Raised voices drifted down the hallway, and Rafe followed the sound to the kitchen. Brandi was trying to calm a clearly irate Reno. Rather than intrude, Rafe stepped back into the shadows, planning on waiting until the argument was settled. He didn’t feel up to playing peacemaker at the moment.
“Reno, you’re being completely unreasonable.” Brandi had her hands planted on her hips while Reno paced the kitchen.
“Like hell, I am. I asked him to wait here—”
“Damien is a grown man. He doesn’t have to do what you tell him to do.”
“He’s my partner. My junior partner. When I say to wait in the kitchen I expect him to do it.” Reno voice rose in volume as he paused in front of his mate and glared down at her.
She glared right back. “He was your partner, Reno. But not anymore.”
Reno opened his mouth to respond but then must have changed his mind. He half turned away and rubbed his neck, the fight visibly leaving him. “Yeah, I know. I guess… I guess I thought if I talked to him, I could make him see sense.”
“I know.” Brandi’s voice gentled as she wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her head to his back. “But maybe it’s better this way. At least things didn’t end with you two having a big argument.”
Turning in Brandi’s arms, Reno returned her hug, resting his chin on top of her head. His eyes had a haunted look about them. “Damien was all the family I had.”
“You haven’t lost him completely.”
He gave a bitter laugh. “When someone joins Deirdre’s ranks, they never come back.”
“You don’t know that for sure. Didn’t you say everything that was known about her was based on rumour?”
“Rumours have their roots in reality.” He was quiet, a muscle working in his jaw. Eventually, he leaned back so he could see her face. “Thanks.”
“For what?” She looked up at him quizzically.
“For sticking with me.” He gave her what started as a gentle kiss but then grew into something deeper. Reno lifted Brandi, one hand cupping her butt while Brandi ran her fingers through his hair. When Reno set her on the kitchen table, Rafe rolled his eyes.
Clearing his throat loudly, he entered the room. “Not on my table. Please. I have to eat off it.”
Reno and Brandi ended their kiss and looked his way. Brandi appeared slightly guilty, but Reno was unrepentant and grinned widely.
“Sorry.” Reno set Brandi on the ground and would have kissed her again if she hadn’t pushed him away.
“Behave,” she chided. “Go check how the captain is doing with the prisoners. I’ll send Rafe out as soon as he’s ready.”
Reno squeezed her butt once more and then walked away laughing when she swung at him.
Rafe waited a beat until the door shut behind Reno before commenting. “He’s taking Damien’s defection hard.”
Brandi nodded. “He’ll try to hide it, but inside…” She sighed. “For years it was the two of them fighting against the wrongs of the world. Having Damien join the other side has really shaken him.”
“Damien hasn’t totally abandoned his values. He still believes in saving the underdog. I could sense that in him.”
“I know but the method he’s chosen…” She shook her head. “Depending on what the captain decides to do, Damien could be declared an outlaw. He’ll be stripped of his rank and lose all rights to any benefits he might have received from being a part of Lycan Link. He’ll be a homeless rogue, just like all the rest.”
Rafe winced knowing exactly what that entailed from his years at the clinic. Lycans like Damien were the reason he had to rebuild the clinic. Even if his heart was no longer in it, even if his abilities were faulty, someone had to watch out for them. If he didn’t then who would?
“Reno said that the chopper’s ready whenever you are.”
He nodded knowing it was time to go, but his heart was telling him to stay. Eve would need him to help her recover from the trauma she’d experienced, but in the end he’d still have to leave and would it hurt any less in a week or two? No. This was for the best. And Brandi was capable; he’d leave her a list of instructions. “You’ll watch out for Eve? Make sure she gets her wrist checked? She might have nightmares after all she’s been through so if you could—”
“I’ll take care of her, Dr. McRae, don’t worry.”
“Thanks.” The corner of his mouth turned up in a brief smile as he acknowledged he was sounding like a mother hen. “I know you’ll do whatever is needed. It’s just that she’s…” He paused not sure what he could say that could possibly explain his relationship with Eve. Once an empath formed a mental bridge with someone they were connected in a way that non-empaths could never understand.
“She’s special to you.” Brandi finished the sentence for him, a sympathetic smile on her face.
“Yeah.” He took step towards the door, then stopped. “Explain to her why I had to go.”
“I will. I’ll tell her you’ll contact her as soon as possible.”
“No. Don’t say that. I won’t be calling her. It’s best if she just thinks we had an...interlude.”
“And is that what it was?” She cocked her head and gave him a considering look.
“It has to be. She doesn’t even know werewolves exist.”
“So tell her.” Brandi folded her arms and leaned her hip against the table.
He blinked. “A DC is telling me this.”
She snorted. “There are ways around the rules. Everyone knows that.”
“Not this time. She’s petrified of wolves now. And after her experience with Grant, she won’t want another Fae to touch her.”
“How do you know? Did you ask her?”
“I know how the mind works. It’s part of my job.” He inwardly winced. At least he thought he knew how minds worked, though after the debacle of his last case, how could he be sure?
“Sure you do.” Brandi rolled her eyes.
“And what’s that supposed to mean?” He stiffened. Wasn’t he feeling bad enough about how things were ending? Did Brandi have to harp at him now?
“You’re just like all the other males. Thinking females are poor helpless creatures who can’t handle any adversity without falling to pieces.” She began to pace around the room, a flush appearing on her cheeks, stray curls bobbing.
“I don’t—”
“Yes, you do. Otherwise you’d be in that bedroom right now, scooping her up and taking her with you. You’d talk her through whatever fears and misconceptions she has.”
“I—”
An Enforcer gave a perfunctory knock on the door and stepped inside. “We’re ready to leave, sir.”
“I’m coming.” He hefted his duffle over his shoulder.
“So that’s it? No message?” Brandi threw out one final challenge.
Rafe didn’t answer. There was nothing he could say that could explain how he felt.
“Bye, Brandi.”
As he left the room, he heard her give a frustrated scream just before she slammed the door shut.
Chapter 51
A month later…
Eve stood staring out the window of Caro’s apartment watching the traffic on the street below. Located on the tenth floor, Caro’s apartment had a lovely view of the city. Not quite as good as watching the sun rise over the trees that flanked the meadow beside Rafe’s place, but still noteworthy.
She smiled sadly, wondering when she’d stop comparing everything to her time in Grassy Hills. Would it take two months or half a year or perhaps even longer? At the moment she doubted she’d ever lose her memory of the events that took place in the small town. Nightmares still haunted her on occasion and in the shower each morning, she’d stare at the scars from the wolf attack and force down the queasy feeling in her stomach. Someday it would get better, or at least that’s what she kept telling herself.
And not all the memories were bad. She grinned recalling a certain interlude in the foyer.
Caro breezed into the
room, took one look at her and snorted in disgust. “Are you going to stay in that old track suit all day?”
The suit wasn’t that old, and it was comfortable, but those arguments wouldn’t hold weight with the fashion driven woman.
“I’m going to be painting today. No point in wearing good clothes for that.”
“Right. You’ve used that excuse before. As well as the one that you’re cleaning, that you haven’t done any laundry, and that you think you’re coming down with a cold.” Caro shook her head. Face it, Eve. You’re brooding over Rafe McRae. You should just call the man—”
“No!” Eve seldom raised her voice to Caro, but this was one topic that was off limits. For the first two weeks, Caro had left her alone, or offered sympathy over the ordeal, but that had slowly turned into gentle prompts and then definite prods to get on with life. For the past two weeks, Caro had been harping at her, telling her she should call Rafe, but it wasn’t that simple. He’d left Grassy Hills without a word to her. There’d been no note giving his contact information, no verbal message conveyed by Brandi about his plans to see her in the future. In fact, Brandi had been distinctly uncomfortable when saying that Rafe was gone and no, he hadn’t indicated when he’d be in contact. Nor had he tried to get in touch with her since. She checked her phone and email daily for messages, but there was never anything there. It was painfully obvious Rafe viewed their time together as a simple fling, and she wasn’t going to chase after him.
“If you won’t call the man, then do something else! Ally’s called at least a dozen times and left messages and I know you haven’t returned a single one. Go out to lunch with her! Go shopping. Just do…something!”
Eve shrugged. Nothing sounded appealing. “Maybe tomorrow.”
Caro huffed her disapproval. “I don’t have time to argue with you now, but when I get home we’re going to discuss this.”
Eve turned her back and continued to study the view rather than reply. After a few moments the sound of the apartment door closing could be heard, and she allowed herself to relax.
Dropping down onto the sofa, she pulled her knees up to her chest and fought back tears. Every day she had this empty, aching feeling inside her as if a part of her was missing and nothing seemed to make it go away. She’d tried it all; painting, reading, going for walks. Even the affinity she’d developed with the earth was fading. Her forays onto the nature paths not far from Caro’s apartment had lacked the same rejuvenating affect she’d experienced in Grassy Hills. Or maybe it was her attitude.
Face it. She didn’t want to feel happy or alive. She was in crappy mood and quite happy wallowing in it, than you very much. Sulking, pining, wasting away; call it what you will, the end result was the same. When Rafe had said forming a mental bridge left remnants long after the fact, he hadn’t been kidding. Almost…almost she could understand Gordie’s obsessive need to experience the feeling of being connected again and again.
Of course, the idea of being with anyone besides Rafe filled her with revulsion. No one could compare to him. The warm, smooth feeling of his mind sliding over hers, his emotions gently invading and filling the emptiness inside her, each emotion shared like a physical touch.
Leaning her head against the cushions, she closed her eyes, reliving every moment she’d spent with him. Memories of his scent, his touch, the sound of his voice filled her, and she smiled, retreating into the happy place she’d created in her mind.
How long she sat like that she had no idea, but the ringing of the phone startled her out of the trance-like state she’d fallen into. It was probably Ally again. Thinking of what Caro had said, she reluctantly answered.
“Hello?”
“Eve?”
“Yes?” It wasn’t Ally. The voice sounded familiar, but she couldn’t quite place it.
“Damien here. I’m in the lobby. I’ll meet you in the park behind your building in five minutes.” He hung up before she could think of what to say.
Damien? He was the last person she’d been expecting to hear from. Surprise, excitement and a hint of apprehension filled her. Did he have news about Rafe? Or was it just a friendly visit? No matter what, he was going to be waiting for her in five minutes!
Jumping to her feet, she glanced in the mirror that was over the fireplace. God, she was a mess. Her hair needed trimming, she had no makeup on, and the tracksuit Caro had scorned fit like a potato sack. She ran to the bathroom and quickly splashed off her face and brushed her teeth, but that was all she had time for. Somehow she knew if she wasn’t there within the timeframe he gave, Damien would disappear.
Racing down the hallway, she jabbed at the elevator button, and then once inside the car, impatiently tapped her foot as it lowered her to the ground floor.
Cara’s apartment building was located across from the Bow River that wove its way through the centre of Calgary. A parkway with tree-lined trails and parks flanked the river. It was a fitting place to meet Damien. The man had a look about him that suited the natural setting.
Eve saw him immediately, leaning against a tree, one ankle negligently crossed over the other. He looked much as he had in Grassy Hills when she’d first seen him. Too thin, a haunted look about his eyes, but compelling none the less. When he caught sight of her, he straightened. A faint smile barely curled one corner of his mouth, but it was enough to change his appearance from merely interesting to devastatingly appealing.
“Damien! It’s good to see you.” She hurried towards him and gave him a hug.
Just like the last time she’d touched him, he hesitated before returning the gesture. At first the hug was tentative, but then it increased into a genuinely warm greeting. Eve was secretly pleased with the show of emotion from the man. He always seemed so…closed off, as if he didn’t dare let any of his feelings out. When he released her, she stepped back and grinned.
“Nice place.” He jerked his chin towards the apartment building.
“Yes. It’s not mine though. Caro, my friend, is letting me stay with her since I’d sublet my apartment.”
“I know.” He turned from his examination of the building to look at her.
“You know?” She cocked her head. “How?”
“There are ways to find out almost anything you want to know.” He shrugged. “That’s how I found you.”
That had been her next question. It made her slightly uneasy to think he’d been snooping around, finding information about her, not that she’d made any particular effort to hide where she was.
To cover her unease, she put her hands in her pockets and nodded towards the pathway. “Want to walk?”
He fell into step beside her. She could feel him studying her out of the corner of his eye.
“You’re looking better than the last time I saw you.”
She gave a soft laugh. “That must have been right after I’d been running through the woods escaping Gordie. Not too hard to improve on that.”
Damien smiled and nodded. “True. Maybe it’s just that I’ve missed you.”
Her heart gave an extra thump at that admission. “I’ve missed you, too.”
“Really?” He arched a brow. “Or just polite conversation?”
“It’s not nice to question my sincerity,” she chided gently. “But, yes, I’ve missed you. You and Grassy Hills and Rafe… It was lovely there.” She hadn’t meant to mention Rafe and winced hoping Damien wouldn’t comment on the fact. Of course, that was too much to expect.
“Have you heard from him? Rafe, that is?”
“No.” She tried to sound unconcerned. “I expect he’s busy. Brandi told me there’d been a fire at his clinic.”
Damien nodded, and they walked in silence for a while longer. The wind was cooler now that they were nearing the river and she hunched her shoulders against the chill.
“So…what have you been up to?” She cast a curious look at him.
“Not much.”
“No more handyman work to be done?”
“No. I’m sort of
between jobs. Trying to decide what I want to do next. That’s one of the reasons I thought I’d look you up.”
“Oh.” A funny feeling quivered in her stomach though she wasn’t sure why.
“Let’s sit here.” Damien stopped suddenly by a bench and sat, pulling her down beside him.
Eve could feel the warmth of his body beside her, the length of his thigh was pressed to hers. She studied his profile as he stared off into the distance, marvelling at the perfection of his features, the way the slight stubble on his chin added to his rakish good looks. If he knew she was looking at him, he gave no indication.
A heavy sigh escaped him and he leaned forward his forearms braced on his knees, his hands loosely clasped. Staring at the ground, he spoke. “I’m sorry.”
“Pardon?”
Turning his head, he looked at her, his expression troubled. “Just… I’m sorry.”
“For what?” She angled her body towards him and he closed his eyes, shaking his head.
“I can’t say. Just know that I’m sorry.” He looked her in the eye, a hint of desperation about him.
Eve blinked, not knowing what he was referring to. There could be no doubting his remorse, though. “All right.” She replied slowly, feeling her way. “I forgive you. You’re a good man, Damien and if you did something you feel the need to apologize for, I’m sure it wasn’t on purpose.” She laid her hand on his knee. “Or if it was intentional, then it was for a good reason.”
He gave a soft, rueful laugh. “That’s what I tried to tell myself. But now…” His voice trailed off and he shifted his attention to her hand where it rested on his knee. Slowly he straightened his posture and took her hand. Lacing their fingers together, he seemed fascinated by the way their fingers interlocked.
Finally, he spoke. “I was ma…married once.”
“I remember you telling me that.” She noted how he stumbled over the word. It was obviously still difficult for him to talk about.