Page 63 of Shelter (The Wanderers 4)

“How about two?” Braylon suggested.

“That’ll work too.” Rush nodded over his shoulder. “Come on. Let’s find the bunker and hope there are supplies. If we’re lucky, we’ll find a walkie-talkie.”

“Seriously?” Storm asked as they headed back outside and around behind the shack. “That would be helpful.”

“Indeed.” Rush had only been to this outpost one time, so it took him a few minutes, but he finally located the hatch and brushed the debris off it to pull it open. “Let me make sure it’s safe.” He lowered himself down the ladder.

Riggs leaned over the edge, grateful when a small light illuminated the space below.

“It’s safe. Come on down.”

Riggs helped Haley get started and then followed her. He was relieved to be out of the line of sight as soon as they’d closed the hatch, and even more pleased when he turned around to find Rush grinning and holding up a walkie-talkie.

“What keeps random people from finding this bunker and stealing the stash?” Braylon asked.

“They could, but it doesn’t happen often. If you don’t know it’s here, you’d have to get lucky finding it.”

Haley wandered in farther. “We’ve been in so many bunkers. I can’t believe how many there are. Seems like everyone has one.”

Rush nodded. “It’s true. Most people living off the grid have someplace to hide. Hell, The Wanderers have built an entire society in underground bunkers. You’re going to be shocked when you see it. We have everything we need hidden so well that strangers walk right over the top and never know it.”

“Sounds like heaven,” Haley leaned over the walkie-talkie. “How do those work?”

“I’m going to take it above ground, get a signal, and see if anyone from The Wanderers is listening. I’ll try all day. Eventually, someone will answer.”

Haley dropped onto a cushion on the floor and stretched out. “I know I said I could keep up, and I did, but I’m exhausted.”

Riggs rushed to help her get comfortable so she could sleep. They’d been awake for far too many hours and walking for several. He leaned over and kissed her. “Rest, honey.”

She squeezed his hand and his heartstrings when she smiled, and then she was out.

“I’m going back up to try and make contact,” Rush announced.

“I’ll go with you,” Storm said.

As soon as they were up the ladder and had closed the hatch, Riggs sighed and dropped down next to Bray. “I’m worried about her.”

“I know.” Bray grabbed Riggs’s forearm in the dark.

“I didn’t know I could feel more for her,” Riggs whispered, not wanting to disturb her. He set his hand on top of Bray’s.

“I know,” Bray repeated.

“It’s weird.”

“What’s weird?” Bray asked.

“You. Me. All of us, really. We’ve been friends for our entire lives, and I’ve never seen you naked. Felt strange watching you claim her. Felt even odder doing it myself with everyone watching. I assume it will get easier.”

“Yeah. I guess. I know what you mean. It was weird. But it was also kind of perfect. I don’t know why the aristocracy holds on to the notion that marriage should be between one man and one woman. Hypocritical too since I bet my estate isn’t close to being the only one where the wife was secretly impregnated by someone else.”

Riggs nodded, even though Bray couldn’t see him. “I bet most homes aren’t so well-connected that they’re able to purchase a sperm donor and keep him in a cell in the basement. I bet in a lot of instances, someone else simply fucks their wife.”

Bray cringed next to him. “I’m sure you’re right. I guess I should be glad my mother didn’t go that far. Felt like someone else was fucking her though. Not going to lie. Tore my heart out while I held her hands.”

Riggs cringed. “I hated that I wasn’t there. I was also relieved. I’m not sure I could have let the doctor go through with it. I might have lost my mind and shot him instead. It was better that you were there. You’re more level-headed than me.”

“I’m pretty sure Storm wanted to stab the doctor too,” Bray pointed out. “And don’t sell yourself short. Between the two of us, you’re the rock. I get more emotional.”

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