Page 42

She glances at Eden and hate sparks in her eyes. I’ve never hurt a woman in my life, but that look makes me want to pluck them out.

But Eden steps forward again, just as fierce, and a bemused Lucky has to tug her back from stepping right into the barbed wire put up around the dry moat.

Christ, the woman needs her eyes checked.

“You brought armed men here? Kasey is here, Akira. She’s fourteen,” Eden bites back, unfazed by the lethal look. Her hair fans about her like a crown. “Hate me, I always understood that, but these women did nothing .”

Sawyer whistles low. “You weren’t kidding, Kiki. They don’t seem to like you much.”

“I don’t have anything to say to her. I don’t need to explain myself.” But her mouth twists when she looks down at him. “I only did what I had to, same as anyone. I survive .”

Eden’s brows drive down at that, something flickering over her expression.

Jayk scratches at his chest, watching them. Sawyer and Cole just glance away like they’re checking out the civilians, then at their camp being set up, like they’ve decided this fight isn’t worth getting in the middle of.

Eyeing Eden, standing off against Akira like two battle queens about to wage war... I might agree. Eden’s formidable like this.

When she’s mad.

The sun beats down on me like a punishment. Mosquitos storm me like a plague, and my stomach’s in unrest. If I’ve been wrong about everything, how am I supposed to know what’s right now? Is she a liar, or am I just a blind fool? None of the others seem to have any trouble forgiving her.

What am I missing?

Why does it have to be so hard?

Eden lifts her chin, shaking Lucky off. “The civilians aren’t going with the Reapers. They don’t trust that easily. Not like you seem to.” Her expression softens. “You didn’t have to leave Bristlebrook, Akira. It was dangerous, going to them.”

Akira waves a swift hand. “I’m doing just fine.

I was doing fine before you showed up, and I was fine after.

These women? They’ll be fine, too, as long as they don’t start shooting at the men here who can actually help them.

It’s you , Eden. You want to play the hero, but you’re really just a devious, murdering bitch.

They should leave you in the dust before you get them killed as well. ”

The sudden, sickening echo of that word is like a bare-handed slap.

Devious .

Eden’s hands clench, but she only nods. Like she believes it.

Like she deserves it.

And suddenly... the injustice of it rattles me. Eden’s standing there, compassionate —being her kind self to a woman who painted her room in blood. Eden, who only schemed and lied and killed to save herself. She killed to save me, and I know how much that cost her.

I don’t know what I’m missing. I don’t know why she didn’t trust me, but suddenly, I’m real sure she’s not the whole problem.

She might not even be most of it.

Jayk’s hand snaps to his rifle, but Dom grabs his wrist, and for once, I wish he wouldn’t. For once, I’m in agreement with Jayk. He should be mad.

Eden deserves better.

“Don’t you call her that again. Don’t you even think it.” Just this once, I let all that filthy hot rage pump through me. “Eden’s a survivor—and a better person than you could ever be.”

Jayk gives me a sharp, surprised look as I fall in beside him. But finally, he nods, and our shoulders press together as we glower at Akira.

Jasper sighs. “I’m putting you both in joint anger management.”

Sawyer points at me, sniffing over his mustache. “Hey now, I’m not threatening your ladyfolk. You don’t threaten ours.”

Neither of us reply, but he nods like we’re in agreement.. . then he stands up. “Okay, then. Time to clear a few things up.”

He walks to the edge of the long bridge spanning the moat—the only one left.

The only way in.

The only way out .

“I want y’all to hear me!” Sawyer booms toward the civilians. “There’s a lot of talk about numbers and who said what, but we’re only here like this to keep ourselves safe. We don’t mean you any harm, not a moment of it. We need each other?—”

Cole hurries up beside him, tugging his shirt back, a rueful smile flashing over his face. “For work. Protection. Not ...”

Sawyer’s eyes widen, and he slaps Cole’s shoulder. “ Right . Not for nothin’...” He coughs. “Not for anythin’ unsavory .”

Cole nods, and Sawyer nods too.

“If any one of you choose to come with us, you can get your mouths around as much of this as you can handle!” Sawyer spreads his flannelled arms wide, stepping back to gesture at Pete and Buck as they sweat over their fire.

As we watch, Pete throws down a few thin cuts of meat onto the pan Bucky’s holding over the flames... and I suck in a sharp breath as the scent invades my lungs.

Bacon.

Jayk grunts beside me.

Holy mother of all things delicious. They have bacon .

I’ve never been so hungry in my life. So hot and bothered and miserable. Worse, I think I might even deserve it. I swallow down another lungful of that snapping, crackling fat like it’s an actual taste, watching it crisp up. Forget waterboarding or limb removal. This is torture.

Realizing all eyes are on them, Pete and Buck blink at each other, startled, then straighten up. Pete swipes off his cap, giving a little wave, and Buck smooths down his thinning hair with a winning grin.

“The food, he means. The.. .” Cole laughs, giving up, and he throws the civilians a slow smile. “I’m sure you ladies would appreciate the food, is what we mean. It’s a real nice spread. Just like my mama used to make. Meat, grain, oats, cheese...”

Lucky wraps both arms around Eden’s waist, and she gives him a dry look. But I don’t miss the way she’s looking at them. Worried. Thoughtful. Considering .

I glower at Cole. Cheap and petty tricks. Smiling, playing up that Southern charm like that. Talking about cheese . Any man with half a brain should know that won’t work.

“I think the point of the matter is, we could all do with some more friends. So if that sounds good to any of y’all, just come on over this bridge here and you’ll be welcome. We’d love to have you.” Sawyer finishes with a tip of his hat, then strolls back to his seat.

There’s a long, curious silence behind us.

“We could just shoot you,” Jayk says.

Sawyer turns, giving him an even look. He brushes a hand over his mustache. “I really don’t want it to come to that.”

Jayk stares at him, his muscles locking up as he draws tall. Considering.

My hand flexes, ready to reach for my rifle.

Then Jayk grimaces, shaking his head.

“Fall back.” He gestures at all of us to move.

The others begin to peel away, but before I turn, Sawyer brushes his hands over his jeans and blurts, “Wait... uh. Wait one second?”

Jayk and I look back at the same time, and Sawyer looks between us. “How’s the girl? The one that got shot.”

I pause, my anger spiking again as I think of her injuries. So many little hits of it that I can’t get a hold of.

“Jennifer’s on bedrest. She’s in pain. We don’t have pain meds like we used to,” I bite out.

Most of my meds were taken at Cyanide.

The weathered lines tighten beside Sawyer’s eyes, and he nods. He seems to think that through for a moment, then he reaches down and rummages through his pack. Next thing, I’m catching a bottle against my chest. I check the label, and surprise shakes my anger loose.

Shit . It’s pain relief. Heavy-duty, shelf-stable.

It’s gold.

I look up sharply, shocked, and he buries his hands in his pockets as he shrugs. “Just get her fixed up? And maybe you can tell her I’m real sorry?”

I stare at him for a minute, rethinking everything. Did they come here to bully or beg from us? Are they villains or not? Is there even such a thing anymore?

I feel the ghost of Eden’s tears on my fingertips.

Maybe it’s just that this world is making villains out of all of us.

I nod, and relief touches his features.

“And our people? You’ll contact them, too?” he asks, and I grit my teeth.

“We’ll call them.”

When I turn back, Jayk is shouting at Sloane to double the watch, and the civilians are all talking a mile a minute. The Reapers are lounging, laughing, eating . The other guys walk behind Jayk, following his lead, and Eden is right by his side.

I follow them all more slowly.

My anger ebbs back into low, smoldering embers, but I feel... drained. Hollow and ashy. Like a wildfire has ripped through me and razed me to the ground. It doesn’t feel good. Worse, it feels like it could happen again.

Eden throws me a worried look over her shoulder, and my throat sticks. I don’t want to be mad anymore, but pretending I’m not isn’t fixing a damn thing.

I think . . . something needs to change.

I slap another mosquito.

And this time, I get it.