Page 7

I trek through the morning, sun beating down on the open stretches of southern Vermont. Come midafternoon, I’m hunkering down under an old maple, giving myself a break from the heat.

The Allegheny Mountains, that’s where I’m heading.

Used to roam those parts with my team during the rare downtime we had. Never thought those same mountains would be my go-to in a world gone sideways.

The plan’s simple. Get to the Alleghenies first, use them as cover.

They’re familiar ground, safer than dodging trouble in the cities, and a good starting point before I head farther south. Winter’s a bitch and staying this far north just makes survival harder.

As I eat some of the leftover quail meat, a hot breeze stirs the branches before fading. My gaze falls to the skull and snake tattoo on my forearm. Something all of us on the team got.

“Fight as one, Fall as one, Rise as one.”

I swallow down the bitterness of the words that now feel more like a heavy chain than a badge of honor, a constant reminder of a bond that time and tragedy have all but erased.

Talia broke that vow when she sacrificed herself.

And that anger still sits heavy with me.

Losing my friends never got any easier. Some from the war we were fighting before the outbreak. Others from the virus. And the few remaining were killed by dangers of this new world, or just went off on their own.

Like Colt.

Her death broke him worst of all.

It’s the reason we fought, the reason we split up two years ago near Roanoke. We’d gotten into an argument about Mac. Both of us pissed our friend decided to stay behind and settle down in some town we’d stayed in, becoming the second person to break our vow.

Think it had to do with that kid who refused to leave. We all struggled with the atrocities of war and the things we were forced to do. But Mac suffered the most when it came to his demons.

Settling down isn’t for me. Not sure how he does it. I get all itchy and shit. Probably the reason I never got married or had a family.

But Colt hated him for not coming with us. Claimed “Fight as one, Fall as one, Rise as one”

died with Talia, then walked off.

I breathe out a long sigh then take another bite of meat.

Wonder if either of my friends are still alive?

The damn assholes would definitely be giving me shit for sulking about some defiant brat, that’s for sure.

Maybe I should detour and see if Mac’s still around. Check in on him. He’ll probably chew my ass out for not visiting in four years.

Well, if he’s still alive.

Hope he is.

Moments later, a nearby tree shakes too long after the wind dies down. I freeze mid-bite, eyes narrowing. The branches still, then a pinecone thuds to the ground.

I get up, drawing my Sig and circle the tree, fairly certain of what I’ll find. Hopefully, because if someone else can get this close to me without me noticing, that’s a problem.

Not a chance in hell my awareness skills have deteriorated that much.

Peering up, my suspicions are confirmed and my heart damn near skips a beat when I lock eyes with his icy blue ones.

But dammit.

He’s up too high.

I let out a snarl and holster my gun. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Devon glares, still as unrepentant as ever. “I’m hungry.”

What a load of shit.

My brows furrow. “I left you food, enough for the day. So why the hell are you really here?”

My heart beats so fast, my fuckin’ palms sweat like a dumbass ready to fall to my knees in happiness. Only, the shit told me to get lost this morning, and that still stings.

He shrugs, making the branches quiver and my stomach lurch. “Wasn’t enough.”

I cross my arms, temper rising. “Maybe you should’ve been foraging then instead of wasting energy trailing me.”

At that, he scowls, and his jaw tightens. “I want sex.”

I nearly choke on my saliva, while he looks like he wants to punch me in the face. How the fuck does he go from saying he’s hungry to wanting sex?

Because he’s being transactional.

I pinch the bridge of my nose, screwing my eyes shut against the mounting frustration pounding through my skull. “Devon, are you telling me you want sex because you actually want food?”

He squints, lips thinning. “No.”

“Bullshit,”

I shoot back. “Get out of that tree. I won’t strain my neck for this conversation.”

With startling agility, he shimmies down, landing lightly as a squirrel, chin raised. “So, sex first, then food?”

I step closer, looming over him in an attempt to intimidate, remind him who’s in charge. But he refuses to shrink away or back down.

God, I want to spank his ass, only it’s not really a punishment for him because the little shit enjoys it.

And he’s not the only one.

Nearly blew my load when turning that ass of his a deep red.

I walk back to where I was sitting and rummage through my pack. “Sex burns calories. And your skinny ass has none to spare.”

I toss him almonds and watch warily as he tears into them. Despite his gaunt features, wiry strength cords his arms. If provoked, I have no doubt he could inflict serious damage in an instant.

He inhales the almonds, not bothering to try and make them last. Swiping a hand across his mouth, he turns guarded eyes to mine. “Now the sex?”

“No, Devon.”

Shock and wariness flare in his eyes. “But . . . what do you want as payment then?”

His assumption that he owes his body in return for help squeezes my chest tighter than a damn vice grip. “You don’t owe me anything.”

I gather my things and start walking, hoping he’ll split off alone, but, deep down, a foolish part wants him nearby. Relief, like cool spring in the summer heat, washes over me when his soft footfalls trail behind.

We walk on in silence thick as smoke before he pipes up tentatively. “We gonna fuck after dinner at least?”

My shoulders slump like the fight’s gone out of ’em, because it has. I can’t fuck him anymore. Not when my heart's involved. “No more sex deals.”

“Why?”

I glance back, and there’s hesitation swirling with something more in those dark eyes. “What’d you do for food before me?”

He shrugs. “Scraps. Killed a few people. Sex seems easier. Maybe others will want me like you do.”

Red hot rage flashes through me at the thought of others using and discarding my boy.

My boy.

“Like fuck anyone else is going to touch you.”

The words tear out of me deep, low, and threatening. “You’re staying with me. End of story. I’ll teach you to find food and set traps. No whoring yourself out.”

It's a vow, a promise, powered by a stubborn streak of hope that won't fucking let go—just like the ink etched into my skin.

Fight as One, Fall as One, Rise as One.

Right here, right now, with Devon, those words stop feeling like some cruel joke and start sounding like a damn fortune cookie. Because no one touches my little psychopath but me.

He’s mine to keep safe.

Mine to fuck.

Mine to love.

Like hell will I allow anyone else to take what I claimed. To hurt what belongs to me.

Devon stares at me, brows furrowed, then nods, and I breathe a little easier. Now I just need to come up with a way to convince him to stay permanently.

Hell, maybe I should just tie him up, slap a collar around his neck. He wouldn't have much choice then, would he?

But nah, the wild little shit would fight me every step of the way, and the last thing I want is for him to resent me, to think being with me is anything but good. Especially not now, not when there's this flicker of hope trying to light up the shitstorm inside me.

Speaking of, there is one thing I’m curious about. “Why didn’t you try putting me down in my sleep? You could’ve easily taken my gun.”

His lips quirk up, a glimpse of the attitude I know so well. “Because I liked it. The sex. And maybe I like you too.”

The admission warms me. Last night meant something more to him after all. Is that why he tried to run in the middle of the night? He got scared?

Fuck if he ain’t the only one.

Never expected to feel so possessive over someone. Won’t walk away from him again, that’s for sure.

“Maybe you like me?”

His neck and cheeks turn red. “Yup. Still deciding.”

Such a liar. But I won’t push. Not when it comes to his feelings.

Not when that beautiful blush tells me exactly what I need to know.

He looks at me, a fragile glow of hope in his eyes, the ice slowing, melting again. The same flicker of softness he gave me at the kitchen table last night. As if he senses what I need, even if he can only give me a sliver.

Of course, the brat walks past me smugly like he knows where we’re going. Time to knock him down a peg. “I warned you what would happen if you followed me again.”

Over his shoulder, that defiant glare sparks an answering heat in my core. He’s trouble for certain. But I crave the challenge, the chance to tame him.

One corner of my mouth lifts, unbidden.

Yeah, I’ve definitely fallen for my wild boy.