Project Rescue - A Shifter Novel (NaNoWriMo19)
Chapter 18 - Beauty & Brains

“Guys, I’m about to put on some scent masking spray. Do you think I can do it outside?” I asked quietly.

“Hold on,” the General answered.

Matheus walked back in and checked the camera’s. “You’ll be okay for a few minutes. The idiot drug runners are by the village.”

“Thanks. I promise it’s all natural and this batch doesn’t smell bad. Now, the last batch, an old bottle, it stunk,” I explained quietly.

“Damn it! I forgot to tell you, you don’t have to whisper in here, if this switch is down. The walls are made to keep sound in not out. I made sure I could hear the outside but most of the time I sleep outside.”

“Nao ha problema,” I told him.

He turned had a surprised look on his face, understanding I told him no problem. “You speak Portuguese?”

“Sim,” I answered to the affirmative.

He nodded his head. “Okay, it’s cool to go outside but you will need to be quick.”

I grabbed my spray, almost running to the door but still being quiet. I stepped out and took a big breath. I moved to the end of the porch, spraying the masking spray on as quickly as I could, waving at the guys before heading back inside quickly. I planned on staying alive, even if meant I had to stay inside.

Matheus stepped back outside with the men while I checked on the food.

I heard the General asked the question I was most interested in. “How did you get here so quickly?”

“On the bird I built for myself. It’s one I can fly low enough to not be seen by any radar. What? I got bored,” he said defensively.

“Where in the world did you keep a HELO?” The general queried.

“Uh, um, I built it at the old abandoned hangar at the base. I bought my own materials though. I moved it one night to a storage area outside of Washington in case of an emergency. I think this constitutes an emergency.”

“You’re a lot sneakier than I thought you were,” he nodded his head to the house. “She said you had a plan and not to count you out, before she met you.”

I sat on the bed, suddenly feeling sick. I didn’t get sick but my head was aching. I kept seeing flashes, like a movie projector starting over and over. As soon as the white light stopped the memories? Not my memories but mine. It didn’t make sense until I saw Matheus and me making love. Oh, my, the man was built. The body of a Greek god. It wasn’t the only flashes I was seeing, I was watching us in jaguar form as we ran together.

I started feeling dizzy and I couldn’t help falling to the floor. It was the most sound I had made since being here. All of a sudden, I had three men asking what was wrong but I couldn’t speak. I kept trying to shake the images from my head but it was only making me dizzier.

Matheus grabbed my face. “Look at me, Selina, look at me.”

I looked into his eyes, causing my symptoms to stop completely. The flashes were gone and the visions. “What the fuck was that?”

“Our past life together. I almost drowned from mine. Try having one when you’re underwater. Not fun at all.”

“You’re my mate. You have been every time. So, this is what past life regression means,” I uttered. I felt like a fool. How could I not know when he walked in.

“You couldn’t have unless you were told about it. And, I can’t see the monster telling you about either. He wouldn’t want you to know. You’re okay,” Matheus answered my question.

I looked at my watch and gasped. I need to check on the food. I need to peel potatoes.”

“We checked when we couldn’t reach you. Manuel has already peeled potatoes and added them to the pot. It smells great,” the General explained.

“Uh, do I have to keep calling you General? I don’t want anyone overhearing it and putting two and two together.” I laughed. “I forgot the idiots men don’t know how to count.”

The men started laughing.

The General nodded at me. “Everyone needs to call me Angel.”

It was dead quiet for a few seconds, all of us blinking at the General. I was the first to open my mouth then I closed it.

“What the fuck? You an Angel, sir?” Matheus asked.

“That is the name my mama gave me, much to my poor papa’s and my embarrassment. Why do you think you only see the A for my first name. I promise, Matheus if you say a word to the guys, any of the guys, I will shoot you myself. Or, I will let my tiger out.”

Matheus shuddered. “My lips are sealed. How about I call you A or your last name instead. It would be easier to call you Madrid.”

“Excellent idea - for all of you.” He pointed at me. “Goes for you too, missy.”

“Please don’t call me missy. It’s what the idiot big game hunters so-called leader called me and that was before he tried to feel me up. He doesn’t like me at all.”

“It’s only because she cut into the throat of one of her would-be assaulters, threw her blade between the legs of the so-called leader when he tried to shoot me, and pulled both her guns up quicker than I’ve ever seen anyone do. She stood up for herself,” Manuel explained.

“I should have shot him. I heard him talking to his friends about catching me, raping me and killing me when they were done. They were going to make it look as if a big cat killed me, using claws and cat piss,” I defended myself.

“What?” Asked Matheus, looking at Manuel. “Do you think these idiots are the one killing the girls?”

Manuel and I shook our heads yes.

“And, and, they threatened Selina? I could have hid their bodies. I still can, if Selina wants to take out her anger on them.”

I shook my head no. “I’m not going to break the law to catch them. Karma is a fickle bitch. I hope they get eaten by one of the cats they’re hunting. Now, if you want to help set up some fresh meat around them, I wouldn’t say anything.”

All three men started laughing.

“Brains and beauty,” Matheus commented.

I blushed and moved over to the pot of food to hide my face using the steam. I checked the potatoes, knowing they wouldn’t be ready yet. But, I was hiding for as long as I could.

“Guys, idiot alert. We need to go back outside,” Matheus instructed.

The men walked outside, acting as if they had been in a conversation for awhile - something they were very good at.

I knew Matheus would be the one to talk. I was sure he had all the training the military had for making sure his pulse, respiration and making sure his words were even. He spoke the language and Manuel wouldn’t lie. Now, Madrid would with no problem.

Sᴇarch the FindNovel.net website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.