Page 58 of Unclaimed Bonds
Anders smiles. “He’s not in trouble, and neither are you. I just want to speak to him. That’s all.” He raises his eyebrows. “I’m worried that I’ve selfishly kept Liam on the night shift, and I want to ensure that he can keep up with his final training regimen.”
I release a breath.Okay. He’s a good person. He deserves to be here. I don’t want anything to jeopardize his position here, especially because of me.
“That won’t happen.” Reluctantly, I move aside as Anders and Liam walk out the door.
Not that I don’t trust Anders, I want to ensure he isn’t reprimanding Liam for taking care of me tonight. I press my ear flush against the door. Their voices are a low murmur, and I can barely decipher their words. I close my eyes and concentrate on their surroundings. Just like that, both of their voices infiltrate my mind.
“Did you see any sign of Dustin, Marcus, or Boris when you went back to the mansion?” Anders asks.
“No, but I found a few of their tracks, definitely Marcus’s and Dustin’s. Boris is too smart and sneaky to leave any traces behind.”
“It’s good you followed your instincts. I’m not too sure on the exact timeframe, but Sodie and Darwin saw Boris lingering near the clinic.”
“Yeah. I got Sodie’s text so I took her somewhere safe and made sure we weren’t followed.”
“Good. Thank you. I got it from here. Why don’t you get some rest?”
“Sir, Marcus is after her because of me. I’m sorry for my part in this mess.”
“No one blames you, son. These assholes were raised to be criminals.”
“Sir, if they hurt her, I can’t promise you that I won’t?—”
“If either one of them touches a hair on her head, you have my full fucking permission to end them. No questions asked!”
“Yes, sir.”
I hear the shuffling of feet. In a panic, I shove away from the door, grab a book, and plop in one of the chairs.
When Anders returns, he doesn’t ask why I ran back to the clinic. “Are you warm enough? Do you want some water?” We fall into our comfortable modes—him working, me reading. When the light of dawn breaks, Anders stands from his seat and stretches. “Let’s take a walk.”
I pull on my hoodie and follow Anders. We walk in silence. He doesn’t say where we are going or what we are going to do. When he stops. I notice a group of men running toward us. Tugging my hood down, I cover my face and lower my head after I adjust my glasses. The group gets closer, shouting and glancing sideways at us. Anders folds his arms watching them in turn.
Charlie and Ean lead. Ean shouts another command, raising a hand in salute. Charlie smiles and winks. I try not to grin as Anders groans.
The rest of the men follow, saluting Anders and facing front as they pass, except for three. I feel their eyes on me. I lower mygaze, as if I could make myself invisible. I only glance up to catch the back of the group. Sodie smiles, but Liam doesn’t look my way at all. Does he regret telling me about his past and showing me his secret?
I peek at Anders, and he resumes our stroll. I follow Anders into a clearing. No one can see us here. He sits on the ground and waits patiently as I lower myself next to him. He rests both hands on his knees. “Close your eyes. Keep your mind blank, and focus on your breathing.”
I observe him for a minute, just sitting there, breathing slowly with his eyes closed. Then, I take in my surroundings before mirroring his behavior.
I lose track of time and awareness. Wind swirls around me, caressing my face and rustling my oversized hoodie. It whirls stronger, yet I don’t open my eyes. Rain begins to fall. But it doesn’t rain on us.
I listen in to the sounds of nature. The rain pounds heavier. The winds grow stronger, whistling and moaning as it whips around. Thunder claps, shaking the ground beneath me, and behind the thin lids of my eyes, I see a flash of lightning.
Don’t lose focus on your breathing, Anders says inside of my head. Through all the chaos surrounding me, I sit there. Without any hint of the storm slowing, the rain and thunder evaporate. No more flashes of lightning, and the wind dies. Silence, there is nothing more but silence.
The birds start to chirp, and I slowly open my eyes. The sky is clear. The ground is dry, no sign of the raging storm.
Anders stares at me. Not sure how to respond, I smile and shrug. He simply grunts and proceeds to stand. I follow his lead, but we remain in the clearing.
Dipping his chin and bending slightly at the waist. When he’s back in an upright position, he slides a foot forward and lifts his arms. His body sways in a slow, even rhythm. I watch in curiousfascination. His movements are deliberate and fluid, moving his arms out then back in, moving on the balls of his feet so his body sways in tune with his arm movements. Then, he switches sides. His movements remind me of water, languidly rolling over smooth river rocks.
I want to move like him, but I’m not sure how or where to start. I commit each movement to memory. Finally, he holds the last position, brings his legs and arms back to center, and bows.
“I do this every morning, if you would like to join me,” he remarks.
I would like that. Thank you.
