Leaving The Way: Book Two (The Way Trilogy), стр. 34

directly, otherwise I never would have gone near him, letting my men handle it instead. He’d gotten in several good hits before a couple of my men had dragged him off of me. When I’d seen Anna reappear with members of Diablo in tow, I’d tried to grab Ash Booker and make a run for it. No such luck.

I ended up having to leave her behind just so I could get away and live to fight another day. I’d made it back to camp, pulled myself into the saddle, and set off for home. It’s a good thing horses have a good sense of direction, considering I was out of it most of the ride. Pretty sure I had a concussion too.

The worst part, with me being so out of it when I arrived back at the gates and with my men taking me straight to the infirmary, there was no way for me to keep this a secret. I hadn’t told anyone I was taking a large chunk of my security force, along with Ash Booker, to find Anna Cress. I had assumed all would be forgiven when I returned with the little she-devil. Now that option was off the table, and despite my injuries, I was expected to report to the Vater in one hour.

Now, I move slowly through my bedroom with the intention of a shower, but I’m stopped short by a knock on the front door. Do you know how long it took me to get in here? Fuck whoever’s out there. If it’s important they’ll come back.

At the second knock, I finally make it to my bathroom door and I’m not turning back. Once my feet hit the tile, I turn to close the door, the shower calling my name, when I hear a voice. That sounded like it was from inside my living area.

Damn it all to hell.

Reopening the door, I strain to listen. Maybe I’m hallucinating, but no, there it is again, a female voice.

“Yeah?” I holler, as loud as my bruised ribs will allow.

I hear the bedroom door creak open, and I rush to the sink cabinet and grab the knife I store there, just in case.

“David?”

Thank God. “Tara, I’m in the bathroom. Is everything okay?”

I had assumed she would answer from the doorway and then leave, but instead I hear footsteps followed by the bathroom door slipping fully open.

“Oh God, David!” She rushes to me, moving to wrap her arms around me, but stopping short when she sees me wince in anticipation. “What did they do to you?”

Placing my arm around her shoulder, I carefully pull her to me, placing a kiss on top of her head before speaking. “I’m okay. It’s nothing. I’ll be back to good in no time.” I try to chuckle to lighten the mood, but it just hurts too bad.

“Let me help you, please,” she says, looking up at me with those big doe eyes, and there’s no way I could deny her.

Seeing my acceptance, she steps back and begins slowly unbuttoning my shirt. That was the easy part because once she’s done, trying to slide it off is excruciating. An involuntary growl escapes my throat and she pauses, looking to me for permission to continue. Once the hard part is done she reaches to undo the button of my pants, and I quickly grab her wrist. Looking up, she seems to search my face for answers, but I really don’t have any, I just know I want this girl but not right now, not like this.

“I need your help right now. But that’s all. I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but it can’t be more.” Reaching down, I run my finger down her cheek, along her jaw, and down to her collarbone as she shivers.

Her only response is, “I know,” and then she finishes undressing me before helping me into the shower.

Tara stays in her dress, but enters the shower with me, washing my body meticulously as if she was a nurse rather than my future wife. I appreciate her so much for that. When the hot water runs out, she dries me off, and then helps me to sit on the foot of the bed. She makes her way around my room, opening each drawer until she finds everything she’s looking for. After she’s helped me fully dress, she takes a seat on the bed next to me, and I take her hand, pulling it up to hold it to my lips.

“We’re going to ruin her, right? I want her and everyone she loves to suffer.”

Her eyes connect with mine and I nod, because yes, we will ruin Anna Cress.

***

DAVID

Tara hadn’t left like I thought she would, instead she stayed until it was time for me to go, and then she walked along side me, offering me balance when I needed it. Before we turned the last corner leading to Vater Henry’s office, we’d said goodbye and she’d quickly walked away.

Now I sit in the Vater’s office after having explained everything that happened, waiting on him to speak. He’s been sitting stock still for at least the last five minutes. Not a single word, not a sound, not a twitch, or even a breath, nothing. It’s starting to get unnerving.

And then finally, he speaks. “I think you well know this isn’t acceptable, Elder.” He takes a breath as I enjoy hearing my new title for the first time. “You do not leave this compound taking three fourths of our security force with you. What if we had been attacked again?”

I take it as a question for me to answer, but apparently it was rhetorical as he speaks over my response. “There will of course be a write up in your file, Elder. But there’s not much to be done about it now. With that said, what do you plan to do about this girl?”

I nod my head feeling rightfully put in my place given the bruised ribs making it difficult to breath. “I