Page 60 of Refuge (The Wanderers 2)

“Maybe, but he got a round off on me. I might not have been able to return fire fast enough. Did your dad teach you to shoot like that?”

“Yep. And my body count is now two. Both in the forehead. Let’s maybe keep that tally low. It’s not something I want to brag about.”

He knew she and Layla had shot the two men who’d killed their parents. He was impressed to realize how accurate she was with a weapon.

He hugged her closer again. “Gotta say, after watching Grecia give birth, I’m not anxious for you to get pregnant.” He’d been scared out of his mind and his heart rate still hadn’t come down. That was his reaction to a total stranger giving birth. If he had to watch Ariel do that…

She chuckled. “I’m not in a hurry to do anything like that either. I think the images are burned into my brain.” She glanced around. “You can’t stand out here all night.”

“Of course I can. I’ve got people to protect. I’ve done it hundreds of times.”

“Well, you have me now, and I can take a shift.”

He started to chuckle but stopped himself when she lifted a brow.

He drew in a deep breath. “We’ll see.” When hell freezes over. “If I get tired, I’ll let you know. Go inside and rest.”

She glanced at the rundown shack. “You think it’s safer in there than out here?”

He laughed silently, his chest shaking. She had a point. The place was liable to collapse at any moment.

She rose up onto her toes though and kissed him, patting him on the chest before heading back inside. He knew she would want to keep a close eye on Grecia and the baby. They had no way to clean either mother or baby up properly out here, and the only clothes they had were a spare pair of leggings and a T-shirt in Ariel’s bag. Small blessing, he supposed. Better than nothing.

Rush luckily had several cloths they could use for the blood, but they really needed to get back to the compound as soon as possible. As soon as the sun came up, Kester intended to carry Grecia to the car and bolt.

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