That got the giggle he was hoping to achieve. He hated seeing a woman as strong as Ryleigh suffering this way. He wanted to protect her from all the pain, hurt, and unknowns, but it was impossible. Watching her now, he knew what Jacks was talking about on the plane; you can’t fight shadows and it sucked.
“Cash, I am just so scared. What if my fucked-up genetics are causing problems and what if my baby is going to pay for how I was created? How can I protect him if I don’t know what I am protecting him from? I never thought I was going to have a baby let alone a husband. I never even let those thoughts into my brain. Now I just don’t know what to do. I feel like I am failing everybody. I didn’t know what I was missing Cash, and I want this baby with all of my heart. But what if because of me, he is harmed and how do I face Jacks or myself if that does happen?”
With that last statement, Ryleigh’s sobs increased. She was not a pretty crier. Her face was red and blotchy, and snot was running down her nose. Cash tried to dodge a couple of times, but gave up knowing it was no use. He was effectively a tissue for this crazy lady, and surprisingly that didn’t bother him all that much. If he couldn’t have his happily ever after, then he would make sure Jacks and Ryleigh got theirs along with the rest of his teammates. If they needed more doctors or scientists to help the baby out, Cash would make it his mission to find them. This was his family.
“Now you listen here, Rye. You aren’t failing anyone. Who found out about Franklin's data? And who thought far enough ahead to get your agents implanted? And who is responsible for turning two of the meanest son of bitches I know into pussy cats? That was all you Ryleigh, and your baby is going to be just fine. Did you tell Jacks how you were feeling? Does he know how scared you are?”
Still crying Ryleigh answered, “No. I can’t put that on him because he has too much on his plate as it is.”
Damn, Ryleigh didn’t have a clue. Jacks would drop anything and everything in a second for her; all she had to do was ask. But she wasn’t that kind of person, and Cash loved her for it. However, she needed to stop because she had someone else to think about now.
“Rye, I can tell you this: you and that little one are the only things on his plate that truly matter, and if a case comes up then we can defer to another team. We are a family and you are a crucial part of that family. If you need any of us, especially Jacks, we will be there for you anytime. You have been taking care of everyone else for so long it's time to take care of yourself and your cub. If you need Jacks, myself, or any of the other guys, we are here; no questions asked and no judgments made. You know Jacks would be pissed if he thought that you were hiding things from him. Just talk to him. He should be back soon from what Dalton said. Now come on, let's get you off of this floor. Dalton was on clean up duty and that fucker has a tendency to slack,” Cash tried to make light. “But he did volunteer to go down to Ruby’s to get dinner. Why don’t you jump in the shower and I will go and get your pajamas? Everything else can wait for a couple of hours.”
“But, Cash, I have to get through the data and…”
Cash knew Ryleigh was going to fight him, but he didn’t care. Until Jacks got back he was in charge and she was just going to have to suck it up. Sometimes he wondered why it always seemed like it was his job to get people to take care of their basic needs. Shit, he didn’t even know what the people on his team would do if he decided to quit constantly coaxing them into showering, eating, or one of a hundred other things.
“No, ma'am, you need food, sleep, and comfort. Dalton and I will take shifts with the data. When the rest of the guys get back, they will too. Jacks told me he was bring something back for you and I think it is just what the doctor ordered.”
“I don’t need presents, Cash. I was only kidding before.”
Cash wanted to laugh. Ryleigh was cute. He knew that she was just messing with all the guys about sending her presents. Even if she hadn’t been, he would have sent her as many care packages as she wanted. He loved her and was happy that Jacks had found such a special woman to spend the rest of his life with.
“I know that, honey, but I think you're going to like this one. Now up you go. Get showered and I will put your stuff outside the door. Dalton was heading out to get some dinner from Ruby’s and if you are lucky I bet he will even bring you one of her famous turnovers.”
Once she was back on her feet again, Ryleigh hugged Cash as tight as she could and said, “Thanks, Cash, I needed that. Don't tell the others but you are my favorite big brother,” she said with a smile.
Cash knew she was joking; the whole big brother little sister thing was a bit much. Even he had to admit that, but it was theirs and it made them both happy to joke around about it. He didn’t give a shit what anyone else thought about it. She was his sister, not by blood but by connection. And if it made her happy to act silly, he would do it right along with her.
“Damn right I am, and I am also going to be that little bean’s favorite Uncle too. I will warn you, I have plans to knock the others out of the running,” Cash laughed as he left Ryleigh to her shower.
Ryleigh loved Cash. He might look like a badass biker, but he had a heart of gold. Not many guys would have let her snot all over their shirt. She knew Jacks would have, but she worried about him; he had so much on his plate, and she didn’t want to burden him any further. Feeling better she decided to take Cash’s advice and jump in the shower and get some rest. She and the baby needed it.
Walking out the bathroom Cash couldn’t help but be a little jealous of his Alpha. Ryleigh was an extraordinary woman, and now she and Jacks had something he would never get to experience; a fully bonded mating and a baby on the way. Sure, he could meet a woman and fall in love and maybe even have a family someday, but it would pale in comparison to what he and Jessie could have had. He mourned that future every day of his life. It would have never been fair to only give half of himself to some random woman when his heart and soul belonged to another. Even after all these years, Cash still felt the pain from their bond breaking, leaving just the numbness behind.
No, he couldn’t do that to someone else. He would just have to the best Uncle ever. Maybe some of the longings for things that weren’t meant to be would subside. He had to hope they would. Otherwise, what was the point?
Chapter 6
Dalton was waiting at the counters in Ruby’s for the order he already placed. He was enjoying a cup of coffee when he heard the bells of the door ring out. Out of habit his eyes went to the cause, and he was struck dumb and had to do a double-take by what he saw at first. He thought it was Ryleigh and was about to go over and ask her what she was doing, but it wasn’t Ryleigh. This woman's hair was a shade lighter, and she was probably just a couple of inches taller, maybe five and a half feet tall, if that. She seemed to be taking in the room but kept her eyes downcast, which he hated to admit was driving him crazy for some weird reason. He genuinely wanted to know what color eyes she had; it felt necessary. Her hair was a warm shade of strawberry blonde with streaks of darker red running throughout; subtle but stunning. The woman had placed it in some odd way on top of her head trying to contain the mass, but failing because strands were flying out everywhere. He liked the messy contraption. It brought to his mind long sweaty nights and other ways he could mess it up, preferably with his hands after a long hard night. Maybe not the best thing to be thinking of a complete stranger, but he was a guy after all. So, what the hell, he thought.
He continued to ogle the woman, figuring he wasn’t hurting anyone. It wasn’t like he was going to act it; he was just doing what every guy does. Dalton decided to check out her body but was confused by her choice of clothing. She was wearing a huge overcoat, probably a man’s, but it was like three sizes too big for her build and bulky as hell. Shit, the thing was making him sweat by just looking at it. He knew some people had odd fashion sense, shit, he loved superhero t-shirts, but that coat was so out of place. He didn’t know what to think. He liked quirky but wasn’t a big fan of crazy. It was
August for Christ sakes. The Upper Peninsula of Michigan had a tendency to be a bit cooler, but not that much. Still trying to figure the little lady out, he went back to her face and noticed that even without lifting her eyes, she was trying to figure out where everything was in the room; much the same as he was trained to do after several years in the military.
He knew there wasn’t much to see. The dinner crowd had already left. Even on a good day only a couple of people at a time could be found in the diner. They were pretty isolated this high up in Michigan; most of the people in the community stuck to themselves. Having already done his recon, a habit drilled into him from his childhood and his time in the service, he knew what she was seeing. He was the only customer, beside herself. It was not unusual for this late in the day as most of the locals were at home. The town shut down early this time of the year. Ruby’s was the only restaurant in town and they both had come right before closing time.
The diner was small, only holding a couple of tables and a long counter with beat up seats. Most city folk would balk at even stepping foot in the place, but Dalton and his team loved it. The first time they brought Ryleigh down she called it rustic. Ruby’s had some of the best food around no one cared about the decor. Everything was homemade by the namesake herself from recipes she said were passed down in her family for generations. Not having been lucky enough to have kids of her own, Ruby adopted all the residence as her children and insisted on giving them a place to eat a good meal and have a friendly conversation. She never turned anyone away. The place had seen some better days and was in need of some serious repairs, but not getting many tourists and only having a small community to support the place plus Ruby’s generosity didn’t bring the income needed for repairs. The guys had been talking about helping to get it back to what he sure it once was. The community, and more specifically the guys, needed Ruby’s to stay around for a long time. The diner and the proprietor helped them feel more at home.
The woman had caught and held his attention. However, once he got his mind out of the gutter, he noticed something else by using his ingrained senses of being a Shifter. He finally got a good whiff of the woman and was not pleased with what he found. He had been expecting a sweet feminine scent but what he got was waves of fear that were so strong he couldn’t even detect the slightest indication of her natural scent. As he watched she must have come to a type of conclusion because she reached to pull the chair out and that his when his bear went ballistic. There were bruises all around her wrists and cuts all over her hands.
All the men on teams with NAC were protectors through and through; it was in his DNA. Dalton tried to justify what he was going to do by remembering that any of them would help or offer to help this woman. What could it hurt? His thoughts from earlier shouldn’t make any difference, right? Maybe it was the fact that his bear was riding him harder than normal that he was acting out of character. Typically, if he were in this situation he would have just given Ruby his card for NAC telling her to let the woman know if she needed help and to use it. Or he would have contacted the Sheriff and had him come and check out the situation. He knew he wasn’t going to do either of those things. Shit, maybe he should have shifted before he left to pick up dinner because his beast had been riding him harder than usually lately. Could that be why he was getting all these weird vibes?
It wasn’t uncommon for Shifters to seek out sex when they were unable to shift for, some reason. Maybe that was why he was thinking of taking the strange women back to his bed when he should be thinking about offering her help. The bruises pushed all his protective and possessive urges, and he knew right then and there what he had to do what he needed to do.
He needed to know what had happened to this woman, more importantly who had hurt this woman. He was aware that it wasn’t any of his business, but he was unable to take his eyes off of her she intrigued him. When she came to the decision to sit, showing her strength, he was proud of her. All he could think was, good girl, you need a break. But even with the strength she showed by choosing to stay, her hunched shoulders and inability to make eye contact triggered a weird kind of possessiveness in Dalton. It was something he had never felt before for another person. Add to that his need to protect, and his was fucked because those instincts were sparking like fireworks on the Fourth of July. If anyone needed some help, it was the woman he was looking at.
Ruby called out to the woman “I will be right with you honey.”
That was when the woman finally noticed Dalton, still not raising her eyes fully and her hands started to shake visibly. Dalton knew she was going to bolt if he didn’t do something. She needed help and he was just the person to give it to her. He waved off Ruby who looked just as concerned as he was and walked over to the woman as non-threating as possible. Dalton approached her like he would one of the hostages NAC often rescued. He had seen the look she was giving him many times before on missions. That’s when he saw them for the first time; her eyes were so unusual they took his breath away. They were more turquoise than blue and big with thick, dark lashes. Her other features were dainty, making him think of a pixie he had once seen a drawing of. But on closer examination those beautiful eyes were wary; hollow with deep dark circles under them and that pissed him off. This woman was too lovely to look this way. He knew from experience, or assumption, that she was running hard from something. Dalton didn’t like it. He also didn’t like the flinch she made when he approached, like he was going to hit her. That stung. Dalton would never cause a woman harm, ever.
“Ma’am, sorry to bother you, but do you need some help?” Dalton inquired.
That is when he got the first good look at her face. Damn, someone had done a number on her, and she looked like she was going to fall right off the chair at any moment; she was so frail. He was kind of surprised that he thought she was Ryleigh at first, they looked nothing alike at the moment. Maybe it was his size and stature. This woman sitting in front of him was in desperate need of a shower. He could tell she had some slight red in her hair, but that was it. The one thing that surprised him was her inner glow. Even her appearance couldn’t dim that. The women never answered him but just started cradling her stomach with her arms, looking at the table like it held all the answers in the world.
“Ma’am, did you hear me? Do you need some help? I live nearby and know the sheriff around here. He is an excellent man. I could give him a call and he would come down here if you're in some trouble or I could walk you down to the clinic. It's not a hospital but the staffs not bad and you look like you need some help.”
Dalton had been reading her body language, and she visibly flinched with the mention of the sheriff and the clinic. Damn, what was going on with this poor woman and what the hell was going on with his bear? The bastard was pacing back a forth, agitated by this woman's condition. Shit, he had seen women in worse condition and his bear didn’t even surface. Seeming to come out of her trancelike stare she tried to disguise her nervousness and fear. However, he was a Shifter and both of those emotions had a scent, and she was putting them off in waves.
“No, sorry, just a long day. I came over on the ferry and decided that I needed to stop for the night but this town doesn’t have a motel,” the woman sheepishly replied.
She was so pale and looked like she hadn’t sleep in forever. Dalton was very familiar with the look because working with NAC he had seen it often. This woman was running. Someone had hurt her badly, and Dalton was determined to get her the help she needed. He didn’t question why it was so important to him; he just knew he needed to provide whatever this woman needed.
“Do you mind if I sit down?” Dalton asked.
Still putting off waves a fear, the little lady surprised him by nodding in affirmation. After he had sat he put his hand out slowly but apparently not slowly enough because she flinched back like his hand was the head of a cobra ready to strike and that just pissed him off.
“Hi, my name is Dalton Hayes. What's yours?”
Chapter
7
Emma was barely holding it together. Why did she just let possibly the largest man she had ever seen sit down at the table with her? Man, she was losing it. She knew she should have kept on going but she was so tired and she needed to eat something. After using all but five dollars to fill up the gas tank, she knew she couldn’t go any further and decided to use those five dollars to at least get something to eat. The town was so small that it only had a gas station, grocery story, what looked like a post office, and this diner. If she had been back home she wouldn’t have even considered coming into the place. It looked like it hadn’t been updated in at least twenty years from the outside and it looked shabby. She was pleasantly surprised that the interior was clean and well-kept even though it was dated. Good thing as it was the only place that was open at the time.
Had the little grocery store been opened, she would have gone there. What type of grocery store closes at five o'clock at night, she wondered? Then she could find somewhere to park so she could get some sleep. She was fairly sure that she wasn’t being followed, but how the hell would she know? Before she got in this mess, all she had ever done was work as a waitress and a file clerk. Emma was no detective and the spy game went way over her head. Damn, if only she had kept her mouth shut then she wouldn’t be in this position. Once she got away all she could think of was getting as far away from that lab and those people as possible. She shivered at what they had done to her. Her unwanted companion noticed and started to pull his hand away. Shoot, what did he say? After he mentioned the sheriff she blanked and was no longer paying attention to the man. The last thing she needed or wanted was to get law enforcement involved in her ordeal.
Dalton: NAC & The Holly Group (Alpha Team Book 2) Page 4