Kate swallowed hard, forcing herself to hold his hard stare. “What kind of reward?”
Ronin shrugged. “You find him, we’ll talk.” Turning away from her, he barked orders to his men. Then Ronin strode away with his soldiers, leaving her alone in the alley.
Kate remained perfectly still. Should she help search for the man and see what kind of reward Ronin gave her?
The air stirred next to her, making a wisp of loose hair tickle her neck. She jerked her head around, her heart pounding.
The man, Mitchell, stood a few feet away, smirking.
She gasped. “How did you do that? What are you?”
He shrugged. “It’s called teleportation. Psychokinesis. I use my mind to take me to another place.”
She stared at him. “I thought that was only in the movies. And we don’t even have movies anymore.”
“Sad, but true. I can assure you, you’re not in a movie right now.”
Kate slapped her hands on her hips. “This is no time to joke. Ronin is hunting you. He wants me to help find you. He promised me a reward if I found you and turned you in.”
Mitchell quirked a dark brow. “So what are you waiting for? Turn me in and see what he rewards you with.”
Kate hesitated. Why was he acting so nonchalant? Did he want her to turn him in? “I don’t trust him.”
His smirk returned. “You have good instincts. You’d be foolish to trust Ronin.” He turned away from her, his gaze scanning the alleyway. “I could use your help, after all. Would you be willing to help me find my friend? His name’s Ethan. He’s tall, with brownish-blond hair. He was injured by the soldiers, so he may be lying low somewhere, hiding out. Last I saw him, he was hiding in the cellar, but he may have moved since then. If you go search Aftermath for me while I hide out, I will be forever in your debt. If you help me find him, I’ll reward you much better than Ronin ever will.” He turned back to her, his eyes glowing golden in the dark alley. How did he do that? Make his eyes glow, then turn off, then glow again, like a light switch?
“How do you do that?”
“What?”
“Make your eyes glow on and off.”
He shrugged. “It takes practice.”
Kate waited for him to say more, but he didn’t.
She sighed. “If you can teleport around, then why do you need my help?”
He glanced at something behind her, stiffened, then relaxed. “I can only teleport to a place I can see. I can’t see through walls, so I would have to gain entrance into Aftermath in order to teleport around inside. And now that the soldiers are looking for me, I won’t be able to sneak in undetected. That’s why I need you.”
Kate considered that for a moment. “So that was how you went from one end of the alley to the other in a blink of an eye.” She glanced up at him again, took a step toward him. “Where did you go after that?”
“Around the corner.” He backed away from her, his gaze filling with wariness.
Kate paused. So she hadn’t imagined that earlier, when he’d deliberately stepped back. He didn’t like her in his personal space for some reason. “But there were soldiers everywhere.”
He nodded. “Not only can I teleport, but I can do it as fast as a cheetah. So I can bounce around, moving from one place to another, which can confuse the human eye into thinking I’ve disappeared into thin air, especially if I teleport behind something.”
“Like the building,” Kate finished softly. That was why he’d just vanished. He’d teleported out of her line of vision. Wow. That was…fascinating. Who was this guy? A smartass—certainly—with strange, piercing eyes and a lean, muscular body who made her extremely aware of him in a way she’d never been aware of any other man before. Men, in her experience, were pigs. But this guy was different. He looked like a man on the outside, but who—or what—was he underneath the handsome exterior? He didn’t like her standing too close to him, but he’d said he wasn’t afraid of her. He exuded a natural wariness that reminded her of a wild animal. Was he even human?
The only way to find out would be to agree to help him. Kate wanted to find out. More than she wanted to admit. The man had spiked her curiosity. She was eager to peel away his layers and find out who he was underneath.
She pulled her gaze back to his. “I’ll help you on one condition.”
His lips twitched in another smirk. “And that is?”
Kate held his gaze. “You teach me how to use a bow and arrow. You teach me how to defend myself. You teach me how to hunt.”
* * *
The woman was full of surprises. Mitch hadn’t expected her to agree to help him, and he certainly hadn’t anticipated that she would make any demands for doing so. Admiration swelled in him. He was starting to like this woman. She was tough. He imagined she hadn’t had it easy since the asteroid shower. He’d never cared about hearing anyone’s story before. Life was hard. So fucking what. That’s just the way it was now. But he was curious about the trader woman. What had brought her to Africa?
Helping her would be a small price to pay for finding Ethan. Mitch planned to make Ronin pay for what he’d done. He just couldn’t do it alone. He needed Gabe and Ethan’s help. And now, this woman’s.
He didn’t even know her name.
“Agreed. But only if you tell me your name.”
She held out her hand. “Katherine Davis. Call me Kate. I understand your name is Mitchell.”
Mitch stared at her hand. Touching her would send any emotions she might be experiencing directly into him. Not good. “Mitch Duncan. Call me Mitch. And I can’t touch you.” He turned away without shaking her hand. “I’ll wait here. You go see if you can find my friend. A woman named Maddy was helping him. The people around here call her Dr. Maddy. If you find her, you might find him.”
The trader woman, Kate, stepped up to him, pausing only about a foot away. “Okay. I’ll go look for him.” Her gaze sought his, drawing him in. Damn, the woman really had pretty eyes. Stunning. Up close, he could see they were darker than he’d originally thought. Nearly black, her eyes were the color of coffee without cream, lined with thick black eyelashes, and brewed with strength and determination. And a mystery that intrigued him.
Her scent reached him, sweat and dirt mixed with a hint of strawberry shampoo, soap and soft femininity. Mitch’s nostrils flared. His heightened senses told him she’d probably bathed the night before, which was why he was able to detect the faint hint of soap and shampoo that still lingered on her skin and hair. Unexpected desire surged in his loins. It had been a long time since he’d noticed the opposite sex. His gaze darted down, skimming over her small breasts, then jogged back up to hers. She blushed, but continued to hold his gaze. Something flashed in her eyes, then floated over him. Attraction.
Mitch swallowed hard. This was not good. She could become a distraction he didn’t need. He had a job to do. He couldn’t get involved with her.
Not since Lisa had died had he really paid any attention to another woman. But something about this woman got to him. He couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was, but she intrigued him like no other woman had before. The sudden desire to get away from her nearly overwhelmed him. She was too close.
Mitch took a step back.
She eyed him a long moment, her expression contemplative. “You are scared of me. Why? I’m human. I’ve never been bitten. Unlike you.”
Mitch had already determined she was human. Humans gave off a different scent than those who’d been bitten. Teaming up with her might end up being a bad idea. She was too observant. She could ruin him. Yet he didn’t detect any fear coming off of her anymore, just determination. Which was good. Determination he could handle. Fear might trigger his predatory instinct to hunt.
Mitch took another step back. “As long as you remember I’m not all human, that I’m dangerous and unpredictable, then we should get along just fine. And I’m not afraid of you. I just don’t like people in my personal space. So. Back. Off.”
Color crept
into her face. “Sorry.” She stumbled backward rapidly, giving him his space, and continued to back away until she bumped into her cart. “You’re a strange one, you know that?”
Mitch snorted. Can’t deny that. But if you keep moving away, I’m going to chase you.
The hunting instinct flared inside him, compliments of the cheetah he’d once bonded with. When his cheetah friend had died, Mitch had inherited not only the beast’s superior senses, but also his predatory instinct to chase and kill anything that moved. Most of the time, Mitch could control it. But sometimes, like now, it was all he could do to hold it back. For some reason, this woman triggered his instinct to hunt. But it wasn’t a killing instinct. It was pure lust. A mating instinct. Which was completely foreign to him.
“A word of advice, woman. Don’t ever run from me.”
Her eyes widened. “Why not?”
“Because it triggers my predatory instinct to chase and subdue.”
Awareness flashed in her eyes. She swallowed hard. “What exactly does that mean?”
An answering desire surged through him. Fuck. He didn’t need this. Especially not now. The desire to slam her up against the building and take her was almost too much to ignore.
“Go now. See if you can find my friend. Or you’ll find out exactly what that means.”
She held his gaze for a long moment, her face slowly filling with color again. Then she raced around him.
“I said don’t run!” Mitch ground his teeth. He clenched his fists.
She halted, then carefully tiptoed around him. She paused and turned back to him. “You never said why you couldn’t touch me. Does it have anything to do with your instinct to chase?”
Mitch hesitated. The woman asked too many questions. Ethan was the only one who knew about all of Mitch’s “gifts” from the drifters. But if he was going to team up with Kate, she would figure it out eventually. Or think he was weirder than a two-headed rhinoceros.
“I’m an…empath, for lack of a better word. It was one of my ‘gifts’ from the drifters. Touching makes it worse.” Mitch wasn’t sure why he told Kate that, except he wanted her to know the truth up front so she wouldn’t be confused by his actions later. Keeping his distance from people was necessary for his very survival.
Her eyes widened. “That was why you tensed when I fell on top of you in the cart. Did it hurt to grab me by the neck?” The expression on her face said that she hoped it had.
He smirked. “Not exactly. I felt your terror. Your indecision. You couldn’t decide if I was the lesser evil or if the soldier was.”
Embarrassment crossed her face. “How did you know that? Can you read minds too?”
Sometimes. He shrugged. “Trust me, I don’t enjoy it. In fact, I hate it. Human emotions can be overwhelming. If you stand too close, I can sense your feelings, your urges, your energy.”
She swallowed, her eyes huge with wonder. “That’s why you don’t like me in your personal space.”
Mitch nodded. “Keeping my distance from people helps repel their emotions. The closer they get, the more I can feel what they feel. Touching makes your emotions spiral into me. And that can be very painful, especially if you’re giving off a negative energy.” He turned away from her. He was done talking about his “gift”.
He felt her standing behind him, staring at his back, probably thinking he was a freak.
“Go now. Find my friend so we can get the hell out of here.” His dismissal was firm. Non-negotiable.
He felt her slight hesitation, then her soft footsteps echoed down the alleyway as she walked away.
He didn’t watch her leave.
He couldn’t watch her leave.
Because he could no longer control the urge to hunt.
The urge to chase.
To subdue.
To mate.
The predatory urge had never been this strong before.
And never had he felt this way toward a woman.
What did it mean? Why was the desire to chase her so strong? Especially when he instinctively kept his distance from people? The animalistic urge to catch her, subdue her, and mate with her was undeniable. His body still hummed with lust, the heat flowing through his veins like hot lava. Was this what a male cheetah experienced when he encountered a receptive female?
Lisa had never brought out this hot, lustful desire in him. Then again, Lisa had been fragile, delicate. A gentle soul. Mitch had always exercised the ultimate tenderness with her. Losing her had ripped out his soul, left him cold and empty inside. And filled him with the desire for vengeance.
Mitch couldn’t lose sight of his goal. He couldn’t let his lust for Kate interfere with his plans.
Ronin must pay. And Mitch intended to see that he did so.
No matter the cost.
CHAPTER FOUR
Kate slipped around the corner, her heart pounding. Dear God, the blazing look in Mitch’s golden eyes…
She’d felt his lust like a caress along her skin. He wanted her. And Lord help her, she wanted him too. An instant, all-consuming attraction had pulled from her very core, aching for him. What the hell was wrong with her? Life had taught her in her twenty-seven years that men were beasts. Animals. Not to be trusted. Brutal. Heartless. To be feared. It was true that Mitch scared her. But he also fascinated her. She didn’t understand why she was attracted to him when she’d never been attracted to any other man before. What was it about him that drew her to him so strongly? He’d said he was an empath. If that were true, then she understood his desire to keep his distance from people. If he was able to perceive and experience other people’s emotions, that would be…overwhelming. Possibly even unbearable. Sympathy tugged at her. Followed by admiration. He must be very strong to be able to deal with that. And what had he meant by “predatory instinct”? Was he some kind of predator? Was there any humanity inside of him, or was he all beast?
She shivered involuntarily. How could she be frightened of Mitch and intrigued by him at the same time? He didn’t give off an evil vibe like Ronin. She wanted to know his story. All of it. She wanted to know who and what he was.
Kate had never been one to back down from a challenge. And Mitch was certainly a challenge. So she would help him. And he damn well better help her in return. She’d been screwed over by too many people. Betrayed by those she’d trusted. Now she trusted no one.
Except she had no choice but to trust Mitch. She had to give him the benefit of the doubt. Just because nearly everyone else in her life had betrayed her, didn’t necessarily mean he would too.
Kate opened the front door of Aftermath. Soldiers rushed about, obviously searching for Mitch. The residents—all women and children—huddled together in a group near the far wall.
Ronin spied Kate the moment she closed the door behind her. He strode forward, his black eyes piercing. Ronin was a large man, way over six feet tall. Kate felt extra small standing next to him, though she was of average height at five and a half feet tall. Ronin wasn’t just intimidating. He was scary with that short-cropped blond hair, those mean black eyes, and his hulking, muscle-bound, tattooed body.
“Any luck finding Mitchell?” He stared down at her, his eyes hard.
Kate shook her head. “I thought I saw him coming in the door a moment ago. I must have been wrong.”
Could he tell she was lying?
Ronin narrowed his eyes. “If he came in this door, I would have seen him.” He spun around, his gaze skimming every corner of the room. Finally, he turned back to her. “What powers does he have? Do you know?”
Kate swallowed hard. “I-uh, think he teleports or something. He disappears, then reappears in a different place.”
Ronin nodded. “I already knew that. But it’s more than just teleporting. He’s got other powers too.” He stared at her, his black gaze delving deep, searching…for what? Could he read her thoughts?
Kate’s skin heated. Dear God, she hoped not.
Keep your thoughts hidden. Don’t think about any
thing at all. Keep your mind blank.
Ronin chuckled. “You find him attractive, don’t you?” He smirked. “Did he promise he would repay you if you helped him?”
Her face grew hotter. How did he know that?
Ronin shoved his ugly face into hers. “You want to fuck him, don’t you?” He snickered.
She lifted her chin. “Well, he is good-looking, all that raw, sexy masculinity. I’m sure any woman would agree.”
Ronin snorted and stepped back. “Mitchell, a ladies’ man? Ha! He’s too much of a loner. Not since I got rid of that pathetic excuse of a woman he loved, has he shown any interest in women.” He scratched his head. “And that was three years ago.”
Kate inhaled sharply. What had Ronin done?
“Did you murder his wife?”
Ronin chuckled. “I only did what I had to do to get him to see things my way. If anything, I just put her out of her misery. Africa is mine. Those who defy me have to learn the hard way that I’m the boss around here. I’m going to be king someday. I’m going to rule it all.”
Kate puffed out a breath. “You’re awfully full of yourself.”
Ronin cocked a brow. “And you’re awfully brazen to challenge me. Do you have a death wish, woman?”
Kate lowered her gaze. Easy, Kate. Just do what he wants, then get the hell out of here.
“Mitchell is going to pay for his betrayal. You can either help me out, or I can hand you over to my men and let them do what they want with you. What’s it going to be?”
Heat crept into her cheeks. No way in hell was she letting Ronin’s men touch her. She’d witnessed what men did to women, had seen with her own eyes the brutality they inflicted. She’d sworn that would never happen to her. Which made her attraction to Mitch that much more confounding. How could she long for something she’d never known? Something that ultimately disgusted her?
Because deep down she knew not all men were like that. Mitch was unique, unlike any man she’d ever met.
By some miracle, Kate had managed to escape being raped by the rutting beasts who’d raided and overtaken the colonies one by one. Becoming a trader had secured her safety from Ronin’s men to some extent, though she still had to be vigilant. Wary. A lone woman was never safe, no matter where she went or what she did. Kate had had a couple of close calls over the years from overly eager men, but so far her knife had deterred any would-be rapists. Ronin’s own soldiers were terrified of him. If he told them to leave the trader women alone, they did, for the most part. No one wanted to face the wrath of Ronin Dred.
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