Summers' Deceit (Hunters Trilogy Book 1)

by Sara J. Bernhardt

  There was a way. There had to be, and now it was only weighing on whether or not I could find it. So far, it didn’t seem like I would. Being by myself never bothered me before, so I guessed it shouldn’t have then either. I knew it could be possible to live the way I had before Danny died and I made that terrible decision to move to North Bend.

  I knew it would take a lot of work suppressing memories and tucking away old pictures. At the same time that all sounded wonderful in my head, I found myself unable to take Becky’s goofy pictures off the walls of my room and couldn’t bear to hide the notes she had written me about Aidan when she was bored in math class. I wanted to remember even if it hurt me…even if it killed me—I didn’t want to forget. I never had people in California the way I did in Oregon, not people who had shared once in a lifetime experiences with me. I would never find friends like them again, and I couldn’t forget what we had been through. Me having friends and being listened to and even understood in even one small way was like a miracle. There was life after Danny after all, and I was determined to live it.

  My mind wandered from Aidan to Becky and back again. Wandered through every day I had suffered in North Bend and every day I had been in love. I realized the memories didn’t hurt so much after a while. Most of it seemed so surreal, like a dream long ago that never made much sense. I tried telling myself that it wasn’t a dream, that it was real and all of it had happened…to me—Jane Callahan. It made things worse, of course, but again, I would do anything to not forget even if that meant inflicting old pain.

  The thoughts of Aidan had mostly stopped haunting me, which was a relief; I could control when I let him in. I was able to take refuge in the bookstore without thinking about the first day in North Bend, the day that Aidan had rescued me the first time. It was like a memory being in that place again. It wasn’t one of those normal everyday things anymore but more something that used to be a normal everyday thing. It was a strange feeling but a good one at the same time. All of the time I spent in North Bend had faded in my mind, seeming like nothing more than a vague dream.

  I breathed out a long sigh, letting my mind swirl and wrap around peaceful daydreams as my eyes slowly unfocused on the bland, black text in front of me. I had no conception of what the words were, nor did I care. I waited for that face again, for the softness of his green eyes and the kindness of his smile. As the image began to take form, I was ripped almost violently out of my dreams and into the vacant dust of the bookstore.

  “Jane.”

  It was soft, almost hesitant. I knew it wasn’t him, but the voice was familiar. I almost whispered his name as I turned around.

  “Jane?”

  “Y—yes?”

  “You don’t remember me.”

  It wasn’t a question. I did, however. I knew the softness of his hair hanging slightly in the left side of his face and his dark blue, round eyes. There was so much I had blocked from my memory.

  “I do,” I said. “Only, I’m unsure why.”

  He led out his hand. “Ian.”

  Visions in my head spun and flashed rapidly. Dorian. The basement. The bag of teeth. The hanging corpse. It assaulted my mind, leaving me gasping for breath and almost brought me to my knees.

  He dropped his hand. “Come on. We need to talk.” He sounded calm and composed, but his eyes were tense.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “Not now, Jane. Wait until we get into the car.”

  That told me it was something he couldn’t mention in public, meaning it had something to do with all the horrors I had left behind. Instantly, I began to feel a sense of anger tugging at my nerves. I shoved past him and walked quickly to my car. He followed me without hesitation.

  “Jane, we need to talk.”

  He reached for me and tore the keys from my hand.

  “You must be joking,” I snapped. I held out my hand. “Give them back to me. NOW.”

  He sighed but handed them back. I climbed inside and sat stiff for a moment. What was he doing here? What was so important that he’d come from North Bend? I couldn’t just drive away—could I? I was immediately outraged at these thoughts and gripped my fingernails into the plastic of the steering wheel.

  Ian didn’t even move. He was frozen stiff next to my window, just waiting for me to do what he knew I would, what I wanted more than anything to not do. I sighed and banged my hand into the steering wheel. I climbed out of the car and slammed the door as hard as I could.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” I demanded. “If this has anything to do with Ai…” I couldn’t finish my sentence. I didn’t need to.

  “Just follow me,” he said calmly. “Please.”

  I sighed heavily. “Fine.”

  He led me to the other side of the parking lot, and my stomach grew tight as he approached a black Mustang. He sensed my discomfort.

  “Just a bad choice I suppose,” he said. He was smiling, which didn’t seem at all like the appropriate reaction.

  I nodded and got in the passenger’s seat. He instantly started with the questions. His relaxed attitude had vanished, and his eyes almost looked turbulent.

  “Where’s Aidan?” he yelled, almost bellowed.

  His mood had startled me, and that name—that dreadful name—made me cringe.

  “How should I know?” I retorted, in response to his yelling.

  “Jane, don’t play games. You have to tell me.”

  “Ian, I don’t know.”

  “What? When was the last time you saw him?”

  “What do you mean?” I snapped. “In North Bend. Where else? Aidan and I…we aren’t…we aren’t like that…anymore.” I forced the words from my mouth as my eyes burned with the tears I was fighting back. I couldn’t stand thinking about him.

  “What?”

  “I left him.” My voice had lowered almost to a whisper.

  “How could you do that?”

  “He killed my broth—”

  “You let him go?”

  “What the hell is going on?”

  “You know who he is, Jane—what he is.”

  “I believe you don’t.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “If you’re worried about me, don’t be. I’m fine. If I’m in danger, Aidan can find me.”

  “And you think The Sevren can’t?”

  “What?” The terror in my voice was unmistakable.

  “Your brother was killed here—in California. Just because Abraham and Dorian are dead doesn’t mean the others don’t know your previous address.”

  “Aidan wouldn’t let them. He’ll protect me. He promised.”

  “Jane, wake up!” he yelled, throwing his hands up. “He’s been ordered to kill you. It’s who he is, Jane. He will never be anything but the bad guy. He’ll come for you, and with him, he’ll bring the others. Stop fooling yourself into trusting him.”

  “He’s saved my life, Ian, more than once.”

  “He is what he is,” he said firmly. “He will always fall back into his old ways. He’s coming for you. We have to get you out. Just come with me. Trust me.”

  “How can I trust you?”

  He sighed. “Because you know I’m right,” he answered sadly. “Because I’m your only hope.”

  “If they’re coming for me, what about my mom? What about Ethan?”

  He put his hands up. “Both of them are safe. I took care of it.”

  “Took care of it how?”

  “My friends are keeping them safe. You’re the one they want the most. You’re the one who’s connected to Aidan. We need to hide you. The others will stay near your parents. They’re standing guard in every direction.”

  “I really think I can handle myself after all that has happened.”

  “Jane, you and I both know that isn’t true.”

  “How much time do we have?”

  “A couple weeks.”

  “Weeks? Why are you here then?”

  “I’m not patient,” he said, s
miling.

  I sighed. “Not cute.”

  “I’m sorry. I got anxious. We need to act fast is all.”

  “How do you even know when they’re coming?”

  “I had connections with Dorian, remember? I didn’t know he was one of them. The others recognized me, remembered I had been seen with Dorian. I’m a pretty good actor when I need to be.”

  “Are you insane? Are you trying to get yourself killed?”

  “Jane, relax.” He chuckled. “It’s not a big deal.”

  “Have you spoken to Ai—to him?”

  He shook his head. “No. He wasn’t around. But don’t think that convinces me he’s not involved. Mike wasn’t there either. Those two usually work together.”

  “Mike?” I yelled. “Ian…Mike’s dead!”

  “What? When?”

  “When I stayed at Luna’s…” I broke off, remembering his severed head in the brown bag and that creepy man in my room. I shuddered.

  “I’m sorry,” he answered. “I didn’t know.”

  I nodded. “You know, maybe—”

  “Put the possibility of his innocence out of your head, please. At least until we get you safe, okay?”

  I nodded. “Fine.”

  I sat quietly for a minute. It seemed like the silence lasted hours, and I was almost startled when he started the car. I didn’t ask where we were going; it didn’t seem like it mattered at the time. Everything was still replaying in my mind, making my pulse race. I felt like I could hardly breathe. All the horrific images that had finally stopped haunting my dreams were attacking my brain.

  I sighed and closed my eyes. Even with my eyes closed, I felt dizzy and disoriented. I tried opening them, but I was weak and suddenly extremely sleepy. I didn’t know I had fallen asleep—or fainted—but I awoke in a room I didn’t recognize. Great! Just great. At least this time it wasn’t a dark basement. I was on a soft, white couch with blue pillows. The room was bare save for the couch I was on and a round coffee table in front of it. No TV, no chairs, no cabinets—nothing. The walls were even bare—bland off-white with not a single photograph or painting. Things were coming back to me, and I remembered Ian but didn’t see him.

  “Ian?” I called. There was no answer, and I instantly regretted trusting him for even a moment. “IAN!”

  “It’s okay,” I heard him say. He walked into the room from around the corner. “I’m right here. I wouldn’t leave you alone. I was just waiting for you to wake up.”

  “How long have I been out?”

  “A few hours,” he answered, putting his hands up and walking closer to me.

  I sat up. “Where are we?”

  “A safe place.”

  “Which is…?”

  He sighed. “Arizona.”

  “Arizona?” I was instantly filled with nervous worry, almost furious. “Why?”

  “We aren’t staying here. We’ll be staying with my brother in Maryland.”

  I got up but was so dizzy, I almost collapsed back onto the couch.

  “Jane?”

  “Forget it, Ian! I’m not going to Maryland.”

  “We have no choice.”

  “WE?” I yelled, stepping toward him. “There is no ‘we.’”

  “Jane—”

  “Don’t! I was already mad at you for dragging me out of the bookstore and bringing all of the North Bend horrors back to me once I was FINALLY able to live my life without constantly looking over my shoulder. And now? Now you want to take me to damn Maryland? It’s not happening, Ian.”

  “So what are you going to do, Jane?” he yelled. “Stay here? Not come with me?”

  “No. You are going to take me home.”

  “The hell I am. I was sent to protect you. That’s what I'm going to do.”

  My voice calmed. “Wait. What did you just say?”

  He sighed. “I was sent to find you and to get you away from The Sevren.”

  “Sent by whom?”

  “I don’t remember his name. An old man. A doctor, I think, and a woman.”

  “Luna?”

  He nodded. “Yes, Luna and an old man.”

  It came to me, and I knew before I even asked. “Walter?”

  He shook his head. “I don’t know,” he said, narrowing his eyes. “Mr.…Wingline…or something of that effect.”

  “Redline,” I corrected. “Mr.…or Professor Walter Redline.”

  “That’s it,” he answered, thrusting his hand to his forehead. “You know him?”

  I nodded. “He’s my friend’s grandfather.”

  “Ah, right. The severe idiot who came with Aidan to rescue you from Dorian.”

  “Right,” I said sarcastically. “The severe idiot who has stuck by me through everything even when I almost betrayed him in the beginning.”

  “Right,” he muttered. “Sorry.”

  “Yeah, Rudy’s great-grandfather was the one who established The Silver Wing in his early twenties.”

  He nodded. “So I heard. The professor is at the point now where he wants to avoid violence with The Sevren and create a treaty.”

  “A treaty?”

  “Yeah. What are you thinking?”

  “That The Sevren isn’t going to agree to any damn treaty, Ian!”

  He sighed. “I’m not going to respond to that because an argument is not going to get us where we need to be.”

  Something Aidan would say.

  “So if you can stop being your difficult, hardheaded self, we will leave for Maryland as soon as possible.”

  I didn’t say a word. I sighed and flopped back down on the couch. “Can you get me some water maybe? Or does this place not have any cupboards or sinks?”

  He smiled. “I’ll get you some water, Jane.”

  He ended up bringing me water and a bottle of pills.

  “What are those for?” I asked.

  “Oh, these?” he questioned, shaking the bottle and laughing. “These are for me. You’re giving me a headache.”

  “Funny.”

  “I thought you could use something to relax you. You don’t have to take any if you don’t want to.”

  “It’s fine. If you say taking one will help, then I’ll take one.”

  He nodded and handed me a small, white capsule. “Just drink plenty of water with it. It’s a little strong.”

  Well, he was right about it being a little strong because I ended up falling asleep for about an hour in the car, but it also helped relax me mentally, and I wasn’t feeling so anxious anymore. Maryland… I didn’t even know where it was or what the weather was like. Being the way I was, I was never one to travel. I liked staying in one place. Why over complicate things?

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Small, squeaky ceiling fans and tiny glass ashtrays with no smoking symbols. Bland, white walls with water stains and scratchy blankets on two cleanly made beds. For three days, this was all I knew. The days when home wasn’t an option. He never said anything before about a hotel and wouldn’t answer me when I asked him why we hadn’t left for Maryland and why we were still in this cheap hotel room. It had become clear to me that he realized there was no safe place.

  The Sevren isn’t going to agree to any damn treaty, Ian.

  It was obvious then that a treaty had never truly been his intention, not even in the beginning, so what was he really planning? Ian was sitting in a wooden chair next to the bed, reading the paper.

  “Where are they?”

  “Who?” His voice was calm. He looked up from the newspaper and sighed. “Jane”—he put the paper down—“we have to stay here, okay? Just for now.”

  “Where are they, Ian?”

  “Walter and his people are in North Bend. The Sevren is weak. Its loss of Abraham and Dorian along with the regrouping of The Silver Wing has weakened them more than we could have hoped. They have already lost sixty percent of their members.”

  “How?”

  “People who have wanted out and who left out of fear without Dorian and Abraham. Nobo
dy is really strong enough to stop them from getting away. And…”

  “And?”

  He sighed and nodded. “And a large percentage were killed by The Silver Wing.”

  I nodded. “So what now?”

  “We wait.”

  “That’s it?” I snapped. “We wait?”

  He nodded and picked up the paper again. “We wait.”

  I just sat still with my knees drawn up to my chin.

  “Jane, I really wish you wouldn’t do that.”

  “Do what?”

  “That…thing you’re doing, thinking silently. It worries me.”

  “Why are you worried?”

  He laughed. “I never know what you plan to do.”

  “I plan to listen to you,” I answered. “Even though your ideas are making me crazy. We should be doing something, not just sitting here.”

  “Walter and his people are doing something. I am keeping you safe.”

  I sighed. “I know. I just wish we could help.”

  “Like I said,” he started, putting the paper down again. He sat beside me on the bed. “The Sevren is trying to regroup. There’s no order anymore. That’s why the members weren’t afraid to flee.”

  “They’re brainwashed. Too many of them still believe in what they practice. Enough of them to hurt the people I…”

  He put his hand on my shoulder and leaned in close to me. “Nobody is going to hurt them, Jane,” he said sternly. “Understand?”

  I nodded but couldn’t keep the tears from coming.

  He sighed and pulled me into his chest. “This won’t be forever. It’ll go away.”

  “I hope you’re right,” I said through my sobs.

  “I am right.”

  I barely slept that night. I kept waking up after disturbing nightmares, and every time, I was reminded that Aidan wasn’t there for me to find comfort in. Aidan would never be there again, and that’s the way it had to be. I looked to the other bed and saw that Ian was out cold. I couldn’t understand how he was so relaxed. Either way, I was glad it was him that found me rather than somebody else. He was sweet and easy to trust. Of course, there was that possibility he wasn’t who he was making me believe he was. That had happened to me too many times already. I only hoped it would all be behind me soon and I could go back to California, to my normal, boring, comfortable life. I always wanted adventure, but this—this wasn’t one of my cheap romance novels; this was a real-life horror story, and it may not have a happy ending after all.