Page 76 of Ashes of Honor

“Take who where?” I asked, irritation creeping into my tone.

“The other girls. They’re still alive, I think,” the brunette added.

“Youthink?” I groaned, running a hand through my overgrown buzz cut. “What happened?”

“They took ‘em. Covert did,” the oldest said, clearing her throat. “They tracked us here to bring us back to San Jose.”

“Yeah, they took the others when we were sleeping. Killed Josephine by accident. Then, when we freaked, they cut our ropes and stuff. Said we weren’t worth the effort and that it would be worse for us out here on our own. That this was our real punishment.”

I closed the gap between us, the squeak in the floor that gave them away the first time, screamed under the weight of my boot. “If this is a trap, I’m not above killing you.”

“If this was a trap, we wouldn’t be asking a serial killer to fall in it.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You’ve heard of me?”

“Oh, shit,” the youngest murmured, her eyes wide. She backed into the wall, pressing tight against it as if it would help her disappear.

The older one stepped in front of her, voice calm though the tremble in her lip gave her away. “No. It was a guess, considering you took out three guards on your own to free us. Who are you—” She stopped herself, reconsidering. “It doesn’t matter. I won’t ask questions. Just, please. Help us.”

“This is a border town between the settlements. Monterey border patrol could stop through here as easily as San Jose. Why the hell would they risk chasing you an entire day’s walk out here?”

“We’re… hard to replace,” the brunette winced.

“Talk,” I said, my tone cutting through the air. “Now.”

The oldest introduced herself as Memphis, the other Denver—fake names, but whatever. Apparently they were a part of a caravan in Transient Nation that was attacked. A group known for having extraordinary powers.Hunter’sgroup. That connection I kept to myself. No rhyme or reason other than gut.

Memphis paused, her eyes darting nervously to Denver before she spoke again. “We were a part of something bigger. A group of … people like us. Some of us were always more, um, unique than the others. Ronan found it fascinating. We were stuck in his camps for months. Used as experiments. I don’t know what he was looking for or if he found it but, one day we were shipped off for the next phase.”

“Breeding,” Denver added with air quotes and the roll of her eyes.

“Covert …” Memphis spoke, her voice breaking slightly. “Covert is using women as breeding stock. Sterilizing some and selecting others based on a mix of things. DNA. Different tests.”

“First, they separated us by the physical stuff. Race, height, body shape. See how smart we are and if we’re able to be ‘molded.’” Denver met Memphis’s eyes, and they grabbed hands. “We’re the ‘lucky’ ones. The ones they deemworthy.”

“They’re being held in the center of town. An old outpost.” Memphis continued. “I think they’re still alive … but we don’t know for sure. If more of them tried to run?—”

“Tell me exactly where this facility is,” I demanded, my voice low and dangerous.

Memphis’s eyes filled with uncertainty. “It’s heavily guarded. If you go in there alone without knowing what you’re walking into, you won’t make it out. We’ve been trying for days.”

“I don’t need you to tell me what I can and can’t do,” I snapped.

“Tomorrow morning,” Denver cut in. “After breakfast is a shift change. There is exactly two minutes and forty-three seconds that the back door is left unguarded.”

I gritted my teeth, pacing for a moment. The day was closing in fast and the rain had stopped, the minutes slipping away.

“I have somewhere to be tomorrow. My—” I groaned in frustration. “I have someone counting on my presence, and I can’t afford to let them down. What you’re asking of me, it requires me to risk it all.”

Memphis reached out again then thought better of it. “Please,” she whispered. “If we don’t help them … what’s waiting for them is worse than death.”

There was raw fear in her eyes. It wasn’t simply desperation—it was terror.

I cursed under my breath. “Fine. Get whatever shit you need and let’s go. I need to see the layout with my own eyes.”

Denver sighed in relief. “Thank you. You have no idea what this means.”

I threw a glance toward the darkening horizon. “Don’t get your hopes up. If there’s any indication this is a suicide mission, I’m taking both of you and leaving. Won’t have your death shitting on my consciousness.”

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