Chapter 15

FIFTEEN

The truck moved along steadily, tires rolling along the forgotten road for so long Emma couldn't tell what time it was. Outside, the sky was dark with night, but she couldn't be certain how long they'd been driving since the run in with those men.

With that man.

A wave of intense disgust enveloped her, suffocating her as she relived the memory of Marcus's hand pressing against her cheek mere hours ago. The touch had been like a corrosive burn, leaving a trail of revulsion in its wake. Her skin crawled at the thought of his touch, and she could still feel the remnants of his cold fingers on her face.

Emma shivered, not from the chill, but from the weight of the knowledge that everything she was told lived in the darkness, truly did dwell there.

That man, that military leader, was nothing like Chris and these men. He'd been everything Emma had learned to fear in the world outside her basement. Chris and his unit weren't exactly warmth and sunshine, but they were not predators.

Just the thought of Marcus sent a burst of revulsion through Emma. His beady eyes had stared at her like he would fuck her while she was alive and kill her when he was done, discarding her as no use. Even before the end of the world, men like Marcus were predators that women had to be wary of. Now he was just that much more dangerous.

Twisting in the seat, Emma tried to see through the small window up to the front. A city loomed in the distance, a beacon of both hope and fear, just outside the truck's front window. Safe havens were few and far between, and the one they had journeyed so long to reach was finally within her sight.

"We'll be safe." She wasn't asking, but rather trying to convince herself.

"There's nothing to worry about. Men like Marcus won't get close to you." Bash's eyes seemed to glow with unrestrained fury.

"Sorry, I hadn't meant to say that out loud."

"You've been through a lot. It's only natural that all your thoughts won't stay in." Alex offered her a smile.

"You've been awfully quiet," Liam added, his arm brushing gently against hers.

She didn't say anything when he slid closer to her, his presence a comfort against the encroaching shadows. He squeezed her hand gently, his touch grounding her in the now. She leaned into him, silently grateful for his nearness and the warmth he brought to her.

Each of these men had saved her at least once, but Liam was the one who seemed to calm her fears. It was the kind smile that reached his eyes and the gentle way he worked with Ranger that seemed to draw her to him.

Chris drove on, lights dimmed to avoid being seen by hostile eyes, but none came. The truck's engine was powerful and rumbled, the only sound breaking the silence of the night. Occasionally, Alex struck up a conversation or made a joke that elicited chuckles from Chris who no doubt was not used to driving alone up front.

William stayed to himself, and she hated that she may have made things awkward for him. He seemed lost in thought, his eyes unfocused, but he still blinked enough to let her know he was okay.

She would never be able to thank William enough. The single act of bravery came with unspeakable consequences and he hadn't flinched. Even when Chris came for him on the way back to the truck, William stuck by his decision.

A decision a woman could easily fall for a man over.

She pushed the thought away.

Every day she spent with these five seemed to bring her closer to understanding them. They were exactly who they said they were over the radio.

Well, exactly who Chris said he was since he'd neglected to share there were five of them.

Glancing quickly up front at Chris, she couldn't help but watch the way the wheel moved under his grip. It was mesmerizing watching him work so hard for their survival. She couldn't help but stare at him from time to time; how could one man carry such leadership and care for his men so effortlessly? He glanced back once or twice when she caught him looking at her, and so she stopped.

Stroking her hand over Ranger's back, she closed her eyes and tried to find peace and calm before the truck stopped at the base. Her mind couldn't stop wondering if Chris, Alex, Bash, William, and Liam were a rare breed, or if Marcus was the odd man out.

She found more than she'd bargained for after reaching out on that radio. She'd found protection and more peace than she'd known since the world exploded around her three years ago. These men had shown her that not everything was as bad as things looked. There were still good people .

Great people.

The scent of fuel mingled with their musky cologne and created an intoxicating mix she'd come to find a great deal of comfort in. With her eyes closed, she could almost imagine they were not driving along a broken road, but at home together.

All six of us.

Emma's eyes snapped open at the thought.

She would make a home with them. If things were different. It hadn't been all that long, but they were exactly the men she didn't know she needed.

Chris will have his steadfast ways and obvious need to loosen up. Liam with his kind heart and brilliant mind. William and his need to impress and show up. Alex brought levity into her life when she didn't think it would ever be possible to really laugh again. Even Bash with his false bravado was kind and lovingly, she just knew it.

I'm going to fall in love with them. Each and every one of them is going to steal my heart if I don't get to the safe haven soon.

Emma knew what would happen when she got there. She'd become a creature used to breed or incubate. She'd be cherished and lavished, but she wouldn't be able to love.

Not that you ever thought your heart could love six different ways.

"All right then,"Chris's voice from the front seat was a jarring intrusion into her thoughts. "We're here."

She looked around warily, uncertain of what to expect from a military base.

The scene was surreal, practically idyllic, amidst the charred ruins of what used to be a town. The scent of smoke and death still hung in the air, but there was also the tantalizing aroma of fresh-cooked food wafting from somewhere nearby. It was hard to believe such normalcy existed in this world consumed by the toxin, where every day was a struggle for survival .

Her chest tightened as they pulled up to the gate, adrenaline rushing through her veins. Her heart seemed to try to leap out her throat when Chris leaned out and pushed a button.

"Unit 3-4-1 requesting entrance," he said gruffly when another voice came asking who was there. "We called ahead. We have no need for a long stay. Just some food and a good bed, and we'll be on with our mission.

A buzz sounded and the huge metal gates slowly creaked open, revealing a well-maintained base that looked more like a town than anything else. She gulped as they rolled inside and parked their truck in what looked like a parking lot. Strange how something so mundane could make her heart race even now when everything else seemed so dangerous.

"Emma, we need to know before we go in, do you want to be seen, now that you know what some will do?"

She shook her head.

Chris cleared his throat and passed a hat through the small window. "Tuck up your hair and put this on. Bash, let her use your shirt."

Realization struck like a bolt. "You're hiding that I'm female."

"Yes."

"And why is that?"

"Truth?" Chris looked back, his eyes shining with discomfort. "Because I don't know if this base supports people like Marcus or not. He's high up the fucking food chain to make the comments he made and not have people in his pocket. I want to make certain you're as safe within these walls as my men."

Emma swallowed, trying to ignore the way bile seemed to creep up the back of her throat with Chris's confession.

"You've been honest with me since we met. You've protected me since the moment you knew I needed help over the radio. I trust you." Emma twirled her hair into a tight bun as she spoke. With nothing to fasten it with, she slapped the hat down and hoped it would stay. "But I'm hoping these men are like you." Emma quickly buttoned up Bash's shirt, trying to not let her eyes linger on the hard muscles covering his entire torso now that his chest was bare.

"Off we go," Chris said with a nod.

Chris stepped out of the truck first, his muscular frame moving with purpose and his eyes scanning the area for threats. Liam pushed open the back door and jumped out.

"You four wait here. I'll go with Chris. It would look off if I don't."

Without hesitation, Chris and Liam walked around the front of the truck and vanished into what must have been a checkpoint shack.

"You are safe," Bash drew Emma's attention back to him. "No matter what we find in there, there's no way in hell anything is going to get past us to you."

Those words from a man as passionate as Bash with a body meant for fighting and sin, was more than Emma could handle. Her mind began to swirl as she stared at him, knowing she needed to respond, but only able to focus on the fantasy of him that she found herself watching on a loop.

He leaned forward and captured her lips under his.

She whimpered softly into the kiss, reveling in the taste of him. He tasted like sweat and determination, masculinity and protection. It was intoxicating, making her feel weak in the knees. The smell of leather and smoke hung heavily around them as they stood there in the silence of the empty street, lost in their own world. Her fingers dug into his shoulders, feeling the hardness of his muscles flex underneath her touch. She sighed deeply into the kiss as it grew more intense by the second, arching into him when he nipped at her lower lip teasingly before pulling back slightly to gaze into her eyes.

His green stare bore into hers, filled with an intense passion that made her shiver from head to toe. A low growl rumbled from Bash's throat as he dove back in, this time taking full control of the kiss. His tongue danced with hers expertly, exploring every curve and crevice of her mouth while one hand tangled in her curls, tugging softly at them as if marking his territory.

"It will work out," Alex put his hand on her arm. "We're the good guys."

Emma panted, unaware of how she could let her fantasies run away with her like that, and she quickly jerked her gaze from Bash's.

"I know, it's a little overwhelming." And if they think I'm a man, I'm going to be sleeping in the same room as them, too.

"We're all set," Chris popped his head into the back of the truck. "Em . . . um, Earl, I'll take you to the room to get settled. Base is just like ours so there won't be any issues for the rest of you."

Emma had to hold back a laugh at her apparent new name.

Once inside, Emma couldn't help but think the room was like a college dorm. A dozen bunks made of metal frames topped with thin mats were on one side of the room. bed one looked so flimsy Emma couldn't imagine getting a good night's rest on one, and they were all in a row like fighter pilots in an old movie Emma had once watched. Four plain wooden desks and chairs on the other, and six dressers lined the back wall. The room was dimly lit and warm, but not too warm, with the air smelling of stale sweat and occasional cologne from the soldiers. Her stomach churned at the thought of sharing such a space with all these men.

The place was wreathed in an orange glow from the bare light bulbs hanging from the ceiling, casting long shadows across the walls.

But otherwise, the space was clean and not used by any except them. She could hide.

She glanced to her right as Chris shut the door behind him and locked it, likely allowing them to speak uninterrupted.

"You're safe here," Chris put his hands on his hips and took note of the room as she had done.

She couldn't help but notice the size difference between his broad chest and her small frame. Or how he seemed to radiate warmth when he stood this close to her.

"This is where we'll be bunking . . . together?" She asked hesitantly, looking around at each bed, already knowing the answer but needing to make small talk before asking what she didn't dare ask in the truck.

"We don't usually have women staying here," Chris explained as he rubbed at his jawline thoughtfully, "It's just not something that's ever come up before." He shrugged. "While you're here for the night, you're not a woman either."

She took a deep breath and cleared her throat, her eyes darting nervously around the room. This was it—her one chance to speak up and make her case. She could feel the weight of it on her, trying to drag her down and not ask. With a determined look on her face, she knew this was the safest she could be when asking this.

"So," she cleared her throat again as worry over insulting him crept in like a bug. "How common is it for military men to steal, trap, and use women?"

His nostrils flared as his eyes met hers. A cold shock seemed to settle overChris's features. His mouth opened and then closed before he sat on the closest bunk, burying his head in his hands.

"I want to tell you it never happens. That it's impossible and preposterous to even suggest such a thing when the entire human race is battling extinction." Chris scrubbed a hand over the back of his neck. "All I can tell you is we don't. Not in my unit. Not under my watch." His eyes were haunted when they met hers.

"Chris!" A voice barked seconds before a fist connected with the door, knocking three times.

A flare of panic litChris's dark eyes, but lasted only a second. "Don't speak unless spoken to. It's not uncommon for enlisted not to speak, and your voice will give you away."

Emma ignored the pounding of her heart and tried to focus on keeping her face neutral as Chris opened the door.

A large, burly man with messy brown hair spiked up in all directions and piercing blue eyes burst into the room. He looked from Emma to Chris, his mouth narrowing before he spoke.

"I would have expected better from you." Disappointment laced the words. "Of all the men, I wouldn't have expected you to shoot at one of our own."

"That's what someone reported?" Chris growled, and Emma noticed the scar on his cheek pulsed. "Let me guess, a major twit, goes by Marcus?"

The other man, who Chris clearly seemed to know, nodded.

"Yeah, no. Let's set this story straight once and for all." Chris stepped in front of her as if believing she'd blow their cover while he spoke. "Marcus stopped my unit. His men jumped out and held us at gunpoint, demanding we let him see the truck. There was nothing to hide except maybe the dog Liam is walking around with, Ranger. We found him and Liam thought he'd make a good search and rescue dog. So, we took him."

Emma's heart thumped like a drum, its rhythm pulsing through her body and echoing in her ears. The sheer force of it drowned out whatever Chris was saying, his words lost in the frantic beating of her heart. It was as if her chest had become a battleground, the steady thud of her heart against her ribcage a constant reminder of the turmoil within her. She struggled to focus onChris's voice, but with each beat of her heart, his words were muffled and distant. All she could hear was the deafening sound of her own heartbeat as fear closed in.

"Marcus wasn't thrilled with us having the dog, apparently. That's when William shot. It was a warning, done to protect me from Marcus. Marcus has been out in the wasteland for too long if he thought one of us was female. Feel free to check the truck. I assure you, there's no female hiding in it."

Because she's right here.

"You are aware that Marcus was only doing what he felt was best, yes? Infertile women are found outside bases all the time. Bringing them in for pleasure benefits everyone."

Emma's gag reflex nearly destroyed everything as the other man's words echoed loudly in her mind. Yes, she'd made the excuse herself, but she hadn't expected this man to admit it was real.

"And you're certain if I checked, the only person new to me would be this one right here?"

Emma's breath caught in her throat.

"Yes, Sir. Found him half dead on the journey. Alex checked him out and deemed him worthy, so we strapped him in and planned to drop him off at the end of our mission. Again, do you want to check my truck?"

With a heavy sigh, the man relented. "No, you're a damn good man. Marcus can be dicey, but he does go out looking for women to save and bring to the safe haven out east. Just try not to engage with him again."

"Sir, yes, Sir." Chris boomed and saluted.

Emma's eyes were watery with disgust when the other man left. When Chris turned back to her, he got more than he bargained for.

"You can't just let him do that!" Her heart slammed against her rib cage, in anger now, not terror.

"I can't control him. "

"Bullshit, you're higher ranking. I may not know much, but I know at least that from the marks on your hats." She stepped closer, getting right up inChris's face. "Or do you not care?"

"Of course I fucking care!" The roar was deafening, and it made her heart swell with fury when his words mismatched his actions.

"You can't save me and leave others to be his sex slaves."

"Emma, there are dozens of his men. There are five of mine. I'd be marching them into a slaughter." He took her hands in his and squeezed. "It's not that I don't want to. I swear to you it's not that."

"And you could live with yourself knowing there were women trapped with him? Even if you only just met him, you could be okay with that?"

His eyes closed tightly. "No, but it's not my call."

Emma understood, but she couldn't let it go. She could have been one of those women if Marcus heard her radio call first.

"What if Marcus had found me? Alone and afraid and promising me safety? I went with you all, didn't I?"

Chris dropped her hands with a small growl. "You're asking me to risk the lives of the men who look to me to protect them. You're asking me to risk getting you to safety."

The door opened before she could respond and Bash came in, shutting it behind him, pausing as his eyes met hers.

"Fuck, what did I walk in to?"

Emma wasted no time marching to Bash's side. If she'd learned one thing about him, it was that guilt made him how he was.

"Tell Chris that we absolutely cannot leave knowing that this unit is aware of that scumbag shit taking and using women. Doing god knows what with them."

Bash's eyes narrowed. "What is she talking about?"

Chris sighed and Emma almost felt bad for harassing him. " I'm not so certain Marcus isn't stealing and trapping women to use for his own … needs. Colonel Tarper was here, and I'm fairly certain we just got reprimanded for daring to piss Marcus off."

"And why are you saying no? Afraid of their numbers?" Bash crossed his arms over his chest, flexing the array of tattoos covering his arms like sleeves.

"Bash,"Chris's tone held the warning Emma came to equate with not pushing him.

"If we don't at least put this to a vote, you can go on without me. Nine years together—three in this hell—and you've never not done the right thing. So what's going on?"

Emma watched asChris's gaze landed on her. An entire lifetime of emotions passed through his dark brown eyes, and Emma's heart constricted for a split second.

"Because of me," she said softly.

"I have a mission to keep you safe. To get my men to safety and on to the next phase of our lives. If I don't put you first, we'll never make it to the safe haven."

Emma let his words settle over her. She'd interrupted everything this man spent his life doing with her single call for help. Everything he stood for, everything he wanted to do, now centered around her.

Can you let him ignore those others?

"I'll stay here. I won't budge an inch. I'll pretend to be a man for the rest of my life if something goes wrong. Just please, at least check on what Marcus might be doing."

Again, emotions cast overChris's face like a storm rushing to drown a small town.

"Stay put. Let me go find the others. I'll put it to a vote."

Emma watched as Chris walked out, rigid as ever but still handsome.

"He really cares, doesn't he?" She asked Bash, knowing the super soldier of sorts had known Chris longest .

"After the bomb, I wasn't a great friend, never mind brother in arms. But I know that while I wallowed, Chris went out eleven times a day. Each trip, he'd come back with another person saved—mostly kids. I had my head up my ass because I lost my girl. He kept being the hero he always was."

Emma couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to see Chris the way his men saw him. When he'd taught her to punch, she'd been so annoyed at how aggressive he'd been, how cranky, she'd not taken a look at the man inside. He hid behind the steering wheel while the others sat in the back, getting to know her.

"Would he really go check on this if I hadn't been here?"

Bash nodded and dropped onto the nearest bed rack. A small creak sounded under his weight.

"He would've demanded Marcus invite a senior officer to his command the minute Marcus indicated he may have had women on site."

Emma's stomach dropped out from under her, and the room went on a tilt. She'd been the reason other women may not get to be safe.

They have to agree to go.

Silence seemed to swallow her whole as she dropped onto a bed next to Bash, ignoring the way it sagged under her slim frame. She needed Ranger, but he was a traitor who seemed to be Liam's pet now.

The door creaked open slowly, almost sounding like it groaned under the weight of whoever pushed it inward.

Chris stepped in, with Alex at his heels. William and Liam entered next, and Ranger gave a small bark as he rushed in and jumped on the bed with Emma.

"Oh, so now you're mine?" She played with his ears and tried to let off some of the upset coursing through her.

"Sorry about that," Liam offered a small grin and pulled the door shut. "What's going on? Chris pulled us back here like something was on fire."

Emma took a deep breath. Asking Chris to do the right thing seemed so much easier than asking the others. It wasn't that she thought they wouldn't, it just felt so much harder knowing she had somehow found herself attracted to them all in such a short time.

"The man in charge," She searched for his name but couldn't remember it. "He made it sound like Marcus has a lot of infertile women trapped. The things he could be doing … I just don't want to think of it." She closed her eyes and tried to steady her heartbeat. "I think you need to double back and check on his unit. I'll never forgive myself if there are women there. Just thinking of his hand on my cheek makes me want to be sick."

Three pairs of eyes just stared at her.

The room grew silent as the words hung in the air, the only sound the ticking of the clock

Liam tapped his finger against the doorframe. "I agree with Emma. We can't ignore it if something bad is going on here. I mean, think about it—if we find anything, there's no telling what level of consent is given. If everything is fine, then we head off."

William stepped closer to the group, nodding in agreement with Liam's words. "My head is clear, this is a no brainer and I have a clean bill of health now. This world is filled with danger enough as it is," he murmured grimly. He turned to face Alex who looked unconvinced. "What if those women were our sisters or mothers? Wouldn't we want someone to come for them?"

Chris sighed heavily before running his hand through his neatly trimmed hair in frustration. He glanced at Alex who remained silent throughout this entire exchange.

"Alright," Alex finally said after a moment of silence that felt like hours in the small room. "But only if Emma stays behind with Ranger and a gun—fuck if she can't shoot it. "

His eyes bore into hers and said all the things he shouldn't be thinking. Alex didn't want to risk her—not after their kiss.

"We will investigate but only if there are any signs of captive women." Chris pulled his gun from his waist and handed it to Emma. "It's two hours back to the building Marcus indicated he had charge over. Then two hours back here. I told Tarper we'd be out by morning."

"Then we go now and we're back before sunup. It's only three." Bash pushed off the bed. "We get in and out. Just like we always do. And hopefully, there won't be anyone there to save."

Emma couldn't explain the rush of desire to hug each of the men. She wasn't certain if it was appropriate, but there was no time to question anything.

She moved to Liam and wrapped her arms around his neck, squeezing him tightly. He returned the hug with a whisper in her ear. His arms were tight around her, as if he didn't want to let go, until he did a moment later. Emma somehow felt colder without him keeping her close.

"Keep Ranger safe, there's some training I want to do with him when we get to the haven."

Chuckling, she pulled back and moved to William. His arms wrapped around her before she had a chance to raise them. He held her with a fierce strength that she couldn't help but want to be held by for longer.

When he let go, she moved to Alex. "I know you don't want to risk anything, but thank you." She hugged him, remembering the way his lips had felt on hers just two days ago. He'd been the one to resist the most because of that kiss, and she wasn't certain she felt guilty.

"You stay safe." Bash cleared his throat and stepped up to her, forcing Alex off.

When Bash's arms encircled her, Emma could think of nothing but warmth and security. Wrapped up in his embrace, there was no doubt the dangers couldn't get in. She hadn't even gotten to wrap her arms even partly around him. This man had lost someone he loved dearly, but there was still love to give, she knew it.

Emma let go and stopped before Chris.

Of all of them, he was the one she worried about touching. He was the face most of all who she saw when she closed her eyes. He haunted her—not just because he was the first voice she heard that day, but because the way he looked at her called to her. Even if he didn't mean to do it, Chris's eyes filled with hunger when they lingered on her and she liked it.

His arms wrapped around her as if it were the most natural thing in the world. She rested on his chest, encircling her arms around him and pulling him close.

"Thank you." She spoke next to his ear.

"Just stay safe. Don't just stay in this room—get food and stretch your legs."

She nodded, not entirely certain she wouldn't get lost, but while they did this, she could stay safe for them.