10. Running Behind
Chapter 10
Running Behind
M arcus wanted to kick his own ass. He hadn’t brought a gun because who brought a gun on a date?
He wasn’t sure of the threat yet. But the dog was worried, and he was a protector at heart. He sensed a threat toward Elina. And now that Marcus had his mind off kissing the breath out of her, he could feel it, too.
The sixth sense they’d all developed in the army had activated. The one that had saved them countless times. He kept Elina cradled in his arms because he hadn’t determined the threat’s direction yet. Then he’d put himself between her and the danger.
A glance showed Finch no longer studying the station. His attention was on the trail leading into the woods. It could be something as simple as a moose or a bear. Those would likely have the dog reacting. But his gut told him a human was out there. Watching.
“What do you sense, Finch? Is someone out there?”
Elina kept her voice low. “It could be someone on a walk. Are the trails lit?”
He shook his head. “No money in the budget for that yet. Could be a lost tourist.” Except, no way in hell was it a lost tourist. But he didn’t want to scare her until he knew more.
She shivered and leaned in closer. “What if it’s a wild animal? We should leave. I don’t want Finch to get hurt.”
He didn’t respond to that, but took his phone out and dialed Sean. “Hey Falcon. Any chance you’re at the Saloon?”
“What’s wrong?”
Of course, his friend had picked up on the worry in Marcus’s voice. “We’re outside the station. Finch is growling at the trees.”
“Be right there.”
“Act casual.”
Elina started to turn in his arms, but he held her close. “Let’s stay here for a minute. Just in case it is a human with a bad attitude, let’s wait until Sean arrives. Finch couldn’t have saved those kittens without good instincts. Let’s see what he can tell us.”
“I should go. If I leave, you won’t get hurt. ”
He doubted she realized how much she told him with those few words. He dropped a kiss on her head. “No. You should stay. We should both stay. We need more information about the situation before we make any decisions.”
Another shudder ran through her, and he firmed his grip. “How long have you felt like people are surveilling you?”
“Oh. I didn’t mean that.”
Marcus heard Sean’s footsteps approaching behind them. “Falcon and Branna are arriving. We’ll talk more about who’s bothering you in a bit.”
She made a noncommittal noise, and he knew she hadn’t meant to reveal so much. Despite the possibility of danger in the present situation, he was glad he had an in to a deeper conversation now.
Sean and Branna arrived, Falcon with his holster on his hip and an exasperated expression on his face. Marcus assumed Branna had insisted on coming along, and Sean hadn’t been able to talk her out of it. His warrior buddy would prefer the woman he loved stay safe at home.
Marcus completely understood the emotion.
“What’s up, Arrow? Someone in the woods?”
Marcus nodded. “Potentially. Finch alerted us to the problem. He’s still on guard, but he’s not growling any more.”
Everyone looked at the pup, who continued to stand and stare into the woods.
Branna leaned forward. “Is everyone okay?”
Marcus nodded. “Just one of those creepy we’re-being-watched feelings. Nothing overt.”
Elina’s head whipped up at his words. Eyes wide, she stared at him. “You felt it, too?”
He nodded, and she mimicked the action.
Sean had his hand on his gun but didn’t draw it. “You piss anyone off recently, Arrow?”
“No more than usual.” He was a cop. There was often someone annoyed with him. But between his gut and Elina’s reaction, he was pretty sure this wasn’t about him. “You have any trouble following you Elina?”
She hesitated for a few seconds before she spoke. “I don’t think so.”
Finch shook himself and looked up at the humans. Then the pup yawned and flopped to the ground to rest his head on his paws.
Branna laughed. “Is the danger gone, Finch? Are you telling us it’s over?”
The sense of being watched had dissipated as well. Marcus squeezed Elina gently, then eased his hold a little. “I think Finch is right. I think our guy is gone. Do you feel it anymore, Elina?”
She shook her head, eyes wide. “I don’t feel it now.”
He nodded. “It’s too late to go searching in the woods after someone. I’ll check out the trail in the morning.”
“You’re not going alone. I’ll go with you.”
He grinned at Elina’s fierce response. “It’s a date.”
She smiled at him, but wariness remained in her gaze.
Sean relaxed his hand from his gun. “Sounds like a group date to me. We’ll get the team involved.”
Marcus nodded. He wasn’t going to have Elina out there without protection on all sides. “Let’s get you back to the B&B.”
Sean and Branna walked with them, and it pissed Marcus off. Not the company, but the fact that his town wasn’t safe for Elina at the moment. This asshole was going to pay for that.
At the B&B, he waved off the other couple and followed Elina inside. He kept his voice low. “I’d like to talk for a bit. Can we use your room?”
She nodded, but her body tensed again. He followed her up the stairs, and into her room. He closed the door behind him.
This wasn’t Elina’s home but he learned more about her, anyway. One duffle bag. No larger luggage. No clothing strewn about. A couple of books on the nightstand. A dog bed and a cardboard box that probably contained kittens at night.
His Elina had an organized soul and a big heart. No surprise.
The room had a desk with a chair along with a comfortable armchair where she’d left another book. He chose the desk chair and gestured for her to sit. So far, he’d managed to keep his eyes and his mind mostly off the bed. If she chose that, it was going to be even more difficult to ask his questions.
Elina sat in the chair but didn’t relax into the cushions. Her fingers twisted, and she didn’t look at him.
He didn’t want to push her but he really wanted some idea what they were facing. Was it a jealous ex? An abusive asshole?
With her nerves practically screaming in the room, he left his chair to squat in front of her. He took her hands and lightly held them with his. “Hey. We’re okay. We’ll figure this out.”
“It was just a feeling. We don’t even know if I imagined it.”
He shook his head. “We weren’t even the first ones to alert to the presence. If you recall, we were happily occupied.” Because the kiss had been all-consuming.
Her lips quirked, and finally, she made eye contact. “We really were.”
He lifted her hands and kissed them. “I’d like to do that again sometime.”
“Me too.”
Good to know. “Can you talk about it? Can you tell me why you think someone is following or watching you?”
Her eyelids fluttered closed, and she pushed out a breath before she looked at him. “I’m not even sure it’s happening. It’s just a feeling I get sometimes.”
“Those feelings should never be ignored. In the army, we’re trained to believe them and to act accordingly. Those feelings have saved my ass more than once. Don’t discount your gut. It’s usually right.”
Her eyes misted, but no tears formed. “I thought no one would believe me. I thought people would think I was being a drama queen.”
That made him laugh. “You’re about as far from being a drama queen as it’s possible to get. You’re so grounded, Elina. Bright and happy. Kind and helpful. You’re no drama queen.”
She swallowed hard. “Thank you.”
He kissed her hands again. “Tell me about the times you’ve had the feeling someone was watching you.”
She smiled softly. “I used to get it all the time when we moved to new countries. Even with our Latina skin, we usually looked different from the people who lived there. Our clothes and shoes were different. We didn’t move the same way, didn’t make eye contact in the same way either.”
She was so perceptive. She needed to believe her instincts.
“I’m used to being watched. Used to strangers looking at me. But those feelings rarely made me afraid. A little uncomfortable, and like I didn’t belong, but not afraid.”
He nodded and waited. She looked off into the middle distance. “After your team was called away, the Suraih villagers and I headed to a nearby village. It usually takes a few days to walk there. We slept in a group with the men on the outer edges of the circle.”
Marcus forced himself to absolute stillness, letting none of his own fear show.
“I woke with a start one night. I was terrified even before I was fully awake. I knew someone was watching me. Before I could decide what to do, a hand covered my face, and a knife skimmed along my throat. A man leaned down and spoke into my ear. “Make a sound, and the knife will sever your head.”
Hell.
“I froze, and hands lifted me to my feet. I started to fight them, but someone sliced a knife from my shoulder to my elbow. Another voice said, ‘ You wish to die ?’”
Marcus squeezed her fingers but didn’t interrupt.
“Someone gagged me and put a hood over my head. Another tied my wrists in front of me. They tugged until I followed them. We walked for hours. Every time I stumbled or fell, they kicked me and hauled me back up to move again.”
No wonder she was aware of eyes on her.
“Eventually, I was thrown to the ground and kicked for a while. Then I was left alone but I could feel them watching. If I moved my hands or feet, someone would return to kick at me or hit me with a stick. No one spoke that I heard. Not a word.”
She closed her eyes briefly, and he rubbed her fingers. “I’m so damn sorry.”
She nodded and opened her eyes to look at him. “I wasn’t raped.”
“I’m glad. I can’t imagine how horrific that experience was. You went through sensory deprivation and torture. Tell me what happened next.”
He was glad when she kept her gaze on him. Let him see her. He hoped the connection helped her as much as it helped him.
E lina kept her eyes locked on Marcus. His presence helped steady her enough to finish it. She’d told the difficult part, and he didn’t think she was a coward.
“My brain couldn’t judge time, but it felt like I was in that place for many days. Later, we figured it was six days, maybe seven. At one point, I heard gunfire in the distance. I thought I was hallucinating at first. Reality and dreams had blended in my head, and I wasn’t sure it was real.”
His fingers continued to rub hers, offering comfort and a connection to the present.
“There were screams and shouts, mostly in Pashto. The hood made it impossible for me to see, but I started to believe it was real. When the shots and the screams stopped, the silence was huge. It was like it never happened.”
She blew out a breath to steady her voice. He wasn’t judging her, so she could be honest. “I was too afraid to call out for a long time. Finally, I did, figuring I was likely going to die. And that dying was better than some of the options I faced.”
“It took me a while to get my voice to work. I’d had nothing to drink, and it felt like the desert winds had dried my throat to dust. But I must have made some sound because it wasn’t long before I heard voices. In English and Pashto. Telling me I was safe. That no one would hurt me again.”
Marcus rested his head on their joined hands for a long moment before he looked up. “That’s horrific, but I’m glad they found you. Were they American?”
She nodded. “I don’t remember much. A man the others called Annie took off my hood, and they untied me. Gave me water.”
“Annie?”
She smiled. “Annie. I’m pretty sure, anyway. There was a Dodge as well. But I was in and out of consciousness, so I’m not positive.”
Marcus shrugged. “Call signs can get a little weird.”
She nodded. “How did you get named Arrow?”
His face flushed, but he smiled. “There was one idiot who wanted to leave base on one mission. He wanted to head to a nearby town and let loose.”
“During a mission?”
He nodded. “Like I said. Idiot. When we stopped him from leaving, he called me a boring straight arrow. Thankfully, only the arrow part stuck.”
She laughed softly, glad for the lighter moment. “I like it. And there’s nothing boring about you.”
He smiled back, then turned the conversation back to her ordeal.
“After they released you from the hospital, you headed to Seattle. Did you feel anyone watching you there? Is that why you left?”
She frowned a little. “You’re very perceptive. For a while, it was fine. I worked in a coffee shop for a long time. Lots of tourists, lots of regulars. It was a decent job and left me time to work on my comic strips. Then I got the itchy feeling, and it wouldn’t go away. It got worse every day.”
Marcus didn’t comment. The man’s patience was infinite.
“Someone sprayed painted Bitch on the coffee shop door. Smashed a window when I was closing up one night. A brick hit me in the head one morning when I was opening the door.”
“Holy shit, Elina. That’s a lot. I assume you called the police.”
She nodded. “My boss, Kashvi, did. We reported everything. The police couldn’t find any evidence. Kashvi insisted on walking everyone to the bus stops and met us there. She had us call her when we were heading home and heading to the shop. We stayed on the phone until we arrived. She was very proactive.”
“She sounds like someone I would like.”
That made her laugh. “You would. No nonsense, and ready to take on anyone who messed with any of us.”
Marcus rose to his feet and tugged her up into a hug. “I’m sorry you had to leave a place you enjoyed. But I’m also happy you left. Might make me a selfish bastard, but I’m glad you made your way here.”
She rested her head on his chest. “Me too. It was always my plan to try to find you. I didn’t mind leaving the job, but I did enjoy working with Kashvi.”
“What made you leave? Did it get worse?”
She nodded. “More of the same, but it followed me home. My apartment window was smashed. Someone left dead rats on the building doorsteps. Nasty graffiti on the main door.”
“No one got inside?”
“No. The building had good security. But I couldn’t stay and put other people in danger. I didn’t have any real ties to the city. I quit my job and bought a car online. Then I gave up my apartment and left.”
His arms tightened, and he kissed her hair. “You’re a brave woman, Elina. Did you feel anyone follow you?”
“No. I moved from town to town, taking temporary jobs. My comics had become popular, so I had enough money and didn’t need a full-time job as well. I’d stay for a couple of weeks, then move on.”
Then she remembered. “I had the feeling again in Albany. Just before I headed to Phail. I was in a gallery for the first time and at an open-air market the second. I decided to leave a few days earlier than I’d planned. At a rest stop, I spotted Phail on the map, and headed here.”
He chuckled. “At least one good thing came of all of it. Do you think someone’s following you?”
She leaned back to look up. “I’ve been travelling for about a year and only felt those vibes in two places. It seems impossible and ridiculous to think it’s the same person.”
“Doesn’t mean it’s not true.”
She thunked her head on his chest. “I don’t know. I felt like it was all in my head. I’ve talked myself out of believing it.”
“You weren’t the only one to feel it tonight. Once Finch broke my concentration, I felt it as well. I’m sorry I got so caught up that I dropped my guard.”
Despite the emotional drain from having this conversation, Elina laughed. Truly laughed. “Don’t you dare apologize for getting wrapped up in emotions while you’re kissing me. I like it.”
He laughed as well. “Noted. It’s easy to get lost in you, Elina, but we’re going to keep our guard up until we’ve figured this out.”
She knew he would. Marcus was nothing if not determined. His callsign of Arrow was accurate. He always aimed directly at the problem, and he didn’t quit until he solved it.
She hoped this time wouldn’t be any different.
And then she wanted to have some of that determination aimed directly at her.
M arcus grinned when the dog woofed softly and nudged his leg. “Hey, Finch. You need to head outside?” He hadn’t thought about that when they’d arrived at the B&B and headed inside. His only thought had been to get Elina to where she felt safe.
He’d considered taking her to his house, but she hadn’t been there before. The B&B would feel more secure for her. She already knew the security system was top-notch, and she was surrounded by other people.
When they headed downstairs, they found Jim and Carl on the couch in front of the fireplace. He wished he didn’t have to disturb them with the news, but he knew they’d want to help. Plus, they needed to be aware of any threats toward their guests.
“We’re going to take Finch out, but can we talk with you after?”
Something in his voice must have alerted the pair because they both stood, kittens cuddled to their chests. “What’s happened? What’s wrong? Elina, why don’t you fill us in while Marcus takes out Finch?”
Elina smiled. “It’s okay. Nothing major.”
He didn’t agree but let the comment go. They moved into the kitchen to take Finch out the back. If someone was watching from a distance, he didn’t want Elina exposed.
Marcus didn’t let Finch off the leash to do his business and bounce around the yard. The dog had bonded with Elina, and he wasn’t going anywhere without her but Marcus worried Finch might head towards a threat. He didn’t want the dog in danger, and he hoped if the dog did sense something, he’d lead Marcus right to it.
“I should leave Phail.”
Marcus stiffened at Elina’s words. He’d wondered if the thought would occur to her. “Hell, no.”
Shit, he hadn’t meant to be so forceful. She was an adult, and it was her decision whether she stayed or left. “I’ll try that again. I think it’s better if you stay.”
“I’m putting people in danger by being here.”
“We don’t know anything for sure. Plus, the people here are some of the best soldiers I’ve ever known. We’ve got lots of people out at Midnight Lake with similar skills. You’re safer here than almost anywhere else.”
She frowned. “That’s a lot of people who would be putting themselves in danger if I stay. Including you. I don’t want to be responsible for anyone getting hurt.”
Marcus tugged Finch back so he could take Elina’s hand. “You wouldn’t be. We’re good at keeping each other safe, and none of this is your fault. This is what we do, and we’re good at it.”
She sighed heavily, and he looped his arm around her shoulder. “Let’s go in and talk to the guys. They’ve probably concocted a dozen scenarios by now. Maybe even one with aliens.”
That earned him a smile. Counting that as a win, they headed back inside. Finch moved directly to the box by the counter, where the kittens were rolling around in a heap. From what he’d seen, the kittens had only two speeds. Full and stop. Nothing in between.
Finch stuck his huge nose in the box, and the kittens immediately tried to reach him, stumbling over each other to pat his nose.
Elina smiled as she watched the animals, and Marcus figured he owed the group some extra treats soon.
Jim set some mugs on the table. “Decaf tea. Apple cinnamon, but I’ve got other choices if you prefer.”
“Works for me.” Marcus held out a chair for Elina and sat in the one next to her. She wrapped her hands around the mug but didn’t say a word.
Marcus nodded at the two men. “When we were walking Finch by the new station, he growled.”
Jim and Carl shared a look. “We’ve never heard him growl. What did he see?”
“Not sure. But once he called our attention to it, we could both feel someone watching us.”
The men frowned. “Not someone out in the open?”
He shook his head. “In the woods. Undercover. It felt malicious.”
Jim looked at the back door and nodded when he saw that Marcus had locked it. Then he turned to Elina. “We’ve got a great security system here. Troy ordered us a top of the line system. He and Marcus installed it. You’ll be safe here.”
Her eyes widened. “But nothing happened. We don’t even know if anyone was really there.”
Carl snorted. “You can’t ignore gut feelings. You and Marcus both spent years in highly dangerous situations. Your instincts have to be finely tuned to your surroundings. If you felt like someone was watching you, and that person wasn’t friendly, then I’m sure you’re right.”
Marcus watched her blink and process that. When she looked at Jim, he nodded in agreement, and then leaned forward. “How can we help?”
Her eyes widened again, and she looked at all three of them in turn. She obviously wasn’t used to people having her back. He squeezed her hand and then turned to the men. “I’m going to scout around the woods near the new station in the morning.”
“Not alone.” Elina’s voice was fierce, making him grin.
“Not alone. The guys will come with me.” His instant agreement had her relaxing. “I’ll do some patrols around town. Tourists are picking up because the leaves are turning, but anyone not staying in the B&B should have headed out of town by now.”
Elina frowned at that.
Jim laughed. “We’re the only place to stay in town. Unless they’re camping illegally in the woods, they’re staying somewhere else.”
Marcus nodded. “I’ll check out the buildings out by Stan’s place to see if anyone is using those. I’ll send out a text asking people to keep an eye out for anyone in the woods.”
“I don’t think you should be going around alone.”
He smiled at her. “It’s my job. And I’m always careful.”
“You better be.”