Bolt

6

“Okay. I accept that. What do you know about the gem?”

“That it is powerful and coveted by many,” he said, shrugging. “My mission is to protect you so you can do your job, not to retrieve the gem myself.”

She nodded slowly. Bolt c****d his head to the side, listening.

“The enemy party has moved away now. Your people are returning to the camp. We should tell them I am here and that they do not have to worry about another attack.”

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” she snapped. “All the easier for you to take it. Are you going to attack us in our sleep?”

Bolt looked at her, shaking his head in confusion. “Kara,” he said. “That is not why I’m here, and you know it.”

She blushed furiously. Something about the way he said her name hit her like a punch in the gut, or maybe even lower. She felt an urge to rub her thighs together and lick her lips, but she resisted. It cost her.

“Okay,” she said, turning back toward the camp. “Let’s go.”

She walked ahead of him, absolutely sure that she could feel his eyes on her ass. She told herself not to be so ridiculous and kept walking with her head held high.

Why do I even care if he’s looking at my ass?

She arrived back at the camp to find Elle, Hashmat, and Razia slowly putting the camp back together. The two local tribesmen who had been their guides seemed to have disappeared.

“Kara,” Elle cried, running to her. “Thank goodness you’re all right. What happened?”

“They came for me, but this special agent sent by the government came through at just the right time to help me hide from them,” she said. She wasn’t going to give him too much credit.

“Who is this guy?” Elle asked, looking up at Bolt suspiciously.

“He’s Bolt … Uh, what’s your last name?” Kara kicked herself for not asking earlier. If she had to kick herself many more times today, she’d definitely end up bruising something.

“Stryper,” he said, holding out his hand to shake. “Bolt Stryper.”

Kara and Elle looked at him in shock.

“What a coincidence,” Kara said, at the exact same time Elle shouted, “Bolt?”

His face fell into confusion as he looked between the two women. Kara could relate as she flicked her gaze back and forth between Elle and Bolt.

“Why does he have your last name?” Kara blurted, but neither of them was listening to her.

Bolt’s face went from confusion to full-on shock. Elle slowly clenched her fists, her face turning white.

“Oh my god!” she yelled. “Y-you’re dead. You disappeared when I was very young.” She took a deep breath and stared at his face. “Your scent, your eyes …”

Now that it had been pointed out, Kara could see the resemblance. They did have the same eyes.

“Wait,” Bolt said, putting his hands up. “Just ... wait.”

“Wait for what?” Elle cried. “Oh my god! What possible excuse can you have? We thought you were dead!”

Kara was so shocked she backed up a step. This was some deep family s**t she had been thrown into.

At least my family problems don’t involve long-lost dead relatives coming back to life.

“Elle, I can explain ...”

“No, you can’t,” she snapped. “There is no way you can explain. I was the one left at home with Mama and Papa. I’m the one who had to watch Papa die a little more every day from a broken heart. I know he was your stepfather, Bolt, but he loved you.”

Bolt blinked hard, shaking his head. Kara saw his chest tremble, just slightly.

“Papa died?” he asked, his voice very soft. Elle shook her head, tears pouring down her cheeks.

“He might as well have. He has barely moved for years. He watches the horizon as if you’re going to come back to him. He knew you were dead, he knew it, but part of him never accepted it.”

Elle shook her head, stepping back. She raised her hands as if to deny the entire situation, especially Bolt’s existence.

“I can’t believe this. I can’t!” She cried. She turned and ran back into the camp, ignoring Razia and Hashmat, who tried to ask her what was wrong. They turned to Bolt and Kara, staring at them with puzzled expressions on their faces. Kara sighed.

“That’s really not how I expected first introductions to go,” Kara muttered.

“Me neither,” Bolt said, his shoulders sagging. “I never dreamed that I’d run into my family again. If Papa ...”

He glanced at Kara, his eyes flashing cold green. It was as if he had just realized he was about to open up and caught himself just in time. He shook his head.

“I’m here to complete a mission,” he said. His voice was firm. “Introduce me to the rest of your team, and we will plan our next steps.”

“Okay,” Kara said, starting to walk with him back to the campsite. She didn’t see how anyone would be able to focus on the mission after this, but she was still committed. Bolt might have just saved their asses … but was he worth it? She couldn’t help thinking it would be better if he had never come.

Her eyes slid to the side to take another glimpse at him. Her tongue crept to the corner of her mouth as she admired his long powerful stride and lovely, strong hands.

No matter what turmoil he had brought, for better or worse, she was glad he was here. He stirred something in her she had never felt before, and she knew any danger, any heartbreak he brought with him was more than worth it, just to be near him and discover this new yearning that had bloomed inside her.