He staggers just a moment, then collapses onto his side in the snowdrift. A clean kill.
"Thank you," I mutter under my breath.
I haul his carcass over, then get to work quick, plunging my knife into the belly, releasing the steaming entrails. Internal organs spill out in a heap as I slice them free, then toss them aside for whatever other animals can use them. By gutting him here, I lighten the load to haul back the parts that really matter.
My gaze wanders to the crimson-stained snow, barely visible in the darkness, my thoughts flashing back to the end of winter when Cal’s sister died. Rex, Colt, and I were planning on leaving town the next day, only a group of psycho scavengers came to town.
There were maybe seven people back then. I remember the screams. The three of us went to help. Came across Cal’s sister on the ground being attacked. I shot the bastard.
Thought she was safe. Sure, she was shell-shocked. Can’t blame the girl. Only she grabbed the bastard’s knife, told me she was sorry she just couldn’t live like this anymore, then plunged it into her neck.
Cal came running up a few minutes later. He thought she’d been killed by the scavenger. I let him think that. Didn’t want him to know otherwise.
Three others were killed. The survivors left the next day. Cal wouldn’t leave.
So, I said goodbye to my friends and settled down as best I could, watching over Cal . . . until I caught him fucking three years later. I’d pushed down the growing heat, denying the part that looked at him differently.
One day, I couldn’t do it anymore.
Not sure why he even came back for more. That first night damn near embarrassed myself. Minute man . . . Ha. Barely got inside his tight ass before I was coming. Definitely lasted less than a minute.
And when I caught him fucking that girl after that, can’t say I didn’t mind blowing the bitch’s head off. Sure, the universe gave me a golden ticket when I caught her about to stab him, but I sure as hell had been wanting to do it since the moment she sank down on his cock.
I shake my head, then finish lashing meat and hide onto my pack before hoisting it over my shoulders and heading back to the farmhouse.
Trek back isn’t so bad. Mostly downhill. Glad I came across the buck. Should be easier to get Cal to put on some more weight.
I’m about twenty yards from the back door when the shotgun goes off.
“Fuck!”
I drop the pack and sprint to the house, pulling my Sig from my waistband. I take a quick glance through the side window. Cal stands at the front door, shotgun leveled on something. Or someone.
Carefully making my way around the side, I spot two people. Neither have their hands raised. Definitely not frightened, which means they’re dangerous.
I bring the muzzle up, pointing it at the larger one, when the thinner blonde twists fast, throwing something in my direction. The thunk is loud, and when I turn to the side, there’s a knife wedged into the side of the house, mere inches from my face.
Yup, definitely dangerous. Time to end them.
But the larger one steps in front of the blonde. “Mac?”
I freeze. Haven’t heard his voice in . . . “Rex?”
He nods, and I lower my gun as he appears to admonish the younger man with him. The blonde just shrugs, yet keeps death glaring at me as if I’m his next meal.
Interesting.
“Uh, Mac?”
I turn to face Cal. “It’s okay. He’s an old friend.”
A snort cuts through the air so loudly, both Cal and I turn to face Rex and his companion.
Rex coughs as he grabs the young man by the throat. “Knock the shit off.”
“Are we going to stand out here? It’s cold as balls,” Cal says, shotgun lowered.
I turn my focus to him. I’m not sure about Rex’s friend, but Cal’s safety is my first priority. Not putting him in unnecessary danger. “Dropped my pack with the meat out back. Go get it.”
