Chauncey shrugged, his face twisted into a frown of epic proportions. “That doesn’t do me any good now does it?”
“What about your followers? Won’t they be disappointed?” She wanted to shake him.
“I don’t even care anymore.” He looked defeated. Not at all his normal difficult, bratty self. “I’ll just do something telling them we didn’t really find anything and move on.”
Rhea gaped. “You can’t do that.”
Chauncey wrinkled his nose at her. “Why are you so upset about it? You’re still getting paid.”
She was upset because this wasn’t about her. It wasn’t about him either. It was about a whole town of people counting on what Chauncey’s exposure could bring them.
A better life. For them. For their kids. For their kids, kids.
“You have to do it.” Desperation bit at her insides as Rhea grasped for the thing that would make Chauncey stay. Make him see this needed to be done.
And then it hit her. She knew how to get him to give it one last shot. A shot she would make sure panned out for him. In spades.
“Use me as bait.”
Chauncey snorted out a laugh. Then looked at her face and sobered immediately. “You’re serious.”
“Yup.” She nodded. “Cover me in meat. Tie me to a tree. Strip me down and send me out naked. Whatever you want.” She stared into his eyes, pushing her sincerity onto him. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”
Stewart shook his head. “I don’t think this is a good idea—”
Rhea shot Stewart a glare with a zap of energy behind it. His mouth clamped shut as he rubbed his lips together, probably trying to alleviate the sting of her assault.
She turned back to Chauncey, easing feelings of hope and anticipation his way.
It was exactly what Hagen accused her of doing. While he wasn’t entirely wrong, it was never in the way he pretended to believe. Never would she use her abilities to cloud Hagen’s will.
Chauncey was a different story.
“Can’t you imagine what it would be like to be the first person to capture Bigfoot on modern equipment?” She eased excitement over Chauncey as she laid out her plan. “It would be the first irrefutable evidence that the beast exists.” Rhea strengthened the feelings she swirled around Chauncey. “And it would be because of you.”
Chauncey’s eyes moved to one side stopping in the corner of the entryway, looking but not seeing. He was imagining the future she described. The corners of his mouth twitched. “Maybe one more trip wouldn’t be a bad idea.”
She forced her lungs to keep hold of the sigh of relief trying to escape. “You should call the bus and reschedule.”
He nodded, his eyes still far away. “I’ll go tell Lance we’re going tonight.”
Rhea smiled as Chauncey started back up the stairs. It was time to seal the deal. “Chauncey?”
He turned.
“Make sure he knows Hagen won’t be with us.”
****
“I need your help.” Rhea shut the door of Jerrik’s office behind her and stood with her back against the frame.
Jerrik didn’t look up from where he scratched a pen across a large pad of paper. “I don’t know where he is.”
“Yes you do but that’s not what I need your help with.” She crossed the small room and pressed her hands against the smooth wood surface of his desk, leaning down. “I need Bigfoot.”
The pen in Jerrik’s hand stopped, pushing a dent into the pad. “I’m not sure you do.”
“Let me rephrase.” Rhea leaned in close until Jerrik finally looked up, his crystal clear blue eyes meeting hers. “I need to give Chauncey what he came for or he is leaving and trashing the whole project.”
Jerrik didn’t flinch but she could feel his surprise. “What do you mean?”
“I mean he’s planning to tell millions of people Bigfoot is not in Greenlea. I mean that flood of new tourists you planned, won’t be happening. I mean you will be right back where you started. Or worse.” Rhea straightened, letting her words marinate.
Jerrik sat as still as a statue, no outward reaction to what she said. Anyone else would have thought he was unfazed by the prospect of Chauncey leaving and taking all the potential opportunity for Greenlea with him.
But inside Jerrik was scrambling. Panic scratched its way out of him. His mind raced, giving off an obscene amount of electricity she could feel snapping around her.
She threw him a lifeline hoping it would be enough. “I have a plan but I need you to make it happen.”
Jerrik sat back in his chair, the tips of his fingers gently tapping against the arms. He eyed her. “What’s in it for you?”
That was the million dollar question. And she didn’t have an answer. “I don’t know that there will be anything in it for me.”
His gaze didn’t waver. “Then why do you want to do it?”
That she did know the answer to.
“Because it will make a difference for people who deserve it.”
It might not make a difference for her, but it would sure as hell make a difference for David and all the people around here like him.
It was easy. It was simple. It was the reason she came here. Showing she could make a difference even if it wasn’t as a physician was what Rhea always thought she wanted.
Until she realized she wanted more.
Jerrik looked at her long and hard. Finally his jaw set and he gave her a sharp nod.
“But I call the shots.”
21
Narrow branches snapped at Hagen’s hide like whips, punishing him for what he’d done. He ran faster anyway, his feet pounding against the earth as if he could use sheer force to open it up and be swallowed whole. Never seen again. Burn like he deserved to burn.
He should never have allowed things to get as far as they did. It was his fault and only his fault. He let himself believe his life would be different. That he could have the things he wanted.
The one he wanted.
He let his beast convince him Christine’s words were true. That Rhea was destined to be his. Chosen by something he couldn’t explain to save him from the curse bestowed upon him at birth. It was a fool’s choice to believe something as perfect as her could be his.
Almost as foolish as believing Rhea would accept what he’d done.
She couldn’t. Not that it would matter even if she did. Rhea was meant to be a mother. It was obvious in the way she held Vanessa. If he allowed her to settle for him he would be cursing her too. Letting his burden be hers. Letting his selfishness steal her happiness.
He wouldn’t do that to her no matter what it cost him.
Hagen’s lungs burned, fighting for air as he pushed the freed beast as hard as the beast pushed him. Punishing the bastard for what he made him do. The lies he told.
He’d been running all night, through the trees and across the mountains. It was all he had, all he could do. The only thing that kept him from going back and begging her forgiveness. Ruining Rhea’s life in the process of saving his.
Why couldn’t he leave her be? It was so easy before her. Meet a woman, have a little fun, move on.
But not with her. She wasn’t the kind of woman a man moved on from. She was everything.
And he was nothing.
Hagen clawed at the side of the mountain, rushing up the steep incline to the hunting cabin his family built over a hundred years ago. The heavy log sided building came into view. The moonlight was strong enough to cast a faint shadow as he fought his way up. The muscles of his arms and legs screamed and his chest burned as he stumbled into the cabin and collapsed.
****
“What the fuck happened to you?” Jerrik stared down at him, scowling.
Hagen blinked at the sunlight pouring into the single window at the front of the room. He groaned as his aching body shifted against the hardwood floor. “Go away.”
“Can’t.” He nudged Hagen’s ribs with the toe of his boot. “Get up and put some fucking clothes
on. I don’t need to see your dick. I got one of my own.”
Hagen reached out and latched onto his brother’s ankle, yanking hard. Jerrik let out a surprised yelp as he crashed to the floor. The stunned look on his face was quickly replaced by aggravation. “Don’t take your shit out on me.” He kicked at Hagen with his foot, the deep treads of his work boot connecting with the bare skin of Hagen’s shoulder and tearing across his flesh, peeling off a thin layer of skin as it skidded across.
It was the distraction he was hoping for. The pain he wanted to feel. He latched onto Jerrik’s free ankle with his other hand and pulled again, stealing back the distance his brother gained using his shoulder as leverage. He dug his fingers into Jerrik’s calf. “I warned you.” It was a challenge Hagen knew Jerrik couldn’t ignore. One that would get him the fight he wanted.
“You warned me?” The incredulity in his brother’s voice was what Hagen wanted to hear.
Jerrik rolled his direction, gripping Hagen’s arm as he went and taking it with him, pulling the limb tight against his chest. “Fucking warned me.” He muttered the words under his labored breathing as he held fast to Hagen’s arm.
Hagen twisted around, trying to free his arm from Jerrik’s stranglehold.
“Oh God I felt your dick hit my leg.” Jerrik released Hagen and shoved him away, scrambling to his feet. “If you want a fight you’ll either have to find someone else or put some damn clothes on.” Jerrik swiped at the front of his shirt, knocking off the dried bits of dirt and vegetation that littered the floor.
Hagen grabbed the side of the small table tucked into the corner of the single room cabin and pulled himself up from the ground just as the door swung open.
Magni’s large frame dominated the doorway. He cocked an eyebrow as he looked around the cabin. His eyes stopped when they landed on Hagen. “Hmph.”
Magni crossed to the percolator sitting on the small gas stove and flipped open the lid, peering into the pot. He grabbed the tin of coffee from the counter and dumped a pile of loose grounds into the basket he pulled free. As he turned to the water dispenser tucked into the corner he glanced at Hagen. “Put some clothes on for Christ’s sake.”
He went back to the percolator, filling the decanter with water from the dispenser, replacing the basket and lid before setting the whole contraption on the stove and lighting the burner. He turned to face Hagen and Jerrik, crossing his long arms over the width of his chest. His eyes went from one nephew to the other.
Hagen stared back as he stuffed his foot into the leg of his jeans. If there was one thing you learned early in this family it was to hold your ground. If someone stared you down, you stared them down back. Hagen stood to his full height, tugging up his pants and buttoning the waistband. “Better?”
Magni looked unimpressed. “You’re still a dip shit.” He looked down at Hagen’s crotch. “But at least I don’t have to look at your hairy dick anymore.”
“Why are you here?” Hagen scratched at a sore spot on his neck, picking loose a briar shoved under his skin. “I thought this was off limits when it was occupied.”
Magni dumped a good amount of coffee into a cup and shoved it at Hagen. “Only when it’s occupied by me.” He nodded to the mug. “Drink up.”
Hagen ignored the order. “Then I guess I’ll be leaving.” He set the cup on the small table and went to grab his bag. Magni caught him in the middle of the chest with one hand, shoving him back, knocking his ass into the single upholstered chair in the cabin.
“You need to get it together.” Magni calmly picked the coffee back off the table and handed it back to him. “I promised your daddy when you were born that if anything ever happened to him I would take care of you.” He crossed his arms. “I’m here to do what I said I would.”
Hagen sipped at the black liquid, wincing at the taste. “I don’t need you to take care of me. I’m a grown-ass man.”
“You’re not acting like one.” Magni poured himself a cup of the acrid brew and took a gulp. “This tastes like shit.”
“That coffee’s probably been here for years.” Jerrik picked the can up from the small, chipped laminate counter and sniffed. “Probably only good for stripping paint.”
Magni shot Jerrik a glare. “I brought that in a month ago. Two tops.” He picked up the can and tossed it in the small trash can next to the stove.
“Why were you here two months ago?” Hagen leaned forward and set the cup back on table, not interested in picking the fight leaving the chair would instigate.
“Because I fucked my life up.” Magni looked pointedly at Hagen. “That what you’re gunning for?”
“My life doesn’t matter.” Hagen leaned back in the chair. “I did what was right.”
“Who the fuck are you to decide what’s right?” Magni shook his head. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe she will be better off with another man.” Magni smirked. “Guys love redheads. You know what they say. Red in the head, fire in the b—”
The last word was cut off by Hagen’s forearm pressed against his uncle’s throat. Jerrik leaned in, unbothered by the sudden violence Magni’s suggestion brought out. “I should have warned you. That pisses him off.”
Magni held his ground, refusing to struggle as his face started to pink from lack of oxygen. Hagen released him, stepping back.
His uncle coughed, rubbing his neck. “If you think another man can love her more than you do then by all means sit your miserable ass up here until she leaves.” Magni sobered, his eyes cloudy and dark. “But losing someone you love isn’t easy on a man. Especially losing a woman. It makes you stupid. Selfish.” Magni eyed Hagen. “And you’re already stupid and selfish.”
“No one will love her like I do.” A deep growl rumbled through his chest at the thought of another man loving Rhea. Touching her. He slammed his fist against the table, jarring the well-used wood surface hard enough to knock the cup onto the floor. The black sludge his uncle cooked up slid across the worn floorboards, soaking into the planks. Hagen stared at the floor as it was eaten up by the blackness, just like him.
“I’m not selfish.” Hagen’s voice was low as he continued to stare at the floor, fixated on the pools collecting in the ruts worn by heavy boots as they paced the floor. Just like his did last night until he let the beast take over.
“Then you’re a coward.” Magni crossed to the door and yanked it open. “Only a coward would hide out and let a woman think she was the problem.” His uncle stepped out the door, slamming it behind him.
Hagen slumped back into the chair, his eyes moving to the wall across from him. Never once did he bother Magni about the life he lived. About the way he lived it. Of anyone, he expected Magni to be on his side. His uncle knew what it was like to really love a woman.
And have her suffer because of you.
“You done?” He didn’t turn to Jerrik. Didn’t need to. Hagen could feel his brother’s eyes boring into the side of his head.
“No.” Jerrik’s tone was cautious. Hesitant.
Hagen snapped his attention to his brother. “What?”
“It’s about Rhea.” Jerrik shifted on his feet. “You’re not gonna like it.”
Hagen was on his feet and against his brother before he had a chance to think. “What’s wrong with her?”
Jerrik shoved him off. “Nothing’s wrong with her except you.” He rolled his shoulders. “Chauncey decided to leave. Scrap the whole project.”
That was it. She was leaving. It was what he wanted to happen. Her to go on. Live her life.
But the thought made him struggle to breathe. “When?”
“Today.”
Tiny specks formed in his peripheral vision. Slowly, they closed in, blacking out everything in their path. His face prickled as the skin went cold. “She’s gone.”
Jerrik seemed oblivious to the agony Hagen was in. He thought last night was the hardest of his life. Now he knew he was wrong.
They all would be.
Jerrik tossed a dish towel across
the coffee stain on the floor, soaking up what remained of the spill. “No. She’s still here. They’re all still here.”
The air left Hagen’s lungs. Rhea was still in Greenlea.
Jerrik tossed the soiled rag into the small sink. “She talked him into going out one last time.”
“Why?”
Jerrik wiped his hands on his pants and turned to Hagen. “She came to the station. Asked me to help her give Chauncey what he came for so he will still do the documentary.” Jerrik paused, studying Hagen for a second. “She knows it’s important for the town. For everyone.”
Hagen fell back into the chair, catching his head in his hands. Rhea was so fucking good. Even after all he did. All he said.
She was trying to finish what they started.
For Greenlea.
For David.
For him.
“What the fuck am I supposed to do?”
“Hell if I know man.” Jerrik picked the cup up from the floor and added it to the sink. “This is above my pay grade.” He turned to Hagen. “You should probably apologize would be my guess.”
Hagen shook his head. “You don’t know the shit I said. The things I accused her of.”
Jerrik shrugged. “I can imagine.” He snorted.
“I’ve known you my whole life and you’re a hell of a pain in the ass.”
****
Rhea stared up at the house she’d already passed twice. It was empty. Not a soul inside. Not the tiniest prickle of energy between the walls. Not that she expected there to be anyone home. No doubt Hagen tore out of town like the devil was chasing him yesterday.
The door was probably unlocked. She could go inside if she wanted. Sit. Feel close to him one more time just in case.
In case he wasn’t the man she needed him to be.
Two days ago it would have been an impossible thought. Two days ago she would have laughed at the idea of Hagen abandoning her. Running away from what they had. What they could be.
Her money would have been on her own feet doing the running.
She thought about it. Many times.
He actually did it.
Hagen Page 23