Page 57 of Strictly Forbidden

As soon as I unzipped the oversized bag, I pressed my hand over my mouth.

Weapons.

Ammunition.

Assault rifles.

Jesus Christ.

I glanced over my shoulder just as Max padded into the room. “Who the hell are you, Kage?”

Another oozing moment of fear crawled through me. From the frying pan into the fire.

Truth.

CHAPTER 16

Kage

Panic attacks.

That’s what the so-called experts called them. Hell, even Dr. Daniels had mentioned them to me after I’d been tossed in solitary confinement the first time I’d nearly beaten a man to death after arriving at prison.

What I’d experienced was nothing like what I’d witnessed happening to Noel. I’d used my anger to keep the demons at least locked down until I’d needed them, using the energy and the hatred of almost all things breathing to fight my way through the years of incarceration. Sure, I could admit even to the fucking parole board that I’d deserved some form of punishment, even if it wasn’t for the reason the bastard cops had pegged me for.

Yet I’d killed my share of assholes threatening my new way of life. Every kill, every bullet put in a son of a bitch’s forehead had been about killing the people who’d destroyed my life.

Over and over again.

But the prison this woman had been forced into was one she deserved in no way, shape, or form. She was one of the innocent creatures who deserved only the best things in life, shit I couldn’t give her. Just standing like a statue in the center of the kitchen of a man it turned out I barely knew told me that. I was nothing but a shell.

I was thankful I’d already had some tools in my truck, useful instruments I learned to keep with me. I’d found a few tools belonging to my grandfather in a locked shed, but right now all I needed was a pry bar to get off the haphazardly secured boards on the windows. The moment I’d gotten a better look at the exterior, I’d realized the cabin would need some work. It would be a shame to let the beautiful place fall into any additional disrepair.

After tossing another board, I grabbed a bottle of water, chugging down half. It was cold as a witch’s tit outside, but I was sweating like a pig, likely more from the continual rush of adrenaline than what little exertion I was engaged in. Max was dutifully watching me, which wasn’t what I wanted but as I peered down at the special boy, I felt that same pang from the night before and weeks before that.

I’d been so proud when he’d graduated with his little medal and diploma but that had been quickly replaced with another wave of loneliness.

I hunkered down, pouring water into my cupped hand, which he lapped greedily. His tail constantly wagged, which was amazing given how he’d been in the beginning.

The intense sun was suddenly blocked and I almost reached for the weapon I had shoved into the waistband of my jeans. It was habit and a necessity. I could swear by the look on her face she knew what I’d almost done. She was pensive, uncertain, and standing a solid six feet away.

Max realized she was there, trotting off to nuzzle her leg.

“He really likes you,” she said as she started to walk closer.

“He’s a good boy but he belongs to you.”

“Now, he does. I’m curious about something. Did you ever hear about a program where prisoners incarcerated in a penitentiary train dogs for use as support animals?”

The comment was so out of the blue that I was caught off guard to the point of not knowing what to say. “Is that where you got him from?”

“I did.” She walked closer, finally forced to shield her eyes from the sun.

I should hate myself for gawking at her, lusting after her but seeing her dressed in a flannel shirt that didn’t belong to me, boots that I doubted belonged to her, and a jacket that I had a feeling was owned previously by my grandfather was the sexiest thing I’d seen in a long time.

Noel was suddenly self-conscious, glancing down at her attire. “I hope you don’t mind. I had no clue what to bring with me. I wasn’t given much time nor was I told we’d be in the middle of a snowy world.”

“I don’t think my gramps would care now that he’s dead. Looks better on you.”

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