CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Flip watched as Nat moved along the frost-covered ridge with Nash. Although the ground was wet with frost and cold, it didn’t seem to matter to Nat. If she raised her hands to it, it caught fire.
Nash followed her, dousing the flames at once if there were any signs of it getting out of control. Ten cabins were under construction, with six completed, and the last thing they needed was for any of the completed structures to be damaged by fire.
Their little community was becoming a full-fledged city. Adam now had a fully functioning clinic with state-of-the-art medical equipment. Although his patients thus far were limited to the members of the group, he knew in time that news would reach the outlying communities, and he would have others visiting. They were okay with that, but the group always came first.
Along the main road, the clinic allowed easy access from the road by car for travelers or even those living in the nearby towns. However, there was no access to the site. You could barely see anything from the clinic other than the main cabin belonging to Uri and his family.
For the site, you had to access through a basement door that led out into the back gardens.
Adam and Fiona, Kane and Aislinn, Flip and Nat, Spook, Tom Cullen, and Ben all had completed homes. Flip was able to keep his high countertops. Although Nat was only five-feet-eight, she was tall enough that the extra heights weren’t difficult for her.
By noon, the land was cleared, and the construction crews would be able to begin on the next phases of housing. Griffin, Garrett, and Gable decided to build their home as one. As brothers, they rarely separated and felt it was important for their own health to remain close. They secretly hoped that if they ever met the women meant to be theirs, they would understand the siblings’ need for closeness.
Ivy and Regan were building a place together. The others wanted to stay close but weren’t sure if they would live together in pairs or groups as yet.
Nat looked up to see Valentina, Isobel, and Fiona coming down the path.
“Hi,” said Valentina in a chipper-sweet voice. Her personality matched her light appearance – the stunning violet eyes almost glowing in the sunlight.
“Hey, how are you guys?” said Nat.
“We’re all good. We needed a break and thought we would head into town and do some retail therapy. There’s not a lot to choose from, but with winter coming, we all need some warm weather gear.”
Nat looked at the three women and smiled. Fiona was stunning with her long, lean runner’s legs and fiery red ponytail. Valentina stood out to anyone who saw her with her violet eyes. But there was something about Isobel that made even women look twice.
She was average in height, a few inches shorter than Nat. She had dark, sable-colored hair, and her eyes were a strange shade of green. Nat knew that they were prosthetics, but still, she could see from those eyes. Somehow, someway she was able to have vision even through the prosthetics. None of that could compare to her curves. Luscious full curves that made men weak and women jealous.
Her waist was small with not an ounce of fat, her hips voluptuous and curving to a perfectly round bottom. Her breasts stood high and proud, the full mounds peaking seductively from the sweater she wore. Even Nat felt her attractiveness and sex appeal as a woman, and she wondered if Flip felt it too.
“Nat? Are you okay?” asked Isobel, cocking her head inquisitively. Valentina smiled at the other woman, knowing what was going through her head.
“Oh, yea, sorry, I was just thinking about something,” she replied, blushing, looking down at her feet.
“It felt like you were checking me out,” said Isobel with a grin.
“Damn,” muttered Nat. “I’m sorry, Isobel. That was rude of me, but, well, you’re really beautiful. I mean, all three of you are beautiful, but there’s something about your figure that makes me wish I had curves.”
Isobel let out a throaty, sexy laugh and threw back her head.
“Oh, Nat, please don’t be embarrassed. That’s the nicest thing I’ve ever heard. You don’t usually get that kind of compliment from a woman. I really do appreciate it. But don’t you see what others see in you? You’re stunning! All that blonde hair and blue eyes. I would give anything to look like you.”
“She’s right, Nat,” said Valentina. “You’re really beautiful. Flip’s a lucky man.”
“That I am, ladies. She’s my one and only. I think you’re all beautiful, but this is the woman for me, and I’m not ashamed to tell the world.” He kissed her soundly as the three women giggled. “I’ll pull the jeep around for you and have one of the boys go with you.”
“No need, we’re good,” said Valentina, casually waving him off.
Flip nodded and grinned, knowing he would have someone with the women whether they liked it or not. He followed the women back up the hill and pulled the jeep around, kissing Nat as she slid into the driver’s seat.
“Be safe,” he said, kissing her innocently. She nodded and pulled out onto the dirt road, winding her way down the mountain toward the small town below.
“Well, he gave up easily,” said Isobel as they drove down the mountain road.
Nat nodded and smiled as she watched Griffin in the rear-view mirror. He was sticking to the side of the road, just hidden barely in the tree line, but she could see him. His legs moved so quickly it was a blur of color and motion.
Nat could only smile, remembering what happened at the campground. She knew that Flip was not taking chances with any of the women.
Looking back again, she saw Griffin still in view, and she was amazed that the man seemed easily able to keep up with them even on the uneven ground off the main road.
As the little town below came into view, Nat noticed the large bird flying off to their right and smiled again.
The women were engrossed in discussions of what supplies they needed and laughing. Nat smiled to herself and silently thanked Hawke for keeping an eye out as well.
Nat parked the jeep in front of the small market and got out, looking back at Griffin standing casually on the sidewalk. She couldn’t help but smile when he raised his hand in a casual wave.
“Well, hi there, strangers,” he said. She had to give it to the man. He wasn’t even sweating. “What are you ladies doing in town?”
“What are we doing in town? I think the question is, what are you doing in town?” said Valentina.
“Oh, Kane sent me in for some supplies,” he said too quickly and too casually. He winced, knowing that he didn’t think his response through.
“With no vehicle,” said Fiona, raising her eyebrow.
“I… uh… well, I…”
“Kane knew we were coming into town, and I offered to take Griffin and the supplies back with us.” The women looked at Nat suspiciously but said nothing, only grinning as they pushed past Griffin and into the market.
“Thanks,” he said, smiling.
“Next time, you might try to hide better. I saw you the entire way down the mountain,” she smiled, “and your little friend Hawke too.” She pointed up and waved as Hawke, or the hawk called out to her.
Griffin let out a laugh and followed Nat into the market with the other women. He spent the next three hours loading things into the jeep and following the women wherever they went. The final stop was a retailer that specialized in winter clothing.
Each of the women shopped for members of the group, grabbing warm leggings, flannel-lined jeans, snow boots, winter coats, and hats. The shop owner was more than happy to secure everything in boxes on top of the jeep and tie the items down.
“I just need to run over to the hardware store for Kane,” said Griffin.
“That’s fine,” said Valentina, “we’re going to grab a coffee and some lunch over there.” She pointed to the small café on the opposite side of the street, and Griffin nodded, heading down the street.
The women entered the café, the soft tinkling of a bell above their heads. Spotting a large booth, they made their way to it and to their seats.
“Here are some menus. I’ll be back with you ladies in a minute,” said the older waitress.
Her gray hair piled into a messy bun, a pen stuck behind her ear, and her pink apron stained with whatever the daily special was. She looked overworked and frazzled, but she was friendly enough. The assault of fried foods hit their senses, and the women all smiled.
“I’m famished!” said Isobel. “I think I’m going to have the double-cheeseburger with fries.”
“See, that’s what I’m talking about,” said Nat. “If I ate that, I’d be three hundred pounds, but you look beautiful.”
“Nat, you’re beautiful too, in your way, not my way.”
The other woman smiled at her, and Nat couldn’t help but feel secure with these three women. She never did well with female friends and rarely, if ever, socialized with groups of women. There was something about this group, something that said you can be you… you can be who you are .
“Sorry, ladies, I’m workin’ all the tables. What’ll it be?” She wrote the orders quickly and efficiently, repeating them back verbatim. The small bell above the door sounded, and looking up, she let out a long breath of exasperation, seeing the group enter the diner.
“Everything okay?” asked Fiona, craning her neck to see what had the woman so upset.
“Yea, sorry, doll. It’s just those fellas are here for a boys’ hunting trip from somewhere back east, and I gotta tell ya, they give me the creeps, and I’m an old lady. I’d be careful if I were you. They look like they’re huntin’ more than just deer.”
Nat, facing the door, spotted the three men easily from her seat. They were dressed in hunting gear, their beards in full growth, but something about them was strange. She just couldn’t put her finger on it. She knew just by looking at them they were trouble. She watched the flash of fear pass across Valentina’s face and trembled.
“They’re evil,” whispered Valentina. “I can feel their hate and lust from here. There’s something else. Fear, but not fear of us. I think we need to leave here.”
“I think we should leave, too,” said Isobel, looking a bit frightened.
“No,” said Nat firmly. “We will handle this. If I’ve learned anything by being on my own for so long, it’s that you can’t let bullies win. Let’s get our order, and we’ll leave. I’m going to tell the waitress we want our food to go.”
Nat stood and made her way toward the woman standing behind the counter. She leaned forward and whispered to the waitress, who nodded, patting her hand in understanding.
The men kept eyeing the booth of beautiful women, their grins and smirks telling each of the women exactly what they wanted. None of the women made eye contact, and they could tell the men were trying to get them to look their way, just one look to give them an excuse to come over. Just as the food was placed on their table in plastic bags, Griffin entered the café.
“Hi, you guys ready?” he asked.
“Griffin,” said Nat softly, “I need you to look right at me, okay?” He nodded, not moving.
“There are six men behind you that are going to try and attack us when we leave here. We’re going to get them away from the café, but I want you to run like you’ve never run before and get the others.”
He nodded, frowning at Nat. He knew he shouldn’t leave, but he also knew that more men would be helpful. Hawke was outside, perched on the building across the street, and when he saw Griffin take off without the girls, he immediately notified Kane that something was wrong.
The women filed past the table of men, one by one, until Nat. The man closest reached out and grabbed her hand. When she tried to pull free, he tugged harder and grinned.
“Don’t go yet, sweet thing. We just got here,” he smiled up at her in the same way the man in the shower did.
She repressed the shiver of revulsion and turned to face him.
“Sorry, my boyfriend is waiting for me,” she said calmly.
“You ain’t got no boyfriend,” said the man with a flare of anger.
Nat tried to control herself but couldn’t help it. She flexed her fingers, and the sizzling heat was enough to make the man break his grip. He released her hand, and she quickly left, sliding into the driver’s seat of the waiting jeep.
“What the fuck, Roy! You let her go!” yelled his friend.
“I didn’t mean to. It was like she burned my fucking hand, the little cunt. Get the truck!” The three men left the diner, jumping into their beat-up truck. They made a quick U-turn in the middle of the street, following the women.
“Speed up!” cried Valentina.
“No,” said Nat calmly. “We don’t want to draw any attention except theirs. I want the town to be safe, and I don’t want them to think we’re troublemakers. We want to live here. We want to make this our home, and I won’t let those men destroy this for us. We’re going to let them catch up just outside of town when no one is in view.”
“Are you crazy?” asked Isobel.
“Nope, I’m not,” said Nat. “I need all three of you to be prepared. Griffin should be back within minutes with help. We need to be prepared to handle this until they get here. We know what to do and how to do it. This is what we were made for.” Nat smiled at the women in the jeep, and they nervously smiled back.
The truck was barreling toward them in the rear-view mirror, the dust rising in a massive cloud behind them.
“Cut that fucking bitch off, Earl! I’m gonna show her how to respect a man,” said Roy. “Then we’re gonna kill the bitches and get our money.”
The truck pulled around the jeep and slammed on its brakes, causing the women to veer sideways and do the same. Nat stepped from the jeep, looking calm.
“Problem, gentlemen?” she asked sweetly. She could feel the heat building in her palms and fingers and tried to control the flames, waiting for the right moment.
“Yea, you fucking bitch! There’s a problem, and you’re gonna find out what it is.” The spit flew from the man’s mouth as he stepped closer to Nat, and she raised her hands as if to stop him, but instead, flames flew from her fingers to the man’s pants setting him on fire.
“What the fuck?!” yelled the driver. “How the hell did that happen?”
Isobel got out of the jeep and stood beside Nat.
“Well, well, well, ain’t you made for fuckin’,” he said crudely, eyeing Isobel’s curves, suddenly not concerned at all with his burning friend.
“I don’t think so, sunshine,” said Isobel.
She removed her sunglasses and focused on the back of the truck, her eyes making their way across the wide bed. Metal sizzled, the unseen searing light from her eyes slicing the bed of the truck into two pieces. The tires blew, deflating on impact. The men stepped back, staring at the women.
“I think you’ve messed with the wrong women,” said sweet Valentina.
“You’ve really fecked up this one. ‘Ya have, lads. In my native Ireland, we would say you’ve screwed the fairies royally alright.” Fiona intentionally laid her Irish accent on thick, making the men eye her warily.
The men looked at the women and then back at one another. They weren’t sure what to do. They had no vehicle to return to town or their trip, and they certainly did not intend to try to touch the women. Instead, Roy grabbed the long rifle behind the seat and removed it, pointing it at Nat.
“You flinch those hands, you cunt, and I will fucking blow your head off.”
Nat froze, knowing he meant it. She felt the ground rumble and smiled. Flip. The two truck pieces started to waver back and forth, then slowly rose. One flew sideways, landing on top of two of the men. The other hovered above Roy with the rifle shaking in his hands, urine soaking his pants. A second jeep pulled up, and Kane, Spook, Ben, and Flip stepped out.
Flip walked quickly toward Nat and kissed her forehead, the truck still hovering above the man’s head.
“You okay, baby,” he said, smiling.
“I’m perfect,” she replied calmly.
Flip turned and walked toward the man, the rifle still held in his hand. One look and Flip had the rifle flying through the air into the field.
“You fucked with my woman,” he said calmly.
“I-I’m s-sorry. My friends. You killed my friends!” he cried. Urine stained the front of his pants as he spoke.
“That’s right. I killed your friends, and you’re going to die as well. But first, you’re going to tell me who you are and why you were here.”
“I’m Roy, Roy Watson. We were just on a hunting trip. That’s all.”
He waited for Kane to move toward the man and watched as he gripped the man’s wrist. Kane squeezed, intentionally harder than usual, and the man winced.
“He’s lying.”
“That’s too bad,” said Flip. He and Kane turned and walked toward the women again.
“What about…” Those were the last words said by Roy Watson as the truck landed on his body. The thud hard enough to cause audible cracking of bones.
“Spook? Ben? See if you can find out anything about these three, and then take care of the evidence.” He looked at the others and nodded. “Let’s go,” said Kane.
Without a word or a moment of remorse, the men and women loaded into the two jeeps and headed back up the mountain. Nat snuggled next to Flip in the back seat. Turning slightly, she saw the wrecked vehicle and the burst of wind, no doubt sent courtesy of Garrett, that wiped away all tracks and traces of their presence.
She knew she should feel some guilt, some remorse for having helped to take three lives, soon to be six, but she did not. Those men were intent on raping the women and then, most likely, taking them to Karena. Even if they didn’t, the brutality they intended was enough to frighten Nat. In her heart, she knew that Karena Viskoff most likely sent the hunters, and they deserved their sudden death.