by Jami Gray
Ruin was hell on wheels, pushing them relentlessly onward, and she concentrated on keeping him in sight. During their one and only break early in the afternoon to refuel, she was more concerned with gulping down water than talking. Ruin, too, since he didn’t say much.
Kennewick was one of the few cities left between Pebble Creek and New Seattle, and it sat in the Tri-City area of what once was Washington State. The Collapse left the label a bit of a misnomer, but the old title still stuck. Situated where the Columbia and Yakima Rivers met, there used to stand three robust towns. Then rising sea levels bloated the rivers and flooded the surrounding area, birthing a massive inland lake and drowning the city of Richland under the newly christened Yakima Lake. In order to survive, the Tri-City population shifted back from the floodwaters and took up residence on both sides of the Columbia just north of the Snake River, to perch on the surviving bones of Kennewick and Pasco.
After ten hours of hard riding over broken stretches of asphalt and through rough off-road trails, Charity’s ass was numb. All she could think about was finding a room with a working shower, then falling face first into a bed. So when the thick dual rivers of the Columbia and Snake came into view, she almost cried in relief. As they got closer to the evening traffic meandering between the flickering solar lamps marking Blue Bridge’s span at regular intervals, Ruin dropped his speed. Off to their right and further downriver she caught the glow of lights on Cable Bridge.
Carefully they wove their way through the late night traffic, a mix of pedestrians, couples and families riding horse-drawn makeshift wagons, and single riders on horses and bikes, both pedal and motorised. Glances came their way, then were quickly averted. Nowadays, no-one was eager to engage strangers.
Worked for her. The sooner they found a boarding house, the better. Please let that be where Ruin was heading. Since the closed mouth bastard hadn’t shared his lodging plans, she was left guessing. He took her down the wide main road, its sides lined with a mix of massive storage containers turned living spaces, and old trailers, no longer mobile, but converted by judicious, and not so judicious, use of add-on structures into local eateries and shops catering to the community. Thankfully some were still open. The seductive lure of fried foods and the hickory bite of barbeque woke her stomach with a vengeance. She noted the name of a still-open establishment, Agatha’s, where a cacophony of laughter, music, and spiced-laden air spilt out. Charity planned to retrace her steps, with or without Ruin.
Ruin turned off the main road and continued his slow and steady pace as her frustration and hunger rose in equal parts. Just as she was about to turn around and head back to Agatha’s and to hell with Ruin, he pulled into a wide lot guarded by a thick iron gate and two sentry posts. He slowed his bike, then came to a stop next to the small enclosure on the right. Wary but sticking close, she scanned for a sign of some sort to inform her of why they were here. She kept her bike back behind his, with enough room for a quick exit. Ruin didn’t seem to share her caution because his bike’s growl died away even as he kicked down the stand and stretched. She debated for a second or two, then finally shut her bike down as well, but kept her hand near the gun holstered on her thigh.
As the rumble of their engines faded, the high pitch buzz coming from the two lights chasing the shadows from the gate and surrounding lot took its place. The obvious use of electricity for security reasons set this place apart from the normal boarding houses. An inkling of what this meant began to seep under her caution. The bright lights made it difficult to make out the dark forms manning the dual sentry posts. One of the shadows stepped outside and moved away from the small building. ‘Ruin?’
Ruin swung his leg over and walked around his bike, hand out. ‘Kayvao, my man. How’s it going?’
Kayvao stepped out of the shadows with his four-legged companion. They moved in tandem until the man made a subtle hand movement. The Shepard sat but watched the visitors avidly. Charity wasn’t fooled by the canine’s lolling tongue. One wrong move on her or Ruin’s part and that dog would be at their throats. Not to mention what the other human-shaped shadow in the far post would do. She continued to straddle her bike, even as she turned her attention to the dog’s handler.
Kayvao stepped into Ruin, clasped his arm and dragged him in for a back thumping. His sheer size and physique was stunning. He topped Ruin by inches in both height and width. ‘It’s going.’ His voice was deep, steady. He stepped back, raising a hand to signal the all clear to the other guard, and his gaze went to Charity. ‘You brought a friend?’
Ruin turned and stood side-by-side with Kayvao, his expression masked as he watched her. ‘You could say that. We’re working on something for Reaper.’
The bigger man smiled, his teeth a startling white against the deeper warmth of his skin. It was far from reassuring. Didn’t help he was dressed in fatigues, from jacket to pants, the only break in the material’s pattern came from the light tan t-shirt underneath and his black boots. Her finger twitched against the butt of her gun as she came under his study, but she stilled through sheer force of will. He didn’t look away as he asked Ruin, ‘Shy, is she?’
Yeah, her will wasn’t that good. ‘Cautious is more like,’ she countered.
He chuckled. ‘Cautious is good.’ He motioned her forward. ‘Get off your bike and come here. I promise I won’t bite.’ Instead of answering she deliberately looked to his furry sidekick. Following the direction of her gaze to the patiently waiting dog behind him, he chuckled. ‘Fai will behave, she’s working.’
Forcing the last of her tight muscles to relax, she got off her bike, taking a moment to regain feeling in her ass and work out the pins in her legs. Going from a prolonged sitting position to an upright position played hell on her legs. Her first step was a bit shaky, but as she walked towards them her stride smoothed out. She stopped in front of the two men and offered her hand to Kayvao. ‘Charity.’
He took it, and in his controlled grip she could feel the latent threat of his strength. Not that he was doing anything intentional, in fact, he was being careful not to do anything overtly threatening. ‘Charity, nice to meet you.’ When he let her go, he stepped back, and then his hands went to his hips as he turned to Ruin. The move pulled his jacket edges back, revealing the straps of a holster and the dark butts of two guns. ‘Let me guess. You’re in need of a room.’
Ruin’s shuttered expression disappeared, replaced by a devilish grin. ‘You going to deny me?’
The other man snorted. ‘You going to leave trouble passed out in the shower and pool house again?’
‘Trouble follows me,’ Ruin drawled, his gaze deliberately sliding to her, before going back to his friend. ‘I don’t go looking for it.’
‘Sure, man.’
Listening to Ruin reminisce on prior conquests was not on her agenda, so Charity decided it was hunger, not jealousy nudging her to redirect the conversation. ‘How long is Agatha’s open?’
Kayvao’s hand came up to rub his chin, and, she suspected, to cover his grin. ‘Guess you’re a bit hungry, considering the layer of dust you’re wearing.’
Stifling her sigh, Charity shifted her weight, her hand moving from the holster to prop on her hip. ‘You’d guess right.’
‘Since it’s not polite to keep a lady waiting, let’s get you settled in. Cort will keep an eye on your bikes for now.’ The big man turned, flicked his hand at Fai, who stood and came to heel at the silent signal. ‘We’re a bit booked thanks to the Spring Faire, so you’re lucky your room is open.’
Charity’s mind stuttered over the singular use of room, but it didn’t faze Ruin, who after lifting a hand in thanks to the other guard, fell in step with Kayvao. ‘Funny how luck is directly tied to the depth of Reaper’s pockets.’
Kayvao took the dig with a shrug. ‘You know how it goes. Jack likes his creature comforts. Unexpected guests like you make it possible for him to indulge.’
That earned a snort from Ruin. ‘Ain’t that the truth. Anything new at the
Faire worth checking out?’
Pushing aside the mental hiccup of sharing a room with Ruin, Charity fell in behind the two men as they conversed about the various vendors converging on the town. Twice a year a caravan of vendors made the round of the mid-size cities, bringing an eclectic mix of wares to the residents. The Faires offered an opportunity to stock up on unique items.
Kayvao led them through a heavy metal door. Even as the conversation flowed around her, Charity noted the solid security bars at the top and bottom of the door. Armed guards, electric lights, blast doors and security gates—this place was set to withstand a siege. Nice. Despite her reservations on sharing a room, the prospect of getting an uninterrupted night’s rest almost added a skip to her step.
They went through an interior lot spanning both sides of the security gate. A hodgepodge of stables for horses and donkeys sat to the left, covered spaces for mechanical transport to the right. Kayvao led them along the cement walkways winding through a collection of smaller buildings. It was an eclectic array, from the line of hotel-like doors on each side of the courtyard to the scattering of private structures taking up the middle areas. When the big man stepped up to one of the private structures tucked in the back, some of Charity’s worries faded. Private meant more than one room, more than one room meant a possible couch.
The men came to a halt, and Fai settled off to the side, a prime position to keep an eye on all three humans. At the door, Kayvao turned and blocked the entrance, his gaze settling on Charity. Thanks to the hanging light above the entrance, a combination of light and shadows draped the rest of his face, adding a menacing touch, which matched the hard-ass tone his voice took on. ‘Run down on the rules as this is your first time here.’ He began listing them off, emphasising each with a thick finger. ‘One, start a fight behind these walls and I will finish it. Two, if trouble follows you, be sure to lose it before you step through my gate because if it inflicts damages to the premises and/or other residents, your rights to safe lodging are automatically revoked. Three, you assume all responsibility for your visitors and their ability to follow rules number one and two. Questions?’
Charity raised her hand. ‘Just one.’ When Kayvao quirked an eyebrow in silent question, she lowered her hand. ‘Any limits on hot water usage?’
‘Keep it under twenty minutes and you should be good.’ With that, he stepped to the side and directed his next comment to Ruin. ‘You have the combo?’
Ruin nodded.
‘Good. You need me, you know where to find me.’
Ruin took Kayvao’s place in front of the door. ‘Thanks, man.’
Kayvao nodded, motioned to Fai, who fell in at his side. ‘I’d advise not leaving your bikes out front for long, too much temptation for the local street rats.’
Yeah, having her bike stripped down for parts wasn’t on her agenda tonight. Once she threw some water on her face to remove her mask of dust, she was heading back out for food. When her stomach emitted an audible growl of agreement, Fai’s ears perked in her direction.
Ruin shot her an amused look before turning back to Kayvao. ‘Sounds like we’ll be back up in a few.’
Kayvao grinned, then pivoted on his heel and headed back up to the gate. She watched him leave, waiting until he was out of earshot before saying, ‘Quite the place you picked out, Ruin.’
‘You complaining?’ Behind her, a series of muted electronic beeps sounded as he undid the door’s lock.
‘Nope.’
The sharp click of the knob being turned brought her around to face him.
‘Good.’ He pushed the door wide and disappeared inside the dark interior.
She stepped in the doorway and leant her not sore shoulder against the doorjamb, waiting while he cleared the room. ‘So a standing reservation at a Guardian Lodge?’
He came out of the interior shadows and stopped just inside the door, one arm braced above her head against the inside wall. ‘That a question?’
Tipping her chin up, she shrugged. ‘Maybe.’ She shifted her stance, ignoring the pull of stitches at her shoulder. ‘A place like this, it’s hard to get a reservation. The security costs alone tend to keep it out of reach for most.’
‘Fate’s Vultures aren’t ‘most’ people, darlin’.’ His damn sexy drawl was back in force.
She folded her arms and wrinkled her nose. ‘Oh I don’t doubt that, but it still doesn’t answer what you all did, exactly, to get such a benefit.’ And the curiosity was killing her. If she could get an answer, she might be able to leverage it to her future benefit. You never knew when a girl could use a well-guarded bolthole.
‘You’d have to trade for that bit of information.’ He leant in, narrowing the distance between them. ‘You sure you’re up for it?’
Part of her wondered what his game was, blowing cold one minute, hot the next. It was enough to give a girl a complex. Well, any girl but her, considering she liked playing with dangerous things. Instead, her pulse tripped and picked up speed, her body uncaring of mixed messages. Unfortunately, her mind wasn’t too far behind. ‘It’s something I might consider.’
His smile rode the edge of wicked enticement. ‘Is there something, in particular, that might tip the scales on your decision?’
The promise in that smile made it difficult to catch her breath or keep her attention on his face instead of other, more interesting parts. Too bad her mind had no problems ruining her sexual appetite by pointing out all the reasons indulging in Ruin was a very bad idea. So she resisted the temptation he presented and forced her lips to curve into an answering smile. ‘Feed me first.’
Her response garnered a slow blink before he shook his head. ‘One track mind,’ he muttered.
She sighed. If he only knew how narrow that track was, chances were damn good they’d be skipping dinner because her resistance was beginning to crumble.
He pushed off the wall and straightened, bringing her out of her lust-induced hysteria. ‘I’ll go grab our bags and drop them in the room. Gives you some time to do whatever you need to before we head out to eat.’ Without waiting for her response, he slid by her and headed back to the front gate.
She found herself caught up in watching him walk away, her thoughts hazed with things better left alone right now. ‘Food, Charity,’ she muttered and turned to walk into the room. ‘Eat first, and maybe your mind will get back on track.’
Using the light from outside she ran a hand over the inside wall until she found an actual switch and flicked it on. Electricity hummed and bright lights sprang on, illuminating the interior. One of the perks of staying at a Guardian Lodge. Most businesses relied on solar or wick-fuelled lanterns, but Guardian Lodges always used the best of the best, hence their hefty price tags. This place proved to be no exception.
Taking her time, she wandered around, checking out the unexpected luxuries. The front room held a beautiful collection of hand carved furniture, the kind intended to last, even as it offered comfort to the weary traveller. A small kitchen sat off to one side, complete with a small icebox and a two-burner countertop stove. Should they decide to forgo the local eateries, a two-person table was tucked near the wall. Wandering down the hall, she found the bathroom on the first go. She used the sink to wash her face. She was rehanging the fluffy towel when she heard Ruin come back.
She stood in the short hall and watched as he dropped his bags on the couch, then headed towards her with her bags in hand. Stopping in front of her, he shrugged the saddlebags off his shoulder and handed them over. ‘Here, figured you’d want the bedroom. I’ll take the couch.’
If he thought she’d argue, he was in for a surprise. ‘Thanks.’ Taking the bags, she turned and headed to the bedroom, memories of the last hall she walked down clawing for attention. Resolutely she pushed them away. There was more than enough time to be haunted by those images later.
From behind her Ruin raised his voice to follow her. ‘What? No offering to take the couch?’
‘Nope,’ she threw over her shoul
der as she entered the bedroom. A gorgeous quilt lay over the large bed, the multitude of colours chasing away some of her road-induced exhaustion. Dropping the bags on the floor, she couldn’t resist running a hand over the piece of art. The tiny, precise stitches gave away the fact it was just as handcrafted as the furniture.
‘You going to stay and pet the bed or come eat?’
She looked up as Ruin’s question came from the bedroom door. Forcing her hand away from the quilt, she walked towards him. ‘Let’s go hit Agatha’s.’
He held his position, blocking the way. ‘What’s your fascination with Agatha’s?’
‘Saw it on the way in, about the same time my nose picked up the scent of barbeque. Ribs and a beer sound good right about now.’
He shifted to the side with a mocking bow. ‘After you.’
Shaking her head, she led the way back out, waiting on the doorstep as he reset the lock. ‘Going to share the combo with me?’
‘Nope.’ He tested the door, ensuring it was locked. ‘If I gave you the combo, then we’d have to change it after whatever this is we’re doing.’
Yeah, that was the answer she expected, but she had to give it a shot. ‘Then do me a favour and don’t go looking for trouble this time around, okay?’
He fell into step next to her as they headed back to the gates. ‘Don’t need to. Got more than enough to keep me busy.’
That earned him a narrow-eyed look. ‘You calling me trouble?’
‘Aren’t you?’ His beard couldn’t hide his teasing grin.
She huffed out a breath and muttered, ‘I think that’s more your role than mine.’
His grin went full bore teasing. ‘I beg to disagree.’
There was no missing the dual levels of conversation, but as much fun as she was having, she wasn’t quite ready to dive into the deep end. ‘Whatever.’
They hit the gate and Ruin lifted a hand in Kayvao’s direction as they went through the blast door. After it closed behind them, Ruin said, ‘I’ll follow you.’
