Trapped (The Condemned Series #1) - Alison Aimes Page 0,43
stronger than I look. Now, put me out of my misery and tell me what happened. Were you able to talk with my colleagues? Is everyone okay?”
His scowl deepened. “Those idiot soldiers of yours have been venturing farther and farther from the campsite, leaving an easy trail for any trackers to follow. I cleaned up their trail, but I won’t be able to keep their camp site hidden forever, especially without their cooperation.”
Her selfish plans for some time with Caine crumbled. “So they wouldn’t listen?”
“Listen?” he snorted. “They shot at me the instant I showed myself.”
She scanned him once more to make sure he was unharmed. “I’m so sorry.”
“I expected nothing less.”
“I’ll go next time. Pogue may not listen, but Winthrop and Ava will.”
“You’re not going anywhere near there. But don’t be so sure it would make a difference. That friend of yours is stubborn.”
So much for her insistence he remember her capability. “You spoke with her?”
“I knew you’d be worried. It was easy enough to sneak in to camp and find her.”
Her stomach turned at the risk he’d taken. If Pogue or the other soldiers had caught him, they would have killed him on sight.
“You told me you wouldn’t take such risks,” she accused.
His gaze shifted to the window. “I guess we both made promises we didn’t keep.”
Damn it. She hadn’t realized he’d care so much about a silly window. But then again, she’d never been the cowering kind. It was better he learned that now. If he was going to come to see her as anything more than a fuck toy, it had better be the real her.
Still, she left it alone for now. There were more pressing concerns. “What did Ava say? Is she holding up?”
“Her leg is still bothering her, and it doesn’t look like she’s eating or drinking enough, but she’s hanging in there. She was worried about you.” He scooped up his pack and started unpacking, returning every tool and carton to its precise place. “She was relieved when I told her you were safe.”
“She’s a good person. I hate to think of her in such a precarious position.”
“I tried to get her to come with me, but she refused.”
Her chest squeezed tight, touched he would so willing to take on responsibility for another.
“Why wouldn’t she come? Do you think she thought it was a trick?”
“I asked her the same thing. She said she believed me.” He grew very interested in examining one of her dirt samples. “Said she’d seen the way I looked as I carried you away from the saybak. That it was clear I’d never hurt you. That I’d do whatever it took to protect you.”
Bella’s heart stuttered a beat. Ava had seen the same thing she did. Caine was a good man. The only trouble with a champion, though, was you didn’t know if their urge to protect was because that’s just what they did or because they thought you were special.
He set the dirt sample down. “She said to tell you she was sorry, but she couldn’t come now. She said you’d understand. Their team lost two more soldiers yesterday. One to the dust storm. The other to some kind of food poisoning. Tensions are running high, and she’s worried about your buddy Winthrop.”
“Is he dying?” Guilt speared through her. She never should have left them.
“He’s fine.” A hard edge had entered Caine’s voice.
She pretended not to notice. “Then why is Ava worried?”
“Winthrop and Pogue aren’t getting along. Each blames the other for your disappearance, and with every passing minute, Pogue’s growing more resentful of Winthrop’s orders. There’s a definite leadership struggle underway, and Ava isn’t sure how much longer Winthrop’s influence will last or what Pogue will do if the rescue team doesn’t show up soon.”
“All the more reason for her to get as far away from Pogue as possible.” But she understood Ava’s reluctance to leave what seemed safe. Bella herself had been willing to forgive far too much when it came to Winthrop and Pogue simply because they were familiar. Looking back now, she realized she’d been all too desperate to cling to the rules and order of Council life. No doubt a side effect of growing up in a society that demanded unquestionable adherence to the established hierarchical authority. It had taken Caine for her to see how clearly she’d placed her trust in the wrong men.
Unfortunately, her needs weren’t the only one at stake here.
Bella ran a hand down her face, wishing for answers