Page 153 of After the Burn

‘To trade women?” Taryn clarified.

“Yes.” Wren still looked a little pale, and I wondered what that was about.

Gideon stood across from the man, and whatever charm he’d once used as a leader had disappeared. “You know what I brought you before.”

The fuel man laughed. “Before doesn’t count.”

Mace took a step forward, but Gideon stopped him. “I still have things worth trading.”

“Not seeing much, but a bunch of swinging dicks.” The man’s gaze passed over Gideon’s ragged survivors. “I don’t need any more of those.” He spit on the ground. “Split tail is what I’m looking for.”

One of his companions laughed, and Taryn’s expression hardened.

Gideon pointed toward the fuel truck. “I need diesel.”

“Want in one hand and shit in the other.” The man laughed and spit again.

Classy he was not.

“I don’t have any extra women now, but we’re tracking a few that got away,” Gideon said, and I saw Mace frown.

The fuel man smiled. “Is it the crazy blond, or the enhanced brunette you refused to trade?”

Colson glanced at Wren as she stiffened, then bared his teeth toward the men standing in the road.

“What brunette?” Mace spoke up.

“Don’t play dumb. Enhanced girl. Dark hair. Pretty. Nice ass. One of your boys wouldn’t shut up about her.” The fuel man raised an eyebrow.

Taryn’s expression grew darker as all three of us moved to surround her.

“She’s mine.” Mace gritted out.

“Bullshit. Not if you want fuel, she’s not.” Fuel man smiled. But it wasn’t a friendly smile; it was more of a baring of teeth. “We’ve decided we’re tired of the plain women you’ve been sending us. We want enhanced women.” He spat on the ground. “We want the brunette.”

“You can’t have her,” Mace growled. “I told you she was mine, motherfucker.”

I saw Taryn reach for the gun at her waist.

“No,” I mouthed.

“I could kill all of them right now.” She mouthed back.

“No, baby.” I flicked my eyes toward Rory.

I felt her sigh, then she put her gun away.

“Nothing's yours if you want fuel. Bring her to us, and then we’ll talk.” The fuel man gave a sharp whistle, signaling his men to gather at their vehicles.

He turned and opened his truck door, then turned back around. “Hey, Gideon.”

Gideon raised his head to look at him. “What?”

Fuel Man raised a pistol and shot Mace square in the forehead. “Just a reminder that you are alive only because it benefits me.”

“What the fuck, you son of a bitch?” Gideon started toward him.

“Ah, ah, ah. You don’t want to do that.” The fuel man got in the truck and slammed the door. “You’ve got 48 hours.”