Charity was pissed. Not at Ruin and his games, that was expected. Nope, all her anger was self-directed because she let a few hot tongue tangles and a case of raging hormones blindside her to who she was dealing with and that was not acceptable. Everyone had an agenda nowadays, and no matter how much Ruin pulled at her, it would serve her well to remember his agenda could be as dangerous, if not more so, than hers. Which meant she needed to proceed with caution and not get sidetracked by a wickedly hot body and talented mouth.
Her plan to saddle up and make tracks was derailed when Vex met her at the doorway with the order-bordering-on-threat to get her ass inside and help since Simon was going back to Pebble Creek. Normally Charity would have no problem educating Vex on how well orders-bordering-on-threats worked, if it wasn’t for the worry trying to hide under her bluster.
As she helped Vex prepare Simon for transport, Charity silently fumed, giving her hormones and brain a severe talking to. Despite her teeth-gritting frustration and anger, she made sure to handle Simon with as much care as possible as she and Vex bound his ribs, then dressed him in one of Ruin’s t-shirts and a salvaged pair of pants. Poor guy didn’t deserve to pay for his friend’s crimes. He was sweaty and pale by the time they got him up on his feet. It was slow going to the cabin’s doorway. They managed though with her bracing Simon from the right, while Vex did her part on his left.
Ruin brought the sturdy, dust-covered beast Vex rode in on to a halt, feet from the cabin entrance. Carefully, she and Vex manoeuvred Simon out into the morning sunshine. With a soft hiss, Simon dropped his head, his one good eye narrowing to a mere slit as his shoulders hunched. Charity wasn’t the only one who caught his reaction to the bright sunlight. Ruin held out his sunglasses. ‘Here.’
Simon unwound his arm from Vex’s shoulders, took the offering and despite his shaky, bandaged hand, managed to get them on with a sigh a relief. ‘Thanks.’
Slowly releasing Simon’s waist, Vex asked Charity for the fourth time, ‘You sure you’ve got this?’
Reaching for her waning patience, Charity smothered the urge to roll her eyes. ‘I’ve got him. Go, get up. Ruin and I will help Simon mount.’
Vex waited for her brother to step in and replace her at Simon’s other side. Then she made quick work of getting up on the horse.
‘You ready?’ Charity murmured to Simon.
He eyed Vex and her horse, grim determination evident despite his washed out colouring. ‘Let’s do this before I pass out.’
Ruin and Charity worked together with a minimum of curses and got Simon up behind Vex. Since they were heading back down the mountain, the decision to have Simon ride behind Vex meant he could use her as a brace. Something he needed since Charity and Vex both shared serious concerns about the state of his ribs. As worried as Charity was about the toll this trip would take on him, there was no doubt Vex had her beat. There was something strangely compelling about watching the kick-ass woman play the mother hen.
Vex craned her head over her shoulder so she could see Simon, her face creased with a scary as shit frown. ‘You sure about this?’
Simon cautiously adjusted his seat in the saddle, tried to hide his wince and failed. ‘Not like we’ve got much choice, doll.’ He gingerly wrapped one of his dark arms around her narrow waist. Vex’s hand immediately covered his and Charity wondered if the other woman understood how much her tiny movement said. Simon leant in and brushed his nose against Vex’s, then said, ‘Let’s hit the road. We need to get back.’
Guess Charity wasn’t the only one who couldn’t shrug off the itch they were racing against some unseen clock.
Vex turned forward. ‘Got everything?’ She directed the question to Ruin, who nodded. Everything they could pack was packed, erasing the more obvious signs of their stay. Well, except for the bodies Ruin stashed god knows where. ‘Good, then. Get up and let’s head out.’
Ruin led the way down the mountain with Vex and Simon in the middle, while Charity brought up the rear. On the trail, conversation was limited. Sound carried and no-one seemed inclined to chatter. Good thing, since there was plenty for Charity to think through. When Ruin accused her of ulterior motives, he cut uncomfortably close to the truth. There was much more going on than he was aware of, but she wasn’t in a position to share. Not yet.
It was a no brainer who would be running Crane’s operation until Simon was ready to get back in the driver’s seat, especially since Boden made it clear he had no interest in playing in Crane’s sandbox. With Crane dead and Simon incapacitated, it meant she would be dealing with Fate’s Vultures from here on out. The Vultures would stick close consider how protective they were of Simon. She wasn’t sure how to feel about that or exactly what it meant for her agenda. On one hand, dealing with a group she held a healthy respect for wasn’t a hardship. On the other, they may not take kindly to dealing with her once they realise who sent her and why. And it wasn’t like she could just say ‘Whoops, my bad,’ and leave. Not only was there a little girl to rescue, but there was still the business she originally intended to address with Crane. Business that required a certain level of discretion and trust.
Studying the two Vultures ahead of her, she had no doubt those commodities would be in short supply when it came to her. Maybe she was creating problems where none existed, but she doubted it.
A simple phone call once they hit Pebble Creek might solve part of her issue, or at least give her a chance to explain before they threw her out of town. Unfortunately, Crane’s death twisted her phoned in status report into something much more complex. She blew out a quiet breath and ducked when her horse passed under low-lying branches. It was tempting to skip the check in. Wouldn’t be that hard to blame it on a cut line. What was that old saying? Better to ask for forgiveness than permission? Sounded about right. But no matter how much her gut squirmed about the upcoming confrontation, and it would be a confrontation, she couldn’t risk skipping the call. Not if it granted her the freedom to join up with the Vultures and hunt down whoever was behind the kidnappings. Plus, it would get Tabby home and ensure she wouldn’t spend the rest of her life looking over her shoulder. That was if Tabby was one of the girls under Mandy’s care. She didn’t want to think about the ramifications of what it meant if Tabby wasn’t there.
Deliberately, she began analysing her earlier exchange with Ruin, trying to understand why she was so pissed at him. It wasn’t his deliberate provocation that irked her. If he hadn’t tried such an approach, she would have been disappointed. Nope, that wasn’t it. It was because he hurt her feelings with his suspicions. Hurt feelings, what the hell was wrong with her? Just thinking the words made her wince, no way in hell would she ever admit that out loud. Talk about a childish reaction. Feelings would get her gutted faster than a Raider’s knife.
Remember who you’re dealing with, girl.
A reminder she wished she heeded last night. Better he consider her nothing more than a tool to be used or a possible threat to eliminate, than something infinitely more damaging. And that he didn’t trust her was crystal fucking clear. Now that she had the distance and time, she was like a child with a troublesome knot, picking through their conversation—his phrasing, his expressions, the way he reacted—and it finally began falling into place. Stunned by how long it took her to clue in to his game, her frustration and anger peaked. Her head jerked up, and she glared at Ruin’s back as it swayed ahead of her. ‘You bastard,’ she muttered under her breath.
Simon’s head, which rested against Vex’s shoulder, lifted. He tried to look back but barely managed to give Charity his profile. ‘Something up?’
His question caused Ruin to shift in his saddle. Charity waved a hand at him to keep going, while she answered Simon. ‘Nope, just talking to myself back here.’
‘Might want to keep it down,’ Vex drawled, not bothering to look back.
Charity didn’t bother sniping back, her mind racing. Ruin avoided answering her question about possible incoming Raiders, which indicated a lack of concern. There was only one reason he wouldn’t be worried about retaliatory Raiders. If she skipped to the next logical step, it meant he knew no-one was heading to the cabin. Adding in his asinine comments about running away and the useless weapons, her frustration mounted. The obvious taunts didn’t fit with the highly intelligent hunter she knew he was, so what game was he playing?
Maybe he wanted to see how far he could push before she pushed back? Or maybe he hoped she got so fed up, she would decide to bail? Hmm, maybe. Or better yet, maybe he was trying to trip her up. Who the hell knew what went on in that disgustingly gorgeous head of his.
But none of that explained his lack of protest or his willingness to risk his friend’s health in heading back to Pebble Creek. Even after Vex guilted Charity into helping her with Simon, Charity couldn’t recall the twins talking about it. Ruin simply had the horse ready and waiting when they brought Simon out. Which meant, if there was no incoming threat, something else lit a fire under his ass. Ruin had to be hiding something his chew toy shared, something important. Say, like, where the hell the Raiders were holed up? Or maybe a lead on Reznik? The more she turned it over, the more she was willing to bet one of her blades she was on the right track. And the more determined she became to stick like glue to the Vultures, and more importantly, Ruin.
It was mid-afternoon by the time they hit Pebble Creek, the trek down the mountain slowed by Simon’s condition. Charity didn’t bother trying to confront Ruin with her suspicions, there was no point. As a ‘Hound she knew the value of patience. She would wait and see how things went with Reaper, the Vultures’ de facto leader.
There were rumours about the man, many and legion, which made it hard to cull fact from fiction. Yet to be a leader, especially of a volatile group like theirs, required the ability to weigh all options, and she was betting everything on Reaper’s mind being more strategic than most.
As they approached the main gate, Boden’s familiar form came into view, and he wasn’t alone. Two others stood next to him, one was Havoc, and the other had to be Reaper. He was taller than Ruin, and all she could think as she took him in was ‘dark and dangerous’, from the pulled back inky black hair, to the close-cropped beard, to the all black clothes over an intimidating body. As she got closer, his glower hit her stomach with a lead fist. Her stomach dropped, and her mouth went dry. Shit.
Ruin pulled his horse to a stop. Vex didn’t stop but continued by him, Simon slumped against her back, eyes closed, barely conscious. Havoc walked over, took in Simon and gave a one-word greeting. ‘Medic.’ Vex nodded and released the reins, letting them fall into Havoc’s hands. He took over as she remained in the saddle, awkwardly bracing a swaying Simon with an arm. Havoc led them, horse and all, hopefully to wherever Mandy waited.
Charity stopped her paint a few feet back from Ruin’s and waited.
Boden walked over, his voice low, ‘Hey, little girl.’
‘Hey, old man.’
He patted her mount’s neck. ‘You get rid of the trash?’
She glanced at Ruin who had dismounted and was talking with Reaper, then came back to Boden. ‘Some of it.’
He frowned, but before he could ask more, Ruin called her. ‘Charity.’
She looked up to find both Vultures staring. At her. Ruin didn’t wait for her response, simply beckoned her over, then went back to his conversation with Reaper, who continued to watch her. Despite the distance a chill seeped into her bones, freezing her in place. Forget culling fact from fiction or playing the odds, this man was beyond dangerous. Which left her in a precarious position. The seconds stretched as he held her gaze. Finally, he turned at something Ruin said, releasing her.
The breath she sucked into her aching lungs was shaky. A warm hand cupped her calf and she looked down into Boden’s battered, but concerned face. ‘Word of advice?’
She jerked her head in a nod.
‘Don’t play games.’
‘Wasn’t planning on it.’ Not anymore, especially after that little look, that was for damn sure. Swinging her leg over, she dismounted, added a couple pats of her own to the paint’s neck, and turned to Boden. ‘Is that phone working?’
He gathered the reins and studied her. ‘Yeah, why?’
‘Might need it later.’
Shaking his head, he began to lead the horse, and she fell into step beside him. ‘Find me. I’ll see what I can do.’
‘Thanks,’ she muttered as he left her to face the two waiting men. She walked over, trying not to flinch under the disconcerting weight of Reaper’s gaze. Next to him, Ruin watched, arms crossed over this chest, his face impassive. When only a couple feet separated them, she stopped and waited. No way would she be the first to speak.
That privilege belonged to Ruin who said, ‘Time to spill on why you’re really here.’
It wasn’t easy, but she managed to pull off an unconcerned half-smile. ‘Already told you, Ruin, I don’t answer to you.’
‘You’d rather answer to me?’ The question was a low whip of menace from the man next to him.
‘Reaper, I presume?’ It wasn’t meant as a taunt, more as a way to buy some time, but when his eyes narrowed and the muscles along his folded arms tightened, she back-peddled. ‘I have no quarrel with you.’
His lip curled in an obvious sneer. ‘You sure about that?’
Even though her legs turned to water, she dug around for her spine, found it and held on for dear life. Her hands went to her hips. ‘What? No ’thank you’ for keeping Simon breathing?’
Ruin’s face darkened, but strangely Reaper’s lightened, just a bit. Or maybe it was a trick of the light. ‘Thanks.’ It came out hard, and what followed was even harder. ‘Now, seems to me, you being reluctant to share why you’re here means I’m not going to like what you have to say.’
She dropped some of her attitude, but not much. ‘I don’t know you enough to predict your behaviour, nor do I know you enough to encourage me to share. Not to mention, it’s not my decision to make.’
Something flared in those dark eyes, but as she said, she didn’t know him well enough to interpret its meaning. ‘Whose decision is it?’
Hard as it was, she held his stare, silent.
It was Ruin who snapped the rising tension. ‘If you want a chance to see if your girl is here, you might want to start talking.’
The cool derision in his voice scraped like flint across her brittle temper. Deciding to heed Boden’s advice about not playing games, she was uncharacteristically blunt as she turned to Ruin. ‘You want me to start talking?’ Not giving him a chance to answer, she kept her voice low so those lingering nearby couldn’t hear. ‘Unlike you, I have no problems sharing. Want me to pick a starting point? How about we start with who put your ass in charge, because last time I checked, that position belongs to Simon or Boden or both. Or we can skip that part and move on to when I can see the kids, because until I know if Tabby is one of them, I’m not keen on telling you a damn thing.’
A red tinge snuck under Ruin’s arrogant mask, and his arms dropped until his hands fisted at his side. Guess she finally found the right button to push. He closed in until they were facing each other with bare inches between them. ‘You want in on this situation, you’ll share.’
Undaunted, she got right in his face and hissed, ‘Like you shared the real reason you decided to risk Simon’s life by hauling ass back here?’
His gaze darkened. ‘Why the hell would I do that?’
‘Maybe so you don’t get your supposed best friend killed? Or, hey better yet, get your worthless ass shot down?’
His eyes narrowed. ‘I don’t need you to keep breathing.’
For a heartbeat she was stunned by the unexpected sting of contempt in his voice, then red bled over her mind and vision. ‘Did you happen to forget that if it wasn’t for me, you arrogant thick-witted bastard, you’d be pushing up fucking daisies?’
‘Enough.’ The barked command snapped their heads around to Reaper. He looked to Ruin. ‘Take her to Mandy, if she’s okay with Charity talking to the kids, let her.’ He looked to Charity. ‘If your girl is there, I expect full disclosure.’
‘If she isn’t?’ Strangely the question came from Ruin.
Charity throttled back her roiling emotions and gave Ruin her back. She held Reaper’s gaze, and ignored her discomfort, proud when her voice came out even. ‘Even if she isn’t here, let me use the phone for one call, and then I’ll give you what I can before I head out.’
‘Where the hell do you think you’re going?’ Ruin growled behind her.
Paying Ruin no heed, she waited for Reaper’s decision. Finally, he nodded, then pivoted on his heel and began to walk away.