Trapped (The Condemned Series #1) - Alison Aimes Page 0,21
wanted to thank you as well, Mr…ah, Convict. We appreciate all you’ve done.” Ava shoved the water toward Winthrop, forcing him to free Bella’s hand.
Released, Bella pushed to standing. “Did you have any trouble?”
“You worried about me, fighter girl?”
She could feel Winthrop’s and Ava’s gaze boring into her. It made her want to turn tail and flee. She locked her knees instead. “I’m worried about us all. I don’t want anyone hurt.”
Convict’s gaze flickered to Winthrop before settling back on her. “Sometimes pain adds to the pleasure.” He beckoned her forward, his gaze as cold and hard as when he’d faced that tigos. “This time ‘round, I’ll show you what I mean.”
“You don’t know?” A cold, half smile twisted Convict’s face. “In return for all that heroism and saving your lives, I get her.”
“Her?”
“Your precious Bella. To fuck. Whenever I want. However I want.”
If a sinkhole would have appeared and swallowed her whole, Bella would have been grateful.
“No.” Winthrop’s protest was a near whisper. Ava sobbed.
Convict’s attention shifted back to her. “You following me up that hill or you want to pay up in front of them? Doesn’t matter to me. I’ll want you on all fours. Ass in the air.”
Nausea choked her, but she swallowed past it.
She’d learned growing up that pride rarely jibed with survival. She did what she had to and moved on. Still, a part of her grieved. Despite Convict’s warning, she kept fooling herself into thinking he might be something he wasn’t. But it didn’t matter in the end what she thought of him. He was still their best chance of getting out of here alive.
“I’ll follow you.” Without looking at her colleagues, she started forward.
“Bella, no,” shouted Winthrop. “Ava, stop her.”
Which only made Ava cry louder.
For the first time, Bella had the uncharitable wish that Winthrop had remained unconscious. She had the strong feeling none of this would be happening if he had.
“You don’t need to whore yourself out to that bastard.” All Winthrop’s frustration at his helplessness was apparent in his voice. “We can survive without him. I’m Council, God damn it. Don’t go. Don’t do this to us.”
Convict didn’t even slow down. His utter indifference, his absolute assurance that Winthrop could do nothing to stop this, insult enough.
But Bella couldn’t help herself. She turned back. “We have no weapons. No knowledge of the terrain. No food. No water. No tools. You and the rest of the our superiors said we would be safe, that this was an easy mission, a simple in and out, and you left us unprepared.” Her chin tilted upward. “You don’t want to thank me for what I’m doing, fine. But don’t lie to me or yourself. All your Council trappings can't help us now. We won’t last an hour without his help.”
She didn’t hurry to catch up with Convict, and he didn’t slow to wait for her, either. By the time she was halfway up the rocky canyon, he’d disappeared from sight. Alone, she picked her way along the rocks, growing more and more enraged with every stumble, every scrap.
By the time she crested the top of the cliff, she was gleefully imagining using the Council rescuers’ stun guns on the bastard while ordering him to crawl around on all fours. Ass in the air.
Then she crested the cliff—and sucked in a breath, her steps faltering.
Chapter Seven
Bella stared in awe, her gaze darting everywhere at once. Nestled between barren, rocky cliffs was a paradise she’d never imagined existed. A lush, green canyon dotted with towering spiky trees and fan-shaped purple and orange flora. A place even more beautiful than the one in the cave. Palms moved lazily in the wind, casting shadows over a slow moving crystal pink lake that shimmered in the suns’ rays. It was…it was vibrancy and tranquility and beauty. It was sustenance. It was hope.
“Do you like it?” Convict stepped into sight from behind a large rock. The hard mask that had tightened his face when talking with Winthrop had settled into more relaxed lines.
“It’s…unbelievable.” Her admission was grudgingly offered. She’d liked the view better without him in it.
“I stumbled on it a few years ago. There are a couple places like it on Dragath25, but so far no one else knows about this one. I thought you’d like it.”
“You meant to show it to me?”
His gaze shifted away. “I noticed how much you liked the place in the cave. I thought you might