Page 60 of Talon

Chapter 17: Talon

I open the bedroom door just wide enough to slip out. Closing it behind me, I stand perfectly still, listening for any movement in the cabin. Loki’s standing at the front door barking his head off.

“Loki, quiet!” I whisper. He immediately goes silent.

I grab Loki’s collar and try to pull him toward the bedroom. He growls and struggles to break free.

“Stop that! Stay!” I point at the floor in front of the bedroom door.

He glares but sits. His eyes bore into my back as I slowly move toward the front of the cabin. I know he’s mad, but I don’t want him to get hurt. He’ll be safer if he stays inside.

I crack open the front door and peer out. Loki scrambles over and rushes through the small opening before I can catch him. He bolts into the forest, disappearing into the trees.

“Loki! Fuck!”

“What’s going on?” Jessica’s voice catches me off-guard. She’s standing at the bedroom door, wearing her t-shirt.

“Loki ran outside. I’ll find him.”

“Let me put my shoes on.”

“No. Get back inside and lock the door,” I order in a tone that leaves no room for interpretation.

I step outside, sweeping the area with my gun. The forest is eerily quiet. No birds chirping. No rustling leaves. It’s as if the forest itself is holding its breath. I cautiously step forward, keeping my eyes peeled for any sign of danger.

As I move deeper into the forest, I hear footsteps crunching on dead leaves. Someone is out here. I raise my gun, ready to defend myself. But as the figure comes into view, I lower it in surprise.

It’s Loki.

He’s standing at the edge of a clearing with his ears pinned back. A low growl rumbles from his throat.

A flash of color catches my attention. A red jacket. A man.

I sprint toward the man, but he’s got too much of a lead. He races through the pines, going in circles and doubling back until I’m completely lost. Then everything goes silent again.

“Fuck,” I murmur.

Loki trots out from beneath a bush. His ears are back up, and his tail’s wagging, as if the danger’s gone. I want to trust him, but he’s a dog.

“Did you see where the man went?” I psychically communicate to him.

“Nope. Gone.”

“Good boy.” I rub his head.

Trust, but verify. That’s always been my motto.

After searching the woods, I find a trail back to the cabin. I’m relieved to find Jessica hiding in the bedroom. Loki runs into the room and jumps on the bed. She pulls him into her arms.

“Was it the stalker?” she asks.

“Probably, but I don’t know for sure. I didn’t get a good look.”

“How did he find us?”

“I don’t know. Maybe he looked up property records and found the cabin. The club owns it, so it wouldn’t be that hard to find. I should have Matrix put it under a shell company just in case. We probably should have done that years ago, but we don’t use it that often.”

“Now what? He seems to be able to find me everywhere.”

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