Caught in the Aftermath

by Jami Gray

  Cam’s matter of fact tone carried an edge of apology that pissed Math off. ‘So what? You want to walk away?’

  ‘Fuck no. I have every intention of gutting Greer for what she did, but when she’s no longer the mission? Then what? The only constant in this world is change, and for us—you, me, Mercy and the others—we need to carve out our place in it. That means stepping out of the shadows and working with other like-minded groups—like the Vultures or Dogs of War. Otherwise, the Strix will be nothing but a memory.’ By the time Cam finished, his face was pale, and his breath choppy.

  Math let silence settle between them, as he turned Cam’s words over and over in his head, unable to escape his point. Greer’s attack years earlier hadn’t just devastated the Strix’s ranks, but left huge cracks in the foundation of what they were. Too much closely guarded information died with those who held it. Greer had been the surviving Strix’s main focus for so long that picturing a future beyond her was difficult. What would they do? Settle down and play nice? Fat chance in hell. ‘Fuck, when did you get so smart?’

  Cam’s chuckle was rough as Math went back to work. ‘Always been the brains, my man. You were just too focused on the end game. My contribution when playing your wingman.’ His voice went tight as Math hit a particularly bad spot. ‘Gotta admit though, it’ll be fun to watch you with Vex. She’s definitely not your normal type.’

  Not looking up, Math muttered, ‘I don’t have a type.’

  ‘Uh, yeah you do, man.’

  ‘One night stands don’t constitute a type.’

  ‘They do when they’re all waiting for you to ride to their rescue.’ Cam’s dry chuckle was shaky.

  Math did a quick check on his patient to find Cam’s skin had taken on a pasty undertone and his breathing was erratic. At least he was aware and talking.

  Even as Math laid a hand on Cam’s forehead to check his temperature, Cam kept going. ‘Thing they never seem to realise is that you’re not the knight they’re waiting for.’

  Math snorted and set the last of his stitches in place. ‘Then what the hell am I?’

  ‘You’re the fucking dragon, devouring the maidens and spitting out their bones. You, my friend, are easily bored and need a challenge.’

  Since Vex was nothing but a challenge and currently embedded under his skin, Math figured Cam’s observation skills were spot on.

  Not done sharing his pearls of wisdom, Cam added, ‘Besides, you need a partner who’s willing to come to your rescue occasionally. Especially when you’re playing your stubborn ass solo hero routine.’

  ‘Appreciate the approval, now I can rest easy.’ Math set aside the needle and thread to pick up the jar of healing ointment. Carefully he covered the wounds with a thin layer, not missing the cool and clammy texture of Cam’s skin. ‘Come on, let’s get you turned over before you pass out.’ With a few curses and some groans, they managed to get Cam on his stomach. When he was stretched out, Math caught the small shivers creating mini earthquakes along Cam’s muscles. The trauma was taking over, leaving Math with little time to get information out of Cam. ‘You got anything more on Greer?’

  ‘When that last one arrived last night—or was that this morning?’

  ‘Doesn’t matter.’ Math started cleaning Cam’s back. Thankfully the wounds were shallow. Cleaning them out would still be a bitch.

  ‘He mentioned Greer was expecting news, and they should be prepared to move in the morning.’ Cam’s voice was starting to fade.

  ‘What kind of news.’

  ‘Don’t know, like I said, I only got bits and pieces.’

  Math puzzled over the pieces Cam offered, trying to fit them into what he already knew, as he worked on Cam’s mangled back. Minutes swept by and the faint sound of the shower running played in the background. As he finished with the last bit of cleaning, Math muttered, ‘Hope to God Doc Mandy has some damn strong antibiotics, otherwise you’re going to be in a world of hurt.’

  Cam’s hal-mumbled, barely-there, ‘Know that name,’ froze Math in his seat.

  It was the second time he said that, and something whispered it wasn’t just random mumblings. Ugly suspicions crept in, dragging cold fingers of dread along Math’s nerve endings. He leaned closer to Cam, praying he was wrong. ‘What name, buddy?’ But Cam was well and truly out. Sitting back in his chair, Math listened to the shower shut off and thought of the woman in the bathroom and the brother in Pebble Creek with the mole problem. ‘Fuck.’

  Chapter 18

  Vex tied off the damp ends of her braid as she walked out of the bathroom on bare feet wearing a faded t-shirt and baggy pants Daniel had left for her. Comfy and clean, they were more than enough. From the size of them, they weren’t his. Probably belonged to his older brother who had died in the Raider’s attack a few months back. Poor kid. Lost his parents, older brother, two cousins and an uncle. Now it was just him and his aunt, Sara, struggling to keep the farm going.

  Moving down the hall the quiet of the house followed her. What the hell had she been thinking bringing Cam here? Especially with Greer and her men breathing down their necks? Danny and Sara didn’t need to be looking over their shoulders, praying they didn’t get caught in the fallout of Vex’s decision. Guilt poked and prodded as she paused at the door to Cam’s room. She stuck her head in, checking to see if Math was still with him. Instead she found Cam, alone, passed out on his stomach, a blanket resting at his hips leaving his raw back exposed as it rose and fell with his breathing.

  She stood there for a moment, just watching the poor man breathe. With each breath he took, the nibbles of guilt faded away. The trek back from the Hole had been brutal, and worry that Cam wouldn’t make it kept her bike’s throttle wide open. Strangely her worry wasn’t so much for Cam, but Math. She didn’t want to consider what would have happened if they hadn’t found Cam alive, or lost him on the way in. She knew it wouldn’t have been pretty. A loss like that would be the final nail in Math’s coffin of sanity, leaving her in a world of hurt. So, yeah, she was glad Cam was still breathing.

  Shaking her head, she headed to the kitchen. There she found signs of Math’s presence in the pot resting in the drying rack and the small pile of soiled clothes sitting outside the small washroom door. Yet the man himself was nowhere to be found. The savoury scent of the soup heating on the stove hit her nose, causing her stomach to wake with a growl. She walked over and turned down the heat since the soup was for Cam. She required something a bit more substantial. After rummaging through cupboards and the fridge, she set out sandwich fixings.

  For the first time in what seemed like forever, she wasn’t occupied with dodging fists or knives, or covering Math’s ass. Which was great, until all the messy emotions she shoved aside roared forward, demanding attention. Inwardly she cringed under the onslaught.

  First was her uncharacteristic lack of control when it came to Math. Scratching an itch was one thing, but what happened with Math was a different animal altogether. There was no way to deny sleeping with him went beyond a simple itch. Emotions got involved, before and after. Defences fell under his onslaught. She knew better. Bad Vex! What the hell was she thinking?

  She could see no happy ending to this scenario. With Cam out of immediate danger, the only thing keeping Math around was his promise to Reaper to find the mole. Not just because he was a man of his word, but because keeping Reaper in his debt gave him a leg up. Once paid, he’d be gone like the wind, leaving nothing but dust in his wake. He sure as hell wouldn’t stick around for her.

  What about his request for time to see what would happen?

  It didn’t mean anything. The afterglow of getting laid.

  Resentment sank her good mood, leaving her irritated. She grabbed a knife and began cutting up a tomato, trying to focus on anything other than why it upset her to think of Math leaving. Not willing to go there, instead she considered the turbulent relationship between Reaper and Math.

  Reaper wasn’t one to walk away. Hell, if he did, he’d have
left Vex and Ruin in Portland. Their first couple of years with Reaper and Havoc had been far from smooth as they pushed every known button to see what it would take to make the two older men turn their backs. They never did. Which made her wonder, what had gone down between the brothers? Because there wasn’t much to hold on to in this world, except family, be they tied by blood or bond. Thanks to Math’s sharing session at the Hole, her curiosity burned for more even as logic warned no-one could help bridge that gap. Especially not her.

  And that bothers you, why?

  I don’t like seeing him hurt.

  He’s a big boy. He doesn’t need you.

  Yeah, he does.

  What makes you so sure?

  Because I need him.

  Her hand jerked as that simple answer resonated through her with a sense of inevitability. She hissed as the blade kissed her finger leaving tiny drops of red to seep along the thin line. Dropping the knife, she stuck her finger in her mouth and went to the sink to rinse it off, mentally cursing a blue streak.

  Running her finger under the cool water, she stared blindly out the window. Inside, where she could no longer ignore it, the truth of what she reluctantly admitted settled. Dammit, she was falling for Math. Worse, she wanted him to stay. She didn’t want to be in the position of having to choose between her love for Math and her unwavering loyalty to Reaper. Blinking back the ache pressing against her tired eyes, she turned off the water, dried off her finger and went back to finish her sandwiches.

  It took a few deep breaths before the shaky storm rocking her world retreated, leaving a bemused calm behind. Okay, so Math meant something to her. Fine and dandy. It didn’t change what came next. Not really. She’d enjoy him as long as she had him. When the job was done, he’d leave.

  She’d survive it.

  Ignoring the hollow ache in her chest, she quickly finished her meal prep. Once everything was put away, she piled the two sandwiches on a plate and headed for the front porch. As she moved through the front room she tried to tell herself she wasn’t avoiding Math. Not that she knew where he was. Maybe he was lying down in another room, or something. Regardless, she pushed through the screen door and came to a stop.

  Sprawled in one of the wide rocking chairs, a shirtless Math turned his attention from the front yard to her. Curled at his feet was a herding dog, who lifted his head at her entrance. Catching sight of the plate, Math offered a tiny smile. ‘Hey, one of those for me?’

  Unable to resist, she held out the plate. ‘Sure.’ Looking at the hopeful canine at his feet, she told the mutt, ‘Sorry, you’re out of luck.’

  Math chuckled as he took one of the sandwiches.

  She stepped over Math’s legs, avoiding the dog, and settled into the empty chair beside him. With her feet propped on the lowest rung of the railing, she spent a few minutes taking the edge off her hunger, deliberately keeping her eyes off Math’s naked chest. It wasn’t easy. Next to her Math appeared to be deep in thought as he chewed. Instead of adding to her tension, the quiet eased it. Settling back, she worked her way through her sandwich, dulling the meanest edge of her hunger. She hit halfway through, before she slowed and asked, ‘How’s he doing?’

  Math frowned and looked down at his sandwich. ‘Right now? Fine, I think.’

  Taking in the worry darkening his features, she decided he’d do better talking about it, than brooding over it. ‘Any internal injuries?’

  He shook his head. ‘I managed to stitch up the deepest of the cuts and got ointment on the burns. His bruises don’t worry me, but avoiding an infection is going to be a challenge.’

  She couldn’t offer much comfort because he had a right to be concerned. Infections ranked right up there with viral outbreaks on the mortality scale. ‘Danny should be hitting Pebble Creek about now, so hopefully Mandy will be on her way soon. She’s got some serious antibiotics in her arsenal, so I’m sure he’ll be okay.’

  Instead of reassurance her words seemed to darken Math’s mood. ‘Yeah, about that,’ he muttered.

  A sense of foreboding set up shop as she waited for him to continue. She held her tongue as he deliberately took another bite, his gaze aimed out into the front yard as he chewed. When he stayed silent, she set her half-eaten sandwich down. ‘What?’

  He swallowed and finally turned his attention to her, meeting her gaze. ‘Think I know who your mole is.’

  For a moment his words didn’t make any sense, but when they did she sat there stunned, blinking in shock. ‘Wait! What? How?’

  He held up a hand forestalling her questions. ‘There’s a chance I’m wrong.’

  Although his words said one thing, his tone and expression said something different. ‘But …’

  A muscle jumped in his jaw as he dropped his gaze. ‘I don’t think I am.’

  When it came back to her, she caught a flash of reluctant pity that left her hands curling into fists. This wasn’t going to be good. ‘It’s bad, isn’t it?’ Her voice came out tight. ‘Who?’

  ‘Mandy.’

  ‘Mandy?’ In the shockwave of his answer, disbelief crowded in. ‘Are you fucking kidding me?’ When he remained grimly silent, she dropped the rest of her sandwich to the mutt since this discussion was bound to ruin her appetite. She shoved out of her chair and stalked to the end of the porch.

  No fucking way. Mandy would never sell out Pebble Creek. That kind of betrayal required a cold, selfish heart. Mandy’s was protective and loving. She was fiercely loyal to those in her community, especially those who had been abused. It was why she had been put in charge of the kidnapped kids rescued from the Raiders. Everyone trusted her. Reaper trusted her and he wasn’t anyone’s fool. Coming to the end of the porch, she kept her back to Math, trying not to let her temper overtake logic as resentment tried to rule. ‘Tell me why you think it’s her.’

  Instead of answering her question, he gave her another one. ‘What do you really know about her, Vex?’

  Math’s quiet question left her stomach in knots. Bracing her hands on the porch railing, she stared unseeingly out over the side yard, shoved her emotions down, and forced her brain to work. What did she know about Mandy’s history? Not much, actually. Most of what she heard came from Ruin and Simon, both seemed to hold a special place in Mandy’s heart. Maybe because they were always getting patched up. Their acceptance and Mandy’s care of the two men managed to get her an in with Vex, who wasn’t inclined to accept others easily. ‘According to Ruin and Si, about a decade ago, her entire family was wiped out by Raiders. One of Crane’s patrols found her among the remains of their burned out homestead and brought her to Pebble Creek.’ She turned and leaned back against the rail, arms crossed over her chest. ‘She’s been Pebble Creek’s doc ever since. Crane, Simon, and Bodin, they all used her as a sounding board. They trusted her.’ She shook her head. ‘She’s the heart of Pebble Creek, Math. I know it doesn’t mean much to you, but Reaper trusts her. It’s why he and Simon gave her the kids to take care of. There was no-one else any of us would have trusted those girls with.’ She held Math’s gaze. ‘You’ve got to be wrong.’

  Instead of arguing with her, he said, ‘Maybe, but Cam recognised her name.’

  She threw out a hand in frustration. ‘Cam’s injured and probably delirious.’

  ‘Cam’s a Strix.’

  ‘So, what? He’s immune to making mistakes?’

  ‘No, but a Strix’s strength lies in the information they hold. We excel at stitching the tiniest pieces together to create an accurate tapestry.’ He held her gaze. ‘Cam isn’t making it up.’

  He was so sure she wanted to hit him. ‘She’s not the only Mandy out there.’

  ‘Think about it for a second.’ He didn’t relent, keeping his voice level. ‘You know the mole has to be someone the Vultures and Simon trust. Too much critical information—including Crane’s movements the day of the attack and details on shipments—are only known to a few.’ As she shook her head, trying to refute his words, he kept going. ‘Since Crane’s d
eath, other than a couple of runs at the supply shipments, has there been anything more serious?’

  ‘No,’ she gritted out.

  ‘If it is her, chances are, after what went down with Crane, she’s keeping a low profile.’

  ‘She wouldn’t do it.’ Even she could hear the underlying plea in her voice.

  ‘If someone has something she wants, she might.’

  She spun away from his too insightful gaze, her hands curling over the railing. Images of Mandy with the traumatised girls, Mandy sipping tea and laughing with Worth, Mandy taking care of Simon, of Ruin, ran through her mind. It was beyond difficult to believe the woman Vex knew could betray those she called family and friends.

  Difficult, but not impossible.

  Everyone, Vex knew, had an Achilles’ heel, that one vulnerable spot if enough pressure was exerted could break a person. What was Mandy’s? Vex hated, hated the fact Math’s accusations were taking root. Sucking in a breath, she tried to keep her voice even. ‘What possible reason would she have for betraying Crane?’

  ‘I don’t know, but whatever it is, it’s important enough for her to risk everything.’ He paused, then asked, ‘You said Raiders attacked her homestead? Where was it?’

  Turning back to him, she slowly made her way back to her chair as she combed through the bits and pieces she knew of Mandy’s story. If Crane’s patrol found her, it meant her home had to be somewhere along the main route. That route stretched from New Seattle, down to northern Arizona and into Utah, covering a lot of territory. It was the main artery between Lilith’s domain in Colorado and Michael’s on the west coast. Settling into the chair, she said, ‘I couldn’t say, other than it had to be on the main route.’

  ‘That’s a hell of a distance to cover, but there are a variety of strategic points, bigger and more critical than a single homestead, that could be hit.’ He watched Vex closely. ‘So why picky Mandy’s? What made her place so special?’

  ‘Who the hell knows why Raiders do anything?’ Rubbing at the ache rising behind her eyes, his question tumbled over and over in her mind. The Raiders hit Pebble Creek and took out Crane hoping to disrupt the main supply routes between territories. The only reason their plan didn’t succeed was that Fate’s Vultures had been working with Crane and were close at hand when the hit went down. Not close enough to stop it, but they minimised the fallout. Their personal tie to Simon helped, and as soon as shit hit the fan, they moved to rescue Simon so he could lead Pebble Creek and keep it stable. ‘We know they took out Daniel’s family simply because they were close enough to raise the alarm in Pebble Creek.’