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“Yeah, can we talk about something else now? I’d ask you twenty questions, but you can’t remember shit,” she said, trying to suppress a smile.
He stood to his full height. The huge tunnel seemed to shrink in the presence of his large frame. A half smile played on his face as he said, “Fine. I’ve been thinking, I should go hunting, that way we can save our provision for when we travel—”
“Absolutely not.”
“Why? I have everything I need.”
She wanted to stand and face him, but movement seemed to anger her wound. “And what do you know about hunting?”
He grinned. “I have air in my lungs, perfect eyesight, and a gun. What else is needed?”
“Umm, aim.”
He removed his gun from his pack and turned it in his hand. “I could have aim. How do you know?”
She rested her hands in her lap. “Do you?”
He removed an empty black bean can from his pack, placed it at the end of the tunnel, and returned to her side. “Let’s find out.”
She looked to the can, then back to him. He held the gun with a skill that seemed natural, but if he could actually use the weapon was yet to be seen. He looked down the barrel of the gun and pressed on the trigger.
She couldn’t hold back her laughter. “Yeah, you have to load the pistol first.” Shit, that hurt. Note to self, no laughing.
He growled in response as he moved back to his pack and loaded a magazine. With quick movements, he returned to his stance and held out his arms. His gaze was steady as he focused on the can and fired.
The clang was immediate. The can flew up in the air, then came to a crashing halt onto the cement ground. He lowered his weapon as a wide smile spread across his face.
Oh, that beautiful smile. She couldn’t take her eyes off him.
Eva shook her head and said, “Beginner’s luck. You’re still not going. When I’m feeling better, I’ll go with you and—”
He tucked the pistol in his waistband. “Angel, we need food. I’m capable of doing this. You just saw it with your own eyes. Besides, you said I was strong. I. Can do. This.”
He called her Angel again. “Okay.”
“Okay? Good, I’m glad you’re seeing things my way now. So, what do you prefer, rabbit—”
She shook her head. “No, I meant, okay, I’d listen to you. Not okay, you can go.”
He took a deep breath. “Damn it, Eva, I’m not asking your permission, but I would feel better if you were comfortable with me going.”
She needed him to understand why it was dangerous for someone unfamiliar with this area to travel alone, and accomplishing that from the ground was a no-go. She eased herself off the tunnel floor. Her knees were weak and shaky, but she had the strength to stand.
She reached for the wall to steady her footing as Krieger came to her side.
He placed his hand on her shoulder and asked, “What are you doing?”
She leaned into him. “I’m still your commanding officer, and I said no.”
His brow furrowed as he moved away from her. “I’m not just gonna let you starve, Eva. I won’t be far, just a few yards from this tunnel. If you’re stable, and the weather is not shit, I’m going.” He turned from her and made a beeline for the tunnel opening.
She had to stop him. He didn’t know what he was getting himself into and was likely to get himself killed. She couldn’t allow that—couldn’t handle that.
She pushed off the wall and started after him. “Krieger!”
He was almost to the end of the tunnel when she lost her footing and went down hard on her side, knocking the wind out of her lungs. She moaned as the searing heat ate its way through her limbs and torso. Her hand went to her wound just as he came rushing to her side.
“Shit, your wound’s bleeding again,” he said as he touched her shirt, which was already wet with fresh blood. He leaned her up against the wall again. “Tell me what to do.”
