Jethro
THE LUMINESCENT glow of imminent dawn welcomed me to Almasi Kipanga.
I knew the compound well and ordered the driver to wait a kilometre from the perimeter. He obeyed because he trusted my family’s name. And I trusted him because I hadn’t paid him yet. I had no intention until I found Nila and had her safe in my arms.
He was my ticket to freedom, and I would reward him handsomely for it.
Jogging through the long grass of the plain surrounding the encampment, I hoped the dried blood from my side wouldn’t attract unwelcome predators. I’d stepped into a world where teeth and fang were much more dangerous than bullet and gun.
The camp sat like a giant growth in the centre of nothing.
Armed guards patrolled the fence line but I knew another way in that would go unnoticed.
I’d used it when I was young, when hanging out with too many people overwhelmed me.
Kes had found it—the unfortified entrance—kindly giving me an escape route to find silence and sanctuary.
Keeping low, I avoided the main entry and dashed to the service area and staff quarters.
Keeping my footsteps light and breathing shallow, I pulled on the loose wooden panel and slipped into the latrines.
Either the guards had never found the perimeter’s weakness or they had no intention of doing repairs while breathing in the stench of excrement.
Animals avoided the scent of human waste, and men who wanted to rob us didn’t think to follow the malodour for a way in.
Smoke from a dying bonfire crackled in the centre of the camp. Fast asleep tribesmen and their families slept in lean-tos while some preferred to dream in the elements beneath the stars. My lips curled, remembering the ceremony that’d almost incapacitated me emotionally.
I’d been fifteen.
I’d been an unwilling participant.
But that hadn’t stopped them from forcing me to ingest the drug-liquor, consuming me in their drumbeats and chanting.
It’d fucked me up worse than normal. I’d never felt so unhinged and aroused, turned on by the tiniest touch, overwhelmed by the simplest emotion. The entire camp had become an orgy, and I’d run far and fast.
I’d barricaded myself for twenty-four hours, remaining alone and far away from rutting sex-crazed humans. But it hadn’t stopped me from pleasuring myself or spilling orgasm after orgasm on the dusty African plains.
Holding my breath, I wrapped my arm around my painful side. Every heartbeat activated the wound, highlighting my lack of rest and fever. I wouldn’t have the strength to fight many men if they woke up.
Tiptoeing through the scattered sleeping forms, I calculated where Nila would be. The faster I could get in and out, the higher our chance of survival.
But at least we would be together again—regardless of what happened.
One particular woman moaned and rolled over in her sleep, hugging a black-skinned man beside her.
The one blessing of the drug was insane lethargy.
After the passion and demands of animalistic behaviours, they’d be out cold until the heat from the African sun forced them to move indoors or incinerate.
My heart remained in my mouth as I weaved around tents and shipping containers. Cut’s sleeping quarters were across the compound, upwind and in a prime location. Daniel’s rested four tents away which left the guest one beside it.
My gaze shot to the fabric A-frame in question.
Lights.
The only one with lights illuminating the inside like a trapped firefly in a jar.
It took a few minutes to skirt around the edge, stepping through shadows, avoiding open spaces. I listened for noises. I hoped to God Nila hadn’t been harmed. And I wished for a gun to protect her.
A noise sounded inside the tent. A gentle thud followed by a female moan.
Nila!
I couldn’t wait any longer.
Surprise would be on my side, but I hoped righteousness and fate would be, too.
Ducking beneath the entrance canopy, I charged inside.
My heart stopped.
My mouth fell open.
It couldn’t be.
“Nila...”
Her head shot up. She looked as wild as the animals of this country. She crouched beside my brother, her hands covered in blood, her hoodie hanging off one shoulder, and her legs bare and exposed. Bruises marred her porcelain skin, scratches and blemishes hinting at a fight I was too late to stop.
She jerked to the side, wielding a long red weapon. “Don’t—” Her eyes focused, then love poured from her. “Jethro? It can’t...it can’t be true.”
I staggered toward her, glancing between my half-naked woman and my dead brother. His cock was still hard on his belly. My skin crawled even as my heart stopped beating. “How...how did this happen?”
Her skin was white as milk, her frame shaking with adrenaline. My eyes drifted to her naked pussy and rage unfurled inside me.
“Did he rape you?” My hands curled as I stood over my brother’s corpse. “Did that motherfucker touch you?”
She shook her head, throwing down her weapon and wiping bloody hands on her hoodie. Her eyes flashed, hiding the truth she didn’t want me to see. “No.” Standing, she huddled into me.
My arms automatically wrapped around her, protecting her, even though I begged her to be honest with me.
He’d touched her.
That motherfucking animal touched what wasn’t his.
My embrace became shackles as I dropped my head in despair. Inhaling the softness of her scent and sharpness of spilled blood, I trembled with rage.
Nila let me hold her, her arms returning the furious hug.
I’m sorry.
So fucking sorry.
Her emotions collided with pride and purgatory. She’d killed him and hadn’t processed what his death would mean.
I hugged her harder.
I’m here.
Her voice whispered into my shirt. “He didn’t rape me, Jethro. I swear. I’m sorry...sorry...so sorry.”
Liar.
I understood why she’d lied. Even now, even with death on her hands and fear in her heart, she still tried to save me.
I was the one who’d let her down.
I was the one who made her return to the Hall.
This was my fault. “I did this.”
Her quaking arms wrapped tighter, hurting my unhealed side. “No. Don’t blame—”
“If I don’t blame myself, who can I?” I pressed my face into her throat, the short ends of her hair tickling my cheeks. “I sent you back. I fucking sent you back to be raped and—”
She struggled in my arms. “He didn’t—”
I pulled back, anger cresting. “Don’t lie to me! You can’t lie to me, remember?”
Her lips pursed; she battled between looking at the floor for privacy and fighting me like she’d fought my brother. “Don’t. Don’t get mad. I’m only trying to save—”
I bared my teeth. “Save me? That’s my fucking job, Nila. Not yours. Don’t you get it? I should’ve been the one to protect you. Not the other way around.”
She didn’t reply, her eyes burning black holes into my soul. There was no judgement in her gaze, only forgiveness for making her leave when she’d begged me to reconsider.
“Fuck.” My back rolled, and I grabbed her close again. “I’m sorry. Shit, I’m so sorry.”
Her arms twined around me, her love giving me somewhere to hide from my own fucked-up emotions. “I know. It’s okay.”
It wasn’t okay. None of this was okay. But I wouldn’t press it further. Not here. Not now.
Whatever had happened before my arrival spilled out of her, lapping around our feet.
Her fingers dug into my spine, reliving what she’d done.
“I wanted to kill him. But now...now, maybe...I didn’t.
God, I killed him, Kite. I—I took a life.
” She hugged me impossibly harder as she lost herself to tangled thoughts.
An odd overtone layered her emotions the longer I held her.
The sensation of need and desire so strong it superseded her misery at killing.
I winced at her strength but didn’t care about the pain. All I cared about was her. About taking her far away from here and protecting her like I should’ve done from the start.
I crushed her in my embrace, holding her so fucking close.
“It’s over now. Whatever happened, it’s over.
” I kissed the top of her head, her brow, her eyes.
“Are you okay? Don’t lie to me. I need to know you aren’t hurting.
” My eyes trailed over her injuries. Daniel had done more than touch her, he’d hit her, possibly kicked her.
Her hair stuck up in places, and her cheek flamed red from a slap. She’d been to hell and back, but she’d left my brother in damnation.
I’m so fucking proud of her.
She nodded, breathless and broken. Tears washed down her face. I’d never seen her so primitive, focused only on survival and death. “I’m okay. I’m okay. I am. Truly. I’ll be okay.” The same shadow of lust tainted her voice. I could understand sudden joy at winning over an enemy, but lust?
Taking a few steps back, I pulled her away from Daniel. He lay on his back, blood clotting on his side, a blue tinge already creeping over his lips.
I didn’t want her to look. I’d been around death before. I’d been the instigator of taking another’s life. It wasn’t easy to stare into the eyes of your victim once it was over. Especially when self defence forced your actions.
“Don’t look. Forget what happened. I’m here now, and I’m never leaving again.” I kissed her hair, so, so thankful I had her back in my arms.
Nila squirmed, disobeying me and looking at Daniel’s corpse. Her muscles locked; a haunting hollowness entered her eyes. “He deserved it. So why do I feel like such a monster?”
I clamped my hands on her shoulders. “He did deserve it. Don’t second-guess. You did what you had to do.”
“Did I? Was there no other choice?”
I shook my head firmly. “None. It was the only way.”
Nila bit her lip, her eyes overflowing with liquid. “But...he was the youngest. He couldn’t help that Bonnie and Cut called him a mistake. He couldn’t stop being ridiculed or believing in what he’d been told.”
What?