A fluttering sensation stirred in my stomach, but I dragged in a shaky breath and turned, taking in the group that had become my family during the end of the world. I gave them a small wave and locked the image in my mind.
Then Theo took my hand, linking his fingers with mine, and together we followed Varesh and Tim out to the car park.
Thirty-One
theo
The morning light bounced off the car windshields parked behind the building, blinding me after the dim foyer. I blinked as my eyes adjusted, breathing in the cold air and scanning the area for movement. The faint smell of death lingered from the bodies we’d piled up at the back.
We were almost done.
Just about ready to leave this place for the last time.
Sadie’s hand was still in mine. A dog barked somewhere nearby, and the distantwhop-whopof a helicopter hovered over the rooftops.
Tim’s gaze narrowed as he examined her. Probably searching for signs she’d changed her mind about leaving. I’d been thinking the same thing myself, and the worry wouldn’t fade until we were halfway down the highway.
“All good, Sadie girl?” He lifted his brows, switching to a lighter tone.
Her eyes were still rimmed in red, her composure one understanding smile away from falling apart. She nodded and released my hand. “It just feels like a big deal to be leaving here.”
“Because you know what to expect at home.” Varesh shoved his hands in his jacket pockets, taking in Sadie, then me.
She gathered her hair into a bundle and smoothed it with her hands, securing it with the hair tie from her wrist. “We don’t have a single clue what’s going on out there or how bad it’s gotten.”
We’d been in the dark—literally—since the power went off. No news. No radio.
But my Ranger had a bullbar to shield us from the infected, and we had food, water, and fuel. Weapons, too.
I was as confident as I could be under the circumstances.
“Come here, then. Let’s get this over with.” Tim held out his arms, and Sadie went straight to him. He wrapped her up in a proper, all-encompassing hug, his chin tucked over her shoulder, his eyes closing as he tightened his hold. “We’ll see you soon. All three of us.”
Her breath hitched at the reminder that they were waiting behind for her sister. For a second, I nearly lost my mind and told her to stay with them. It felt wrong tearing her away from the one place where she felt secure—but she could make her own decisions, and she’d chosen to come with me.
Varesh waited nearby, his composure softening as his gaze flicked between the two of them.
When Tim pulled back, he grabbed Sadie’s face and planted a kiss on the tip of her nose. “Please don’t die.”
Laughter erupted from her, just as he’d intended, and she patted his head. “I think I’ll miss you most of all, Scarecrow.”
He snorted and shoved her toward Varesh. “Shut up. Go say goodbye to my husband.”
I was still smiling at their exchange when Tim approached me, pushing my offered hand aside and dragging me in for a hug. I’d held it together pretty well up to this point, but the thought of taking Sadie away from him, of potentially not seeing him and Varesh again, almost tipped me over the edge. My throat ached, and I blinked a couple of times as I hugged him back.
“Keep her safe,” he said. “Never let her out of your sight.”
“You know I will.” I clasped the back of his head and gave his buzz cut an affectionate rub.
Tim exhaled, the sound half sigh, half laugh as he pulled away. “I hate goodbyes with a passion.”
When Varesh approached, I grabbed his hand, keeping our clasped fists between us as I drew him in for a half hug. “Do whatever you need to do with Dustin,” I said, keeping my voice low so Sadie wouldn’t hear me, “and don’t feel bad about it. If he needs to go, he needs to go.”
Varesh nodded as he stepped back, his dark eyes glinting. We’d had this discussion on the day we rescued Sadie and Tim, so nothing more needed to be said.
The four of us gathered around, seconds away from leaving.
“Five days, per our agreement,” Tim said. “If Ava doesn’t show by then, we’ll leave a note in Sadie’s apartment, keys to a car in case she needs one, then make our way to you.”
