Page 95 of After the Burn

Leaning down, I took her mouth in mine and gently bit her puffy bottom lip. “I love you too, baby. I always have.”

As I fell to my side, I pulled her into my body. This girl was my life, and I’d do whatever it took to keep her with me.

Several hours later, I heard Lucas and Beck come through the door. I gently eased away from Taryn and threw my pants on.

Walking into the kitchen, I saw Beck with his back to me as he filled a bowl with the stew we had for supper, and Lucas was sitting at the table.

“Did everything go okay?” I asked, sitting beside Lucas.

“Do you really care?” He raised his head from where it had rested on his arms. “Looking at you, I’m sure you weren’t too worried about us.”

Beck turned and looked over, and when he caught sight of my tousled appearance, his eyes blazed with rage. We stared at each other for a few tense minutes before he turned back to what he was doing and slowly relaxed his shoulders.

“Well, that was disappointing. I’m sure the little brat would love to see you two fighting over her.” Lucas snorted, then laid his head back down.

Beck walked over, plopped his bowl on the table, kicked out a chair, and began eating, all without a word.

I got it.

I wasn't thrilled knowing he and Taryn had sex either. I didn’t know exactly how all of this was going to work, but I knew it had to.

As much as it was going to pain me, I hoped Lucas would eventually get over his shit and get with the program, too. Taryn was something special, and the interest she’d garnered here proved it.

Three enhanced men might not even be enough to keep her safe. But unfortunately, that’s all I could handle. I think I could accept them because I knew they’d die for her, as I would.

I stood and filled the old enamel percolator from the pitcher sitting beside the sink before twisting off the lid. The metal basket fit over the center stem with a familiar click, and I measured the coffee grounds by instinct more than memory.

I screwed a fresh one-pound propane bottle into the bottom of the little camp stove Beck had used earlier to cook our supper. Someone must have scavenged it from a camping supply store. I wish we could take it with us when we left, but it would be too awkward to carry.

The burner hissed softly as I opened the valve. One strike of the lighter and a steady blue flame sprang to life, chasing the early morning chill from the room. The old enamel percolator settled over the burner with a metallic clink, and before long the first faint burble promised coffee.

The first cup was always the hardest to wait for, but after finally coming together with Taryn, the caffeine was almost unnecessary.

Behind me, Beck broke the silence. “I don’t think it’s going to take much to get us out of here.”

“Yeah, I agree. Most of the men we worked with tonight weren’t enhanced. Our being there was unusual.” Lucas raised his head again. “It’s a little puzzling, if I’m being honest. You’d think Gideon would keep them on the fence.”

I nodded in agreement. “That is strange.”

I’d noticed a pattern of enhanced men becoming scarce at certain times. Since we hadn't been here long enough to gain Gideon's trust, we weren’t privy to that information. I hoped that claiming Taryn would help with that.

Crack.

The rifle shot echoed somewhere far beyond the house.

All three of us froze as the percolator gave another lazy burble.

Beck slowly lifted his head and listened closely. “You hear that?”

“I heard it,” Lucas answered, already reaching for the rifle he’d leaned against the wall.

Silence settled over the neighborhood. Long enough that I almost convinced myself it had been a negligent discharge.

Then another shot shattered the darkness. Followed immediately by two more.

Rapid and sounding panicked.

Beck was moving before the last echo faded. His chair crashed backward as he snatched his rifle off the wall. “Taryn.”