Page 9 of Echoes of War

I was left standing in her wake, wondering how I ended up surrounded by so many unstable people. Nodding in disbelief, I followed the skipping brunette, taking off in the distance.

The unkempt bridge over St. Louis River tossed the weight of the cargo in the bed of the truck. Problem was, wehadno cargo in the bed of this truck. At least not when we’d gotten in and left the garage of Duluth’s trade and military vehicles.

Reina could be born mute and she would still talk your damn ear off. Today’s topic was everything but the only question I’d asked her once we’d gotten outside the walls;Where were you going?

I slammed on the brakes.

“Ow, what the heck?” Reina said, rubbing the back of her neck.

My hand flew over her mouth, her lips pursed beneath my palms to push it away. I shushed her, praying she’d for once since I’d known her to listen when someone’s trying to keep her ass safe.

I’d always had shitty luck.

“Ew, your hands are dirty, get off?—”

“Shh, damn it. Shut the fuck up.” I mouthed, her head now backed against the window in horror, suppressing a gag.

She crossed her arms, ready to say more, but took one glance at my face and thought better of it. Her body tensed, leaning forward to grab the knife strapped on her ankle. My eyes met hers,stay alert.Reina nodded.

“Stay here,” I silently whispered, pulling my knife out in return.

Best to keep whatever this was quiet. I didn’t need the extra attention in our direction slowing us down further; this was time sensitive. The longer we waited, the longer Duluth would remain vulnerable to attacks. We all would.

Monterey Compound would be no more. And then what would have been the point of this all? Of Tiago leading me to his brother Tomás? My failure would ruin what was left of Amaia’s heart. It would ruin her.

I didn’t plan on failing any of them.

Reina rolled her eyes, shrugging in response.Where am I going to go?

Keeping my movements slow, I opened the car door, crouching low toward the back of the truck bed. Silent on my toes, I crept forward, listening for any indication on what awaited me inside. A rattled, hushed exhale sounded.There it is.

Springing in a swift motion, my knife found the collar of a black coat. I was ready to graze it across, not wanting to give whoever the fuck this was a chance to act first. They wouldn’t be hiding if they just wanted to talk.

Kill or be killed appeared to remain the way of life out in The Expanse. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t blissfully embrace that small rush that came from ending a life. If Seth and Reina’s father had a chance to study my brain, my genetics, I bet he’d say murderous was hereditary.

“Woah, hey!” A strained voice said, arms up, surrendering, “I’m Riley’s guy, I come in peace.”

My eyes scanned him over. His coiled hair was cut low, military style. The black cargos he wore were tucked into tan hiking boots, the thick material of his coat hid his lean body. Staring down my nose, I took in his face. Not a single worry line on his brown skin.

Age meant shit these days when it came to power, but he was little more than a kid. Couldn’t have been more than twenty, and that was being generous. He held up a crumpled piece of paper in his hand.

The kid was built for information, spying maybe, but not killing. Then again, Reina had an innocent way about her that went out the window when it was time to do what needed to be done. I smirked, deciding to take my chances. Amaia had been concerned about Riley’s wellbeing the other day. While Riley would be getting our letter any day now, the letter he’d sent after our departure to announce our fake arrival should have arrived weeks ago.

We’d been awaiting a messenger, unable to seek them out ourselves without Seth here to communicate with Riley on who he was. Shit, a base-level description of him would’ve given ussomethingto go on.

I sure as hell wouldn’t be leaving shit up to a mind-leech ever again. Amaia couldn’t glare her way into silencing me. Smirking, I snatched the letter from him, dragging him out the bed of the truck and dropping him onto the asphalt.

He pushed himself off the ground, dusting himself off. “Fuck, you’re just as unhinged as they say.”

“And you’re either stupid or extremely confident in your abilities to be lurking afterthebloodhound,” I said, sarcasm lacing the words. “The only reason you’re still alive is because I can’t fuckthatone up in the head anymore or I’ll have to open up my own asylum.”

He glanced behind my head toward the passenger side of the truck. “I had to wait to seek you all out, make sure it was safe. Sloan’s watching like a hawk; now’s not the time to let her know they have a spy among them.”

“He’s right.” Reina’s boots crunched under shattered glass as she approached my rear. “Don’t want another Moore to be the reason someone else at Duluth loses their head.”

The messenger studied her, sympathy crossing over his dark eyes. “I don’t think you’re one of the bad Moore’s if that makes you feel any better.”

“I thought I told you to stay put,” I muttered through clenched teeth,

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