Part 6 (1/2)

”You appear to have been right. They came back. And they brought their friends. But it doesn't look like they have guns. We do, so we should be okay.”

”You don't sound as convincing as I'd like.”

”Well, I'm working on limited information at the moment. If I could see guns, I'd know they have them, but I can't, so I don't.”

”How many guys are there?”

”At least a dozen. A few have knives. We can totally take them.” He sounded confident.

Her head spun as adrenaline spiked in her system. ”No way. That's too many. We need to go. Now. While we still can.”

”We have guns.”

”They might have some, too! And they have numbers. I'm a terrible shot with this and you can't mow them all down in a sea of bullets. Let's check the back and if it's clear, then let's get the h.e.l.l out of here and let them take what they want.”

”No. This is my home and I'm not handing it over without a fight. If you want to leave, go ahead. I'll cover you as best as I can from here.”

Sara's anger spiked as she tossed her gun and ammo into the main part of her backpack and the knife into the outside pocket were she could reach it easily if needed, then shrugged it onto her shoulders. She pulled on her shoes, lacing them tight. ”You're going to stay here and fight, probably lose, and for what? Four walls and a fireplace? A bed?”

The voices outside grew louder. Closer. But as far as she could tell, all of them came from out front, which meant the back should be clear.

”Don't be stupid, Dane. These people are dangerous. Come with me.”

”I can't leave.”

She threw her hand up, frustrated to still be talking about this. ”Why?”

”Because I don't have anything else. This is it. This cabin is everything to me. My life, my memories of my family, everything is here. There's nothing out there for me.”

Sara cupped his face in her hands, forcing him to focus on her. ”You'll have me. My family made me swear never to bring anyone to the bunker with me, but I don't give a s.h.i.+t anymore. I can't leave you here. Come with me. Now. You'll have me and you'll still have the memories of your family. You don't need the cabin for that.”

The door handle rattled behind them. Sara pulled Dane toward the back door, away from the mob of men gathering in the front.

As they reached the kitchen, a rock crashed through the front window landing with a thud on the hardwood floor in a mess of shattered gla.s.s. The voices outside cheered as something big banged against the door.

Dane's look of determination fell as he heard his home about to be invaded.

”Come on,” she pleaded, pulling him away from the chaos. She stopped long enough to retrieve her bucket of food supplies before continuing on to the kitchen. ”We have to go now or we won't be able to get away.”

”Where's that pretty set of t.i.ts I met the other day? Come out, come out wherever you are.”

The voice of the tall man who'd grabbed her a couple of days before crept through the house like smoke, choking her with fear. At the sound, Dane instantly snapped out of whatever daze he'd been in. He slipped into the boots at the back door and quickly laced just the top two eyelets, knotting them. She hadn't even noticed the backpack waiting on the table until he threw it on his back.

He handed her the bow and quiver she'd left there earlier, then grabbed his own. He peeked through the window for a second before throwing open the door and pus.h.i.+ng her through into the night air. Dane paused, glancing back into the cabin.

Sara stood s.h.i.+vering in the cold as it settled around her thin sweater. Her s.h.i.+vers stilled at the feel of a hand grabbing her arm and her body pressing against someone big and solid.

”You weren't trying to get away from me now were you, sweetheart?” a man whispered in her ear. His tongue darted out, licking her, making her cringe. ”I thought we got along rather well the last time we spoke. And I certainly wasn't finished with you.”

Bile rose in Sara's throat at his words and at his hand as it tightened on her arm. She dropped the bucket and clawed at him. Her a.r.s.enal of weapons poked into her back so hard she thought she might actually be bleeding.

”Dane!” she yelled, managing to call out before the tall man behind her clasped a hand over her mouth, pressing her even harder against him.

Anger flared to life in Dane's eyes as he started toward her and the man holding her captive. ”Let her go or so help me, I will kill you.”

”Big words coming from someone completely outnumbered,” he sneered and took a step back, dragging Sara with him.

”Didn't I make myself clear? Let her go or you die. Simple. Make your choice because we're leaving, one way or the other.”

Dane took his bow off his shoulder and loaded it with an arrow, aiming it at Sara and her captor. She shook uncontrollably. How could he take out the man without also hitting her? It wasn't that she didn't trust he was a good shot, but it was dark, tensions where high, and at any second, someone else could come and join the fight and take Dane down. She fought her nerves, calming her body until it stilled. If she couldn't fight her way free, then at least she could attempt to make Dane's job easier by becoming as small an obstacle as possible.

”Who knows what kind of women we'll have left after this disease wipes out half the world. I think I'll keep this one.”

Sara gritted her teeth together. No way. She wasn't about to let herself become some kind of commodity that could be looted, traded, or sold.

Taking a deep breath, she stomped her heel onto his foot as hard as she could, simultaneously grabbing his fingers and wrenching them backward. He called out and staggered, relaxing his hold enough for her to wiggle out of his arms.

She froze as an arrow whooshed pa.s.sed her head, lodging itself into the man's upper chest, just below his collarbone. He looked down at the wood sticking out of his body then fell to the ground.

Sara's knees turned to liquid at the sight of her a.s.sailant slumped in the dirt, groping at the stick in his body.

”Run!” Dane pulled her by the arm toward the woods. ”The others are coming.”

Sara grabbed her bucket of food from where she'd dropped it and attempted to find her footing, but every step felt as if she ran in waist-high mud instead of in the woods. Her mind swirled as she replayed the last few minutes.

Dane had shot someone with an arrow, right before her eyes. He'd saved her.

Dane shot someone with a f.u.c.king arrow.

The men at the cabin called out for help as they found their friend on the ground. The sound of angry yells cleared the fog from Sara's head and she ran faster, hoisting her bucket of food into her arms. She staggered under the weight as it threw her off balance. But she didn't care. There wasn't a chance in h.e.l.l she'd leave so much food behind when she still didn't know what awaited them.

Dane led the way through the bushes and trees off-trail so it was harder for her to follow. That probably meant it would be harder for others to follow them too.

”You okay?” he asked over his shoulder.

”Sure. Fine. Great.”

”You don't sound very convincing.”

”I'm sorry if I'm a little on edge. People attacked your house, then attacked me, and then you killed someone with an arrow.” Her voice cracked, giving away her emotions.

He paused and pulled her into his arms, kissing her forehead. ”I didn't kill anyone. I put an arrow in his shoulder. At worst he'll get an infection and not be able to hold a big stick for a while. At best, he'll heal completely. But if someone threatens you again, and killing him is the only option for saving you, I'll do it without hesitation.”

He kissed her lips quickly, then took the bucket of food from her arms and stalked off into the woods again.

Walking was a little easier, but she was still weighed down by her pack and the bow. She trekked on as best she could, trying not to stumble. The moon was full in the night sky, helping to light the way a little.