aHunter4Saken (aHunter4Hire) by Cynthia Clement Page A

return. Then he could understand better what his enemy wanted.
    There
was only one solution.
    He
must leave.
    He
walked to the window. There was darkness everywhere. He could see the reflected
light of the kitchen mirrored in the window. He needed to use Jake’s computer
to contact his team. Then he had to tell Kimi he was going. His heart lurched
at the thought.
    Even
though he had seen his own leader Ardal claim a mate, he had not believed in
the legend of pair bonds. He had never felt any attraction to a woman before.
Even with his implants removed and living among humans for almost a year, there
had been no desire to mate with one. That had changed the moment he had looked
into Kimi’s eyes.
    When
those men had burst into the house his only thought had been to protect her. At
that moment, he had understood why he was drawn to her. He could almost read
her mind. Kindness and gentleness shone from her eyes. If his head had not been
so confused after the hit, he would have been certain sooner. He no longer had
doubts.
    Kimi
was his pair bond.
    She
was his mate.
    Wounded
and unable to mind connect with his fellow Hunters, he had been given the gift
of a pair bond. It was incomprehensible why a warrior like him would be linked
with a mate. His value to his unit was his marksmanship. There was nothing
outstanding about him; no reason he should be chosen. He wasn’t going to
question the workings of the universe, though.
    His
path was clear.
    Kimi
must be protected.
    He
rubbed his side. A bullet had grazed him at the house. It was a constant ache,
but minor. He would tend to it when Kimi was safe. He turned away from the
window when a flash caught his eye. He stepped back and watched for several
seconds. The light was repeated, but this time it was closer to Jake’s house.
He waited. He counted three separate signals. That could mean only one thing.
    They
were being stalked.
    He
moved back to the kitchen. Jake opened his mouth to speak and Niail put his
finger up to his lips for silence. Kimi stood and frowned. Worry was evident in
her eyes. Niail fought the urge to hold her and wipe the anxiety from her eyes.
Now was not the time.
    “We
are being surrounded.”
    Jake’s
eyes widened. “Who would dare?”
    “Someone
who knew you were working on a case against Kowal.” Kimi held her hand up to
her mouth. “There’s no time. You have to call for backup.”
    “I
can’t do that.” Jake’s voice was serious.
    “You
are not working within the law.” Niail knew the truth before Jake answered.
There was only one reason someone would not call for help. They were disobeying
direct orders. “What do you want to do?”
    “I’ll
call my partner Mark.”
    Niail
grabbed Kimi’s hand. “I am leaving with Kimi.”
    “You
can’t just take her.” Jake’s voice rose. “She’s my sister. She stays with me.”
    “No.”
Niail pulled Kimi close. “Kimi and the children are my responsibility. I will
not go back on my word.”
    “Okay.”
Jake raised his hands. “Wait a second. Let me call Mark and then I’ll go with
you. We can strategize together.”
    “I
have no need for plans. We have weapons and that is enough.”
    “You
can’t shoot your way out of this.”
    “Why
not?” Niail walked to the door with Kimi following him. “I have the guns from
the men who broke into the house earlier.”
    “You
can’t use those and expect me to turn a blind eye.” Jake grabbed his arm. “I’m
a FBI agent.”
    Niail
stopped at the front door. “I do whatever it takes to protect.”
    Jake
put his hands on his hips. “Let me call Mark, then I’ll come with you.”
    Niail
looked at Kimi. She hadn’t said a word since he had taken her from the kitchen.
“Do you want to wait?”
    “We
can’t leave him here.” Kimi turned her face up to him, her eyes beseeching him
to understand. “He’s my brother.”
    “Then
we will wait.” Niail shifted his gaze to Jake. “Phone him now.”
    Jake
nodded and then turned back to the