Page 1 of Whispers and Warriors
ONE
Emma’s handsshook as she haphazardly stuffed clothes into a pack, her breath coming out in quick gasps. She glanced up at the five men hovering around the room, their expressions grim and guarded. Something was wrong, very wrong, but one look at their tense, coiled postures told her now was not the time to ask questions.
She’d never been so thankful she hadn’t put laundry away as that moment. Even Ranger seemed to understand the urgency, staying just off to the side and out of the way even though she’d called him to come close. He sat with his eyes trained on Liam, which drew Emma’s gaze up to the man she knew cared for her dog almost as much as she did.
Liam glanced at her, pushing his glasses up onto his nose, and then went straight back to stuffing what looked to be the rest of the rations from their original journey into the dark green military-grade duffle. William bustled past, his left foot hitting the leg of the couch, drawing a curse past his lips. He didn’t look like the handsome man she’d known to be so calm. His blue eyes were wild with panic, and every muscle in his body seemedtense. It was not the William she’d come to know, and that alone sent another wave of concern over Emma.
A glance at Bash showed her the intimidating man she’d been left with in her basement the day they’d met. Any sign of the softness that had begun to blossom in him was gone, his green eyes focused only on the weapons he loaded into the case.
Sounds from the bathroom, mostly curses from Alex, let her know where he’d gone. The occasional snarl following a crash set her on edge, but she couldn’t seem to move. Couldn’t force herself to do as they did now that her bag was mostly packed.
“Emma,” Chris set his hand on her arm. “I meant it, we need to go.” His touch was warm and a little too firm, reminding her of the way he’d gripped her when they saw each other after she killed Marcus.
“Okay,” she nodded, shooting her gaze back down at the backpack one of them tossed at her. Once again, it would hold everything she owned in this fucked up world.
She grabbed a handful of socks and underwear from the basket, shoving them in alongside jeans and t-shirts. Her few meager belongings seemed to mock her—even being here for almost three weeks, she’d barely gotten any additional personal items because she’d stayed focused on doing what the doctors told her and just enjoying the peace she found here.
Swallowing, Emma darted into the bedroom she almost always shared with the men and jerked the nightstand drawer open, exposing the pregnancy tests she’d stolen in case she wanted to know before the doctors did. Her hand lingered over them for a moment before grabbing them and moving out of the bedroom with a wayward glance at the pillow she’d come to appreciate almost as much as her men. There was no way to take it, no matter how badly her neck wanted it to come.
She tried to quiet the pounding of her heart and the questions that threatened to make her pause. This wasn’t thetime. Nothing ever went smoothly in this world—not since it crumbled into ash and ruin—but she had finally found peace here. She’d thought she’d found some semblance of home and family. Now they were leaving, fleeing again.
She pushed through the lingering doubts in favor of haste, shoving a blanket and other necessities into the worn backpack that held more memories than use. She grabbed a spare t-shirt, smoothing her hand over the logo of her high school before adding it to the pack, then another pair of jeans that whispered softly against the wooden floorboards as Emma scooped them up — the faded denim muted by time and sweat but sturdy enough for whatever they would face until winter came. The world was unpredictable, after all.
Zipping the pack closed, Emma stood and met Chris’s eyes across the room. He gave a barely perceptible nod. A nod she’d come to learn meat he was in business mode.
It was time.
Her hand visibly shook as she grabbed Ranger’s leash. “Come on, boy,” she patted her legs and nearly sighed when he trotted over and sat at her feet, letting her clip the leash to his brand new Army-issued green collar.
A sob rose in her throat as she hesitated at her doorway, swinging her backpack on. This place had been more than just a refuge. It was the first time in years that she could remember feeling truly safe. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and cinnamon toast filled the air, reminding her of lazy mornings spent reading by the window with Chris, while Liam’s laughter echoed through the halls. The memory made her heart ache even more at their sudden departure.
Walk.
She finally moved toward the front door, Ranger matching pace by her side as if he’d been trained as a guide dog.
Chris’s hand brushed gently against her shoulder, and she nearly jumped. Her gaze flicked toward him, confusion and fear warring within her. She wanted to snap at him for scaring her, but something told her quiet was necessary even if none of them had said as much.
“The haven isn’t what we thought,” he explained, his eyes hard and unreadable. “As much as we’ve hoped it was, as much as it feels like it is ... we’ve learned something that blows it all to shit.”
He didn’t elaborate, and she couldn’t bring herself to ask, but allowed herself a quick nod, so he knew she heard him.
“Stay close to Liam and Alex,” Chris ordered, his voice tight with restrained emotion. “I’ll take point. Bash, William, cover the rear.”
The men moved into formation around her like the well-oiled machine they’d been since the day she met them, but Emma could see the tension rippling through their muscular frames.
Her heart raced as she followed him out of the house they’d claimed as their own, the door creaking shut quietly behind them.
Chris opened the door slowly and peered out into the darkened hallway. He led the way forward, as he always did, his broad back almost blocking her ability to see down the hall.A quick glance behind her showed Bash and William walking so close there was no space between them. Liam’s hand brushed hers, and she let go of the leash, knowing he was trying to take Ranger. Beside her, Alex held his gun by his side.
Whatever her men learned, it seemed they were now among enemies.
As they wound their way through the labyrinth of buildings within the compound, Emma’s thoughts raced like a frantic animal. She had felt a sense of security in this place, but now an unsettling unease took root deep within her. This was meant tobe their sanctuary, their haven from the outside world, but now she couldn’t help but wonder if they were merely safer from the standard danger here, but not all dangers.
The bright white walls and sterile hallways that once brought comfort now seemed suffocating and oppressive to her as they weaved in and out of buildings. This was supposed to be their chance at a normal life, but as her doubts consumed her, she realized the safety may have been nothing more than an illusion all along.
The once loud corridors were now eerily silent, the only sound the echoing footsteps of their small group. Emma couldn’t help but wonder where everyone was, it was early, but not so early the halls would be silent.
Maybe there’s a meeting. Maybe that’s what caused us to need to flee, something at that meeting telling the boys there’s danger.
