Page 113 of After the Burn

Beck threw his head back and cackled. “You’re something else.”

“Yes, I am,” Wren agreed, taking his words as a compliment.

Adrian didn’t look amused but ignored them to join Finley in reviewing his notebook.

When Beck finally stopped laughing, he turned to me. “I trust your skills, but I’m going out to see if I can get a few rabbits for supper.” He walked over and caressed my face with his big, rough hand. “I’ll be close if you need me.”

As we left the room, I noticed Adrian nod to Beck in appreciation. These two men were dominant enough on their own. Together, they were going to be impossible.

Max trotted beside me as Wren walked in front. “I could’ve come alone. I’m feeling better than I was even a few minutes ago.”

“Robin, I lost you once.” Wren stopped underneath a large oak tree. “I’m not willing to take a chance on losing you again.”

I raised my face to cool in the evening breeze. The tree was across the street at the edge of a small mobile home park. A tire swing that had seen better days hung from a large branch.

Max had wandered a few feet away to do his business and sniff around.

“I bet there are some rotters in there.” Wren eyed the four trailers that gave rundown a bad name.

“Rotters?” I opened my eyes and looked at her questioningly.

“I’ve decided that 'infected' doesn’t fit them anymore.”

“Why?” I raised a brow.

“It just seems like we’re past that… and…” She shrugged. “They smell like rotten meat.”

“I get that.” I hid my smile and turned my attention to the trailers. “Should we clear them?”

“Nope, we won’t be here long enough.” She grabbed two pieces of beef jerky out of her pack and handed me one. “We’re not far enough away from Gideon’s town.”

I nodded in agreement.

We needed to give Harper the chance to recover, but it wouldn’t be safe here for much longer. As soon as we returned to the clinic, we needed to make sure Finley kept his word and told us everything he knew about Gideon’s operation.

“Do you know anything about Gideon’s operation?” I asked Wren as she gently pushed the tire swing.

“I noticed some women were missing every time I returned from scavenging. When I asked around, one of the men told me they’d decided to leave.” She bent down to scratch Max behind his ears. “Of course, I didn’t believe them.” She stood and looked at me, confused. “For some reason, they all think I’m crazy enough to believe that nonsense.”

Somehow, I kept from laughing. “Imagine that.”

“Anywho, I started poking around, and one night I saw some rough-looking dudes pull up in one of the neighborhoods outside the fence. Mace, Gage, and a few other men walked up with some of the unenhanced women in tow, their hands tied and their mouths gagged.” Wren kicked a rock. “I wanted to stop them, but it was just me and I wouldn’t have stood a chance. So, I watched.”

“What happened?” Sitting on the ground beside Max, I scratched his big head.

“I saw them unload several large steel drums of fuel, then put the women in the back of the truck.” Her green eyes held more anger than I’d seen yet. “I’ve tried several times to follow them, but it’s hard without a vehicle.” Wren shrugged again. “And their mothership would most likely take off before I could get there, anyway.”

I began to laugh, but then realized she was serious. Just when I think she’s getting off the crazy train, she says something like this.

A breeze stirred the leaves overhead, and the old tire swing creaked.

Once.

Twice.

Max’s head snapped toward the oak. The low growl rolling from his chest set every nerve in my body on edge.

He jumped to his feet, and I stood quickly, then had to take a deep breath as I grew a little dizzy.