CHAPTER 12
Cora Chapman
IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS with Landon, coupled with the day Hastings had touched me, I’d started to observe everything.
Landon hadn’t come out and told me to be hyper-aware, but sometimes when you’re around someone you just naturally pick up on everything they do. Landon always watched—surroundings, people, anything.
He also barely ever left my side unless I was at school. Even then, I always had the feeling he was watching me from somewhere. When he’d said he would protect me, I believed him. Landon was different. He didn’t say things he didn’t mean. It was the only thing that got me through the days.
I told myself I was stupid for even worrying about Hastings. He’d grabbed my ass. It could’ve been worse. He could’ve done more. Hurt me. At the same time, I wondered if that’s how it started for other women. If that’s how they rationalized things, even when it progressed into more serious abuse. Told themselves it wasn’t a big deal. He’d invaded my space without my permission. Against my will. It struck a fear in me. Whether it was grabbing my ass or something far worse, he’d stolen my control. Control over who could and couldn’t touch me.
Hastings had steered clear of me which made me wonder about everything that had happened outside of what Landon told me. If I walked outside after school, Hastings ran to his car and hollered at Cory from the window. He never made eye contact. It made it a little easier to deal with. If he’d come onto me again, I might’ve had a breakdown. Just seeing him run away was enough to bring the moment back to the surface.
Instead of sitting home alone, most of my free time was spent at the Lane house. I’d had a few nightmares about the incident with Hastings and I hated how much it got to me. I could smell his hot, sour breath on my neck, and feel his meaty palm gripping my ass. The anxiety and helplessness that flooded my system when I couldn’t get away or do anything because I was backed against my desk—that vulnerable fear would all rush back in and then I’d wake up in a cold sweat, panting. I hadn’t told Landon about the dreams because I was afraid of what he might do. Hanging out at the Lane’s kept my mind at ease. I never felt safe unless Landon was nearby.
We went out on a few more dates, but never in Desire. That was the plan. Keep everything low profile until Logan wasn’t in my class anymore, and then smooth sailing after that.
I walked outside and stepped down the porch at Landon’s house. Sat down on a lawn chair. Logan and Landon tossed a football back and forth across the yard. Even when Landon played with Logan he’d glance at me every few seconds. I’d smile back and it would set him at ease for the moment, but his hunger and intensity for me would always roar right back to his face.
He had on one of those stretchy Under Armour shirts. His arms were massive, muscle on top of muscle—and his chest, forget about it. The man melted the walls around me like butter. Everything else faded away when I was around him.
I pulled out my Kindle and started to read. Logan and Landon laughed like they could’ve played for hours in the front yard. The sound of those two kept me relaxed.
Janet sat next to me and had her Kindle out too.
“What you reading?”
She fanned her face. “Something I shouldn’t be in front of people. Lawda mercy.”
Her books had a lot more heat in them than mine. I’d read one of her recommendations and fanned my face through ninety percent of it.
“What about you?”
“Jane Austen.”
“Well, that’s pretty close to mine.”
“Oh really, who is it?”
“Jana Aston.” She flashed me a devilish grin. “It’s about a virgin who falls for her gyno. And it is dirtayy, if you know what I mean.” She nudged me with her elbow and cackled.
My thighs squeezed together. Landon didn’t know I was a virgin. It had never really come up. There’d been heavy petting a few times, but not much more. My stomach knotted, and I squirmed thinking about it. He probably assumed I’d had sex seeing as I was twenty-five. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to, I just hadn’t dated that much. Hadn’t ever really met anyone that fit the bill, until Landon.
I snapped out of my thoughts and nodded at Janet. “I’ll have to check it out.”
“It’s Wrong.”
“Huh? What’s wrong?”
“The name of the book.”
“What is it?” I leaned over. “You can tell me.”
“No, honey. I mean it’s Wrong. The name of the book is Wrong.”
“Oh.” I laughed at our little Abbott and Costello moment and added it to my wishlist. What could it hurt?
Logan ran over to Janet and me. Landon followed behind him, the sun highlighting all the contours of his chest and abs as they constricted and relaxed with each subtle movement.
“We’re thirsty.”
Janet’s face stayed glued to her Kindle. Her eyes bugged out a little.
“Why’s your face so pink?” Landon glanced to Janet.
She shoved her Kindle down into her lap. “Huh? Umm, nothin’.”
I shook my head at her and laughed. She mouthed “dirtayy” at me.
The four of us headed up the steps to the porch. Tires crunched on the gravel road behind us. Landon whipped around.
His eyes were locked on the car. I’d never seen him so intense and focused. I watched him closely. He was calculating.
It was a black Lincoln Towncar. Completely out of place in the rural, Montana countryside. The windows were blacked out except for the front windshield. Two men sat in the front.
Janet gripped my forearm and dug her nails into my skin. Her hand trembled. “Let’s go inside.” She shoved Landon out of her way to get to Logan. Landon stood there, staring like a statue frozen in chiseled granite. Janet grabbed Logan by the elbow and led him to the door. She gestured with her head for me to follow.
Landon glanced back to me and back to the car. It crept up the driveway at an eerie pace. My heart thumped at the way Landon’s eyes kept flicking back and forth at us. I knew very little of Landon’s past, just snippets here and there, but something inside told me revelations were imminent. It was a gut feeling. I hopped up and followed Janet and Logan inside.
Landon held a hand up for us to stop. He just stood there and shook his head at us. Focused his stare on Janet, as if they were communicating.
Then he looked at me, showed me those slate-blue eyes. I felt in sync with his thoughts. His eyes told me No, I’m not hiding from this anymore. I knew he had to be running from something. What was it, though? Was he a criminal? On the run from the military?
Strangely, him shaking his head, making us stop—it comforted me. My skin tingled and I caught myself leaning toward him. Drawn to him even more.
The car halted about twenty feet in front of the porch. Landon stepped down and put himself between us and the Lincoln. His feet were shoulder-width apart, arms folded across his chest. Every muscle in his back flexed through the elastic shirt he had on.
The man in the driver’s seat appeared calm from what I could see through the glass. He looked older judging by a few wrinkles I made out on his face. I’d get a better look when he stepped out. The passenger was much larger, maybe Landon’s size. Looked just like Landon, in fact. I’d have had a hard time telling them apart. He wore thick black sunglasses that covered his eyes and I could only see above his chest.
Bodyguard maybe?
They looked like government agents or spies, which only served to kick the rush of adrenaline up another few degrees. I stepped in front of Janet and Logan. Teacher instincts came into play. Anytime there was a threat I put myself between the danger and my students.
Janet’s hand gripped my shoulder and she leaned next to my ear. Her hand shook against my neck. “If he signals for us to run, you follow me. No questions.” She whispered where Logan wouldn’t hear. Bile crept up into my throat, but I had to stay strong. I had to.
I nodded and reached up for her hand. Something told me she needed comfort too. I’d never seen her so frightened. Worry swirled down into my stomach like water circling a drain. My heart pounded, despite the fact I knew Landon would never put us all in danger.
The man got out of the driver’s seat. He was tall and lanky, pale. Maybe six-two and probably in his mid-sixties. He had on a black fedora and a long black coat. It was something right out of a movie. Like a spy on a clandestine mission or the Grim Reaper stepping out of a hearse. I couldn’t help but think spies wouldn’t actually dress like that.
Landon didn’t budge.
The man held his arms out and smiled. He looked happy to see Landon, but there was nothing warm about the intrusion. Some people just had an evilness they carried around with them. A shiver worked up my spine. Suddenly, everything felt cold.
“Been too long.”
“What do you want?” Landon stood still, unfazed.
The man took a few long strides and stopped about five feet away from Landon. He turned and surveyed the land—craned his head around and looked at everything long and hard. His stare moved toward the porch, to me. My whole body tensed.
The man’s eyes narrowed at me. The corners of his mouth curled slightly. “You’ve done well for yourself.”
Landon stepped in his line of sight. Blocked him from looking at us. “How’d you find me?”
The guy snickered and shook his head like the question was ridiculous. “We always know where you are, Son.”
“I’m not your son.” I couldn’t see Landon’s face, only the back of his head. The other man sat in the car and didn’t so much as move. I couldn’t tell what he was looking at through his glasses.
“What do you want?”
“No hello or how are you? Fine.” He waved his words away. “There’s business to discuss.” The man put his hands in his pockets and rocked back and forth on his heels. Seemed to enjoy every second he made Landon uncomfortable.
“I’m retired.”
The guy laughed. A booming laugh. It echoed off the trees in the distance and returned a second later.
Landon stared.
“You weren’t trained to waste time like this. Civilian life has made you inefficient.”
Landon said nothing.
The man’s face tightened. “I know you probably feel free out here. The mountains and open country will do that to a man, I suppose.” He took a step toward Landon without an ounce of fear. “It can be taken away.”
Landon stood there. I wished I could’ve seen his face. Gotten a read on what he was thinking.
“Why’s Sid fighting in the WMMA?”
The man’s grin widened. His eyes squinted when he smiled. He almost looked like one of those Guy Fawkes masks. “Now, we’re getting somewhere.” He paused. “How’d you escape the island?”
Landon escaped an island. I made a mental note.
Landon’s shoulders relaxed a hint. It appeared he liked knowing something the other man didn’t.
“Thought you knew everything, Edmon.”
Edmon. Edmon. I didn’t know the name. Landon had never spoken of him, but it was painfully clear they had a past together. A long and detailed one. What island?
“My time here is limited. I’ve come to make a deal. Want to hear it?”
“Do I have a choice?”
Edmon licked his lips. “Very well. You’ll fight in the WMMA. Win a few fights by a large margin. I know you’re rusty, but that shouldn’t be a problem for a man like you. We’ll handle the PR and build a buzz.” He paused and grinned. “Then you fight Sidious.”
“You want me to fight in the WMMA? That’s what this is all about? You can’t be serious.”
Edmon didn’t react to the insult. “Problem?”
“Thought you’d want to activate me for an, umm—” he glanced back at us again, then moved his stare back to Edmon, “—operation.”
He was being careful with his words. At that point, I couldn’t tell if it was to protect some kind of classified information or to shield us from knowing details of his past. Maybe it was both. I didn’t know much, but I knew enough to tell that Landon was some kind of soldier or worked for the government in some capacity. It made sense. Why else was he so secretive and hidden? How else could he move so fast and be so damn powerful? Read people the way he did?
My heart pounded, and my legs grew restless. I could feel my chest rising and falling with labored breaths. Landon must’ve been some kind of badass if the government tracked him down, but I’d seen the Sid guy fighting on TV. He looked like more of a machine than a man. It was all anyone ever talked about. Nobody had lasted more than a few seconds with him, and all of the men who fought him were in the hospital, recovering. My heart lurched at the thought of Landon stepping into a ring with him.
Edmon smiled. “Just a fight. Nothing more.”
“Not happening.”
Edmon nodded. “Of course it will.” He glanced up to us on the porch. “Take Logan inside.”
Landon jolted when he heard Logan’s name, like he hadn’t expected Edmon to know it. He turned to us and nodded for Janet to take him in. He stared at me when I started to turn. “Cora, come here.”
I wanted to dig my heels into the porch and stay right there. The Edmon guy gave me the creeps. My eyes moved over to him and he leered in my direction.
“It’s okay.” Landon held his hand out at me. The hand I’d always taken each time he’d held it out to me before.
Could I take it this time? Trust him blindly?
I stood there for another brief second. Brushed my palms down my jeans. Landon wouldn’t call me down there without a reason. He wouldn’t put me in danger. Every one of his actions was always to protect me or his family. Or was he going to surrender me in exchange for them? Why would they want me?
My thoughts refused to piece themselves together in a meaningful way. I tried to focus on every one of Landon’s actions since I’d met him. He’d always tried to keep me safe. He’d never faltered. I trusted him.
One foot in front of the other, I made my way down the steps. I walked up next to him and got a better look at Edmon. Nothing about him was remarkable, but he was definitely a little off. He managed to be sociable, but it was awkward—something about the way he stood, or spoke. I couldn’t place it. It was the same things I’d notice about Landon sometimes. Little phrases or mannerisms. Landon made sure to keep himself in front of me.
He turned to me and half-grinned, then nodded at Edmon. “Don’t worry. He couldn’t fight his way out of a wet paper bag.”
I looked up at Landon. “You want me to go?” My eyes moved to Edmon. “I just came by to borrow something.” I tried to play it off like we were just acquaintances. “I don’t want to be—”
“Very clever girl.” Edmon smiled.
Landon reached down and took my hand. Smiled like he was trying to set me at ease. “I need someone to witness this.” He gestured to Edmon. “He’s not known for his honesty.”
I nodded. “It’s okay.”
Edmon ignored me. “Like I said before. It’s simple. You fight a few fights. Let’s call it two. That should be sufficient.”
Landon shook his head. Edmon continued.
“You win by overwhelming margins. You fight Sidious.”
“And if I win that fight?”
Edmon’s grin widened and his eyes squinted. Fine lines wrinkled at the corners. “You win, you’re free. Inactivated.”
“Bullshit.” Landon shook his head. His hand gripped tighter around mine. A surge of energy pulsed through his fingers. But it was different. More like excitement than fear, for a split-second, anyway. He held his free thumb out at Edmon and looked at me. “See what I mean?”
No, I don’t see what you mean. I had no clue.
Edmon grabbed the lapels on his jacket and straightened up. His grin faded, and he was a hundred percent serious. Even his voice sounded more regal. “Personal guarantee from Titan.”
Landon’s face went blank and then his jaw clenched. He nodded slowly. “From Titan? Guaranteed?”
Who in the fuck is Titan? What is going on here?
“Correct.”
“Timeline?”
“Three months. Non-negotiable.”
“If I say no?”
“I’ll dispense with pleasantries, because I know you have no need for them. Let’s just say you’ll be activated. You’ll go back to the island. Not nice things could be in store for the people you care about.”
Landon surged in front of me. I was still off to his side and could see Edmon’s face. Landon’s jaw constricted.
My heart dropped into my stomach. Was he talking about me? About Janet and Logan? What had I gotten myself into? Fight or flight kicked in. I wanted to run. Wanted to hide. Was that what the guy in the car was for? I glanced over at him. He sat there stiff as a board, like a statue. Didn’t even look in our direction. He’d been staring straight ahead the whole time. What not nice things would they do to us?
Edmon watched Landon’s reaction. Studied him like he was a science experiment.
He clapped a hand on Landon’s shoulder and smiled right at me before turning back to him. “See, that’s the problem with social relationships. I taught you better than this.”
Landon sneered.
“When you love something, or someone, it’s an exchange of control. You give up some of your power in exchange for those feelings. It’s why you should’ve never left the island, Son. We couldn’t trust you with a mission now anyway. Look at you. One threat to Logan, or Janet, or your girlfriend here.” He looked at me. “You’d sing like a canary.”
“She’s not my girlfriend. And it didn’t feel like I was very powerful on that island. Better to be controlled by them than you.”
I knew Landon was trying to protect me, but his words stung. Especially the added emphasis on the word not.
“Fair point. Except now all of us control you. And don’t patronize me. We watch things. You know better. We know everything. So, what’s it going to be?”
Landon looked back at me. He glanced up at the bedroom window. Janet and Logan sat there pale-faced and expressionless, palms on the glass. “I win and that’s it? I’m free?”
“You’ll never see anyone from Project Leonidas again.” Edmon flashed Landon a sly grin.
Landon glared when he said it and his jaw tensed. “Ever?”
Project Leonidas? Why did Landon get so mad that he’d said it? Was it something I wasn’t supposed to know? Did Edmon say some top-secret program like that to tether me to Landon and use me as leverage over him? So I couldn’t get out? I tried to take a couple of deep breaths without being noticed. My heart pounded, and my palms were slick with cold sweat.
Hold it together.
I’d expected Landon to have a horrible childhood that he didn’t like to talk about. Maybe he grew up at an orphanage or was abused. Maybe he’d been in a war or committed some kind of crime during a rough stretch of early adulthood, and ran away.
This shit was far away from what I’d expected when he’d hinted that he didn’t want his past to find him.
“Correct.”
“One more condition.”
“What is it?”
“No interference before the fight. No surveillance. I don’t want to see any of you. I promise not to disappear in return.”
“I’m not—”
“Non-negotiable. I’ll take our chances. If I spot surveillance, I’ll cause a shitstorm. You’re not the only one with power.”
Edmon’s hands balled into fists. He took a step toward Landon.
“Stop right there.”
Blood rushed into my face. Endorphins coursed through my body at the tension that suddenly saturated the air. Landon’s face was ice-cold like he’d just morphed into a killer. I’d never seen that expression before. He could be intimidating, like the first day I met him in the hallway, or when he confronted Hastings in the parking lot, but this was a completely different look. I didn’t know if I was turned on or scared shitless.
Edmon rolled his eyes. “Or else what?”
Landon took a step toward Edmon and glared down at him. “Or I’ll gut you like a fish and water my yard with your piss and blood.”
My legs quivered at Landon’s words and my stomach turned to acid.
Edmon’s eyes grew into large white ovals, and he swallowed hard. Then a sadistic smile spread across his face. He nodded, his eyes still wide. “There’s my soldier.” Edmon straightened up like nothing had happened. “Okay, then. No surveillance. No interference. But—” Edmon held up his index finger in front of Landon’s face. “You disappear?” He shook his head and clicked his tongue. “Won’t be good.” He smiled at me and then up at Logan and Janet in the window. “Won’t be good at all, Son.” Edmon held out a hand. “Deal?”
Landon angled his head down and glared at the hand then back up at Edmon. “I’m not touching that. Draw up the paperwork.”
Edmon turned and laughed. He opened the door of the Towncar. “One more thing.” He rapped on the hood a couple of times with a fist.
The man in the passenger seat opened his door and got out. My whole body went straight into panic mode. My brain told me to run, but I couldn’t.
The man stood up. Landon stared back at him. I sucked in a huge breath and tried to stay composed.
“Brought you a training partner from the island. So you don’t kill anyone. Sign of good faith on our end.”
I moved my gaze between the two of them. They looked like twins. Same size, same height, same features.
“We’ll be in touch.” Edmon climbed into the Towncar and backed all the way down the driveway.
Landon pulled me into his chest. He leaned over and kissed my forehead. Kept his arms wrapped tight around me.
Dust from the gravel driveway settled and the other man stood there.
I pulled back a little and Landon let go. He stared down at me like what is it?
I gestured with my head to the guy staring at us.
Landon spun around like he’d forgotten he was there. The man wore camo fatigue pants, a white tee shirt, and still had on the thick black sunglasses.
“Long time, Joe.”
Joe sniffed the air. Made a huge show of it and stared up at the sky and then back at Landon. “Indeed, asshole.”