Fearless

by Nicole Coverdale

  “You got it removed?”

  “Yes.” Luis whispered.

  “How?”

  “A good friend of mine.”

  “They’re going to find me.” The woman whispered. “They’re going to kill me. I betrayed them. They’ll never forgive me for it, and I don’t want to go back there. I can’t go back there. Not now that I know the truth about everything. Not after what they’ve done to my family. And not after they’ve killed my sister.”

  Luis’s head jerked up.

  “What?”

  “Elena’s dead.” The woman whispered.

  Luis felt the blood drain out of his face. “Who said that?”

  “Abel. “

  No.

  Luis shook his head. The rain pummeling down on him and he dug out his phone. Dialing Kieran’s number.

  “You’ve reached Kieran. Leave me a message.”

  “Dammitt!”

  He stared at the woman in front of him. Feeling so incredibly vulnerable for the first time in years. Kieran had always been there for him. He had always been there when he’d needed him. He couldn’t be dead. He needed him! He still needed him in his life.

  “Come on.” He whispered, taking the woman’s hand.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Saving you.” Luis whispered. “And getting that damn tracker out of you before they get here.”

  “I can’t ask you to do that!”

  “You didn’t.”

  “But—“Her words trailed off. “I don’t even know your name.”

  “Luis.”

  “I’m Torianna.” The woman whispered. “But everyone calls me Tori.”

  “Good to know.” Luis opened the screen door, and led her up the stairs and into the cabin. “Take a seat on the couch.” He whispered, turning and racing up the stairs. He ran into the spare bedroom grabbing a set of women’s clothes his ex had left here nearly two years ago. God he hoped they fit. He grabbed a couple of towels, and the first aid kit from the bathroom then sprinted back down the stairs.

  And stopped, when he saw Tori standing in front of the window.

  She was twirling her hair, draining the water from it, and watching as the sun set just outside of the cabin. Tears were streaking down her face, and he felt his heart lurch a little. What was wrong with Abel? Why did he do this to his daughters? Beautiful woman, who knew nothing of the world, and who had been put through hell just because he didn’t like the way the world was? The bastard needed to be put down.

  “He’s going to get what’s coming to him.” He whispered, stopping next to her.

  “I know.” Tori whispered. “I know that he’s going to get what’s coming to him. I just don’t know if I’ll ever be able to forgive myself for what I’ve done. If what Abel said is true and Elena really is dead, I’ll never be able to hear her laugh. I’ll never see her smile. I’ll never get to feel her arms around me. I’ll never be able to tell her how truly sorry I am. She tried to tell us. She tried to tell all of us that Abel was a traitor. That he was evil. But we didn’t listen. We didn’t listen!”

  “That’s not your fault. You were under the influence of a drug.”

  “But she broke free of it before I did. Why did it take me so long?”

  “Maybe, it has to do with what you think is right. Maybe it has to do with how strong you are.” Luis whispered. “Elena was able to break free of it, because she saw something that reminded her of all that she had lost. You broke free when?”

  “When we were all training for battle. When I saw the bombs on the television. When I thought of Elena.”

  “You’re as strong willed and stubborn as she is.” Luis muttered, laughing a little. “You broke out of it when you thought of your sister. And you know what they say. Family is stronger than anything in the world.”

  Tori laughed.

  “Yes. Yes it is.” She whispered, turning to look up at him.

  Luis pressed the towel to her cheek, wiping the blood away. Out of the corner of his eye a flash of light catching his attention.

  Tori jerked away from him, swinging her head towards the window.

  Headlights were headed up the driveway nearing the cabin.

  “Someone’s here.” She whispered, swinging her eyes back to Luis. “Luis, who knows about this place?”

  “Only one other person. And he’s supposed to be dead.” Luis whispered, turning and racing towards the kitchen. Jerking open the drawer and pulling out his revolver. Flicking of the safety. “Run upstairs to my bedroom.” He whispered, staring over at Tori, handing her the clothes he still held in his hand. “Put these on and don’t come out until I say so. You understand?”

  “Luis, I’m not some little girl. I can help.”

  “I know you’re not a little girl. I know you can help. But you’re hurt. You’re sore. You’re tired. And the last thing I want is for anything to happen to you. Please go upstairs, Tori. Let me protect you.”

  Tori stared at him. Taking the clothes from him, feeling suddenly very odd. No one had ever wanted to protect her. It felt weird. But it felt nice at the same time.

  “Okay.” She finally whispered, heading towards the stairs. “But Luis, please be careful.”

  “Of course.”

  Luis turned his head, watching as Tori walked up the steps. Disappearing into the darkness, and the sound of a door slamming echoing in his ears.

  Then he turned, walking towards the door.

  He wiped out all thoughts of the woman upstairs. Of the fact that Kieran might be dead, and focused on the vehicle that sat just beyond the door.

  Whoever was in that vehicle was not coming through that door.

  They were not getting into this cabin.

  They were not going to harm that woman upstairs.

  Not if he had anything to say about it.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Oh God. Oh God. She couldn’t do this! She couldn’t freaking do this!

  The raindrops fell across the windshield.

  She blinked, narrowing her eyes, watching as the wipers swung from side from to side.

  The sound of the wind sounded in her ears.

  And her fingers tightened around the steering wheel, just as the wind blew against the car, making her swerve into the other lane.

  Elena screamed.

  A horn honked.

  She jerked the wheel, pulling the car back on the right side of the road, watching as a car whipped by her in the other lane. A young woman screaming at her.

  “Good God.” Elena whispered, tears filling her eyes. “I suck at this.”

  “You’re doing just fine.” Kieran whispered from the passenger’s seat. He turned his head, his face white as a ghost, and lifted a shaking hand. Touching her arm. “You’re doing just fine. Ignore the haters.”

  “I don’t get how you do it.” Elena whispered, turning to look at him for a moment. “I don’t get how you can do this all the time. There are just so many rules. Knowing how fast to go in certain areas. Knowing when to stop. Knowing when to go. And dealing with all the people. How do you deal with them yelling at you? Cursing at you. Giving you the finger. Honking at you all the time. How do you deal with it?”

  “I love driving.” Kieran whispered, giving her a small smile. “I love the feel of all that power underneath you. Power that you are in control of. I love the thrill of speeding on the freeway. The feeling of how smoothly it navigates on the road. When I got out of the organization, I had never felt freer than I did behind the wheel of a car. I guess you can say it was my drug for a while.” He laughed. “Oh, the speeding tickets I got. I got into my share of accidents. I made a dozen people pissed at me. But the thing I like to remember, is that no matter where you are in life, there will always be people who are pissed off about something. People will judge you. They will tell you what you should do. What you’re doing wrong. We all have our problems in life, Elena, and no matter what your problem is, someone out there has a much bigger problem that you don’t know a
bout.”

  “I can’t imagine anyone having a bigger problem than us right now.”

  Kieran laughed. “That is true.” He pointed forward. “About half a mile up, you’re going to take a right. There’s a driveway that disappears through a patch of trees and then you’ll see the cabin.” His voice grew faint. “We’re almost there.”

  “Kieran?”

  Elena whipped her head around.

  His hand fell from her arm.

  “Kieran!” she screamed, her hand sliding from the wheel, reaching over to shake him.

  The car careened to the side, slamming into a mailbox.

  “Dammitt!” she shouted, jerking her attention back to the road. Jerking the wheel, and watching, as a small, narrow driveway appeared on her right.

  There it was.

  She was here.

  She turned into the driveway.

  She stepped on the gas.

  She zoomed through the trees, and braked right in front of the logged cabin. The car had barely stopped when she was jumping out of the car and racing around the front of it. Whipping the passenger door open. The rain poured down on her, soaking her shirt but she didn’t care. Kieran needed help. He needed help now!

  “Oh God.” She whispered, jerking the door open. Staring down at him. At the blood that had soaked through his shirt and the bandage she had applied hours ago. “Oh God. This is not good. This is not good at all!”

  “I’m okay. You just have to get me into the house.” Kieran whispered. “I’m okay.”

  “Seriously?” Elena stared at him. “You’re telling me that you’re okay, Kieran? Have you lost your ever loving mind! For goodness sakes, look at yourself a minute! You’re as pale as a ghost. Your lips have no color in them. And you’re weak. You can barely even move. How can you consider that okay?”

  She turned away from him, staring at the cabin, watching as a light suddenly turned off.

  “Someone’s here.” She whispered.

  “What?”

  “Shh…” She reached in the glove box, grabbing the small pistol that lay there just as the door to the cabin swung open.

  She turned, and pulled the trigger.

  The bullet hit the cabin just above the door.

  And she watched as a man stepped out from the door, raising the gun in his hand.

  The sound of gunfire echoed in her ears.

  She dropped to the ground.

  The bullet hit the tire of the car, a whooshing sound sounding in her ears and she lifted her head. Raindrops streaking down her face, blinking as she watched the man walk towards her. His figure oddly familiar.

  And her eyes suddenly widening.

  “Luis?”

  “Elena?”

  Elena rose to her feet, staring at him a moment.

  “Oh my God.” Elena whispered. “You almost killed me!”

  “I almost killed you? You almost killed me!” Luis cried, before racing towards her and engulfing her in a huge hug. “Good God, I am so glad to see you!”

  “Luis!” Elena started, his strong arms wrapping around her. Lifting her off the ground. She gasped, barely being able to breathe. “Luis, what is going on?”

  “I thought you were dead!” Luis cried, stepping back, staring at her.

  “Why did you think I was dead?”

  “It’s just what I heard.” Luis blew out a breath. “I should have known it wasn’t true. Where’s Kieran?”

  Elena pointed to the car.

  Luis turned his head, and his face suddenly lost color.

  “No!” he cried, running to the car, dropping to his knees next to his friend. “Oh God, Kieran, what happened!”

  “They found us.” Elena whispered, walking up beside him. “He’s lost a lot of blood, Luis. I don’t know if he’ll—“

  “Trust me, the bastard will make it.” Luis interrupted her.

  “Bastard? Who are you calling a bastard?” Kieran jerked his arm out of Luis’s. Then a smile spread across his face. “Luis! What are you doing here?”

  “I was trying to get some peace and quiet. But it looks like that was too much to ask for.” He narrowed his eyes at Kieran. “You have got to be the luckiest son of a bitch I have ever known.”

  “Luck has nothing to do with it.” Kieran informed him. “I’m just that good.”

  Luis rolled his eyes. “Smart ass.”

  “You know, it would be really nice if you two would stop bickering like an old married couple.” Elena muttered. “Because I would really appreciate getting out of this rain really soon.”

  Luis turned, rolling his eyes at Kieran. “Is she always like this?”

  “I would probably listen to her, bro.” Kieran winked at Luis. “She did after all get us here.”

  “You let her drive?”

  “I didn’t have much of a choice.” Kieran admitted, pointing to the blood on his side. “Unless you want me to pass out behind the wheel.”

  “I guess there is that.”

  “Boys!” Elena shouted.

  “Alright, alright, we’re going.” Luis muttered, reaching forward, unbuckling the seatbelt from around Kieran’s waist and pulling him out of the car. He grunted under Kieran’s weight. “Elena, can you help me out?”

  Elena dashed over, throwing one of Kieran’s arms over her shoulders.

  “Just what I always wanted.” Kieran muttered. “To be carried through the door of a cabin.”

  “Shut up!” They shouted in unison.

  Kieran laughed. His eyes bright.

  “He’s lost too much blood.” Elena whispered. “He’s delirious.”

  “I’m not delirious!” Kieran protested as they walked through the door of the cabin. “I’m in love! Luis, isn’t she amazing? She’s the most amazing person I’ve ever known. She’s beautiful. She’s brave. She’s smart. And one day soon I hope to make her my wife.”

  Elena stumbled.

  Luis yelled.

  And they lost their balance. Stumbling, and falling in a heap right on the couch.

  “Now, that is not the way to treat a patient!” Kieran shouted.

  Elena rolled her eyes. “Shut up.” She whispered, turning to look Luis. “Did he just—“

  “I think he just proposed to you.” Luis told her, a grin spreading across his face.

  “No, he did not!” Elena cried, shaking her head more vigorously. “He did not just propose. He’s delirious! He’s lost too much blood, plus we just met!”

  “Guess you’ll just have to ask him about it when he wakes up.” Luis whispered, walking across the room and picking up a needle that lay on the table. He walked back, and inserted the needle in Kieran’s arms.

  “Is that safe?”

  “It’s perfectly safe.” Luis told her. “It’s just going to knock him out while I patch up his wound.”

  “You’ve done this before, haven’t you?”

  “Good God, yes. I’ve lost the number of times I’ve had to patch Kieran up throughout the years. When we were in the organization. When we were on the run. And being in the FBI.” He shook his head. “It’s only been the two of us for so long, I don’t know what I’d do if anything ever happened to him.”

  “But nothing will.” Elena whispered laying a hand on his arm. “He’s strong, Luis. And I know you’ll do whatever you can to make sure he survives this.”

  “Damn straight I will.” Luis muttered, staring at her. “And you, Missy, should really get into some dry clothes. There’s some upstairs in the spare bedroom. There should be something that fits you.”

  “Thanks, Luis.” Elena whispered, staring at him. “We’re lucky you were here. I don’t know if I could have gotten him into the cabin by myself.”

  “Well, all that matters is that you’re here now and that he’s going to be okay. Now go change before you get sick, woman!” Luis shouted, turning towards Kieran, picking up the case he had at his feet that contained all his medical surprise and stopped. Jerking his head towards Elena, remembering suddenly that Torianna
was upstairs.

  But she was already halfway up the stairs.

  He shrugged.

  They’d see each other soon enough.

  Chapter Thirty

  Elena took the steps one at a time.

  Her whole body ached.

  Her hand gripped around the railing.

  And she closed her eyes, remembering the sound of that gunshot, Kieran’s body lying there against the counter top.

  Oh God, what if he didn’t make it? She wondered to herself. Stopping at the top of the stairs.

  A sob rose up in her throat.

  Tears rolled down her face.

  And she sunk to the ground. Sobs escaping her throat.

  She had just told Luis that Kieran was strong. That he would make it. But she knew herself, that there were no certainties in life. She was surrounded by death. What if she lost Kieran, just like she’d lost everything else in her life?

  She couldn’t handle it. She couldn’t lose anything else.

  A door slammed shut somewhere nearby.

  Footsteps sounded in her ears.

  She wiped away her tears, lifting her head, watching as a small figure walked towards her. Her lean figure strangely familiar. Elena cocked her head, watching as she walked towards her. Coming into the light. Her long, dark brown hair pulled back in a ponytail. Bruises marking her flushed cheeks, and her dark brown eyes so hard to forget.

  “Tori?” she whispered her name, her voice sounding a little on the husky side.

  “Elena?”

  Elena stared at her sister. Slowly pushing herself to her feet. Watching as she walked towards her. A million emotions running through her.

  “Oh my God.” She whispered. Raising a hand, touching her sister’s cheek. “Is it really you?”

  “It’s me.” Tori whispered. Staring up at Elena.

  Elena let out a shriek. Wrapping her arms around Tori, and pulling her into a tight embrace. “Jesus, Tori, I thought I’d lost you!” she whispered, her arms tightening around her sister. Not ever wanting to let her go. Tears rolling down her cheeks. “I thought I’d lost all of you. I never thought I’d see any of you ever again. I thought he had taken you from me.” She sniffed. And suddenly froze. Remembering the last time she had seen her sister. Back in the organization, when she’d come from her last mission. Her final mission. Remembering when Abel had outed her as a traitor. Remembering her sisters, all trying to take her down. To keep her from leaving.