Page 170 of After the Burn

“Only two?” He smiled.

I shrugged. “I have a very complicated point system.”

All three of them laughed, and I took a moment to appreciate their masculine beauty. I’d hit the apocalypse lotto with these men.

Maleficent, eat your heart out. This evil queen was the luckiest in all the land.

Wren and Colson walked over, and she gave the chain a sharp tug. “It’s time to go, captive.”

I turned slowly. “You’re enjoying this entirely too much.”

“Yep,” she agreed.

“Why in the hell did you have cuffs in your bag in the first place?” I asked curiously.

“Colson gave them to me.” She turned to smile at him. “Didn’t you, big man?”

He didn’t respond, his intense gaze locked on Wren. He looked as if he were one breath away from abandoning the entire plan and taking Wren back to the silo himself.

“I’ll come back, I swear.” Wren ran a gentle hand down his arm.

His jaw tightened. “You'd better.”

With a big smile, she turned away, and we walked off together.

I looked back once.

Beck.

Lucas.

Adrian.

All three of them watched me, with an intensity that raised goosebumps on my arms.

“Come on, sis. If we don’t go now, they’ll shit-can the whole plan.”

I knew she was right, so I turned back and took a deep breath. It was time to bring out the old Taryn. I’d need her to get all of us through this.

“Ready?” Wren smiled.

“Not really,” I smirked.

“Good. Me neither.”

Neither of us laughed; we didn’t have it in us at the moment.

The trees started to clear up ahead, and then we saw the compound fence. Chain-link fencing ten feet high, topped with barbed wire. Past it, fuel tanks stood above the buildings like enormous white monuments to all that these men ruled.

As we grew closer, I lowered my chin and let my shoulders slump.

Wren jerked the chain again. “Walk faster.”

Startled by her sudden action, I lost my balance. I slowly turned my head, narrowing my eyes.

She was smiling.

“I will kill you,” I mouthed.