Page 34 of Redemption (Devil Dogs of the Apocalypse #4)

Dare

I can tell it hits her like a freight train. That I, the man she used to love, am now associated with the group that took the men that have replaced me.

It must feel like the worst betrayal. An absolute gut punch to the system that I’m part of the reason for their abduction. But it’s not what she thinks.

Her head tilts to the side, eyelids blinking profusely at my revelation. “What... the fuck... does that mean?” She waits a second... Two... And then. “You know what? Fuck you!” She bolts, running for the dense cover the trees provide, her canine companion following right on her heels.

She’s absolutely right. Fuck me.

I had an idea she might respond this way, which is exactly the reason why I didn’t bring up my unfortunate connection with the group.

But while I understand her concern and the fact that there’s a very strong possibility she’ll never trust me ever again, I also don’t want her to leave like this.

To think I’m some sort of enemy when all this ends.

Because, whether she believes me or not, I’m not like them.

I’m not the bad guy. That lingering thought causes me to race after her.

While I might be twice her size and can eat up the distance between us relatively easily, she’s quick and agile on her feet as she ducks and dodges tree branches and fallen logs. Every obstacle that I actively try to avoid, she does so easily. Which is... new.

She always used to be, for lack of a better or gentler term, clumsy.

She’d trip over her own shadow if she wasn’t careful.

But now? Not anymore. There’s power in her legs, a newfound strength that has her gliding through the trees with grace, almost making it look like a choreographed dance as she flies through an open area, only to change direction in an instant.

When did this happen?

I pick up my pace, pushing my legs to go even faster as I wrap my hands around branch after branch, switching directions as quickly as she is.

It takes a bit of time and well-placed dodges from her dog’s aggression, but eventually I manage to outpace her enough to get in front and then quickly turn around.

The swift maneuver causes her to run right into my open, waiting arms.

“Shit... Fuck... No... Let me go! You don’t want me!

Gaaaaah, fuck you!” Obviously pissed off—and now without the use of her arms—she turns her head.

.. and bites me, full-on Mike Tyson’s my ass, nearly ripping my earlobe off.

I try to remain calm and gentle, but fuck, woman, my ear?

! I wrap my hands around her wrists and pull them behind her back, holding them with one hand, before pushing the first two fingers of my free hand into the underside of her jaw, right at the hinge point where a particularly effective pressure point hides.

It doesn’t hurt her, but it definitely makes her uncomfortable enough to loosen her bite.

“Fucking hell, would you just stop and let me explain!”

“No! You said you worked for them! The same fucking bastards that took the guys and tried to get me, too.” Her gaze turns vengeful, all the wrath contained in her body spearing right into me.

“Tell me the truth. Are you just going to hand me over when we get there, then? You know, since you work for them and they obviously want me?” She grits her teeth, looking down her nose with searing condescension.

“It would be all too easy, wouldn’t it? The woman who used to love you to pieces.

Who waited for you for fucking years. You knew you could gain my trust eventually.

Use it to have me follow you right into their trap like a fucking lost puppy dog.

” She snarls, her teeth bared as tears cascade down her cheeks.

“Fucking. Bastard.” With renewed energy, she kicks her legs and screams, grunting and moaning as she tries to fight me off.

Her dog is on me as well, barking and nipping at every inch of me she can get ahold of.

Fuck, they’re making too much noise. If they both keep this up, they’re going to lure every damn thing in this vicinity—alive and dead—right to us.

I need to stop this.

Pressing into her, I walk us over to a large tree, my larger body bracketing hers against the trunk.

After confirming she’s not going anywhere, I secure Alessandra’s arms with one hand between us while I lift my other to cover her mouth.

She still screams like a fucking banshee, but at least it’s muffled for the time being.

Her eyes, on the other hand, are practically screaming at me with heated vengeance.

“Hate me all you want, but you need to listen for a fucking second. How many times do I need to tell you it’s not like that?

I don’t want you in the same time zone as them, let alone within their immediate vicinity, but you’ve already made up your mind about the matter.

” She starts to squirm in my arms again, forcing me to tighten my hold on her.

“You gonna be good?!” My words are a low, threatening grumble against her ear.

“Or do you want to draw every dead thing right to us and let them sort our shit out?!”

At my menacing tone, her dog stops dancing around me and chooses to stalk me instead.

Her jowls lift, revealing her vicious snarl and sharp teeth, as her growls echo in the silent air.

The hackles on her back lift and bunch, signaling she’s ready to attack me and protect her owner, but I can’t stop.

They both need to calm down, one way or another, or we’re all dead.

Looking the dog square in the eyes, I taunt her back, willing her to back down and take me as the dominant one in the group.

At first, she doesn’t surrender, doesn’t let up the fight she has to protect her human, but I’m a patient man.

I’ve waited years, devoted my life to someone I walked out on and rightfully hates my guts, but I’ll never stop fighting for this beautiful woman in my arms. Whether she wants me or not, I am hers and will wait for her until my dying breath if need be.

The dog prowls closer, inch by inch, until I raise a single brow and growl right back, forcing her surrender under my dominating gaze.

It must work because she pauses mid-step, her tail lowering behind her.

Alessandra’s fight ebbs away as well, probably curious about her dog’s sudden change in aggression.

But, as new sounds filter in around us, I realize it’s not in response to me.

Our gazes turn simultaneously to the side, where scattered growls erupt in the near distance, getting closer and closer to our position, their approach faster than we can outrun.

Fuck.

At least we’re in the forest where the trees provide plenty of coverage and deterrents. They might not even come through this particular trail we’re on, but they are coming in our direction, and I’d rather take every precaution we can before they’re on top of us.

I slowly pull my hand from her mouth and whisper, “Stay quiet... and very... very still.” With a shuddering breath, she listens, as does her dog when I signal to her with a wave of my hand.

I unzip the front of my ghillie suit and lift my arms, pressing them both up against the tree on either side of her head and surrounding the three of us with the muted darkness my suit provides.

It’s not the most pleasant, I’ll admit. For months, I’ve made sure to marinate the fabric in zombie innards to mask my scent.

Last thing I wanted was to get caught up in a horde again without some sort of escape or, at the very least, camouflage.

But God, if I don’t feel at least a little remorseful that she, once again, has to have her nose full of the acrid smell and her tongue covered in the horrendous, nauseating taste.

To save her from the torment, I press a little closer, allowing her to smell me instead of my suit.

The snarling horde marches closer and closer, our combined heart rates picking up at their imminent proximity. I’ve been in this type of predicament before, but after I created my ghillie suit, I’ve been able to remain within feet of them, and even amongst them, undetected.

Until today.

They continue their charge towards us, the lingering stench of my camouflage not doing a damn thing to deter them. Shit. Why isn’t this working? Is it because I’m covering more than just my scent? Is it because of her dog? Fuck... Think... Think...

“Oh.... No...,” she whispers, the words shaking with terror as she speaks them.

I tilt my head down, getting closer to her ear as I whisper, “What’s wro—” Suddenly, the faint smell of copper creeps into my sinuses.

Blood.

Shit, is she hurt? Could she have nicked herself on a tree branch when she tried to run away? That would definitely attract the horde right to us.

“It’s my... my....” She doesn’t finish, her breath catching on every word, but we don’t have time for this. They’re only seconds away.

“You’re what? We need to cover up the scent of wherever it is you’re bleeding from. Tell me where you’re hurt so we can conceal it!” I urge, quickly and just slightly above a whisper, but it’s already too late. They’re here... looking for the source.

I see them through the gaps in the suit’s mesh. Not many, maybe seven or eight, but it’s enough to cause trouble if we give away our hiding spot. We don’t speak. We barely breathe, holding still and silent against the old tree.

Her eyes dart up to mine, dread filling them, her entire body trembling with fright as she reaches a shaky hand down between us. A moment later, her hand returns, but her fingers are covered in blood.

My brows furrow before my eyes go wide with recognition. If this is what I think it is, there’s no stopping it anytime soon. With the tiniest of movements, she nods back at me, confirming my theory.