Fated

Chapter 5

Cara stifled a groan as the SUV hit yet another pothole, and sharp rays of pain shot through her foggy head. How the hell was she going to get out of this? She held back a sob. Thank God Janie had gone with Talen.

“Mino said the buyer doesn’t want her damaged,” a low voice with a thick Spanish accent hissed from the front seat. “She and the girl are worth five million. Suckers.”

“But, we didn’t get the daughter,” a voice closer to her spat out.

“Yeah, but this one’s gotta be worth at least half,” came the sharp retort from the first man.

“Who the hell would pay that for a couple of chicks?” someone else sneered.

“Mino wouldn’t say. Probably someone the bitch pissed off.”

“Well, can we at least have some fun while we’re waiting?” A nasal voice this time, causing chills to creep up her spine.

“No. She is to be unharmed.”

The hungry desire to cause pain radiating from the front of the car made Cara’s shoulders tense and then shake. Her stomach clenched. She fought to slam her mental and emotion shields into place—maybe her father had been right about empaths being touched by the devil. God wouldn’t hurt her like this.

She swallowed another sob, pretending to be unconscious. She had to think of a way out of this so she could get back to her baby. The moldy smell of old carpet tickled her nose, and she stamped down on a sneeze before it could erupt.

The car slowed until it came to a stop. Four doors opened and slammed shut. Seconds later, the back hatch opened and the man from the elevator reached in and yanked Cara out by her bound hands. Her head clunked against the hatch before she stumbled against him and then found her footing on the wet leaves, several feet down. They’d lifted the vehicle to a ridiculous height.

He squeezed her arm, his breath hot against her temple. “You should be awake by now, bitch.”

She yanked to the side, her head throbbing. She kicked out against his shin to escape the pain at her arm while bile rose in her throat.

“Oh, we have a fighter.” He laughed hard and coarse while he released her abused flesh. “This might be fun.” His laugh carried images of dark pain, and she fought to block her mind. The slipping of her empathic shields ripped a raw fear through her that even his threats failed to reach. He dragged her toward a large cabin.

Trees surrounded them, pure safety waiting for her. If she could break his hold, she could run for the forest. She tracked the nearest trail through her peripheral vision. If she escaped that way, she’d veer into the bushes and they’d lose her.

She stumbled and fell to one knee. He yanked her to her feet and backhanded her across the face. Her head flew to the side. Apparently “unharmed” meant something different to him than it did to her. She flashed her teeth. Her daddy’d hit harder even after a three-day bender. The bastard holding her smacked her again, and while she stayed on her feet, the blow scattered her senses and the mental shields slipped away. Oh God.

A roar cascaded from the surrounding forest, and an anger not her own slammed into her with the strength of a title weight punch. Her fear morphed into pure terror.

What was coming?

The man holding her froze, scanning the thick trees. Without warning, a large blur of dark motion launched itself past her to take the prick to the ground. Blood sprayed in a graceful arc across Cara’s lower legs and adrenaline spiked her blood with a clawing need to flee. Rusty copper mixed with the clean scent of rain, and her feet refused to move.

“Talen,” she said, barely able to breathe as he rose to his full height. Blood splattered across his brutal features and over his hands, his eyes a primal gold in the strengthening rain. She gaped at the sharp fangs protruding from his mouth. They ran red. Then, the rapid sound of gunfire filled the air. Talen tackled her and she screamed. He shielded her with his body and rolled them under the car to the other side, where wet leaves crackled with their musty scent beneath them.

Protected by the SUV, Talen leapt to his feet. In a smooth, fluid motion, he threw a double-edged knife through the air. Cara shifted to peer under the carriage of the vehicle. A man collapsed to the ground with a gurgle of pain, his hand on the weapon that was buried to the hilt in his neck.

Pulling herself away from under the carriage, Cara grabbed the door handle and hauled herself to her feet, determined to flee if necessary. The safety of the forest beckoned her.

The remaining two men scrambled toward the haven. With an animalistic bellow, Talen leapt over the SUV and took the first kidnapper down with a flying tackle onto the wet leaves. His bare hands crushed the man’s neck with a loud crunch. With a final snap of Talen’s wrist, he rose and faced the remaining man, who backed up toward Cara, praying in Spanish.

Talen’s oddly glowing eyes showed no mercy as he stalked the horrified man.

“Please, don’t kill me,” the man begged as he continued to stumble backward.

“You touched what’s mine.” Talen’s voice was unnaturally guttural as he reached the man.

“No, no I didn’t,” the man protested, making the sign of the cross in the air. “I never touched her.”

“All right,” Talen said agreeably, “then you die quickly.” With one quick slice of his arm, the man’s head tumbled to the ground. Then, Talen turned toward Cara. The knife’s blade glinted silver in the emerging moonlight, its point dripping red life onto the wet earth. Blood splattered his clothes and covered his hands. Savagery was stamped into every line of his face. His fangs glistened sharp and deadly in the dusky light.

Cara’s eyes rolled back into her head, and with a small groan, she collapsed to the wet leaves.