you, but this isn’t about love. It’s about responsibility. It’s about doing what is right. I did what I could to save Melody and Hope. The same goes for Lana and the other females we rescued. I will do the same here, too. Nayla is in a shit situation that is in part my making, and she needs help.”
“Ah, so you pity her,” said the younger one. “Except you also want to fuck her.”
“Malin, you are dangerously close to pissing me off,” growled Grif. “I’m going to ensure she’ll continue to cooperate with us, and, in exchange, I’ll help her integrate into settlement life. I’ll get her through. Whatever it takes, for as long as it takes. She’ll adapt eventually. I’m sure of it.”
“Really? What if Mr. Boy Scout can’t control everything?” Malin continued to taunt Grif. “What if she doesn’t prove as susceptible to your will or pretty-boy smile as the rest and you end up having to put her down anyway? It’s kinder to just do it now and not piss off the commander.”
“She will do as I say,” snarled Grif. “She needs approval. Praise. She’s been told she was worthless her whole life and is desperate to hear otherwise. I know exactly how to deal with her. Believe me, she will not be a problem.”
The roar in Nayla’s brain was so loud she almost didn’t catch Grif’s final words.
“I may have been her punisher. But I’m going to be her fucking savior, too.”
Nayla pushed back from the rocks, spun, and ran.
22
“Give me fifteen.” Grif did his best to sound agreeable, but the itch beneath his skin was growing. He wanted to get back to Nayla.
Malin had really pissed him off, and he’d mouthed off more than he’d meant to, revealing things about Nayla he hadn’t meant to say aloud.
It had worked though, convincing Ryker to agree to take his request to the commander. It left a bad taste in his mouth nevertheless.
Still, he’d done what he had to do. He’d make it up to her. From here on out, she’d be safe.
Once he got the missing females back and proved he was fit to be second-in-command, her position in the settlement would be even more secure.
It was all going to work out. He’d make sure of it.
“I need to explain the plan and find out what she knows about this ghost of ours. I also want to make sure she eats and drinks before we set out. Everyone else should do the same. We’ll want to move fast.”
Ryker and Malin exchanged a look.
Grif didn’t give a shit. They could think what they wanted, as long as they continued to agree to his plan.
“Okay, mother hen.” Malin clomped toward the exit. “I hope you at least let her chew the food herself. And, please, at least don’t hand her the ax she’s going to stick in your back.”
“Ignore him.” Ryker gave him a meaningful stare as the other male left. “But not me. As soon as you let me know about the ghost, I’ll head back to the settlement and report to the commander. The more help she offers, the less pissed he’ll be about his order being countermanded.”
“I’m on it.” Grif offered up his signature confident nod, but a bead of sweat slid down his spine. Nayla’s cooperation and a smooth extraction were more imperative than ever.
His second-in-command headed toward the exit, then paused. “You know, messy isn’t always the worst thing in the world. Sometimes buried in all the mess is exactly where people really find what they’ve been looking for.”
“True.” He agreed to be polite—and to move his second along. He wasn’t a fan of messy. Fortunately, his potential mess was all cleaned up and everything squared away. Nayla was safe under his protection, and he was leading the mission to save the missing females.
Things were back on track.
Sliding the rock back in place, he strode down the corridor.
He knew it was going to be hard to convince Nayla to trust him after this interruption. Her walls were up and she felt betrayed. But he was more determined than ever.
This time he was going to be more than enough.
“Finally.” He turned the corner and entered the cavern where he’d left her. “You okay, wild thing? I—”
The space was empty.
23
Nayla’s head burst out of the water, her lungs sucking in a desperate gasp of air as the chute she’d bounced through finally spat her out.
The underwater tunnel originating in the bathing hole had proven deeper and