Kimi cleared her throat and looked at Niail. “Are there any problems between men and women where you’re from?”
“Men obey, and women rule. How could there be problems.”
“Don’t the men want more?”
“There is honor in following the code.” Niail leaned back against a pine. “As to the rest, I wouldn’t know. I’m a warrior. I only have one purpose.”
“To kill?” Kimi lowered her eyes.
“To serve.”
Kimi glanced up with surprise. “That’s a strange way to think of killing.”
“A warrior serves his commanders.” Niail’s gaze swept over her before he looked away. “You should rest. There will be plenty of time for explanations later.”
What a strange world he was from. Women ruled and men obeyed. Warriors had only one purpose. Hunters were denied love and a family because they wanted only one mate. It didn’t seem possible that such a place could exist without conflict. Yet Niail spoke of it without emotion.
Jake returned fifteen minutes later. He looked at Niail warily, almost as if he didn’t believe he was real. The two men locked eyes. Kimi could have sworn that a silent understanding was reached. Jake picked up a pack and hitched it onto his back. He turned to Mark and yanked him to his feet.
“It’s time to move.”
Mark shook off his hand and sat back down. “This is abuse.”
“You are alive.” Niail threw the water bottles into his pack. “Men who betray do not deserve to live.”
Mark spat on the ground. “It sounds like you’re from a third world country without laws.”
Niail spun around and grabbed Mark by the collar of his shirt and yanked him off the ground. “What good are laws if the people who should enforce them cheat?”
“Let me down.” Mark struggled in Niail’s hold. “You’ve no right to treat me like this.”
“Be thankful I let you live.” Niail threw him to the ground.”
Mark glanced at Jake. “Are you going to let him talk to me like that?”
Jake shrugged. “You did break the law, and you cheated and betrayed me. If I wasn’t sworn to protect, I might be inclined to let Niail have his way.”
Niail straightened his shoulders. “He hinders our escape and his words irritate.”
“True.” Jake grinned. “But you agreed to do it my way.”
“I will not go back on my word.” Niail turned to Kimi. “Do you need help?”
She shook her head. “I’m right behind you. The sooner we reach the road the better.”
“I think we were crazy to listen to Grandfather. Taking the car would have been so much easier.” Jake looked down at the compass in his hand and then started off into the bush.
“He is an elder with much knowledge.” Niail took up the rear. “He said he would meet us at the road.”
They walked for another thirty minutes without finding the road. Kimi was wilting. She wiped her forehead on the bottom of her shirt and then squinted at the sun. It was high in the sky and was giving no relief from heat. They should have hit the road fifteen minutes ago and yet they still wandered in the bush. Her stomach growled and rumbled. They only had a few energy bars to last them until they found the road.
“I’m going on ahead.”
Jake pushed through the overgrown juniper and was out of sight within seconds. Mark grunted and sat back against a tree. He was turned away from them.
“You need rest.” Niail came to stand beside her. “We will find the road soon.”
Kimi gave him a faint smile. “I think we’re lost.”
Niail shrugged. “When we have rested, I will discuss our location with Jake.”
“He’ll hate it if you prove him wrong.”
“Why?”
“He likes to be right.” Kimi wiped the sweat from the top of her lip. “Even as kids he was always the one who made up the rules. The rest of us followed.”
“There is no sense in continuing in the wrong direction. No honor is lost by asking for help.”
“Is everything about honor with you?”
“It is how I live.” Niail pushed an aspen branch out of the way as he moved them into a small clearing. “I strive for honor in all that I do.”
“So honor in fighting and honor in death?” Kimi raised an eyebrow. “That’s not much of an existence.”
Niail cleared his throat. “I have my brothers.”
Kimi chest tightened at the intense loneliness he must be feeling. “When we get back to the town you must try and contact them on the computer to let them know where you are.”
Niail nodded. “I will make certain you are safe first.”
Kimi touched his arm. “I’m here for you.”
Niail looked down at her. Her eyes widened at the intense emotion that she saw there. She was drowning in his gaze and she took a step closer. Naked desire flared in the depths of his dark eyes. He was going to kiss her.
Her heart sped.
Her breath caught in her throat.
His arm reached for her and pulled her close. She leaned into him, savoring the skittering sensations of excitement that spread out from where they touched. His head lowered. She lifted her mouth to meet his.
His tongue slid over her sealed lips. She shivered with need. Their tongues touched and curled together as the dance of passion began. The world spun away. There was only her and Niail.
A feather of sensation touched her mind and for a second they connected not only physically, but also mentally. She melted. He wove a spell that she could get lost in for a lifetime.
She wanted more.
Her arms reached about his neck and pulled him closer. Her fingers twined into his hair as liquid thrills of delight coursed through her veins. Hunger pulsed within her.
Jake’s voice brought them back to earth. “I’ve found the road.”
Niail eased his mouth away and cleared his throat. “Make certain the way is clear.”
“Do you take me for a beginner?” Jake yelled as he crashed toward them. “You can go first.”
Niail heaved a sigh. He looked into her eyes and then released her. There was resignation and determination in his gaze now. She stepped back and watched him move past Jake. Their timing couldn’t have been worse.
The attraction between them was insane. She was a woman with children. Men didn’t want ready-made families, especially not when the responsibility included raising those children in the Blackfeet traditions.
She went to stand beside Jake. “I thought we were lost.”
“Grandfather was off in his time, that’s all.” Jake put his compass back into his pocket. “You should rest while you can, sis. No telling if Grandfather will be in the right place or not. We’ll probably have to walk to find him.”
“Great.” Mark rolled his eyes. “You guys haven’t a clue what you’re doing. I wouldn’t be surprised if Kowal is waiting for you.”
“That’s why I sent Niail.” Jake threw his pack on the ground. “He’ll wipe the road with them.”
“So now you believe all his warrior talk?” Kimi smiled and sat with her legs crossed.
“The man may talk crazy, but I’ve seen him fight.” Jake leaned against a tree. “I’ve never seen skill like his before. I have to respect that.”
“They are supposed to be the best when it comes to tracking and killing.” Mark spoke in a hesitant voice. “I didn’t believe it, but Kowal took it seriously enough. That’s why he had his men inject him with a sedative before they started in on him. They thought he was dead for sure when they dumped him off the truck.”
“He almost was.” Kimi shivered as she remembered the condition he had been in when he was brought to her house. “What made Kowal attack him?”
Mark rested his chin on his knees. “It wasn’t so much what he said, but his stance. He just stood there with his arms crossed.”
“That’s not enough of a reason to kill a man.” Jake threw down a branch he had been stripping the leaves from. �
��He must have tried to attack you.”
“No.” Mark shrugged. “Kowal wasn’t taking any chances. They’re very explicit about lying. If they find that you’ve hired them under false pretenses, then they’ll kill you.”
Jake jerked his head away from the tree. “You said that before, but I didn’t take it seriously.”
“That’s what the website says.”
“Kowal must have been crazy to try and hire them.” Jake shook his head. “I almost feel sorry for the man.”
“Don’t.” Niail’s voice interrupted them. “Kowal will pay for his lies.”
Kimi looked up with a start. She hadn’t heard his approach. The man must walk on air.
“I’m a law officer.” Jake pulled Mark up. “I’ll arrest you if you harm anyone, including Kowal.”
“It is out of your hands.” Niail crossed his arms over his chest. “Kowal made his choice. You are not responsible for him.”
“I won’t countenance murder.”
“Justice will be served.”
“Damn right, but the courts will decide the best course of action.”
Niail only nodded and then turned to Kimi. “Will you be able to walk a bit longer?”
“Of course.” Kimi stood. “Is Grandfather not there?”
“We are in the wrong place.” Niail looked at Jake. “We will have to walk on the road.”
“I followed the old man’s directions.” Jake picked up his pack and started through the bush. “I’ll bet you didn’t look close enough.”
“I was thorough.” Niail pushed Mark ahead and then waited for Kimi.
When they arrived at the road there was no evidence of her grandfather’s truck. They must be in the wrong place. Either that or her grandfather had been delayed. Kimi refused to consider what that might mean.
“We cannot stay in the open.” Niail pushed Mark into the aspen trees lining the road and then turned to her. “Keep hidden.”
“There is no way someone would be looking for us here.” Jake stood at the road edge. “It’ll be much easier to walk in the open.”
“Your grandfather is not here.” Niail turned a steady gaze to Jake. “Consider before you make any hasty decisions.”
Jake looked up and down both sides of the clearing and then shrugged. “If you want to get bitten by bugs and clawed by branches, who am I to argue.”
The muscle at the side of Niail’s jaw tensed. “I will not risk Kimi’s life for the sake of you saving face.”
“She’s my sister. I decide what is best for her.”
Niail crossed his arms over his chest and stood looking at Jake. He didn’t say anything, he just waited, letting the silence grow until Jake turned away. Kimi released the breath she had been holding and started to walk toward the bush. She was getting tired of the macho antics of these guys.
Niail came up to her. “I did not mean for you to be upset.”
“I’m not.” Kimi kept her voice curt.
“You think I am overly cautious.” Niail touched her arm sending a shiver of delicious sensation up her spine.
Kimi heaved a sigh. “I understand, but must you and Jake constantly fight over what you want to do. Jake is military trained and a police officer.”
“I am skilled also.” Niail’s voice was low. “Your brother takes risks. He lets his emotions get in the way.”
“He has always been a hot head, but the navy calmed him down.”
“He is not ready to command.”
“And you are?”
“I never expected to command, but compared to your brother, yes. I am ready to step in and lead this operation.”
“He won’t let you.”
“I know.”
Niail wasn’t wrong. Her brother hadn’t been thinking straight since he had found out his partner had betrayed their operation. Worse, Mark was on the payroll of a very bad group of men and Jake hadn’t suspected anything. That must hurt his pride.
They had been walking about ten minutes when Niail held up a hand. “Quiet.”
Kimi was too exhausted to argue. She stumbled to a stop and then sank down to the ground. She wiped her forehead and then pulled her water bottle out and took a deep drink. She strained her ears to hear, but other than the birds chirping, there was nothing.
“What?” Jake didn’t hide his impatience.
“An engine.” Niail pointed up the road. “About four hundred yards away.”
“I don’t hear anything.” Jake shook his head. “You’re on edge.”
“No.” Niail put his pack down and pulled out a couple of pistols. He checked the magazines and then snapped them back into place before putting them into his waistband. “We need to be ready.”
Mark snickered. “You’ll be sorry now.”
Niail turned his eyes on their prisoner. “You were expecting this.”
Mark shrugged. “There was always a possibility someone would catch up with us.”
Before they had a chance to say anything else, there was the loud roaring noise of an engine coming toward them. Mark bolted for the road. He stumbled, but righted himself just as a truck skidded to a halt. There was a brute of a man behind the wheel. Another man with a scruffy beard was holding a gun to her grandfather’s head.
Chapter 14
He should have followed his gut and went in the opposite direction. He had known Jake was totally messed up with their location. His head still felt like cotton wool, and his side ached, but that was no excuse. He had compromised their safety by not being more forceful with Jake.
He turned to Kimi and pointed to the trees. “Hide in there. I’ll come for you when it’s safe.”
“What about you?” Kimi held her pack against her chest.
“I will be fine.” Niail pulled out two pistols and took the safety off before turning to Jake. “You stay here. I need you to protect Kimi.”
“I’m not missing the action.” Jake bent over his pack for his pistol, but Niail wasn’t waiting for him. He turned to the road and followed Mark.
None of this would have happened if they had dealt with Mark at the cabin. He should have killed Mark long ago. He was done with doing things by Jake’s rules. The one thing he knew was how to get out of a difficult situation.
He reached the road a few feet behind Mark.
“They’re behind me,” Mark shouted.
The man holding the gun on Kimi’s grandfather pushed the older man down, and aimed his weapon at Niail.
A shot ripped past Niail’s head. He didn’t stop. He held both pistols in front of him and moved toward the truck. When he was within targeting distance he fired two shots. His aim was true.
He hit the men dead center in the forehead.
Then he turned his guns on Mark. “Halt.”
Mark’s fell to his knees beside the truck. He shook his head as he turned wide eyes to Niail. “No one is that good.”
“What the hell?” Jake shouted from the edge of the dirt road. “You shot both of them.”
“They would have killed us and your grandfather.”
Jake walked to the vehicle. “How did these guys get here?”
“I think your partner can answer that.”
Mark made a move toward a gun that had fallen out the truck window. Before he reached it, Niail shot the ground in front of him, spraying dirt up into his face. Mark scooted back on his bum, but Niail kept his gun trained on the traitor.
“Next time I will kill you.”
“I’m not armed.” Mark’s voice was a high squeak. “You can’t shoot me.”
Niail bent and picked up the fallen pistol. “I do not follow your rules. Next time you die.”
The truck door opened with a squeak and one of the dead men was pushed out. Eluwilussit jumped down and walked toward Niail. His step was slow. He shook his head when he reached him.
“I’ve never seen such accurate aim.”
“I am clan Giath. We do not miss.”
Eluwilussit nodded. “It’s a good thing. Those men
meant to kill all of us.”
Jake stood in front of Eluwilussit with his arms crossed and legs spread. “How did they know where we were?”
Eluwilussit shrugged. “They showed up a few minutes after you left. They knew that you were with Mark.”
They all looked over at Mark.
“How did you signal them?” Jake almost spit the words out.
“You’re so predictable.” Mark got to his feet. “When you said you were hiding on the reservation I knew it would be at your grandfather’s cabin. I told Kowal where I would be if he didn’t hear from me.”
Jake’s body tensed. “You disgust me.”
“At least I have something to live for.” Mark sneered. “All you have is your work. You don’t even belong with your own people.”
Jake took a step toward Mark, but Niail put out a restraining hand. “Enough. We either kill him now, or he arrives alive. There is no honor in hitting a man who cannot defend himself.”
Jake threw off Niail’s hand. “I can’t believe you would say that after killing those men.”
“It was necessary.”
Jake stared at Niail for several seconds before throwing his hands up and turning away. “Put him in the back of the truck. Do you know how much paperwork I’ll have to do to explain how these men ended up dead?”
“There is no reason to tell anyone.” Niail picked up another discarded weapon. “We pull the bodies into the woods and the animals will take care of them.”
“Do you do anything that is legal?”
“I follow the Sacred Code. Those are the only rules I need.”
Niail put the weapons behind the truck seat. If Jake needed to explain their actions then that was his problem. He had no intention of being around when that happened. Once he got near a computer, he would report to his team leader. Partlan would know the best course of action.
He walked back into the bush at the side of the road. Kimi was still hiding, just as he had instructed. He could feel her fear. He needed to reassure her that everyone was safe. When he reached the area where the backpacks were left, he called to her.
“Kimi.”
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