An urge to jump into both of their heads stirred, but to get a read with so many voices was impossible. She kept her shield firmly in place.
Ignoring the crew of onlookers, Rein pulled her toward the line, where others waited to be served. As they passed the tables, conversation resumed, but the words were clipped. She still felt their stares burning into the back of her head.
“Everyone pitches in here,” Rein stated, giving her hand several little squeezes. She wasn’t sure if it was for encouragement, or him gauging her response. “Some are assigned kitchen, cleaning, hunting, et cetera.” He grabbed a tray and pushed it into her grasp. “Today’s special is deer stew.”
“What?” Ellyssa’s stomach churned. She hoped she had masked the disgust. It would seem rude after all Mathew had done for her. But deer…? At The Center, protein came from animals raised in a sterile environment and fed an all-grain diet, free of bacteria and germs, not from wild animals. Then she started to wonder about the food Mathew had brought her. She’d never considered questioning its origins. Her stomach sloshed again.
“You’ll love it.”
The corner of her mouth pulled back as a male with pretty teeth and tight curly hair poured a ladleful into a bowl and handed it to her. Grudgingly, she peered into the bowl. Little chunks of meat, carrots, and potatoes swam in the watery broth.
“This way.” Rein led her between tables until he stopped by a male with neatly-combed ash-blond hair, hunkered over his bowl and shoveling spoonfuls of soup into his mouth. He looked up when Rein set his tray down and sat across from him. He was nice-looking, about Rein’s age—early twenties—with a straight nose and strong chin.
“Ellyssa, this is Woody.” He patted the space next to him.
“Hello,” she politely said as she took the offered seat.
Woody watched her, grey eyes sliding across her face, before he jerked his head in response. A piece of his hair flipped over and fell into his face. He brushed it away and resumed eating.
A slight frown formed between Rein’s eyes. “Woody?”
Woody dropped his spoon on his tray. “I told you how I felt, Rein,” he sniped, then stood.
The moment he spoke, Ellyssa remembered his voice, still irritable, like in the old store. Ill at ease, she wanted to know what he’d told Rein, but instead she poked at the pieces of deer meat.
“If you’ll excuse me.” He walked to a cart with large brown bins and tossed the remains of his dinner in. Then he disappeared into a tunnel on the far side of the room.
Red flushed over Rein’s face. “I’m sorry.”
“No need to apologize.”
Determined to try the meal, she spooned some of the stew in her mouth. Surprisingly, it tasted better than she’d originally thought. Either that, or her taste buds weren’t as picky as they used to be. Fine dining wasn’t something someone indulged in when on the run. She finished the watery broth with her slice of bread.
“Did you like it?” Rein smiled. “By the look on your face, I wasn’t sure.”
She nodded. “Yes, it was good.”
“Good.” He got up and took both trays to the bins. “Would you like to see more?” he asked. His eyes shifted over Ellyssa’s shoulder, and his smile fell.
“Hey,” called a musical voice, sending a grinding displeasure down Ellyssa’s spine.
Ellyssa spun around and watched as Candy’s braids bounced in sequence with her steps, beady eyes set in a glare. The redhead stopped right in front of her, their noses almost touching.
She pointed her index finger at Ellyssa and jabbed it in the air. “Just because they’re letting you take a tour, against my protests, don’t think you can just parade around here whenever you want.” Candy’s hand moved forward to poke her in the chest. “I’m keeping—”
But before Candy made contact or could finish her sentence, Ellyssa’s hand snapped out and grabbed her by the wrist. Candy’s ugly face grimaced and her beady eyes widened. Silence spread as conversations stopped, and Ellyssa could feel hundreds of eyes on her. She held fast to Candy’s gaze.
“Do not ever touch me,” Ellyssa hissed, emphasizing each word. “Ever.” She released her wrist.
Candy rubbed her wrist, still shocked. Ellyssa gave her one more warning look before turning away. She almost bumped into her escort, who looked as shocked as Candy. Ignoring Rein, Ellyssa brushed by.
“Hey, I’m not done with you.”
“Stop it, Candy,” Rein snapped.
“Don’t tell me what—”
“Shut up,” Rein warned.
Ellyssa heard him jogging behind her, his steps loud against the ground. “Wait up.”
She slowed until he reached her side then resumed her pace.
“That was amazing,” Rein said.
Without responding, her steps quick and short, Ellyssa followed the tunnel as if she knew where she was going. She didn’t have a clue. This network of long corridors hadn’t been included in the tour. She assumed, if she followed the cables, they would eventually lead her to the room with the generator. From there, she’d find her way back to the hospital room.
Rein reached down and grabbed her hand. “Ellyssa,” he said, stopping.
She turned on a heel and faced him, her face composed and blank. “What?” she said calmly, even though a surge of anger enveloped her, and she fought a mounting desire to go back and finish what Candy had started.
“I knew you were fast from your response in the store. You took us completely by surprise.” He blinked, shaking his head. “This time, though, I didn’t see anything more than a blur. How do you move so fast?”
Ellyssa paused before answering. “Special training.”
Rein’s lids rose. “Special training. Like, for what? To be a soldier, or something?” He paused for a moment. “The Center. Of course.”
Ellyssa wished she hadn’t said a thing, not now, at least. She nodded.
The emotions on Rein’s face changed visibly, one to the next, as he absorbed the realization of what she had just shared. The twisting features stopped, not into a look of anger or surprise or hate as she’d expected, but one of comprehension.
“I knew there was something about you, but I had no idea.”
“I am afraid there are a lot of things you do not know about me.”
20
Detective Angela Petersen still couldn’t believe she’d agreed to go out to dinner with Dyllon. She knew better than to get too close to the locals. Yet, here she was, sitting across from him in a low-lit restaurant at a cozy table meant for two.
She tried to keep her gaze on the menu, but every once in awhile, she’d look up and catch him staring at her. The flame from the votive candle reflected in his sea-blue eyes and emphasized the definition of his cheekbones.
Angela set her menu down. “When I agreed to dinner, I assumed it was to discuss the case.”
“It is,” Dyllon replied indifferently.
A waiter appeared wearing a tux and carrying a bottle of expensive Merlot, which he presented to Dyllon before opening it and showing the captain the cork. Dyllon nodded and the attendant poured a small sample into the glass. After swirling the red liquid, Dyllon tasted it. He placed the glass back on the table, and the server topped his off, and filled hers as well.
“Then what’s all this about?” Angela pointed her finger at his black suit, which made her feel completely underdressed, in a grey angora sweater and a pair of jeans. “And that?” she asked, swishing her hand to the side at the dining room, where all the tables only contained couples on dates, all in suits and dresses.
Dyllon shrugged. “The food here is great.”
“This is a little above and beyond.”
“Look. We’ve been working together for…what…close to three weeks. Every night you go back to the motel, alone. I thought it’d be a nice change for you.”