Skin Walkers Conn (7 page)

Aries drew to a stop
, her
tone was angry as she growled, “I demand to be released!”

Conn didn’t respond, instead he simply watched her. 

In turn, Aries watched him.  His lithe power was inherent in his fluid movement as he circled silently around her.
  When he was behind her Aries made for the door, but Conn’s hand clamped around h
er arm before she
was able to advance
a single
step. 

She spun on Conn, her angry eyes shimmering as she fought her overwhelming emotions. 
She was terrified and alone
.
A
dd to that the fact that she was starving and still hazy from the drugs.  Tears threatened and s
he couldn’t control the telling catch in her voice, “I want to go home.”

Conn’s sharp features appeared to soften as he stared at her.  “Jenny,” he kept his eyes on Aries, “get Mason.”

“Yes Commander.”
Jenny strode obediently from the room and Aries’ eyes followed her.

When the door closed Aries looked back at Conn and tried to control the rush of fear that swept over her.  She was still wearing practically nothing in her black slip and matching ballet slippers.  She had no weapons and no knowledge of her location or surroundings. 

She slowly pulled her arm free of Conn’s grip as he loosened his hold.  “Who is Mason and what does he want with me?”
  She rubbed her arm where Conn had gripped it.

Conn titled his head, watching her closely.  “He’s your brother, and I’d assume he seeks to reconcile.”

Aries’ eyes snapped to the door before she scanned the room searching for a weapon.  “He’s lying.  I have no brothers.  I have no family.”
  She backed away from Conn and the door
on legs that were slowly gaining strength.  B
racing herself in the corner of the room
she could only watch
as Conn inhaled slowly, his eyes darkening drastically.  Aries frowned at him, “What’s wrong with you?”

Conn’s eyes slowly shifted back to their too reflective original state.  “What do you mean?”

“Your eyes.  There’s something…wrong with you.”

The corner of his severe mouth lifted by a fraction, but when the door opened the grin disappeared and Conn closed the distance to place himself directly in front of Aries.

Chapter 7

“Conn.”
The tall broad man Aries assumed to be Mason greeted the man blocking her from view
as he entered the exam room
.

“Mason.”
Conn replied just as smoothly. 

Aries peeked around Conn’s massive frame to spy a glimpse of her so-called brother.
  She couldn’t help the un-lady
like snort that left her.  The man looked nothing like her.  Where her hair was all black except for the white streak at her temple, Mason’s was a soft brown.  While her eyes were a warm hazel, Mason’s were a striking and vivid green.

Mason cleared his throat, “If you don’t mind, I’d like to be alone with her.”

Aries felt her heart accelerate
. 
Dread swept over her. 
This can’t be good.

“I do mind,
” Conn replied.

Aries couldn’t help the rush of relief that washed over her.  She didn’t know Conn, but she certainly knew him better than Mason, and she kn
ew that if Conn wanted her dead, brutalized, or raped
it would already have happened
. 

“Conn!”
Mason growled in challenge.

“Stop with the theatrics Mason, you’re frightening her.”

Aries cowered behind Conn, hoping that if Mason couldn’t see her he’d forget she was there and just leave.

“This,” Mason ground out, “is
family
business that does not concern you.”

Aries could hear the amusement in Conn’s voice, “Let’s ask her.”  Conn turned
his head
then to frown down at her, “Would you like to be alone with your…with this man?”

She couldn’t keep her small
hands
from
fisting
in the
back
of
his
cammo
shirt, “
Can you stay?”

Conn stared at her evenly, “Yes.”  Then he turned to Mason.  “You heard the woman.”

“Fine!” Mason barked, “But for Christ’s sake get out of the way so I can at least get a good look at her.”

Aries fully expected Conn to
step
to the side.  Instead he r
eached behind him and pulled her
under an arm so that her body was hidden
leaving only her upper body
exposed
to Mason’s scrutiny
.

She blinked at the man who was staring at her intently, letting his eyes rove her features as if searching for something.  He was built like Conn, large and broad. 

Now that I think about it all these men are built the same.  They look like a team of
MMA
fighters.
 

When Mason’s eyes shifted from the glassy green to a full matte black that consumed nearly his entire eye Aries tried to retreat under Conn’s arm. 
He
clamped her to him holding her in place. 

Aries watched the other man inhale slow and deep
several times before his eyes transitioned back to their beautiful reflective green. 
His eyes dropped to her throat and lingered there for long moments before
the man dipped his head and his shoulders slumped.  Aries knew t
hen that he’d genuinely thought, or hoped it would seem,
she was the sister he’d been searching for.

“I…” Aries began softly drawing both men’s
attention
.  “I’m sorry I’m not
what you were
looking for.”

Mason’s expression darkened then he looked at Conn.  “I still want tests.  I need the proof.”

Conn lifted his arm from her shoulders and pushed her behind him.  “You know she’s not your sister Mason, there’s no need to torture her.”

Torture! 
Panic flared to life and standing behind Conn
,
Aries again scanned the room quickly for some
form of
weapon, any weapon.

“No
w who’s indulging in theatrics?
  It’s not torture Conn, it’s a few simple
blood
tests
to confirm that she’s no relation.  A
nd the last time I checked you had zero say about what occurs here at
StoneCrow
.”

“Equally
,
I care zero about what
occurs
here at
StoneCrow
, but she’s my prisoner and I’ll decide how she’s treated.”

“Prisoner?”
Mason scoffed, “
I
retained
you
for your services Mercenary
Drago
, you’ll do as I say.”

Aries pulled herself into the wall as Conn tensed in front of her, “I
follow no man’s
orders Mason, so I suggest you watch your mouth.  And it’s
Commander
Drago
.”

“You’ve been paid!” Mason challenged.

Conn reached down and
pulled a rolled stack of hundred dollar bills
from the front leg pocket of his fatigues before Aries heard it slap on the floor, “Keep
your money.  I’ll keep the woman.”

Aries peeked around Conn’s large frame in time to see Mason stripping off his black suit coat.  With it on he looked like a burly businessman, and with it off he looked like a potential challenge for Conn.

“You forget Conn, I too am a
Walker
.”

Walker?  What
in
the
hell does that mean?  Could it have something to do with what I saw Conn do in the jungle?

Then the door swung open and a third man
casually
entered.  He too was dressed in a tailored all black business suit, but unlike Mason, this man’s hair was jet black and combed stylishly back.
  His eyes were a sultry sea blue and his olive complexion gave him a devastatingly handsome appearance.  Aries sucked in her bottom lip,
But not as gorgeous as Conn
.
  What?  Whoa, where did that come from
?

Conn turned to stare at her, the glint in his eye mortified her into wondering if she’d said the words aloud. 
No, I didn’t!
 

“Aries.”  The newcomer frowned at Mason then Conn before striding
around the gurney that sat in the middle of the room to approach her from the other side.  He extended his hand even as Conn growled a warning, “I’m Monroe
StoneCrow
.  It’s a pleasure to have you here at the estate.”

Aries looked from Monroe to Conn then back before timidly
stepping forward and
accepting the other man’s hand.

“I apologize for my colleagues’ hostility.  You’ll have to forgive Mason, he’s been searching for his sister for several years and every failure is quite disheartening.”  Monroe released her hand and stood back to frown at Conn, “As for Commander
Drago
I understand he hasn’t slept or eaten
since the night he discovered you in the jun
gle.”  Monroe turned to smile
at Conn, “
Hunger
can drive a man crazy you know.”  It wasn’t a question
.

Aries
spoke up then, “Now that you’ve
all discovered
that
you’ve abducted the wrong woman I’d like to go home Mr.
StoneCrow
.”

Conn smiled, crossing his arms over his massive chest as he leaned back against the wall to watch Monroe talk his way out of this one. 

Monroe’s smiled faltered, “Yes, of course.”  He raised a finger to press it into his lips before proceeding, “But first, you must let our Surgeon
examine you
, ensure you’ve been unharm
ed.  Then, we’d like you to be our guest here at the estate until we can arrange for your transport back to South America.”

Aries’ eyed the man warily, “Can I refuse?”

Monroe sobered, “I’m afraid not.”

A
ries ground her teeth together.
Fucking liars!
  “I don’t want the exam,” she
bit
out
as she strode
to the door, ignoring Mason as
he frowned down at her.
  The room was silent for several long moments until Aries turned to scowl at Monroe,
“Well is someone going to take me to my cell?”

Conn shoved off the wall and uncrossed his arms from his chest.

“You’re not a prisoner Aries.”
Monroe’s tone was light.

“If I can’t leave than I
am
a prisoner.
  Take me to my fucking cell.
”

Mason spoke then, his expression still hard as he dropped his eyes from Conn to her as she stood before him, “I’m sorry I got you involved in this.  It was my fault.”  Then he lifted his eyes to stare at Conn, “I’m sorry I got you involved with
him
.”  The
n
Mason turned and left the room.

Aries still stood facing the door waiting for either Conn or Monroe to take her to her cell when Monroe began again, “Aries, the exam…”

“Not tonight.”
Aries didn’t turn as Conn growled at Monroe.

“Conn, we have to find out…”

“I know,” Conn cut in angrily, “But not
tonight.  It’s been a long four days.
  She
’s tired and hungry.  The effects of the drug still haven’t fully worn off either.”

Silence reigned for several moments before Monroe relented on a harsh sigh, “Fine. Take her to her…
cell.
”

Aries heard the rumble in Conn’s chest as he grabbed her arm and led her from the exam room.

Chapter 8

Aries
kept her head down as she was led down the long narrow corridor
.  She rubbed at her arms in an attempt to ward of
f
the chill that had crept over her when she’d envisioned the damp cold cell she anticipated being
held in
. 

Conn pulled her to a halt and grabbed the front of his shirt, ripping it open and sending buttons bouncing
loudly
on the lino
leum
floor.  He pulled his arms free
and wrapped
the shirt
around Aries’ shoulders.  “Sorry if it smells bad.”