Page 9 of Hidden By the Convicts
“I’ve seen men leave their hiding spots during war, come out only after a few hours, and get cut down by the enemy. If the guards are determined enough to have you back, then you’ll be surprised what they might do, especially if they suspect you’re in or near this house.”
He sounded paranoid, but she wasn’t in the position to contradict him, especially since he was doing this for her safety.
“If you ever have to hide, stay down here until one of us tells you it’s okay to emerge.”
“If I’m alone, I won’t be able to move the bed back in place. It will be obvious I’m down there.”
“We’ll loop a string through the bed frame. You get in the hole, pull the floorboards back in place, then pull the string to drag the bed over. Release one end of the string until it slides out of the frame and down into the hole with you. No trace.”
“You’re smart.”
“Unfortunately, I’ve done something similar before. You learn to be creative in war. And in some ways, Narkos is like a war zone.” Bowen leaned on shovel’s handle, blue eyes shining as he stared at her. “Why my unit?”
“Teagen,” she said. “My name’s Teagen. With two ‘e’s, not three.”
That drew a smile from him, if only briefly, but that smile warmed her in a way she hadn’t felt in a long time.
“Okay, Teagen with two ‘e’s. Why us?”
“I saw you argue with the guards once. I was watching out the window from the barracks.” She didn’t tell him that today was her first time leaving the barracks since her arrival on Narkos.
“So?”
“I need protection, Bowen.”
“You thought I could protect you from the guards? You know there are about two dozen of them in East Side at any given time, right?”
“I’m well aware,” she said dryly.
His lips thinned. He ran his hand through his hair as he drew a deep breath. His eyes never left her. He knew the reality, but he wasn’t going to handle her like she’d break. She appreciated that, because if he treated her as if she were a wounded animal, then she might fall apart, and she couldn’t afford to do that. She had to watch out for herself, because at the end of the day, she didn’t have anyone else. Not even these men. They were a temporary solution.
“We have no weapons, Teagen. None that can go up against blasters. We’ll do what we can, but Harlis, for as much of an ass as he’s been tonight, he’s right. Sooner or later, the guards will catch you. Or do you plan to spend the better part of the next ten years in hiding?”
“There are worse things.”
“But it’s unrealistic. Even if you evade them for years, you have to show yourself if you ever plan on leaving Narkos. And the moment you do. . .”
“Please don’t turn me in, Bowen. Give me a few days. I’ll think of something.”
Blue eyes dulled. “There’s no escaping your fate here, Teagen.”
“I have to try.”
He nodded. A shallow nod, but it held respect for her, something she hadn’t been given since she arrived a month ago. Or the six months prior when her new boss, the scum, took over.
Bowen gifted her with another smile, genuine and even a bit playful. “Go shower, Teagen. Just make it fast. We’ll all cut back our shower times, so our total water consumption doesn’t make anyone suspicious.”
“They monitor water usage?”
“Yes, to ensure we have enough for the crops and human consumption, so it’s conceivable the water plant monitors usage by house or barracks too. I’m not taking any chances with you,” he said as he continued digging.
She entered the bathroom and closed the door behind her. She hadn’t taken a shower since she’d arrived on Narkos, except for that one asshole who pulled her into the shower. But he wasn’t interested in cleaning her hair or body, just getting her alone.
Slowly, Teagen peeled the smock off, trying not to aggravate her skin. She let the garment fall to the floor and kicked it aside, glad to be rid of it.
The men had towels in here and several shirts and pants neatly stacked on shelves. She considered taking the smock into the shower with her to clean it, but she didn’t ever want to see that wretched thing again. She’d rather walk around naked than wear that crusty, nasty piece of filth and what it symbolized.
As she adjusted the shower setting on the control panel, she felt a breeze behind her. She spun about. No one was there, but the door was open an inch.
