Trapped: A SciFi Convict Romance (The Condemned Book 1) (12 page)

Chapter Thirteen

“I’ll be back as soon as I can.” Breathing hard,
Caine
wedged the last of the boulders into place in front
of the door.

Bella tried to keep her worry at bay. The storm had indeed
settled down. But the tempest between her and
Caine
remained. He hadn’t gone far when he left, only just outside the cave entrance,
but he’d stayed there a long while. He’d come inside caked in red dust only to
inform her the weather had improved enough for him to go warn her colleagues.
Then he started dragging in boulders the size of small planets.

It was clear he didn’t want to talk about what had happened
before.

“Are you sure I can’t go with you?” She trailed in his wake,
the distance between them as vast as ever. “You’re going to have a hard time
getting them to listen without me there.”

“I’ll do my best.” He strapped a small knife to the pocket of
his
camo
pants and seized his spear. Even before
their argument, he’d been immoveable in his refusal to take her. She got it.
She’d only slow him down when speed was of the essence. Still, she hated the
idea that he was off to risk himself without her to watch his back. More so
when things were so uneasy between them.

“If for some reason I can’t make it back in a few hours,” he
said, “there are additional glow sticks in the third drawer from the top.
There’s also enough dried food in the kitchen to last a lifetime.”

“But you’ll be back way before a lifetime, I’m sure.” Her
joke fell flat, her voice a little uncertain even to her own ears.

He shoved a container of dried food into his pack. “Right.
But just in case.” He still hadn’t looked up. “Remember what I told you. Don’t
go outside for any reason.”

She glanced at the huge pile of boulders that now barricaded
the door. “I don’t think that will be a problem.”

He paused in his packing. “It better not be.” He finally
looked at her, the lines around his eyes tight with tension. To her surprise,
his gaze was dark with concern. No anger in sight. “Don’t forget to put more of
that salve on your bruises. It’s easy to get an infection here. And don’t
venture into the back caverns while I’m not here. You could get lost or slip.”

Buoyed by his concern, she grabbed his arm, his bicep so big
she could barely wrap her hand around half. “I’m sorry about before.”

“It’s fine.”

“No. It’s not. I shouldn’t have assumed you intended to use
your invention to crash a manned shuttle. I don’t…I don’t know much about your
past, but I do know you’ve been nothing but fair and patient and generous since
we met. Fear just got the best of me for a minute. It won’t happen again.”

He nodded, his expression as unreadable as ever. “Okay.”

Not the most satisfying of responses.

“I think…I think I’m not the best at this whole depending on
someone else thing. It’s making me act stupid.” She darted a quick glance his
way.

She thought he might smile. Instead, he let out a slow,
shuddering breath. “Look, Bella, it’s really okay. This is new territory for
both of us. We’ll figure it out.”

Also not exactly the response for which she’d hoped. His
resigned tone only made her more terrified that he sensed her growing feelings
and wasn’t sure how to let her down easy. Was he, horror of all horrors, simply
being nice? Or wishing even now it was that Gwen person standing next to him?

“I don’t want to be a burden.” She took a deep breath and
forced the words out. “If you want me gone by the time you return, just say
it.”

*****

Everything inside
Caine
stilled.
“What did you say?”

“I want you to tell me if you’ve tired of our deal and you
want me gone.” Her gaze shifted from his. “It’s alright if you do. Just tell me
straight out.”

It took all his control to keep his voice measured. “I want
you here.”

“You say that,” she said, doubt clear in her tone, “but—”

“No but. That’s the way things are.”

She might make things hard, she might awaken memories and
heroic impulses better left dead and buried, but it didn’t matter. He wasn’t
letting her go until he had to.

She nodded, slowly, as if she still wasn’t convinced.

He knew things weren’t going like she’d hoped, but they’d
iron it out in time. Get used to each other’s sore spots. He’d figure out how
to get his head on straight. How to staunch the war within that one minute had
him wanting to fuck her so hard and deep she permanently cleaved to his side,
and the next minute wanting to push her far enough away that he wouldn’t even
notice when he had to let her go.

In the meantime, he’d make damn sure not to say Gwen’s name
again. Because he knew without a doubt that his mention of Gwen was what had
set his fighter girl off, got her worrying about his past, thinking of him all
over again as a Dragath25 criminal, wondering if she could trust him, making
her reconsider their deal.

“I’m the best one to protect you,” he reminded her, not too
proud to use the one card he knew he still held.

“I’m sure of that,” she agreed quickly. Too quickly. Her
fingers worrying at the hem of her shirt.

Stymied, he ran a hand over the soft fuzz on his head. He was
reluctant to leave and yet unsure what to say next. He could tell she wanted
something more from him, but he wasn’t interested in rehashing his past—he
wanted her to keep looking at him with respect, after all.

Plus, talking about all of that only made him stupid, only
made his heart pound and his throat close. Post-traumatic stress, one prison
doc had said. Guilt decreed another. Whatever the hell it was, he couldn’t
afford to let that kind of emotion distract him now. He had to remain focused.

“I have to go.” But unable to resist, he pulled her close,
drawing in the sweet scent of her, memorizing the feel of her softness against
him. “I want to be back before the next dust storm hits.” The thought of her
alone for a few hours was hard enough. He wasn’t about to let a storm keep him
away for more than that. “When I come back, we’ll take a trip to the Oasis. You
can take samples. Measurements. We can even swim in the lake if you like.”

He held his breath.

It felt like hours, but eventually she leaned into him, her
body a little stiff, but her arms still wrapped around his neck, her big green
eyes bright with the kind of hesitant warmth that made him feel they’d be all
right if he could just keep it together. He wanted whatever time he had left
with her to be good.

“I’d love that. Thanks.” She rose on tiptoe and kissed his
jaw, another good sign. “If Pogue and the others won’t listen, don’t stay
around and try to convince them, okay? We’ll figure something else out.
Just…just be safe.”

He tried to take away the worry. “I’ll be back before you
know it.”

“Just don’t take unnecessary risks.”

His dark gaze bore into her. “Too late.”

He could tell by her puzzled expression she didn’t get it.
Probably for the better. If she understood just how essential she’d become to
his wellbeing, she might do something silly, like start talking again about
redemption and how people could change, and try and convince him to come with
her when he figured out how to make his jammer work in their favor. And as much
as he wanted off this hellhole, he knew that wasn’t possible. Not if he wanted
the Council to let her off this planet alive. They’d never let him set foot on
that shuttle, much less Earth, and he’d only be putting her in more danger if
he tried.

Knowing he couldn’t delay any longer, he stepped back, took
one more good look at her…and vaulted upward, catching the rim of the window.
Without too much effort, he swung his legs up and slid through, falling for a
good few seconds before his boots slammed into the ground.

He looked up to see the top of her blonde head and two
gorgeous worried eyes peering down. “You okay?”

“Fine. Careful on that table.” He didn’t like the idea of her
up on that rickety thing. Hell, he didn’t like the idea of any of this. It
would be so easy—so fucking easy—for her to get killed while he was away.
“Board up the window like we planned. I won’t leave until I’m sure it’s done.”

Finding out Gwen had been screwing around on him had been
bad, but he’d understood. They’d been young and dumb and known each other for
less than six months when they got married. And while they’d definitely cared
about each other, there’d been signs from the start that they weren’t compatible
for the long run. For all her good traits—and there’d been plenty—Gwen had
turned out to be less comfortable with standing on her own than they’d both
expected. She’d grown increasingly resentful of every deployment and,
eventually, found someone else who could take care of her in his absence.

Truth be told, once his ego had adjusted, he’d been almost
relieved. He’d wanted her to be happy and he’d been willing to wish her well.
Until he heard who she’d hooked up with. A married asshole Councilman from
their District who lived like a king while the rest of the population got by on
limited rations and supplies. Word was her new lover was extremely corrupt and
a bad man to cross.
Caine
had warned Gwen, but she
hadn’t listened. She’d wanted the attention, the easy life, the security too
much. And he hadn’t done enough to guard her from herself.

In the end, it had cost them both everything.

He had no intention of making the same mistakes with his fighter
girl.

Sweat rolled down his back as he waited for her to give the all-clear
sign. His mind pictured her going through the instructions he’d laid out.
First, she’d shut and bolt the wooden slats, and then, one big rock at a time,
heft them into place in front of the window until she’d built a mini version of
the same kind of barricade he’d placed in front of the door. No
tigos
would be able to get in. No 225 rapist, either.

“It’s done,” she shouted, her voice muffled by the barriers.
“Good luck. I’ll be here when you get back. ”

She better fucking be.

Chapter Fourteen

Bella poked her finger into the dirt, making a nice air
pocket for one of the seedlings she’d found stuck to the bottom of her boot.
Her gaze traveled to the two other pots she’d planted with seeds from
Caine’s
food supply. Then to the failure of a cup she’d
tried to whittle for herself with one of
Caine’s
knives and some spare wood.

She was running out of ways to distract herself.

With an impatient sigh, she headed to the kitchen area to
trickle some water over her hands and stir the mix of grains and meat she’d
decided to try and prepare after watching
Caine
this
morning. Cooking over a bunch of burning rocks wasn’t anything like the Academy’s
instant synthetic processor, but she was relieved to find it smelled delicious.
If it tasted half as good, she’d be pleased with her first effort. Hopefully,
Caine
would be, too.

He’d said he wanted her here, and she was accepting that. No
second guessing. No giving into silly insecurities. No obsessing about this
Gwen person or his crimes. Or making more of what was between her and
Caine
than there was. She had calculated there were at
least five more days minimum until the rescue shuttle arrived, and if
Caine’s
trip was successful, she was determined to spend
them with him. To simply enjoy the present for as long as she could.

Or she would. Once
Caine
returned.
She was done trying to make the best of her alone time. She wanted him back.
She needed to know he was safe.

A faint sound had her hopping up on the table, spear in hand,
the dry stale air from outside hitting her square in the face. Yes, she’d taken
down the barricade in front of the window and opened the slats a while ago.

She didn’t like small, closed spaces. Never had. And the
sense that she was in a tomb had stayed with her until she’d knocked down the
rocks, ripped open the slats, and sucked down some fresh air. Hot as it was,
vulnerable as it made her, it had still felt glorious.

Though the act itself had been pure anxious impulse, she’d
reasoned since that the space was so small whatever came through would have to come
single file and slowly, too. Spear raised high, she was ready for any unwelcomed
guest.

Her gaze scanned the perimeter. Nothing. She tapped a solemn
beat against the stone.

And then, as if she’d willed him into appearing,
Caine’s
dark head and wide shoulders appeared on the path,
his spear and backpack slung around his back, his familiar graceful, commanding
stride stealing her breath.

It seemed to take forever for him to reach the cave. Longer
still for his black boots and long legs to slide through the window.

He landed in a crouch on the floor.

“You’re back!” Setting the spear against the wall, she rushed
forward, relief making her giddy. “You were gone so long. Did everything go okay?”

“The window wasn’t bolted.”

She froze, the arms that had been about to envelop him
dropping back to her sides. “I was growing worried about you.” Probably best
not to mention it had been open far longer than that.

“All the more reason to keep it shut.”

She studied him. He looked tense, but good. No new scratches
or bruises. But there was something lurking just beneath the surface of his
skin that raised goose bumps on her flesh. He looked…haunted.

“I needed some air,” she said at last.

“You told me you’d keep it shut.” His pack dropped to the
ground, making her jump. “If I can’t trust you to keep your word, how can I
leave you to get things done?”

Definitely not the homecoming she’d imagined.

 
“I’m fine.” She spread
her arms wide. She needed him to stop treating her as if she were so fragile.
“In fact, I’m better than fine. I was by myself. For the first time in my life.
In a small, dark space—which I don’t always like. And I handled it far better
than I suspected I would. Even better, you’re back, safe and sound. We should
be celebrating.”

“I didn’t know you were claustrophobic. You should have told
me.”

“I handled it.”

He blew out a breath. “Which is great, but you can’t take
unnecessary risks.”

“You’re right.” Sensing he was softening, she put her hand on
his arm. “I’ll be more careful. But try and remember I really am stronger than
I look. Now, put me out of my misery and tell me what happened. Were you able
to talk with my colleagues? Is everyone okay?”

His scowl deepened. “Those idiot soldiers of yours have been
venturing farther and farther from the campsite, leaving an easy trail for any
trackers to follow. I cleaned up their trail, but I won’t be able to keep their
camp site hidden forever, especially without their cooperation.”

Her selfish plans for some time with
Caine
crumbled. “So they wouldn’t listen?”

“Listen?” he snorted. “They shot at me the instant I showed
myself.”

She scanned him once more to make sure he was unharmed. “I’m
so sorry.”

“I expected nothing less.”

“I’ll go next time. Pogue may not listen, but Winthrop and
Ava will.”

“You’re not going anywhere near there. But don’t be so sure
it would make a difference. That friend of yours is stubborn.”

So much for her insistence he remember her capability. “You
spoke with her?”

“I knew you’d be worried. It was easy enough to sneak in to
camp and find her.”

Her stomach turned at the risk he’d taken. If Pogue or the
other soldiers had caught him, they would have killed him on sight.

“You told me you wouldn’t take such risks,” she accused.

His gaze shifted to the window. “I guess we both made
promises we didn’t keep.”

Damn it. She hadn’t realized he’d care so much about a silly
window. But then again, she’d never been the cowering kind. It was better he
learned that now. If he was going to come to see her as anything more than a
fuck toy, it had better be the real her.

Still, she left it alone for now. There were more pressing
concerns. “What did Ava say? Is she holding up?”

“Her leg is still bothering her, and it doesn’t look like
she’s eating or drinking enough, but she’s hanging in there. She was worried
about you.” He scooped up his pack and started unpacking, returning every tool
and carton to its precise place. “She was relieved when I told her you were
safe.”

“She’s a good person. I hate to think of her in such a
precarious position.”

“I tried to get her to come with me, but she refused.”

Her chest squeezed tight, touched he would so willing to take
on responsibility for another.

“Why wouldn’t she come? Do you think she thought it was a
trick?”

“I asked her the same thing. She said she believed me.” He
grew very interested in examining one of her dirt samples. “Said she’d seen the
way I looked as I carried you away from the
saybak
.
That it was clear I’d never hurt you. That I’d do whatever it took to protect
you.”

Bella’s heart stuttered a beat. Ava had seen the same thing
she did.
Caine
was a good man. The only trouble with
a champion, though, was you didn’t know if their urge to protect was because
that’s just what they did or because they thought you were special.

He set the dirt sample down. “She said to tell you she was
sorry, but she couldn’t come now. She said you’d understand. Their team lost
two more soldiers yesterday. One to the dust storm. The other to some kind of
food poisoning. Tensions are running high, and she’s worried about your buddy
Winthrop.”

“Is he
dying
?” Guilt speared
through her. She never should have left them.

“He’s fine.” A hard edge had entered
Caine’s
voice.

She pretended not to notice. “Then why is Ava worried?”

“Winthrop and Pogue aren’t getting along. Each blames the
other for your disappearance, and with every passing minute, Pogue’s growing
more resentful of Winthrop’s orders. There’s a definite leadership struggle
underway, and Ava isn’t sure how much longer Winthrop’s influence will last or
what Pogue will do if the rescue team doesn’t show up soon.”

“All the more reason for her to get as far away from Pogue as
possible.” But she understood Ava’s reluctance to leave what seemed safe. Bella
herself had been willing to forgive far too much when it came to Winthrop and
Pogue simply because they were familiar. Looking back now, she realized she’d
been all too desperate to cling to the rules and order of Council life. No
doubt a side effect of growing up in a society that demanded unquestionable
adherence to the established hierarchical authority. It had taken
Caine
for her to see how clearly she’d placed her trust in
the wrong men.

Unfortunately, her needs weren’t the only one at stake here.

Bella ran a hand down her face, wishing for answers she didn’t
have. “Did you tell Ava about the rescuers?”

“Yes, but she doesn’t believe it. She refuses to believe it.”
He let out a long sigh. “She just patted my hand and assured me I was mistaken.
Said there’d been a lot of recent technological advances in shuttlecraft. That
the rescue team knew what they were doing. That they would find a way to land.
Then she got all sad…mumbled something about how escaping her family and the
Council wouldn’t be that easy.”

Bella’s eyebrow rose at that last comment. There was clearly
far more to Ava’s story, little of it good. “Can we just kidnap her?” 225’s
pack would find the campsite, eventually.

“No. Your soldiers have too many guns, and they’re twitchy
enough as it is. Spying on them from afar is risky enough.”

She let out a long, slow breath, her chest tight. “Which is
why I need to go back and tell them myself what’s going on.”

He stiffened. “You’re not going back there.”

“It isn’t up to you.” Still, worry skittered through her. He
wasn’t suggesting he would keep her against her will, was he? He’d been so
adamant about her being the one to make the choice to keep their deal, she
never once considered he wouldn’t also allow her to sever the deal.

“It isn’t?” He took a step closer. “We made a deal. You told
me anything in return for keeping you safe. And I’m telling you you’re not
going back there. It’s too dangerous.”

She stood firm. “They’re my colleagues.”

“Are you forgetting what happened last time?” He plowed a
hand through his short hair. “If not for that
saybak
,
things would have gotten ugly.”

“That was because you were with me. It won’t happen when I’m
alone.”

“Alone?” he roared. “You want to go there alone? No way.”

She must be crazy because, despite her annoyance over his
highhandedness, his protectiveness warmed her. Comforted her, too. It would
have been an easy out for him to agree. A quick and painless way to send her on
her way and wash himself of an increasingly heavy burden. Instead, he was
scowling and tense, his legs spread wide apart, barring her from the exit,
proving that he really meant it when he said he wanted her to stay.

And God help her, but she didn’t want to leave him just yet
either. Truth be told, if it was just about her needs, she was almost certain
she wouldn’t have wanted to leave at all. She’d have preferred to find a way
past his defenses. Learn his past. Relish the present. Turn his protectiveness
into something deeper.

But burying her head in the sand was impossible.

“I’m sorry,
Caine
.” She swallowed
past the lump in her throat. “My colleagues need my help. And the fact is, we
both know I can’t stay here forever anyway.” There. It was said. She held her
breath, waiting for his reaction.

“Is this about this morning?” A muscle ticked in his jaw.
“Because I told you. I want you to stay.”

She raised her hand to touch him—and then fisted her palm by
her thigh instead. “This…This isn’t about that. It–it isn’t about you and me at
all.”

He took a step closer, his chest heaving, red stamped across
his carved cheekbones. “Are you sure about that? Are you sure you’re not just
running scared? Getting to know the real Dragath25 criminal and not liking what
you find?”

No!” Her heart beat fast. Too fast. Making her wonder if
there was any truth to his challenge. Not that she didn’t like what she was
finding. But that she liked it—him—too much. Too much to stay in something that
felt all too temporary.

But that wasn’t all of what was going on. She knew that, too.
“It just feels wrong to be here when I should be helping my colleagues.”

His nostrils flared, his eyes narrowing. “Colleagues? Or that
Council Doctor?”

“Colleagues.” She forced herself to say the rest of what
needed to be said. “Plus, why not now? We both know I have to go back sometime
soon. My brother and sister and all those left on Earth are depending on me to
return, and staying near Winthrop is the only way that will happen.”

Jaw clenched,
Caine’s
gaze shifted
away from hers, freezing when they landed on the heap of wires in the corner.
“You want to help them? Stay and help me get the jammer running. Your Command
Council Officer may be the key to drawing the rescue shuttle, but those
soldiers will never make it within a hundred
metrals
of him if the jammer isn’t operational.”

“But you don’t need me to work on—”

“I do.” He still hadn’t looked at her. “I do need you.”

Her heart skittered and took flight. Could it be they weren’t
only talking about the jammer anymore?

“Give me a few days.” His gaze slammed back into her, his
expression unreadable again. “I’ll see what I can do with the jammer, and in
the meantime, I’ll deliver a message from you to Ava. Maybe something written
in your own hand will persuade her of the dangers. And I’ll make sure you’re
back with him–,” he swallowed hard, “–with Winthrop–when the time comes.” He
nodded once. “I’ll get you home, Bella. I swear it.”