19. Emily

19

EMILY

I knew trying to convince Richard would be difficult, if not impossible, but I didn’t realize I would wind up being this angry.

The tension between us is palpable. Richard crosses his arms, his face a wall of stubbornness that I want to carve out. I expected resistance, maybe even anger, but not this stone-cold determination to ignore reason. I try to keep my voice steady, but frustration leaks through every word. “You can’t punish innocent survivors who’s risked everything to get here, who have proven themselves over and over, all because of one cruel person’s actions.”

“You think I’m punishing people for one man’s mistake?” Richard’s jaw tightens, and he shakes his head. “I’m not risking everything we’ve built here for strangers.”

“That’s exactly what you’re doing.” My hands curl into fists, and I close the gap between us. I won’t let him ignore me. I’m done cowering to his punishing words. “You can’t hold the sins of one man over everyone’s head. Let the people decide for themselves instead of deciding for them. I thought you were supposed to be a leader, not a dictator. ”

“I won’t have a repeat of that night. It’s not a risk I’ll let the town make. Not again.”

Zoey steps in, breaking our intense eye contact. I look over at her with an unspoken question. She places a gentle hand on my shoulder and gives me a subtle nod in confirmation that everything is okay. My shoulders sag with relief. If I can’t get the guys in here, then Griffin might still be alright after all. I wouldn’t be trying this hard to convince Richard if Griffin didn’t sabotage his body the way he did.

She then turns her attention to Richard. “Then let the townspeople vote for themselves instead of speaking for them.”

“Maybe I will,” he says, his words laced with a chill. “Let’s see what they say about letting more outsiders in, brought here by the same person who brought Nathan. We can tell them right outside of the cemetery where we buried the bodies of their loved ones. I’m sure they’ve forgotten the chaos and terror they endured.”

The accusation stings like salt in a fresh wound. “You can’t keep punishing me forever,” I snap, my voice rising. “I’ve done everything I can to make up for it. I’ve torn myself up over it every single day and night since. Tell me what it’s going to take for you to forgive me.”

Something bitter crosses his face. “If I’m being honest, I don’t know if I ever can.”

This is madness. I didn’t expect him to say yes right away, but I thought he would at least hear me out. He hasn’t even let me finish telling him about the guys and all the good they’ve done.

I step closer until we’re almost nose to nose. There’s a thin line between confidence and recklessness, and I’m breakdancing on that tightrope. “That sounds like your own problem, Richard. Stop making everyone else pay for your own inability to move on. I’m done suffering from your incompetence. ”

Something flashes across his eyes before his hands fly out and shove me back a few steps. The action catches me off guard, because I’ve never known him to be physical with anyone. Well, two can play at this game.

Zoey says something, but I don’t catch it before I steady myself and push him right back. I’m no longer interested in keeping the peace. Trying with him is like waiting for the world to go back to normal.

Despite the shove, what I don’t expect is for Richard to raise his hand at me.

Before I can brace myself, another hand shoots out and catches his wrist mid-swing. Max stands between us in a flash, his gaze dark and seething, muscles coiled and ready to strike.

Richard’s faithful guards waiting nearby react, pulling weapons when Max slams Richard backward, planting a boot on his stomach that makes him double over in pain.

Oh shit. We’re in deep water now.

Seeing the guards move in closer, I step in front of Max, arms wide, as if my small frame alone can shield him from a bloodbath.

“Stop!” I shout, panic rising inside me. This is not how this was supposed to go.

Max rests his palm on my lower back, and I turn my head to see him out of the corner of my eye. His voice comes out low and controlled, almost a purr. “You okay there, pet?”

“I’d be doing even better if you’d stayed out of sight.”

“Did he touch you?” The words are laced with a dark promise. I have no doubt that Max is fully capable of taking out every single person in this colony right now. It’s endearing, but I can’t be the cause of another bloodbath here. Not again.

I do my best to reassure him. “No, you stopped him before he could hit me. ”

“He shoved her,” Zoey says at about the same time, and I groan. That was not helpful.

Max’s eyes flash and he plants his boot into Richard’s balls with enough force to castrate the man. Richard lets out a cry of anguish, but Max’s eyes turn black. “I should cut off your hands for that. Make sure you remember your manners.”

Zoey’s eyes widen and she looks at me and whispers, “He wouldn’t really though…right?”

“Yes, Zo. I love you, but please don’t be helpful like that again.”

Richard’s men look ready to pounce, and one of them steps forward, glaring at me. “Is this your idea of ‘good people’?”

I don’t hesitate. “Absolutely. They’re here to protect me, not tear anyone down without reason. They don’t strike until someone else strikes first. You can thank Richard for this altercation.”

Max’s grip on me tightens, and he tries to push me to the side. “Get behind me. You’re not standing in front of me with all those guns and knives aimed at you.”

“They’re aiming them at you.”

“Which is the only reason any of them are still standing right now.”

“Back down.” Richard groans and wheezes while struggling to get to his feet, one hand in front to protect his groin. He glares at me. “Is this one of those guys who you say won’t hurt anyone?”

“Yup,” I respond with confidence.

Max presses his chest against my back, trying to get as close to me as possible. He turns his focus on Richard with a dark glint in his eye. “I don’t hurt anyone without reason.” His eyes unfocus for a moment. “Well…sometimes. Still, I’d be careful with how you approach Emily from now on.”

“I won’t let you come into my colony, assault me, and then tell me how to behave. You’ll be dead before you try that again,” Richard threatens.

Max’s body vibrates against mine with restrained rage, and I rest my hand over his in order to calm him. It seems to help a little. “Glad you’ve heard of me, though. Funny. Emily never said anything about you hitting a woman for having the audacity to help another survivor. Is this a daily thing for you, or do you only give Emily the special treatment?”

Before he can answer, voices shout from the walls. Alarm bells ring out, and the sound of running feet echoes toward us when the crowd gathers near the wall. There’s a commotion. Weapons are drawn. My heart twists with a sharp stab of dread.

“Looks like I’m the only one who made a decent entrance,” Max mumbles. “Are they trying to get us all killed?”

“Why?” I ask. It’s the only word I can think to ask since I can’t form a full coherent sentence to wonder why they couldn’t stay put for a little while. “Why?”

Abandoning Richard, Max and I break into a sprint toward the commotion. We push our way through the gathering. I cling to his shirt, and he reaches a hand back to wrap around my wrist. I try to keep up with his pace until we break free of the mob.

There, with their backs against the wall and knives at the ready, stand Griffin and William.

Anger would bubble out of me if fear wasn’t so prevalent. I rush to them, dragging Max along beside me. “What are you doing?” The words tear from my throat, but my voice is a hushed fury for only them to hear.

William drapes an arm around my shoulders, shifting me to position himself between me and the crowd, protecting me with his body and his knives. “Don’t worry, Em. We won’t let them do anything to you. We’re not leaving you alone in this place. Or anywhere, for that matter.”

I shrug his shoulder off me, forcing him to release me, then I push away from him when he tries to grab me again. “I was handling things fine. You didn’t need to bust inside to rescue me. All you’ve done is make everything so much worse. You’re ruining everything.” I can’t help the anger that bubbles out of me. Don’t they understand how lucky they are they weren’t killed before getting over that wooden wall?

“Princess…” Griffin growls out in warning.

“Don’t ‘princess’ me,” I shoot back.

His eyes flash with frustration, and a thrill runs through me at the realization that I can still bring that out in him.

“That Richard dick pushed her.” Max practically spits out the words.

Griffin moves closer until he’s touching me with his hand cupping my jaw. He turns my face from side to side, looking me over. Relief flashes in his eyes when he sees I’m okay. “Then it’s a good thing we came. We won’t let them get away with mistreating you.”

Richard’s voice calls out, breaking through the tension and dripping with challenge. “We can either fight to the death and then add your bodies to our graveyard, or we can put you in a room while we sort out this mess. How would you like to proceed?”

I know the room he means—the small, damp cell that is too small for even one person, let alone three. I know that room well, since I’d spent some time in there myself after Nathan screwed us all over. They won’t do well in there. I could warn the guys about that, but they would choose the fight if so. I’m pretty sure they’re already leaning toward the bloodbath option. They would win, I have no doubt about that. But at what cost? More lives lost. Griffin is injured enough, and I can’t risk something more happening to him. To any of them.

We don’t need more carnage.

I meet Griffin’s gaze and plead with him. “Take the deal,” I urge. “Please. Put your knives away and come peacefully. At least try.”

Griffin reaches out for me. His fingers brush my arm before I pull away and slip out of his reach. I know if I let him grab me, he’ll throw me over his shoulder caveman-style and fight to the death. But right now, I really need them to try for peace.

“Not yet,” I say, walking backward. “I’ll come for you when I can. Please do this for me.”

They sheath their knives and don’t fight when guards restrain them. William calls out to me, but I turn and walk away, hoping I’m not making a huge mistake.