didn’t want her to do that. I wanted out myself.”
“That’s understandable. Things end.”
“But Gwen was no good at being on her own. I knew it, but I…I dismissed it—dismissed her—as not my problem anymore.”
The tightness in Bella’s chest increased. Was it any wonder he’d been so conflicted about being responsible for her these past days?
“She was a grown woman, Caine. She was responsible for her own choices.”
He offered no reaction. “When Gwen realized I was serious, she ran straight to her Councilman.” Caine’s hands fisted by his side. “I warned her the bastard was no good. But she didn’t listen. She insisted he would leave his wife for her. I don’t doubt the guy made that promise. He was a lying snake who preyed on lonely soldiers’ wives. But I couldn’t get her to believe it.”
“Stubborn, eh?” Bella cupped his shoulder, needing to touch him.
“Yeah. Like someone else I know.” He turned his head, nuzzling her fingers with his jaw. “She went to him. Made a scene in front of the councilman’s wife and a slew of other important dignitaries. Of course, Hendricks denied he even knew her. She must have been pretty pissed because she spewed personal details to prove him a liar. She also revealed he’d used Council funds for rendezvous for the two of them. He had her kicked out—and roughed up. She came to me, scared and crying. I told her to stay out of sight until I could get things figured out, but…” Caine shook his head, “she must have gone to see him. Two days later, she was found strangled to death in a trash dumpster close to my house. Word on the street was that Hendricks had his younger brother take her out. But no one was investigating the brother, much less the Councilman. There was another blight outbreak at the same time. People were focused on trying to survive.”
“So you went after her killer?”
“I’d…I’d failed Gwen once. I couldn’t do it again.” He sucked in a deep breath. “But I wasn’t planning on murder. I wanted Hendricks’ brother to confess and go to prison. He was the one that came after me with a knife. Still, a part of me was glad. He’d murdered Gwen. I wanted him dead.”
She pressed a kiss beneath his shoulder blade, gratified to feel a small tremble run through him. “You think that makes you a killer? I think it makes you a hero.”
“What I did wasn’t heroic, but I would have willingly paid the price for taking another killer’s life. Only Gwen’s councilman set me up, fingering me for crimes I never committed. Before long, I was branded a psychotic serial killer and sentenced to marooning on Dragath25.”
“That’s not going to happen again. You have allies now.”
Caine swiveled around, his expression grim. “I had allies then, fighter girl. I was a decorated military hero with a lot of support from friends and family. I didn’t matter. Hendricks paid off or ruined anyone who tried to defend me. He manufactured evidence so that it looked like I not only killed his brother, but Gwen and several other people who turned out to be enemies of the Councilman. He made me into the boogeyman and grew even more powerful. He’s not going to let me back on Earth to tell his secret. I appreciate your optimism, fighter girl, but the only way I’m leaving Dragath25 is in a box.”
“Don’t say that.” She grabbed his hand. “You might have had allies before, but you didn’t have me. We didn’t have the Oasis. Trust me, Caine. Please. Between the two of us, we’re going to bring that corrupt bastard down. I swear it.” She squeezed his palm. She had bigger plans as well, but she’d keep them to herself. “For you. For Gwen.”
His expression remained bleak. “But if we can’t, you’re going. No argument.”
She hid her hurt behind a joke. “Don’t you know me well enough by now to know that will never happen?”
As hoped, his eyes crinkled in a half-smile, but his tone was serious. “That’s why I like to call you fighter girl. Not because I don’t see who you are, but because I do, Bella. I see exactly who you are. Someone extraordinary. Someone strong and kind. A true hero.” His hands skimmed up her neck to cup her face. “Someone worth living for. Someone worth dying for.”
His lips brushed hers. Reverent. Slow.
Her heart stuttered. He was kissing her. For the first time. Not for any deal.