CALLEY (RIBUS 7 Book 3) (42 page)

Chelan rubbed at her arm. “Well, that was nice of you, but I couldn’t make it here until my husband took some time off work.”

The man continued to grin at her. “So, what’s your husband do?”

Chelan finally cracked a genuine smile. “He kills people for a living.”

The man’s smile faded. “That’s not funny, little lady.”

Chelan’s mirth dissipated. No, it wasn’t. Dar wasn’t around. And this time she knew she had to help herself. She stared hard at the man. “Look, I can offer you some food or refreshments, but not much else. If you don’t believe that I’m here with my husband, then go over there and look in the packs.”

The leader threw the third man a nod and sent him hustling to the tents. He began rifling through their stuff. Then he stopped. “She’s right, man. Someone else is here.”

The first man looked warily from side to side. “Well then, honey, there’s no vehicle at the other end, so why don’t you tell me where hubby is?”

Chelan took a half-step back in case she needed the room to maneuver. “He’s gone to pick up some additional supplies. He left early.”

The third man laughed as he waddled back. “Looks by the stack of stuff you have already like yer gonna be here a year or more.”

Chelan remained silent and watched as the ugly little man rejoined the group.

The leader smiled and took a step closer to her. “Well, seems to me, little lady, you don’t quite know where your other half is.” His eyes travelled over her. “You’re alone for now, so how bout we show you a little hospitality? What do you say, guys?”

Chelan’s muscles tightened.

The blonde licked his thin lips. “Let me—”

The leader punched him in the arm. “You wait your turn.”

The blonde hesitated and glared at him. But then he conceded and moved in behind her.

Chelan glanced back, noting the man’s position. She thought of striking out at them, but then she spied the knives they each carried. Things were bad enough without making them mad. Besides, if she humored them, maybe they would leave.

The leader sidled right up to her. She winced, his acrid breath assaulting her. He leaned close to her and Chelan had to block the impulse to recoil.

He smiled. “Now, the way I see it, pretty gal, you should stay calm and keep quiet, see? ’Cause we don’t want to have to rough you up or nothing. All we want is to have a beer or two with you. You know, have a little party.”

Chelan felt the blonde inch up closer to her, one hand brushing down her hair, and she braced herself. “Actually,” she said, “you gentlemen go ahead. I don’t drink much.”

The leader burst out laughing. “She called us gentlemen!” And all three men chuckled.

Chelan reached for her hair and drew it forward out of the blonde man’s grubby hands. She glanced at him, a small smile on her face. “And gentlemen don’t touch,” she uttered as nicely as she could.

The leader’s eyes widened as he nodded at the blonde. “Oh, now, see—no touching.” And all three laughed again.

Then their leader straightened. “Now look, all you have to do is do as I ask, real nice like. We just wanna be real friendly, share our beer, and get to know each other better.”

The man behind her leaned forward. “Yeah, way better.”

This time his hand snaked down her neck, over her shoulder, and down her arm. But Chelan remained stock-still.

The third man finally stepped forward and smiled with rotten teeth. “Actually, Dave, you should let me loosen her up a little for ya. I’m a little better with women than you.”

The blonde man burst out laughing, and Dave snarled at him. “Fuck you, Seth.” Then he glared at Hugh. “Since when, Hugh, ya fuckin’ loser. Both of you will wait your turn.” Dave finally returned his attention to Chelan. “Excuse my friends. They don’t have much for manners.” Then he leered at her again. “Not a very good man you got, leavin’ a beauty like you here all alone.”

Chelan looked Dave directly in the eye. “Like I said, he is never gone long. I’d be moving along if I were you.”

Seth was getting tired of waiting. “Whoa, there, pretty one,” he mumbled. “This is where we planned to party, and it just seems right to have you join in.” He scanned the camping site once more, looking for her man, but they still seemed to be alone. Then he reached for her hair again.

Chelan did not shy away, nor did she reprimand him. Everything she did, she knew, had to be nonthreatening. And the last thing she wanted do was show fear. She was not going to give them the satisfaction of that no matter what.

Seth whispered in her ear. “Now you just be still and let my good buddy get on with… celebrating, or I might get a little ornery here.”

Chelan turned her head and smiled at him. “No need to get ornery. We all should sit down, and maybe I
will
have a beer.” She needed to keep the situation defused for as long as possible. She knew that Dar had the whole area monitored. Undoubtedly, he could tell what was going on. But until he made it back, she would have to take control. Fortunately, these men had made one huge mistake. They underestimated her, and she readied herself.

Seth pressed in against her and raised a lock of hair to his nose, smelling it. Then, with his other hand, he traced down the side of her face.

Dave laughed. “How does she feel, Seth?”

Seth snickered. “Mighty fuckin’ fine. Just like the rest of her, I bet. And I betcha she’s tight, too. This could be good.”

Dave’s finger now traced down her cheek and neck, lingering on her chest just above her breasts. Then he leaned back and hooked his thumbs in his pockets. His gaze raked over her once again. “Well, I guess we’ll find out about that soon enough.”

Chelan knew the switch had been thrown. The men had been unsure of what to do with her before, but now the man in front her had decided to proceed. She watched as Dave released himself from his pants, the smell of unclean male assailing her senses. But still she did not flinch. She marked her targets. Dave was easy, and ripe for a direct well-placed kick. Seth was just to her side and behind slightly, an easy strike with an elbow. And at the moment, Hugh was not even in the equation, seemingly content to be an observer.

Dave crowded in on her and then drew his knife from the sheath at his hip. He put a finger under her chin, raised her head, and showed her the knife. “Now, pretty little lady, you’re going to behave, right?”

Chelan nodded. “I won’t be any trouble. No need for anyone to get hurt. I mean, maybe partying with you boys will be fun after all.”

She watched as he sheathed the knife and then took a step back, her comments having had the desired effect. He reached for his pants and Chelan eyed her mark. One hard kick and it would be all over for him.

Dave smiled. “Now, how about you just slide those jeans down a bit while I—”

“Don’t you think you should ask my permission first?” boomed a voice from the woods.

Hugh and Dave reeled around. Chelan took a deep breath, releasing the tension in her coiled muscles. Then she watched as Dar stepped from the shadows, his shroud and black military uniform making him seem as though he were an illusion barely materializing.

Seth staggered backward from Chelan, his hand still tangled in her hair. Dave held his ground. “We ain’t got no quarrel with you!”

Dar nodded once. “You touched my woman. Therefore, you have raised an issue with me.” He entered into the clearing. His eyes burned into the man clutching Chelan’s hair. “I’d release her if I were you.”

The blonde let her go instantly.

Dar signed to Chelan in battle language, and she edged cautiously away from the trio.

Seth moved up beside Dave and whispered, “He ain’t armed.”

Dave nodded to him. “Go get the gun.”

Seth moved slowly to the side and then turned toward the brush.

“I suggest you halt,” came Dar’s low growl.

But Seth shot into motion, running as hard as he could. Dar coiled and then drew, releasing a throwing knife with superhuman speed. The dagger sank deep into Seth’s thigh, and the man crumpled to the ground as though he had been shot.

“Oh fuck. I’m hit!” he wailed. He writhed on the ground in pain, clutching at his leg.

Dar glanced back at the other two men, their mouths agape. With cold-blooded decisiveness, he stalked toward them. Then he halted, and stared at them with a savagery that rendered them temporarily addled.

Hugh eased up to Dave. “Look at those goddamn eyes. You ever seen anything like that?”

Dave shook his head. “And them clothes. Almost as though he weren’t even here.”

“Watch out—he’s a bloody big one,” Hugh said needlessly.

Dave swallowed in an attempt to moisten his parched throat. “Look, mister. We weren’t gonna hurt her or nothin’. We were just gonna have a little fun.”

Dar spoke with calculated ire, his voice deep and dangerous. “I have killed many a man who chose to have fun in such a manner.”

Dave began to fidget. “Okay, okay, stay cool. How ’bout we just pack up and leave?”

Dar reached down with lethal ease and pulled a combat blade from his boot. He stepped up close to the men and then stood very still. His voice became a deep rumble. “If it weren’t for the lady over there, I would slit your throats where you stand and leave your carcasses to rot in the sun. As I recall, she told you that I kill for a living. If you have any doubts, just let me know and I will go over there and put your wounded friend out of his misery.”

Both men shook their heads.

Dar’s piercing eyes looked down at the Dave’s crotch; the man’s pants were still undone. With the tip of his knife he reached for the hole at the end of the zipper. He moved with excruciating slowness, watching the man tremble violently. Then he tilted the knife up and raised the zipper.

Dave thought he was going to faint.

Dar looked into his eyes. “Just havin a little fun…” he said in an ominous growl. Then he took a step back. “Now, after I have retrieved my knife, you will collect your friend and leave. Should you return here again, I will not be so tolerant. Instead, I will send the lady away and send
you
to oblivion. Do you understand?”

Both men nodded their heads frantically.

Dar backed up. “To your knees,” he commanded.

The men dropped.

Dar continued to back up until he reached the groaning man. Then he reached down and unceremoniously yanked his knife out.

“Oh Jesus! I’m gonna bleed to death!” the man cried.

“You should be so lucky,” Dar shot down at him. He tossed the contaminated knife toward the tents. Then he continued to back-step into the bushes. There, with his eyes still fixed on the men, he crouched and picked up their rifle.

Then he walked back toward them, stopping halfway. He reached behind his back and pulled out a small lazgun. “Should you doubt my career or my sincerity, allow me to demonstrate.” Dar swung the rifle in an arc, high out over the lake. Then, with ease, he raised the lazgun toward it and fired. The rifle disintegrated into a series of brilliant sparks, and then, nothing.

Instantly, Dave and Hugh scrambled to their feet and dashed to Seth. Scraping him up from the ground, they ran for their lives.

Dar remained still, his chest rising and falling deeply. Chelan teetered for a moment and then steadied herself. She glanced at Dar, but his eyes were unseeing. She took a hesitant step toward him and then froze. He looked at her, his eyes igniting once again with a blue flame fueled by rage. He approached her, nostrils flaring. Chelan flinched as his gloved hand grasped a stand of her hair. “Did they hurt you?” he demanded, his voice strained.

Chelan shook her head. Dar’s hand reached behind her head and held her firmly. Then he leaned down, his face close to her neck. Chelan shivered with trepidation. “I’m okay,” she whispered.

But Dar withdrew from her and threw his thick mane back. His eyes focused sharply on her. He could smell their scent upon her, his heavily muscled body flinching with poorly constrained fury. “Did they hurt you?” he repeated in a menacing tone.

Chelan took a reflexive step back. But Dar reached for her with catlike speed, tearing the front of her shirt open as though it were tissue. His eyes scanned her for injury. “Please, Dar,” she said, “they hardly touched me.”

He stood still as death itself, watching her as tremors devoured her body. Then he stared into her eyes like a demon possessed.

Chelan felt her knees weakening. Though the men had barely touched her, they had intended to do so much more. As the ramifications of the whole ordeal hit her, her eyes welled. And as the first tear dropped, Dar was gone.

Chelan gasped. “Dar!” she yelled. But he had vanished. “Oh, no, Dar. Please come back!”

Chelan clutched the tattered shirt to herself and turned toward the tents, but she knew not what to do. Her breathing was coming in short erratic sobs. Then finally, after what seemed an eternity, she looked up and saw an ebony specter enter the clearing.

She swallowed hard and watched as Dar swung a large lazgun out from under his shroud. Then he withdrew his hood, his eyes having regained their normal glow. He stared at her for a moment and then moved over to the tents. There he set the weapon down and shed his shroud.

“What did you do?” she croaked.

Dar glanced at her. “They will have their fun no more,” he told her coolly.

Chelan shivered. “Someone will come looking for them.”

Dar began building a large fire. “They will find no traces.”

“And their vehicle?”

“Vanished.”

Chelan squatted down, her knees too weak to support her. She watched him from a distance, too afraid to touch him. “What are you doing?”

Dar grabbed a large pot. He walked to the water’s edge and filled it. Returning to the fire, he placed it in the center. Then he picked up his discarded knife and set the black blade in the flames. Finally, he looked down at her, his features unreadable. “I am cleaning up.”

After a time, Chelan pushed to her feet, still a little unsteady. She stared into the fire, the water in the pot starting to steam. Dar reached into the lapping flames as though they did not exist, his uniform protecting him. He hoisted the pot and took it to the middle of a grassy area. Then he turned to Chelan and approached her slowly.