Page 25 of Kristoff

“They can miss a day,” I assure him. “I’m sure they’re used to not having food for days at a time.”

The brothers glance at each other.I’ve got them!

“Okay, but you’re going to tell the men from the checkpoint they won’t get food.” Schunior shakes his head.

“Yeah, what’s the name of the guy from the last checkpoint?” Harlan asks. “The big guy you call a gorilla behind his back.”

I know exactly who he means. But I can’t be expected to remember everyone’s name. “Fine. One of you can stay.” They both remain quiet. “But I expect twice as much searching from the one who goes.”

“Fine,” Schunior replies.

“I’m good,” Harlan adds.

“I’ll be on my way.” I open the door and glance back at them one more time. “But make no mistake. I’ve got my eye on you Schuniors.” I close the door and head home.

After all the unpleasantness, I just want to bathe and stretch out in my bed. Damn, this means I won’t be getting a dinner plate because I’m not about to go back in there to be harassed by those fools. My shoulders droop. This is the worst time to have this happen. Why did tonight have to be fajita night?

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Kristoff

I flip the lock and turn back to Harlan, but he’s already halfway to the stairs. With a few long strides, I catch up to him, and we head up to see the girls.

The shower’s still going. Harlan bursts through the door without bothering to knock.

“It’s safe,” he announces, more calmly than I would have expected after having Gerald barge in and turn our lives upside down.

I watch from the doorway, the bathroom being too small to allow four people to fit comfortably.

The handle squeaks, and the spray narrows to a drip. Celia peeks out from behind the curtain.

Harlan reaches out then pulls his hand back as if he isn’t sure what to do. “Are you okay?” he asks in a gentle tone.

Celia nods. She looks so young and scared, as if she didn’t just execute one hell of a ballsy plan. I catch a bare shoulder as she pulls the shower curtain to her chest. She’s actually naked in there with Brianna?

“Hand her a towel,” I tell Harlan.

He reaches up to the shelves we set up on the wall, stretching the burned skin along the back of his shoulder. Pulling down a towel, he shakes it out then hands it to her.

Celia snatches the offering from his fingertips then closes the curtain. The silence grows awkward while she dries off. “How about we give her some privacy,” I suggest.

Harlan sends me a dirty look, but he retreats, one slow step at a time. The curtain opens, and Celia comes out, wrapped in the towel. She walks past with a regal air, Harlan at her heels, following her down the hall.

Brianna is in the corner, drenched, her pert little nipples outlined against the translucent fabric. My cock stirs. This could easily be a replay of the first night, without the need to turn on the light.

Behind me, a door closes firmly. I turn to find Harlan’s face inches away from his door. Celia’s having none of it.

I’m grinning as I step in and pull another towel to hand to Brianna. She looks so small and scared, vulnerable in a way I never imagined after the way she fought me. I want to wrap her in my arms and tell her everything is going to be all right. But the truth is, she’s leaving, and I have no idea what she’ll do, where she’ll go, or if she’ll be safe.

“You okay?” I ask quietly.

“Yes.” She gives little more than a nod as she pats her face dry.

“Let me grab you a shirt,” I offer, “while you get out of those wet clothes.”

I head back to my room while Harlan stands by the door, his arms crossed. The hard set of his mouth is warning enough to leave him alone.

Man, he’s got it bad.

---