Page 110 of After 5
I ducked through the flap, allowing it to drop behind me. That was my cue. Caiyan was going after Victory, and I needed to be there.
Sam and I sucked in air as we stood taking in the stale scent of sweat and sex. The aroma wasn’t masked by the heavy French perfume the dove sprayed from a glass perfume bottle.
She spritzed the cot and Sam tensed beside me. I took the chair in the corner of the room and set the lantern down next to me. An orange glow cast shadows over the walls of the tent.
“I’ll sit here,” I said. “And snuff the light. Some things are better in the dark.”
“Suit yourself,” she said.
While Sugar removed her gown, Sam’s eyes grew wide and the scared shitless look on his face told me I should move quickly, because this might be over sooner than later.
When Sugar started to fuss with his clothing, I extinguished the lantern, and slipped out the back of the tent.
Tiptoeing past the watchful eyes of Miss Maggie, who was attempting to persuade a flirtatious Brodie into tasting her wares in exchange for information.
Not good. He was getting close.
A sharp slap of skin to flesh had me pause; around the corner from the prostitute’s tent, a lean-to provided shelter for washing and sewing. I hunkered down at the side and peeked through the branches of a squatty bush.
Victory stood in front of Caiyan; a red handprint burned his left cheek. I was sorry I missed the show.
“Where have you been? You told me you’d return months ago.”
“Aye, ye were no in Baton Rouge, where they left ye. I didnae know where to look.”
“How did you find me?”
“Boon sent word.”
It wasn’t Boon, it was me.
“Boon,” she huffed. “I haven’t seen that no good man in days. He’s a sorry soul. I sent him to deliver a message and he hasn’t returned.”
“Vic,” Caiyan placed a hand on her arm. “I’m sorry to tell ye, Boon’s dead.”
“Dead?” Tears pricked at her eyes. “It can’t be, how?”
“Dinnae kin. I found him in the woods. Shot.”
She lost control of her tears and Caiyan pulled her to him. She sobbed and he held her. I was watching two people who had history. My inner voice turned green and I told her to slow her roll. Maybe Caiyan was a good friend to this woman.
She pulled away from him. “Do you think the Federation was involved?”
“No,” he ran a thumb across her tear stained face, lifted her chin and kissed her.”
My inner voice screeched Nooo!
“Stop it. You can’t be coming on to me now.”
“Why are ye always turning me oot?”
Because she just lost someone important to her, you horny bastard.
“’Tis too dangerous for ye to stay, ye need to come with me, away from here. I must find a way to transport ye to safety.”
“I can’t leave.”
“Why the hell naugh?”
