Page 30

The silence of the forest swallows every step as I tread softly through the snow-laden trees. A thin layer crunches under my boots while flakes continue to drift down through the barren branches overhead. I keep my crossbow tight in hand, finger resting on the trigger.

The cold air cuts at my weathered cheeks, but after four years in these mountains, it don't bother me none. Easier out here than some of the field training exercises I used to have to do before the world went to shit. Nothing like being in Alaska during the dead of winter running training ops. But I had my teammates with me. Miss those days.

Miss Rex and Colt and Talia.

Proud of that damn girl. Always will be. She was one of the most badass operators. No one messed with what she considered hers, which was us—her family.

I continue to trudge through the woods, keeping a sharp eye out for any movement. Can't ever be too cautious. Might be hunting for food but you never know what other dangers lurk.

Cal should be safe. Taught him how to use the shotgun.

I let out a sigh, my breath fogging in the frigid air. Wish I could stop the guilt that eats at me every day. I want to make it work with him.

No.

I have to make it work. Went fucking insane without him.

Four years ago, I stayed behind to protect him. Wasn’t my original plan. Rex and Colt had a lot of shit to say about it, assholes even abandoned me. Though Colt had been distancing himself from us before then. Even tried to skin himself to remove the tattoo.

I swallow past the growing lump in my throat.

But how the fuck could I have left Cal alone? He wouldn’t have survived.

Not that I had any real connection to him back then. Think maybe it was all the shit I’ve seen over the years. Not just after the virus killed most of the population but from before.

Our team saw some of the worst of mankind, especially when it comes to atrocities against children.

Can’t count how many times I was forced to take the lives of children. Those were the worst wars, the ones where children were used as pawns, and I was put in the position of taking out a kid to save others.

That guilt still eats at my soul. Rex always said I let my emotions get the best of me. Probably why I stayed behind–a way to make up for my sins.

Up ahead the snap of a twig echoes through the woods, and I freeze, listening hard. The wind changes direction, and the unmistakable musk of deer hits my nostrils.

Moving real slow, I slide a bolt into place, then raise my crossbow, scanning the trees. There he is, fifty yards out, head down, grazing with a rack of antlers so wide, he could take out a lesser man. He's a big one—his meat will feed Cal and me for some time.

Still as stone, I take aim right behind his front leg and steady my breathing. Just like lining up a target in the sandbox. I gently squeeze the trigger and the bolt slices through the air, piercing his heart.

He staggers just a moment, then collapses onto his side in the snowdrift. A clean kill.

"Thank you," I mutter under my breath.

I haul his carcass over, then get to work quick, plunging my knife into the belly, releasing the steaming entrails. Internal organs spill out in a heap as I slice them free, then toss them aside for whatever other animals can use them. By gutting him here, I lighten the load to haul back the parts that really matter.

My gaze wanders to the crimson-stained snow, barely visible in the darkness, my thoughts flashing back to the end of winter when Cal’s sister died. Rex, Colt, and I were planning on leaving town the next day, only a group of psycho scavengers came to town.

There were maybe seven people back then. I remember the screams. The three of us went to help. Came across Cal’s sister on the ground being attacked. I shot the bastard.

Thought she was safe. Sure, she was shell-shocked. Can’t blame the girl.

Only she grabbed the bastard’s knife, told me she was sorry she just couldn’t live like this anymore, then plunged it into her neck.

Cal came running up a few minutes later. He thought she’d been killed by the scavenger. I let him think that. Didn’t want him to know otherwise.

Three others were killed. The survivors left the next day. Cal wouldn’t go and insisted on staying behind.

So, I said goodbye to my friends and settled down as best I could, watching over Cal . . . until I caught him fucking three years later. I’d pushed down the growing heat, denying the part that looked at him differently.

One day, I couldn’t do it anymore.

Not sure why he even came back for more. That first night damn near embarrassed myself. Minute man . . . Ha. Barely got inside his tight ass before I was coming. Definitely lasted less than a minute.

And when I caught him fucking the girl after that, can’t say I didn’t mind blowing the bitch’s head off.

Sure, the universe gave me a golden ticket when I caught her about to stab him, but I sure as hell had been wanting to do it from the moment she sank down on his cock.

I shake my head, then finish lashing meat and hide onto my pack before hoisting it over my shoulders and heading back to the farmhouse.

Trek back isn’t so bad. Mostly downhill. Glad I came across the buck. Should be easier to get Cal to put on some more weight.

I’m about twenty yards from the back door when the shotgun goes off.

“Fuck!”

I drop the pack and sprint to the house, pulling my Sig from my waistband. I take a quick glance through the side window. Cal stands at the front door, shotgun leveled at something.

Or someone.

Carefully making my way around the side, I spot two people. Neither have their hands raised. Definitely not frightened, which means they’re dangerous.

I bring the muzzle of my gun up, pointing it at the larger one, when the thinner blonde twists fast, throwing something in my direction. The thunk is loud, and when I turn to the side, there’s a knife wedged into the side of the house, mere inches from my face.

Yup, definitely dangerous. Time to end them.

But the larger one steps in front of the blonde. “Mac?”

I freeze. Haven’t heard his voice in . . . “Rex?”

He nods, and I lower my Sig as he appears to admonish the younger man with him. The blonde just shrugs, yet keeps death glaring at me as if I’m his next meal.

Interesting.

“Uh, Mac?”

I turn to face Cal. “It’s okay. He’s an old friend.”

A snort cuts through the air so loudly, both Cal and I turn to face Rex and his companion.

Rex coughs as he grabs the young man by the throat. “Knock the shit off.”

“Are we going to stand out here? It’s cold as balls,”

Cal says, shotgun lowered.

I turn my focus to him. I’m not sure about Rex’s friend, but Cal’s safety is my first priority. Not putting him in unnecessary danger. “Dropped my pack with the meat out back. Go get it.”

Just as he rounds the corner, Rex breaks out into a coughing fit. Shit sounds wet and rattly. “You good?”

“We wouldn’t be here if he was.”

The blonde’s voice is full of sarcasm, and I want to smack the shit out of him.

“Devon!”

The young man rolls his eyes, and for the first time I notice how swollen one side of his face is. Someone fucked him up good. Can’t say I blame them if he runs his mouth like that. Surprised the shit is still alive.

I step toward Rex. “Is that the only reason you came back?”

“Don’t,”

Rex snaps at me. “Don’t pull that crap about me not caring. You know it’s bullshit.”

“Four years go by without a visit . . . not so much.”

Dipshit’s not gonna get away with making me feel like I’m being an asshole. He knows where I am. Both him and Colt.

“Mac—”

“Just get inside.”

The young man—Devon—mutters something, but I can’t make it out and Rex tells him to shut the fuck up, then grabs his hand and drags him inside like a child.

Definitely interesting.