Chapter Six
Chapter Six
Last Straw
The monster cat refused, point-blank, to get in its animal carrier. Baby hissed and screeched, and both Raptor and Grace had the claw marks to prove how effective her resistance was. The cat also refused to walk on its leash, nor would she allow Grace to carry her.
Raptor solved the issue by picking up the monster cat—which promptly snuggled into his arms and started purring. He made the mistake of laughing at Grace’s expression.
After Baby’s resistance and Raptor’s amusement, Grace threw her hands in the air and stomped off to her bedroom. She came back with a long, colorful strip of material that she then wrapped around him and the cat. Effectively tying Baby Monster to him while leaving his hands free.
It frustrated his woman, the way her pet reacted to Raptor. More than once she’d threatened to declaw the animal. Grace rolled her eyes and huffed an exaggerated breath. Sarcasm was heavy in her voice when she said, “The damn cat acts like you’re made of catnip.”
Which he realized was a feline drug. He held in his laughter, as it was why the cat had been strapped to his chest in the first place—while she loaded him down with everything the animal owned.
As she tucked and folded the material, she explained, “This is called a Moby sling. Parents use it to hold their babies. This contraption allows them to carry a baby all day without getting tired. Newborns especially benefit from being held. So, the mom or dad can use this and still get things done. Baby loved it when she was small and I could carry her. I haven’t been able to use it for over a year. You are big enough to hold her weight.”
Trying not to concentrate on all the little light strokes of Grace’s fingers as she arranged the fabric around his body, Raptor narrowed his eyes and wondered if her comment was a dig directed at his fat body. Immediately, he realized this wasn’t his true form, so he didn’t care. And that thought reminded him of his brother. “I would like to take one of these to Makayla and her mate.” Falcon was going to be a father soon. Raptor would love to see him using one of these slings.
Grace drew in a breath and frowned. “I used to give one of these to new mothers.” She looked up and met his gaze. “I have several of them. When we’re done tonight—we can come back and choose the one you want for a gift.”
Slowly, Raptor nodded his agreement. Understanding Grace needed reassurance that they’d make it through the night, and he’d get to make that choice.
The contraption seemed to make the monster happy. Baby Monster was purring with its eyes closed and one large paw resting over Raptor’s heart. The sling worked well. Allowing him to both carry the cat and use his hands to cart all the things the animal needed for this trip. Which was a lot. He felt as if it was enough for at least a month. Not for the few days he told her to prepare.
There was both a large bag and several cans of food, a bigger bag of something she called kitty litter, along with an empty rectangular box, several toys, bowls—and the animal carrier the cat refused to use. Raptor didn’t see the sense in taking the carrier with them. But he filled it with everything he could cram into it. Then turned to see Grace carrying a small backpack. “What the hell?”
She cocked an eyebrow at his muttered comment and said, “Once again, if we live through the excursion to the lab, I’ll get more of my stuff. And more supplies for the cat. But right now, I need my hands free to carry the rifle.”
Raptor caught himself before he could comment. He realized that holding the gun made her feel safe, so he wouldn’t argue. Nor would he mention the gun at her hip. He was pretty sure the only thing she had in that backpack was more ammunition. And he really hoped they didn’t need it.
They walked outside and Raptor took off through the pitch-black forest, leading the way. He quickly realized that was a mistake. Stopping, he turned back to see Grace still standing where he left her, rooted in place. There was an awkward silence for several moments before she sighed heavily and switched on her flashlight.
She must wonder how he could see in the dark. But she didn’t ask questions, and he didn’t explain. He also refused to waste time pretending. Turning around, he continued moving forward at a fast pace, with no light. Loaded down as he was with the cat and its plethora of necessary items, they still made good time.
In a few moments, the woman was going to have more to worry about than his night vision.
Sighing, Raptor looked up through the trees and caught a glance of the crescent moon. It was almost midnight. They needed to hurry. While they walked, he listened to the night. Everything was quiet. Normal. Grace’s enemy hadn’t sent anyone to check on the men. Not yet.
So, he walked a little faster and focused on another issue. They didn’t have time for long explanations of who and what he was. Or for him to ease her into reality. But he didn’t have any idea what to say to her. And unfortunately, the distance wasn’t long enough for him to come up with the right words to break it to her gently.
They were already where they needed to be.
At the edge of a meadow highlighted with faint moonlight—just a few short miles from Grace’s home—Raptor stopped walking.
Grace moved up beside him, shining her flashlight into the empty darkness. “Where the hell are we going and why did we stop?” She hissed. Exasperated. “We need to hurry, Raptor. There is a lot to do tonight. We need to just dump Baby and our stuff somewhere safe and then go. There isn’t time for a stroll through the forest and a rest break.”
Sighing heavily, he turned and faced her. “You agree… time is critical. We need to get to your lab tonight before your boss realizes you intend to search for more information. We don’t want him to increase security and make everything more difficult. It is almost midnight. We need to get in, get your supplies and proof, and get out before everyone arrives for work in the morning.”
“Yes.” That one word held a mountain of irritation. “We need to move. So, why are we just standing here? Where is your house, or car, or… where the hell are we going, Raptor? Why are we standing in the middle of the forest?” As she questioned him, her voice rose.
“I have to tell you something…” He didn’t get to finish.
Grace’s face hardened. “If you brought me all the way out here to kill me…” she swung the rifle around and pointed it at him.
He snickered. “Why would I kill you? I wanted to point out that we don’t have time for lots of questions. And what I’m about to show you—will be shocking. You will want to stop and discuss it for hours. We agree there isn’t time for this. But I promise I’ll answer all the questions you have—after we collect what you need—and no one is trying to kill us.”
Grace snorted and pointed the gun at the ground again. “Oh, you are so full of yourself. Nothing you can show me…” Her mouth dropped open, and she gasped. She was in shock. Staggering back, she bumped into the trunk of a small tree—and slid to the ground.
Grace was out cold.
Well, hell. He didn’t expect that reaction.
Grace
Grace stood in the meadow and watched with an open mouth and bulging eyes as a silver spaceship materialized a few feet in front of her. She took several steps back into the trees to get a better view of the ship, or to run… she wasn’t sure.
Her mind must have decided this was the last straw. It had been through enough the last twenty-four hours. When she backed into a small tree, she closed her eyes to block out the sight of the spaceship. The next thing she knew, her body went limp, and she couldn’t stop herself from crumpling to the ground. Everything went quiet.
She didn’t think she was unconscious for very long. It was like taking a deep breath—and resetting reality. Grace liked that thought better than acknowledging that she’d fainted. She never fainted. She was a strong woman who was perfectly capable of handling any situation.
Grace remained on the ground and kept her eyes closed. She admitted to herself that she’d made one crazy discovery after another since yesterday morning. Maybe she just needed time to process everything—then once again, she would be perfectly capable.
First, she was shocked to discover her boss was responsible for such horrific acts as poisoning the town’s water supply and creating a slew of critical medical issues. At least she’d had a few days to absorb that information before something else happened.
She’d never really liked Garret Johnson. He was smarmy. Too slick, too full of himself for one. But she figured her response was more— ick —because he asked her out and pushed when she turned him down.
The second shock started last night. Nope… it was not quite midnight yet. That meant it was the same night, just later. It started when she left work yesterday and the big, black SUV followed her up the mountain road to her cabin. Whoever had been in that vehicle had tried to run her off the road.
They attempted to push her little Audi Sport off one of the hairpin turns.
It didn’t work. For one thing—her car was much better equipped for the mountain roads. It was smaller and more nimble than the large, lumbering SUV.
And Grace knew how to DRIVE.
Her parents were doctors—but they also had some very eclectic hobbies. Her mother had grown up in a family with six brothers. All of them were race car drivers. Her mom raced when she was in her teens. Grace grew up racing, too. Everything from go-carts to rally cars.
Her mother taught Grace everything she knew, and the uncles expanded on her training. Grace had taken part in the Dakar Rally with one of her uncles. The desert endurance race comprised over nine thousand miles and two weeks of timed trials and obstacles.
Uncle Jessie, her mom’s youngest brother, also worked as a security driver. A security driver was trained in techniques and tactics that concentrated purely on safety and security rather than comfort. These types of drivers provided transportation in hostile, high-risk areas or on assignments where the dignitaries were at extreme risk. He spent one summer teaching Grace how to avoid an accident or any threat when she was on the road.
She’d easily escaped her attackers—and taken a back road home. But she should have realized they knew where she lived. Because fifteen minutes later—the men surrounded her house.
Then Raptor showed up. Another shock to her system. And now… there was a spaceship . Grace lay there with her eyes closed. Listening.
Raptor kept up a monologue about the ship as he checked her arms and legs. Making sure she hadn’t injured herself when she fainted, she supposed. She wanted to tell him she was all right, but couldn’t get the words out.
She heard him say, “The ship has a cloaking device that makes it impossible to see. I can leave it out here and not worry about anyone finding it. The cloaking also makes it impossible for any government air surveillance to detect the ship. We won’t have to worry about it while we’re at your lab.”
Suddenly, she felt him roll her into his arms and he picked her up. It shocked Grace that Raptor didn’t groan or struggle with her weight. His breathing didn’t change. He didn’t huff or puff as he walked toward his ship. He might look chubby and out of shape, but he certainly didn’t act like it.
If Grace had ever once in her life thought about what aliens would look like… Raptor wasn’t it. He didn’t match the weird sci-fi green man option, nor the alien abduction romance version. She felt him shift her weight and walk up a ramp. Raptor was taking her into his ship!
Grace’s eyes popped open.