“Mav!” someone yells, and I turn to find Bec struggling to get the last of her tent into her bag.
I jump off the quad and walk over to her, placing my hands on her small shoulders. She always gets nervous when we have to move camps, and it’s no wonder. I’d have PTSD too if I’d been through what she had. “It’s okay,” I tell her. “You’re gonna be fine.”
She nods quickly, like she’s trying to convince herself. “I know.”
I shove the rest of the canvas into its bag and carry it over to the ATV, adding it to the pile on the back. “Stay with her?”
Bec looks at Delilah, who’s wide-eyed as she takes in the rapidly-disappearing camp. “She’s coming with us?”
I rub my jaw, ignoring how uncomfortable it makes me to think of Delilah going back to New Athens. “For now.”
Bec studies me briefly before her attention shifts to Delilah. “Hey city girl. You’re with me.”
Delilah’s golden-brown eyes find mine instantly. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say she’s nervous to be away from me.
“You got her?” I ask Bec.
My number two gives me a solemn nod. “I got her.”
I watch them speed away on the ATV toward the dock, ignoring the uncomfortable twist in my gut.Maybe Delilah’s not the only one who’s nervous about being separated.
I get to work helping pack up the rest of the camp. I can’t even count how many times I’ve done this, and while we’ve gotten more efficient over the years—it’s practically a science at this point—it never gets any easier leaving the place you’ve called home, however short the stay.
Within an hour, everything is loaded onto the small ferry. The van, the ATV, the animals, and everyone with their personal belongings. Normally, we wouldn’t risk moving the ferry during the day, but if the Brotherhood was able to lock onto our signal, we can’t risk waiting until nightfall.
I’ve scouted these islands—most of them uninhabited—a few times, and we always have our next few spots planned out. I head toward the helm, all the while scanning the crowd for Bec and Delilah. I don’t see either of them, but I trust that Bec has everything under control. She’s done this almost as many times as I have, after all.
V’s waiting for me at the wheel. “Everyone’s accounted for.” She doesn’t even bother asking why we’re leaving.
I nod appreciatively. “Thanks, Doc.”
“Where’s your girl?” she asks with a quirked brow.
I glare half-heartedly. “She’s not my girl, V.”
The older woman smiles slyly. “And yet, you know exactly who I’m asking about.”
Zeus barks at my side, as if he’s agreeing with her.Traitor.
I ignore her smug expression and start the engine. My high-pitched whistle rings out, signaling everyone to quiet down. “Conditions aren’t ideal, so stay low and keep it down. We should get to the new island in an hour or so.”
Everyone sits and settles in, everything they own within arm’s reach. Once again, I find myself searching the sea of faces for the one woman I know I shouldn’t get attached to. Based on her conversation with Gabriel, it would appear she has every intention of returning to New Athens. Even after everything she’s learned. Even after the truth of who the Brotherhood really are has been revealed to her. The very idea of her being in her husband’s clutches again makes me want to punch something, but I meant what I said. If she still wants to go back to him at the end of all this, she can. I won’t keep her here against her will. Otherwise, I’m no better than the very men I’m fighting against.
There she is. She’s sitting next to Bec, arms wrapped around her knees. She looks around, and for whatever reason, the selfish part of me hopes she’s searching for me. Her brown curls are wild from the ATV ride, her body radiating unease. Even from here, I can tell she feels lost, like a lamb that’s wandered away from its herd.
To her, we’re the wolves. But really, she’s been surrounded by wolves most of her life and hasn’t even realized it.
She spots me, and damn if she doesn’t instantly look calmer. I can’t read into it, though. She’s a victim of the Brotherhood, mostlikely confused as hell, and I’ve been the one constant thing in her life the past few days. I would be an idiot to see it as anything more.
You good?I mouth from across the boat.
She nods, a small frown marring her brow, before turning her attention back to Bec. I’ll need to talk to Delilah about what happened with Gabriel eventually, about what she wants. But for now, my focus is on getting this group of people to safety.
The water churns behind us as we glide toward our destination, another island about twenty miles north of here. This particular one used to be a state park and hiking destination, so there’s a ferry dock, which will hopefully make settling in go much smoother. There was one island we stayed on where there was nowhere to dock the boat, and we had to take everyone and everything to shore in small trips. It was also more difficult to leave since we had to do the same thing when it was time to move on, and we collectively decided to only stay on islands with docks from then on out.
V, who did her rounds to check on everyone and make sure there were no major injuries acquired in the scuffle, rejoins me at the helm. “What happened?”
I exhale slowly through my nose. “We got a call from her husband. Figured it was better to be safe than sorry in case they tracked the signal.”
