Trapped (The Condemned Series #1) - Alison Aimes Page 0,55

smaller rock and crab-walked it over to the cave to show him the exact location. “I want to shrink the opening so that only one person can enter at a time. It will make it too small for tigos to get through and give us the chance to pick off any unwelcome human visitors one by one.”

“Blood-thirsty.” Pogue dropped his rock and crowded in far too close. “I knew you were more than a great piece of ass.”

“Get back.” Annoyed, she jammed her elbow into his side.

He didn’t even grunt. “Why?” His voice was an ugly growl. “You only do lowlife convicts?”

“Officer Pogue,” Winthrop appeared behind them, his expression full of righteous fury, “we may not be aboard a Council shuttle, but protocol still applies. Watch yourself or the Council will be hearing about more than your initial indiscretion.”

Pogue’s face turned bright, angry red. “I’d watch yourself, too, Doc. This planet can be a dangerous place.” Then, with his threat hanging in the air, he stalked off.

Bella watched him go, her unease growing.

“Sorry,” Winthrop’s apologetic stare was fixed on the unfinished tower of rocks. “I didn’t mean to run him off when you needed help.”

“No, I’m grateful. He’s more aggressive every day.”

Winthrop ran a hand through his hair, his usual short Academy haircut having been replaced by a long, shaggy look that made him appear all the more boyish. “Damn planet is turning everyone into someone else. Savages, criminals; it’s impossible to know who anyone is any more. And he probably thinks because you were willing to fuck that convict, you’ll fuck anything.” He flinched. “Not that I meant you….”

“No, it’s good to stop dancing around it.” She took a deep breath. She would never be so blunt if they were still on Earth, but things had changed. She had changed. “I’m sorry you were disappointed by some of my recent choices, but I did what I thought was best for me, my brother and sister, and you. I don’t regret it. Not for a second.” She met his gaze straight on. “Caine isn’t just some convict. He’s a good man.”

“So why didn’t you stay with him if he’s so great?” Winthrop’s voice was tinged with anger.

“I wanted more than he could give.” It was weird to say it aloud. She hadn’t even discussed it with Ava. It had felt too painful. “Everyone is always saying Dragath25 is so different, but when it comes to people, we’re the same any planet over. Same needs. Same stupid fights. Same ability to get mad and wound each other.”

Apparently, the more you cared about someone, the more furious you were when they disappointed you—and the more stupid you behaved in the aftermath.

“I never had much luck at relationships back on Earth,” she admitted. “I guess I should have realized going to a different part of the universe wouldn’t change that. But that doesn’t mean Caine doesn’t deserve our help. He saved our lives. He should be allowed his as well. ”

Winthrop’s hand gripped hers. “What a mess.” Red shaded the tips of his ears. “I thought we’d come here, find the answers we needed to save Earth, and together, you and I would find fame and glory and…more.” His blush grew deeper. “It was a foolish fantasy for an officer who’s been wrapped up in his work too long.”

This time her smile was real. “It’s not a foolish fantasy. You deserve all that and more.” She squeezed his hand. “You just need to find the right girl.”

His expression sobered. “And get the hell off of Dragath25.”

She let out a long sigh. “If that’s even possible.” Her gaze shifted to her pile of rocks before finding his. “Did you know before we left that other ships had been brought down? That this mission might not be the simple in and out you said?”

He kicked the dirt with his boot. “The Council informed me there’d been trouble with a few past ships, but the cause of the crashes weren’t known. There was no reason to believe it wasn’t pilot error. Or simple bad luck. Certainly none clear cut enough reason to keep us from our humanitarian mission.” His eyes were clear of deception and begged her to understand. “I would never have put you in danger if I’d thought there was really a chance we’d crash, too.”

“Thank you.” It would have to be enough. She and Winthrop would never again have the clear-cut, protocol-sanctioned relationship that had guided their interactions before the crash, but they