by Snow, Jenika
There was a basketball hoop and makeshift court set up to her left, a bunch of the younger kids playing, yelling, laughing and having a good time. She could see Lucy sitting on one of the picnic tables off to the side, a couple other girls around her.
Sasha could imagine they were talking about all the cute boys.
Over the last month, Lucy had made a lot of friends, and Sasha could see the change in her as she settled in, getting comfortable, and Sasha really thought she was starting to make this place her home.
On her other side there was a large building where they trained. That’s where Malachi was right now. As she stood there and watched the double doors opened and people started filing out. She felt her heart start to beat harder, and her smile grow as she watched Malachi exit as well.
He looked right at her instantly, as if he knew where she was, as if they were two magnets being pulled together.
He strode toward her in the next minute, sweat covering his body, his muscles starting to be more defined. He’d been lean and hard when she first met him, but now he was starting to bulk up, looking even more manly than he did before. And that was saying something since he’d been all-man well before now.
She started making her way toward him as well, setting her work gloves and shovel off to the side. She stopped when she was just a foot from him, and he raked his gaze up and down her body. She was sweaty, had dirt covering her hands and probably her face, but the way he looked at her had her body heating.
He made her feel like she was standing here totally naked and he was about to fuck her.
“Hey, baby.”
“Hey,” she said softly. “How was training?” God, her voice sounded breathy and had nothing to do with working out in the sun all day and everything to do with the arousal that was starting to consume her.
He nodded slowly, made a gruff sound in the back of his throat. “Productive.” Malachi’s voice was so masculine.
Millie was taking shifts in the textile work. She was incredible with sewing and tending to clothing, so that if not for her and the others everyone would be wearing tattered rags.
Over the last month, Sasha had been visiting Tree Man in isolation. He was in his own cell, the structure made up of plastic or Plexiglas, or something similar. It was all so white and clean looking, with microscopes and scientific equipment in the lab. But it was clear Tree Man was there voluntarily. She and Lucy would sit with him and just talk, listening to his stories. He’d always make Lucy laugh.
“You training during the second shift?”
She nodded and slowly wiped her hands up and down her jeans. “Yeah. We’re doing hand-to-hand combat tonight so I’m sure I’ll be sore as hell come morning.”
He chuckled softly and took a step closer. “I’ll have to make sure to have a hot bath ready for you then.”
A shiver raced up her spine. “Although that sounds like heaven, I’m not about to waste our water rations on a soak.”
He smirked. “It won’t be wasting if I take a bath with you.”
Her heart hiccupped in her chest.
“I got about an hour to spare before I’m due at the garage.”
On top of training, Malachi was doing mechanical engineering stuff. He fixed machines, helped create tools, and just overall did that manly stuff that made Sasha warm all over.
“Funny thing... I have about an hour break as well.” He groaned softly and wrapped his hand around her waist and pulled her in close.
“Then we better go find something productive to do.”
She felt herself blush and licked her lips. “I guess we better then.”
And then he led them away, back to their house, and she knew he’d most definitely make this time productive.
Chapter Fifty—Five
It’s good to feel happy
Malachi sipped at his tea and watched as Lucy dribbled the ball. She was really good and Sasha had told him just the other day that her sister would spend hours outside their home playing with a ball, shooting it through a hoop, or throwing it against the curb. Watching her now, in their front yard playing with a couple of others girls, he was happy, and it seemed almost too good to be true.
Sasha was at her training again. He hated to see her go off and fight just like him, or at least to be prepared to fight in the event war broke out or one of those armies they had seen on their trek here finally found them.
No, he couldn’t bring himself to think like that.
It didn’t matter what his concerns were. He’d spoken to the man in charge, an ex-marine who was skilled in preparing for the enemy. Cole, the man in charge of their training, had assured him he would be ready in the event of anyone attacking the haven.
It didn’t matter how many people assured him, or how many watch towers he saw, or spotters out in the field, he would always worry when it came to his family.
He, Sasha, Lucy, Millie, and Tree Man, they were a family.
Against all the odds, they had somehow managed to find a place for themselves here. Millie walked down the street with a big smile on her face. She looked so happy.
She hadn’t made any request to leave, or to find accommodations of her own yet. He had figured she would want to leave, to possibly start her own family. He hadn’t asked her about it, and he hadn’t even talked to Sasha.
He didn’t want to get rid of the other woman, but he certainly didn’t want her staying with them out of guilt. There was nothing wrong with wanting her own life. She had a satchel on her shoulder and she spent most of her evenings repairing small things and mending clothing.
She always looked happy.
“Well done, Luce, you are so good,” she said, heading up the path.
“Thank you, Millie. How many clothes did you make today?”
“A couple. I think they’re my best work.” Millie smiled up at him. “Hey, Malachi. Sasha still training?”
“That she is.”
“I should really sign up to at least take some basic defense but the whole hand-to-hand combat stuff scares the crap out of me.” She brushed past him. “Did you get dinner ready?”
“I prepared the vegetables for the soup.”
“Soup again. Oh well, you know I won’t complain. I stopped by to see Tree Man. He said some really freaky stuff before they sedated them,” Millie said, putting her bag in the corner where she usually sat after dinner.
“He did?” Malachi stepped into the house.
“Yes. One moment he was fine and we were talking about some book he’d read when he was a kid. I can’t remember it now, but anyway, all of a sudden he threw himself at the glass. Slapped his palm against the glass and screamed they were coming. They can’t be killed. It was going to be a bloodbath. We were all so much delicious food. Tempting. Sweet. Blood. So much blood.”
Malachi frowned. “He’s been known to ramble about odd things.”
“I swear I’m not making this up but it was like he could see something. Like there was something inside his head or he was warning us. I don’t know. It creeped me out. One of the doctors ran in as he yelled and screamed, telling us to put up the barriers.”
Malachi didn’t like that. Did it mean the virus was spreading? Ruining what was left of Tree Man?
“I don’t think Lucy should go to see him for a little while until we know he’s okay.”
“I’ll tell Sasha about it when she gets home. I know she likes to see him as well. I think she feels a little guilt about him knowing about this place and you know, her doubting him.”
Malachi nodded. “How are you feeling?” he asked.
“Me?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m fine. Why?”
“I … I know none of us talked about this or planned what would happen when we came here. I guess I want to know if you’re still happy staying with us?” He’d been a criminal. Killed people and right now, talking to this woman, he had never felt so awkward in his life.
“Do you want me to leave?”
&nbs
p; “No! No, of course I don’t want you to leave. I … this is all we’re going to have and I didn’t know if you’re staying with us because we all got you here, protected you or what?”
She smiled. “I thought you wanted me gone then. I was a little freaked out.”
“None of us want you gone.”
“Malachi, I consider you, Sasha, Lucy, and even Tree Man to be my family. I’m not staying here out of guilt. I’m staying here because this is where I want to be and there’s no place that could give me what you guys do. I feel like I belong here.”
“And you do,” Sasha said.
Malachi hadn’t even heard his woman arrive. She had a bruise across her cheek. “What the fuck?”
“Don’t worry about it. I didn’t duck fast enough. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Anyone know why they’re not letting us see Tree Man?”
“I know,” Millie said.
Malachi listened as Millie told Sasha exactly what she had him.
“That’s creepy,” she said.
“Isn’t it?” Millie said. “I don’t know what to make of it.”
“We’ll all head over to the quarantine tomorrow. He is, after all, one of us,” Sasha said, wrapping her arms around his waist.
Malachi was pissed she had a bruise on her face, but what he also didn’t like was how out of breath she sounded. She’d been sluggish lately, and while they were visiting Tree Man, he would get the doctor to look her over.
“So we’re a family. I’m really pleased you don’t want to leave, Millie,” Sasha said.
“As long as it’s okay with the two of you. I don’t want to come between you guys, you know.”
“It’s no problem with me,” Sasha said. “I like the idea of us all being a family. We’ve all lost so much. I think it’s time for us to rebuild our future together.”
Chapter Fifty-Six
Their happily ever after… for now
The men stood in front of him, armed, ready. They’d been planning for this. If the Clan was going to reign supreme, survive this world, they had to make their own rules.
And Strike was going to make that a reality.
He was going to make it their reality.
Strike moved back and forth slowly, the bodies of his warriors as far as he could see. Some were trained, others the elderly or boys. But they all had one thing in common.
They’d die for this.
And that’s exactly what they’d all do if it came down to it, because if you weren’t at the top of the food chain, you were nothing but a body taking up space.
Strike was going to bring his army to that safe haven up north, and he was going to take everything they had.
They had to be the ones on top.
And Strike was going to make that a reality.
He was going to make it their reality when the time was right, when they were stronger… prepared to take the world.
* * *
Malachi held Sasha, her naked, soft body pressed against his. The steady, even sound of her breathing could’ve lulled him to sleep. He was exhausted, but sleep just wouldn’t claim him. He was happy, deliriously so.
Things were working well. They had a life here, safety and protection. They had food and shelter, and Lucy and Sasha were safe. That’s all he could ask for.
He shifted slightly and looked down at her. The dark crescent shape of her eyelashes falling against her alabaster cheeks had his heart racing. He wanted so much more with her.
Although marriage and weddings weren’t what this world was about anymore, Malachi still couldn’t help but feel the desire for all of that with Sasha. He wanted her as his wife, as the mother of his children. He wanted to grow old with her, to have a family.
Yeah, he wanted forever with her.
He slipped his hand under the blanket and placed it on her flat stomach, wondering if even now she was carrying his child. It wasn’t like he’d used protection any of the times he’d claimed her.
And the very thought that she’d be his always had Malachi even more possessive of her. And that was saying a hell of a lot since he already felt like a caveman where Sasha was concerned.
She stirred slightly but stayed asleep, and he closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. She smelled like lavender, like the fresh lavender they used in the homemade soap they gave them in their rations.
“What are you thinking about?” Her drowsy voice stirred him and he opened his eyes.
Malachi shifted so he could look at her. “I’m thinking about you. Us. Everything. I’m thinking about what the future holds.”
She smiled drowsily and he pulled her in close once more... impossibly closer.
“Do you think all of this will work out? Do you think we can truly be safe and happy here?”
He thought about her question for a moment, knowing that nothing these days was guaranteed. She knew that as well, but it was nice to think that they’d finally found a place they could call their own.
It was nice to finally have a home they could actually plan a future around.
“I hope it is, baby. I really do.”
She snuggled in closer to him and he ran his other hand up and down her back. Her skin was smooth, soft and warm. No matter what the future held, he knew one thing for certain. Sasha was his and Malachi was never letting her go.
But in the back of his mind, he knew that not everything could last, especially not in this fucked-up world.
So from this point on, they were all just waiting for the other shoe to drop.
The End
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