Chapter Ten
Sam eyed Layne in shock. The burn on her cheeks must have been obvious. If the blonde woman had noticed too, she showed no sign of it.
Layne hadn’t told Sam the whole story about her past with the tribe. What was going to happen when Aydin saw her again? And what in the hell had she been thinking all those years ago? She had tried to forgive herself for the disaster. Layne, young and naïve with the hope of curing the virus and saving humanity. Part of the reason she had stopped searching for a cure was because of this–the memories were just too painful to endure.
Layne smiled over at Sam, putting on her best poker face to fool her friend into thinking that she was all right. That none of this would phase her. But in truth, she didn’t know if she would be able to handle having him so near to her again. It had been a reckless, dangerous stunt, and it had nearly cost innocent people their hard-earned lives.
After a short walk, they arrived at a little hut with a ratty red blanket over the doorway. Layne glanced at Sam. They were both nervous, but that was only natural. They had big plans. It had nothing to do with the past and everything to do with the future.
During their journey, Sam and Layne had already discussed how much they should say to the tribe. They wouldn’t get anybody’s hopes up about a cure. They would simply do some bartering for the equipment they needed and then head out on their way to find the members of the forsaken herd of green-tinged people that walked around in mourning, drinking themselves to death because they had unwittingly caused the apocalypse. They were carriers of the disease, and the formula they had come up with together would only work if they had DNA from one of the carriers.
“But it could be dangerous to get that close, even just pregnant,” Sam had cautioned. “I should do this part on my own. If the tribe is generous, we can stay for a few nights so you’re safe while I go get the samples I need. When I come back for you, we can go home again.”
But the idea seemed wrong to Layne. While Sam was brilliant and had been trained in combat during her time in Hex, it didn’t make her a fighter. She didn’t seem to have the vicious spirit necessary for survival out in the wilderness. That was why she had become a member of Hex in the first place.
Layne didn’t speak up about her concerns however. She just figured she would tag along, whether Sam liked it or not. Sam could protect Layne’s health and her baby, and Layne could protect Sam’s life. It seemed like a fair trade.
“Welcome.”
Aydin’s smooth voice immediately sent shivers through Layne’s body. She hadn’t seen him in years, but he still sounded the same. Charismatic. Comforting. Able.
Layne tried to fight her way out of the confusing feelings she’d had for him back then and remember the truth at the heart of it all. He was a monster.
The room was dark and they had to squint before the woman who had guided them into the room lit a candle. Suddenly, the golden glow of Aydin’s handsome face was clear in front of her. If he was surprised to see her, he didn’t say so. He only just smiled as if he had expected her to come crawling back all along.
“To what do I owe the pleasure?” he finally asked, his silky voice purring at her from across the room. Layne’s cheeks burned red and she lowered her eyes to the ground. She would let Sam handle this part.
“We’ve come to discuss a trade,” Sam said, somehow keeping her low voice even and confident. If Layne had tried the same, everybody would have seen how shaken up she was. She was grateful that Sam was there with her.
“You know, Shark Tooth is looking for you, Sam. You were highly valued at Hex. They thought maybe you came to join up with me and came here, bearing all kinds of sweet rewards for your return. It was kind of adorable.”
“I have other things to worry about right now,” Sam said. “They’re much more important than tending to battle wounds the people at Hex give each other training in combat.”
“Oh?”
If they weren’t careful, Aydin would slip his way right into the goldmine of information. His silver tongue would open them up and he would soon have everything he needed to be hailed as a hero in their broken world, even though Layne and Sam had done all the work. Layne had to take charge. Sam didn’t know what she was dealing with.
“Cut the shit, Aydin,” Layne said, glowering at him.
Sam looked at her in surprise and Aydin’s handsome face broke into a smile. A smile Layne had both missed and hated more than anything else in the world. How could she have let herself be so vulnerable to this man? This snake of a man?
“The little bird wants a turn to speak,” he said, exchanging a grin with the blonde woman, who was standing silently by the candle with her arms crossed over her chest. Layne had half a mind to ring his neck right then, but she knew it wouldn’t be productive of her if she did. They would never get the supplies they needed.
“What she means to say is, we came here with a deal to make. We want to trade.”
Sam gently took the beer bottle from Layne’s hands and walked toward Aydin. She handed it to him and took a step back.
“That’s for you to keep. If you want more of it, we would like to trade for some supplies.”
“Hmm…”
Aydin uncorked the beer and guzzled it down. Layne watched in disgust. Finally, he grinned at them.
“This is good. Layne made it, didn’t she?”
Layne refused to answer, but Sam nodded.
“Yes,” she said evenly.
“She’s always been so talented,” Aydin said, fixing his cat-like eyes on Layne. She shuddered despite herself. Why did she like his praise so much, even now? After all he had done?
“Tell you what. I’ll think this over. You two should stay for dinner and get some rest. I’ll have an answer for you tomorrow.”
With a flick of Aydin’s wrist, Sam and Layne were escorted out of the room and led toward the mess tent.
“I don’t like this,” Layne whispered.
Sam linked her arm in Layne’s.
“Hang in there. We have to do what we have to do.”
Layne sighed. She knew Sam was right, but she hadn’t been prepared for this. Especially the confusing things that Aydin made her feel. She would just have to keep her eye on what was really at stake. Her baby’s life was worth it. She would just have to be strong and try to put the past behind her.