Misfits, Inc. (14 page)

“We were nearly killed by three snarling beasts,”
Skyler exploded.  “Don’t you find that even a little disturbing?”

“Maybe you’ll remember that the next time you
consider ditching me.”

Rafe turned back toward the doorway, showing little
emotion toward what had just happened, while Hailey and Skyler exchanged
stunned looks.  Logan, Vance, and Marcus ran into the room and stopped when
they saw Hailey and Skyler with Rafe.  All three men were out of breath.

“Is everyone okay?” Marcus asked.

Skyler and Hailey slowly nodded, although neither
could take their eyes off Rafe, who casually brushed some dirt from his
expensive jacket.  He put his finger through a small tear on his sleeve and
groaned with disgust.

“That’s great,” Rafe muttered.

The three men eyed Rafe with distrust then looked
back at Hailey and Skyler.

“They had us cornered then they just took off,”
Logan informed them while shaking his head.  “I don’t know why.”

The black cat trotted into the room and ran for
Hailey.  She caught the cat as it leaped into her arms.

“Maybe we should regroup at the bar and have a
couple of shots,” Vance suggested.

“Seriously, let’s get out of here before
they
regroup,”
Logan cried out.

T
he patio and pool area was
abandoned during the late dinner hour.  The only people remaining on the patio
were the six sitting at the cabana.  Hailey was having a difficult time dealing
with the realization that Penny was dead, and their venture into the basement
only proved they had no clue what they were doing or if there even was a
mission.  The creatures were clearly too much for them to destroy on their
own.  The resort didn’t need warriors; it needed exterminators.  The bartender
filled shot glasses for everyone, including Marcus.  Marcus drank the entire
contents of his shot glass and waited until the bartender was preoccupied with
other duties before speaking.

“I’m going to seal off the entire sub-basement and
see if we can stop these things from making their way into the hotel,” Marcus
informed them.  “When I get back, someone had better tell me what’s really
going on at my hotel.”  His look was stern.  “I don’t want anyone breathing a
word of this until I figure out what’s going on here.”

Everyone except Rafe nodded in unison then watched
Marcus return to the hotel lobby through the less traveled side door.  He was
having a difficult time dealing with what he’d witnessed.  They all were. 
Hailey, Skyler, Vance, and Logan waited until Marcus was gone then exchanged
looks while casting glances at Rafe, who stood near the far end of the cabana
bar, keeping to himself.  Rafe glared at them in response.

“Maybe I should speak to Rafe alone,” Hailey gently
suggested to the others.

The three men were more than happy to grab their
drinks and leave her alone with Rafe.  Hailey waited for the three to disappear
inside before approaching Rafe at the far end of the bar.  As she sat alongside
him, he cast a glare at her.  He sipped his expensive brandy and set the glass
on the bar.  She knew he was going to be difficult no matter what she said. 
Hailey pondered their situation for a moment then eyed his glass of brandy. 
She picked it up and took a sip from it, catching his attention.  She made a
face and returned the glass to the bar.  He gave her a puzzled look then shook
his head and ignored her.

“How long have you been able to fight like that?”
she asked.

“Why do you ask?”

He really wasn’t going to make it easy on her, and
she wasn’t sure there was a good way to approach the subject, especially with
him.  She saw only one way to deal with the delicate conversation.  Head on.

“You were given a gift when you were chosen as the
Guardian,” Hailey finally blurted it out.

“I don’t remember accepting that particular
position, and no one’s ever given me anything,” Rafe informed her as he cast a
glare at her.  “My abilities and talents are my own.”

Hailey stared at him with surprise.  What he said
almost didn’t make any sense.

“You mean you’ve fought like that before?”

“Of course I have,” he scoffed.  “But as far as
being some chosen member for that pathetic team of misfits; that’s not
happening.”

“It’s your destiny.”

He didn’t bother looking at her.  “Not if I don’t
choose it to be.”  Rafe casually stood, finished his drink, and finally met her
gaze.  “Do yourself a favor.  Don’t play superhero.  You’ll only get hurt.”

She knew he wanted to walk away, but for some
reason, he didn’t.  He seemed compelled to stare at her as if waiting for her
to stop him.  She didn’t disappoint.

“I know you stole Lucinda’s necklace.”

He showed no reaction, although he didn’t deny it. 
“Is that what you intend to tell Marcus?”

“I don’t intend to tell Marcus anything,” she
replied.  “For whatever reason, fate brought us together.  We can’t do this
without you.”

He suddenly snorted a laugh.  “You may need me, but
I certainly don’t need any of you.”

Rafe walked away from Hailey and headed onto the
beach, disappearing into the sunset.  She found it difficult to believe she
still wanted him, but his raw sex appeal just kept drawing her in.

†

T
he beach was quiet and abandoned as the sun was setting.  The
sunset glistened off the ocean, lending a romantic overtone.  It was another
breathtaking evening in paradise.  In another hour, guests would return from
dinner for romantic, moonlit strolls.  Rafe sat casually reclined on the large
rock not far from the surf.  Hailey approached and stared out to the ocean in
silence.  She didn’t bother looking at him.  He’d proven she couldn’t say
anything that would change his view about her, the guys, or their unique
situation.  He cast a casual glance at her, although he didn’t make an effort
to move.

“If you’ve come out here to change my mind, you’re
wasting your time.”

Hailey still didn’t look at him.  “I know that,”
she informed him. “No point wasting my breath.”

“Never stopped any woman before,” he muttered.

She continued to stare out to the ocean rather than
remark on his sexist comment.  Her lack of interest seemed to peak Rafe’s
curiosity.  Hailey slowly lifted her hand and extended it toward the ocean. 
She shut her eyes and drew a deep breath.  The waves gently crashed to shore
then rolled back out again.  They continued to roll out further and further
from shore without returning.  The sound of the rolling ocean was loud and
unusual.  Hailey’s hand trembled as she gasped softly while concentrating. 
Rafe slowly sat up and watched the water retreat with a bewildered look.  A
large wave nearly ten feet high formed beyond the horizon.  Hailey lowered her
hand and exhaled as if she’d been punched in the stomach.  The large wave
hurled to shore and crashed harshly past her and the rock upon which Rafe sat. 
The water ran past her as high as her knees then rolled back out again at its
normal rate.  Hailey drew a deep, shaken breath.  It had taken a lot out of
her, and she was almost surprised by what she was able to do.  She glanced at
Rafe with little expression. 

“Maybe I don’t need you after all,” she remarked
then turned and walked back to the hotel.

She couldn’t admit that her legs were weak and her
lungs hurt.  Her arms felt as if she’d lifted a thousand pounds, but she’d made
her point.  She just hoped her point made some impression on the hardened man.

†

T
he lobby was moderately busy for early evening as a flux of
guests were finishing dinner and either returning to their rooms or heading
outside to take nightly strolls on the beach.  Cass was tending the front desk,
appearing mostly bored.  She attempted to hide her steamy romance novel beneath
the desk as guests passed.  Desi approached the desk in her finest, formfitting
red dress and signature high heels.  Despite having dressed for a fun evening,
her look conveyed deep concern.  Cass quickly hid her book and offered a
cheerful smile to the approaching woman.

“Good evening,” Cass announced, enthusiastic for
something to do.

“Is Marcus around?” Desi asked without returning
the cheerful greeting.

Cass noted the expression on Desi’s face and
immediately turned concerned.  “Is everything okay?”

“I think I should talk to Marcus about the
disappearance of my friends,” Desi replied.

“Have they found them?” Cass asked with great
interest.  “I was sure they’d turn up--”

“No, they didn’t,” she responded curtly and grew
more impatient.  “I heard some rumors about guests sneaking into the laundry
room to play poker.  I think Penny may have followed Amy’s guy into the
basement.  I think I should report it to Marcus.”

“Of course,” Cass announced and picked up the phone
without hesitation.  “I’ll get someone from security right away.”

Desi paced the area before the front desk while
Cass spoke with security on the phone.  Less than five minutes had passed
before Delaney crossed the lobby and approached Desi at the desk.

“It’s Desi, right?” Delaney announced politely
although he was obviously concerned by Cass’s call.  “Cass tells me you may
have some information on your friends’ disappearance.”

“The bartender told me Penny saw the man Amy left
with the other night, and that she took off after him,” Desi informed him.  “I
ran into a guy who said he was playing poker in the laundry room.  He said he
saw a girl matching Penny’s description heading into that old elevator in the
basement.”  She wrenched her fingers together and shifted uncomfortably.  “I’m
concerned Penny confronted this man about Amy, and he did something to her. 
Those guys playing poker in the laundry room may know something.”

“Did you get the name of Amy’s date?”

“No, but I can give you a description,” she announced. 
“We were around him a couple of hours that night.”

“I have a better idea,” Delaney announced with
enthusiasm.  “Why don’t we review some security tapes around the time your
friend left the lounge last night?  Maybe you’ll recognize Amy’s date and can point
him out.  Once we have a face, we’ll be able to come up with a name.”

“That would be great,” Desi replied while releasing
a deep sigh of relief.

Delaney offered a gentle smile and extended his
hand across the lobby toward the staff wing.  Cass watched them leave together
then shook her head while frowning.

“Drama queen,” she scoffed under her breath then
returned to her book.

H
ailey slept peacefully beneath the covers on her bed as
moonlight was cast upon her through the crudely fixed balcony doors.  The black
cat slept curled by her feet.  A dark figure hovered over her, casting a shadow
across her.  Her eyes opened as if she felt the presence of someone.  Lucinda’s
necklace dangled before her face.  Hailey slowly sat up and looked at Rafe
holding the necklace from where he stood alongside her bed.  She was puzzled by
his actions.  It wasn’t as if she had any real proof he took the hideous thing,
so why admit his guilt?

“Why are you returning Lucinda’s necklace?” she
asked while squinting at his outline through the moonlight.

“To put things straight.  I don’t want to return to
that life,” he casually replied then appeared curious.  “How did you know it
was me?”

She hid her smile and laughed softly at his
question.  “Seriously?  As close as you were, you didn’t think I’d smell your
cologne?”  She continued to stare at him.  “I’ll admit it did take me a while
to figure out where I’d smelled that scent.  I wasn’t positive it was you until
I tasted your brandy.  That’s when I knew.  It was the same alcohol on your
breath that night.”

He stared at her and showed little reaction to the
comment.  “I knew I should have stayed retired,” he muttered.  “I’m getting
sloppy.”  Rafe appeared curious.  “If you suspected, why didn’t you tell
Marcus?”

“I almost did, but something troubled me,” she
informed him.  “I couldn’t stop wondering, why would you steal one worthless,
old necklace?”

Rafe casually sat on the edge of the bed while staring
at her.  She watched him closely.  His presence on her bed made her heart
pound, but she wasn’t sure why.  She knew she was over him.  Now if she could
only convince the aching in her body--

“I don’t really know.  I’ve seen Lucinda wearing
this worthless piece of junk a dozen times.  It’s not like it’s worth
anything,” he announced.  “For some odd reason, at dinner the other night, I
just felt the need to take it.  Honestly, I wanted to take it and smash it, you
know, just to be a prick.”

“You really don’t know why you risked getting
caught to steal that thing?”

“Maybe I was just scratching an itch,” he replied
without care.  “I couldn’t get police work after my discharge from the
Marines.  There were too many questions, so I became a cat burglar and jewel
thief instead.  The pay was good, but the hours sucked, so I gave it up a few
years ago.”

“I can’t accept that you were just scratching an
itch.  I have to believe there’s more to it than that,” she informed him.  “You
need to hide that necklace for now.”

“I didn’t come here to be part of your team.”

“And you didn’t come here to return the necklace,”
she countered while raising her brows.

Rafe placed the necklace in his pocket and stared
at her a moment in silence.  His look intrigued her because she couldn’t read
it.

“I did, but amuse me with your version,” he
replied.

Hailey hugged her knees to her chest over the
covers and studied him.  “When did you first notice your unique abilities?”

Rafe appeared tense for the first time and seemed
reluctant to share his story with her.  He took a deep breath while staring at
her and finally spoke.

“My commander sent my unit on a suicide mission.  I
was shot while trying to save my buddy,” he replied.  “I was convinced I’d
died.  I saw a bright light.  A voice called me into it and everything.  When I
woke, enemy soldiers were standing around me.  I don’t know what happened, but
I displayed combat techniques I never knew existed.”  There was a long pause. 
“When the rest of my unit finally found me, I’d taken out six enemy soldiers
and had been shot and stabbed several times.  The doctors didn’t know how I
managed to survive.”  He drew a deep breath and drifted out a moment.  “It
wouldn’t be the first time I cheated death.”

She stared at him a moment in silence and was
curious about what he’d left out.  The thoughts racing through her mind were
little more than faint dreams from a long time ago, and she wasn’t even sure if
she’d actually dreamt them.  Hailey decided to leave it to chance and play her
hand, even though she didn’t know what cards she held.

“What about the woman in the light?”

He tensed while staring at her, almost showing his
surprise to the comment, and then immediately covered his reaction with his
usual arrogance.

“I never said there was a woman in the light.”

His reaction almost confirmed she hadn’t dreamt
it.  She was remembering experiences, possibly out of body experiences.  Her
dreams weren’t just dreams after all.  The thought made her slightly tense, but
she needed to press.

“She kissed you, didn’t she?”

Rafe’s expression dropped and, for a moment, he was
unable to speak.  He couldn’t control his startled reaction, which told her
everything she needed to know.

“How could you possibly know that?”

“Because that’s how it happened in my dream eight
years ago,” Hailey informed him.  “Most of it is fuzzy, but it’s slowly coming
back to me.  It took years to find the perfect man to be the Guardian.”  She
shifted slightly at the thoughts racing through her mind.  “Skyler considered
you to be ‘tainted and corruptible’, but I knew you were the one.”

Rafe stared at her a moment, not knowing how to
respond.  His harsh expression returned as if on cue.

“If all of this is true, then you’ve misjudged me,”
he boldly announced.  “That pitiful team you’ve assembled will undoubtedly
abandon you at the first sniff of danger.”

“You’re wrong.”

“You need to stop playing games before you get one
of those idiots killed,” he boldly announced.

“Could it be you actually care about those idiots?”
Hailey remarked.

He immediately turned defensive.  “I don’t care
about anyone,” Rafe informed her.  “I’ve lost everyone I’ve ever given a damn
about.  That tends to sour a man.”

“What happened on that mission wasn’t your fault,”
she replied.  “You have to know that.”

“You want to psychoanalyze me?” he demanded. 
“After my high school graduation, I crashed my car killing four of my closest
friends.  Despite what little I remember about the accident, killing your
friends isn’t something easily forgotten.  That’s why I joined the Marines.  I
had to escape what I’d done.  Then I lost nearly half my platoon in a senseless
battle.”  His glare was stern.  “That’s what happens when you care about
others.  When you get those guys killed, I doubt you’ll be able to live with
the guilt.”

“Which is why you’re here,” she casually replied.

Rafe leaned over her while uncomfortably close. 
His closeness caused her heart to pound with anticipation.

“You want to know why I came here tonight?” he
demanded while staring into her eyes and placed his mouth close to hers.  “I
came here to con my way into your bed.  That’s the man I am.”

Rafe pulled back just far enough to stare into her
eyes but maintained his closeness.  As she stared back into his eyes, the
comment about seducing her sent shockwaves through her body and caused her
heart to race.  She tightened her grip on her knees just to keep from
reacting.  Hailey wanted desperately to throw her arms around him and feel his
body against hers.  She shamed herself for secretly wishing he actually had
come to seduce her, but it wasn’t his intention, and she knew it.  Thankfully,
he couldn’t see the redness in her cheeks or read the lust in her eyes.  She
had to hide her true feelings from him.

“If you came here to seduce me, what’s stopping
you?” she asked while pulling off a casual lack of reaction, despite how she
really felt.  “You obviously have the upper hand.”

Rafe tensed to the come-hither comment while
staring into her eyes.  His gaze briefly strayed to her mouth.  She could
almost hear his heart pounding in his chest along with his rapid breathing. 
For a moment, she was uncertain of his reaction as her body ached for what
would certainly be a wild night of passion.  She still wanted him, and she
didn’t care if it was just a brief fling.  Everyone was entitled to one fling
in his or her life.  To her disappointment but not surprisingly, he pulled away
from her and composed himself.

His look turned unnaturally hostile.  “I don’t
screw mentally unstable women,” he scoffed, although his voice lacked the
necessary conviction.

Rafe sprang up from the bed and headed for the
balcony doors in a little more of a hurry than usual.  She had successfully
called his bluff, and he knew it.  She watched as he effortlessly jumped onto
the half wall to the balcony and leaped to his own balcony next door.  Although
disappointed that she wouldn’t feel his body against hers, Hailey smiled
nonetheless.

“Welcome aboard,” she announced softly.