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“And some of them might be headed up north to make another hit on Eagle Peak,” Rev says. “They didn’t get Cora, after all. It’s safe to assume they’ll try again.”
Sarge nods. “Maybe we’ll get lucky and some of the enemy will be out of town. But we’ll prepare to face all twenty-six. Now, if any of you still have an issue with conscience, let me remind you, these jerkoffs trespassed our new friends’ territory. They tried to take their woman! Theydidtake a man from them! If we let that stand, they could turn around and do it again. They could do it to us.
“That makes them guilty. All of them. Any asshole who sides with Raptor has signed his own death warrant. You get a shot, you take them out. I don’t care if we wipe the whole godforsaken settlement off the face of the Earth. You get a shot, you take it. And you use your Gifts to counter theirs any way you can. Got it?”
The room erupts with variations on, “Yes, sir,” and “Fuck yeah.”
“There’s no official law anymore,” Sarge says in a deadly voice. “That means good men have to stand up and be the law. Now, let’s rest up tonight. We’ve got a day of hard work tomorrow.”
Cora leans into my embrace. I know the thought of people dying is upsetting to her, but they’re bad people, if not inherently, then by association with Raptor. If Jud were with us, he’d be able to tell us which of them are fit to live and which are worthless scumbags, but we won’t have that advantage. They took it from us when they took Jud. So, they’re all marked for death.
“It’ll be okay,chér,” I whisper. “We’ve got this.”
She nods against my chest. “I know.”
Chapter 8
Doc
Night with Doc
Hot water pelts meas I go over Sarge’s battle plan in my mind. Knowing there’s fighting to come has my body strung tight as a wire. The old feeling brings back memories from my Army days, some of them good, some of them verynotgood. My enlistment landed me smack at the beginning of Operation Desert Storm. It was my honor to serve with a good group of men. But I was just a dumb kid, more stupid than brave. And I still carry a good deal of guilt over a decision I made that resulted in the death of a buddy.
I don’t want to think about that. So, I don’t.
Instead, I focus on the present, in which a beautiful woman is stepping into the shower with me. Mychéris gloriously naked, and as I guide her beneath the hot spray, droplets of water accent the sultry look in her deep-ocean eyes.
She chosemetonight.Justme.
Grim had her all to himself last night, and tonight, it looks like I’m the lucky bastard that gets to love on her with nothing and no one between us. Not that I mind sharing. It’s frigging hot as blazes watching her with one of my brothers. The other night, back home, it turned me on to no end eating her pretty pussy while Shep stroked himself beside us. But to have her alone—to have herchooseto be alone with me—I haven’t had that since her second night at Eagle Peak, and then, she was so new to us, and so skittish, that I didn’t dare provide anything but the tenderest comfort.
I suppose there was one other night, not too long ago, but it was just after Jud was taken. Even if she’d wanted something sexual from me, I don’t know if I would have followed through. I was heartbroken just like everyone else. So was she.
I still am. But I’ve got hope now. Finding Soldier Ranch and learning these men are going to help us—it makes all the difference to my outlook. Wewillget Jud back. We’re preparing ourselves. We’re planning the mission. And most importantly, as Rev emphasized in his sermon, we’re strongest together.
Cora lets me angle her head so the water soaks her hair. With gently-massaging fingers, I shampoo her and wash her glorious body, scars and all.
I wasn’t a fan of bringing her with us on this journey. But the more I think about it, the more I believe Rev made the right call. Wearestronger with her by our sides. I mean, because of her, Grim and I frigging raised birds from the dead! Scrap can surveil anything with a camera nearby whether or not that camera has fresh batteries or is even functional. Shep can communicate with Bernard when he’s miles away, and he can herd cows and get the barn cats to do tricks just by talking with them in their heads. Brawn can lift things he’s not even touching! Of all us men, he’s the only one who didn’t accept my offer of muscle repair tonight.
And that healing, by the way—I did iten masse.That’s right. Before dinner, I had all the guys who were sore-as-fuck line up, and in one go, with a single thought, I took away their aches and pains and had their muscles and joints singing like new. Couldn’t have done that before Cora. No, sir. Used to have to touch to heal. Hell, I even healed Grim tonight, without the need for gloves, because I didn’t need to touch him. Just a thought sealed up the gash in his hand he got during a speed drill of breaking down and rebuilding an assault rifle.
So yeah. It’s dangerous as hell bringing Cora into the enemy’s lair when he wants her so bad. If it were for any reason but bringing Jud home, I wouldn’t condone it. But, for Jud’s sake, I think it’s necessary. I also think nothing and no one will get to her with Grim by her side and Stealth covering the three of them in what the guys are jokingly calling his Invisibility Cloak.
A little while ago, Sarge wrapped up the strategy session and dismissed us. “Planning’s done for the night,” he said. “Everyone get plenty of sleep. We’re up at oh-five-hundred again for FTX. For those of you who aren’t military, that means I’m gonna run you through your paces again, like I did this morning, and when I’m done, you’re gonna thank me for it. Do I make myself clear?”
The training must be kicking in, because what I wanted to do was groan at the prospect of another pre-dawn back-breaking work-out. But what I did instead was shout, “Yes, sir!” with the others.
At least, I have the bliss of Cora’s company to enjoy before then.
A tingling sensation in my dick makes me look down. Cora is bent forward, and she has her perfect lips stretched around my erection.
“Mmmm, chér.Like that.” I rub my hands over her back. The sight of her scars used to make my stomach bottom out, but not tonight. Tonight, as I caress them, I regard them as another part of her to love. They’re part of what has made this petite, young woman strong and wise beyond her years.
With one hand, I keep rubbing her back, and with the other, I gather up her long, washed and conditioned hair. She works me like that for a minute, and then I reach lower to cup her breasts.
At six-four, I’m a tall son of a bitch. Because of our height difference, Cora can blow me while standing. All she has to do is bend forward at the waist, and this makes her small breasts arrow directly into my greedy hands. Those delicious mounds rest slick and warm in my cupped palms, and my eyes close with contentedness.
“Baby,” I sigh. My thumbs stroke her nipples as she hollows her cheeks around me. “I’m gonna come.” She’s only been sucking me for a minute, and I’m ready to blow. I’ll get this one out of the way, and then I’ll be able to stick to what I promised her the first time we spent the night together. I won’t give her my dick until she begs for it.
