Guardian

by Loribelle Hunt

“Oh no,” Zach said. “No fires.”

  “Why not? She can control it,” Gabe countered.

  “Here’s a revolutionary idea,” Esme interjected. “Why don’t y’all ask her?”

  “You can control fire?” Carter asked. Zach had grown so used to seeing the newcomer around he forgot Carter didn’t know of all their different abilities. Or maybe because she was human the other male had assumed she didn’t have any. “If you can do that, why not set a fire on the seventh floor? Force an evac, then we just snatch who we want off the front lawn.”

  “She needs visual or close contact,” Zach said, moving to stand behind her. “It’s too dangerous.”

  “My control can be erratic. And you’re also assuming they won’t sacrifice those patients to cover up what they’ve done,” Mallory said.

  He squeezed her shoulders in a show of support that either no one noticed or everyone ignored. This was the one thing he wouldn’t bend on. He wouldn’t let her be forced or talked into using the fire she’d worked so hard to control.

  “Damn it,” Carter muttered, and while Zach sympathized, his concern was for his woman and no one else.

  “Besides,” Mallory added, “you’re forgetting a few things. I can feed the fire so it won’t go out when the sprinklers come on, but that’ll raise suspicions.” She paused half a beat. “Plus a fire large enough to accomplish what you need is difficult to control. I won’t put that many people in danger.”

  The room fell silent hearing that, disappointment and frustration rising like a fog. “Let me think it over,” Mallory said, sounding distracted. Zach knew she was trying to figure out a way to help the Elect without endangering a bunch of innocent, and not-so-innocent, bystanders. “What about a car fire? Security keeps a couple cars right out front. That would get them moving, I’d think, and I can see them from the lobby.”

  “And bonus, it would draw a crowd, further distracting security,” Gabe said.

  “Probably,” she said reluctantly. “But you’ll still have to be fast. These guys are pretty well trained. The good news is while they put a couple extra nurses on staff for visitor’s day, they don’t add security. That leaves you eight guards to deal with. Two on the gate, two on the grounds, two inside security and two wandering the building.”

  “What about IT? Computer techs?”

  She shrugged. “I’ve never seen them on the weekend.”

  “Great. This will work,” Gabe said.

  “There’s still too much risk to Mallory. Especially if you want that distraction,” Zach snapped. No way she was going to be so exposed while they tried to pull off such a dangerous rescue.

  “We got lucky there. Turns out an old business acquaintance of my grandfather’s is there. Loves to get visitors, but his memory ain’t so good,” Brax said. “We’ll set up a fake ID just in case and alter my appearance some.” He held up his hand when Zach would have protested. “I need you with the patients and we have to have someone close to Mallory who can communicate telepathically with the team.”

  Zach clenched his fists and tried to come up with a reason, any reason to get her out of this.

  “Forget it,” Mallory said. “Are we done for now?”

  Brax nodded, looked at Zach and then back at her. “Are you staying in the compound?”

  Zach wondered if there wasn’t deeper meaning in the question. Brax had to realize she’d been staying with Zach at their house. Carter and Gabe slipped out the door. Zach almost laughed at the show of discretion. Gabe would be back interrogating Brax or Esme as soon as he and Mallory left. If Mallory had drawn the same conclusion about the question he had, she didn’t show it.

  “I’m not going anywhere.”

  She left without another word, without even looking in his direction, which was good because he doubted he’d be able to hide the triumph he felt.

  “Stay a minute,” Brax ordered when he turned to leave. He waited until Esme whispered in his ear and left before continuing. “You and Mallory? She’s coming around?”

  “Anyone ever told you you’re nosy, Brax?”

  He chuckled. “It’s in the job description.” He sobered quickly, though. “All three of her brothers have come to see me today. The younger two are threatening to bring their dad in.”

  Zach snorted. “She’s a grown woman and she’s my wife. She can make her own choices.”

  Much as it killed him that he couldn’t guard her 24/7, he knew she could take care of herself. Brax shrugged.

  “Just a heads up, man. If I were you, I’d get things settled before reinforcements arrive.”

  Chapter Ten

  It was Saturday afternoon and Zach was still a little surprised to find himself hiding in the back of a delivery truck for the rescue mission. He’d kept the fact he wasn’t human a secret his whole life, had kept the secret for his people. No one had known about them. They’d been under the radar, so to speak. They thought. For that certainty to be so completely blown out of the water was still a little weird.

  They’d taken over the truck. That part hadn’t been tricky at all. They’d just followed the truck from the distribution center to the gas station. It had been easy to move in and quietly take over. The driver and assistant would wake up in their homes tomorrow with no memory of the previous day.

  And now they were backed onto the loading dock. While the substitute Elect driver distracted the kitchen manager, Gabe snuck off. A few minutes later, he gave the team the all clear. They were all connected mentally, including Brax, who was in the lobby with Mallory. Zach resisted asking about her. He had a job to focus on, and he knew she was capable of taking care of herself. Plus, Brax was close if she needed help.

  Instead, he focused on following the team up the stairwell that Gabe had secured. They went slowly and carefully. It was complete torture. It seemed to take forever. He knew they had an hour and a half to burn, but the pace made him crazy. He was fucking glad he didn’t do their jobs on a regular basis. By the time they got to the seventh floor, he was ready to howl his relief.

  He was the last through the door and walked up the hall to the charge station. He saw both nurses apparently sleeping peacefully in their chairs. He stopped long enough to check their pulses. The tranquilizer he’d loaded for the soldiers wasn’t strong enough to kill, but he wanted to be sure they were okay.

  The team was waiting for him. He looked up at the patient board. He wasn’t surprised to see Merilee and Jamie on it. He’d been afraid there would be a lot more, but there were only four patient names. The additional two were Riley and Gideon. The women were at one end of the hall, the men at the other. He went with Carter to check on the women while Mason went to check on the males. Mason reported in first.

  Zach, we’ve got two boys. Fifteen or sixteen. Both are knocked out cold. We’ll have to carry them out.

  That was really bad news. They’d brought six men in, had four people to extract and two who definitely couldn’t do it on their own. He wasn’t confident of finding the women in any better shape.

  Stand by, he said to Mason as he followed Carter up the hall.

  “Oh hell,” Carter whispered when they walked into the first room. Merilee’s room. Zach tried to ignore the anger and anguish he heard in the other man’s voice, but it was damned hard. He felt the same about the women in his life. Zach did a quick exam.

  “She’s sedated and malnourished,” he said. “I can’t tell anything more right now.”

  One of the other soldiers they’d brought with them took her to the rally point, and he continued with Carter after the final patient. Jamie. Who officially was dead, and Zach guessed was Carter’s mate. Neither of them was prepared for what they found when they entered her room.

  Everything in Zach—doctor, mate, Elect, decent person—objected to what he saw. Jamie was restrained the way a violent criminal would be. Her wrists and ankles were secured to her bed, she was drugged. But that wasn’t the worst of it. The woman was covered in bruises, scrapes and cuts. It was obvio
us she’d been tortured.

  Zach only spared a moment’s thought for how Jamie’s mate might feel about the situation. She was his patient, along with three others. He just wanted to get them clear. Carrying four people, it took longer to get down the stairs than up, but their timing was perfect. Everything should have been clear, but Gabe called a halt. Zach’s stomach churned. Had something gone wrong? And was Mallory okay? He took a deep breath, reminded himself she was strong and capable, and waited. A few minutes later, Gabe sent the all clear and they moved out. And he couldn’t wait any longer. He had to know if something had gone wrong.

  What happened? he asked.

  Guards on the loading dock. Mallory distracted them, but y’all need to move, Gabe replied.

  Brax? he asked. Where is my wife?

  She’s fine. I’m covering her. Y’all get out of there.

  Her part of the plan was simple, but that didn’t stop nerves from making her jumpy. When Brax walked in an hour before her shift ended, giving her a short, searching look, she wondered if it showed. She called upstairs for the patient he’d come to see and pointed him to a free sitting area near the front corner windows.

  If everything went according to plan, he’d end his visit when she reentered the lobby after clocking out. As soon as the team and patients were ready to move from the stairwell to the truck, Brax would signal her. There’d been some debate about whether a fire diversion would be necessary and they had decided to wait and see. If they needed one, the plan had changed a little bit. Instead of causing a fire in one of the security cars, it was going to be in the lobby. That part made her nervous. She could cause a short in a small appliance, set it on fire and usually put it out again with her mind. It was something she’d actually practiced when she was younger, trying to learn the nature and extent of her gifts.

  As luck would have it, there was a small concession area in the lobby for visitors. It wasn’t much. A vending machine, coffee pots and a microwave for those who’d thought to bring a lunch that wasn’t fast food. She’d noticed the microwave didn’t get a lot of use, though, and it was old. If she had to start a fire, it was her first choice. But if everything went according to plan, everyone would get out clean. Mallory wasn’t as confident as the others, and she suspected, after catching a concerned glance from Brax, that he wasn’t either. And then there was no time to worry. She clocked out, grabbed her things and returned to the lobby.

  We need that fire now, Mallory, he told her mentally. It was weird feeling another man touching her mind, a little uncomfortable, and she felt his apology before he withdrew.

  She took a quick look around the large room, relieved to find there was no one too close to the microwave. She focused on it, imagining the wiring heating then burning. With a loud pop, it was engulfed, and she fed power into the fire until it spread to the counter it was set on. There was a moment of panic in the crowd before security took charge and started hustling people out the front doors. She kept her focus on the flames, kept it going as she made her way with the throng to the exit.

  Brax fell into step with her and spoke softly. “Nicely done. Are you okay?”

  She would be. Brax’s reassuring support steadied her. She kept her focus on the flames, kept it going as they reached the doors. Gave it another burst when two security guards came in through the secured access door with a fire extinguisher.

  “Let’s get out of here,” Brax whispered.

  She nodded, and they moved towards the parking lot. A prickly feeling went up her spine. She was sure someone watched, but when she looked around no one seemed interested in her. But the sensation intensified. She moved in the crowd, trying to blend in.

  “What’s wrong?” Brax asked softly.

  “Nothing.”

  “Zach would skin me alive if anything happened to you. Tell me, Mallory.”

  “Just a creepy feeling. Like being watched.”

  “Shit,” he muttered, tensing at her side. “Let’s get out of here. I parked next to you. I’ll follow you out.”

  “Fine.”

  He moved a little away from her. He was close enough to help her if needed, but not so close anyone would think they were together. She gripped her keys in her hand and forced herself not to look at him, to ask what was going on. Why had the fire been necessary? And why hadn’t he assumed she was just imagining being watched? Under the circumstances, nerves could easily explain that sensation.

  Brax hit the remote twice when he reached his car and while he took his time getting in the driver’s seat, she glanced around, feeling furtive and hunted. But no one was watching. She got in her own car, started it and backed out. Brax pulled out behind her and in her rearview mirror she saw him hold up his earpiece before putting it in place. She opened her console, retrieved hers and did the same.

  “The truck is clear,” he said. “Here comes the gatehouse, but the arm is down. I thought they left the exit open on Saturdays.”

  “They do.” Damn it, she’d been right. Someone had been watching her. “They’re looking for me.”

  “They won’t find you, but they are checking cars,” he answered grimly. “Just stay calm, I’ll get you through.”

  “How?” She felt panic building.

  “I’ll just plant the suggestion in his mind that you’re harmless and not who he’s supposed to be watching for.”

  “At that distance? You can do that?” She’d heard rumors, but damn, that was a lot more power than most of the Elect she knew.

  He chuckled. “Yes. Now be quiet so I can concentrate.”

  She pulled up the gate and the guard stepped forward. “What’s going on?” she asked.

  “We just need to check all the outgoing vehicles, ma’am.”

  “Did someone escape?”

  “I’m not at liberty to say.” His voice was wooden and his eyes blank. Brax was true to his word. “If you’ll pop your trunk, I’ll get you cleared.”

  She did as the guard asked and after a moment was on her way. It wasn’t long before she saw Brax pull out behind her and breathed a sigh of relief.

  “Is everyone okay?” she asked him.

  “Yes. There were two nurses on the floor that were sedated, and they brought out four patients. Merilee, Jamie and two teenage boys.”

  “Do we know who they are?”

  “I haven’t been updated yet. Zach is taking the four of them to the infirmary. He’ll update us as soon as he can.”

  She should have expected that, but damn it, she wanted to know what was going on. “Why did we need the fire?” she asked instead.

  “Bad timing,” he said, sounding a bit aggrieved. “The two guards assigned inside took a smoke break when the team needed to exit.”

  “But everyone got out uninjured?”

  So much could have gone wrong.

  “They’re all fine,” he assured her again.

  “Of course they are,” she muttered.

  Zach was fine, she knew that. If something had happened to him she would have felt it through their bond. Knowing that didn’t change the fact she was a nervous wreck. She couldn’t imagine life without him anymore. Damn, that had happened fast.

  She was starting to adjust to the idea when they finally got back to the compound. When she walked in the house, she knew time was up. A group of larger-than-life men were lounging around the foyer, waiting for her. Behind them Zach entered from the hall that led to the infirmary. He came straight to her side. More likely they were waiting for Zach, she concluded, when four sets of angry eyes zeroed in on him. She loved them all, but God help her, they tested her patience. She sighed.

  “Where’s Mom?” she asked.

  “At home. Where you’re going,” her youngest brother said.

  Zach gripped her shoulder. “I think that’s up to her.”

  It was far from the angry objection she’d expected from him and she stared at him until he shrugged one shoulder.

  “I can learn,” he said softly. The response may have been n
onchalant, but his eyes were far from it. There was a vulnerability she’d never seen from him before.

  “Mallory,” her father said, demanding her attention.

  “How was the cruise?” she countered.

  “Great. We didn’t expect to come home and find you with him, though,” he said cautiously.

  “And Vince and Derek think I need rescuing?” She glared at them. “I can rescue myself. If I didn’t want to be here, I wouldn’t. Y’all should know me better than that.”

  Her brothers had the grace to look sheepish and her dad was curious. “Call your mother. She wants an update on—” He paused, giving Zach a dismissive once over. “Your…”

  “Husband,” Zach offered when her father trailed off.

  “That remains to be seen.”

  Without a word, the four of them left the house. Brax walked out of his office and smiled when he saw them.

  “You survived the firing squad.”

  “Temporarily, at least,” Zach muttered.

  Brax grinned. “Do you need to get back to your patients? We’re all meeting in Mason’s office in ten.”

  “Rose and Esme are with them, and no one is awake yet.”

  Brax nodded. “If you want to grab something to eat, now’s the time.”

  “I’m going to check the blood tests. I’ll be there in a minute.” He turned and held his hand out to her. She resisted the temptation to take it. “Mallory?”

  “I want to clean up.” She always did after starting or controlling a fire. The heat seemed to come from the inside out, and she felt a little on the grungy side. “You still keep the suite upstairs?”

  He nodded. His expression was closed and he was blocking his mind. She had no idea what he was thinking. “There’s a couple boxes of clothes in the closet I never got around to moving. You should be able to find something in them.”

  “Okay. I’ll see you in ten.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Mallory half-expected Zach to trail her upstairs and was mostly relieved when he didn’t, but there was a tinge of disappointment too. She understood why he gave her space. They both knew she’d decided to stay with him. The decision left her feeling raw and edgy. But mixed with that anxiety was eagerness and excitement.