by Mikayla Lane
In that time, Jason had systematically terrorized the poor woman until she was left friendless, jobless, and destitute. All to force Lanie to go back to him. She’d spent more than a decade running from the bastard.
Jason had inflicted the kind of psychological torture on the innocent girl that Cin would generally appreciate if Lanie were one of the elite. But an innocent like Lanie didn’t deserve what Jason and his family had put her through.
All it did was invoke rage in Cindrac because Jason had taken advantage of the woman then punished her for seeing through his façade of respectability. Cin found dozens of police reports for assault and battery that had been swept under the rug by Jason’s aunt and her dirty money.
For eleven years, Lanie had tried to break free of Jason, and each time he hunted her down like an animal, forcing her to flee yet again. Cin read dozens of emails Lanie had sent to anyone who would listen for help, yet Senator Patrosi squashed any investigations each time.
Cin was stunned that Lanie was still alive considering the list of people killed in strange accidents or disappeared when crossing the Senator or her corrupt family. It was apparent to anyone with working brain cells that the Senator was nothing more than a low-life criminal.
Looking over at the brave woman on his couch, Cin could see the dark circles under her eyes and the tired lines etching her face. The physical toll of years of abuse, running for her life and scraping by on dead-end jobs while waiting for Jason McMaster to find her again.
From what Cin had read, Lanie had cost Jason and his family a lot of money trying to track her down the last eleven years and even more aggravation. He had a ton of respect for Lanie’s ability to stay strong and not give up in the face of impossible odds.
The nanites Cin had sent into Lanie’s body notified him that they had finished healing the woman, and she had fallen into an exhausted sleep. Unwilling to kill any of his nanites, if not necessary, Cin ordered them out of Lanie’s body and held his hand near her face. As they streamed out of her tear ducts, Cin reabsorbed them through his skin.
Knowing Lanie needed sleep more than anything right now, Cin grabbed a blanket from the back of the couch and covered her small form with it. Bob eyed them both warily from the end of the sofa but didn’t move from his corner.
Cin petted Bob for a few moments before moving his recliner so he could watch the dark-haired woman while she slept. He had to admit that Lanie was beautiful, and though she hadn’t opened her eyes yet, he knew from her pictures that she had big, warm brown ones.
In all the images Cin had seen posted of Lanie by old friends, she’d had a sparkle in her eyes and an obvious love of life. The first picture he’d seen of her with Jason, there’d been no twinkle or excitement. The light easily seen in the other photos had left Lanie’s eyes.
Like most human parasites, Jason McMaster had immediately started sucking the life out of Lanie the moment he’d met her and continued to do so ever since then. As a foster child on a college scholarship, Lanie had been an innocent and easy target for a sociopath like Jason.
Cin spent the rest of the night going through the information he’d stolen from the databases in the future and calculating Jason’s importance leading to the events in his time. Cin wanted to make sure that when he killed Jason, it would have no adverse rippling effects.
The sun was creeping over the horizon when Cin made a pot of coffee then took a cup outside to enjoy the view. He was finishing his first mug when Bob started hissing and growling. Turning slowly, so as not to startle the cat or his guest, Cin took in the situation.
Pushing back her tousled hair, Lanie clutched the blanket to her chest and stared warily at Bob. Cin sent a warning to Bob's nanites and wasn’t surprised when the cat glared at him before storming out the door to the deck.
“I’m sorry for his manners,” Cin spoke gently to the terrified woman. “Bob and I aren’t used to visitors. I’m Cindrac Miles. Bob and I found you in the woods.”
Lanie blushed a deep pink and reached her hands up to her face before looking at Cin in horror. “How long have I been here?”
“A little over nineteen hours. I’m shocked at how well my home remedies worked on your injuries.” Cin tried to quell her rising fear. “Are you feeling better? Any pain or stiffness?”
“No,” Lanie shook her head in confusion.
She knew Jason had beaten her badly, and her eye was swollen shut when he marched her into the woods.
“Are you sure it’s only been nineteen hours?”
Cindrac turned on the TV and put the remote on the coffee table in front of her. The date and time were displayed on the guide screen, and Lanie’s shoulders sagged in relief when she saw it.
“Can I borrow a phone to call the bus station?” Lanie asked, still marveling over the lack of swelling in her face.
Cin quickly found the nearest bus station, retrieved the schedules and fare information, and posted them on the TV screen. “How about I make us some breakfast first, and then you can call whomever you need?”
Lanie looked around nervously. “I really shouldn’t be here. There’s someone – after me. He’ll hurt you for trying to help me. If you can just point me in the right direction, I’ll leave.”
Cindrac hated the fear in Lanie’s eyes but admired her attempt to protect him from Jason and his powerful family. It was a testament to her character and only made Cin more determined to end the threat Jason posed to her life and future.
“Well, since I’m the one who scared him off, I think you’re safe. Besides, no one knows I live here. I’m completely off the grid, and we’re a good mile through the thick forest from where I found the two of you.” Cin moved into the kitchen, started pulling items out of the fridge, and putting them on the counter.
“No one knows you’re here? How’s that possible in this age of computers and technology?” Lanie doubted him after years of trying to disappear and always being found.
“Let’s just say I’m incredibly adept at computers and technology and could make anyone disappear forever,” Cin bragged, watching Lanie’s reaction to his words.
Lanie snorted and moved to the bar to see what he was doing in the kitchen. She was starving and had no money to get anything when she left. The first thing Jason had done when he found her was steal her wallet, like he always did, just to crush her spirit.
If the time on the TV guide was right, then Cindrac had a long time to hurt her if he wanted to and didn’t. So, Lanie didn’t see the harm in eating something while she figured out what to do next.
“If someone has money or connections, they’ll find you no matter what you do.” Lanie watched the man wield the knife with skill.
Cin expertly diced garlic and vegetables and threw them into a pan to sauté. He grabbed a bowl and cracked half a dozen eggs before preheating the oven and combining dry ingredients in a bowl. He rolled out the dough, cut them into triangles, and rolled them up.
“Are you making croissants?” Lanie was stunned that he was making everything without a recipe and from real ingredients. “Are you a chef?”
Cin chuckled. “No, I’m just a starving man who likes to eat and learned the necessities. So, tell me who the guy is and why he was trying to kill you.”
Cin watched Lanie struggle with her thoughts and take a deep breath. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll be gone in an hour, and Jason will follow me. He always does.”
Cin could sense that Lanie wanted to tell him, but after years of being hunted and getting no assistance from the authorities, she was scared. He couldn’t blame her but also needed Lanie to talk if he was going to help her.
“Sounds like this Jason guy needs a dose of his own medicine,” Cin said nonchalantly. “He got a full name?”
Lanie was making small circles on the counter with her finger, not taking her eyes off what she was doing, and Cin’s nanites could feel her uncertainty and profound loneliness. He could well understand both emotions and desperately wanted Lanie to trust him.
Cin had no idea why it was so important to him, but he had to help her. Whether Jason and his family were targets or not, he would do whatever it took to free Lanie from the prison created for her by Jason McMaster.
Putting the finishing touches on breakfast, Cin had his nanites find out everything they could about Jason and his aunt. Lanie remained quiet until Cin set a steaming plate of omelet, croissants, and fresh fruit in front of her.
“This looks so good. Thank you so much.” Lanie was nearly drooling when Cin handed her a fork.
“You’re welcome.” Cin hid his smile at her manners while he grabbed the coffee pot, poured Lanie a cup, and then refilled his own. “Cream or sugar?”
Lanie stopped stuffing food into her mouth and shook her head. “And ruin a good cup of coffee? No way.”
Lanie took the cup from him and downed a healthy swallow before turning her attention back to her plate of food. Cin could tell she hadn’t been eating well by the feel of her ribs when he had carried her to the cabin.
From what little information Cin could get on Lanie’s life over the last eleven years, she’d gone from town to town, finding odd jobs under the table or using assumed names. Still, using his connections, Jason had found her every time, forcing Lanie to move on and start over again.
Cin was still digging to find out how Jason had been able to find Lanie when he was having difficulty tracking her movements over the years. The woman had been pretty damn clever about hiding her activities.
Cin barely finished his breakfast before Lanie, and he pushed the bowl of fresh-cut fruit and the plate of croissants closer to her.
“You might as well eat because I can’t pack in all this food by myself, and the croissants won’t be nearly as good tomorrow.” Cin pushed the butter and jam closer to Lanie.
“Thank you so much.” Lanie immediately grabbed a croissant. “I don’t think I’ve ever eaten anything so good. You’re an amazing cook.”
Cin was flattered by her heartfelt compliments. He’d never experienced it before and found he liked both Lanie’s company and the attention.
“Thank you. It’s nice to cook for someone besides myself. So, what’s Jason’s last name? It can’t hurt to tell me if you’re planning on leaving anyway.” Cin refilled their coffee cups.
Watching Lanie toy with her croissant, Cin felt a strangeness in the pit of his stomach. As if he was scared that she wouldn’t trust him or give him a chance. He’d never felt anything like it before and wondered if it was a good thing or bad.
“McMaster. He’s the nephew of Senator Lilly Patrosi.” Lanie took a big bite of the bread to stop herself from pouring her heart out to the strange but attractive man.
There was something odd about Cindrac, but Lanie couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was. Sure his white eyes were a little eerie, but he exuded an aura of peace and safety that Lanie had never felt in anyone else before.
Running a trembling hand over her face to avoid looking at him, Lanie tried to think about how she would escape this place and where she would go next. Anything to stop her from pouring her heart out to the seemingly kind man in front of her.
Cin took one last bite of a strawberry and sorted through the information in his mind that he would show her. Cin put the coffee pot back, took his cup into the living room, and faced the large TV screen. Seconds later, he had dozens of official documents scrolling across it.
Lanie gasped. “How are you doing that?”
“I create new technology.” Cin didn’t exactly lie. “It seems Jason is staying at a rental cabin nearby. Let’s see about canceling those credit cards.”
Cin began putting through fraud complaints against Jason’s cards and canceled them, including his debit card. Next, he created dozens of tickets for reckless driving in states across the country and forged judges' authorizations for bench warrants.
Lanie’s mouth hung open in shock at each action Cin was taking against the man who’d terrorized her for over a decade and ruined her life.
“Is this real?” Lanie was scared to think it was but terrified to think it wasn’t.
“Yeah,” Cin chuckled. “Trust me. Jason’s not going anywhere for a while.”
A firm knock on the front door had Lanie muffling a shriek of fear while Cin manifested a weapon in his palm and hid it behind his back. Rushing over to Lanie, he leaned close and gestured to the spare master suite.
“Go hide in there. I swear no one will harm you,” Cin promised before striding to the front door.
Looking to make sure Lanie was hiding, Cin swung the door open and smiled at Laurel Springs Sheriff Robbie Groenig while getting rid of his weapon.
“Robbie! What a surprise,” Cin reached out a hand to shake with the man.
“Cin, I really hate to bother you, but I got a situation,” Robbie shook his head sadly. “Did you happen to see a young woman walking around near here?”
Cin’s brow furrowed, and he shook his head. “Is someone from town missing? How can I help?”
Robbie took off his cowboy hat and ran his forearm over his face. “I don’t know, Cin. This one’s really got to me. I got this pampered asshole that came into town the other day looking for a girl. He says it's his sister, but no one looking at the pictures he was flashing around would believe that. Hey, can I have a cup of coffee? This might take a minute.”
“Of course! I want to hear the rest of this story anyway.” Cin held the door open for Robbie and shut off the TV.
Cindrac went to the kitchen to get the Sheriff a cup of coffee, and his face nearly fell when he turned to hand it to the man. Robbie was shaking his head at the dirty breakfast dishes still on the counter.
“Thanks,” Robbie took the offered cup and took a sip. “You need to find yourself a woman, Cin.”
Robbie gestured to Lanie’s empty plate. “You and Bob gotta stop living like this.”
Cin chuckled and led Robbie over to the dining room table. “So, what’s the story with the guy and his not-sister, and who is missing?”
“Well, McMaster seems to think the girl was going by a different name, trying to avoid her family. Then the guy gives me some generic shit about Momma’s got cancer and all that. It turns out it’s a new girl named Jane, who just got a job at Henry’s store at the three-way,” Robbie huffed out then took a sip of coffee.
“You told McMaster where she was?” Cin couldn’t believe Robbie would do such a thing when he already had suspicions about the guy.
“Hell no!” Robbie was offended Cin would think so. “I told him I’d ask around and to give me a contact number. I figured he’d go away, but he rented a damn cabin for a week instead. I was going to talk to Jane and find out the truth when that tractor-trailer jackknifed on the 402 truck route, and it was all hands on deck for nearly twenty-seven hours. By the time I got back to town, Jane was missing.”
“She left town?” Cin asked, trying to figure out how Jason had gotten Lanie.
Robbie shook his head. “Henry said when he got back to the store yesterday morning, he saw that Jason guy pushing Jane into his car. She was screaming and fighting until he punched her in the face.”
Cin was furious that his suspicions were correct about what happened between Jason and Lanie. “What do you need me to do?”
“I don’t know.” Robbie was at a loss. “We ran the guy yesterday, but he comes back clean as a whistle. Jane Gordon doesn’t exist at all. Anywhere. Whoever Jane is, she’s got to be scared of this man, and I’m worried about her.”
“Do you know where McMaster is?” Cin was tracking the computer chip in Jason’s rental SUV while they spoke.
“No idea and I’ve got an officer at the rental cabin in case he comes back,” Robbie admitted.
Cin stood and faced the man he respected and had worked with before on a few bad cases over the years. “I like you, Robbie. You’re a damn good man. Because of that, I’m going to have to ask you to walk away from this one and let me handle it. Get rid of your officers at J
ason’s cabin and pretend like none of this ever happened.”
Robbie looked up at Cin in shock. “Cin, I can’t do that. That poor woman needs help! I can feel it in my bones.”
“I know she does, and I’m going to give it to her,” Cin promised. “But you can’t be involved in it. No one can if we don’t want the feds crawling all over this place. This situation is much bigger and broader than you can imagine.”
“What the hell aren’t you telling me, Son?” Robbie stood and faced Cin. “I’m the damn Sheriff, and it’s my job to protect my people. Whether you like it or not, that includes you and this missing girl.”
“You are doing your job, Robbie. You’re turning it over to the person most qualified to handle this problem,” Cin assured his friend. “Give me twenty-four hours, and this whole situation should be resolved.”
Robbie slapped his hat against his pant leg and glared at Cin. “Twenty-four hours. Only because I got no other leads right now. But if this goes to shit and that girl gets hurt or worse, I’m kicking your ass.”
“No one is going to hurt that girl, Robbie,” Cin promised. “I swear that on my life.”
Chapter Ten
Cin walked Robbie out and had no sooner shut the door before a panicked Lanie came flying out of the spare bedroom. Her eyes flew around the room, looking for a way out before she saw the door to the deck. Cin stopped her right before she reached it.
“Stop.” Cin held his hands out in front of him non-threateningly. “If you go, you’re going to run right back into Jason. He’s still here, Lanie. Look.”
Cin turned on the TV and put on the satellite that was tracking the computer chip in Jason’s SUV. Lanie looked at it in shock and horror.
“He’s looking for me. Near here,” Lanie nearly choked on the last and fought back her tears.
“Yeah, he is,” Cindrac admitted. “Jason knows you’re strong and tough. He knows you’re alive, and you need a way out of town.”
Lanie looked up at Cin, suddenly terrified. “He saw you, didn’t he? Jason’s going to find you! You have to tell the Sheriff and let him help!”