The Survivor (Eve Duncan #30)

“She has so much responsibility. She’s just trying to keep everything from crashing around her. She was hurting, Cade.”

“She wasn’t the only one.” His arms tightened around her. “I can’t worry about her right now. I’ll do that after I get a little sleep.” He’d just seen Maya enter the cave, and he relaxed. “She can take care of herself.”

Riley was silent for a moment. “Maybe,” she whispered. “With a little help from her friends…”

He stiffened. Then he chuckled. “Why did I know you’d say that?” His lips brushed her ear. “Go to sleep. We’ll talk about it tomorrow.”

NADIM’S LAUNCH

AN HOUR LATER

“You’re looking very cheerful.” Bevan helped himself to a whiskey from Nadim’s bar. “Which probably means you were able to shake up that bitch Maya a little. Did you use the kid?”

“Of course,” Nadim said. “And she was practically petrified by the time I was through with her.” He frowned. “But it wasn’t enough. I wanted much more.”

“You always do,” Bevan said caustically. “And we always give it to you, don’t we?” He took a long swallow of whiskey. “And no I haven’t heard from Shadburn, my contact on the mountain, yet. I’m waiting for an answer from my last message now. The last time he texted me he said that he’d heard from one of the sentries that there might be some interesting prey to be had up in the foothills. But he was too damn vague. I think he wants more money. I told him to get his shit together and get me a report.”

“You probably weren’t strong enough. You have to make them cringe. Let me talk to him.”

And then Bevan’s contact would either disappear or be taken under Nadim’s wing. “I don’t want to bother you. I can handle him.” Nadim was entirely too cocky now that he’d managed to frighten Maya. “I’m expecting a reply any minute. I’ll get you your answer.” His phone pinged, and he pressed ACCESS for the text. Then his eyes widened as he read it. Son of a bitch. Nadim was going to love this. “I’ve got it.” He gave his phone to Nadim. “She’s got some kind of fancy herd up there in the hills. Shadburn said he caught sight of them running down from the valley. Must be more than a hundred of those deer up in those mountains.”

“Deer?” Nadim picked up the phone and then stiffened as he saw the photos. “Shit! I think they might be related to some of those Saola deer from Laos I’ve heard rumors about. They’re very rare. I could make a small fortune on just ten or twelve of them if I have the right buyer. Find out more for me from your contact. I need to know how many and how to get to them.” He was flipping through the photos at top speed. “And I need to know now!”

“Tea.” Bailey was kneeling beside Riley when she woke the next morning. She handed her the cup. “I’ll get you a bowl of porridge. I’ll be right back.”

“Wait.” This was very strange. She shook her head to clear it of sleep and raised herself on one elbow. “You don’t have to do that, Bailey. Thank you, but I can take care of myself.”

“I know.” She smiled over her shoulder. “But Cade and I had a talk and he said that we should always take care of each other. You spent the night watching over Riva and me, and it’s my turn now. I set a bucket filled with snow outside the cave so that you can wash up. It should be ready by the time you’ve finished eating your porridge.”

“When did you have this talk with Cade? Where is he?”

But Bailey was gone.

Riley would have to wait until she came back with that porridge, she realized with exasperation. She glanced around the cave and didn’t see either Maya or Cade. Only several shepherds tending the deer and the guards at the cave opening. She sat up and began to drink her tea.

But she’d only managed a few swallows before Bailey appeared with a bowl filled with porridge. She set the bowl on the ground beside Riley and then sat down beside her. “This porridge is sweeter than most, with brown sugar and cinnamon. Mama was right when she said that porridge we had yesterday would have to last us.” She grinned. “Even though she probably didn’t know that we’d have to be down here with the deer. Or maybe she did. Mama is very smart about all kinds of things.”

“I’ve found that’s true.” Riley changed the subject. “When did you have that talk with Cade?”

“I woke up early because Riva was restless.” She linked her arms around her knees. “I started brushing her again and he came over and sat down and started to ask me about Riva. It was… nice. Then he was telling me about unicorns. I knew a lot already, but he knew even more. He even showed me Riva’s hooves and told me that some people would say that they were like the hooves found in burial grounds in Siberia where unicorn remains were supposedly found a long, long time ago.” She frowned. “That was kind of interesting, but I didn’t like to think about it. Burial grounds are sad, and Riva and the other deer are so alive.”

“Yes, they are,” Riley said gently. “And that’s why we’re all working to keep them that way. I’m sure that Cade told you that.”

She nodded. “And he promised me that he’d do it. It made me feel good. We talked for a long time, and I think he can do more than fix things. He knows about stuff.”

“Yes, he does.”

“And he asked me to trust him and told me that he’d never let me down, but sometimes we had to help each other.” She smiled. “I do trust him, but I think that had something to do with you. Did it?”

“It could, but that doesn’t mean you can’t trust him. It only means that he’s very complicated and I’ll have to talk to him. Do you know where he is?”

“He got a phone call and went outside the cave to take it. He said he had to talk to Mama, too.” She tilted her head. “Things are going to happen, aren’t they? You’d better eat your porridge.”

She looked at her quizzically. “You think I’ll need it?”

“Maybe.” She got to her feet. “But he did say we have to take care of each other. I’ve done my part. Now I’ve got to go feed Riva.”

Riley watched her go back to the deer. Then she took a few bites of the porridge that was not at all appetizing, finished her tea, and was on her feet to go search for that blasted bucket of snow.