Page 14 of The Hero Within
"I found a guide," she blurted, "but it turns out we're better off without him." She gestured toward Black Tom as she swiftly explained. "And then this guy came out of nowhere and saved me."
"Saved you?" CJ's nostrils flared as he looked over her shoulder. "Eden," he said, in a warning tone she'd never heard from him before.
"He's fine," she stressed, grabbing his tense forearm. "He hasn't made a move toward me. And we'd better get out of here. Those dogs don't like you."
"It's not just me," CJ said, still staring behind her.
A chill of premonition trailed icy fingertips down her spine.
Everything had happened so quickly. She'd been jacked on adrenaline and then focused on Black Tom. She'd never really had a chance tolookat the stranger too hard. But he'd lifted a huge man off his feet and pinned him against the wall. He'd thrown Tom off her as if the bastard was a lightweight. A little knot twisted inside her as suspicion reared its head.
Eden spun back toward her rescuer.
Dark eyes met hers from beneath the rim of his black Stetson. The stranger's lips curved up in a lopsided manner, as if half his mouth was smiling deprecatingly.
It was the first time she'd seen him front-on.
"Told you to remember those words," Johnny Colton said, tipping his hat back so she could see his face fully.
Almost as if the action was a dare.
A shock of recognition punched through her, as if she'd been Tasered herself. She'd recognize those eyes anywhere. They were imprinted in her nightmares, and she'd pictured them again and again as she punched the bag Adam had set up for her.
He was older now. Leaner through the cheeks, and a little hungrier looking. The last time she'd seen him there'd been a hint of—innocence, perhaps, if one could use that word to describe Johnny Colton—but whatever light had remained in his eyes was quashed. Gone.
There was only darkness now.
"You," Eden choked out, her throat thick with shock.
"Me." Colton stared at her through narrowed eyes. "I know why I'm out here on the edge of the godforsaken Wastelands. But what the fuck are you doing in a place like this, angel?"
Chapter Four
"It's been a long time, Eden,"Colton rasped.
The words broke the spell. Eden slammed her palms against his chest, shoving him back, hitting him, hammering at his hard frame with her fists. Rage tore from her lips in a gasp, and her eyes turned hot and wet. "You son of a bitch!" All she could see was her brother chained in that hut. Colton shoving her through the door, locking her inside.
And Adam pleading, begging for him to let her out.
"Please, Colton. Please. Don't make me do this,"her brother had begged.
"It's not my choice. Just give Cane what he wants and she's free."
At first she hadn't understood. She'd been so frightened, dragged from her bed by this dark-haired ghost, a man who'd stolen a kiss from her the week before and flirted with her. At first she'd thought him an ally—he'd been riding a bounty with her brother for a week—and so she'd gone with him in order to help Adam. He'd promised softly no harm would come to her if she justplayed her part.
"I promise you'll be safe,"he'd told her.
And she'd believed him.
Instead, he'd locked her in that hut with her newly warg-cursed brother, and used her to push Adam into betraying Luc Wade to the same fate.
"Mierda!" He staggered back a step.
Eden screamed her rage into his face, raking at his jaw. There were hands on her wrists, a hard body jerking her away from Colton. And then her face was pressed against CJ's chest as he rubbed a hand through her hair.
"Eden," CJ gasped. "Eden, he's a warg."
"I know he is!" A sob tore loose. Eden shook all over, fighting to control herself. She'd never felt like this before; if she'd had a weapon in her hand, she half thought she might have used it.
