Page 33 of When the Living Fall

“I’d be doing even better if you’d stayed out of sight.”

“Did he touch you?” The words are laced with a dark promise. I have no doubt that Max is fully capable of taking out every single person in this colony right now. It’s endearing, but I can’t be the cause of another bloodbath here. Not again.

I do my best to reassure him. “No, you stopped him before he could hit me.”

“He shoved her,” Zoey says at about the same time, and I groan. That was not helpful.

Max’s eyes flash and he plants his boot into Richard’s balls with enough force to castrate the man. Richard lets out a cry of anguish, but Max’s eyes turn black. “I should cut off your hands for that. Make sure you remember your manners.”

Zoey’s eyes widen and she looks at me and whispers, “He wouldn’t really though…right?”

“Yes, Zo. I love you, but please don’t be helpful like that again.”

Richard’s men look ready to pounce, and one of them steps forward, glaring at me. “Is this your idea of ‘good people’?”

I don’t hesitate. “Absolutely. They’re here to protect me, not tear anyone down without reason. They don’t strike until someone else strikes first. You can thank Richard for this altercation.”

Max’s grip on me tightens, and he tries to push me to the side. “Get behind me. You’re not standing in front of me with all those guns and knives aimed at you.”

“They’re aiming them at you.”

“Which is the only reason any of them are still standing right now.”

“Back down.” Richard groans and wheezes while struggling to get to his feet, one hand in front to protect his groin. He glares at me. “Is this one of those guys who you say won’t hurt anyone?”

“Yup,” I respond with confidence.

Max presses his chest against my back, trying to get as close to me as possible. He turns his focus on Richard with a dark glint in his eye. “I don’t hurt anyone without reason.” His eyes unfocus for a moment. “Well…sometimes. Still, I’d be careful with how you approach Emily from now on.”

“I won’t let you come into my colony, assault me, andthen tell me how to behave. You’ll be dead before you try that again,” Richard threatens.

Max’s body vibrates against mine with restrained rage, and I rest my hand over his in order to calm him. It seems to help a little. “Glad you’ve heard of me, though. Funny. Emily never said anything about you hitting a woman for having the audacity to help another survivor. Is this a daily thing for you, or do you only give Emily the special treatment?”

Before he can answer, voices shout from the walls. Alarm bells ring out, and the sound of running feet echoes toward us when the crowd gathers near the wall. There’s a commotion. Weapons are drawn. My heart twists with a sharp stab of dread.

“Looks like I’m the only one who made a decent entrance,” Max mumbles. “Are they trying to get us all killed?”

“Why?” I ask. It’s the only word I can think to ask since I can’t form a full coherent sentence to wonder why they couldn’t stay put for a little while. “Why?”

Abandoning Richard, Max and I break into a sprint toward the commotion. We push our way through the gathering. I cling to his shirt, and he reaches a hand back to wrap around my wrist. I try to keep up with his pace until we break free of the mob.

There, with their backs against the wall and knives at the ready, stand Griffin and William.

Anger would bubble out of me if fear wasn’t so prevalent. I rush to them, dragging Max along beside me. “What are you doing?” The words tear from my throat, but my voice is a hushed fury for only them to hear.

William drapes an arm around my shoulders, shifting me to position himself between me and the crowd, protecting me with his body and his knives. “Don’t worry, Em. We won’t let them do anything to you. We’re notleaving you alone in this place. Or anywhere, for that matter.”

I shrug his shoulder off me, forcing him to release me, then I push away from him when he tries to grab me again. “I was handling things fine. You didn’t need to bust inside to rescue me. All you’ve done is make everything so much worse. You’re ruining everything.” I can’t help the anger that bubbles out of me. Don’t they understand how lucky they are they weren’t killed before getting over that wooden wall?

“Princess…” Griffin growls out in warning.

“Don’t ‘princess’ me,” I shoot back.

His eyes flash with frustration, and a thrill runs through me at the realization that I can still bring that out in him.

“That Richard dick pushed her.” Max practically spits out the words.

Griffin moves closer until he’s touching me with his hand cupping my jaw. He turns my face from side to side, looking me over. Relief flashes in his eyes when he sees I’m okay. “Then it’s a good thing we came. We won’t let them get away with mistreating you.”

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