He was a dictator; they were standing in his country.
“I’ll see that we get medication for the infants on the next supply trip,” Pete stated.
Relief swamped her. “Thank you.”
Now I’m thanking him.
Pete was smooth. He knew how to take away and then give a fraction back, so his people were grateful.
Beckett’s burning gaze caught hers, rattling her with its intensity.
She had an enemy.
“You’ve got to cool it down.” Chad’s words were harsh. “You’re gonna get kicked out—or worse—before we figure out what’s going on.”
Mercy spun to face him. “I get it. We’ve already been over this. You don’t need to tell me again.”
He grabbed her arm. “Apparently I do. You don’t understand these guys.”
Some of her anger faded. “I do understand them. That’s part of the problem. I grew up around people like them, and sometimes it makes me defensive.”
“And you can’t resist poking at them,” Chad added, a bit of humor in his gaze. “You’ve gotten under Beckett’s skin in a bad way. You need to step carefully around him.”
“The fact that I simply exist bothers him,” Mercy muttered. “I could wear a handmaid’s cloak, and I’d still annoy him.”
They held hands as they moved on, walking one of the paths under the pines, stealing a few minutes of lovers’ time away from the rest. Chad had said he’d planned to show her where he’d buried the satellite phone but changed his plans after her punishment session. He told her she’d have more eyes on her than before. Eyes she couldn’t see.
Mercy didn’t agree with that. She was perfectly aware of Sean’s presence several yards away. He was currently out of earshot, but his gaze burned a hole in her back. She glanced down at their clasped hands. Chad didn’t have a brand.
A tension she hadn’t realized she harbored evaporated.
“Several people have those brands on their wrists,” she said.
“It’s crazy,” Chad told her. “I swear they would die for Pete. He manages to pull extreme loyalty out of people. It’s a gift of some sort.”
Mercy pictured the calm leader. Pete made cold, calculated decisions and followed through on them. She had no doubt he’d clean up a mess by disposing of his men. Like the man Chad doubted had been taken to the hospital.
Where would Pete put a body?
She looked up at the distant hills covered in forests. Plenty of places to bury a body.
Chad’s hand tightened on hers, and she instantly missed Truman. That morning she’d woken confused, reaching out for him and fighting back the empty feeling that swamped her heart when she realized she wouldn’t see him for days—or weeks.
We’ve got to get this done. I want my life back, and I want out of this crazy place.
“What is the new building for? Vera said something about a special project that was taking all the construction hands.”
Chad’s gaze was on his boots as they walked. “It’s for the vehicles. Pete wants them protected from the winter elements. You’d think something simple would be sufficient—like just roof coverage—but this one is really well built and even partially insulated. They won’t let me see the inside even though I handle the vehicle maintenance, and Pete says I have to wait until it’s completely done.”
“It sounds like they’re hiding something. We need to take a closer look,” she stated. “How heavy are the night patrols?”
Chad halted and spun toward her. “Did you not hear me a minute ago? Slow down.”
She leaned closer. “You’ve been here for a month and hardly know anything. I think you need to speed up. I can’t wait around for information to fall into my lap. We need to be proactive.”
“Like you were by medicating that kid without his father’s permission? Stepping all over Beckett’s toes? That’s not how it works.” A banked fury simmered in his eyes. “This isn’t a race.”
“If they have the stolen weapons from the ATF raid, they could be selling them to finance this big plan you keep hearing rumors about.”
Hesitation wavered in his eyes.
Mercy felt it in her gut. “What is it?” she hissed. “You’ve heard something.”
His throat moved as he swallowed and took a quick check of their surroundings, his gaze pausing on Sean several yards away. “It could be nothing.”
“You don’t believe that.” She heard it in his voice and saw it in the tension of his jaw.
“I’ve heard the new garage has some smaller rooms inside. Rooms with heavy locks.”
“For what?”
“Don’t know. Everyone is hush-hush about specifics, but their voices change when they whisper about it.” He pressed his lips together.
“Why didn’t you say that a minute ago when you were talking about the building?”
“I forgot.”
Tension rose in Mercy’s throat. They were partners. Why did he seem so determined to hold back?
“That’s where the weapons could be.”
“Could be,” Chad agreed. “But it feels too obvious. I would think someone as sharp as Pete would have a better storage location than smack in the middle of his compound. He believes the government will try to clear out America’s Preserve at some point. That’s why we have the drills.”
“I’m not surprised,” said Mercy. “He’s suspicious of everyone.” She moved closer and rested her head against Chad’s shoulder. “Which direction is the satellite phone?”
“East,” he said almost soundlessly. “It’s marked with rocks near the ridge of the gulch. The sentries would have to veer off their usual patrols to see someone dig it up.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I’ve watched them.”
“Recently?”
“No, during the first week or two I was here.”
“They must occasionally change their routes. I don’t see Pete allowing the same patrol routes week after week.”
Chad said nothing, but she felt his muscles tense under her touch.
“You’ve checked all the buildings and never came across any of the stolen weapons?” she asked.
“Correct.”
“I can’t ask any residents about weapons,” Mercy mused. “But I think my curiosity and some questions about the new garage might be normal. Especially since I want to know when they’ll build quarters for couples.”
“You’ve got to be subtler around everyone. Especially Pete and Beckett,” Chad said, his lips close to her ear.
“I’ll work on it.” She believed she had more leeway as the newcomer. But she didn’t share that thought with Chad.
“There’s an all-company meeting at seven tonight,” said Chad.
“What for?”
He gave a half shrug. “Pete schedules them when he has something to say. Announcements. Propaganda. Attendance is always mandatory,” he added, meeting her gaze. “Don’t be late.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
“It’s best not to ask questions during them.”
“Is that a recommendation for me or everyone?”
“Everyone. But especially for you. You’ve made enough waves lately.”
“I’ll be there with my mouth shut,” she promised.
FIFTEEN
The whipping was over, but Ed’s screams from the lash ripping open his skin echoed in Mercy’s head and would haunt her dreams tonight.
Forcing his people to watch a man be tortured and shriek had been Pete’s definition of a meeting.
The whipping had been a level-two punishment for possession of a cell phone. Mercy’s ration withholding was a level-one penalty. She’d stupidly assumed level two would be confinement or something similar. Not disfigurement and pain.
Now she understood Chad’s warnings.
Pete had ordered Chad to control her during the whipping. It’d taken all her effort not to rush Pete to stop the abuse.
Would she and Chad have been next if she ha
d?
Mercy leaned against a tree and fought to keep her stomach contents down. Chad stood beside her, gently rubbing her shoulder. She wanted to push his hand away. The physical touch of his comforting gesture was nearly unbearable.
Two men had dragged the unconscious Ed away. Mercy had expected to be ordered to treat his wounds, but Pete had shaken his head as she met his gaze.
Does Ed need stitches? Will he develop an infection?
Forget any pain control.
Another dizzying rush narrowed her vision, and she finally shoved Chad’s hand off her shoulder. “I can’t be touched right now,” she forced out from between clenched teeth.
“I know it was hard to watch.”
“How many times have you stood back and watched that happen?”
He was quiet for a long moment. “That was the second.”
“Twice?” Mercy ground her forehead into the rough bark, embracing the physical distraction. “How can these people stay with him? I can’t believe there hasn’t been some sort of mutiny. Don’t they realize they could be next?”
“Pete does a good job making it seem like the victim deserves it. You saw their faces—everyone was on board.”
“Why would he make the children come?” Fucking bastard.
“I’d say that’s a powerful lesson about toeing the line.”
“We’ve got to stop him. He can’t do that again.”
“That’s not our mission. We’re to find the weapons and their plan.”
“Jessica?” asked Vera from a dozen feet away.
Mercy flinched at Vera’s voice. She’d spotted the older woman during the whipping. Vera had barely blinked as she stood ramrod straight, watching the beating, one thumb casually running back and forth over the scar on her wrist. An air of justification swirling around her.
“Pete suggested I take you back to the women’s quarters.” Vera’s tone stated that refusal wasn’t an option.
Mercy pushed away from the tree and awkwardly patted Chad on the arm, unable to bring herself to hug him, let alone kiss him. Her skin was hypersensitive, her nerves jumpy and painful. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
His face closed off and he gave a short, jerky nod. “Good night.” His words were strained.
Without another word, Vera walked away, and Mercy stumbled as she followed. The sun had long set, and Vera’s flashlight did little to illuminate the path behind her for Mercy.
I’ve got to find the guns, so I can get out of here.
America’s Preserve had become Mercy’s Hell.
Vera led her into a clearing, and Mercy could finally see where to put her feet. She looked up at the moon.
No better time than tonight to check out the new construction.
Chad didn’t need to know.
Mercy carried her boots as she slipped out of the cabin in the dark. Her roommates were up and down throughout the night using the bathroom, so she’d created a lump with her sleeping bag and blankets, but anyone who took a decent look would know she wasn’t in bed. All she could do was cross her fingers and hope everyone stumbled to the bathroom with their eyes barely open.
She silently closed the front door and balanced in the shadows on the tiny porch, slipping into the boots. The compound was silent as she waited for her eyes to adjust in the fading light. The moon had moved far across the sky in the hours since she’d decided to snoop and was about to set behind a grove of firs. She shuddered. It wasn’t from the chill.
What am I doing?
A man had been beaten last night. For possessing a cell phone. What would be the punishment for snooping?
She paused, breathing deep and doubting her decision. There was no excuse that would get her off the hook if she was caught. Stating she was meeting Chad for a sexy rendezvous would only get him in trouble too. Wandering because she couldn’t sleep was a weak reason.
Getting caught was not an option.
I can be back in fifteen minutes.
Or less if she moved fast enough. Decision made, she darted for the darkness of the trees. Her breath hung in the cold night air. She couldn’t see a single cloud in the dimly illuminated sky, but snow was coming. She could smell it.
Right now it wasn’t consistently cold enough for accumulation back home, but she had no doubt that here in the higher hills, snow would fall fast and thick and then stick. Mercy prided herself on being prepared to live in all conditions, but that was back in the Cascade foothills, where she had her years of hard work stored and ready for the first sign of disaster.
Out here she had nothing. No GOOD bag from her vehicle. Not even a fucking knife.
Her safety net was gone. She was dependent on the nutty people around her, and her skin crawled at the realization.
Chad must show me where the satellite phone is hidden.
It was her only thread to safety. Right this second she had no connection to the outside world. She was floating without a tether and fighting to control an escalating level of anxiety. There was nothing she could do to save herself. If her situation went FUBAR, she had to rely on Chad.
She hated relying on other people. Especially people she didn’t truly know.
An ache for Truman touched her heart. Her fingers wanted to feel the scrape of his evening beard. She inhaled deeply, wishing she could smell the scent of his skin and see the smile that was always in his eyes.
Stay focused.
Below the trees, pine needles crackled under her feet, and she silently swore, slowing her pace. She continued along an arc of trees toward the path where Sean had led her earlier that day.
Cigarette smoke reached her through the night air and she froze, her gaze rapidly darting in every direction. She dropped to a crouch and moved backward under a pine, her hands in the dirt to keep her balance. She huddled against the trunk and waited, making herself as small as possible, thankful she was in her usual black clothing. Perfect for snooping in the dead of night.
There.
The red tip of a cigarette flared as someone strolled beside one of the men’s cabins. His dark silhouette had a rifle over one shoulder, and he ambled between the other cabins, circling each one. Mercy stayed motionless until he headed in the direction she’d come from, no doubt to circle the women’s cabin. She studied the figure but didn’t recognize his profile.
When he’d been out of sight for a full sixty seconds, she continued her trek. It felt like hours before the big new garage came into sight. Holding her position behind the protection of the last trees, she scanned the area, looking for more guards, knowing she’d be fully exposed as she crossed the clearing.
Low gasps sounded from somewhere ahead of her. Mercy shuffled back deeper into the trees and listened.
More gasps. Then a moan reached her ears.
Someone is hurt. Maybe Ed?
After the whipping, he’d vanished.
A movement near the garage caught her attention, and she squinted in the poor light. It moved again, and she slapped a hand over her mouth, containing her exclamation.
Two people were having sex outside the structure.
Laughter welled up her throat, and she fought to hold it in, leaning against a trunk for support. For the last ten minutes, her every nerve had been on high alert, and the abrupt shift to absurdity had turned her muscles to mush.
The couple lay along one wall, their movements and coordinating moans now unmistakable to Mercy.
If they couldn’t get inside the building, I doubt I can.
Assuming the couple had tried to enter it to have sex. She doubted anyone would have chosen the outdoors over the privacy of the empty building.
Unless they like the thrill. The chance of being discovered.
Her plan to investigate evaporated into the night air. She exhaled, wondering if she’d have the guts to try again tomorrow.
“Enjoying that?” said a low male voice.
Her lungs stopped, and the question ricocheted inside her skull. She slowly turned toward the speaker.
“Lieutenant,” she whispered. Sean was three feet away, his rifle casually on his shoulder. The side of his face was lit by the lowering moon, and amusement quirked his mouth.
He jerked his head at the copulating couple. “They’re out here a few times a week.”
“Who are they?” Her voice didn’t give away the panic shooting through her veins. So far Sean didn’t seem angry or curious about her wandering at night.
“Hate to reveal their secret,” he answered.
“If they wanted to keep it a secret, they should have found a different place. Inside.”
He shrugged. No odor of smoke hovered around him, so he hadn’t been the guard she saw earlier.
“He told you to stay away, didn’t he?” Mercy guessed. “You knew full well they’d be out here. They didn’t even try to hide.”
“She thinks they’re a big secret,” Sean said. “If she found out we know about them, she’d put an end to it. So we stay away to let him have his fun.”
“Of course you do.”
“It’s consensual.”
Mercy could see and hear that for herself.
“But you aren’t to be out here at night,” he said in a hard tone. He straightened his back, appearing to grow four inches, and fingered the strap of his rifle.
“I couldn’t sleep. People snore, and it stinks in there,” she said calmly as her heart tried to pound through her ribs.
“Sounds like the men’s barracks.”
Mercy was silent, and the couple’s moans increased.
“They’re almost done,” Sean said casually.
“You watch often?”
“There’s not a lot of other entertainment here.”
The male made a sound as if he were being strangled, and the woman let out a series of high-pitched squeals.
She’s faking it.
“I’m always looking for entertainment.” Sean took a step closer to her, his face now completely in the dark, but she saw his intention as clear as if the sun were shining.
“Fuck off.” She held her ground.
Heel of my hand to his throat. Knee to his balls. Fingers into his eyes.
“I don’t mean now.” His bearing relaxed. “Later maybe. I should turn you in, but I don’t feel like it tonight. Consider it a favor you can repay in the future.”
A Merciful Promise Page 12
