Chapter Ten

Throughout the night, Zeke held on to Liz, his body blocking her from Jacob, his arm resting on her waist, his leg draped across both of hers.

"Mine."

Not his brother's. Not Carreon's. Not any other man's. His. Zeke wouldn't share her. He wasn't going to bring her back either.

The men he led had argued against his plan, saying it was foolish, crazy, suicidal.

"You need to leave her to her own people," Ike had said earlier. He was the same age as Zeke. They'd played together as kids, and as men had vowed to bring Carreon down. "What you want to do might not work."

"Hell, it won't work," another of his friends said. "It's too much of a risk."

Zeke knew that, but it didn't matter. "You're right. I shouldn't have asked for your help. I'll do this alone."

"No." Ike grabbed Zeke's wrist, stopping him from leaving the meeting area. "You'll never survive."

If he lost Liz, that was a foregone conclusion. Zeke pulled his arm back, freeing himself. His other friends stood in his way, not allowing him to leave, trying to talk some sense into him.

As they did, Zeke finally realized Jacob had slipped away to return here.

The memory of what Zeke had seen upon his arrival—Liz flushed with arousal, his brother spent from having mounted her—still rankled.

Lucky for Jacob, he was being very still and quiet now. Why?

Making certain not to wake Liz, Zeke pushed up and glanced over. No Jacob. Zeke listened, expecting to catch sounds coming from the bath…his brother taking a shower or using the toilet.

If anything, it was too damned quiet. Had Jacob left? When? Not to mention, why? Because he knew he'd never have another chance to be with Liz?

Hoping for that, Zeke sagged back down. The mattress wiggled a bit, though not enough to cause the springs to make any noise. His belly, on the other hand… The damn thing growled, the sound long and intrusive, telling Zeke it had to be well past morning, possibly lunch. No doubt the reason Jacob had left. He'd gotten hungry and was in the dining area eating.

It wasn't the best place for Zeke to have a talk with his little brother. Nevertheless, he didn't want to put off the inevitable any longer.

He lifted his arm and leg from Liz, pausing to see if she'd awaken and ask him a bunch of questions he didn't feel like answering.

Not that, please.

She remained on her side, one hand beneath her cheek, her hair fanned across her shoulder, the ends caressing her throat as she slept.

Smiling, Zeke had to restrain himself from brushing back her thick, fragrant mane, nuzzling her neck, smelling, touching, loving her. He'd do that later. All of today. Tonight. Every tomorrow they had.

He was going to give them a future at each other's side. He'd make it happen even without the help of his men. First, though, he had to see to Jacob.

Zeke left the bed and pulled on his jeans. With one last glimpse at Liz, he headed into the hall.

At the end of it, Jacob stopped, an apple to his mouth, his bite halted at seeing his older brother.

Jacob's expression reminded Zeke of when they were boys and he'd caught him doing something he shouldn't. Like rifling through their parents' drawers to see what treasures he'd find. Borrowing Zeke's stuff and using it as though it were his own. They'd fought over just about everything. Not once did it diminish their bond.

Love, the enduring kind one has for a sibling, welled in Zeke now. He'd die for Jacob without a moment's consideration or hesitation. That hadn't changed.

He wouldn't share Liz though. Her presence here, her feelings for him and only him weren't negotiable.

Before he could go to Jacob and tell him the score, his brother swaggered down the hall, eager for a fight.

Zeke suppressed a sigh.

Without as much as a fuck you , Jacob grabbed the knob to his room, turning it to go inside.

Not in this life. Zeke clamped his hand on his brother's wrist, stopping him.

Fury darkened Jacob's complexion. "Let go."

"Keep your damn voice down," Zeke ordered. "You're not going in there."

"Wanna bet? It's my fucking room."

"So it is." He gripped his brother's wrist even tighter, keeping him from opening the door. "But Liz is mine."

Jacob pushed his face into Zeke's. "She belongs to both of us."

"She never belonged to you. She simply healed you at my request."

Exaggerated surprise registered on his face, and then he grinned. "So that's what she was doing with me while you were out of the room. I wondered why she was moaning so loud and begging me to keep fucking—"

"Don't test me on this," Zeke warned. "I'll fight you for her, and I'll win. She loves me."

Jacob's expression got downright ugly. He twisted his arm to get free. "She told you that? When? While you've kept her trapped in my room? While you've kept her away from me?"

Jesus. Zeke released him and stepped in front of the door, keeping Jacob from it. "Go back to Kele," he advised.

"Or what? You'll have me locked up? You'll prove you're the big bad leader of the clan?"

"You want the job?" Zeke countered. "Fine. Take it. I never asked for it. I sure as shit don't enjoy it. Thousands of times I've wanted to take off and never look back. To have some goddamned peace for a change rather than all the crap I have to go through."

"Because of me, right? That's what you're saying." He curled his upper lip. "You don't like what you do, then don't do it, beginning with telling me what to feel, who to love."

"I'm giving you some much-needed advice. Don't be an idiot and ignore it. Kele's a good woman. She adores you." He rested his hand on his brother's shoulder.

Jacob punched it off. "I want Liz."

Zeke ordered himself to remain calm and reason, not to scream as he wanted to. "Why? You don't love her."

"Really. How do you know that? You see it in one of your precious visions?"

"I didn't have to. I know you." He pointed out the obvious. "Since Liz belongs to me, you want her, just like everything else I've ever had. She's new, what you've never experienced before, unlike any of our women and that's also why you want her. For the time being, that is, until you grow tired of her, which you will."

"The same as you."

This time, Zeke got in Jacob's face. "That's not true, and you know it."

"The only thing I know is how I feel and what I want."

"Then that's too fucking bad—you can't have her." Zeke fished the room's key from his pocket and locked the door, keeping his brother out.

Jacob fisted his hand around his apple. He took a step back. "This isn't over."

"Yeah, it is." Zeke huffed out a sigh and tried his best to reach Jacob, get through that thick skull of his. "You—"

He stopped at movement in the corner of his eye. At the end of the hall stood Kele, hurt on her lovely face.

Shit. How much had she heard?

Zeke stepped around Jacob to go to her. She pivoted and ran in the opposite direction.

"Get her," Zeke ordered. "Calm her down before she upsets the women even further." Especially Isabel. "She's been talking about Liz to them and they've been talking to the men. I don't want her stirring up any shit that's going to harm Liz."

"Nothing's going to happen to Liz while I'm around."

Zeke advanced, crowding his brother. Jacob stood his ground for a moment, before stepping back. "Get her," Zeke repeated. "Be nice and talk to her for a change. Notice she's alive."

"And then what? Marry her? Have a few kids so she's okay with all this?" He bared his teeth. "I can't change how I feel just to make you happy."

"I'm not asking you to. Just speak with her. Convince her that this isn't about Liz. It's not about any woman. What you feel for Kele isn't what she needs or deserves. She should move on and find another guy."

"You think I haven't made that clear already?"

"Try again. Please."

"And if it doesn't work, then what?"

Zeke hadn't a clue.

"That's what I thought." Jacob turned on his heel and spoke over his shoulder as he headed in Kele's direction, "Like I said, this isn't over."

Liz opened the nightstand's bottom drawer and searched through Jacob's underwear, just as she had his socks and tees in the other drawers. No key here either. Damn.

She'd awakened a short time earlier, hearing him and Zeke going at it, arguing about her and Kele. When they finally fell silent and moved away, Liz had gotten dressed and tried the door, confirming what she thought she'd heard but hadn't quite believed—one of them locking her inside.

This lunacy had to stop before Zeke and Jacob beat each other to a pulp over her, or their people locked them both up for acting like testosterone-addled teens. She rounded the bed, heading for the bath. There had to be a piece of metal in there that she could use to spring the lock or pry open the door.

With one touch, she had the walls glowing and scanned the area, not finding anything she could use.

Returning to the bedroom, she bounced in place, finally focusing on the lamp nearest her. She removed the prong that supported the shade and fell to her knees at the door, working its metal end into the lock, making her plans.

Once she was in the hall, she'd retrace the steps she'd taken upon first coming here. She'd reach the garage. Hopefully, the metal door would be open, and she'd slip into the tunnel, running down it and into the desert, heading for Carreon's stronghold.

Wherever in the fuck it might be.

Don't think about that. She had to concentrate on getting this freaking lock open first. Every time she turned the prong or applied the least bit of pressure, the stupid thing jerked out, causing her knuckles to ram into the wood.

"Shit." She sucked her scraped fingers then froze at the sound of a key on the other side.

As fast as possible, Liz backed up, falling to her butt.

The lock clicked; the knob turned; the door opened.

On her feet, she caught a glimpse of Zeke before she darted past him into the hall.

Halfway down it, he caught up with her, his hand gripping her upper arm. "Hey. What do you think you're doing?"

Liz turned to him. "Let me go. Please. I have to go back now."

He regarded the hall past her and the area behind them. They were still alone. Rather than acknowledging what she'd said, he pulled her toward Jacob's room.

"Zeke, no." She fought him as best she could, pressing the balls of her feet into the floor, slowing his pace.

At last, he stopped, sucked in a deep breath, then swept her into his arms.

"Dammit, Zeke." She punched his shoulder.

"Stop it," he growled, bringing her back into Jacob's room. He kicked the door closed with his foot and let her down.

She staggered back, her legs hitting the bed. On it was a tray with lunch for two—plates heaped with fresh fruit, what looked to be turkey sandwiches, coffee, milk. The tall glasses clinked against each other. The utensils jiggled.

What in the hell was this about? Zeke expected her to start eating in here to keep her away from his brother and their people? For how long? Did he honestly believe his clan would ever accept her or that Jacob was going to back down and be a good boy?

Not about to debate the subject, Liz headed for the door. Just as quickly, Zeke grabbed her arm again. "You're not going to win this fight," he said.

"Neither are you." She pried his hand from her and faced him. "I have to go back. Now. This very minute."

"No."

She glared at him. "You can't stop me."

"I just did." He planted his hands on his lean hips and got so close Liz could smell coffee on his breath. "What's this about?"

"Isn't it obvious to you?"

"Would I be asking if it was?" His frown deepened as he noticed the metal prong and the shade she'd removed. "Did Kele try to bother you while I was gone? Did she say something through the—"

"I heard you and Jacob arguing, Zeke."

Surprise and then concern erased his irritation. Still, he shrugged. "So, we fight. Big fucking deal. Brothers do that all the time."

"Not over me. I won't have it."

"Liz." He gave her one of those puppy-dog looks that said she was overreacting then reached for her.

She sidled away. Zeke followed. Liz kept backing up until the bed got in her way again. The glasses chinked.

"Keep doing that," he warned, "and there'll be more milk on the tray than in your glass."

"I want to go back to my father. Listen to me," she said, interrupting him. "I don't belong here. I'm the enemy. The men don't trust me, and the women resent me, especially Kele."

"She'll get over it. They all will. They know you healed Jacob and me. You've seen to the children."

"That doesn't make me one of them, Zeke. Keeping me here isn't going to change that or fix this mess."

"It's not a mess. I'll take care of everything." He cradled her face in his large hand. "Trust me. Please."

Liz wanted to resist, but his hopeful smile and gentle touch defeated her. She sagged into him, her fingers gripping his tee. These last moments together were all they had, and Liz couldn't deny herself that even as she continued to argue. "This isn't going to work out."

"It will." He kissed the top of her head and rubbed her back. "You'll stay here with me and my people. We'll find your father, and we'll bring him here to be with you."

"What?"

"Don't leave me," he begged, pulling her back into him, wrapping his arms around her. "You'll never make your father safe by returning to Carreon's stronghold. He'll always use him to keep you in line, at least until he finds someone else in your clan with the same healing powers you two have. It's inevitable for that to happen. The only way both of you can have a future is here."

"With a clan that hates us, with that getting even worse if any of your men are killed trying to rescue my father?"

"Shhh." He pressed his lips to her temple and squeezed her gently. "My men aren't fools, Liz. They rescued me. We'll make our move when Carreon least expects it. As far as my people hating you and your father, you're wrong. They detest Carreon and his men for what they've done. You and your father have never been a part of that. My people are reasonable, Liz. You know that. You've seen them. Have any of them threatened you? Has even one of them said an unkind word? Except for Kele," he added quickly.

Liz pressed her face into his shoulder, sighing at the sweet scent of his freshly laundered tee. "No."

"That's who they are," he said. "Good people."

As honorable as him. He made the thought of being here sound so wonderful, so doable Liz was almost convinced.

Almost.

A thought nagged. "Have you seen our future in your visions, Zeke? Did they tell you everything was going to be all right?"

His body tensed. It was just a bit, but enough for her to notice. "Have they showed how you and Jacob would fight over me or how that's going to end?"

"It's already ended. You're mine. I'll accept no other outcome."

"Zeke, you can't—"

He did, stopping her from offering another protest, slanting his mouth over hers, defeating her best intentions.

She whimpered at how good he tasted, better than Liz recalled. His promise to rescue her father was more than she'd ever expected, if it worked out. If it didn't… His people would hate him for bringing any of them to harm. Her father would still be Carreon's prisoner or worse, he'd be dead. She stiffened at the thought.

Zeke pulled his mouth free and cupped her face in his hands. "Everything's going to be all right, I promise you. I'll make it that way. My visions haven't shown any of my people being harmed. The only thing I've seen is Carreon hurting you. I won't allow that to happen by bringing you back. You're staying here, and so will your father so I can protect you both."

He directed her to sit on the mattress, offering her a glass of milk. Liz put it and the tray aside, not needing food or drink. She had to have him.

Together, they fell to the bed, pulling off each other's clothes, their haste adding to the excitement. At last, he was on top of her, his cock sinking deep inside, his hands wrapped around her wrists, keeping her his willing prisoner.

For a long moment, they regarded each other, and then Zeke smiled. It was luminous, softening his rough features, making him seem so very young and happy. "Say you're mine," he whispered.

"You know I am. You've known from the beginning." She sighed at his mouth brushing hers. Her lips moved against his with her promise. "I'll never belong to another man."

Within the day, she'd likely be dead.

She'd burned the sandalwood incense he liked so much. The blankets on her bed were replicas of the ones on his.

Kele had taken great pains to make her room similar to Jacob's so that when he moved from there to here, it wouldn't be so trying. The transition would be normal then required because he adored her.

He stood in front of her door, the tension in his body telling Kele he wanted to run. He refused to look at her, staring at the floor instead. She'd removed her tee. Naked to the waist, she stood before him, prepared to give him her body, heart, and soul.

Jacob didn't want it. It wasn't that he'd said as much, but for the first time, she saw his embarrassment for her. His pity.

Pain radiated from Kele's belly to her chest, making it difficult to breathe. "Do you love her?" she asked.

Jacob flinched as though he hadn't expected her to speak or to say what she had. Like a nervous child about to see the school principal, he shifted from foot to foot.

"You don't love me," she accused, forcing herself to say what she saw on his face. What she'd never be able to accept. "So do you love her?"

Kele had overheard Zeke saying he did, accusing Jacob of wanting Liz only because of that.

"I—" He stopped and rolled his shoulders, trying to relax.

"Tell me," she ordered. "Say that you love her. Say that you want an enemy woman more than me. That I'm nothing to you. That I make you sick. That you can't even stand to look at me or be in the same room as—"

"Dammit, stop it. That's not true." He rubbed his palms on his thighs. "I never said I wanted to settle down with anyone, all right? We're friends, Kele. We'll always be friends. You know I'd do anything for you."

Except give her his heart and fidelity.

Did he think it was easy for her to watch him flirting with the other women? To wait for him at night, wondering what girl he was with when he didn't come to her? Imagining what he and that woman were doing? How they played together and laughed? How they loved?

She dug her nails into the palms of her hands, wanting that pain rather than the intense sorrow and frustration coursing through her. "The only thing I want you to do for me, Jacob, is to give me a chance so I can convince you to love me."

He regarded her, finally. The pain on his face was identical to what she felt.

"Please," she whispered, crossing the room to him. More than anything, she wanted to sag against his strong body but didn't dare, not wanting to force his hand, to make him run from her. "Tell me what I have to do, and I'll do it. I'll be whatever you want. I'll change. Do you want me to laugh more? I can do that. Do you want me to cut my hair or dye it so it matches her color? If I dress differently, will that help?"

He stared at her, his expression troubled.

"Just tell me," she cried.

"Kele, please." Jacob edged away, his back hitting the door as he tried to maintain physical distance.

The emotional divide was even worse, stretching between them. Pitiless and cruel.

"You're fine just the way you are," he said, sounding as he did when he complimented a child for good behavior or one of the elderly women on how she looked that day. Kind, yet disconnected. "You're beautiful. Don't change a thing about yourself. Not for me or any other man. You need someone who'll appreciate your love. I can think of a dozen guys here who'd jump at the chance to be with you."

He wanted to give her away to someone else? A tear rolled down the side of Kele's mouth to her chin, dripping from it onto her torso.

Jacob parted his lips to speak then closed them as though he hadn't a clue what to say.

For one foolish moment, she hoped he'd catch one of her tears on his fingertip, bringing it to his mouth, tasting its salty flavor, then tell her he'd been joking. She was his. To prove it, he'd enfold her in his arms, promising to be with her always.

A silly dream, she knew, when reality was far harsher. He pretended not to notice her weeping and reached behind himself for the doorknob.

"We'll always be friends," he assured. "You need help with anything you can come to me. No problem. I'll be there for you, Kele. Count on it. Okay?"

It wasn't. Not that it mattered. Jacob didn't give her a chance to answer before he slipped out of her room, closing the door.

Kele remained where she was, crying quietly, not knowing what to do. She'd lost her mother to cancer and her father to the clan's many conflicts when she was a young girl. She'd poured all of her love, her entire future into Jacob.

He wanted to be friends. Because he was already in love with someone else.

Nausea overwhelmed Kele. Wrapping her arms around her middle, she bent at the waist and swallowed repeatedly. She imagined the coming days, watching him and Liz in this compound, going about their lives, spending their evenings together despite what Zeke had claimed.

Jacob would have his way as he always did. He'd steal moments with Liz if that was what it took. He'd mount her, pounding his cock into her cunt, her cries of delight mingling with his huffs of pleasure.

Zeke might not be aware of what they were doing, but Kele would know. She'd see it on their faces, in their eyes. Her body shook with the unbearable thought of what the approaching hours would bring. She couldn't stand the thought of them being together. It wouldn't be possible for her to live through their joy.

The urge to do something, to run, overwhelmed Kele. She slipped on her tee and left her room, fingering tears from her eyes as she bolted down the hall. To her relief, her moccasins quieted her footfalls. She didn't want the others to hear her, to question where she was going, what she'd do.

On and on she ran through the stronghold, gulping air as she approached the tunnel's door. Ike was there, his back to her, an assault rifle at his side as he guarded the entrance against attack.

An unnecessary precaution Zeke had put into place since bringing Liz here. Already, she'd brought the clan nothing but problems. Even if an intruder discovered the tunnel's entrance and wandered down it, he'd never get past the metal door, not even with a blowtorch or explosives. The alloy was from the Others—impenetrable.

The same as Jacob's heart.

Kele sucked in several deep breaths, hoping to calm herself. When she could trust how she looked and behaved, she approached Ike.

He turned at her hand on his arm. "Oh, hey, Kele."

His broad face widened even more with his smile. He was one of the guys Jacob wanted her to focus on so he could be with Liz.

"Didn't hear you," he said, his smile catching. He studied her more closely. "You okay?"

She had to get out of here. She couldn't breathe. Think. "Sure."

"You look like you've been crying."

"No." She rubbed her right eye. "I was burning incense, and the smoke started to bother me. Maybe I'm allergic to that scent." Before he could question her further, she asked, "Have you had lunch yet? It's just about over. The women are cleaning up the dining area."

He checked his watch. "My shift's up in a few minutes. I'll go when Paul arrives."

"Go now." She took the assault rifle.

Ike stared at it in her hands. "What are you doing?"

"Pretending to keep watch like you are." She forced a smile. "We both know Zeke's being overly cautious. Who could get through that?" She gestured to the enormous door. "Go on and eat now. I'll stay here for you until Paul shows up."

He scratched his neck. "Uh, I don't know."

"You don't think I can handle this?" She lifted the rifle in challenge. "You don't think I paid attention when Zeke trained us to use it? You don't remember all the bull's-eyes I hit, my scores better than most of the guys?"

"Oh, hey, I'm not thinking anything. You were awesome. But it'll only be a few minutes." He touched her arm and waited as though gauging her reaction.

Kele didn't pull away as she would have in the past.

"We can both wait for Paul," he said, "then we can have lunch together."

"I've already eaten…but I'd like to have a late dinner with you. That's why I'm here. We could eat at ten or so tonight if you can make it."

"You bet I can." His grin was even wider than before, until he glanced at the weapon. "You're sure you're okay with this?"

"Have you ever known me to offer something I didn't want to give?"

"Well, no, but—" He stopped at the frown she was giving him. "Okay, then," he said then stepped back and stopped. "By the way, if Zeke comes down here and tries to leave, don't let him."

"I won't." She made a face. "Why would he try to leave?" Liz was here. Liz was his freaking life. He'd allowed her to screw up everything.

"Long story," Ike said. "If he comes down here and tries to leave, call me." He handed her his two-way radio. "Call everyone, got it?"

"You bet."

"I'm looking forward to tonight," he said.

She lied, "Me too."

Ike walked backward, watching her, taking too long to reach the next hall and go down it out of sight.

Kele didn't dare move. She listened for his footfalls that would warn her he was coming back to talk some more, to wait for Paul, to do what Zeke wanted after all. A minute passed and then another, with her counting the seconds.

The hall remained empty.

She went to the control panel, placing her palm on it. Clicking noises came from within the door. It slid open, revealing the tunnel and vehicles…the van Zeke had arrived in the other night. She stared at it, thinking of escape, of making the pain stop.

Halfway to the van, Kele pivoted and returned to the hall, leaving the assault rifle there. When Paul arrived, he'd probably think that Ike had abandoned his station early because it was stupid to guard a sealed area. If Paul made a big deal about it, Ike would simply tell him she'd abandoned the post. No doubt, they'd laugh about her wanting to keep watch, her boasting about what a good shot she was when she hadn't even bothered to stay here.

By the time either of them guessed the truth of what she'd done, it'd be too late.

She closed the tunnel's door. In the van, she glanced at the GPS, what it had recorded earlier.

Determination, along with a sense of peace, settled over Kele. She'd lived with uncertainty and unhappiness for too long. She couldn't do it anymore. This time, she'd have what she needed.

At top speed, she drove the van down the tunnel to the outside.