“It would be my preference,” I say with a laugh.
“That’s what I get for marrying someone who spent his whole childhood watching adventure movies. Now he thinks he’s some damn fool elf on a quest for rodent!”
“You know what? I have an even better idea. Why don’t you just fuck off?”
I look over in time to see Beck shove Falk in the chest, and I brace myself for an actual fight. They have yet to come to blows, but I’m afraid it’s only a matter of time.
Falk stands up straighter but doesn’t retaliate as Beck spits on the ground at hi
s feet and stomps toward his apartment. Caesar comes up to Falk and says something quietly to him before heading off after Beck.
“Do they ever shut up?” Marco comes over to where I’m washing out pots and utensils and starts to dry them with a nearby towel.
Marco and his brother, Sam, were the first to join us after we found Caesar, Beck, and Ryan. They had been working in a field near a farm outside of town when their mother and two sisters disappeared. They had not been underground at all, but they had been far removed from any buildings. Their cattle and chickens had also disappeared. The two of them had walked all the way into town, looking for answers, and found us.
Marco had become the head of the family when their father passed away two years ago, and at only nineteen, he’s very outgoing and willing to do most any task set in front of him. Sam, who is a year younger, is a quiet young man with a shy smile. Though also a hard worker, he rarely says anything, preferring to have his brother speak for them both.
“Only when they stay away from each other,” I say. “I’ve tried to get them to play nice together, but they just set each other off.”
“They’re too much alike—alphas trying to be the head of the pack.” Marco says.
“Is that what we are,” I ask, “a pack?”
“You have a better word for it?”
“I guess not.” I glance over at Falk, and he motions for me to join him. “Can you take over for a minute? I’ll be right back.”
“Sure.” Marco grabs the dish from my hands and gets to scrubbing while I go to Falk.
“I’ve got to go,” Falk says with a sigh. “I don’t like the idea of leaving you here unprotected, but Beck just isn’t going to let it go. Taking you with me is even riskier.”
“Survivors spotted?”
“Yeah, near the university. Ryan saw them when he was up there. Four guys, two of them armed.”
“Be careful.”
“I’ll be fine. I’m more concerned about leaving you here.”
Falk hasn’t let me out of his sight since the day Beck put his hands on me. In another situation, I would have found his presence suffocating, but it has been good to have someone looking out for me.
“I’m getting better with the handguns.”
Falk raises an eyebrow at me.
“All right, I still suck, but I am better.”
“You have trouble hitting dirt,” Falk says. “I’m afraid you would just end up shooting yourself. I’ve always thought I could teach anyone in just a couple of lessons, but you, Ms. Savinski, are quite the challenge.”
“Just trying to keep you on your toes.”
He chuckles and shakes his head.
“Maybe we can try again when I get back.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
“How’s your leg today?” he asks.