Page 92 of Revenge Saints
Shit. Maybe I spoke too soon.
Dante veers right, taking the back, walking backward to cover us. Then we hear it: footsteps.
Dante takes off running. Knox and I are right behind him. The sound gets closer. Dante raises his gun. “Stop, or I’ll shoot.”
The noise halts. Knox steps forward slowly, eyes wide, then signals us to lower our weapons.
“We won’t hurt you,” he says. His voice is soft, softer than I’ve ever heard it. He pushes his rifle behind his back and raises his hands, and then a little girl steps into view, holding a slingshot.
My jaw drops. I glance at Dante. His face mirrors mine.
What the hell is a child doing here?
A man’s scream breaks the silence. He throws himself in front of her, kneeling, shielding her with his body.
“Please! Kill me, not her!” He yells, panic raw in his eyes.
We all freeze.
Then a rock lands near Knox’s foot.
“Fuck,” he mutters, stepping back.
A woman appears, wild-eyed and tense, dressed like something out ofMad Max, a slingshot trained on us.
Knox lifts his rifle just slightly. Her eyes narrow.
“We’re not going to hurt you,” Knox says calmly, stepping forward.
Dante and I follow, lowering our guns but staying alert.
“Yes, you will,” the woman whispers, but I hear the fear behind it. It reminds me of Aspen.
“We’re not Hunters,” Dante says, taking a cautious step forward.
“Former soldiers,” Knox adds, pointing to the pack on his back. “Just looking for supplies.”
She peeks around him, just slightly.
The man slowly stands, keeping the child behind him. “We can’t trust anyone. Not anymore.”
They look exhausted. Filthy. But the kid, she’s clean. Cared for.
“I’m Max Whitloke. This is Dante Garrett. And Knox Archer.” I gesture to each of us.
No idea why I gave our full names. I don’t think I’ve said mine out loud in years.
The man nods. “Josh.”
He points to the woman. “Kaily.”
Then to the kid. “Pauly.”
My brows shoot up. She’s ahe?
“My wife and daughter,” he explains. “We named her Pauly in case we ever had to yell for her. Makes them think she’s a boy, and Hunters won’t give her the time of day.”
Fuck.
