Page 10 of A SEAL's Protection
He nods once, waiting for the next rule.
“Two. I decide the route, not you. I don’t care how elite your military training. This is a scientific expedition, and I’m running it. And three. Don’t talk to me. Unless there’s an emergency, I don’t want to hear your voice. We’re not here to make friends.”
Marcus’s expression remains as still as the stone around us. He’s utterly unreadable. “Sounds fair enough.”
I glare at him for another moment and then I sheath my knife.
“I’m going back to bed. I don’t want to see you in the morning.”
I turn on my heel and storm off to my tent, not looking back. I don’t hear Marcus move, but I assume he does.
As I settle into my sleeping bag, I imagine Marcus settling in under his shelter. It’s both infuriating and oddly reassuring.
5
MARCUS
Pale morning light breaks through the canopy, signaling to every bird in the area to sing its morning song. Allegra’s camp is still as I stalk the perimeter, checking for prints or signs of disturbance.
There were no visitors last night. Or if there were, our encounter scared them away. Any hope I had of staying incognito disappeared with last night’s activities. If anyone is watching, they’ll know I’m here too.
But why would anyone be watching? Unless there’s something Allegra’s father isn’t telling me. As far as I’m aware, he hired me for general security. He wasn’t expecting trouble.
I pull the sensors out of the earth and wipe them off before stowing them in their pouch for tonight. The charge must be running low, and I make a mental note to pull out the solar battery pack when we break for camp later.
I’ve got my camp packed up and am quietly waiting by the time Allegra emerges from her tent. She stretches her arms above herhead, making her sweater ride up and revealing a band of pale skin at the top of her leggings.
She yawns as she gets the gas stove going, unperturbed that it’s almost 0700 and we’re losing daylight.
But this is her hike, not mine.
Allegra left a hiking plan with her father, and I have a copy in my pack. It’s a long hike today, and I’m eager to get going. But instead I wait in the undergrowth, watching her pack up and not letting her see me until she’s ready to go.
She shoulders her pack and sets out along the trail. I count out ten feet before I fall into step behind her. She doesn’t acknowledge my presence or break her stride.
It’s easier going now that I don’t have to hide. I keep my distance, watching her strong legs move and the easy way she carries all her gear. She’s not a novice to the wilderness, and I wonder how many other hikes she’s done. Although the new gear indicates this might be her first overnight, which is a hell of a thing to throw herself into.
Allegra doesn’t look back, although she must know I’m behind her. When the terrain allows, I drop back further. I don’t want her to accuse me of hovering.
I get why she’s pissed at her dad. I’d be too if I had a shadow following my every move.
Her father should have insisted on sending security with her if he was so concerned. I get the feeling she would have hated the idea, and so he decided to go incognito.
He could have paid for a research assistant or two. Other people on the team who would have justified security. But instead he hires me to follow her discreetly. Rich person’s logic.
I wonder how much of her stubborn independence is rebellion against her father, or if she really is driven by scientific enquiry.
The trail turns upward, and for an hour we’re scrambling over rocks. We come to a ridge with views over the valley, and Allegra slides her pack off and stretches her shoulders. It must be lunch break.
She doesn’t turn to me, and I choose a spot where a boulder between us gives the appearance of distance.
She pulls a food pouch out of her bag, and I do the same. We eat in silence, her pretending I’m not here and me keeping her always in my sight.
My phone pings, and I pull it out of my pocket. There’s one bar of signal, and messages from the last two days flood in.
Joel checks in and reminds me to get in touch if I need anything.
It was through Joel that I got the job. The man has contacts all over the place. Ralph contacted him looking for security in the area as the trail started on Wild Heart Mountain. Joel put him on to me, thinking rightly I’d be up for a job that’s more exciting than laying concrete.
