Dead World 3, page 9
“Welcome home, Jeb.” She led him over to the center table, which turned out to be the communal gathering place for the Sand Moles.
“I bring news,” he said, exchanging greetings to those he passed. People gathered close so they could hear what he had to say.
“Do tell,” Gray said, clapping him on the shoulder. “We could use some good tidings.”
“Word has arrived that—” The words caught in his throat at the sight of Red, Morgan, and Demery, choking him into silence.
Gray frowned. “Jeb? What’s wrong?”
“Who are they?” Jeb stabbed a finger at them accusingly.
Gray motioned for them to approach. “This is Hunter, Red, and you know Demery.”
Jeb nodded at the vamp, but didn’t acknowledge Red or Morgan’s presence. “Have they joined our group?” He assessed their clothing.
“No.” Gray shook his head. “They are just passing through. They’ve been enjoying our hospitality, while awaiting your return.”
Jeb blinked, then his beady eyes narrowed. “Why were they waiting for me?” His wiry body coiled, ready to spring.
“They hope you can help them. I fear I’ve bragged about your extensive travels. I told them that if anyone knew where communiqué equipment could be found, it would be you,” Gray said.
An uneasy smile touched Jeb’s face. “Why thank you, brother. I do believe I can be of assistance to the strangers. I know of such a place south of here.”
“That’s wonderful,” Gina stepped forward before Morgan could stop her. Waves of excitement poured off her.
Morgan didn’t want to dampen her enthusiasm, but something was wrong. He could smell it in the little man’s sweat. It stank of deceit and lies. Jeb’s body twitched and Morgan closed the distance between him and Gina.
“Where is this place?” She inched nearer, not noticing the change in his demeanor.
Jeb watched her closely, his eyes cold and calculating as if he were waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.
Morgan’s muscles tensed, ready for an impending attack.
Jeb noticed Morgan’s close proximity and casually shrank back. The move was casual. Morgan doubted anyone noticed but him.
“It’s two days’ journey to the southwest about an hour from the old coast,” Jeb said.
Gina turned to Demery. “Do you think you can find it?”
“Are you talking about the ruins near Verde?” Demery asked.
“No.” Jeb shook his head. “You’d need to head an hour south of there once you cross the mountains.”
“Okay,” Demery said. “I know the general area. I think I can find it.” His attention was caught by the woman he’d slept with the previous night. “Be back in a minute,” he said, not waiting for an answer.
“Who do we contact once we arrive?” Gina asked.
The man looked at her as if he were considering his answer carefully. “You need to speak with Razor. Tell him Jeb sent you. That should at least get you past the towers.”
Gina smiled. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet.” Jeb turned his attention back to Gray. “Mind if I have a word with you in private?”
“Of course,” Gray said. “Excuse us a moment. Feel free to continue to enjoy our hospitality until I return to see you off.” He nodded in the direction of the musicians, who began to play.
Morgan watched the two men walk several yards away. He couldn’t hear everything they were saying with the music playing, but he could make out a few words. He caught enough to confirm his suspicions. There was definitely a problem. Jeb knew who they were and why they were here.
“What’s the matter?” Gina brushed a hand over his arm.
“You need to start using your senses,” Morgan snapped, staring at Gray and Jeb, who kept their backs to them.
Gina slowly drew her hand away. “Why? What’s happened?”
“That man, Jeb. He was lying about something. I could smell it reeking from his pores. Even if he hadn’t, his body language screamed deception. He knows who we are and he’s up to no good.”
“I—” was all Gina had a chance to say before he cut her off.
“No excuses,” Morgan said. “Our lives are in danger. Don’t let their hospitality cloud your judgment.”
Gina’s jaw clenched. “Do you think he’s lying about the location?”
“No.” Morgan stared at the men, who were now looking back at them. “It’s something else.” He ran a hand through his hair, disheveling it. “Something having to do with us.”
“But no one knows we’re here,” she said.
“I can’t hear them over the blasted music.” Morgan’s hands shook in frustration. How was he supposed to protect Gina if he couldn’t even hear himself think?
She stepped closer. “Do you think Gray made them play on purpose?”
“Maybe.” That would imply he knew what they were. Morgan took a deep breath. The scent of the people nearby hadn’t changed. Whatever was happening was coming directly from Jeb, and now Gray. “Get your things together. We may need to leave in a hurry.” Morgan kept his attention on the men and the group around them. He sniffed the air every minute to make sure nothing had changed.
With luck, they’d be able to leave without any problems. So what if Jeb knew their real names? It didn’t mean anything. Or at least it shouldn’t. They weren’t the only fugitives in no-man’s-land. Everyone living here was considered one.
Jeb and Gray assessed them once more. This time there was no mistaking the speculation in their eyes. Something Jeb said had changed Gray’s opinion of them, and not for the better.
Red watched the exchange for a moment, then walked off toward the tent they’d stayed in the night before. Demery caught her right before she stepped through the flap.
“What’s going on?” he asked, wiping traces of blood from his mouth.
Red shook her head. “Not sure. Morgan is spooked about something. Said Jeb was lying. He knows who we are.”
“That shouldn’t matter.” Demery glanced over at Morgan. “Did you pick up anything?”
Red face flushed. “I didn’t think to try.”
Sympathy filled Demery’s warm brown eyes as he tore his gaze away from the men. “It takes time,” he said. “You’ll get it eventually.” He cupped her elbow and squeezed, then released her.
Would she? Or would she end up dying before she learned how to use her abilities? Red didn’t have a good track record when it came to embracing the wolf inside of her.
“What are you doing?” Demery asked.
“Morgan said to pack our things. We may need to get out of here in a hurry.”
“Right.” Demery slipped around the back of her tent toward his own. He returned in minutes, bag in hand.
“That was quick.” Red shoved the supplies into the extra tote they’d brought along for this purpose. She filled the food case next.
“If Morgan says we may need to leave in a hurry, I’d like it to be with my things. Wouldn’t want to get caught without my protective suit.” He grinned. “I’m going to find out what’s going on. Maybe I can defuse the situation before it gets any worse.”
Red hoped he could. She packed the rest of their belongings into the bags and dragged them to the center of the compound. Red placed them on the ground near her feet and nodded to Morgan to let him know they were ready.
Gray and Jeb had returned to the group. They were now seated at the long metal table, while Jeb ate. Something in Gray’s demeanor had changed. He still wore an easy smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes, and tension filled his lean shoulders, making them stiff beneath his baggy clothes.
Demery tried to speak to him, but Gray didn’t seem interested in conversing.
Morgan was right. Something was wrong. What had Jeb said to him? Red had never seen the man before today. Yet she was detecting hostility. They needed to get out while they still had the chance.
“We’re leaving now,” Morgan said to no one in particular. “Thank you for your hospitality.”
Red watched Gray and Jeb pause as she hoisted two of the bags onto her back. The music stopped abruptly.
Gray rose slowly from the table. “I’m afraid we cannot allow you to go,” he said.
Red’s ears were ringing from the blood pounding in her head. Her hands slipped to rest on the pistols strapped to her thighs.
“We aren’t asking,” Morgan said, his voice raspier than it was moments ago. His fists were clenched at his sides.
The wolf was riding him hard. Even now his eyes were changing color and his hair was beginning to thicken to a rough mane.
“The situation has changed.” Gray nodded to the people around them, who slowly pulled out their weapons.
Red stepped forward. “We don’t want any trouble.”
“I appreciate that, Ms. Santiago. It is Gina Santiago, isn’t it?” Gray asked.
Red felt the blood leach from her face. She glanced at Morgan, who’d stiffened at the sound of her name being mentioned aloud. He’d been right. Jeb did know their true identities.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said calmly. “My name is Red.”
“No.” Gray shook his head. “Your name is Gina Santiago and that there,” he indicated to Morgan, “is the ex-sheriff of Nuria, Morgan Hunter.”
“You’re wrong,” she said, sounding desperate.
“There’s a fifteen-thousand-credit bounty on your heads that says I’m right.”
“What?” Red couldn’t have heard him correctly. Did he say bounty?
Who would’ve placed a— She stopped short. Roark. Only Roark would do something like this, which meant he’d figured out where they’d gone. Bile rose in her throat. Now not even no-man’s-land was safe. Safe? She laughed to herself. They’d been anything but safe from the second they crossed the boundary fence.
“Jeb here says news of the bounty is spreading fast. The Sand Moles deserve those credits more than most. We’re the ones who’ve put you up and been hospitable.”
“Yes, you have,” she said. “So why stop now?”
Gray shrugged. “Credits are credits. Besides, you owe us.”
“We traded in good faith,” Morgan said. “We owe you nothing.”
“That’s not how we see it,” Gray said.
“Then that’s your problem,” Morgan said. “Not ours.”
He sighed. “Did I mention that the credits are good whether you’re dead or alive?” Gray asked.
That was all Red needed to hear. She drew her pistol before she could reconsider and fired. The laser shot out, dropping Gray where he stood. A cauterized hole smoldered where his heart had beat only seconds ago. The smell of burning flesh and intestinal waste polluted the air. Someone screamed and there were a few muffled cries, but no one moved.
“We’re going to leave now.” Red hoped the shock of her actions kept everyone in place for a few minutes longer. “Anyone tries to stop us and they’ll end up like Gray with their blood watering the ground.”
Demery’s brown eyes were wide, but he didn’t say anything. Like Morgan, he’d drawn his weapon and pointed it at the lookouts before they could raise their rifles. He quickly gathered his tote and slung it over his shoulders.
‘‘Let’s go,” Red said.
They retreated into the desert, keeping their eyes and guns trained on the small group until they cleared a big dune and disappeared out of sight.
“What were you thinking?” Morgan asked when they were a safe distance away.
“That we weren’t going to get out of there without a firefight. The way we were placed, there was a pretty good chance we’d end up shooting each other in all the commotion. I didn’t want to risk it, which meant that either Jeb or Gray had to die.”
“You’re crazy, mon.” Demery shoved his dreadlocks away from his face. “You could’ve gotten us killed.”
“I took a calculated risk that the loss of Gray would shock the group. I prayed it was enough to keep them from acting. Jeb’s loss wouldn’t have been as great. Gray would’ve ordered his people to fire. In the end, it was an easy decision.” Red said the words dispassionately, but inside she was chilled at the ease with which she’d taken the man’s life. When she shot, she hadn’t felt anything but the need to survive. Like a trapped wolf ready to gnaw its own leg off, she’d acted quickly and without remorse.
“Gray was good people, mon,” Demery said. “As good as people get on this side of the fence.”
Red’s eyes narrowed. “He was a threat and planned to turn us over to Roark. You heard him. We’re wanted dead or alive. Personally, I’m partial to breathing.”
Demery slowed. “You don’t know Roark was the one who put a bounty on your heads, mon.”
Red rounded on him. “Don’t be naive. Who else would’ve done it? My grandfather?” she shouted. “Doubtful. Not many people can afford to part with that many credits. Roark can. He’s amassed a fortune while he’s been in politics.”
“I’m not the enemy,” Demery said. “I still think we could’ve worked something out with the Sand Moles. Now I’m never going to be able to trade with them.”
“I’m sorry we messed up your commerce and gambling opportunities,” she said sarcastically. “Fifteen thousand credits hanging over our heads make me a little twitchy on the trigger. Who knows how many people have heard about the bounty by now. We aren’t going to be safe anywhere.”
Morgan came over and put his arm around her. “It’ll be okay,” he said. “All we need to do is reach the encampment Jeb spoke of.”
She gave a pained laugh. “Who’s to say that they don’t know about the bounty, too?” Red asked. “It stopped being okay a long time ago. We don’t even know if Jeb was telling the truth.”
“He was,” Demery said. “I know the place. It’s real. I’ve been by there on my travels, though I’ve never stopped.”
“For our sakes, I hope they weren’t the ones who told him about the reward.” Red ran a hand through her loose hair.
She’d been in such a hurry to pack and leave that she’d forgotten to tie it back. Maybe she should cut it. Long hair wasn’t meant for these conditions. Like compassion, it only got in the way.
Chapter 11
“As much as I love these little chats we have, I’m going to take off now.” Chaos gathered her investigative equipment, then headed back to her shuttle. She’d spent most of the night scouring the area, but hadn’t turned up anything else. The sky would be lightening in a few more hours.
“Where are you going?” Raphael asked.
“I have some more things to check out,” she said. If she was lucky, he wouldn’t notice that she hadn’t answered his question.
He lifted her tote onto his shoulder. “Perhaps I can come along and help?” Raphael suggested.
“You said you were looking for your brother,” she said. “I don’t want to keep you any longer.”
“I am. Nothing has changed. If we are going in the same direction we could keep each other company.” His hand brushed her arm, the move casual but intimate. A subtle reminder of what they’d shared this past week.
His warm scent washed over her and Chaos’ breath caught. When she realized what she’d done, Chaos growled in frustration. “I work better alone,” she snapped. “I don’t need a distraction.”
“If I make you uncomfortable, all you have to do is tell me,” his voice teased, but there was no mistaking the challenge behind his words.
“You don’t.” It was a lie. Truth was Raphael had her coming out of her skin. “That would require feeling something for you.”
“Exactly.” Raphael flashed her a grin that made her knees weak.
Chaos didn’t know how she felt. One minute she wanted to punch him. The next she had to fight to keep from throwing herself in his arms. “You are impossible!” She groaned in frustration, then jumped into her maglev shuttle and started the engine. “I better not see you following me or I’ll shoot you out of the air.”
She slammed the shuttle into gear. It rose two feet off the ground and took off. Chaos arced to the left, purposely traveling in the wrong direction to confuse him. She’d circle back as soon as she was sure he wasn’t following, then head to the boundary fence crossing.
“You won’t see a thing. I assure you,” Raphael murmured as she drove away.
He didn’t know what the little minx was up to, but he’d find out. Raphael hadn’t asked her to contact the commander of IPTT about Red and Morgan. He’d only planned to do so as a last resort. She’d taken it upon herself, which knowing how Catherine’s mind worked didn’t bode well for him.
Raphael thought he’d come up with a clever trap, one that would work out for the both of them, when he’d gotten her to agree to help him. But he obviously hadn’t been clever enough. Raphael had considered reading her thoughts, but he wanted Catherine’s trust. For some reason her trust was important to him.
Torn between the need to locate Michael and the need to go after Catherine, Raphael hopped into his shuttle. Thanks to the eye replacements he’d had during the war, with a blink he could see as well at night as he could during the day.
Catherine zoomed farther east. Raphael threw the shuttle into high gear. He killed the lights and all unessential electronics. She’d never see him back here. As long as he kept a couple of miles between them, the sensors on her shuttle would never detect him.
Raphael followed at a steady pace, sipping on a packet of blood. Catherine had turned south ten minutes ago and was be on a direct course for the boundary fence. The thought of her crossing into no-man’s-land alone curdled the blood in his stomach. What was she thinking?
She may be powerful, but Catherine was no match for no-man’s-land. It didn’t matter that he’d intended to go there himself. She had no business putting herself in danger. He had the overwhelming urge to turn her over his knee and paddle her delectable bottom. His body liked that idea far too much. Raphael shifted to ease his burgeoning erection.
Catherine stopped at a lot a quarter of a mile from the official boundary crossing station and parked her shuttle. Raphael had hoped he’d been wrong about her destination. She disembarked from the shuttle and gathered a pack that was almost as big as she was, then struggled to pull it onto her back. He shook his head as she nearly toppled from the weight.
