Page 31 of When the Living Fall

“Wish we could’ve more.” The words slip out before I can stop them. What I really mean is I wish I’d been less of an ass. That I would have done better by her, not failed her when she needed me most. That’s all going to change now. I know she didn’t believe the promise I made her, but I intend to spend every waking moment proving that I meant it.

Zoey’s gaze settles on my side, where a red stain has soaked through my shirt, and I try not to flinch under her scrutiny. “I take it you’re Griffin?”

“Yeah. Why?”

She shrugs the bag off her shoulder and gestures for us to step into the shade of the trees with Max. “I came to look at your wound and help as much as I can. Emily told me you’d need it, and I don’t know when you’ll get another chance. Especially with how stubborn I hear you are.”

Hesitating, I look past Zoey and up the road that disappears over the hill that leads to the colony Emily is in. I’m even more concerned now. “Emily said she was going to talk with the leader. If it’s going badly…is that why she sent you?”

I can’t help wondering if I should waste time letting this woman heal me when I could be going after my own woman. I would rather risk bleeding out to get to her than to stand here and worry about her without doing anything to help.

“Lift your shirt and let me see what we’re working with here.”

“Not until you answer my question.”

Zoey gives me a no-nonsense look, crossing her arms and tapping her foot like she’s dealing with a petulant child. “We’ll talk while I work. Now lift it.”

Giving in, I tug the hem of my shirt up and wince at the tight pull against my skin. Her breath catches when she sees the wound, and I know by her reaction it can’t be good.

“Whoa.” William leans in and tilts his head to the side. I bet Buddy taught him that.

“Sounds promising,” I mutter before chancing a glance down at the gash that’s now an angry, swollen mess.

“Alright, back up. Griffin, sit down so I can get a better look and see what I can do.” She pushes me onto the nearest rock, puts on disposable gloves, and grabs some antiseptic. “That tree sap was a clever idea, but it’s only delayed things. It’s infected now.”

“Infected?” William’s eyes widen. “Infected like…no rotter infected, right?”

I look at him with incredulousness. “I didn’t get bit; it was a piece of metal from under a car. That’s not enough to turn me into a flesh-craving nightmare. Chill.”

Zoey shakes her head. “Normal infection. The kind that can take you down if we don’t get it cleaned out. You’ll be fine. I mean, you can still die from it, but no sudden cravings for brains anytime soon.”

“Oh, he’s got cravings, alright.” Max cuts in, a mischievous smirk tugging at his mouth. “Just not for brains.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t think to bring you any food,” Zoey says, pressing a light touch to the clean skin around the sap while she inspects my wound.

“Nah,” Max continues. “More like flesh. Emily’s, to be exact, but in the kind of way where she stays alive in the end…mostly.”

“Enough,” I say in a gruff voice, though I can’t deny it.

Zoey’s smirk says she’s enjoying the banter. She cleanses the sap away before applying antiseptic. “You know, I have to admit. When Emily first told me about you guys, I didn’t know if I believed her. Three men chasing her through rotter-infested land in order to keep her safe? All willing to share her with the other two of you?”

William lets out a small, uncomfortable laugh, shrugging. “None of us planned for it. It sort of just happened. Guess we figured keeping her happy and alive was worth a little compromise.”

Zoey shakes her head and applies more ointment, her movements precise and sure. “It’s a shame there aren’t more guys like you in the world. It would be a better place, rotters or not.”

“Ow, watch it,” I grumble when a fresh sting shoots through my side. I suck in air.

“Sorry.” She gives me a half-smile, patting the wounddry before applying a clean bandage. “You guys don’t happen to have brothers, do you?”

The moment shifts, and Max’s jaw tightens. “Guess she didn’t tell you everything,” he seethes.

Zoey’s hands still. “What do you mean?”

“Nathan,” Max says quietly. “Nathan is—was my brother. Should’ve killed him myself a long time ago.”

Her eyes widen with a mix of shock, sadness, and guilt. “Oh shit, I’m sorry. Does Emily know?”

I let out a short, humorless laugh. “Yeah, she’s well aware by now. To be fair, though, she didn’t know until last night.”

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