Renegade: The Alliance Chronicles, Book Six

Chapter 23

Mark

"When we first met, I saw a kindred spirit. You're my best friend and I wish I could have more than just friendship."

—from "It Happens: When Friendship Turns to Love," by Dr. E. Rich

Fletch opts to drive, and Niang rides inside leaving Kapernecki and me to sit in the flatbed. She clings to the sides of the vehicle, treating me like I'm diseased.

Hell, maybe I am. Maybe that's not entire fucking problem.

But I don't want to be.

"Kapernecki?"

Her head whips around, and she shoots me a scowl.

Try again, asshole.

"Leslie, I'm sorry." Silently, I plead with her. I feel enough of an ass without her adding to it.

Her expression changes. A mixture of hurt and sadness reside on her pretty face. "I told you earlier I'm not doing this shit with you again. You're quick on the physical crap, but emotionally... I swear I can get the same experience from a fucking vibrator. I don't need... I don't need you in my life." She looks away from me.

Okay. I deserve that. She warned me, and I ignored it. Then this shit with Liam went down...

I'm good at hurting people. Guess I'm more like my old man than I'd like to admit. Problem is, I want to... No! I need to rectify things.

"You're right." I scrub a hand across my face and let the wind whip through my hair for a minute. "You don't deserve my disrespect. Please forgive me, Leslie. I'm going through some goddamned shit, and I don't know how to deal with it."

Facing me, she says, "That's the most honest you've ever been with me. Well, outside of telling me about what happened."

I tilt my head toward the bright-blue sky. "Listen, I'll try to be better if you can stop mentioning the incident. I need to forget it and move on."

"Bad idea, Mark."

I shake my head. "Doesn't matter. It's what I need. Okay?"

Kapernecki purses her lips. "If that's what you need from me, I'll try."

We continue the nearly three-hour trip in silence. Midway, Kapernecki falls asleep on my shoulder. I remove my weapon from its holster, ready it, and stand guard. Being exposed makes my skin crawl. The only people I can trust are in this vehicle. As far as we know, Oliveira's men could lead us into a trap. Can't be too careful with these twisted-ass men.

§

The heat bounces off the highway creating wavering images. Sweat pools around my neck before it drips down my chest.

I glance down at Kapernecki. Her blonde hair is plastered to her forehead. She shifts her position, and her pale lashes flutter open.

"Are we getting close?" she rasps.

Before I can answer her a sign indicating Porto Velho appears to our right. The place is another large city with too many cars, frequent stop lights, industrial buildings, and noise. The highway turns into a major avenue with grass and trees every few feet. We pass colorful buildings as Niang maneuvers through roundabouts. After a few minutes, the scenery is boring.

Finally, we reach a stretch of road where the shops are sparse and there's more greenery. Alexio's vehicle slows down as we progress through an area of single-story multi-colored buildings. The faded, disheveled structures, some with roofs of tin and others with made of tile, appear abandoned.