Page 57 of When the Living Fall

“I understand if you guys want to leave and go back somewhere else. Maybe even get started on making another area more secure.” My fingers tangle in the worn fabric of his shirt. “I will come back to you, I promise you that, but I can’t leave now.”

He doesn’t hesitate to pull me close, his arms wrapping around me before pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead. Then his hand tilts my chin up, and he leans down, touching his lips softly to mine. “You belong with me—with us. I know where we belong, too. Remember the town I told you about turning into a colony? It’s waiting. We can turn it into a place where anyone can find safety. Even all these people, because I’m not in the business of turning people away. The four of us will stay together, even if we have to be a group of hundreds.”

My mind swarms with the meaning of his words, and a tear collects in the corner of my eye, which William reaches over to wipe away with a soft smile, letting me know he agrees.

“You really mean it?” I ask.

Griffin smiles. “Of course I mean it. I’m keeping my promise to you, princess. I won’t leave you again. Not ever.”

My heart pounds so hard it hurts, only this time it’s in a good way. I’m speechless.

Griffin’s thumb traces slow circles on my back, keeping me close, his voice lifting so others can hear. He clears his throat. “We have a town a little way from here. It isn’t much yet. It’s not as grand or as developed as this one was, but it has promise. We had plans to really turn it into something before we ended up here.”

With a gasp, I look up at the realization of what he’s offering. The gift he’s giving to dozens of strangers.

“It’ll take a lot of work to build up, and I can’t guarantee anything, but it has buildings and some supplies and materials. We can figure out the rest along the way. The only problem is getting there. It’s some distance away, and with no cars, or very few cars. It’ll be a journey, especially for the injured, but we’ll find a way and get there together. Whoever wants to join is welcome to.”

I close my eyes, breathing in the smell of increasing smoke, and wait.

This will be hard, I know that. I did much of it on foot alone in the dark, and I wasn’t even hurt like most of these survivors are. But no one will be alone this time.

Silence holds for a beat, then the first voice rings out, followed by a chorus. “Let’s do it.”

The air conditionerblasts in my face, a welcome in the otherwise blistering heat. I’m in the passenger seat of the first car in a long line of cars we strung together, each packed with survivors. Griffin’s at the wheel, maneuvering around abandoned cars and the occasional rotter while leading us back to the old town we’re about to call home. My fingers interlock with his, resting atop the center console. He lifts our joined hands, his gaze flashing hot when he locks onto mine. Heat flows through my body when he presses his lips against the back of my hand.

Zoey sits in the back, drifting in and out of sleep, while an exhausted Josh naps with his head resting on her shoulder, his sister dozing next to him.

We’ve filled the trunk of every vehicle with bags salvaged from the decimated town—medical supplies, Zoey’s stash of insulin which rests on the floor betweenher feet, what little food we could find, among random other belongings. The insulin is the most important of all. I didn’t realize she had already packed a bag and stashed it on the outside of the wall, intending to leave with the four of us as soon as we got back from rescuing Josh. I underestimated her. She wasn’t going to make me choose. She was going to leave with me whether or not I wanted her to.

William drives the car in the middle of the line behind us, while max is in a truck at the end, watching over the group to make sure no one falls behind.

When we’d made the plan to leave the colony, the reality of walking seemed impossible. Thankfully, when we made it to the lot where my colony had moved all the cars off the road outside the walls, we found enough working cars to carry the entire group.

Griffin’s voice breaks through the hum of the engine. “Looks like there’s a spot up ahead to pull over for the night, and if I’m not mistaken, it’s next to a running stream, so we’ll have fresh water.”

I nod in agreement, grateful for a chance to rest. Since we’re not running aimlessly through the woods, it’s taking longer to drive around than expected. Especially with the additional stops to treat the wounded.

Griffin pulls off the exit, and we lead the convoy to a flat clearing beside the stream, the cars lining up along the edge of the road.

Setting up camp is a whirlwind of movement and murmurs. The dozen tents we grabbed form a circle around a central clearing where we’ll keep a fire for warmth and safety.

Sleeping bags and blankets fill the spaces in between the tents, makeshift beds for those without tents.

The fire crackles to life, casting a soft glow over the weary faces of everyone gathered around. We lost somegood people back there, and though we mourn the dead, we’re all grateful to be alive.

All three of my guys seem to be more attentive than usual. Their touches lingering, their smiles softer. While I know they’re still trying to make it up to me for making me leave in the first place, it’s working.

Max and William and I have already patched things up. We’ve forgiven each other and made peace with our hurts. So have Griffin and me, but he’s not aware of it yet. He doesn’t realize that accepting my former colony into this new town he’s been dreaming of is the most selfless thing he could have done for me. It’s far more than I ever would have asked from him. Still, I want to make sure he’s okay with it, because I understand how much this truly means to him and the sacrifice he’s making. Rather than forming a small safe place for the four of us, he’s invited roughly thirty people he doesn’t even know. It’s a tremendous risk for him, and he did it without hesitation. He welcomed in a large group of people who we thought turned their backs on me and shunned him, and I appreciate him for it more than he may ever know. I so badly want to show him that.

I help Zoey set up our shared tent, placing blankets down and arranging the little space we have. With so many people and so few tents, we’ll have to double or triple up. It’s not the coziest setup, but it works. Max isn’t happy about me not sleeping in their tent. I’d explained that the tent is too small for four people, and they’ll be lucky if it will fit the three of them. And I wasn’t going to leave Zoey’s side, who is too stubborn to remain resting while I do all the work on our tent, but I’m just happy she’s going to be okay. Buddy has taken to her well. He keeps poking his nose against her bandaged wound, as if checking on her status.

When I finish adjusting my sleeping bag, I step backward out of the tent and a pair of muscular arms wrap around mefrom behind. I let out a small squeal before melting into the embrace.

Lips brush my neck, his breath tickling my ear. A smile spreads across my face at the familiarity, and I let my eyes close, feeling even safer than I did moments ago. “Finally,” William murmurs, his voice rough, sending shivers up my spine. “I get a moment with you.”

I giggle, leaning back into him. “I’ve been here all along.”

“Around Griffin and Max is one thing, but a few dozen strangers?” He spins me around in his arms to face him, and I wrap my arms around his neck. “That makes it a little harder to do what I want.”

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