Page 177 of Deadfall

“Definitely haven’t heard that one before,” Ranger said dryly. “You gonna tell me your name, mate?”

“Seven.”

“And you’re saying I have a weird name?”

With a lurch the helo lifted off the ground, and I felt the familiar dip of my stomach as Ranger tilted the bird to gain altitude. I couldn’t see out the sides from where I lay, but it was probably just as well. I had a nasty case of vertigo, and I’m sure seeing the trees and ocean beneath me wouldn’t help. The sound of the wind as it rushed by and the familiar cadence of a helicopter lulled me back into a stupor, and it wasn’t long before I passed out again.

“So you’re telling me, a one-eyed man named Ranger Rick dragged you to a landing strip, unearthed a hidden helo and flew you off the island,” G stated.

I pursed my lips, and okay, so maybe I needed to acknowledge how crazy that story sounded.

“Yeah, that about sums it up.”

G looked skeptical. “Are you sure you didn’t inhale some of that island gas?”

I chuckled. “Highly possible, but if it didn’t happen like that, I have no alternative so I don’t know what to tell you.”

“What happened after that?” G asked incredulously.

“That part isn’t too clear—” I said lightly.

“Oh, that part?” G huffed a laugh.

“I think I was out for most of it. The next thing I remember, Ranger Rick drove me almost to the front gate—”

“Why didn’t he drop you at the gate?” G asked. He seemed pissed off about that.

“He said he didn’t want anyone to see him.”

“I see.” G stated. “The guy sounds like an asshole.”

I laughed. “He definitely was. I still don’t know why he helped me.”

“How did he know where to drop you?” G asked.

I shrugged. “Don’t know that either.”

G grunted and he went quiet as he let the story settle.

He shook his head. “That really is a wild story, Sev,” he grinned.

“I know,” I said gleefully. “Isn’t it awesome?”

85

EMERSYN

The next few days were a blur.

I continually had nightmares that kept me up at night. They usually centered around all of this being a dream. In my nightmares, all of it was ripped away and I was back in the darkness—it looped between the hunters, Riggs, Octavius, and Mahoney’s island. I started to hate going to bed. I knew Griffin still posted up in the hallway, and I knew he wasn’t sleeping either. Whenever I emerged from my bedroom, we’d silently creep down to visit Seven where he thankfully would regale us with stories and soon have both of us laughing.

During the day I would workout and spend time with my father. We would take walks through the sprawling backyard, or go downstairs to the gun range he had on a sublevel. Sometimes we would talk about things, but never anything to do with the past. It hung over us still, but every day was a step in the right direction.

I got to know Kaelin a little bit better too. She helped me do some online shopping for clothes, and insisted on ordering every single thing I could possibly need as a woman, and then some things I didn’t even know I needed.

She was great, and while it was a little strange to see her with my father, they fit in a way I was coming to appreciate. The added factor of Graham had come as a surprise, but he fit too. The three of them made the best team, and I found myself studying them more and more and wishing for something similar—something that tugged at the edges of what I knew was possible if I let it.

But, was I the one hesitating? I didn’t want to have to choose between Griffin and Seven. Maybe that’s why I hadn’t taken the next step, because I didn’t want to open up a future where one of them wasn’t in it. They were both inching their way into my heart, into my blood, into my entire being to where I looked for them—sought them out—needed to be in their presence to feel whole.