Chapter 96

Chapter Ninety-Six

Wind shook the trees in the twilight gray. The branches quivered rather than shaking, and the trunks didn’t sway at all, at least not enough that Connor could see them move. That might explain the whispery scratching that apparently stood in for the rattle of leaves.

Boots thudded against the top of the airlock ramp, bringing him around.

Vicente dabbed his bare chest with a towel, his muscles rippling beneath his coppery skin. “Water still tastes funny, Boss.”

Connor exhaled until his lungs were clear of the foul air. “I’ll check the shower head filters.”

Clomp-clomp-clomp.

The ramp shook under the heavy weapons expert’s weight. “Almost cool out here, huh?”

“A storm’s coming.”

“Yeah.” The big man adjusted his cargo shorts, which he proudly told everyone were fashioned after the ancient Mexican flag: right leg green, crotch white, left leg red.

“You know something I don’t?”