Page 131 of After the Burn

“You stay, you die. Those are your choices,” Adrian said, letting go of his shirt. “But remember, Rory is the most precious thing in Harper’s world, and Harper would want you to take care of her.”

Finley started openly sobbing even as Harper snapped at Beck’s forearm. He jerked back just in time. “Finley, man, what do you want me to do?”

I didn’t envy Finley. We’d all grown fond of him and Harper. I couldn’t imagine what I’d do if it were Taryn.

That realization stopped me cold. Taryn—a girl who had accused me of something terrible yet had grown into a woman who had saved me more times than I could remember. Was I prepared to abandon everything I felt for her forever? Was my anger worth sacrificing the love I knew, deep down, would never fade?

“Finley!”

Beck’s yell pulled me out of my thoughts, and I saw the look on Finley’s face as he realized that his choice really wasn’t a choice at all.

He gave Beck a slight nod as tears rolled down his face, and he followed Adrian out of the barn.

Taryn was beside me, bat in her hands, wet hair stuck to her pale face.

She looked toward Beck. “Beck!”

He shoved Harper backward into the stall and kicked the gate shut between them. He should have killed her, but I didn’t blame him for not doing it.

The wood wouldn’t hold for long, so he turned and motioned for Taryn to come to him. Just as she took a step, we heard the roof crack over the thunder.

I looked up just as another beam came down between Beck and us. It hit the floor hard enough to further reduce visibility.

Taryn tried to climb over it to reach Beck, but I caught her around the waist. “No. We’ve got to get out of here.”

“But what about Beck?” She was looking through the rain, frantically, trying to see if he had made it out of the barn.

“Beck, I’ve got Taryn!” I roared over the thunder and rain.

Faintly, we heard him reply. “Keep her safe!”

A rotter came through the broken wall behind us. I released Taryn, drew my hatchet from my belt, and swung it hard enough to bury it in its temple.

Its body jerked, but it didn’t fall. I planted my boot against its chest and ripped the hatchet free. Black blood sprayed across my arm and face.

Taryn brought the bat down and crushed its skull.

“Move,” I commanded her.

We had to get the fuck out of here.

She looked toward where Beck had been standing once more, but he was gone. We were the last two left in the barn, and it was time to leave.

A rotter lunged from the fog, and Taryn swung. The bat struck its jaw, and the bottom of its face disappeared.

He kept coming.

Her second swing was slower, and the rotter grabbed her. I caught it from the side and drove the hatchet into the base of its skull.

It dropped. “If I have to tell you again, I’m throwing you over my shoulder! Now let’s fucking go!”

She glared at me but kept that beautiful mouth shut for once.

We burst through what remained of the side wall and into the storm. Rain hit hard enough to sting. The field beyond the barn had turned to mud, and Taryn slipped almost immediately.

I caught her arm, and she jerked it away. “I’m fine.”

“Stop being so stubborn and let me help you!” I was desperate to get her to safety. The look on Finley’s face when he realized Harper was dead kept replaying in my mind.