Page 64 of Come Fill Me

Outside, birds squawked and the persistent wind whistled past the building.

Carreon tensed, listening as hard as he could, trying again to detect what he’d thought was the sound of a motor. His men had scanned the area with their binoculars and reported that no one approached. Unconvinced, he’d sent more men outside to investigate.

They’d been gone too long to have seen nothing.

He gripped his weapon a bit harder, debating whether to check for himself or wait here and see what had happened.

The foyer clock ticked away the seconds, adding to the other noise, annoying him further.

Come on. You’ve either found something or you—

He flinched at a sudden pop, needing to know its source.

It sounded again…from one of the walls, not a gun. The fucking house was settling.

Not about to wait any longer, he crossed the room, pausing at the hall. To the right was the front door and whatever lay beyond it. To the left was the path to his safe room.

He headed for it, halting at the squeak of the front door opening then its wood crashing into the wall.

“Let go of me!”

Carreon frowned at the female voice. Liz? He couldn’t believe it. She’d returned on her own? No. It wasn’t possible. Zeke and his men had to be with her. So why weren’t they firing, killing his men?

Torn between curiosity and fear, he glanced over. Robertoand Victor hauled a young woman from the foyer to where Carreon stood. She was in her early twenties, her waist-length hair disheveled, her features belonging to Neekoma’s clan.

“Hurt me,” she warned, “and I won’t tell you anything.”

“Let her go,” Carreon ordered, intrigued by her being here. Was she a lookout for Zeke? Had she gotten lost?

How was that likely when this stronghold wasn’t anywhere near a frequently traveled road?

“Is anyone with her?” Carreon asked.

“I’m alone,” she said.

Ignoring her, he repeated to Victor, “Is anyone with her?”

“No. We checked the area thoroughly before bringing her inside.”

She yanked her arms, trying to pull free of him and Roberto.

“Go on,” Carreon said, “let her go.” The instant they did, he approached.

Apprehension flashed on her face.

Good. He wanted to intimidate her. No fucking way was she calling the shots in this, whatever it may be. “Who are you?”

“Kele. Jacob’s woman.”

Jacob? Zeke’s brother? A thread of unease mingled with Carreon’s desire to toy with then kill her. How was it Jacob had allowed her to come here alone? Why would he do that? “How did you find this place?”

She curled her upper lip in a show of disgust. “Ever hear of GPS?”

Carreon grabbed her throat and squeezed. Kele’s eyes bulged in surprise then pain. With as much calm as he could muster, he asked again, “How did you find this place?”

She pulled at his fingers, trying to free herself.

Before she lost consciousness, he let go.

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