Carl:Caveman Instinct series 2.5(4)

"Carl, what the hell have you done?" Duncan glared.

Carl shot me a quick shut up look, before turning his gaze back to the  road. "It's not that bad. I took her from the employee carpark. She was  on the phone to some guy called Brent." The growl in Carl's voice was  deep as he spat out Brent's name.

"Oh well, if you took her from the employee car park then everything is  good." The sarcasm was thick in Duncan's voice and I didn't miss the  roll of his eyes.

"I did."

"So what, you just picked her up and took her and no one helped or noticed? What about when you left and the boom gate?"

"Yes. She's mine," Carl snarled. "And that's another thing I'll need  your help with. I sped out of the carpark and didn't stop for the boom  gate. It's broken."

Then I sank deeper into the twilight zone. Duncan burst into laughter.  "Oh God. Hold on Carl. I have to bring Lucas and Albert into the  conversation," Duncan said in-between bouts of laughter.                       
       
           



       

Carl snarled. I stared at him to see his brows furrowed, his lips  thinned, and I bet if it had been quieter I could've heard his teeth  grinding. Then I saw the screen split into three and two older men  joined the conversation. Duncan explained what Carl had done and said to  him, to the two men, who looked so similar, I assumed they were family.  Before Duncan finished I decided to try one of these men for help.

"Please help. I need you to call the police. I need to get back to the  hospital. My mother is sick. Please help me." Before I could finish, the  men were chuckling.

"It finally got him." One of the new guys said.

The other added, "I hate to be the voice of reason, but what is wrong  with her mother? Carl if it's fatal and she dies your woman may never  forgive you for that."

Yay, a voice that sounded stable. A voice that sounded like he had reason.

"I know Lucas, but Annabelle won't tell me her last name so I can find  out about her mother." Carl shrugged. "I figure if her mother was dying  she'd be a lot more angry and upset with me."

"Only you brother. Only you."

The guy I thought was the voice of reason muttered, "You're right. Women  usually aren't quiet and meek when someone they love is dying and  you're denying them access."

All three men laughed and I stared at the screen in shock. I assumed  that was why I didn't respond or say anything more. I mean no one sane  let guys talk about women like that without saying anything, right? It  was either that or I'd caught the crazy bug.

"We'll help you," Duncan gasped out as his laughing settled down. "I'll  call Ryder and he'll help with what he can. I'm sure our security will  clean up the rest. Tyson will sort out the hospital."

"Richard and Mason can send over some security for you. Do you still have Stevenson?"

"Nope. I let him retire a couple of years ago. I didn't need a guard. I  had nothing to guard before now and when I wasn't at the hospital, I was  at my high security house."

"I'll talk to Mason and Richard. I know they've been training security for us."

Carl nodded. "Thanks Duncan. I want Annabelle safe and secure. I want to make sure I know where she is at all times."

Bringing my legs up I hugged my knees. Unease settled in at Carl's  words. I didn't like the feeling. I needed to stay calm and alert.  Listen and take everything in. When the chance came, I would escape. I  didn't like what Carl made me feel, or how I reacted to him. I'd never  been normal, but I'd never been anything special either. I thought I was  average, but as I sat listening and taking in everything I was  beginning to think I was now anything but.





Chapter Two





Carl

I didn't mean to scare her. I'm sure I terrified her when I threatened  to pull over, but I needed her to cooperate and that was all I could  think to do.

Annabelle stayed quiet for the rest of the ride to the cabin. I wasn't  sure if this should worry me or if I should be grateful. I spent the  drive fighting with myself, my brain was on a loop, repeating the same  series of thoughts over and over. Get soulmate to a place she won't  leave you. Make sure Annabelle is safe. Make sure soulmate is  comfortable, fed and hydrated. Get Annabelle to agree to be mine. Make  soulmate love me. I knew it was the curse making me turn all caveman. I  couldn't believe that only hours before I hadn't believed the curse, er,  gift, was real.

I'd watched my brothers and even two of my nephews receive the gift. It  sounded better to say a curse. Right now, knowing what it meant it felt  like a gift, but I'd watched and seen it in action and from what I'd  seen it was more like a curse.

I slowed down as the gate to the cabin retreat came into view. Glancing  over at Annabelle, I caught her eyes widening as she lowered her feet to  the floor. The fence surrounding the cabin land was high and made it  look like a compound. One of the draw backs of being a Silverman was the  lack of privacy we had. We paid for top of the line security and any  way to keep our privacy at any of our homes or vacation places. The  security gate and fence to outsiders would look daunting. May even look  like a prison.

I had to stop. I couldn't speed through this gate. This was Annabelle's  chance to try and escape and I hoped she wouldn't take it. I needed to  convince her to stay. "I promise once we get to the cabin we will talk  and once you understand everything and I know you won't run and you can  call whoever you want."

She snorted. "Oh sure." The sarcasm was thick in her voice and as much  as I'd like to believe she wouldn't run, the road had come to an end so I  had to stop.                       
       
           



       

On a sigh I stopped the car. Taking the key out of the ignition, I  grabbed my phone and got out of the car. Running to the gate, I typed  the code into the lock and then ran back to the car. I shouldn't have  been surprised to see the car empty, but I was. I'd hoped she'd listen  to me. I'd hoped she would at least have some trust in me as I hadn't  hurt her.

Looking around me at the surrounding bush land, I groaned as my body and  mind begged me to go searching for our mate. The problem was, I had no  idea which way she went. As much as I wanted to go after her right then,  I knew I needed help. Reaching into my pocket I got out my phone and  dialed my brother Duncan again.

"What's happened?"

I hated that my brother assumed that something had gone wrong for me to  call him again. I despised it that he was right. "She ran when I stopped  at the cabin. When is the security arriving? As much as I'd like to go  after her, I have no idea which way she went."

Duncan laughed and I'd never wanted to punch someone as much as I did  now. I'd never been a violent man. I went into medicine to save lives.  The curse seemed to bring out all the worst traits. "Are you going to  continue laughing or help me?"

"I'm going to do both." Duncan said between bursts of laughter. "But you  do realize how good it is to know you're human and make mistakes. We  all thought you were a robot programed to plan and follow rules. For  years we've listened as you told us the gypsy gift wasn't real."

"You were right. I was wrong. There. Now tell me when the security is  coming." There was quiet on the other end and I looked down at the  screen to see Duncan just staring. "Are you going to tell me?"

Duncan smirked. "I was savoring the moment. I've never heard you utter those words."

Rolling my eyes, I debated hanging up and trying Albert or even Lucas.  Maybe they'd tell me what I wanted to know. Glaring at my brother I  hoped he saw how close I was to losing my shit on him.

"Argh, there's the brother I know so well. I thought for a moment that  you'd left us. I thought that the gypsy's gift might've mellowed you  out. You're always so in control and straight and narrow."

"For fuck's sake Duncan, just tell me how far away is the security?"

"They should be there in fifteen or so minutes. Rafe will be your head  security. He was Richard's seconded most trusted man besides Cole. Did  you know that Gillian co-"

I didn't want or need to hear anything else. I hung up on Duncan, reluctantly got back in my car, and drive down to the cabin.

I hoped that Annabelle hadn't gotten far.

* * * *





Annabelle

So my brilliant plan didn't work. You know when you watch a movie and  you yell at the stupid heroine to run and she does, but she doesn't wait  and stay hidden and the kidnapper gets in his car and picks her up  again. I thought I was smart. I finally got away from the crazy guy who  kidnaped me. Point one to me. I even waited a while before I came out of  the bushes in case Carl drove by and saw me. The problem? I came out of  the woods thinking I'd waited a safe amount of time for Carl to think  I'd already gotten away, and flagged down a car, and guess what? Did you  say the car was the crazy man's security and they didn't help at all,  just picked me up and carried me back to a big SUV with three other big  security men? Nope. I bet you didn't.