Dawn's Promise

Candace heard the engine turn off and saw the din of the headlights through the curtains in Chance's bedroom window. Marcus was back. Now was her chance. She hurriedly stuffed Chance's laptop into a carrying bag and tossed the strap over her shoulder. Her heart raced as she thought about what she was going to say to him. What magic combination of words would make things right again?

Will approached Marcus slowly, quelling the urge to pop the guy right in his chops for hurting Candace. He took the gym bag from Lance, unzipped it and scowled at the contents. One bloodied pair of pants and the tracking bracelet, still intact and covered in tacky dried filth. "This is what you did?" He spouted incredulously eyeing Marcus suspiciously. "You cut yourself free of the device?" The guy had guts, that little stunt had to hurt. And Will was glad for Marcus's pain.

"Look, I don't care what you say or what she says," he said, pointing to the house. "I'm not going back." Marcus kept a few paces out of Will's reach standing with his arms crossed over his chest.

Will stiffened, growling at Marcus's tone. "I don't remember inviting you." He'd come only because Candace insisted on it. They could play this game for the rest of eternity. If Dane demanded Marcus be fitted with a tracker, he'd get one. No questions asked. And if Marcus carved his way free of it, Will would slap another one on him. If Dane demanded Marcus be hauled in, Will would do it. Gladly. So far, Dane had not asked anything of Marcus or him.

"Marcus!" Candace cried, running across the yard toward him. Throwing her arms around him and squeezing him in her arms, so hard the breath whooshed out of his chest. Finally satisfied that Marcus was in one piece, she released him. "Are you ok? I was so worried! Everyone was, isn't that right Will?" She shot Will a look over Marcus's shoulder, daring him to say differently.

"Sure, worried." Will nodded, looking over Candace's and Marcus's heads to frown at Lance.

Lance leaned against his vintage Mustang, shrugging back at Will. He was sticking around, just in case. He wasn't concerned about Will. Will could take care of himself. But the guy, if Will got pissed enough, Marcus was in deep shit. There wouldn't be enough left for his own mother to recognize. Lance might need to break it up before it got that far. Besides, the unfolding scene was the most entertaining thing to happen around here in a long while.

"What happened?" Candace ran her hands along Marcus's cheeks and down his chest checking for injuries. "It doesn't matter, you're safe now. You're coming back with us." She clasped her hand firmly around his wrist, dragging him toward the house. "I need to grab a few more things first and then we're going home."

"Candace," Marcus blew out a breath, dragging his heels to stop her long enough to listen to him. "I'm not going back." She turned to face him, her bottom lip trembling on the verge of sobs.

"Don't be ridiculous. If you're upset about what happened, I can..., " Candace trailed off not wanting to make his wound any deeper than it already was. "I'm sorry, so sorry. I should have made sure you understood my feelings. I wasn't clear enough. This is all my fault." She reached a hand out resting her fingers gently on his shoulder. "If there was something else I could do. I would. You're my best friend, Marcus. That has to count for something."

"It does," Marcus said. "Trust me. It's nothing you've done. You've been upfront with me from the beginning. I just didn't want to listen." Gently, he reached out and caressed her cheek, wiping away a tear. He ignored the warning grumble that escaped Will's throat and pulled her into a hug. " It's not you. It's me. I don't belong there."

"Where will you go?" Candace asked. She buried her nose into Marcus's jacket and inhaled his scent. Tinged with the ashy smell of cigarette smoke and leather, so familiar to her, the smell took her back to the horrors that had drawn them together and filled her with intense regret. She'd fall in love with him, if she could. But, she loved Will. Always had. Her feelings for Marcus were no less genuine. They just weren't the same.

"I don't know. You shouldn't worry about me. I'm a survivor," Marcus said, unwinding Candace's arms from his waist. And it was true. He was a survivor. For months, he'd managed to keep her, Neil, and himself alive. Having to take care of only himself should be a piece of cake. After all, it was what he was best at.

"But, you know I will." Candace closed her eyes, memorizing the detail of his rough fingers sliding over her cheek. "You don't have to do this," she whispered. "We'll figure something out."

Marcus smiled bitterly and dropped his hand. "Yeah, I do. This is what I want." He nodded to Will and narrowed his eyes. Letting her go was the hardest thing he'd ever had to do. But, he couldn't play on her sympathies and use her soft heart to manipulate her into choosing him over Will. He would never do that to her. "You'd better be good to her or you'll have me to deal with."

"I plan to." Will gently wrapped a hand around Candace's arm, pulling her back against his chest. In those three words Marcus and he came to an understanding and an uneasy peace. Marcus was stepping out of the picture. And trusting him with the one thing he valued most in the world. Will would not let him down.

Candace wrenched out of Will's grip, throwing her arms around Marcus's neck and clinging to him so tightly, terrified if she let him go, she'd never see him again. Marcus was a lost soul, a wanderer, and finally at last when he had a place to call home, he turned his back on it, on her. She should be furious. But, she understood how difficult it would be to watch her in another man's arms. Wanting what he could never have. Maybe someday, their paths would cross again. Maybe, he would find home and hearth in someone else's arms. She hoped so. "Don't forget about me," she whispered low enough only he could hear.

"How could I?" he replied, hugging her and pressing his cheek against the warm stream of tears falling from her eyes. No one had ever cried for him before. It was then that he knew, she loved him, not in the same way she loved Will. But, friendship and love, no matter what it took, was nothing to scoff at. Gently, he reached up. Removing her arms from around his neck and guided her to Will. "About the tracking device."

Will shook his head. The man had earned his respect. And he'd vouch for him if Dane balked at his decision. "I don't think we need to worry about that." He held Candace closely, lowering her head to his chest as she sobbed softly and met Marcus's gaze with a nod.

Lance stepped off the curb and whistled to Marcus. "Can I give you a ride somewhere?"

"Yeah," Marcus replied. He left the bag containing the blood stained sweats and the tracking device at Will's feet. He shoved his hands in his pockets and walked across the yard. Opening the passenger door and sliding into the seat, he stared out the window at Candace and gave her a reassuring smile. This really was for the best.

"Where to?" Lance glanced at Marcus. The glow from the instrument panel highlighted the steely, determined set of his jaw. The man had balls of steel. He didn't crawl away with his tail between his legs defeated by love that could never be returned. He did so with his head held high, with pride, grace, and dignity.

"Anywhere," Marcus answered. He stared into the rearview mirror as Lance pulled away from the curb and Candace faded into the darkness, disappearing from view. In silence, alone with his thoughts, he watched the glittering city zip past his passenger side window.

"Let's get the rest of this loaded up and go home," Will said, gently taking Candace by the hand and leading her back into the house to finish packing.

Candace said nothing. Her tears had dried and Marcus was gone. She felt his absence like a knife in the heart. And wondered, if maybe she cared for him a little more than she'd wanted to admit. Refusing to think about what might have eventually blossomed between them, if Will hadn't wandered back into her life. She finished packing and shut off the lights. Locking the door behind her, she climbed into the SUV and marveled at the ever-changing puzzle her once quiet and predictable life had become.

















Chapter 34

Anna stomped impatiently across her living room, pausing to stare out into the night through the peephole in her front door. "Where are they?" she huffed in annoyance at the empty, quiet street. Glaring at the mantle clock over the gas fireplace, she realized it was after midnight and she'd been on her feet since six that morning. At the rate things were going, she wouldn't arrive at the compound till around daybreak and tired as she was the delay took the wind out of her sails. She had planned to give Toby a thorough ass chewing at his ridiculous and unfounded concern for her safety.

Bryce grinned at Anna, patting the empty space on the couch beside him. The woman had yet to change out of the business clothes she wore to work this morning. She hadn't even bothered to kick off the three-inch heels and as firm as her calves were, her endless pacing had to be giving them a thorough workout. He'd tried to feed her, without success. Damned if he knew anything about modern kitchens and she simply refused to sit still long enough to eat the peanut butter and jelly he'd managed to throw together.

"Why don't you sit down? You're going to wear out the carpet. Pacing won't get them here any sooner." He focused on her mental signature, finding her head a rat's nest of jumbled and agitated thoughts. He could put her out, stuff her in the SUV when Will finally did arrive, and send her on her merry way. And he was going to do just that if she didn't sit down. Toby would kick his ass if she dropped from exhaustion.

"I know that," Anna barked. Caving to Bryce's imploring look and the aching in her calves, she perched on the edge of the couch.

"Why don't you take a nap? I'll wake you up when they get here," Bryce coaxed gently.

Anna hopped onto her feet and glared down at him. "Don't try it," she warned. She knew vampires had special abilities. And one of them was the ability to send her to la-la land for hours. She would sleep, after she got to the compound and gave Toby a piece of her mind. Her bags were packed, waiting by the front door. And there was nothing else to do but wait.

"What?" Bryce asked feigning hurt at her accusing tone. He shook his head defensively. "I wasn't planning to do anything. I was merely making a suggestion. You're tired. I can tell."

"I'm not tired. I'm pissed. I can't believe Toby is making me do this." Anna sank onto the couch and crossed her legs, nervously swinging her foot in impatience.

"Hey, take it easy on the guy. He's worried about you. You had quite a scare today."

"I'm fine," Anna said defensively. "I can take care of myself."

"Yeah, it looked like you were doing a great job."

Anna flipped on the TV, ending the conversation. She was getting grouchier by the minute. She needed to save her bad mood for Toby. There was no need to subject the innocent to it. This guy was here protecting her. He didn't deserve her wrath. The flash of headlights pulling into the drive brought a sigh of relief from her lips. "Finally," she muttered, hopping off the couch, sliding into her coat, and snatching up her bags. "Thanks for babysitting me. Would you mind locking up when you leave?"

"Nah, I'll take care of it," Bryce said, holding the door wide for Anna. He'd given up on trying to be a gentleman somewhere around the seventies. Modern women resented having their bags carried and their car doors opened for them. And such gestures had earned him more than one disdainful scowl in his day. "Be nice to him. Please," he begged on Toby's behalf.

Anna curtseyed awkwardly balancing her bags in her arms. "Always."

Bryce shook his head chuckling. He could see what Toby liked about her. She had moxie and spunk. And the fact that she was attractive didn't hurt things either. Maybe, she had a sister or a cousin. He could go for a bit of distraction of the feminine kind himself. He clicked off the TV, turned off the lights, and headed out into the night to find Lance.

Anna handed her bag to Will and refused his hand to help her up into the SUV's back seat. "Where were you guys?" she scolded accusingly, as if they'd personally set out to ruin her evening.

Will mumbled a response and tossed her bags into the back of the SUV with the boxes and bags stuffed into every inch of available space. He slid behind the wheel and introduced Anna and Candace.

Candace frowned and turned in her seat. She hadn't realized until she smelled Anna's blood, how long she'd gone without eating. She winced and swallowed hard. "Hi," she said, doing her best to hide the points of her fangs behind a shy smile. Anna returned her smile with a weary smile of her own. Conversation would take her mind off her growing need. Grasping at straws, she scrambled for a topic. "So you must be Toby's girlfriend?"

Anna nodded. "I guess so, we're not official, officially. But, yeah. So, you're dating Will?" she asked. If Candace was going to break protocol by asking direct, personal questions, she'd better be prepared to answer a few in return.

Candace giggled at Anna's bluntness. Fair enough. "I hope so." The two women glanced at Will and shared a glance. Will shrunk down in the seat, pretending to focus on the black ribbon of interstate, bowing out of the conversation as gracefully as possible. No way, were two cackling females going to drag him into the middle of their conversation. The women exchanged a knowing look and chuckled under their breath.

Toby trotted through the compound. The first rays of dawn were peeking over the horizon as the SUV pulled into the underground parking structure. His woman was here, home where she belonged. She was curled up in a ball in the backseat. Resting her head on the window glass, fast asleep. Carefully, he opened the door, easing her out and lifting her into his arms. He pressed a light kiss to her forehead. "Welcome home," he whispered carrying her through the halls and depositing her onto the crushed red velvet bedspread. He wasn't bothering with appearances by taking her to a guest room. She was his and he didn't care who knew or what they thought about it.

Anna blinked her eyes sleepily as she looked up at Toby. He was beaming, so happy to see her. She forgot that she was supposed to be mad at him as he gently lifted her to slide her coat off her shoulders. "Hi," she mumbled. Moments later, he was pulling her close spooning her in the warmth of his arms, showering her with light and gentle kisses.

"Go back to sleep," Toby whispered against Anna's ear. He was overwhelmed with happiness, overjoyed to have her locked in his arms again. He ran a trail of kisses down her cheek, fighting against his need to claim her body and let her get some sleep.

"I can't sleep when you're doing that," Anna protested. A fire built within her, raw and burning with heated need. When he claimed her lips, sliding his tongue along their borders, the fire ignited and she kissed him back, suckling his tongue as she opened up letting him in.

Toby withdrew with a groan. "I'll behave. You're still tired. I'll contain myself for now." He pressed a quick kiss to her lips and rooted in behind her, snuggling closely with his arm draped around her waist.

Anna sighed, feeling her eyelids fall shut as the warmth of his breath skated across the sensitive skin of her neck. Soon she was fast asleep, dreaming as always, about Toby.

******

John Mark reviewed the map with Chance while Toby fitted the tracking device. The kid was a city boy and it wouldn't do to have him lost in the miles of woods surrounding the trail. Today's test was a grueling ten-mile hike through the roughest terrain he could find. By the end of the day, John Mark doubted if the boy would be able to move, assuming he finished at all. "You ready for a lesson in pain?" John Mark asked, cracking his knuckles.

Chance pulled the ski mask over his head and adjusted the fabric over his face. He hadn't been outdoors in weeks and the combined wet mix of snow and freezing rain sent shivers down his spine. His gear was light, water resistant, and warm without being too bulky. Made for this miserable weather. Questioning his judgment, he took one last glance at the coarse and tucked the map into the zipper compartment of his jacket. The gunmetal gray sky loomed above thick with black ominous looking clouds, promising to dump more punishment on his head. Chance nodded to John Mark and darted down the narrow deer path cutting deep into the woods eager to finish early before the clouds opened up soaking him through.

John Mark glanced up into the tall pines masking the hidden exit and nodded to Patrick, Hiding and blending in with the bushy evergreen needles in that almost invisible way of his, Patrick was going to track Chance. Just in case the kid needed pulled out. Chuckling echoed through the trees and there was a slight, barely detectable shimmy of pine branches as Patrick moved out.





















Chapter 35

Candace wasn't thrilled to hear John Mark's explanation of what Chance was doing. Despite his assurances that her son was perfectly safe, being watched over with the up most care. She knew her son. No matter what John Mark threw at him Chance would push past his limits and see it through to the end.

Unwilling to think about the freezing rain and the snow called for in the forecast, she busied herself straightening his room and putting away the eclectic collection of things she'd packed for him. She held the framed picture of Will in her hand, staring pensively into the glass. He'd been so young, just a little boy and so curious about his father, when she'd given him the snapshot and a vague explanation in answer to his questions about Will.

With a child's vivid imagining, Chance had made dozens of scenarios in his head to explain his father's absence. And she had not discouraged her son. At the time, it was better Chance think his father was off on some distant shore fighting bad guys than to believe the disappointing truth, that she didn't know where his father was.

Chance idolized his father; the man he'd never met. He'd look up at her, his eyes twinkling with a little boy's dreams and say 'I'm gonna be just like dad when I grow up'. Eventually, she thought he'd grow out of it and accept the truth for what it was. Candace didn't think Chance would ever get to know his father. Let alone follow in his footsteps. Something she couldn't allow and was powerless to stop. A light tap on the door brought her out of her revere. She looked up to find Will watching her intently. "He's going to do it isn't he?"

"That's for him to decide." Will entered the room and took the picture out of her hands. At first, he thought it was Chance in the photo and then realized he was staring down at a much younger version of himself. "The best thing you can do for him is support his decision."

"How can I do that when I don't agree?" She snuffled lightly and folded the clothes she'd brought back with her. Clutching Chance's winter coat, she buried her nose in the fabric and inhaled his scent. "Damn kid went and grew up on me," she sighed, blinking back a tear. She only meant to protect him. Couldn't Will see that? Maybe for him, it was easier to accept, to view Chance as an adult. To her, he was still a little boy. Her little boy.

Will gently set the frame on the nightstand and took the coat from her hands, draping it across the foot of the bed. Letting Chance go was breaking Candace's heart. For so long it was only the two of them and the future they'd worked so hard to build. Life didn't always work the way you planned. Sometimes it worked out better than you could ever dream. He never thought he'd see her again, let alone have a son.