Skin Walkers Conn (6 page)

Conn swallowed back his anger,
adrenaline
thick
ened his throat from
what shouldn’t have been perceived as a challenge
.  “I know Shane, but…
”
  He didn’t know what else to say so he simply shook his head.

Shane watched Conn for several moments before he rose slowly then looked back down at Aries.  “She should be awake.  Anyone else would be, but in case you haven’t noticed boss we’re not dealing with anyone else.”

Conn’s lips tilted in a half smile as he shoved a hand into h
is hair.  He needed to get a grip on
himself before his men abandoned him.  “I noticed.” 

It was the first time he’d even marginally relaxed since the night Aries dropped him to his knees.
Staring down at her now he was entranced by the dark sooty lashes that lay against
flawless
honey-colored
skin.  He knew the trouble she was while awake, but asleep she looked small, weak,
and in need of protection…his protection
. 
 

“It’s obvious she’s healing from several old injuries and no thanks to us she’s taken a few more bumps.”  Shane was not only a damned fine mercenary, but also the team’s resident medic.  “She’s overworked, overtired, and under
-fed
.  The
tranqs
have forced her to do something she’s been fi
ghting against for I’d guess
months,
rest.  She just needs time.  Let her sleep, she needs it.  When we get to
StoneCrow
you should let Jenny take a look at her just to be safe.  She could be suffering from some injury or illness that we haven’t detected.”  Shane turned to stare at Conn
and Conn could tell by the look in the
other
man’s eyes that he was debating his next words
. 

“What?”

“When she’s awake I detect the faint scent of pain.  It’s been constant, but light.  It’s as if it’s a pain she’s been suffering with for a while.”

Conn nodded, “I’ve scented it too, though I’ve checked her
for injury and can find no out
ward sign of any.
”

“
James
is certain she’s
lower than a stage one.”

Conn knew what Shane was inferring, which meant he and his men were in consensus. 
They all knew that Aries was a
Walker
,
as
Walker
s could detect one another, but Aries
was unaware of what she was
and
she clearly had no idea of
her abilities.  Conn sighed heavily as he ran a hand over his
weary
face.  He was exhausted and
hungry, but knew he’d have to
brief Monroe and Mason before he’d get the opportunity to sate either need.  “Transportation?
”

“There’s a convoy waiting.  We should
arrive
at
StoneCrow
within the hour.”

Conn nodded, “Good.  Have
James
secure the helicopter.  I want the two of you bringing up the rear, I don’t give a damn what Monroe’s men say.  York and I are leaving n
ow.  You’ve got ten minutes to get things squared away and catch up with the convoy.”

“Copy.” 
Before
Shane turned
he eyed Conn’s face slowly.  “York said he was certain you’d been shot.”

Conn shook his head before raising a hand to rub at the tight muscles at the back of his neck.  “No.  It was…something else.”

“You seem a little…” 

While Shane fished for the proper term Conn supplied his own.  “Off?  Yeah, something’s not quite right, but we don’t have time for that now.”

“When we get to
StoneCrow
I’ll…”

Conn cut him off, knowing the suggestion of examination was coming.  “You’ve now got five minutes to catch up with the convoy.  Move your ass Shane.”

Shane snorted at the clear dismissal of
the mere
suggestion of examination.  He shouldered his rifle and smirked, “Copy.”  Then he turned
and sprinted from the carrier as Conn bent and retrieved Aries. 

Departing
the plane he was met by Kin
g
Mullholland
,
StoneCrow’s
chief of s
ecurity. 

King
quickly approached
, “Is this the woman
?”

Conn tightened his grip on Aries and scowled at the other man.  “Aries.  She claims her last name’s Bracken.”

“Gauge.”
King ba
rked, motioning for his Walker S
entry to take the burden from Conn’s arms.

Conn’s head dipped menacingl
y as
he growled, “She stays with me.”

Seeing the exchange
York quickly joined the circle of men
and extended his hand to King.  “Good to see you again King. 
RedKnife
.”  York nodded over King’s shoulder to
the revered Indigenous Walker S
entry that stood at King’s back before turning to shake hands with Gauge.

King turned puzzled eyes from Conn to York.  “Good to see you.”  When Conn turned abruptly and stalked with Aries to the waiting truck King shook his head and asked, “Did I miss something?”

York simply scratched his head as he watched Conn disappear into the cab of the truck with Aries.  “
Yeah, we’re not quite sure what’
s gotten into him.  I think he’s just sleep deprived and half starved.  The man thinks he’s a machine.”

King grinned, “A little possessive over Mason’s sister isn’t he?”

York
tugged on
his goatee with one hand, “I think he’s losing it King.  He won’t let anyone near the woman.  I’ve fought at his side for the past twelve years and he damned near took my head off when I offered to carry her out of the jungle.  I think he’s fucking possessed.”

King’s sharp features
sobered for a moment as his head turned to stare at the vehicle that now held Conn and Aries.  Then King’s sober features
split into a wide grin as he turned to
smile over his shoulder at his S
entry
RedKnife
as he beamed, “Affliction
.
”

Typically stoic, York was shocked to see the Indigenous Walker
smile back at King as he nodded once.

“Uh, you
wanna
let me in on the joke?”

King turned back to York and slapped him on the back,
a smile still splitting his features
“Come on man we
gotta
get rolling.  We’ll talk later.”

York didn’t budge.  “
What do you mean affliction? 
Come on King, is he alright?”  Concern marred the younger man’s features.

King gripped York’s
shoulder as he steered the man toward the waiting convoy of five blacked out four-wheel drive pick-up trucks.  “Not yet York, but I promise you he will be.”

York rubbed the back of his neck and let
StoneCrow’s
Chief of Security steer him to the third truck.  “
I should ride
with Conn
.
”

“No.” King supplied firmly.  “He won’t want
any
men that close to Aries.”

York stopped at the door of the third truck, “How do you know that?”

King shook his head as he chuckled, “Oh, believe me I just know.”

Chapter
6

As the convoy ascended the final mile long winding road that led from the manned front gate to the main facility centered on the 336 acres of
Montana
forest
land
that comprised
StoneCrow
estates, Conn was distressed to discover that rather than finding relief with the promised conclusion of his business with Mason, he was agitated at the prospect.
  His eyes dipped to Aries as she moaned quietly in his arms beginning to wake from her sleep.

When his truck pulled up in front of the
four story castle-like building, he was annoyed to see Mason and Monroe waiting with Dr. Jenny
Arkinson
, formerly Jenny Houlton
before she was claimed by Skin Walker Sentry Bishop
Arkinson
. 

Just as the truck was pulling to a stop the driver said, “Commander
Drago
, Chief of Security Mu
lho
l
land requests you remain in the vehicle with the
target until he’s had time to secure the perimeter.”

Conn’s eyes left the trio waiting to greet them to scan the
area
.  “Is there a problem?”

“No Sir, but as your aware the main facility houses a school.  Monroe doesn’t want the children witnessing more of
StoneCrow’s
…
extracurricular
activities than is absolutely necessary.”

“Then why house your school in the same location as your main facility, infirmary
, and holding cells?
”  More to himself he muttered, “Goddamn layout is a logistical fucking nightmare.”

The driver eyed Conn through the rearview mirror.  “It’s important to keep the children centrally located.  Here they’re guarded on all sides and are close to their parents and the Sentries.”  The driver shrugged before he dropped his eyes from the mirror.  “It’s safer this way.”
 
Then as an aside he stated, “And the holding cells are under
ground beneath
the barn, not part of the main facility.”

Conn merely grunted his dissent and turned his attention to King as he
watched the Chief of Security approach
Mason, Monroe, and Jenny from the vehicle behind his own.  The group
talked briefly and Conn could tell by Mason’s expression that whatever he’d just been informed of, he didn’t like.

“Perimeter secure.”
The driver was already halfway out his door as he made the statement.

Not waiting for the
driver to come round, Conn opened his door and effortlessly exited the vehicle with Aries in his arms.  When he approached the waiting trio, Mason dropped his eyes to Aries’ still form.  He leaned down and inhaled and Conn had to bite back a possessive growl at the other Walker’s action.

When Mason stood, he kept his eyes on Aries even as a sadness seemed to wash over him.

“
Let’s get her to the infirmary shall we?”
Jenny spoke up and motioned for
Mason to take Aries.

“I’ve got her!”
Conn didn’t give Mason the opportunity to relieve him of Aries, instead he stormed by and walked purposefully down the corridor that he knew led to the infirmary.

At the infirmary, Jenny insisted that he leave Aries on a gurney in an exam room
before she requested privacy for her newly acquired patient
.

Conn didn’t go far, Jenny could scent him just outside the door.  Quietly, she checked Aries’ vitals and made notes on her
e-tablet
before Aries finally began to stir.

Aries’ eyes slowly blinked open and she gasped awake, her eyes frantically searching the room.

“Easy,” Jenny placed her hands on Aries’ shoulders to keep her on the gurney.  “You’re alright Aries.  My name is Jenny
Arkinson
.  I’m the Chief of Surgery
.  You’re going to be fine.  Just relax.”

“Where am I?”
Aries
demanded.

Jenny’s voice was calm, soothing.  “You’re at a place called
StoneCrow
.”

“Who’s in charge?”

Jenny smiled
,
“O
f t
he estate?  That would be Monroe
StoneCrow
.  Of the infirmary?  That would be me.”

“Who’s in charge of letting me go?” Aries demanded.

Jenny shook her head sadly, “You’re not a prisoner Aries you…”

“Fine,” Aries snapped
sitting up and
swinging her legs off the
gurney
, “I’ll be leaving then.”

“Wait!”
Jenny’s hands were instantly on her shoulders,
“We just want to ensure that you
’
r
e
alright
.  It’s just a precaution.”

“Precaution?”
Aries growled, “
You
people shot me with tranquilizers. 
You
people kidnapped me and
took
me from my home.  If
you
wanted to ensure I was fine then
you
should’ve left me the hell alone.”  Aries shoved Jenny’s hands from her shoulders and jumped off the gurney
only to discover her legs weren’t truly prepared to hold her weight
.
  She
w
obbled ungracefully
halfway to the door when it clicked open and her eyes locked on Conn.