Runner's Moon: Yarrolam (23 page)

Cherron pressed her forehead to Liam’s chest. She felt him run a hand over her hair, and she tightened her arms about his waist. Faint throbs of pain echoed within her, reminding her that not too long ago he had been subjected to torture.

“Let’s get you someplace where you can clean up. Then I’ll tend to those wounds before they become infected. And while I’m at it, I’ll remove that nasty tracking device. No sense making it easy for the Arra to find us again.” Looking up at him, she saw him smile tenderly at her.

“And then what,
t’korra
?” His suggestion was intimately clear.

Cherron snorted. “One step at a time,
t’kor.
But I have a few things to check off my list.”

Chapter 32

Options

            As soon as they reached Jebaral and Hannah’s cabin, Cherron led Liam over to the kitchen table. “I’ll need bandages, alcohol, a pair of tweezers, a clean towel—”

            “What are you going to do?” Challa walked up and asked.

            Hannah pointed down the hall. “Get what you need from our bathroom. Last door on the left. She’s going to remove that tracker from his arm.”

            “Are you serious? Shouldn’t Dr. Fitzhugh do that?”

            “It’s Tuesday. Dr. Fitzhugh is in Plackerville on Tuesday,” Sheriff Klotsky informed her.

            Cherron lost the rest of the conversation when she entered the back bedroom and went directly to the master bath. She gathered up what she needed, dumping the items into a towel, then bundled everything to take back to the kitchen. When she returned, the others were gathered around the table.

            “So you’re a PA?” Klotsky clarified.

            “That’s right. Give me your arm, Liam.”

            Everyone remained respectfully quiet as she hunted for the tiny capsule-shaped object at the juncture where the blood line began at his wrist. She found it in less than a minute, extracting the chip and laying it on a gauze pad. Compton picked it up and stared at it as she finished medicating and wrapping the arm.

            “We need to get of it. Destroy it,” Simolif noted.

            “Not a problem. Do you have a hammer?” Liam got to his feet and took the device from Compton.

Jebaral went over to the cabinet and withdrew a hammer from a drawer, handing it over. They watched as Liam went out the back door, taking the items outside. From the large wall window on the other side of the dining room table, and in the glare of the backyard’s security light, everyone witnessed as he laid the chip on a rock, then pounded the tracker into dust with the hammer. When he was done, he reentered the house and handed the hammer back to Jebaral.

“Thank you.”

He sat back down at the table. Grasping Cherron’s fingers, he gave them a gentle squeeze. She felt an immense sense of relief in him. He was finally free of the Arra, and that sweet glow of happiness extended to her. She was surprised to realize her blood mate was still nude, but none of the others seemed uncomfortable with it. Neither was she, for that matter.

            Hannah took a seat in one of the chairs and looked at the couple. “What now? What’s your next plan of action?”

            “Outside of a few hours of uninterrupted sleep?” Cherron smiled.
Give or take a few sessions of heavy breathing.

           
Thom parked himself in another chair. Tiron took a stance behind him, her hands on his shoulders. “I’m afraid you’re going to have to put off the honeymoon a bit longer,” the deputy told them. “Yarrolam, you have to go back to New Orleans and face those allegations against you.”

            Liam sighed, nodding. “I know.”

            “And I’m going with you,” Cherron assured him. “We need to let the authorities know about those men who attacked us and kidnapped me.”

            Sarah slipped an arm around Simolif’s waist. “I’m going out on a limb here and throw some positive vibes into this discussion. Let’s say Yarrolam is cleared. Then what?” She stared at Cherron. “What do you plan to do then?”

“To be truthful,” Liam admitted, “we haven’t had the chance to make any plans for a future. We’ve been too busy trying to keep enough distance between us and our attackers.” He tugged on her hands, commanding her attention.

            Gazing into his silvery-flecked eyes, Cherron could feel his unanswered question, but she wanted to hear it. She wanted him to say it. Here. In front of the others. In front of his fellow Ruinos, their mates, and the other witnesses.

            As if anticipating her need, Liam gave her hand a squeeze. “
T’korra,
I want you to stay with me. I need you to stay with me. I need your intelligence to challenge me. I need your wisdom to guide me. I need your courage to protect me. And I need your strength to support me. Cherron, my blood mate, will you join your life with mine?”

            It felt as if her smile would split her face in two, and her joy was only increasing. “If that’s the way a Ruinos proposes marriage, then my answer is yes. I need your kindness to console me. I need your gentleness to comfort me. I need your strength to encourage me. And I need you, Yarrolam. My Liam. My
t’kor.
”

            She felt no shame or embarrassment when he leaned over the table to kiss her. In fact, it was someone clearing their throat that reminded them of where they were.

            “You know, Miss Greene, we could use someone like you here in Tumbril Harbor if you decide to make us your home,” Klotsky commented. “The clinic is only open Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. Dr. Fitzhugh divides his time between us and two other towns. We get the majority of his time because of the lumber mill. But the rest of the time, we have to go all the way into Monsorville if there’s a serious emergency. That’s a good forty-five miles away.” The man scratched the back of his neck. “We really need the clinic open at least five days a week. The pay won’t put you in the upper income bracket, but the people here would be grateful, and will compensate you in ways that might surprise you.”

            Cherron turned to Liam. “What about you? What kind of work could you do?”

            Sarah spoke up from where she’d taken a seat across from the couple. “Actually, Liam, you could still do investment work. If it wasn’t for you, many Ruinos would have found themselves unable to afford a place to stay or food to eat. Of course, you wouldn’t be able to open up an office or anything. But you’ve done such a great job handling our finances, Simon and I would hate losing your savvy.”

            Cherron saw her blood mate bow his head as he considered the option, but in her heart she knew he wasn’t agreeable to the idea. She leaned closer to him and whispered, “Liam, you know there are always other jobs.”

            “There’s always the mill,” Hannah suggested.

            Jebaral shook his head. “No. No hard labor. Simolif and I were made to work in some of the most horrifying conditions on the planets we were sold to. But Yarrolam… He was brutalized in ways I cannot begin to tell you. When he told us on the life pod he couldn’t face any more of the same, we understood. His skills are more mental than muscle.” He lightly placed a hand on Liam’s shoulder. “You don’t have to make a decision now. First, you and Cherron need to take care of your problem in New Orleans. Focus on that. When it’s settled, you can decide what to do next.”

            “Listen to him,
t’kor.
Tomorrow, we’ll start heading back to New Orleans. I want to hear what Aaron has to say to me about what he did. I want to hear what excuses that bastard has to explain why he hung us out to dry.”

            “You’re right. Priorities.” He gave her a warm smile. “And our first one being a restful night.”

            Before anyone could respond, he got to his feet and swept Cherron into his arms. Without offering an apology for his actions, he proceeded down the hallway. “Where is the bedroom?” he demanded.

            Cherron couldn’t stop laughing, but managed to gasp, “First door on the right!”

            She wasn’t surprised when he kicked door shut behind them.

Chapter 33

Confrontation

            Cherron stared at the man sitting on the opposite side of the table. Liam had opted to stand in the corner, his arms crossed over his chest and a stern expression cemented on his face. Aaron’s attorney hovered behind her client like a lioness protecting her cub. Outside the room, four men—two FBI agents and two detectives—watched and listened to their conversation. Everything was being taped, which was fine with her.

            Ever since they’d entered the room and witnessed Aaron’s initial look of surprise, he’d hung his head and refused to face them. Again, she was fine with that. His actions spoke plenty.

            She leaned back in her chair, keeping her hands in her lap where they clutched her purse. Otherwise, she was afraid she’d reach over and claw the hell out of his cheek and nose. Swiping her nails across his handsomely good looks the way Liam had sliced the Arra into deli meat. Although she knew her actions wouldn’t help Liam’s case if she tried such a stunt, it certainly made her feel better imagining how Aaron would look after she had a go at him. A quick check over her shoulder noticed Liam remained solid and stoic. A thread of support wove its way around her heart as he sent her courage.

           
Thanks,
t’kor,
but it’s not courage I need right now. It’s someone to tamper my anger, and prevent me from trying to throttle the man.

           
She received a faint wave of humor in reply.

            After a full minute of silence passed, she sat up straighter in her chair. “What’s the matter, Aaron? Cat got your tongue?”

            The man didn’t move or even act as if he’d heard her.

            Snorting softly, she searched inside her purse, extracted the engagement ring he’d given her, and slammed it on the table, shoving it toward the man.

            “In case you haven’t figured it out by now, the engagement’s over. Just answer me one thing. One question, Aaron. That’s all I want from you. Why did you send Liam to pick me up at the airport?”

            Aaron finally lifted his head, but his eyes went to the mirrored wall where he knew others were watching. Then he dropped his gaze.

            “I was busy,” he mumbled.

            She gave him a few seconds to say more. When he didn’t, Cherron shook her head.

            “You were busy. Busy clearing out your apartment. Busy getting your butt out of town before those dickheads got their hands on you.” She abruptly got to her feet, nearly tipping over the chair behind her. “I’m going to enjoy testifying against you. I hope you know that. And I’m going to pop a magnum of champagne after the jury gives you the maximum for the way you scammed all those people, and put me and Liam in harm’s way.” She pounded the table with her fist. “You almost got us fucking
killed,
you asshole!”

            She swiped her eyes with the back of her hand. She’d promised herself this man would never see her cry, or in any way see her weakness. He didn’t deserve to know how much she had suffered because of what he’d done. Turning her back on the man, she spoke to Liam. “I’m finished here.”

            Liam nodded, shifting his hands to his hips, and addressed his ex-employer. “If there’s any decency left in you, Aaron, if you ever feel the need to clear your conscience, the least you can do is admit to the authorities that I was never involved in your pyramid scheme. Tell them, Aaron. Tell them that you were the sole architect, and you used me as a pawn to conceal what you were doing, so you could keep up the appearance of being a straight-up investor.”

            Surprisingly, Aaron lifted his face to look at him, but he remained silent.

            “I think you’ve put us through enough shit,” Liam remarked. “Cherron and I never gave you any cause for the crap we endured. You have no right to implicate me when my only crime was that I trusted you. We nearly died because we thought you were a decent human being.”

            “What’s your point?” Aaron asked.

            Liam hesitated. “Nothing. I guess my point is nothing. Forget it. Let’s go, Cherron. Let’s leave him to face his demons.” He strode over, placing a hand to the small of her back as he reached for the doorknob. At the last second, he paused, then glanced over where the man continued to observe them.

            “If you think this is bad, don’t forget the people you scammed. Some of them have long-reaching arms and powerful connections. And even longer memories.”

            Liam escorted her out of the room, down the hall, and into the small office where Det. Washoo joined them. She didn’t realize she was shaking until Liam draped an arm over her shoulders and gave her a little squeeze. Small surges of brightness pulsed through her as he fed her confidence and courage.

            “It’s okay,
t’korra.
We’ll be all right.”

            She noticed the detective leafing through a folder. “What happens now? Will we be all right, Detective? That man who sent those people after us…”

            “I honestly believe you don’t have anything to worry about with regards to Mr. Navaez. His whole intent was to find Mr. Shulcrist. And with Mr. Shulcrist in custody, our focus is now on making sure he remains alive long enough to face trial.”

            “Do you think he’ll be found guilty?”

            “I believe the prosecuting attorney is building a substantial case,” the detective assured her.

            “What about those men who attacked us?” Liam spoke up.

            “We have two of Navaez’s men in custody.” Washoo eyed Cherron. “We’ll need you both to participate in picking them out of a line-up. As for the others, we’ll eventually find them. But my guess is they’ve skipped the country by now. It’s best we focus on what we have, and try to get what info we can from Shulcrist. Incidentally, I do have another bit of good news to share.” The man closed the folder, laced his hands together, and placed them on top of his desk. “Your background checks came back clean. I expected it of yours, Miss Greene. Of course, the INS hasn’t weighed in yet on your status, Mr. Vost. But since we haven’t received any communique requesting we hold you further for questioning, and they haven’t sent any of their boys down here to personally speak with you, I’m going to make a guess you’re also in the clear. We didn’t find anything questionable on your computer, and the DA doesn’t see any point in indicting you.”