If it was her punishment, she’d accept it. She couldn’t fight what couldn’t be changed.
But God, surely there was someone she could depend on.
She knew Cullen, and she trusted him.
At this moment, she had no other place to turn. The Unknown considered her compromised, Rule had thrown her away. He wasn’t sending Breeds to protect her. To secure her perhaps, but not to protect her. Somehow, she must have betrayed herself, that was all it could have been. There was no reason for Breeds to be surrounding her apartment other than to arrest her for some reason.
She’d read nothing in Breed Law about any statutes against running from the asshole Breed who didn’t know how to be a lover.
Climbing silently from the ravine above the storm drain the tunnel led into, she checked the area quickly before making her way into the tree line that surrounded Cullen’s adobe house.
The small house was inconspicuous. It was a bachelor’s home, but Gypsy knew things about that house that she doubted anyone else knew. Things her brother had told her about ways into it, out of it and a maze of hidden caves beneath it. She had no doubt in her mind that Cullen was well aware of them as well.
It wasn’t the only house in town with hidden access, or hidden tunnels. It wasn’t the only house with a history, and her brother had, for some reason, made certain she’d known about all of the ones he’d been aware of.
Moving slowly to the back of the house, she kept her eyes moving constantly, watching the shadows she hovered within, certain no one would be watching for her there, but unwilling to take any chances.
Sweat gathered along her body beneath the wicking fabric of the outfit she wore. The unusual summer heat soaked her skin and her hairline far quicker than usual. The fabric felt itchy against her flesh, the arousal Rule had left burning in her body tormenting her now. The fact that she couldn’t just ignore it was pissing her off too.
She wanted to hate him.
Tears threatened to spill from her eyes as she paused next to one of the large trees at the edge of the house. Forcing herself to catch her breath for a second, she watched the area carefully, desperately searching for some sign of Cullen.
Or any Breeds that could have followed her.
Nothing moved but a light breeze. Nothing could be heard but the sparse traffic several streets over and the crickets that chirped playfully among the leaves of the trees.
Reaching to her hip, she slid the sat phone from her belt and activated it silently to call Cullen before barging in on him.
“No need to call. I’m right here.”
The low, cross male voice had her ducking quickly and moving to the other side of the tree as her weapon cleared its holster.
“It’s Cullen, Gypsy,” he sighed.
Stepping from behind the tree, she faced him warily, her emotions uneven, fear, anger and desperation filling her.
“I’m being hunted,” she whispered. “And denied extraction by someone I’ve been helping. I was once told you would help . . .” But not if the Unknown themselves denied her.
Her voice was too rough, the tears she held back too close to falling. She’d been betrayed by the lover she’d given up retribution for, and by the small sect of warriors she’d dedicated her life to for nine years.
What was there left to lose?
“Come on.” He strode past her to the back door. “I knew you’d end up here when I received the report of those Breeds positioning themselves around the store. I’ll put some coffee on and you can tell me what the hell’s going on.”