Merchants of War (Broken Arrow Mercenary Force Book 1) by Rick Partlow & Drew Avera

Author:Rick Partlow & Drew Avera [Partlow, Rick]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-04-02T06:00:00+00:00

Eight

Geoff Patterson wiped his chin and spat out what was left of the vomit. It splattered across the sink and onto the bathroom floor, but he made no move to clean it up. They were evaccing the warehouse anyway.

Maybe when the Russians come back to check on it, they’ll clean it up for me. They fucking owe me that much.

There wasn’t even any water to rinse his mouth out. This place had no running water, at least none you wanted to drink, and they’d already hauled everything useful out onto the barge—spare parts, ammo, all the repair equipment including what had been busted in the attack, cargo cranes, personal gear, everything.

Everything except what was left of Dix’s body. Nate had pushed the remains together with a broom and covered the bloody mess with a tarp before they’d started working. Patty and the others had stayed in their mechs as long as they could, loading gear requiring the strength of the machines while Nate had recovered what needed a gentler touch. But then the time had come to store the Hellfires on the barge and get ready to go.

“I need a volunteer,” Nate had said, his face so carefully neutral. “I need someone to help me bring Dix on board.”

And for some damned reason, Patty had stepped forward. Guilty conscience, maybe. But he hadn’t been able to do it. They’d intended to wrap Dix’s remains in the tarp and carry it onto the barge like that, but all it had taken was a hand slipping out, slapping wet against the concrete for Patty to lose it. He’d barely made it to the doorway before he puked the first time. It hadn’t been the last and he’d retreated to the bathroom to get away from the others. He didn’t want them to see him because he was afraid they’d know. He was afraid they’d see the guilt.

He was glad someone had taken the bathroom’s mirror. He didn’t want to look himself in the face.

“Patty?”

It was Roach. She didn’t knock because the only door was an old shower curtain, so moldy and tattered they hadn’t even bothered to retrieve it. He stayed silent, hunched over the sink, hoping she’d go away.

“Patty, are you okay?” she persisted. “Look, none of us blame you.”

You would, if you knew, he told her silently.

“Hell, I almost threw up myself and the only reason Mule didn’t was he puked in his mech during the fight and there wasn’t anything left.” She didn’t even chuckle at her own attempt at lightening the mood. “We got to go now, though. The barge is about to pull out. Nate wants you to come on out.”

I should stay here. If I stay here, they won’t know where to find you. You’ll be safe from me.

He wanted to say that, but instead he spat one last time and pulled the curtain aside. Roach waited for him, arms crossed over her breasts like she wasn’t sure what to do with her hands. She looked lost, like she didn’t want to be there but was doing it anyway because it was her duty.

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