Page 43 of When the Living Fall

“Well, he put you through the wringer, that’s for sure,” Josh says. Then he glances at me. “Are you going to stay here now that you’re back?”

“Actually, that’s something I’ve been thinking about…”

“Will they stay, too?” he asks hopefully.

“Richard won’t let us. He’ll only lock us up and probably kill us,” Griffin grumbles. He rubs his fist into his other palm. “I’d love to see him try, though.”

“He won’t try to kill you,” I say, but I know that’s a lie.

“Regardless,” Griffin continues, “we’re not staying. We’re only making sure you make it back safely, and then we’re taking off. Well, unless Emily wants to stay. Then I guess we’ll have to kill anyone who tries to separate us.”

“Hell yeah.” Max pumps his fist into the air. “Talk about a welcoming party.”

The conversation dwindles, leaving us to continue through the silence. For the first time in forever, I let myself relax. The warmth emanating from William and the quiet of our surroundings threaten to lull me to sleep.

William adjusts his grip on me when we go up an incline, and I know the colony is almost in view. I know they can see it when I feel the tension thicken in the air. William turns his head, his voice low and close. “Are you awake?”

“Mhm.”

He chuckles. “Want to walk in on your own, or should we hang back and slip away once Josh is through the gate? I think I can still make a run for it with you on my back.”

With a faint smile, I respond, “Put me down, please. I have some things I want to handle first.”

At my words, my three guys go rigid and exchange glances. Once my feet touch the ground, William keeps hishand around mine, and Max grabs the other. Griffin stands guard at our backs.

The guards on duty don’t want to let us through the gate, but after a threatening growl from Griffin, they decide it’s not worth the fight.

Zoey comes into view the moment we step through the creaky metal gate. She’s pacing, her expression tense. She sees me and comes running over; her gaze shifting from me to the men holding my hands and then back again.

“I was so worried. I wasn’t sure you were coming back, and if you didn’t, then I didn’t know if it would be your choice.” She spares a quick look at one of Richard’s guards.

One of Richard’s nearby men groans at her implication, but we both ignore him, and I pull my hands free. “Zoey, I want to talk to you. Can you come with me to our house?”

She nods. “Of course.”

Richard’s voice cuts through the air, rife with barely veiled disdain. “Relinquish your weapons. We’re still evaluating whether we can trust you.”

Griffin steps forward. “No need. We’re not staying. We came to make sure Josh got back safely. After that, we’re leaving. All five of us. Maybe even more.”

Five? I look back at Zoey, who looks equally surprised.

All the eyes around us land on me, and I glare at Griffin for making that decision for me. Also for Zoey, and probably Josh. Sure, I had already decided to join them, but that’s my decision to make. Fortunately for them, I’m not stubborn enough to stay in this horrid place solely to spite them. I’d still prefer to wait to leave until we get Griffin checked out more. Maybe even pack up extra medical supplies.

Zoey touches my arm, and I motion for her to follow me, but before I can take another step, a familiar, unwelcome voice echoes from behind, stopping me in my tracks.

“Well, well, well, look who’s still alive and thriving after all.”

I spin around so fast that I nearly lose my shoes to the asphalt.

There, leaning against the tall wooden wall just inside the gate with that same infuriating smirk, is Nathan.

Max snarlsand pushes me behind him. I don’t know how he got so close, so fast, but his body vibrates with a protective force that seems to consume him. His morning star gleams in his hand, every spike poised, ready, and still stained red, while his other hand holds me captive behind him. I can feel the rage radiating off him, as he makes himself my personal shield and weapon all combined into one, between Nathan and me.

Buddy drops the rotter leg from his mouth and bares his teeth.

My fist curls into the back of Max’s jacket, squeezing it, anger and fear knotting together within me. The sight of Nathan lounging inside the colony’s gate—a place that’s supposed to be safe from people like him—sets my blood boiling. Every memory of what he put us through, the chaos he left in his wake, comes rushing back. My throat tightens, each breath a struggle as I fight against the panic clawing its way up.

“Breathe, Emily,” William whispers from my other side, his steely gaze fixed on Nathan.

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