He gave the cabin one last pointed look. “Tell Eli that his secret is safe with me as long as it doesn’t cause problems for me or the people of my town.”
“I will.”
Not that she liked the way he qualified his promise, but there wasn’t much she could do about it. She watched him drive away, waving one last time. When his car disappeared around the bend, she headed right back into the waiting arms of the man who had stepped out onto the porch.
“HOW DID HEtake the news?”
Although Eli could guess, having watched the last few minutes of their conversation from his front window. Their body language had conveyed a mix of emotions, some of them pretty volatile. At least by the time Jakes drove away, he and Safara had come to some kind of truce. That was good. He’d meant what he’d said about not wanting to cause a rift between Safara and her family.
She shrugged. “Better than expected. The good news is that he put me in for vacation for the next three days, so I don’t have to rush back to work.”
That was good news. Sort of, anyway. With what Mike had told him, Eli figured he’d have to disappear soon and establish a new identity somewhere else, most likely in another country. He wouldn’t risk the danger from the men who were hunting him spilling over onto his friends. Unfortunately, the more time he and Safara spent together, the harder it was going to be to leave her behind. It would already hurt like hell. But before they could think about that, they had some killers to track down.
“I looked up more information online about the attacks. There have been a few more sightings, including at a small grocery store that was robbed right before dawn. There were no security cameras, but witnesses gave descriptions that fit the rogues. I’ve plotted all the data. I want you to look at the map, because I think I’m seeing a pattern. If so, it could be a good starting point.”
Once inside, he stood back while Safara studied the map. She leaned in closer to read the times and brief descriptions he’d written on the sticky notes. Finally, she nodded as she pointed to a couple of icons on the map that indicated a campground.
“You’re thinking they hole up in this state park and go on raids from there.”
Good, she saw it, too. “There haven’t been any incidents reported at that site so far, but all the known locations of sightings and attacks are within easy walking distance of the park. It would make sense they’d take shelter somewhere they’d have access to water and bathrooms.”
Safara looked grim. “As much as they crave the light in this world, it takes time to acclimate to it. Since the store is right outside of the park, I’m betting that was their last stop before they went to ground for the day. I’ll call Dad.”
Yeah, she should do that, but he wasn’t going to sit on the sidelines and wait for Jakes to round up his crew. The rogues might’ve taken shelter for the daylight hours, but eventually they’d be out prowling again. When that happened, more people would get hurt or killed.
“Give him a heads-up and tell him we’ll update him after we scout around. No use in him sending everyone on a wild-goose chase if we’re wrong about this.”
Safara hesitated, but then she finally nodded. “He won’t like it, but there’s not much he can do to stop us.”
Eli grabbed the broadsword down off the wall and slid it into its sheath. He laid it on the kitchen table next to Safara’s own blade. He’d been meaning to ask her about it. “I take it that style is the weapon of choice in Kalithia.”
“Yes. They’re handed down from one generation to the next. It’s one of my most prized possessions.”
She traced the intricate engraving on the blade of her sword and then glanced at Martin’s weapon collection. “It’s a beautiful work of art, and the Kalith who made it was as much of an artist as he was a bladesmith. I wish I never had to do anything but admire it hanging on my wall.”
What could he say to that? As a Special Forces soldier, his use of weapons had become second nature to him. He’d served his country and had been proud to do so. It was hard to put into words why it was important that someone had to be willing to carry a gun or even a sword and stand ready to use it. For Safara’s sake, he’d try.
“There are always going to be people in this world who are a clear and present danger to those around them. Someone has to stand against that kind of evil.”
When Safara winced, he eased closer to her and weighed his next words carefully. “Your mother was not evil. This sickness drove her to do what she did. It’s doing the same with these rogues. That doesn’t change the fact that someone has to put a stop to their violence. Not everyone is strong enough to take on that job, and those of us who do pay a high price for it.”
She turned into his embrace, resting her head against his chest. It felt so right holding her close and drawing comfort from each other. After a few seconds, she whispered, “And if I’m not strong enough? You know, to defend both worlds?”
Safara was as strong as anyone he’d ever served with, but he also understood what she was feeling right now. “Sweetheart, we all have moments of doubt. When that happens, we draw strength from those who stand beside us in the battle. Barring that, we dig down deep and find it in ourselves. It’s what makes us who we are.”
He shared his biggest shame. “I left my friends dead on that mountainside. I picked myself up, dusted myself off, and just walked away. I panicked over watching my body stitch itself back together. I couldn’t stay and face the consequences of surviving.”
She pushed back far enough to look up at him. “Anyone who didn’t know such things were possible would’ve reacted that way.”
“I can’t speak for anyone else, but it felt pretty damn cowardly to walk away. I don’t know what possibility I feared more—that they’d eventually believe me or that they wouldn’t. How could I face the family and friends of the men who died that day? Their loved ones died, and I walked away without an effing scratch to show for it.”
Right now she was still trying to defend his actions. “Eli, even if you didn’t know it at the time, your decision to leave that mountain protected the secrets of the Paladins and my people. If you think people would’ve freaked out because you survived, how do you think they’d react to finding out that aliens exist and have been living among humans for who knows how long?”
All right, that was quite a stretch, enough that he could only laugh. “So I get credit for an accidental benefit from hauling ass away from a crazy situation? I’m not sure the army would look at it that way. In fact, I suspect they’d be pretty upset to find out that I haven’t told them about a possible threat to the country’s security.”
“What makes you think they don’t already know about us? Or maybe the Paladins? Those black-ops guys must have some reason to be hunting for you.”
“That thought had crossed my mind, but there’s no way to know for sure.” He gave her another quick hug while he still had the chance. “But we need to move out soon. I want to scout out that park. Once we’ve assessed the situation, we’ll contact your dad and decide on a plan of attack.”
