. His hands flexed on the wheel. Something lethal contained only by his will.

  If Mara knew what he could really do—what he’d done in his past—she would be afraid. For some reason, having this woman fear him was intolerable.

  She made a small moan. She wasn’t going to last much longer.

  Another glance behind them. One car was still hard on their tail.

  “We have to ditch the car.”

  She rolled her head to the side. “I don’t think I can run.”

  “I’ll carry you.”

  She snorted. “That’ll be inconspicuous.”

  “Trust me.”

  Luminous green eyes stared back at him. “I don’t make a habit of trusting people.”

  He wanted her to trust him. “Who betrayed you, Mara?”

  She shrugged and turned her face to the window. Reluctantly, Cal turned his attention back to the street. He headed to the heart of the city, where shoppers, tourists and people out for dinner and a show would line the streets. He lost Leven’s men long enough to park illegally in a narrow side street near Piccadilly Circus. He hauled Mara out of the SUV.

  Tucking her in close, he kept one arm wrapped around her, taking most of her weight. He hoped they looked like any other couple out for a stroll. They headed up Regent Street. With Christmas coming, its famed lights were strung across the road, turning the place into a sparkling wonderland.

  “I love shopping here.” The words were low, husky with pain.

  He glanced down at her. “Figures. How’s the head?”

  “Down to a dull throb.”

  Not much longer until she passed out. “Hang in there. We’ll jump on the Tube at Oxford Circus.”

  “What are you?”

  Her quiet words had him staring straight ahead. He watched the normal people walking past them with no idea of the anomalies among them.

  “I’m just a man. With the same struggles as any other.” His gaze travelled down the strong lines of her face. “The same wants and desires.”

  “That’s not what I meant.”

  He looked ahead. “I’m a mind raider. Let’s leave it at that.”

  “I’ll get it out of you eventually.”

  Only one person knew the depth of what had been done to him. It was a secret Cal never planned to share with anyone else. “My secrets are best left in the dark, Mara.”