Rebecca Zanetti: Fated

He had a body designed for billboards. His thick chest, narrow waist, and long legs showed power and strength. Bold eyes sat in a hard face softened not at all by its own beauty; a masculine starkness that would render an observer speechless from afar. This close the effect was devastating.

“It’s going to be all right, Cara.” His voice gentled as he settled farther back in the couch. “You’re safe now.”

She refused to answer and continued to study him. Dark eyebrows slashed over those brown eyes that apparently weren’t quite right. High cheekbones protruded as ridges over deep hollows, and his jaw clenched strong and formidable. And his mouth. God. Full lips didn’t hint at a hidden sensuality; they boldly promised heated sex. Without apology. Minutes before those same lips had been on hers, and as they tipped up at her appraisal, a stirring tickled in her belly. An unfamiliar stirring the scientist in her yearned to investigate.

The woman deep within knew better.

He gave a full grin. “I suggest you get some rest, darlin’. Life just became very interesting.”

“What about my plants?” she mumbled, hating the words even as they tumbled out of her mouth. What the heck? She and Janie had just been taken by an enormous soldier who kissed like the devil, and she was worried about her plants.

Talen lifted an eyebrow. “Your plants at your house?”

She nodded, biting her lip.

“I’ll take care of it.” At her frown, he nodded. “I promise, Cara. Your plants will be cared for.” He cleared his throat. “Any other concerns?”

Pure arrogance, this man. “Yes. My sister Emma will go crazy trying to find us.” As soon as tomorrow night, when they were supposed to have dinner. “I need to call her.” Their parents had died just before Cara had turned sixteen; eighteen-year-old Emma had raised her from that point. As always, they’d make a plan together.

A slow shake of Talen’s head had the nerves jumping along Cara’s skin. “No. Let’s get to the Marshal’s service, and we’ll figure everything out from there. Don’t worry about the plants or your sister—you can trust me. Now try to get some rest.” He crossed his long legs at the ankles and closed his eyes.

She had no choice but to trust him. Her plants would be all right, and she’d figure out a way to get a hold of Emma. Next to her, Janie mumbled in her sleep. Damn it. Janie had a play date with a new friend tomorrow. And Cara had a grown-up date. The first one in—God, how long? The accountant who’d been calling her for months suddenly seemed, well, small. Boring. Pasty. Cara turned away from the bulky soldier relaxing across the aisle. Wide awake, she watched the clouds flash by out the window.

Two hours later Cara stared at the maple conference table while Janie happily ate a doughnut next to her. Crumbs dropped like snow on the smooth surface. They had been waiting for thirty minutes in the innocuous metal building to the left of the small runway, but at least new jeans and sweaters had been provided for them. The quiet of the room lulled her toward a much needed sleep.

She hoped she’d be able to keep her daughter safe. Danger swirled around them with a breath of its own. She may not have the clear sense of Janie, but she knew it was there. Her gaze focused on a pretty row of African violets lined up against the window—purple, pink, and white. Calmness settled over her.

She stroked Janie’s wild curls as the steel door opened, and a slender, older man in his mid-sixties entered in front of a grim-faced Talen. The man’s gunmetal hair was mussed, the lines on his face carved with a dull knife. She straightened in her chair as they took seats across the small conference table, waiting for one of them to speak.

“Ms. Paulsen, I’m Director McKay, and I want to apologize for this morning’s drama.” He reached out to pat her knuckles, his liver-spotted hand chilled. Unease wound through his body while his breath came in short bursts. Her own body tensed in reaction—now she couldn’t even block this guy’s emotions? The director’s gaze flicked to Talen and back again.

“Director,” Cara pinned the man with her best “mom stare.” “I want an explanation.” He may be afraid of the silent menace next to him, but she wasn’t.

Director McKay cleared his throat before smiling. His lips wavered a bit. “Well, simply put, Janie and you have been targeted by the Merodize gang out of New York.”

“The who out of what?” Cara shook her head. “A gang? There’s no way some city gang has ever heard of us, trust me. What’s really going on here?” She swung a narrowed gaze at the motionless man next to the director. “Well?”

“Ms. Paulsen,” the director huffed before grimacing at Talen. It was obvious who was in charge.

Talen leaned forward. “The gang is irrelevant; it just serves as foot-soldiers for the Kurjans.”

“The Kurjans? Sounds like some weird terrorist group. What could they want with us?” Cara asked, just as Janie sucked in her breath, causing all eyes to turn to her.

“They’re real?” Janie asked Talen, her face paling to the color of wet paste.

“They’re real,” Talen confirmed, his jaw firming. “But I promise they won’t hurt you, Janie. You’re safe, on my life.”

Every motherly instinct came alive in Cara when her daughter began to tremble. “Who the hell are the Kurjans?” She slammed her hand on the table before rising.

“Sit down.” She found herself obeying Talen’s sharp command before thinking about it. He scowled. “The Kurjans are a mutual enemy. For reasons we don’t need to go into now,” he nodded subtly at Janie, “their main goal is to kidnap women. Those with enhanced abilities are especially sought. They now want you, Cara.” He narrowed his gaze on her. “And your research abilities would be an added bonus.”

The blood pounded in her head as her eyes widened on the two men. Her research abilities? There was no way some Iraqi terrorist group was searching for women with enhanced abilities. Or for those, like her, working to alter plant genetics to be more resistant to diseases. What in the hell was going on? Fine, she’d play along for the moment, at least until she could grab her daughter and run. “What enhanced abilities?”

“Come on, Cara. You don’t need to hide anymore.” Talen’s jaw hardened even more.

“It’s okay, Mama,” Janie whispered, patting her mother’s knee. “He already knows.”

“Fine.” The one word was all she was willing to give at this point. “So, what now?”

Talen cleared his throat. “I need a list of your relatives.”

“Excuse me?”

“A list. You mentioned your sister—is she an empath, too?”

Hell no. None of his freaking business. “No.”

His massive shoulders straightened, and he leaned forward to grab her hand. “I’ll take that as a ‘yes.’ If the Kurjans are after you, they’ll search for your sister, too. Where is she?”

Raw and hot terror sped through Cara’s veins. She searched his face, seeking truth. “You’ll help her?”

He gave a short nod. “Yes. I’ll send someone immediately.”

The moment mattered. Trust hurt. Cara gulped in air and gave Emma’s work and home address. So close to her own house. God, please let Emma be all right.

Talen nodded and grabbed a cell phone from his back pocket, using speed dial before barking out orders. Soldiers would retrieve Emma the next day. He clicked it shut. “Any other relatives?”

Retrieve Emma? Boy, her sister wasn’t going to like that. “Not that I know of.” Her mother had been an only child and who the hell knew about the bastard that had been her father. Who the hell cared? “What is really going on here?”