The Alliance Boxset Books 1-6

Chapter 8-1

Chapter Eight

Hunter released a curse under his breath. Jesse was walking away from them all. Her head held high and her back stiff. He could see the spots on the back of the tunic where fresh blood stained it from additional cuts. He glanced at Dagger and Saber before he nodded his head.

“Get them to the transport,” he ordered. “I will meet you there.”

“She won’t come willingly,” Saber commented in a dark voice filled with anger as he held Taylor’s body gently against his own.

Hunter’s mouth tightened in determination. He expected nothing less from the human female. She had been stubborn and completely unpredictable since the moment she risked her own life to save his.

“I would expect nothing less from her,” he muttered before he started after her.

“Hunter,” a soft, feminine voice called out from behind him.

He turned to glance at Jordan, who gazed back at him with sad eyes filled with tears. Her hand shook violently as she pushed her hair back from her face. His face softened when he saw her lips tremble as she tried to speak.

“Yes,” he said.

“She is hurting,” Jordan whispered. “She has tried to protect and care for us since our mom died and our dad was killed. Please, try to understand. She has never really let anyone take care of her.”

Hunter frowned before he gave a sharp nod. His eyes swept the area narrowing on the dark alley between two buildings. Already, Jesse was trying to disappear again. This time would be the last. He would tie her down if he had to. It was time she understood that he was going to take care of her and protect her from now on. She belonged to him.

* * * *

Jesse stumbled over the fallen concrete that blocked part of the alley. She ignored the sting of new cuts to the palms of her hands. It didn’t matter anymore. She was looking for trouble. She wanted it to find her. She wanted the pain to end. She wanted to scream as the image of Taylor’s limp body burned in her mind.

Guilt threatened to choke her as she fell, skinning her knees. She pushed herself up, forcing herself to continue moving. She stopped when she reached the next street. She looked up and down it, trying to decide which way to go. It didn’t really matter. She was no longer searching for a way to get to the cabin her parents had owned. She didn’t plan on living through the night.

Turning in a circle, she finally sank down to the ground. She sat staring down at the hunting knife in her bruised and bleeding hands. Soft rain fell around her, soaking her hair and clothes. Her breath fogged as she panted as pain swept through her body. It wasn’t the pain from her physical wounds that pulled the choking sobs from her. It was the pain in her heart.

She began rocking back and forth as the sobs racked her body. Ragged breaths tore from her as she tried to breathe past the agony of losing Jordan and Taylor. She closed her eyes and raised her face to the sky, letting the rain mix with her tears.

“Why?!” she sobbed. “Oh God, why? I love them so much. Why couldn’t I protect them? Daddy, why? Why?” she cried out quietly as she fell over and curled up in a ball as the pain overwhelmed her. “Why?”