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Chapter 5

Fallon

Iloved Tommy, I honestly did, even if he was a little shit.

Groaning at his antics, I watched as he paraded through the store, a Rager’s head balancing precariously on the tip of his sword. Yes, a sword.

The asshole needed to know how to defend himself, and at least with a sword, he couldn’t accidentally shoot me. Stab me, yes, but l learned to maintain my distance from him when he had it out.

“It’s getting late,” I said stiffly, exchanging a glance with Declan. His hair had grown out, scruff covering the lower half of his face. Dark bags settled beneath his eyes, only heightening his sickly pale skin. The man looked as if he was inches away from death. The strain ate at him in a way I tried to suppress.

Tried, being the important term.

“Grab your bag, and let’s go,” I instructed, and Tommy’s face fell with disappointment.

“But…”

“And leave the damn head.”

This time, there was a definite pout on Tommy’s face. Damn sociopath.

Like us, the last few months had changed Tommy, and not entirely in a good way. While his baby fat had all but diminished, his eyes had a haunted look that hadn’t been there previously. Sure, there was no denying that the little guy was fucked in the head, more so than even us, but the shadows had steadily receded with the light that was Adelaide. Now that she was gone? They came back with a vengeance.

My throat closed up, emotion clogging my airway.

Don’t think. Don’t think. Don’t think.

I repeated that in my head until her face all but disappeared, swept beneath the metaphorical rug. Oh, I would for sure think of her. Later. In the safety of my own bedroom behind lock and key. There, I would allow myself to feel her absence as intensely as a blade stabbing through my chest. The only saving grace was the fact that she was alive and with the others.

They would look after her, protect my love with their own lives. It was moments like this when I was immensely grateful she had six other people who loved her. Six strong, passionate men who would move heaven and hell for her.

But they were wrong about one thing. They wanted - hell, half of them had even promised - to move mountains for her, but she didn’t need that. Not really. Adelaide had the strength to move her own mountains as long as enough people believed in her.

The thought of my love made my heart thump wildly in my chest. The last few months had been a literal hell. No matter where I went, what I did, everything reminded me of her. I couldn’t even look at a damn cat anymore without wanting to burst into tears.

Normally, I would’ve been scared at what others might have perceived as the loss of my masculinity, but I knew better. I was more of a man with her in my life than I was without it. The second I found her, and Iwouldfind her, I would fuck the shit out of her. Love her completely. Worship my queen.

The thought had my cock twitching in my pants.

Yes, I would show her what it was like to be loved by me.

If only some asshole hadn’t scribbled over the coordinates…

She was here, somewhere, and I would search for her for the rest of my life. I knew Declan felt the same. He woke up every morning exactly at five and began his futile search. Scouring neighborhoods, inquiring with other travelers, marking walls with a code only the others would understand.

We slung our bags over our shoulders, each containing an assortment of cans and clothes, and headed for our van. Dusk had fallen, painting everything in a light gray and a raspberry red. The town we had looted was silent, still. Dead bodies littered the sidewalk and street.

The ride back was silent except for Tommy’s constant chatter as he discussed a few comic books he had found in the grocery store. He knew Nik would love them.

We were fortunate enough that Tonya and Davis, good people, were willing to watch Nikolai during our trip. Normally, I would be hesitant about entrusting Nikolai in the hands of strangers, but I trusted them with my life. We had found them when we were at our lowest, and they, along with Tonya’s brother, Jared, had taken us in and given us food and shelter.

We chose to stay in a house next door to them in an abandoned neighborhood. Not our preferred choice of home, but it was safe and cozy, albeit empty.

An hour turned into two and that turned into four. By the time we pulled up into our tiny, nondescript picket-fenced house, everything was plunged in darkness. Crickets chirped in the distance, and moonlight painted everything in a pale white.

Tommy snored in the backseat, and Declan absently stared out the window. Suddenly, his brows furrowed, the skin between them creasing. He patted my arm to get my attention.

I moved to turn on the interior light so I could sign to him, but he shook his head vehemently, pointing at something in the distance. No, not something. A car. Idling a few blocks over.