Page 20 of Corey
Because I can help you.He wanted to tell her that but held back. She had no reason to believe him and maybe it was for the best. His past fuckup filled him with doubts.
But his gut told him she was in trouble. Beautiful women didn’t just drop out of the sky. She was running from something—or someone.
Also, this wasn’t hunting season and the approaching men had rifles. That put Corey on alert and raised all sorts of red flags. If these men were looking for her, he wasn’t about to hand her over. Not without a fight, anyway. Because even though he considered himself a failed protector, he would always go down battling and shielding the innocent.
“Come with me,” he said, walking into the living room area. He shoved the coffee table aside, lifted the rug and folded it back to reveal a trap door in the floor.
Sera moved up beside him, clasping her hands tightly. He didn’t miss the nervous gesture as he lifted the wooden trapdoor, exposing a ladder which led down into the darkness. He’d had it specially built because, well, you just never knew who might show up uninvited.
“I’m going to talk to them while you hide.”
“Down there?” A note of panic crept into her voice. “Shouldn’t you hide with me?”
“Sera, I need you to be honest with me.” Corey lifted her chin, forcing her to look up at him. “Do you recognize those men?”
After the briefest hesitation, she cracked. “Um…yes.” She grabbed his elbow, squeezing. “They’re dangerous.”
He nodded. “I figured. Down you go. Don’t open this until I come back, okay?”
“Wait!” Fear flashed across her pretty face, and she tightened her hold on his arm. A tremor shook her frame. “It’s pitch black down there.”
He bent over and unhooked the small flashlight he stored beside the ladder. “Here. Use it to go down, but then keep it off unless you absolutely need it, okay?”
Was he imagining it, or had her bottom lip trembled? But she nodded bravely, and he helped her step down onto the first rung. Once her head was clear, he began to shut the trap door.
“Corey!” Her voice cracked, and he paused. “Please, don’t leave me down here.”
He frowned, not liking the anxiety he heard. “It’s just for a little bit, okay?” She forced a nod but looked on the verge of throwing up. He reached down and squeezed her shoulder. “Hey. I won’t be long. Okay?”
“Promise?” she whispered.
He didn’t make promises anymore. Not after he’d broken his last one and people died. “I’ll be back as soon as I can,” he assured her.
After carefully lowering the door, he covered it with the rug and moved the coffee table back into its rightful spot. Then he marched over to his weapons locker, punched in the code and removed a rifle.
“Storm, to me,” he called to the wolf, pulling on his jacket.
They stepped onto the porch and his eyes narrowed at the men tramping through the snow not far away. Hefting the rifle over his shoulder so they could see it, he placed his other hand on his hip. With Storm at his side, he knew they cut a formidable duo. Hopefully, the intruders thought so, too.
“You’re on private property!” Corey called out.
The men paused, conferred in low voices, then waved. “Hey, sorry about that,” the taller one said. “We’re looking for our friend. Her car broke down back there on the other side of the woods.”
“I haven’t seen anyone,” Corey stated. “I’d go back and check the main road.”
“We already did. You’re sure you haven’t seen her? A blonde?”
Lies.Sera wasn’t their friend. Corey shifted the rifle on his shoulder. “Like I said, no one came through here.”
“If you say so.”
They didn’t turn to leave which Corey viewed as a challenge.Idiots.
“Are you going to get the hell off my property or do you want to meet my wolf?” As if on cue, Storm growled, giving them a nice view of his sharp teeth.
They exchanged a quick whisper then started backing up. “Sorry to bother you.”
Corey watched them walk away, lowering a hand to pet Storm’s head. “Good boy.” The wolf made a whining sound. “Yeah, I think they’re full of shit, too.”
