Corded (Corded Saga #1)(9)

 

The road got bumpy, and then the vehicle came to a sudden stop. The sky was pitch black. Until Bolton helped me down from the car, far more gently than anyone had handled me so far that day, I couldn't tell we were in a field.

 

"We'll make camp here." Gregory and the unnamed man pulled a tent out of the vehicle while Bolton held onto my arm.

 

"Are you afraid of the dark?"

 

"No. Why would I be?" The dark was just a normal state of life when you lived without electricity.

 

"I don't know. Lots of people are."

 

"I'm not."

 

 

 

        

          

        

         

 

"Okay. I was just going to tell you that you didn't need to be tonight."

 

"Oh." I let my fingers find his in the darkness. I had to make him feel like I needed him. Maybe feigning fear and playing to his protective side would help. "It is a little scary out here."

 

He squeezed my hand. "I knew it. You can stay close by me tonight."

 

I rolled my eyes, glad he couldn't see me in the dark. "Okay."

 

The rain started right as Gregory finished with the tent. "Maybe it would be better to sleep in the Humvee tonight," he suggested.

 

Humvee. That was what the vehicle was called. "I'd prefer the tent." My plan depended on it.

 

All four of us moved into the tent, and it wasn't surprising when I found myself squished between two men in the small space. I moved as close to Bolton as I could.

 

I waited until Gregory settled into a light sleep. "I need to use the bathroom."

 

"What?" Gregory sat up. "Now? In this weather?"

 

"Bolton, would you take me?" I hoped he'd be smart enough to give the right answer. He'd been eager to please earlier.

 

"Sure. It's only water," he replied sounding completely awake.

 

"Be quick about it. And Rob you go too."

 

I stood up, wrapping my cloak around me. "Do you have a light?"

 

"A light?" Rob asked.

 

"I can't go in the dark."

 

Gregory grunted. "There's one in the Humvee. Don't let her out of your sight, boys." He handed Rob the keys.

 

I tried to hide my reaction. Having Rob follow would complicate things, but it could still work.

 

Bolton gripped my arm and led me out of the tent into the pounding rain.

 

Rob stopped by the Humvee and grabbed a large metal flashlight before slamming the door.

 

Bolton whispered in my ear. "Follow my lead."

 

I didn't dare breath. Did he know what I was trying to do? Was he going to help me?

 

We walked a small ways from the tent. "Get it done." Rob barked at me.

 

"We should give her privacy." Bolton suggested.

 

Rob grunted. "Privacy? She's not going to be getting any of that where we're taking her."

 

Bolton adjusted his hold on my arm. "You make the girls pee in front of you too?"

 

"No, idiot. But what the hell does she care? She could run if we turn around."

 

"Run where?" Bolton gestured to the woods and field. They were barely visible in the stream from the flashlight.

 

"Who knows, but I'm not taking a chance. Do you know how rare it is to find one like this?"  

 

I stiffened. One like this? It's like I wasn't even a human being in his eyes. I wasn't. I was just an object worth nothing more than my body could offer. The thought made me so angry I wanted to burst, but anger would only hurt me. I needed to stay calm.

 

"Can I see that flashlight?" Bolton held out his hand.

 

"Sure." He handed it over. "Are you just going to stand there all night?" He turned and snapped at me.

 

"Sorry about this." Bolton bashed Rob over the head with the flashlight.

 

I took in a breath in surprise as I watched his body crumble on the floor. "Did you kill him?"

 

"I don't think so, but we have to go." Bolton dug out the keys from Rob's pocket and tugged me over to the Humvee.

 

"Why are you doing this?"

 

"Just get in."

 

He unlocked the driver's door and ushered me in. We were back on the dirt road before I even processed what had happened.

 

"You all right?" He glanced over at me.

 

"You're asking me that question?" I looked down at my bound hands. That was the next thing that needed to be fixed.

 

"Yeah. That all happened pretty fast."

 

"That it did. Why?"

 

"Why should I let the Reine have you? I'm sick of this. I'm from out in the Rurals too. You're more mine then theirs." He sounded resolute. His logic made complete sense to him.