Page 18 of The Runaway
“See?” Nicole said. “Gabriel’s going to be fine.”
“You’ll forgive me if I decide to wait and see,” Helen said, with a scowl.
“Where did he come from?” Connor dared to ask. For all his declaration that Gabriel seemed like a good man, there was an intensity about him that was unnerving. During his questions, his eyes had never left Connor, his gaze sharp, like a wolf watching a deer.
“He was in the army,” Max told him. “Fought the war with the bleeding English. We kicked their asses back across the Channel, and it serves them right, the fucking bastards.”
Claude snorted. “You say that like you actually had a hand in defeating them.”
“Just because I wasn’t there doesn’t mean I can’t be proud of the fact that we won.”
The news that Gabriel had been in the army explained his quiet intensity, but did nothing to quell Connor’s wariness about the man. A soldier would be used to fighting. He’d likely have a quick temper and would be accustomed to solving problems with his fists. No, this was not good news at all.
“You’re awfully quiet this evening,” Max said next, and Connor realised he was talking to Adalene. “What’s the matter? Haven’t been getting enough of Niles’s dick?”
“Max!” Helen snapped at him. “For God’s sake, what’s got into you today? You’re picking on everyone like a boar with a sore tooth.”
“As opposed to the princess here? Poncing about like she’s better than everyone else because she thinks she’s going to bond with Niles? I know you’ve got a pretty face, girl, but is that really enough to hold an alpha’s attention?”
“What would you like me to say?” Adalene asked. It was hard to tell, but Connor suspected she was offended by Max’s comments.
“What do you think of Gabriel? Has Niles said anything about him?”
“No, nothing much. Basically, I don’t think we have anything to worry about. Antoine would never let anyone harm any of his omegas.”
“Easy for you to say. You’re not the one who’s going to have to mate with him one day.”
“So that’s what this is about?” Helen asked. “You think you’re too good to be servicing an alpha who now lives on this estate?”
“Just so long as I don’t have to do him first,” Max said. “I like to know what I’m getting myself into before I just waltz off into the mating room and drop my trousers. And so far, I don’t have a clue, because to my knowledge, he hasn’t had any of us yet. Or have I missed something already?” He looked around at the rest of the omegas. One by one, they all shrugged or shook their heads. “Seriously? He hasn’t mated with anyone?”
“Not yet,” Nicole said. “But like Adalene said, Antoine wouldn’t let him harm any of us.”
“Phhsst. I’ll believe that when I have hard evidence to back it up.”
“I’ve had enough of this tripe,” Helen announced, standing up and taking her empty plate to the sink. “Connor? Has anyone shown you where you’ll be sleeping tonight?”
“No,” he said, shaking his head. The thought had occurred to him, but he hadn’t dare ask, worried about being seen as too demanding, and equally worried about what the answer might be.
“Well, let’s go get you set up with a bed, then. The bunkhouse is through here.” She opened a door in the back of the kitchen and waited.
Connor stood up, taking his plate to the sink, just as she had done. And he realised in the process that he’d managed to finish his entire meal without anyone trying to take it from him. How odd.
“Seriously, Connor, don’t fret,” Max called, as he headed for the doorway. “You’ve landed in a good place. You could do far worse than the Calvet estate.”
Connor nodded and said nothing. The words might be true, or they might not. Only time would tell.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Gunshots blasted through the cold night air. Gabriel ducked down behind a bunker, feeling a sharp pain in the side of his face. Had he been shot? He checked his cheek, and his fingers came away red with blood. He felt his leg cramp and looked down, seeing a bloody wound on his thigh. A pack of dogs went racing past him, teeth bared, muzzles dripping with blood. Where was all the blood coming from? The ground was soaked in it.
His battalion were moving forward, heading for the enemy. No, not forward. They were retreating, running away as explosions boomed behind them. Gabriel tried to run, but he couldn’t get his legs to move. His men were getting further away, while the English were gaining on him. He tried to drag himself along the ground, his legs feeling numb, his hands gripping blood-soaked rocks…
Gabriel jerked awake with a muffled yell, struggling as phantom hands held him down. There was something wrapped around his legs, and he fought, kicking and writhing, reaching for a knife that wasn’t there. There was a shadow lurking in the corner of the room, dark and threatening, and he lunged for it, fully intent on killing the intruder…
Suddenly he was falling, and the sharp jolt as he hit the floor brought him fully awake. Fuck. He’d just fallen out of bed. The sheets were tangled around his legs, and he fought to unwrap them in a panic. Finally free, he lay on the floor, breathing hard. A quick glance confirmed what he already knew; the ‘intruder’ was a coat hanging on the back of the door, still and harmless.
Gabriel muttered a curse and picked himself up off the floor. Damn nightmares. He briefly considered trying to get back to sleep, then dismissed the idea a moment later. He thought about going to sleep in the barn again. But sooner or later, he would have to get used to sleeping in a bed. And eventually, he told himself, the nightmares would subside. He couldn’t keep running away from them all the time.