Eden ran her fingers around his waist, her pulse picking up as her breasts brushed his back in an effort to reach around the breadth of him. Her hands glided over hard muscle. “Intimidating a peace offer is a criminal offense boys.”
“Boys?” Monroe growled insulted. “We weren’t intimidating, we were…”
Finished searching his legs Eden stood and ran her hands the length of one arm then the other. “You were intimidating a peace officer.”
“Can we help it if you’re intimidated by our presence?”
Satisfied none of the men were armed and satisfied that they were now fully aware of just who was in charge, Eden stepped back several paces. “You can drop your hands.”
All three men slowly turned and faced her.
“Just what is it you men are doing out here?”
“Monroe rubbed the back of his neck. “We’re hunting our escaped exotics.”
Eden crossed her arms over her chest, “So they are yours then?”
Monroe didn’t blink, “Yes. They are mine.”
“And what exactly is it I can expect to find up there?” Eden motioned with her chin towards the mountains.
When Monroe didn’t answer King supplied. “Black panther and a gemsbok.”
“Anything else?”
“No.” King supplied shortly.
“You don’t need to track them,” Monroe bit out angrily, “They’re my animals, I’ll find them.”
Eden pulled her hood up and smiled, “Well you and your men are welcome to search on your own, but I’ve been assigned by the State. I am hunting your animals…”
“They’re exotic; you wouldn’t even know where to start.”
Eden bit back her retort opting instead to smile coolly, “They might be new to the area, but I’m not. While they are your animals, these are my mountains Mr. StoneCrow. I’ve walked them every day for the past six years and I can guarantee you two things. First, I will find your exotics. Second, if those animals have caused any damage or have been damaged themselves, you will be prosecuted…and if I have any say it’ll be to the fullest extent possible.” Eden’s smile faded then. She hated the thought of an animal being injured by a careless or unconcerned owner. She’d seen it often in her line of work. Rare breeds of goats brought from overseas only to freeze by the hundreds in Montana’s harsh climate. It was a cruel reality and one she fought to keep from occurring.
“Now gentlemen,” her fake smile was back, “I suggest you get your…vehicles outta my way.”
“Ms. StCloud,” Monroe began, “these are dangerous predators we’re dealing with. I demand you stand down and allow my men to bring them in.”
“A gemsbok is hardly dangerous,” she scoffed as she crossed her arms over her chest. “And you’ll demand nothing of me. I have a job to do and I’m paid to do it.” She turned to frown at King. “Move the vehicle.” Without waiting for a reply she turned her back on the men and strode back to her truck before tossing over her shoulder, “Happy hunting gentlemen.”
Eden was just reaching for the handle to her car door when all hell broke loose. One minute she was about to climb into her vehicle, the next a massive roar rent the air and a black flash of fur swept past her mere seconds after she was knocked to the ground. She pushed at the object that was crushing her when she heard Monroe growl, “Stay down!” She hadn’t even realized he’d tackled her until she stilled to stare up at him.
“What in the hell was that?” she asked breathlessly.
Monroe’s eyes were fixed on something.
Eden tried to force her way up from underneath him, but his strong hands held her shoulders pinned to the ground as his body weight held the rest of her down.
“Get off me!”
“It’s the panther Eden, stay down!”
Her hand slid into her jacket and closed around the cold steel she’d holstered only a few moments earlier. She writhed under his weight as she tried again to struggle to her feet. “Get off me. Monroe!”
He ignored her demand and dropped lower until his face was inches from hers. With his eyes still fixed on what Eden could only assume was the panther she didn’t know whether he’d heard her or not.
“I’ve got a gun, let me up. Now!” She swore his eyes blackened completely moments before she felt a deep vibrating rumble emanating from his chest.
When Monroe finally turned and looked at her, his eyes were normal once again. “Are you okay?”
She shoved at his shoulder angrily, “Get the fuck off me!”
He rolled to his side and was on his feet in an instant, offering a hand to help her up.
Eden shoved his hand away and got to her feet without aid. “What in the hell was that?” She turned to frown up at him, “Your panther’s not tame?” she questioned accusatorily.
Monroe simply shook his head.
She scanned the area, “Where are your friends?”
“They went after it.”
“Jesus!” she quickly threw her driver’s side door opened and retrieved her rifle. “Were they armed?”
When Eden made to chase after the men, Monroe blocked her path. “Yes, they’re armed and they are highly trained. They’re also familiar with the animal so I see no need for your interference. Go home, Eden.”
Her checks flushed in anger, “Go home? That thing just tried to attack me. I’m not going home.”
Monroe grabbed both of her arms and pulled her into him. “Eden, you don’t know what you’re dealing with here. Just…just stay out of it.”
Something about the way he was looking at her, the words he said, had her backing up slowly as she whispered, “What in the hell are you people doing up here?” She watched as Monroe shoved an angry hand through his jet black hair.
“We’re trying to survive.” His eyes were imploring, but his words made little sense.
Her skin prickled with goose bumps and for the first time since she’d met him she was actually afraid of him. She shook her head and continued to slowly back away from him, lifting her rifle a little higher in her hands. She flicked a glance to the area of the forest where she assumed Monroe’s men had disappeared. “What’s really out there?” She looked back at him and she shuddered at the look on his face. The resignation she’d seen only lasted the briefest of moments, but she’d caught it and in it she saw a man trying desperately to hide something that he knew he couldn’t hide and it spoke volumes. Something strange was happening at StoneCrow and his eyes had just confirmed it. Now Eden needed to decide if she truly wanted to find out exactly what it was that was happening.
She raised her chin with a cool resolve. “I’m going after that animal.” She sidestepped Monroe, “If you can contact your men, I suggest you call them off.” She pulled the bolt on the rifle and chambered a round as she used a thumb to flick the caps off the ends of her scope. Her feet stuttered to a halt at Monroe’s plea.
“Don’t kill it!”
She frowned over her shoulder at him, a little hurt that he’d think killing would be her first choice. She lifted her rifle, “Tranqs.” Her eyes dipped from his to the grim line of his mouth. “Get in your car and stay there Mr. StoneCrow. I’ll send your men back to protect you.”
When he didn’t respond, she turned and headed for the woods.
“I’m sorry.”
His words were the only warning she got. When she turned to ask what he was sorry for he’d instantly stripped the rifle from her hands and dropped it to the ground before he wrapped strong arms around her and lifted her off her feet. He was halfway to his Humvee before Eden even realized he’d disarmed her.
“What are you… Mr. StoneCrow!” she tried to wriggle free. “Take your hands off me! Monroe! This is a Federal offense!”
He didn’t listen. He hauled her to the vehicle and shoved her into the back seat before following her inside.
Eden had sprawled on the floor where he’d shoved her. Struggling to right herself she spun, shoving hair back from her face as she frowned at him. “Are
you out of your mind?” She reached for the door nearest her and jerked on the handle but it didn’t open. She searched for an unlock button but found none.
“Calm down Eden, I…”
“Calm down? You do realize what you’ve just done right? I can have you charged with assaulting a peace officer, for kidnapping.” She moved for the other door but Monroe caught her wrist. “Let me out of the damn car!”
Shaking his head, Monroe released her when she jerked free of his tight grip. “It’s for your best interest. You don’t know what’s out there.”
“Your panther is what’s out there!” she challenged. “All due respect Mr. StoneCrow, but it is my job to be out there hunting your strays. If you didn’t want them tranq’d then you should have done more to ensure that they were properly secured. What’s worse is now I see for myself that they’re dangerous. There are people that live up here. I live up here. I can’t afford to have dangerous animals on the loose. Now unlock the goddamn door and let me out before I decide to press charges against you and have your ass thrown in jail!”
Monroe was looking directly at her but it’s like he wasn’t. He was looking through her as if not really paying attention to anything she was saying. Finally, he blinked then reached for the door. He fingered a button under the armrest and there was a clicking noise before he pulled on the handle and the door opened.
Eden scrambled out of the car just as King jogged from the tree line toward the vehicles.
“Panther is down. I’ll call in more Sentries for support.”
Monroe nodded and King ran to one of the Humvees before climbing in and making a production of calling for support.
“Sentries?” Eden frowned, still angry. “Why would you have staff that you refer to as Sentries?”
“I don’t permit unauthorized access to my preserve.”
Face still flushed Eden turned to face him. “Well Mr. StoneCrow you will grant my access. I’m inspecting your wildlife preserve or rehabilitation center or whatever in the hell you wanna call it.”
Monroe ground his teeth to hide his disappointment. This was the worst case scenario.
“Get your paperwork in order. I want to see licenses, I want to see permits, I want to meet staff, and I will see where and how your animals are housed, fed, washed, and treated.” She took a step closer, sparks of fury giving her dark brown eyes a tempting allure. “And Mr. StoneCrow, if you aren’t up to code in any area, if I am dissatisfied in any area, I will shut you down! With that she spun but Monroe gripped her arm. She turned to frown at him in shock that he’d dare detain her again but he wasn’t looking at her. Instead, he scowled at King.
“Get it done,” he commanded before stepping into Eden.
She had to tilt her head back to glare up at him, and when his eyes finally met hers she could see that she wasn’t the only one displeased with the situation. His expression darkened and she imagined a person of lesser character would have backed down. She wasn’t one. “You’ve got a millisecond to release me!”
“The panther and the gemsbok are recent additions to my facility.”
Her teeth ground together in frustration when he didn’t let her go.
“They are in my care because one was abused and the other neglected. I won’t go into detail of the deplorable condition they were in when my staff rescued them but I will say that they are both lucky to alive.”
When Eden’s expression softened by a mere fraction, Monroe knew he had her. He couldn’t have her agency or, heaven forbid, the media traipsing around these mountains. The secret of their existence was hard enough to keep but if StoneCrow was under scrutiny it’d be damn near impossible.
“If this situation gets blown out of proportion Ms. StCloud there’ll be no other recourse but for those animals to be put down. The rules are strict. I won’t be able to save these poor creatures a second time if the public or even your superiors get wind of this.”
She exhaled harshly and dropped her head, the anger left her face completely. He was right. Damn him! Her eyes shifted to King where he stood at the driver’s side door to the other Humvee. She could tell he was eavesdropping, waiting to see their fate.
Uncertainty warred within her. She knew what it felt like to need someone to help keep a secret and that’s what it felt like Monroe was asking her to do. In the end, she couldn’t let animals suffer because of her pride.
“Fine!” she barked, “I’ll do an independent audit. If everything’s up to code there’ll be no need for me to file a report.” She shook her head; for some reason it felt like she was being played but it didn’t make any sense. “Your fate is in your hands Mr. StoneCrow.” She let her eyes slide up and down his frame condescendingly before jerking her arm from his grip. “I suggest you get your shit in order. I’ll be up in four days.” She turned and stormed to her truck, jerked the door open, climbed in, and sped off down the mountain.
Monroe stood stock-still staring at the road Eden had just disappeared down. He was anxious, annoyed, and more turned on then he’d ever been in his life. Hearing a snicker, he turned to scowl at King who was smiling at him in that all-too-knowing way. Damn Sentry always saw too much!
“Bishop?”
King sobered, “He’s still chasing the Walker.”
“I want them brought in King, and I want them brought in now!” He didn’t need this now. He was trying to get the addition to StoneCrow finished by spring and now they had the problem of little Ms. StCloud to contend with. Why Walkers felt the need to test the area before coming in, he’d never understand. Worse, they did it in the most absurd forms. How in the hell was he supposed to explain a gemsbok and black panther? Fucking idiots! He was going to rip them apart when he got his hands on them!
“Don’t worry, Crow. RedKnife captured the other Walker a few minutes ago. He’s secured him at StoneCrow and is coming here to assist Bishop. Legion’s coming too. It’s only a matter of time now.”
Monroe stalked with lethal grace to the Humvee. “I want it finished!” In a rare move, the CEO climbed into the driver’s seat and the vehicle’s tires kicked up earth as Monroe launched the vehicle forward, taking himself back to StoneCrow estates.
Chapter 6
Eden had been checked in at the main gate and forced to leave her vehicle there to be driven by King up a nearly mile-long winding road that led to the manor. It was the first time she’d ever been on the estate and to say she was impressed was an understatement.
The grounds were immaculate. The landscaping appeared to have been professionally done and was out of place so deep in the mountains. The manor was even more impressive and perplexing at the same time. The stone façade reminded her of Scotland’s Stirling Castle. The structure was exquisite but odd for a wildlife preserve and rehabilitation facility. To her left was a long building with a garage door at the far end.
“Parking garage,” King supplied.
When Eden looked to her right, she saw another large structure that was obviously the barn.
“I’m assuming the panther and gemsbok have been reclaimed and caged?”
“Yes Ma’am.”
“Any injuries to the animals?”
“Nope.”
“Hmmm,” she pursed her lips in displeasure. Over the past four days she’d replayed the scene in the forest with Monroe and his men and the more she did, the less sense it made. She’d hoped she was being overly judgmental because of her dislike for Monroe StoneCrow, but sitting next to King even now she couldn’t help but feel like a production was being put on. What are they hiding?
The Humvee pulled to a stop at the steps of the manor and she exited the vehicle before King could race around to assist.
“I would have gotten your door,” he growled with a frown.
Her lips tweaked and unbeknownst to her, the action reminded King of Monroe.
“I’m a big girl. I can open my own doors.” Her head was tilted back as she looked up at the four story structure looming before her. “I even dressed m
yself this morning.”
King chuckled and pulled open one of the double front doors, “Come on, Crow’s waiting.”
“Crow?”
“CEO StoneCrow. I call him Crow for short.”
Eden nodded and entered the building and the next five minutes were a blur. She stepped through the front doors and gawked at the impeccable lobby only to be startled when a buzzer sounded and several doors to her left were thrown open. The dark wood interior was exquisite and what she assumed were elegant offices began gurgling forth children.
“School’s in session,” King supplied.
Eden couldn’t hide her surprise, “School?”
“The children housed here on the estate are schooled in-house,” he shrugged carelessly, “too far to drive ‘em to town.” He pointed a strong finger down the hall. “Cafeteria’s at the end.”
Watching the parade of children as they hustled by, Eden couldn’t help but question the number of children. There were too many for the staff it would require to run the facility. Again, her lips pursed in suspicion before King stalked to a glass-doored elevator that sat nestled next to a fully carpeted, and quite grandiose, staircase that led up.
Just before she entered the elevator she looked to her right and noticed that the long corridor there was cut off by two large swinging doors. “More classrooms?”
“Infirmary,” King answered while thrusting his arm forward to keep the elevator doors from closing before she could get inside.
Dragging her gaze away, Eden entered the elevator and questioned, “Are there many injuries here?”
“No, but if something happens in the winter it’s easier to treat the injured here rather than fight the roads to get them to town. Crow won’t chance it. He keeps medical personnel on staff.”
The elevator whisked past the second floor and chimed as it settled on the third. As the doors slid open, Eden was greeted by the same beautiful navy carpet with intricate gold designs that covered the expanse of the first floor and stairs she’d seen. To her left was another hall lined with dark oak doors alternating on either side. The luxury of the place was breathtaking. “More classrooms?” she guessed.
Skin Walkers: Monroe Page 4