Chapter 446 Chapter 446
Bolting upright, Noah swung his legs over the side of the bed. With a shaking hand, he wiped the sweat and hair back off his forehead. Running his hand over his chest he felt the welts beneath his fingertips and then he was able to drag air into his body to try to slow his breathing. It was a cue that usually dragged him out of the nightmare to the present. They were scars, not scabbed over gashes in his flesh.
His cat was right there with him now, ready to spring into action. Neither of them would ever allow something like that to happen to them again. Not ever. Taking a deep breath, he blew it out slowly. That would be it for sleep, it always was.
He got up and grabbed his jeans and pulled them on. He hoped the kitchen was far enough from the sleeping areas of the house that he could go and get a drink. Picking up his phone, he checked the time. Four in the morning.
Shrugging, he grabbed his shirt and slung it over his shoulder, it was later than he normally woke up. Going out into the hall, he looked to see Cooper’s door was closed and no light on. He wasn’t worried about his steps making noise, moving without sound was something he had learned how to do a long time ago. If you were silent, you didn’t bring attention to yourself.
Going down the hall, he glanced around the main area, and it hit him that it looked like a home. Furniture, a few throw blankets, and a couple of toys sitting on the coffee table. He rubbed his hand over his chest. Had he ever felt like somewhere was home? He wasn’t sure.
He went into the kitchen and stopped to listen. Not a sound, well, except that someone snored quite loudly. Moving in almost slow motion, he located the cupboard with the coffee and set up the brewer. When it made the first gurgle sound, he sucked in a breath and held it. Sending the machine a hard look, he headed to the other side of the house, maybe he’d go see how far that noise was traveling in the silence. The last thing he needed was all the little children being woken up by a coffee brewer. Then he wouldn’t be anyone’s favorite.
Slowly, he walked down the halls, a few doors were closed, but most of them were left open. He understood why, they’d been closed in windowless sheds for who knows how long. He’d overheard a few of the men telling Gage about some of the other locations Lindon had dragged them to and the sheds sounded like the better of the lot.
He paused outside one door and looked in. Someone in one of the beds moved, it was the oldest boy, Julian, he thought his name was. Even in the low light, Noah could see he was startled to see him standing there. He wondered if he’d woke him or if nightmares had. He raised his finger to his mouth and then gave him a little nod. The boy sucked in a breath and then dropped back onto the bed in relief. Noah waited until he was sure he was staying there before he continued down the hall.
He moved by the next door and then stepped back and looked inside. Emersyn was in this room, and Aspyn slept with her. He glanced at the little bed to see the blankets hadn’t been disturbed at all. The girl stirred and looked over her mother at him. He put his finger to his mouth again. She nodded and lay back down, snuggling into her mother. His chest tightened with emotions he wasn’t sure he’d ever felt before.
Spinning on his heel, he moved with long strides back to the kitchen. Pouring a cup of coffee, he had to focus to not spill it, and his hand shook. He turned and headed for the first door that led to the outside. He shoved the door hard and then winced when it swung around and hit the wall behind. Closing it slowly, he checked to make sure he didn’t break it.
“Probably should get a stopper for that.”
Noah jumped and slopped hot coffee on his hand. He turned to see one of the men standing a few feet away. He couldn’t think of his name, Harrison or Weston?
“I did the same thing,” he shrugged, “and I wasn’t trying to run through it like you were.”
Noah blew out a breath, then switched his cup to the other hand and wiped it on his jeans. When he looked back up, he saw that the man was looking at the scars on his chest.
“I hope whoever did that is dead.”
Noah inhaled through his nose, “not yet.”
He nodded, “hope you find him.” He smirked, then held out his hand to him, “Harrison. I don’t think we’ve met officially.”
Noah wiped his hand again and then shook it briefly. “Noah.”
He smirked at him, “pretty sure we all know your name.”
Noah took a sip of the coffee and then glanced at the door. “I made coffee if you want it.”
“I might get a cup in a minute.” He looked at the fence. “I was trying to work up the courage to go for a run.”
The chill in the air registered as he stood there. Setting the cup down on the damp ground, he pulled his shirt over his head. Harrison was looking at his bare feet when he looked at him again. “You’re free to run here, just take a running partner. No one runs alone.”
Harrison nodded, “it’s just getting past the last twenty years to go do it.”
“They didn’t let you shift?” he took another sip.
“Oh, they did, but it was only when it was convenient for them and there were armed men waiting if we went too far.” He blew out a breath.
Noah nodded. “I understand.”
Harrison glanced at his chest, “I know you do.” He looked to the fence again. “What you did,” he turned back to him, “to Peter back at the camp,” he paused and watched Noah’s face, “we were all cheering you on silently.”
Noah looked at the ground for a moment, “I shouldn’t have lost control like that.”
“Was there a connection between the two of you somehow?”
Noah took another sip, trying to figure out how to explain it without explaining all of it. “Emersyn.” He said it like her name would explain all of it, Harrison continued to look at him. “She ah, was frightened of him.”
He nodded slowly, “I get it.” He brushed his messy black hair back from his face, “Lindon’s men were bastards.” He gave him a hard look, “they rose through the ranks overnight just for following him.”