Jericho Page 11

  A little out there a lot of the time still, but Rad was workin’ his shit and that’s all Jericho could ask. Rad didn’t offer to heal unless he knew he could help. It was all about trust now. Just trust.

  Relief overcame him when Abe had no adverse reaction to the healing. He watched closely, leaning in. Swelling around her eyes disappeared as bruises began to fade and her forehead wound closed without scarring. It was working. Rad was healing Abe just fine. Satisfied, an enormous wave of pure relief engulfed him.

  “Mmhmm. Nice,” Abe mumbled, pulling her hand away from Jericho to place it on top of Rad’s hand. “Rad? Yeah, it’s Rad. I’d know those hands anywhere.”

  As if she had sucker punched him in the face, her words blew Jericho sideways.

  WTF?

  Unbelieveably, Jericho eyed Rad still in a trance and unaware of what was going on around him. Was Rad cutting his fucking grass or what? Another fucking first, but the wrong kind this time.

  Jericho had never lost a female to another male – not that he had kept them long enough to find out. But this was Abe, his Abe. He had a sinking feeling, but feverishly hoped he had it all wrong. “You awake, myn lykyng?”

  “Jericho? You good? Is everyone else all right? Is Bear okay?”

  He smiled, unaware of it happening. Always asking after others first with no care for her own wounds or the bald fucking fact Tess would’ve killed Abe if she hadn’t gotten away. His throat closed as all his unspoken worries roared to life.

  Had Abe unwittingly become part of an unsanctioned killing?

  His chin lowered to his chest and he rested it there for a moment, drawing in a deep gob of air.

  In truth, they weren’t sure what happened to Tess exactly.

  It could be Abe.

  More likely Bear. But…it might be both – working together. In and out of consciousness, Abe had muttered a few times about Tess disappearing and how she was just gone. If it was Bear who had done the deed, there wasn’t likely much left of Tess.

  It’d be hard to stomach if there wasn’t one piece of the bitch big enough to identify her body. “Abe, everyone’s fine. Bear too. Quiet now, no more talking, let him finish healing you.”

  “Rad? It’s Rad isn’t it? He’s my hero.” Abe sighed loudly. “I saw his face...it reminded me not to give up."

  Jericho chose to say nothing rather than look a fool. He was already dishonored by not caring for her and protecting her properly. It made sense that everyone else was her hero, but him. Yet, it didn’t ease the pain building around his heart that her rejection was coming down the pipe for him.

  For one of the first times in his life, Jericho was truly unsure of himself – was it him or was it Rad that Abe favored? They did have a special relationship – Abe was always there and ready to help Rad.

  Hell, Rad wasn’t ready for a female or a relationship. Shoulders sagging, he admitted that if any female would be good for Rad it was his Abe.

  Maybe he was out in left field, thinking he was the main attraction when it was Rad all this time and instead he, King of the Jinn, was the cart and pony ride. Clearing his throat, reaching for words that escaped him, a hallow sensation settled over Jericho.

  Abe had to be his.

  She just had to be.

  Abe woke to an empty room. She felt lonely, adrift with no safe harbour. Night had fallen and silence lay over the room, the house. Nighttime held a certain charm, a familiarity reminding of something vague. She smiled, cocooned in a swath of memories; running wild in the forest as a child, riding on Bear’s back across wide-open fields, showing Mamam the baby chipmunk as they laughed together...

  The bedroom door swung wide, spilling light across the end of the bed, calling her back to an achy sore body and a headache to beat all headaches. Her legs were itchy, but the pain was gone. Thankfully so.

  Jericho filled the doorway, a silhouette in black. Dangerous, all male and sexy as hell. She’d never get enough of him and looking no longer worked. Her hands burned to stroke and explore him with abandon.

  With only half an hour passed since he had left her, Abe already looked much better. Her eyes, still somewhat swollen were open and the bruising almost gone. Faded but not gone, the gash on her forehead was now only a thin white line. A swell of relief came that Rad healed her with no consequences, having spent a good majority of his time on healing her legs.

  Waves of heat and need ran over her body. It wasn’t healthy or good to pine for Jericho. She closed her eyes and images came again, memories, running in a lush forest with Bear, playing hide and seek with him, Mamam laughing at their antics…

  Abe jack-knifed up, understanding lighting her emerald green eyes. Headache pounding as blood rushed to her head, she stared into Jericho’s deep blue eyes as he entered and closed the door. “Ugh. Oh God! I remember...” She quickly looked away. How was she going to explain?

  He slung onto the side of the bed, bringing his thigh up to nestle her side before plumping the pillows behind her. “Care to share?”

  “Nuh.”

  “It can’t be that bad. Tell me what you remember.” It was a command even if spoken softly.

  “No, no. No.”

  She rolled away or at least tried to, but Jericho reached out to gently cup her around the waist, pulling her back to nestle into the pillows. “Myn lykyng, just tell me. We’ll work it out.” His voice soft, gentle, mesmerizing.

  Abe shivered when Jericho stretched out beside her. She struggled to put space between them. “You don’t understand. Don’t do this.”

  “Do what?”

  “Touch me. You’re not allowed to touch me, Jericho. Now back off. It’s already way worse than I could ever imagine!”

  “Who says I can’t touch you?”

  “Oh, god, what am I going to do? I need a shower. I need to feel normal.” Desperation clung to every word.

  The plea in her voice got him off the bed as he held out his hand to her.

  Abe looked at his hand and then him, shaking her head.

  “Are you serious about this no touching?”

  She nodded, looking down. “In a big way.”

  "Don't ever do that. Look at me when you speak." Voice tinged with anger, he regretted it immediately until he saw the guilt in her emerald eyes. His world imploded – shoving him off balance. Abe wasn't any longer just his simple and complex beautiful female now that she remembered.

  She had power – unharnessed power.

  Abe with a memory was somebody else now.

  Would the female he had come to treasure and love disappear? Was that female gone? Was she but a mirage?

  Didn't matter who she was. Jericho's rage flared at all the unknowns coming towards him, but he braced himself sure that what he'd chosen would be his.

  No way in hell was he giving her up.

  No.

  Matter.

  What.

  Softly, he spoke, “I’ll turn the shower on. I got you some new clothes.”

  “You did?”

  “Yeah, Matty picked them out.”

  Abe shimmied off the other side of the bed, legs wobbly at first, but she held onto the mattress eyes glued to Jericho's very fine retreating ass. “You’re my hero. Thanks.”

  Jericho stilled and wearing a big grin, he glanced back at her, his deep blue eyes shining with delight. “I am?” Finally, he had gotten something right and it turned out to be as simple as new clothes. He strode into the bathroom and turned on the shower. He had to remember that about Abe – the simplest things made her happy, brought her smiles and light into his world.

  In the bathroom doorway, Abe shyly continued, “You’re so thoughtful. Thanks for everything.” Jericho swung around and she blinked, emerald eyes uncontrollably sweeping up and down his body. He was a work of art in the flesh.

  Handsome face, chiseled features, hard body, arm muscles bulging, deep blue eyes open to anything and gorgeous lips just waiting for her kisses was overpowering. He was all male and she wanted him all to
herself.

  Cleverly, she realised it was essential to remain pure, but there was no law forbidding her touching him. Glittering emerald eyes dropping – if she only had some experience and a little nerve.

  “Abe, let me help.”

  She backed up a step, shaking her head.

  “This is ridiculous. Why can’t I touch you?” He slipped past her, keeping his hands to himself, but turned back in the doorway – arms braced on either side and muscles taut – waiting for her answer.

  Heaving a big sigh, she glanced everywhere, but at Jericho. “Because Mamam will kill you or have one of her mercenaries do it for her.” Drained and still shaky, her face was white as she closed the bathroom door – her heart so heavy it was a stone in her chest. What more was there to say?

  She needed a little space to figure things out and that was going to be the time spent in the shower. Not a patient male, Jericho would demand answers.

  Door closed in his face, he clenched the door frame, arm muscles bulging as his fingers dug into wood, Jericho hung his head. “Who the fuck are you Abe?”

  For long moments, he stood listening as his mind moved lightening quick over possibilities. Frustrated and impatient, he went in search of Matty and Abe’s new clothes.

  CHAPTER 13

  Once downstairs, Reno called out to him. “My man, Noke’s in the command centre catching up with Cal.”

  “Good. Maybe he can help. It seems Abe remembers some stuff now. Rad healed her body and I’m thinkin’ her mind too.”

  Reno clapped Jericho on the shoulder. “That’s fucking fantastic news.”

  “Where’s Matty? Abe needs her new clothes.”

  “Matty’s already on it. Signed, sealed and delivered.”

  “Let’s go see Noke.” Jericho went down the back stairs off the kitchen. Impatient to speak with Abe about what she remembered, it wouldn’t hurt to run this shit by Noke while she finished her shower.

  Entering the command centre, Jericho clasped both Noke’s forearms, greeting him warrior style. “Been a long time.”

  Noke, a huge male, stood a few inches taller than Jericho. Nut brown skin revealed his native heritage along with a beak nose, wide lips and crisp, wise grey eyes. Black hair worn in a single thick braid down his back reached his waist. A gold earring shaped like a feather dangled from his left ear. “Good to see you, Jericho. What’s going on?”

  Caleb cleared his throat. “Boss, I got that research you asked for on Kodiaks.”

  “Bears? Kodiaks?” Noke shot a glance at Caleb, thinking it a joke. Caleb wasn’t smiling, he seemed dead serious. Both Noke’s black brows formed into one solid line. “You got bear problems? Here in Bellsville?”

  Jericho actually smiled. “You could say that.”

  His neck craned forward, Noke peered at Jericho. “You never smile. Fucking never. What’s going on?”

  “Sit,” Jericho motioned to the conference table. No one moved. “That’s an order.”

  Reno plunked down in the nearest chair, Conn sidled into the command centre just joining them. Zulu huffed his displeasure as he sat while Noke perched on the edge of his chair.

  Conn grinned as he sat next to Jericho, giving him a good nudge with his elbow.

  Jericho shook his head still smiling. “Don’t start you heathen.”

  “This Kodiak bear shit is a joke right? You’re grinning from ear to ear and Conn can’t wipe his off. What the fuck’s going on?”

  “We have a visitor,” Jericho started. “We found her in a collapsed cabin. She had a concussion and didn’t remember anything, but said her name was Abe.” He considered white washing the whole Tess ordeal and decided against it, revealing everything. “There’s a big bear, he brought her back to the compound. She was riding on his back. What I want to know is, are there any legends about bears and other races that stay together? Mix together? Nah, fuck – Bear’s part of Abe, no other way to say it.”

  Zulu nodded readily, on the edge of his seat, eager to go anywhere but sit and stay still.

  “Yeah, there’s a few legends about bears and warriors workin’ together. They’re two different souls, two different spirits. I’d have to do some research to find out more.” Noke added nothing else and stopped from shaking his head.

  Face all innocent, he never let on he completely recognized Jericho’s Abe. He was gobsmacked. All this time after miraculously escaping her mother and here she was safe and sound. He let out a deep breath – Giaa, her mother, was going to have a royal fit.

  Hell, Jericho was in more shit that he’d ever known. Simply unbelievable that none of them seemed aware of exactly who Abe was and no one had a clue about her Mother. Or her Father for that matter. Mother, a powerful female, and Father trebly so. Noke sensed this was a real dark night of the soul waiting to happen here. Been a long time coming for Abe.

  Noke needed to see this female with his own eyes to confirm what he already knew. “I’d like to meet her if I could.”

  Jericho nodded. “She’ll be downstairs by now.”

  “Aye, no doubt in the kitchen making a cup of tae.” Conn tapped the table and rose to his feet.

  They moved out as one unit up the back stairs, feet thundering like an army squad in Jimmie boots. Kitchen empty, they converged through the dining room into the great room.

  Abe, coming down the front stairs, watched them pile in – her breath catching when spying the big native. With him here, Mamam wouldn’t be far – as one of the best hunters, Roanoke was a mercenary and often took on paid jobs. Ignoring her trembling body, she made it to the bottom of the stairs. Refreshingly, she felt good – fully healed – and new clothes seemed to do the trick.

  Jericho took the time to notice – he was gonna get a tattoo NOTICE – that Abe's eyes sparkled with mischief and alarm and she seemed so much better, more herself. New clothes fit her like a glove – denim covering her glorious ass like a second skin, t-shirt spreading over her incredible breasts – he almost licked his lips.

  Keen to get some alone time with Abe, Jericho wanted this business with Noke out of the way. “Myn lykyng, there’s someone I’d like you to meet-"

  Abruptly and harshly the big native cut him off. “Jericho, you’re dreaming if you think it’s possible.” Even now Roanoke sensed the power of Jericho’s endearment to Abe lingering around him. “Have you lost your mind! I guarantee you, it ain’t gonna fucking happen.” Noke’s threat rumbled out, directed at King of the Jinn.

  Brow arched, Jericho turned to face the big native, staring at a male he trusted and liked, a male he had led into battle and called friend. Rarely did Jericho ever show his hand, but now he let it rip. They knew each other well and Noke got his message loud and clear when Jericho's eyes shifted to intense purple, swirling with endless power – Abe was his.

  Conn and Zulu silently worked in on either side of Jericho, realizing his blazing purple eyes were a warning.

  Reno muscled into Noke's face. “Watch yourself, you don’t threaten him. Ever. You hearing me?” Reno shifted to one side in an attempt to block Jericho – who might wanna have a go.

  Abe remained frozen at the bottom of the stairs, incredulous that they were going to get into a fight here and now over a few words. Words that Jericho had called her time and again. What did myn lykyng mean? Had she ever asked him?

  Noke poked his head around Reno, dark gray eyes filled with intensity, boring into Jericho. “I needed to see her before confirming that you are in a load of deep shit. Fuck!" He whipped around, dipping his chin in deference to Abe before turning back to the King. "Straight up. Deep shit.”

  “What the fuck, man? What shit?” Reno demanded, mowing back in, caging Noke with his arms spread wide and ready to roll.

  Noke shook his head, turning away from the intense glare of a warrior he'd like to have a go at to again speak directly to Jericho. “I'm not here to blow sunshine up your ass. Thought you and your team had a finger on the pulse of what's fucking happening in this big ole world beyond you
r doorstep."

  Noke turned to the side, meeting Annabelle's emerald green eyes – she was famous for those incredible orbs – before turning back to the others.

  "None of you have any idea who she is do you?” Noke waited, letting the silence draw out as he watched Jericho's body torque into a hard line – even as a friend Noke knew the danger he was in – Jericho's inherent power was off the charts, no one knew what he was really capable of – but there were rumors.

  They'd been through too much together and Jericho needed to know. “Yeah, thought not. Doesn’t matter how you found her or what happened to put her here in your compound. This here is a fucking deep shit situation, my friends.”

  “Explain.” Jericho shouldered Reno aside, eyes roaming over Abe – relief swelling again that she was healed – when his eyes began to change color rapidly, from deep blue to intense purple and back to blue again – a tell his temper was rising and fast.

  "No need." Noke turned on his heel and gracefully swept one arm out, tucking the other in at his waist, he bowed deeply. “Princess, well met. It’s good to see you. I'm glad you’re safe and well.”

  “Roanoke," Abe nodded regally, "well met.”

  “You know him?” Jericho blurted.

  Abe simply dipped her chin. Once.

  Conn wore a deep frown, while Zulu pushed up on his toes and back down on his heels repetitively, beads at his temples clacking.

  Reno instinctively sidled even closer to Jericho.

  Always the silent one, Caleb’s head bobbed up and down between sweeping his finger over the screen of his roid and watching the group. It was why he abandoned the command centre and came upstairs with the rest of them. His gut told him this was big. To break the silence and goad a little, Cal announced, “I’m searching for anything on Princess Abe, boss.”

  A raw laugh belted out of Noke. “That would be Princess Annabelle Evergreen. And you won’t find her in any database or internet web site.”

  One brow twitched high, hazel eyes on fire, Cal stated, "Ah, A. Evergreen."