Master of the Abyss

But would he understand? “I…” She searched for the right words and tried again. “This is my home, the mountain is”- part of who I am-“my shelter. All the years I’ve lived here, that’s where I went when I was upset or mad or…” Lonely. “But now the thought of being up there is terrifying.” She showed him the way her fingers trembled. “I need to go back, to know that I can, that it’s still my place. Now-at night. And before I think about it too much.”

A long moment passed before he gave her a faint smile. “I’m not sure I understand, but I was raised on a ranch. Getting back on the horse that threw you is a cowboy law. But I’m going with you.”

“No, you are not,” Wyatt told him and then abandoned the door to loom over Kallie. “And you’re going nowhere, cuz.”

She ignored him. “Jake. You don’t need to-”

He stroked a hand over her hair, slow and comforting. “Of course I do. Now deal with your family.”

Family. Just the word sent a thrill through her heart and gave her strength enough to face them. God, she loved them-Wyatt with all his bluster, Morgan with his silence, Virgil with his strength-and they loved her. She knew that now.

“I need to do this, guys,” she said firmly and held up a hand to silence Wyatt. “You can’t stop me.”

Virgil raised one eyebrow, and a crease appeared in one cheek.

Morgan shoved Wyatt over to glare at Jake. “Maybe, but we can keep you from going with him.”

She rolled her eyes. “Morgan, did I stop you from dating that blonde bimbo with the brains of a gnat?”

He reddened.

“Wyatt, do I interfere in your life when you bring women back here? Even when you have two at a time?”

“That’s different. I’m-”

“I’m a woman. And have been for a long time.” She smiled sweetly at each cousin in turn. “Everyone’s equal in this house, remember? What I got, you got-and vice versa. I don’t interfere in your love life; you don’t get to interfere in mine. I don’t tell you how to dress; you don’t complain about my clothes.”

The deepening scowls made her step back. Her determination wavered. What if they decided they didn’t love her, if they wanted-

“Jesus fucking Christ, don’t look at us like that.” Virgil gripped her shoulders and gave her a shake. “Yell at us and throw things, bring home every lowlife in Bear Flat, wear bikinis all day long, just don’t ever, ever look at us like you doubt how we feel about you.”

Oh. Okay.

Wyatt looked shaken for a moment and then crossed his arms. “Yeah, well, I might love you, but I don’t know about you bringing home a lowlife.”

“I love you, Wyatt,” Kallie said, watched his face go soft, and then she slapped him upside the head. “And I’ll bring home who I want.”

* * *

The moon had risen, three days past full, and lent additional light as they moved up the mountain. Their flashlights glimmered on dark tree trunks that seemed to press far too close to the trail. As every injury from yesterday ached, Kallie felt a twang of guilt that Jake had taken her pack to carry. Every time he shifted it, she remembered the club hitting his shoulder. Then again, her hip really, really hurt, and she’d probably have dumped the damn thing on the side of trail by now.

Seemed like he always showed up when she needed help, even when she didn’t know she did. She carefully avoided thinking about anything other than having his friendship. They could be good friends. Really.

And she had something she needed to do. She stopped and turned to look at him. “Thank you for yesterday. Not just for saving my life”-she grinned at him-“although I really do appreciate that, but afterward too. To know why I was sent away…and that they loved me…it helps. I owe you.”

“I think we’re even. Seems like a little sub called me names and forced me to see things in a new light.”

She winced. She’d called him a pussy, hadn’t she? “You’re not mad?”

His lips quirked. “We need to work on your confrontational skills a tad. But I needed to hear it. Thank you.”

Relief lifted her spirits. He didn’t hate her for her blunt words. See? Friends. Unfortunately, as they continued up the trail, her comfortable feeling fell prey to her memories of violence. Screaming. Death.

By the time the turnoff appeared, she’d started to cringe at the tiniest rustle in the brush. Although her brain recognized the sound of a mouse out for a night snack, the rest of her panicked. Soon the memory of the monster’s roar overwhelmed the sound of Jake’s limping footsteps behind her.

Her knees shook from more than exhaustion as she stopped at her rocks. They lay in an ugly mess, no longer spelling out her name. Maybe she should consider it a sign she didn’t belong here. Shoulders slumping, she started to step over them. Jake made a noise, low in his throat, and she stopped.

As she stared down, moonlight colored the rocks with silver. She inhaled slowly. The murderer had scratched out her name, not her cousins. Not her family. She did belong here. Setting her jaw, she crouched and put the stones back into their places until her name shown clearly again. KALINDA.

My place.

Jake smiled, and the warmth from his understanding pushed a little of the chill away. His unspoken protest had made her stop and think. But he hadn’t interfered after that. She’d made her own remedy, and he’d stood by in silent support. As he did now.

With that reassurance, she was able to turn and move down the tiny path toward the creek.

A little while later, she stood in the small clearing. Aside from trampled grass, no sign remained of the violence. And yet she kept seeing the murderer stalk out of the trees. When she turned, she saw Virgil helpless on the ground. She heard the thud of a club impacting flesh. A dog’s yelp.

A warm hand closed on her shoulder, and she shuddered. Jake set the pack down and pulled her close. She laid her cheek on his broad chest and heard only the slow beat of his heart. The solid feel of him let her breathe again. Almost as if he shared from his own vast stores, courage flowed into her, strengthening her resolve. I can do this. No asshole monster would take this place from her.

She pulled back and stood on her own two feet. When Jake tilted his head, she nodded firmly. “I can do this.”

“I have no doubt. You’re one of the strongest people I’ve ever met.”

The conviction in his voice stunned her. Strong? She bit her lip, captured her self- image again. Damn right, I’m strong. “I need to be alone.”

Silence. His face tightened as he obviously warred with his need to shelter her. His protectiveness made her feel so safe and, oddly enough, helped her stand on her own feet. A contradiction, that-like how giving away love could increase it.

He caressed her cheek with gentle fingers, then walked back up the path, leaving her in the empty clearing, alone with her memories.

“My place,” she whispered to the memory of the murderer. “I belong here. You don’t.”

When the murderer appeared again, she crossed her arms over her chest, then