Centaur Rivalry (Touched Series Book 3) (28 page)

“I remember you stole money from Pops’ wallet to buy me a pair of shoes, too.”

“I never told you, and I’m not sure why I’m telling you now – I didn’t take money from Pops’ wallet.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah.  He gave it to me.  That was the day he told me I’d never be good enough for you.”  I took her hand.  All those times I wanted to tell her I’d always be there for her, but could never get the words out, it was Pops’ voice screaming in my head.  I used to think, one day I’d prove him wrong.

She shook her head,
“Pops is an idiot.”

“No.  He was right.  You were supposed to have a bigger life than I could ever give you.  He knew it.  I just hate that it’s taken me this long to see it.”

“You’ll always be my best friend.”

“Let Drake have that title, too.  I’ll be here if you ever need me.  But any guy who would become a
Clydesdale to protect you – well . . . he’s earned it.”

“This isn’t good
-bye, Daniel.  We’re going to be okay.  We’re all going to be okay.”

I brought her hand to my lips.  “I know.  There’s one thing I want to give you – to remember me by.”  I reached into the drawer by my bed.  When we’d flown in I saw th
em in the window of a store and bought them - a white pair of high-top converse sneakers.

She laughed as I handed them over.  Man, I was going to miss hearing that
laugh.  I missed it already.

“I’ll
think of you every time I wear them!”  Cami leaned in and kissed my forehead.  She was letting me go.  I hated it, but my heart was finally letting her go, too.  I wouldn’t trade one day that we’d spent together for anything.  Pops was right.  She had a bigger life waiting for her.

Cami
crossed my room to the doorway, flicked off the light switch and walked away.  I lay there in the dark at peace.  She loved me as much as I loved her.  Deep down I always knew she did – it was me who couldn’t see.  The love of a friend who would do anything for you is just as important as a lover who will become anything you need him to be.  I heard her footsteps walking down the hallway, down the steps and through the front door before I whispered, “Goodbye, Cami.”

The meds the doctor had given me were starting to
kick in.  It was a struggle to keep my eyes open in the dark room.  Just before I started to lose consciousness, a freshly-showered, warm body slid in next to mine in the bed.  Jessica lay beside me, warm and inviting, just as sleep won the battle.

(Drake, Beach Outside of Cancun, Mexico)

I took her hand in mine.  It was a simple gesture, but her touch had a calming effect on me.  Tomorrow we would leave for Centauride.  I couldn’t help but feel grateful to Bianca and Gage for all they had done for us.  My parents had already headed back to the states; surprisingly, it was painful to let them go.  I’d spent more time with them the last few days, at least more meaningful time, than I had my entire life up until now.

At my age, I shouldn’t need my parents’ approval, but it warmed me to receive it anyway.  I’d expected Mom to be against our plan, but when
I embraced her to bid her farewell, she offered no discouraging words.  She only said one word, “Good-bye.”

It had nearly brought me to my knees.  She was the reason Cami and I had a future
, and I had fully expected her to offer up a secluded hideaway or to discourage our trip.  She did neither.

If the lack of words from Mom surprised me, it was nothing compared to Dad’s goodbye
.  Our relationship my whole life had been strained.  It didn’t matter how hard I had tried, what awards I’d won, or any action I had taken, it was never good enough.  Mom sat in the taxi while Dad stood there staring at me.  He held out his hand.  My eyes looked at it, an offer of respect, a salutation of esteem – I’d finally met his expectations, maybe for the first time in my life.

My hand reluctantly took his as his grip wound tight around mine.  He looked at Cami standing to my right, then back at me.  His voice
sounded full of regret, “I’ve never been more proud, son.”  His other arm reached over my shoulder and pulled me into an embrace.  I stiffened on reflex – Dad didn’t hug.  Dad let go of me and turned away so I couldn’t see his expression.  He leaned over to give Cami a kiss on the cheek, turned his back on both of us, and joined my mother in the taxi.

Neither looked at either of us as the taxi drove away.  I couldn’t find my legs.  Both my parents had given us permission to fail.  Neither believed we would make it out of Centauride alive
, but both gave me the only thing they could – they were at peace with my decision.

The surf pounded in front of me as the good
-bye played over and over in my mind.  Cami must have known I needed my solitude, and she stayed wordlessly by my side – no words of encouragement or second thoughts about what lay before us.  If we died, we’d die together – our last act on this earth trying to save the Lost Herd and the family we had both come to love.

(Quinton, Council Enforcer, Basement of Main House near Cancun, Mexico)

We’d missed our opportunity.  The whole house was emptying out.  They intended to leave.  The banging of suitcases, the voices wanting some last minute pictures, and the inevitable questions of, “Did you see my . . .” echoed just outside our walls.  Last night would have been our best opportunity for escape.  One had been lost in the jungle and most of the house was empty looking for him.  No wonder the Lost Herd had stayed hidden for so long.  They couldn’t navigate an estate’s back yard without a search party.

My eyes roamed over my men lying
on the cluttered furniture strewn throughout the basement.  We were the elite, the protectors of the Centaur Council.  Shame for having been captured resonated with us all.  None of us understood why we were still alive.  We were on a mission – it was kill or be killed.  Taking prisoners wasn’t an option, so we had no plan in place for becoming prisoners ourselves.

To be dependent on the benevolence of your enemy is a degrading position.  For that enemy to show any redeeming qualities did nothing but
diminish the good order and discipline my team shared.

The events of that night replayed in my head. 
I had her in my grasp, squeezing the life out of her just as I had vowed I would to the Chairman.  Zandra had promised me I could be a Captain if I returned successful.  One minute I was sure I’d be in the Captain’s uniform by the following day, the next minute I was locked up in the basement like a mutt.

I still couldn’t understand how it had happened. 
Had someone followed me from the beach?  Who would dare interfere with an enforcer carrying out the will of the Chairman?  Worse yet, why were these Centaurs so defiant in staying here?  Were they too dense to understand more of us would come?

We’d been down here for days. 
I wondered where the reinforcements were.  I had phoned my commander right before the raid.  He had our last known location and should have been here the next day when we didn’t check in.  The first night we rested and healed, expecting our brothers to open the door and set us free by morning.

When the door opened the following morning, I recognized the Centaur immediately:  Gage Richardson.  He had no ties to the Lost Herd
, and initially I’d believed him to be one of our rescuers.  Gage was one of Zeus’s Centaurs.  He came from excellent stock.

Gage had
been identified as an officer recruit for our ranks.  He couldn’t possibly understand the life he was giving up by aiding the Lost Herd.  The invitation had already been sent – it waited for him at his home in South Carolina.  What would he think when he arrived home to find out he’d been invited into the enforcer ranks?  There is no greater honor to represent one’s family than as an enforcer protecting the Council.

Selection
had been done in secret.  I was the only one among my team to know he’d been invited.  If I told him in front of my men, I couldn’t be sure what their reaction would be.  His selection to join our ranks would not go over well as they would view him as a traitor.  If I could quietly tip him off, would he set us free?  He would have to; Gage would have no other choice.  His presence alone, here, with
them,
brought shame upon his family.

The first morning he brought food and water to us
, I tried to strike up a conversation, tried to win his trust – which had backfired horribly.  He ignored me, provided the food for my men and me, and then left without a word, locking the door behind him.  My men were trained observers; they mistook my actions.  Seeing me try to befriend a captor, they began to question my loyalty to the Council.  None voiced their concerns to me, but I could see it in their expressions.

That was the only time
Gage had entered our room.  For every meal a different Lost Herd member brought us food and drink.  They must have been on some sort of rotation, and it didn’t take long to figure out we were outnumbered.  Each time the door opened, I looked quickly into the Centaur’s face, and each time I was disappointed not to find Gage Richardson.

By accepting the food, it felt like we were accepting favors from the enemy, but we needed our strength.  Our brothers would free us soon
, and we couldn’t afford to be weak when that happened.  I’d ordered my men to eat the food; I watched as their scowls for me grew with each meal.

I couldn’t allow them to question my orders.  Not here, not anywhere.

My men told me the stories of seeing Drake Nash on the beach.  The rumors from South Dakota had not been exaggerated – he was a true Centaur Warrior.  Drake Nash was not my target that night; I was to kill Camille Chiron.  That was the promise I had made to the Chairman.

I
expected her to be hiding, allowing her family to sacrifice themselves for her when we stormed the beach, so I was not at all surprised to find her cowering in the jungle.

At first, w
hen I found her, I couldn’t believe my luck.  I didn’t need to confirm who she was:  she looked like a female version of Cameron.  His blood disgusted me as much as his sister’s, but I was not permitted to kill him.  It didn’t make sense that Ms. Zandra would choose him as her successor.  They were both of the Lost Herd.  Zeus will pass judgment, and my only hope is that he is merciful on those who followed orders like the soldiers we have been trained to be.

I r
emembered the night the chairman had summoned my squad.  The chairman rarely singled out anyone, but she chose me that night.  I had just finished my evening physical training regimen when she summoned me.  She was deceptively small, but no one doubted her authority.  My men and I had been told to report to the Chairman’s residence for a special security detail.  We had flown immediately to her estate in Florida, offering our lives as protection if required, unaware of what the threat might be.

Rumors had surfaced that she might appoint an enforcer
to take her place.  Her son, Angelo, was the only remaining relative for her to pass her position onto.  My commander told me he believed she had summoned the additional protection in the event Angelo took the news badly.  I had met Angelo on several occasions – he could not lead the Council.  My commander’s theory made sense.

Rumors were running rampant. 
Heads of families that made up the Council believed they, too, might take over her position.  Calling a special session put all potential successors on high alert.  After arriving at her estate and reporting for duty, I did not expect her words when she told me, “Cameron is my grandson, my rightful heir.”

It was not my place to question the
Chairman.  I had been trusted with information she had not readily shared with the rest of the Centaurs in the world.  She had called a special council meeting where many believed she would name her successor – no one would be expecting a grandson.  “Escort him to his quarters and see that he is provided round-the-clock security until we leave for Centauride.”

Ms. Zandra’s property was already a fortress.  There was only one way onto her island in the swamp, but I did as I was told.  It was the dirty-blood grandson who let slip why he required protection.

His voice was condescending when he said, “I don’t need your protection.  I’m just letting you walk me to my room to keep Grandma happy.”

“Of course, sir.”  It was not my place to have an opinion on whether he needed protection.  It was merely my position to follow the orders I
had been given.

“I mean, people wouldn’t really kill me because
of who my father is, right?”

Confused I could only answer,
“I couldn’t say, sir.”

“William Strayer.  My father is William Strayer.  I’ve spent less than four hours with him my whole life.”

Taken aback, I didn’t understand how he was the chairman’s grandson if his father wasn’t Angelo.  I’d never heard the name, but sensed this young man felt compelled to talk to me.  Part of being a good warrior was knowing when to fight, but it was just as important to know when to listen.  “I’m not familiar with his crimes, sir.”

“This Lost Herd business is being blown out of proportion then, eh?”

I paused in mid-stride but caught myself so the lad didn’t notice.  Lost Herd?  They were still alive?  It couldn’t be; they had been extinct generations ago – at the decree of Zeus himself.

When I couldn’t formulate a response
, he continued, “That’s what I thought.  If it was such a big deal why aren’t his other sons in danger?  I met them in South Dakota.”

The kid wasn’t making sense.  Either Angelo or Angela had to be Cameron’s parent.  Each would only have a set of twins.  How could he have brothers
?  There were never triplets born of the Chiron line.  My curiosity was piqued, but I couldn’t let on that I was digging for information.  “Your brothers, you say?  How many brothers do you have?”

“Five.  Well, half-brothers.  I’ve got a twin
sister, too, but she’s still in South Dakota.”

A twin
sister?  Cameron was Angela’s son?  Only a daughter of Chiron birthed a son and daughter.  But Angela had been killed when I was just a boy, or she had gone missing and everyone believed she was murdered.  Half-brothers?  Was he mistaken?  Half-siblings were only something humans had.  A Centaur could not have more than one wife.  I corrected myself almost as soon as the ridiculous thought occurred – a Centaur who was not subject to Zeus’s rules could have more than one wife.

Anger started at slow boil under the surface of my skin.  The
Chairman ordered me and my men to ignore Zeus’s law.  It was my duty to murder Cameron.  If his words were true, why would she claim him as her grandson?  He should already be dead to her.  I could kill him now.  What would the repercussions be?  I couldn’t be punished for disobeying Miss Zandra if I was following Zeus’s decree.

The stories I had heard about the
Chairman must have been true because she appeared directly in front of me as soon as I had decided to end Cameron’s life.  She waved Cameron into the house as she looked into me with stony resolve.  “No harm will come to you for killing his sister or any member of the Lost Herd.  You will not lay a hand on Cameron.”

“Chairman, it is our duty.  We have an oath to Zeus.”

“You swore an oath to me, too.  Do you remember?”

“Yes, ma’am.  I only worry that the Chairman’s feelings for this Centaur may be clouding her
judgment.”  I cringed.  Questioning a Centauride in her position was the quickest way to a twenty year sentence in a room without windows.  I felt my heart rate pick up speed.  I awaited her order for me to turn myself in.  I should have kept my mouth shut.  Dad would be humiliated with me.  He had taught me better.

The
Chairman answered my thoughts, “Yes, Quinton, your father did bring you up better than that.  I trust you will not make the same mistake twice?”

“No, my lady.”

“Good.  I have a proposition for you.  If you are successful in killing Camille Chiron, I will see to it myself that you wear Captain’s bars.”

The
shuffle of a food tray outside the door brought me back to the present.  I had failed Zandra.  I would not fail her a second time.  My stomach grumbled.  Food would be delivered soon.  Motioning for my men to come closer, I spoke quietly but quickly.  “This is it.  We are enforcers.  We take down the next to walk through the door.  We need to get word to the Council.  One of us gets out.  Understand?”

A resounding, “Yes, sir,” answered me
as their posture straightened.

“Biggs,
you’re the fastest among us.  When the door opens, you make a run for the stairs.  We’ll take him by surprise.  The rest of us will stay here and take out as many as we’re able.”  My eyes searched the faces of my men for an ounce of fear.  There was none.

“The rest of you:  we won’t be captured again.  It’s a fight to the death – yours or the tra
itors’.  Understand?  We take out this family or we die trying.”