Natural Evil (Elder Races #4.5)(17)

What happened to that insulation she had worked so hard to maintain for the last few years? It had been stripped away by the desert sun and an animal’s suffering, and now she felt raw and critically vulnerable. She had to clench her teeth a moment before she could reply.

“I bought you—us—some time,” she said.

“How?” He was light on his feet and so silent she didn’t even know that he had moved until she heard the fridge door open. “Mind if I have some of this tea?”

“Help yourself.” Having gotten herself marginally under more control, she turned around. His immense back was still marred with faint marks where the skin was newly healed, and a shadow of muscle rippled as he twisted the cap off the bottle of tea and tilted his head back to drink. His skin would be warm. She wondered if it was as silken as it looked, and she closed her eyes against the sight. She remembered he had asked her a question, and she told him, “I attracted the attention of Bradshaw Junior and company.”

In the next instant, she felt his hands close over her shoulders. God, he was so fast. His grip was very large and strong. If anyone else had grabbed her like that, she would have put them on the floor, but she didn’t do that this time. Instead, she just opened her eyes.

He looked tense, dark gaze concerned. “What did they do?”

“They were working themselves up to come after you,” she said. “I was worried they might try something like that. The sandstorm had blown in, the phone lines were down, and you were too bad off to travel. I had no idea Jackson would become so innovative, and scare up some healing potion. So I got them alone, and I broke some bones.”

“Broke some bones,” he said. His face went blank.

She smiled. “Someone should find them before morning. If they aren’t headed to the nearest ER by now, they will be soon. Luis, they are out of commission. That will draw attention from Bradshaw Senior, which will probably make things worse in the long run, but with cell reception and landlines down, someone will have to drive the news out. I also expect that Rodriguez will show up here sooner or later, but I figured it was the right price to pay, so that you, Jackson and his poker buddies would be safe for the night. I wouldn’t want to relax too much in case Rodriguez gets extra enthusiastic, but I think things should be quiet enough until dawn.”

“You’re sure,” he said. His grip had become bruising. She didn’t think he realized it. “You’re sure they’re out of commission.”

She found her footing again. Suddenly calm and steady, she held his gaze. She said gently, “I’m quite sure. I knew what I was doing, and I promise you, I put them down hard.”

The expression on his face had turned raw, and those beautiful dark eyes of his filled with a remembered nightmare. He whispered, “Damn, I wish I could have seen that.”

His pain reached her again. She had to swallow because a lump had grown in her throat. If she could just get some time alone, she might be able to find a way to insulate herself from shit like this.

He still gripped her shoulders hard. She put her hands over his, her palms sliding over their wide, corded strength. “I wish you could have seen it too,” she said. “Right now, though, you need to explain to me what’s going on. It has something to do with the mine, doesn’t it?”

That snapped his gaze back to the present.

He said, “Yes.”

A quick rap sounded at the door, then it opened and Jackson stepped in, carrying a bundle of clothes. “I dunno, Precious,” Jackson said. “I guess you might be able to find something in this to tide you over for the night. Do you still need the keys to my truck?”

A sudden twinkle lit Claudia’s green gaze, and Luis bit back a grin. Reluctant to break the connection with her, he didn’t look away, nor did he release his hold. He said, “My name is Luis Alvaraz. Now that Claudia is back safe, apparently the transportation issue is no longer quite so urgent.”

“Huh,” said Jackson. “Well, that’s got to be a good thing, right?”

“Yes, it is,” Luis said. “For the moment.”

Then he had to give in to the inevitable as Claudia pulled gently out of his hold. She said to Jackson, “I still want you to leave for Fresno, as quickly as possible. Would you do that, please?”

Jackson nodded thoughtfully. “Guess we no longer need that all-night poker game, do we?”

“No,” Luis said. He accepted the bundle of clothes from the older male and looked through them. He added, “Please tell Stewart that I will make sure his clinic is reimbursed for the healing potions.”

“Will do,” Jackson said, and he paused. “You ever gonna tell me what’s going on?”

“There’s trouble with the mine,” Luis said. He glanced at Claudia and fell silent.

Jackson poked his tongue in his cheek, and looked back and forth between the two of them. Then he sighed. “All right, I’ll leave, but only if you promise to tell me the whole story sometime.”

“I promise.” Luis offered his hand and said gravely, “I owe you more than I can repay.”

Jackson shook his hand. “So that means I can sock you with your own vet bill?”

He grinned. “I expect you to.”

Then Jackson and Claudia looked at each other. Jackson’s voice turned gruff. “You’re not gonna just disappear when my back is turned, are you?”