The Anomaly Trilogy Boxed Set

by Hackett, Anna

  “Mara?”

  She staggered, her green eyes meeting his before they closed. He caught her before she hit the floor.

  Chapter Four

  “Mara? Damn it, open your eyes, sweetheart.”

  Mara frowned, fighting her way through heavy grogginess. Had Callahan just called her sweetheart? She opened her eyes.

  They were on the floor of his office and she was cradled in his arms. His dark eyes shimmered with intensity but the large hand rubbing her cheek was gentle.

  “I don’t faint,” she said.

  “Right, you just decided to take a nap in the middle of our conversation.”

  “Argument.”

  “Whatever.” With a breathtaking display of strength, he stood with her in his arms. “I’m getting you checked out. I’ve already called our doctor.”

  “I’m fine.” Apart from her residual frustration with him, she felt fine.

  “Still getting you checked.”

  “You just love telling people what to do.” But she slung an arm around his neck and decided to enjoy being carried. She was tall and not many men could lift her, let alone carry her.

  “You get cleared by our doctor or you don’t go on the mission.”

  She rolled her eyes.

  He carried her back to his bedroom and set her down on the bed. Then he just stared at her.

  Mara ran a hand over her hair. “What?”

  He shook his head. “Nothing. Gage’ll be here in a minute.” Cal strode over to the window, staring through the glass like he’d never seen the view before.

  She studied his stiff back. Whatever secrets he was hiding were deep. Damn it, she wanted him and his secrets.

  Her legs shifted and she felt the stickiness of her release between her thighs. He hadn’t been gentle. He’d been rough and urgent and she’d loved it. Loved his hands on her, his kiss, that fierceness in his eyes that said he could devour her and leave her wanting more.

  “Cal, I really am fine. I know my limits.”

  His hands curled around the window ledge. “I hurt you in London and you’re still paying the price. I’m dangerous, Mara…that’s why you need to steer clear.”

  Stubborn man. “I—”

  “Cal?” A masculine voice from the hall.

  Saved by the doctor.

  Cal turned. “In here, Gage.”

  The doctor entered, his lanky frame dressed in casual cargo shorts and a blue polo shirt, stethoscope hanging around his neck. He carried a large black bag in one hand and pushed his wire-framed glasses farther up on his nose with the other. His brown hair was a shaggy mess over his raw-boned face. Nerdy cute over quiet strength, Mara decided.

  “Mara, this is Haven’s doctor and head researcher, Dr. Gage Walker. Gage, Mara.”

  The doctor shot her a crooked smile. “Nice to finally meet you.” He had a slight Australian twang.

  She couldn’t help but smile back. “You, too.” She’d heard plenty about the amiable Dr. Walker but they’d never crossed paths before. She’d only ever seen the female doctor who also worked on the island. Mara crossed her bare legs and figured the doctor had seen plenty of mostly naked females before.

  Cal didn’t move or make a sound but something made her look up. His face was dark and he was frowning at her legs.

  Gage set his bag down and sat on the edge of the bed. “Cal said he hit you with a mental blast. Any headaches?”

  “Not even a twinge.” She pushed her hair over her shoulder and wished for something to tie it up with. “I told Callahan I didn’t need to see a doctor.”

  “He likes to tell people what to do.”

  She laughed. “I know. I think it’s in his DNA.”

  Cal crossed his arms over his chest. “She fainted in my office.”

  “I’m fine now.” God, she was started to sound like a parrot.

  Gage fished around in his bag and pulled out a slim light. He shone it in her eyes. “Pupil reactions are fine.” He checked her pulse and then in a practiced move, he stuck the stethoscope in his ears and held up the end. “Ah…”

  Amused at the flush on his cheeks, she tugged down the neck of the T-shirt. Cal turned back to the window.

  “Vitals are all normal. Being a mind raider makes your mind less susceptible to the effects of Cal’s power.” Gage pulled another device from his bag.

  “What’s that?” Mara studied the long machine and its electronic screen. From the end hung two electrodes.

  “It’s called a NeuroScope. Kind of like an EEG machine but fine-tuned for anomalies. It lets me measure the electrical activity in your brain.” He pressed the electrodes to her temples.

  “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

  “I invented it. It’s taken a few years to perfect, and while it’s not as accurate as using a high density electrode net, it’s a handy and gives a good indication of—”

  “Gage,” Cal said.

  “Right, sorry.” The doctor shot her another smile. “I tend to get carried away sometimes.”

  She tilted her head, studying his face. “You aren’t an anomaly.”

  “Nope, garden variety human.”

  “How do you know so much about anomalies?”

  “I worked in—”

  “Is she okay?” Cal interrupted.

  Gage studied the small screen. “Pattern’s normal for a mind raider.”

  Mara’s gaze swung between the two men, wondering what Callahan didn’t want the good doctor to say. More secrets. She crinkled her nose. “I hate being normal. It’s so boring.”

  Gage’s smile widened. “Sorry. You’re all clear.” He tucked the NeuroScope back in his bag and snapped it closed. “If you feel any strange aches in your head, you need to let me know. You could have some damage to your synapses.”

  Mara looked up at Cal. “Is that how your mental blast works? You fry the synapses?”

  His face was impassive. “Something like that.”

  Keep your secrets, Callahan. For now.

  “Why’d she faint?” Cal demanded.

  Gage stood and shrugged. “She might have just overdone it.” He glanced her way. “What were you doing when you fainted?”

  Mara’s gaze was drawn back to Cal. His face was still hard as stone but those eyes…. “Arguing with Mr. I’m-the-Boss.” And recovering from the mind-blowing orgasm he’d given her.

  “Well—” Gage coughed but was possibly covering a laugh “—that would do it. I’d avoid any more arguments until you’ve had a bit more rest.”

  “How long until we can leave for Indonesia?” she asked.

  Gage blinked. “Indonesia?”

  Cal moved forward. “We have an anomaly to rescue from Leven. A soul stealer.”

  “Right.” Gage adjusted his glasses again. “Mara’s fine to go.”

  Mara opened her mouth but Cal held up a hand.

  “A few hours. I need to assemble the team and get transport ready.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I want Bay and Sean on the team.”

  Mara felt a rush of pleasure. Bay North was the closest thing Mara had to a girlfriend. Neither of them were great at letting people close, but somehow the time thief had become a friend. And Bay’s ex-Navy SEAL fiancé was as tough as they came and an expert at covert missions.

  “Excellent.” Mara stood. “I’m going to head back to my cabin and get ready.”

  Cal nodded. “I’ll call you when we’re ready to leave.”

  His face was so remote, so cold, she wondered if she’d imagined what had happened between them before.

  “Okay.” She felt his gaze on her as she crossed the room.

  Maybe she should drop this…thing between them. Callahan wouldn’t be an easy-going lover willing to let her take control. Feminine instinct warned her that he was more dangerous than anything she’d faced before. Maybe more dangerous than she could handle.

  ***

  Cal watched the sway of Mara’s hips as she sauntered across the room. Clad only in his shirt, rou
nd breasts outlined by well-worn cotton and those long, long bare legs she was damn near irresistible. Heat surged through him, intensified by the memory of having her in his lap, crying out her release.

  Seeing her in his bed had shredded his control. She’d looked too damn right there.

  “Earth to Cal?”

  As Mara closed the door, he turned to Gage. He didn’t like the huge grin on his friend’s face. “What?”

  “I said, I like her.”

  Cal studied his friend. Gage looked nothing like the polished doctor Cal had met a lifetime ago. “She’s…” he wasn’t really sure how to describe Mara.

  “I get it, mate. She’s gorgeous, and the way you two look at each other—”

  Cal gave one violent shake of his head. “You know that can never happen.”

  Gage huffed out a breath. “Cal, there’s no need to shut yourself off.”

  “There’s every need.” Cal couldn’t stand still. He paced across the room. “You know that better than anyone.”

  “You have very good control of your abilities. You’d never hurt anyone.”

  “I hurt Mara.” Something he’d never forgive himself for. Seeing her on the ground back in London and now, suffering because of him. It ripped his insides out. “I used the full force of my mental blast.” And he’d reveled in that burst of power.

  “Mara’s fine.”

  “I could have killed her.” Cal snapped his fingers together. “Just like that.” He could have snuffed out that courageous, vivacious woman in an instant. “And you know it’s more than that.”

  “You can’t punish yourself forever.”

  Cal had known Gage a long time and easily read the nerves in his voice. Gage was a genius scientist and a brilliant doctor but he couldn’t filter his feelings worth a damn. “Usually about this point you give the speech about how you’ll find a way to reverse my…extra abilities.”

  Gage released a long breath. “I studied your latest scans. The new treatments have had no effect.”

  Cal let all the emotions the morning had churned up in him drain away, leaving him calm and cool. “We anticipated as much.”

  The other man shook his head. “I’d hoped the latest treatment would have reduced the changes to your brain chemistry. Nullified some of your…more potent powers.”

  Let him be closer to normal. But Cal had made his choice a long time ago. There was no point trying to go backward. “Don’t blame yourself.”

  Gage gave a scoffing laugh. “I helped do this to you. I want to fix it.”

  Cal clapped a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “You saved me. I’ll never forget that.” Because of Gage, Cal had escaped the worst of his nightmare. “If I maintain as much solitude as possible, I can control my power.”

  “It isn’t enough. You deserve a life, Cal.”

  Cal glanced out the window. He could just see the roof of Mara’s cabin. He imagined her back there. Showering. Wet red hair slicked over luscious curves. He felt the bite of regret. “We both know that isn’t ever going to happen. Besides, Haven keeps me too busy.”

  “Cal—”

  “Enough, Gage. I appreciate everything you do, but focus on Haven’s residents and quit wasting your time on me.” Cal strode to his wardrobe. “I have to get ready. I have a future resident to save from the wilds of Sulawesi.”

  But he cast one last glance out the window at the distant cabin.

  Chapter Five

  The cloying heat was unbearable.

  Mara pushed aside the heavy vegetation, following Callahan as he moved through the Indonesian jungle. He didn’t appear to notice the heat while her clothes and hair were stuck to her sweat-dampened skin.

  Her gaze lingered on the muscles outlined under his dark T-shirt. He moved like some big jungle cat. She flicked open the buttons on her shirt. Watching him wasn’t helping cool her off. She dragged off her shirt and tied it around her waist. With only her green tank on, it was marginally cooler.

  “The plantation’s close,” Cal said.

  Good. And closing in on the other side of it were Bay North and Sean Archer. They all wore earpieces to stay in contact.

  “Here.” He dropped to a crouch, peering through some foliage.

  Mara crouched beside him. The scent of healthy male sweat mixed with dark spice hit her nostrils. She resolutely stared ahead.

  She saw a small wooden building close by. Behind it in the distance were the well-used main facilities. A stream of workers moved in and out of the warehouse buildings. Some carried trays of dried cocoa beans inside, others loaded bulging jute bags onto trucks.

  But everyone stayed clear of this small outbuilding.

  “No sign of irregular activity in our area.” Bay’s voice came though clear over the earpiece.

  “None here either,” Cal responded. “Stay in position and keep watch.”

  More waiting. Mara settled on the ground, trying to find a comfortable spot and lifted her small, sleek binoculars.

  The workers on the plantation were locals. Men dressed in simple cotton shirts and trousers, and women in colorful skirts. Their comings and goings became a monotonous sort of dance as the hours passed. Mara shifted her legs to restore circulation to her feet.

  Callahan moved up close to her. “Look.”

  A woman had broken away from the stream of workers, headed toward the lone outbuilding. She carried a basket covered by a square of brilliantly dyed fabric and moved quickly, her head down.

  Mara leaned forward and he gripped her arm, his fingers tightening.

  “We should question her,” she whispered.

  “And give ourselves away?” He shook his head. “We’re here for surveillance.”

  “We’re here to find Cate.”

  The woman glanced around, then set the basket down on the doorstep of the building. She started back down the path, coming closer to their hiding spot.

  “Please, Cal. I can raid her mind. She won’t remember anything.”

  His fingers bit into Mara’s arm. Finally he gave a brief nod. “She won’t speak English. I’ll do it.”

  When the woman came level with them, he reached out and snatched her backward into the bushes.

  The woman’s dark eyes were wide and she opened her mouth to scream, but Cal pressed a gentle hand over her face. He whispered something in Bahasa Indonesian. Mara didn’t speak the language, but whatever he said stopped the woman’s struggles.

  Her entire body relaxed, her eyes glazing over as Callahan raided her mind.

  He asked questions in Indonesian and the woman gave soft, halting answers. He frowned. Then he said something and let her go.

  She stepped back onto the path and resumed her walk back to the main plantation as if nothing had detained her.

  “Well?” Mara demanded.

  “She doesn’t know anything.” He turned away.

  Mara grabbed his shoulder. “What do you mean?”

  “She’s told to bring a basket of food here every day. That’s it. She’s never seen anyone enter or leave the building. She’s never seen anyone matching Leven’s description.”

  Mara wanted to punch something. “Cate’s here. I know it.”

  “Your gut instinct isn’t enough for me to risk the team going in.”

  She straightened and started to turn away from him. “Then I’ll go in.”

  In a heartbeat, he yanked her close, her spine pressing against his hard chest and stomach. His hot breath fanned over her ear. “Just once will you listen to me?”

  “She’s in there. Hurt, in chains, bleeding.” Mara turned her head. Her lips were inches from his.

  “I don’t want you blundering in there and ending up in Leven’s hands.” Cal’s hand fanned out over her belly. “Or worse.”

  His dark eyes were turbulent and she felt a rush of something warm inside her chest. How long had it been since someone had been worried about her?

  “I have to help her and I have to show Leven that he can’t get away with this.�
�

  Cal cursed. “Damn it, you twist me up.” He released her. “Fine. We’ll both go. A quick look and back out. We don’t engage.”

  “Deal.”

  He tapped his ear. “Bay, Sean? We’ve moving in for a closer look.”

  “Be careful,” came Sean’s deep voice in reply.

  Mara and Cal moved out of their hiding spot but stayed low and close to the tree line.

  The basket still sat at the door.

  Mara knew this had to be Cate’s prison. Hold on a bit longer, Cate.

  Cal signaled, pointing to a small window on one side. He moved closer, peering inside.

  She stepped up beside him.

  The inside was empty.

  Disappointment slashed deep. There was some simple wooden furniture and a layer of dust inches thick.

  “No.” She refused to believe it. Leven was evil but he wasn’t stupid. “We need a better look in there.”

  Cal opened the door and stepped over the basket. Mara paused in the doorway. Something made her look at the basket. Through the cloth, she saw a bright red light.

  She crouched and flicked the handmade fabric back.

  The bottom fell out of stomach.

  A bomb lay nestled in the woven reeds, a digital display blinking. She was no expert but it was big enough to do a lot of damage.

  “Cal!”

  He was already moving. He grabbed her arm in a tight grip and ran.

  Seconds later a deafening explosion knocked them to the ground. The jungle around them detonated in a ball of orange flames.

  ***

  A heavy weight crushed Mara into the ground.

  She opened her eyes, her cheek pressed against fragrant soil. Heat and the stench of burning hair and flesh flooded her senses.

  “Cal. Get off.” She fought to drag air into her lungs.

  He didn’t move.

  Her pulse sped up. “Callahan?”

  Frantic, she pushed at him until his big, limp body rolled to the side. He didn’t make a sound.

  She sat up and saw his shirt was on fire. With a cry, she ripped her shirt from around her waist and slapped at the flames.

  Oh God. She pressed shaking fingers to his neck. Felt a pulse.

  She shuddered. She was so used to feeling power and presence pouring out of him. To see him so silent, so still. Her heart hurt where it thudded against her ribs.