Date: 2020-08-07 04:00:00+00:00
Keywords: Romance; Science Fiction
Description: The end of the world. Three sexy rugged men. And a girl on the run for her life. The solar flare wiped out the power. The virus killed so many, mostly the women. I’m one of the few that survived and I’m female. The raiders traffick in slaves and they’re coming for me. I have to get away, to Eden where everyone lives free and the raiders can’t touch us. It's a dream that I’m clinging to, but I don’t even know if it's true. Then I meet them, three protective handsome men, and they just might make me want to stay. *** Reverse Harem, whychoose, post-apocalyptic world. Some M/M scenes. MMFM+
Publisher: Independently published

FINDING NOVA

SEEKING EDEN BOOK ONE

BELLE HARPER

Contents

Prologue

1. Nova

2. Ezra

3. Noah

4. Nova

5. Colton

6. Nova

7. Ezra

8. Noah

9. Nova

10. Nova

11. Noah

12. Ezra

13. Nova

14. Ezra

15. Noah

16. Colton

17. Nova

18. Ezra

19. Nova

20. Colton

21. Nova

22. Ezra

23. Nova

24. Noah

25. Nova

26. Colton

27. Nova

28. Ryker

29. Ezra

30. Colton

31. Nova

32. Ryker

33. Noah

34. Nova

35. Ezra

36. Nova

37. Ryker

38. Nova

39. Colton

40. Nova

41. Ryker

42. Adam

Protecting Nova

About the Author

Finding Nova by Belle Harper

Edited by Finishing Touch Editing

Cover design by Amy Queau at QDesign

Copyright 2019© Belle Harper

All Rights reserved.

This book is protected under Copyright Laws. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means. Without the written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by Copyright law.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this story are either products of the author’s imagination, or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual events, business establishments, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Created with Vellum

For my amazing husband, my biggest fan.

I love you.

Prologue

In 2041, the world experienced the largest solar flare in history…

Fourteen years after…

1

Nova

The landscape never seemed to change from desert, although this was not originally a desert. It was created from the storms we got after the flare. When the weather became unpredictable and deadly. I had no idea where we were, but I was hoping we were close to water. We had not seen any fresh water in a week. Our bottles were now empty; our food ran out three days ago. The sun was unforgiving. Luck just wasn’t on our side.

“Chin up, Nova.” Kevin nudged my arm as the wind stirred the dust around our bodies, sprinkling us lightly with another layer of red. I didn’t mind so much; it made us blend into the horizon. No chance the Red Raiders would see us. They are the last group you want to run into. They had no care for human life, they took what they wanted and killed those who got in their way.

Kevin was my dad's business partner. We were at his place when the flare first hit. And he had been with us ever since. Well, with me. I had been only six years old, but I still remembered that day like it was yesterday. But that had nothing on every day after. Gone was my childhood. The flare had taken out all the power grids and accidently unleashed the NEX virus, killing millions of people in the first few weeks. Everything good in the world replaced with death, pain, and hunger.

“We need to find shelter. This heat will kill us faster.” I pointed to a large cluster of rocks to our left. They looked big enough to shelter us from this unforgiving sky. Even if it was only for a few hours.

He nodded as we started our way over. Dragging our feet across the desert floor. I looked up and saw we were halfway to the rocks when I saw it. A flash of light. I froze and scanned the horizon until I saw it again. It was reflecting off something. Maybe that was where the city was. The one we’d heard about when we were back in Bakersfield. Before we fled with nothing but the clothes on our backs and a few protein bars.

All because of me.

“Kev,” I called out to him. He stopped and turned back to me, squinting to where I was pointing. Maybe I was seeing things, but I wanted to see things, real things. Dehydration was already upon us, and there was no turning back to where we came from. We would never make it and if we did, I wouldn’t want to.

“Maybe it was nothing,” I said as I dragged my feet through the cracked, dry earth as the wind picked up again. I froze. Looking in the direction we came, I could see a storm coming. We needed to find shelter now, or that storm would likely kill us. Ever since the flare, the weather had turned deadly, seas rising, storms that lasted weeks, tornadoes and even acid rain were what we had to deal with on top of everything else.

“Kev,” I squeaked this time. He turned and saw the storm front approaching. Grabbing my hand, he started us walking at a quickened pace to where I saw the light. I hoped it was the city. Somewhere with water would be even better, but just some shelter from the storm would suffice.

We were so close, so close I could almost touch it before the exhaustion won out. Kevin tried to lift me, but I protested. I didn’t want to bring him down with me. It was my fault we were here. I did this. He needed to go on, find shelter, and ride out the storm. The winds were strong now and visibility was bad. But I could see it, about five miles away. A house—no, more than one. There was a small town up ahead.

My head was pounding. The headache was so strong it felt like my head would explode. I got on my hands and knees and started crawling. So close. We are just so close.

“Please,” I whispered into the wind. Kevin stumbled next to me as he leaned down and picked me up. I protested but my voice was lost on the wind. The hat I wore to cover my hair was threatening to come loose. I held onto it as long as I could. Closing my eyes, I felt the movements of Kevin as he stumbled and staggered toward the town.

“Hey,” he called out. I opened my eyes to see him looking down at me.

“Don’t you go on me. Don’t you leave me.” He dropped to his knees.

I never wanted to feel like this; I was always the strong one. But that was before, when my father was still alive. Before a new sickness spread through Bakersfield and wiped out more than three hundred people in the first week. We thought we were okay, that the worst of it was over, but then Dad got sick and within three days he was dead. That had been a year ago, but it still hurt. A lot of people had lost loved ones. But I wasn’t prepared for that. I thought the worst was over after NEX.

I survived the NEX virus, whereas millions of women around the country— maybe even the world didn’t—women like my mom. When we both got sick, the hospitals were overrun. My dad and Kevin looked after us at home. I was one of the lucky females who survived; not many did. I had been only six years old.

My body started to shut down as my arm dropped from my head. The wind finally caught my hat, and it was ripped from my head, my hair spilling out and danced around in the storm.

“What the fuck?” A deep throaty voice boomed though my head. I squinted up to see one pale blue eye and one dark one, peering down at me. Then everything went black.

2

Ezra

I could see someone. I was keeping a lookout on the top floor of the house we called home for the last six months. As I watched the approaching storm, I saw the figure of a man carrying something—a small man, maybe. When I scouted the area and saw it was only them, I called out to Noah.

“Hey, there is someone out there. Cover for me.”

I wrapped my face up to keep the dust out of my mouth, exposing only my eyes. I grabbed my pistol and headed out to meet whoever was dumb enough to come across what we call the “Red Plains.” It was virtually a death trap.

Out in the street, I ran down past the few houses left standing and out to where the struggling man was holding a thin man.

“Hey,” he called out as he fell to his knees, still cradling the small figure. As I approached, I recognized the look in the man’s eyes. Hope. I looked down to the man he was carrying. His arm dropped from his head, and his hat blew off instantly. And what I saw shocked me more than words could express.

Long, pure-white hair danced with the wind, I think my heart stopped for a moment. It was a female, a young woman. Not a man he carried.

I moved to get a closer look. Females were rare; I hadn’t seen one for two years. But right there in front of me was a woman. She had the tell-tale sign of pure white hair, which meant she had survived NEX.

“What the fuck?” I muttered. It was all I could say as any other words eluded me. I didn’t know what to think. A female here—not an illusion.

But then she looked up to me, and I fell into the depths of her doe-like, deep-brown eyes. And her body went limp.

“Help me, please help save her. I beg you.” The man raised his arms to offer her, he trusted me with the most precious jewel on earth. I quickly took her from his arms. I tried my best not to jostle her too much. Even though she was unconscious, I wanted to make sure nothing hurt her.

“How long have you been here?” I yelled over to him. The wind had picked up more, and I knew the eye of the big storm was approaching fast.

“Come, come now the storm will kill you,” I called to him.

He looked up at me and shook his head. “Take care of Nova. Promise me no harm will come to her.”

I shook my head. There was still time for him to outrun the storm. He could make it if he just stood up. “You can still make it. Come now.”

He shook his head again and motioned for me to leave him. I couldn’t carry them both. I didn’t have the strength. I would have to come back. “I will come get you. Wait for me. I promise I will take care of her, then I will return for you.”

Without hesitation I cradled her small body close to mine as I turned on my heel and sprinted as fast as I could to the house. I could just see Noah through the dust as I shouted to him for help.

I looked down to the unconscious woman in my arms and picked up more speed. Noah opened the door and I charged into the house. He slammed the door shut to keep the dust and storm out.

“Need. To. Go. Help,” I all but choked out. I used a lot more energy than I should have. Noah glanced to the door and then back to the woman in my arms.

“I will go,” he announced as he pulled up his neck piece over his mouth and rushed out of the house at speed.

I ran up the stairs and into the room we sleep in. There wasn’t much in here. A chair in the corner, three dirty mattresses on the floor, worn sheets laid around in a crumpled mess. I placed her down, with the only pillow we had to support her head. I sat back and really had a look at her. She was covered in dust and dirt, but that hair stood out no matter how much the storm had tried to coat it. Her lips were plump but dry and cracked.

Water. She needed water.

Just as I got up to get some from my canteen, I heard the front door bang open. Noah stomped up the stairs. It had me frozen in place. When he came around the corner, the look on his face said it all.

“I couldn’t find him. I called out. I tried. The storm got too close, so I came back.” He hung his head down. Noah tried to save everyone, and when he couldn’t, it always ate at him. It was one of his best qualities but also one of his worst…in a post-apocalyptic world. Helping someone else could mean death to you or your whole family.

The house groaned and shook. Shit. The storm was bigger than I thought.

“It’s okay, just grab a mattress. We have to ride this one out in the basement. Grab everything and head down. I will take her down.” I turned to go back to the woman. She laid in the same position as I had left her. I didn’t expect her to wake, but I needed to get water into her.

“What? Um, her?” Noah stumbled to get the words out as he stood next to me, looking down at the woman. “Oh, my God, it’s a her, a she. How is there a girl in here? I thought they were all but dead?”

I quickly scooped her up in my arms and pushed my way past a shocked Noah.

“Hurry.” I told him as I made my way down into the dark basement. The air was stuffy and cool down there. Much better than the heat of upstairs. I hoped he would bring enough down for us to ride out the storm. We hadn’t had one in almost a month. But they were unpredictable. We kept our food stored down there as it lasted longer out of the heat. But I hated the basement. It was too dark for too long. And sometimes we could be there a day or a few weeks. We had been planning to move on from this house. But it also was the perfect distance to trade with different cities, and far enough that they wouldn’t come to us. And that’s where Colt was right now. Trading with products we looted from an old hardware store last week. We go where no one else will go. So, there is plenty of loot to be found still.

“I will set up the bed here. Can you see? Do we use the flashlight?”

I heard Noah bang the mattress into a few cans, they dropped off the shelves and slammed into the cold concrete floor, the sound bounced around the room. I nodded and then realized he couldn’t see me.

“Yes, I need to get water into her. She is dehydrated.” Noah stumbled and muttered a few curse words, and then a small glow from the solar-powered flashlight lit up the room enough to see.

I placed her gently down on the mattress again. Cradled her head with my forearm as I opened my canteen with my free hand. Noah just stood there with the flashlight on her face. She reminded me of an angel. Maybe she was.

I opened her mouth gently with the edge of the canteen and poured a small amount into her mouth. I didn’t want to give her to much, it could go into her lungs. Just small bits at a time. She swallowed so I gave her more. Who was she? Where did she come from?

“Shit, you think she needs food too? How does she eat like that?” Noah asked me, breaking me from my thoughts of this woman. A woman in my arms. I didn’t want to let her go now that she was here.

“Ah, fuck. Um…you know Colts chocolate stash?” I asked. And without any further explaining, Noah was up and ran over to the drawer that held his stash. It was his chocolate; he found it, and he only had a small bit left now. We never touched it—that was the rules between us. It was what kept us together. We were a family. We didn’t steal from each other and we took care of each other no matter what.

Noah passed me a small wrapped bar. “I got the smallest one. Just in case it doesn’t work.”

I took off a very small amount and placed it on her tongue, hoping it would melt fast and give her a small amount of sugar to wake up. I watched her for a long time. The light on the flashlight started to dull and flicker, so Noah turned it off.

“How long do you think it will take for her to wake?”

I shrugged, forgetting he couldn’t see me again. “I’m not sure. Let’s get some rest now and hopefully she will wake up sooner rather than later. I will take first watch”

3

Noah

I couldn’t sleep. I was too excited and curious who this girl was. Oh, my God, we have a girl. I had seen older ones before, like really old girls. But not like this one. This one was young. Much younger than I had ever seen before, and we were the lucky ones who got to have her in our house, in our family.

I’d made sure I grabbed the double mattress before shutting the basement door. If we were to stay down here, then I wanted to make sure I had somewhere comfy to lie. And Ez didn’t say anything when I lay down next to her. He lay next to her too. I wanted to make sure she was warm enough, so I placed my body close enough to give her warmth, but I didn’t want her to wake up and freak out.

Colt usually shared a bed with me. He wasn’t the best sleep partner, but I didn’t like being alone, and he was more than happy to be with me. Ez, on the other hand, liked his space. He wasn’t the kind to express his feelings openly. Not like me. But with Colt and me, it was different.

I must have fallen asleep because I woke to Ez telling me to get up.

“It passed us. It’s time to go back upstairs. I need to give her more water now too.”

I rolled over on the mattress and onto the cold concrete floor. The basement door was open, and the light that poured though lit up the room enough to see. I bent down to pick her up and Ez dove for her.

“Hey, I want to carry her.” I slid my arms under her body the same time Ezra did. “Ez, you got to do it before. Now it’s my turn. I have never held a girl before. Please,” I pleaded with him.

His face was so close to mine. His one pale blue and one deep-brown eye bore into me. I didn’t think he was going to let go, but he surprised me.

“Fine, but be very careful. Don’t drop her.”

I pulled her to my chest. She was lighter than I thought she would be. We really needed to get some food into her.

“I won’t drop her,” I muttered back. Why did he always think that I couldn’t do stuff? Yeah okay, I was younger than him and Colt, but I was bigger than them both and stronger. I looked down at her, her hair was so pretty. She was beautiful and in my arms.

In the upstairs bedroom, I waited for Ez to bring the mattress up so I could lay her down again. The other mattresses in here were singles, and I wanted to have an excuse to lie next to her again.

I looked down to her. Her face looked so peaceful. What’s her name? Should we give her a name while she is sleeping? Her head lolled to the side exposing her neck to me. She really could use a bath. That was the one reason we hadn’t left this place yet; there was a well outside with unlimited clean water. So, we all took a bath once a week. The clothes she wore were a baggy men’s shirt and pants. Maybe I could wash her and her clothes so when she woke up, she could feel refreshed.

“Here, lay her down. Let’s get more water into her. I think we will need to give her some every hour. I’m not exactly sure how to do this. I am just trying to think what my mom would do,” Ezra explained. His mom lasted five years past the flare. Until she was raped and murdered. Colt said that was when he took Ezra in. Took care of him. Ez never talked about his mom. So, this was a first.

I spread her out on the middle of the stained mattress. And helped Ez give her some water, which she swallowed. Oh wow, she is drinking still. This was good.

“Maybe a broth?” I tried to think back to when I was little, and my mom got NEX. My dad made a broth. He showed me how to feed it to her, not that it did any good. But it was better than nothing.

“Shit, I can’t believe I didn’t think of that,” Ezra cursed himself.

I reached over to cup his shoulder. “Don’t stress, Ezra. I only just thought of it. It’s not like we are experienced in unconscious girls. I think we should give her a bath,” I quickly added, hoping to see what his thought on that would be.

His eyes flew up to mine. And back to the girl lying there. “No. We can’t do that. She might think we did more than wash her. I don’t want her waking up and... I want to keep her,” he admitted. He hung his head and held her delicate hand in his large calloused one.

I picked up some of her hair between my fingers. It was so pretty. I nodded. I didn’t know much about girls. They were all practically wiped out when I was five. But I did know there were some left out there, and those that had been affected by the NEX virus always had a full head of snow-white hair. Some men that had been affected had some hair color change. Some got the rare eye color change, too, like Ezra had. And most men had nothing at all to show that they had been a survivor of NEX. Like Colt and me.

“Maybe I can wash her face and hands?” I asked him. I felt like this was a more reasonable thing to do, I never thought about the fact she would have to be naked to wash her. He nodded and I left to gather bath supplies.

While I washed the dirt from her small delicate hand, I thought of the man she was with. I couldn’t stop thinking about him, and how I couldn’t find him in the storm. She was going to wake up and ask about him, and I know we didn’t have good news to give her. Ezra stood up and made his way to the window for watch. When he turned to me with that look on his face, it told me everything I already knew; he didn’t make it. My heart sank for her as I gently washed her other hand.

4

Nova

I heard them before I saw them. My body felt weak. My headache was still there but semi-bearable. There were voices. They came from the other room. I opened my eyes and scanned around. I was in a small dark room. There was a window that was boarded up, but some moonlight filtered through. I didn’t want to move, in case Kevin wasn’t with whoever was talking. I didn’t know what they would want with me. Well I knew what most men would do with me. So, if I pretended to still be sleeping, I would have the element of surprise. My heart pounded. I felt like anyone who came in would see it beat right out of my chest. My chest, I looked down to see it was still covered in my clothes. Which was a promising sign.

“Show me,” I heard a rough voice all out. And then the stomp of footsteps on a wooden floor. I quickly closed my eyes and tried my best not to move. Relaxing my body was hard while it was still on alert. I heard them come closer until they were right on me. I didn’t know how many, but there was more than two of them, that I could tell.

“Holy shit, it seriously is a woman. What’s her name? And where did she come from?” the rough voice asked.

Someone coughed and cleared their throat. “Well your boy here has named her Sleeping Beauty, but I’m pretty sure her name is Nova. That’s what the old man said before he gave her to me,” a deep voice answered back.

My heart plummeted. Kevin gave me to a group of men? No, that wasn’t right. He wouldn’t do that. He had protected me for years. I felt sick. He wouldn’t leave me. I knew he wouldn’t.

“Hey, well I wanted her to have a name that was fitting. Screw you both.” And this time I felt him walk very close to me. I could feel them all stare as I tried to control my breathing.

“Why did you put her on the double mattress?” the rough voice asked.

“Um… cause we needed to stay close to her?”

My heart pounded at that response. I hoped they hadn’t raped me while I was unconscious. Because living in this world as a female… I didn’t even want to think about what I had seen happen to most women back in Bakersfield. There was maybe one female to every one hundred men in this country. Probably even the world. That’s what I had heard for the last fourteen years. It was not safe being a woman.

“I will move her to the single, and I will sleep on the other single so you two can have your double again.” I felt some movement around me as big warm arms gently brushed under my legs and neck. I was still in my clothes so that gave me hope they hadn’t touched me. I remained as floppy as I could as I was carried a few feet away and gently placed down.

I peeked a bit and saw I was now further from the door. Not great, but I would just have to wait until they fell asleep. I felt some things moved around and shuffled as they all got ready to sleep. A few grunts and I was jostled a few times on the mattress.

After it had been quiet for ten minutes, the guy closest to me whispered, “Colt?”

“Yes?” the guy with the rough voice answered

“Do you think she will wake up? It’s been two days. I just… I don’t want to lose her is all.” I could hear the emotion in his voice as it cracked. I have been out for two days?

There was a pause and then Colt answered. “ Ezra, you and Noah… you guys have done all that you can. All we have to do is wait. And hope.” And with that there was nothing but quiet as I waited for them to fall asleep.

* * *

I heard some sounds and carefully opened one eye. It was starting to grow light outside. Shit! I must have fallen asleep. I needed to go now. I needed to make a run for it and find Kevin.

I cracked my other eye open and scanned the room. There was a big body lying on a mattress to the side of me. His large, dark hand was right next to my face. I wondered if it was there all night. How did I never feel it? I rolled my head over to where I could hear the sounds coming from. And realized right away these were not sleeping sounds, but sex sounds. Fuck. I couldn’t look away. I had seen my fair share of sex in my life. But these guys—they were both moaning in pleasure. The one with the long blond hair and lean body pounded himself into the larger guy with curly dark hair who was on his hands and knees. The way they moaned and touched each other was mesmerizing. I forgot about everything else for just that moment. And enjoyed the show they had put on.

The curly haired man grunted out “I’m coming.” Followed by the blond one repeating the same line a minute later.

They fell onto the dirty mattress together. Wrapped up in each other’s arms, smiling, sweat sheen on their bodies. I closed my eyes and tried to pretend I was asleep. I didn’t want to be caught watching them. It turned me on. I was surprised I could feel that way right now, after everything. But I really wanted to touch myself, to feel the same release they both just had.

I couldn’t go back to sleep. I was just too worked up now. I didn’t know what to do. I shouldn’t have fallen asleep last night. I shouldn’t have watched them have sex. I really shouldn’t be here at all.

“Hey, if you guys have finished, we need to give Nova some water, maybe see if we can cook up some more broth, get something into her system. I’m really worried it’s taking too long for her to wake up.”

His voice beside me almost made me jump. This one, his name was Ezra. I remembered that at least from last night. I felt fingers against my forehead, and then they moved down to my cheek. I tried to keep my breathing even, but it was so hard with him touching me. I felt clammy. The heat in the room was so much hotter after watching the other two have sex. I probably looked a little flushed to him.

“I will go grab the canteen,” I heard from the other side of the room. Shit. They are going to give me water. I didn’t think I could fake that. I would have to pretend I just woke up. Shit. I wasn’t sure how to pull this off but, hey, I pulled off being a boy for almost fourteen years. How hard could it be to fake waking up?

He just held my hand in his. Maybe if I moved my fingers, he would start to realize I was waking up, and then there was no fake yawn and eye rubbing dramatics needed. I wiggled my fingers just lightly, but enough that he unclasped my hand and held it loosely in his.

“Shit, I think she is waking up… Nova?” He all but whispered my name.

I heard some movement around me and I tried to speak, but funny enough nothing but a squeak came out; my throat dry and sore. I didn’t notice that before while watching the two guys.

“Here, Nova, I have some water for you. Open your mouth and I will pour a little in.” His hand went under my neck and lifted me forward. I felt the cool of metal against my lips, and I opened and drank as much as I could. I didn’t realize how thirsty I was until that moment.

“Can you open your eyes, Nova? Open your eyes for us.” This came from another direction. It was the rough voice. Colt, I think they called him. This I knew I could do. After what I’d just seen, I knew my eyes were working very well. I opened them slowly and saw all three men peering down at me so close. It frightened me, and I yelped as I tried to move away. I needed to put space between us.

“Shit, it’s okay. Don’t freak out. We didn’t mean to scare you. We are sorry. We will move away. And I will refill the canteen for you. And give you some space.” Ezra spoke very softly and calmly. It helped my nerves a little. I nodded as he stood up and backed away to the door with the other two.

5

Colton

“Holy shit, dude, she is awake.” Noah was bouncing around outside the room. I was pretty sure she was listening to everything we were saying. She looked so frightened when she opened her eyes. Those eyes were so big and knowing. I wanted to go in and ask her questions. I needed to know everything. And I really wanted to know why that woman was here. Was she sent here? Who was she working for?

“Noah, calm down, you’re like a big puppy. You’re all cute and cuddly, but you can be a little too much. You don’t want to scare her, okay?”

He looked down at me and nodded as he mumbled something under his breath. I pulled him forward and kissed his lips. It relaxed him and he stood still, staring right into the room where the woman was.

I hadn’t always been with men. Before the Flare and NEX I had a string of girlfriends. Men had never really been high on my radar, until a year ago.

When we found Noah, he was in a bad shape. Ezra had done a run with me to get supplies from this rundown town. As we entered, we could see how worse everything had gotten since we had been there six months earlier. We had met Noah back then. He was young and funny. He came out drinking with us at the bar, and we spent a week there. We had asked him if he wanted to come with us when we left, but he wanted to stay for his dad. So, we left. The worst mistake ever. Because when we’d returned six months later, half the town had been burned down by Red Raiders, many people had been killed, and Noah had been beaten within an inch of his life. We took him with us, and cared for him until he was himself again, or close to it. He never spoke about what had happened to him or his father.

Then that caring for him moved from friendship to more. Noah was young, much younger than me. But he was also taller and had a bigger build. He had muscles that just sprouted bigger every week; he worked out every day lifting large heavy items out the back of the house. After they beat him, he started training every day and hadn’t stopped.

But that smile and dimple—fuck, he was hot. No denying that. He brightened up my day… He brightened up everyone’s day. He was always positive and that was a good thing to be when everything looked so shit and bleak. We had a fifteen-year age gap. But that meant nothing in the new world. I could see why he was excited. He hadn’t exactly seen a female in a long time—we all hadn’t.

“Do you want to take it to her?” Ezra asked me, holding the canteen out. I had been the unofficial leader of our trio for as long as we had been together. I liked to negotiate. I was pre-law before the flare. My parents were lawyers, and I’d learned a lot from them. Some things I had put to good use with trading. We never wanted to be fucked over again. And after the first time, you learned very quickly who not to trust.

I nodded and grabbed the now full canteen and headed back in. She was sitting up with her knees to her chest trying to remain small as possible. I understood she was frightened; either that or she was a good actress. I wanted her to feel comfortable, hoping it would make her talk. I got down onto the mattress Ezra had slept on and pushed the canteen toward her. Then I moved back and kept myself low. She was so small and fragile. I was amazed she had survived this long. That was why I believed she had to be here as a spy.

“I’m Colton,” I started with. She looked up to me as she grabbed the canteen and proceeded to drink the whole contents.

“Hey, take it easy. We don’t want you getting sick. We will get you something to eat soon. Just wait for the water to settle first. So, is your name Nova?”

She nodded and her voice sounded rough as she asked me, “Where is Kevin?”

I looked to the doorway where I knew both guys were waiting by. Who is Kevin? “Was Kevin your husband?” I hoped he wasn’t because I had a feeling Kevin was the dead guy Noah buried.

She shook her head and whispered, “Friend.”

“Hi, Nova, I’m Ezra. I carried you here and Noah went back to get the man you were with. Was that your friend Kevin?” He was sitting on the floor at the door. Ezra understood the importance of being small and less intimating whereas Noah lingered behind him and paced anxiously back and forth in the hall. I rolled my eyes at him. Ugh… Noah. I could tell it affected her. I wanted to keep her calm and feeling safe so she would openly tell me who she was and why she was here.

“Yes, he has been taking care of me. He would never leave me unless…” I could see her body tense and her hands shake, as she realized that Kevin had died. A lone tear rolled down her cheek. Automatically, my hand reached out to comfort her but before I touched her shoulder, she flinched back.

“Shit. I…” Fuck. I hadn’t really been near a woman in almost fourteen years. Her body shook with silent sobs and unshed tears. She sniffed and wiped the only tear that had escaped and held her chin up high.

She was strong. That much I could tell. She was a fighter. That was maybe why she was here. I couldn’t stop the thoughts that there was something else going on here? Never in the last fourteen years had I come across a woman alone. Why was she here?

Noah barged into the room and right into her face. She flattened herself against the wall. “I’m so sorry, Nova. I tried my best to save him, but he was lost in the storm. I can take you to him if you would like?”

She looked to me.

I smiled tentatively at her. I didn’t want to scare her. I could sense she was looking to me for something. I wasn’t sure if she was sizing me up or questioning me with her eyes.

I nodded. “Noah here is a bit of a big puppy dog… Do you remember puppies?” I asked quickly as I grabbed his hand to pull him out of her personal space. I didn’t know how old she was. She could have been much younger than she looked. She was so small, and beautiful. Stop thinking like that. We don’t know who she is.

She nodded. “I had a puppy when I was little.” Her voice was coming out clearer now. And when she looked at me with those big browns, I almost let down all my shields. I wanted to comfort her, to help her. Fuck. This isn’t good. I needed to keep my senses because these two guys had already fallen for her. I could see it in the way they were acting around her.

They would do anything for her. A blind man could see that.

It was stupid to think like that. Dangerous. I didn’t know if she was sent here from one of the cities we traded with. She could be here to make us think she was this sweet innocent woman, but in the middle of the night she could slit our throats while we were all unaware. No one had even come here, ever. In the six months we had been here, she was the first person to step foot in this town. There wasn’t much left, but what was left was all ours. And we had stock piles of food, water, and a lot of other items to trade with others. We were sitting on a gold mine as such, and this was what made me distrustful of any outsiders. I was trying to keep a level head, but she had me pinned with those eyes.

“I want to go to him. I need to see it’s real.” Her voice was stronger now, determined.

Noah stood up to his six-foot-three height. I don’t think he understood how intimating he was, but she slowly pulled herself up, standing as tall as she could. She only reached Noah’s chest in height. She looked down to me. Then, she glanced behind Noah to Ezra who was still on the floor. Ezra stood up tall and walked toward the stairwell.

Slowly, Nova put a foot out in front of her and stepped around Noah, casting a wary glance his way. She didn’t trust him. If I didn’t know the guy, I wouldn’t trust him either. Then he flashed me that big goofy grin, flashing those dimples. And I almost laughed. He really was a big goofy puppy.

6

Nova

I was standing in front of a shallow grave. The sun beat down, hot on my head with my hat now gone. I had my hair gathered in my hand so it would stop blowing around in the hot wind. Noah told me over and over he felt terrible that he couldn’t find Kevin in the storm. And as soon as the storm had passed, he went out and buried him.

The morning sun was giving way to noon. I looked at my surroundings. There was a main street, which they had led me across. There were a few brick buildings, and the wooden ones were a lot more damaged. I assumed from the storms. But there were three houses in a row, and we came from the second one. I assumed the other houses on either side were empty. There was no one else but these three men here, that I could see.

But where will I go from here? I don’t even know where here is. And now Kevin is gone. I hugged myself and looked down to where the fresh red dirt had been placed on him. I didn’t want to cry in front of these men. I didn’t want them to see any weakness. I refused to be taken advantage of. And that was what men did—they wanted something, so they took it. That was how it had always been. It was what I had always seen in Bakersfield.

I stepped away from them and headed straight back to the house we had come from. I could sense them following me, but I was more relaxed this time. They had seemed tense when we got out here. This was my chance. I quickly dashed around through the front door, slamming it behind me, and ran as fast as I could to where I hoped the back door was.

Shit. It was locked. How was it locked? Fucking great. I could hear them calling out to me as they made their way inside the house. I quickly ran into the kitchen area. I heard their footsteps as they ran through the house, two sets went up the stairs where as the third set came to where I had just been. I opened the door on the kitchen cupboard and wasn’t surprised to see it empty. I scrambled inside and quietly closed the door behind me. I was in a ball. It was the only way I could fit in there. I was glad right now I was so small. If I was any taller, I wouldn’t have fit.

“Where the hell is, she?” One of them called out as they ran right through the kitchen. I could hear them running up and down the stairs. I was waiting to see if they would all go up the stairs, but one of them stayed on the lower level the whole time. Probably smart because I was going to run for that front door. I wasn’t staying here—these men knew I was a woman. How long would it take before they sold me or even worse? They might seem nice now, but that was how they lured you in. I had seen it done many times over the years. But not only with women; men did it to other smaller men as well—sold them off to the Red Raiders as sex slaves. I shivered and held down those thoughts. That wouldn’t happen to me. Keep it together, Nova. Kevin didn’t get us this far for you to give up. He would want you to fight.

He had taught me to fight over the years, and especially after Dad died. He’d said I needed to fight dirty. I was too small to knock a man out, but I could give a good kick to the balls and run. Run and hide.

It had been quiet for too long. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I they were waiting for me to come out. Giving me a false sense of hope. Well if they thought I was that stupid… Not going to happen. I held my breath. Trying as hard as I could to not make a sound. My stomach wanted to eat itself, but I needed to keep it together. When I heard the front door bang close and muffled talking outside, I felt it was my chance to get in a better position. I slowly opened the cupboard door and peered out.

What? Was not expecting that at all.

7

Ezra

The only place she would have had time to get to was the basement, but I didn’t think she would want to put herself down there. If I was running from someone, I wouldn’t place myself somewhere with only one exit. Then I realized the kitchen was the only place that had somewhere to really hide, so I placed a protein bar in front of the only two empty cupboards she could be in and then very quietly left the room.

I gestured to Noah and Colt to go outside. And once there, I gestured with my hand and Colt nodded in understanding. I slammed the door shut and carefully snuck back toward the kitchen area and sat down beside the door so she wouldn’t see me.

It didn’t take long before I heard the click of the cupboard door latch and the sound she made at seeing I had left her food there. I wanted to look at her, to see her reaction, but I soon heard the wrapper being torn and her devouring the bar within minutes.

“I wouldn’t eat too fast,” I whispered from where I was hiding. I heard the panicked sound as she scrambled to her feet. “You will make yourself sick after not eating for a while.”

I peered around the corner and her eyes locked on mine. I could see the fear in her eyes. I kept myself low, as Colt had done earlier. I wanted her to understand I didn’t want any harm to come to her. That I would take care of her, as I had promise Kevin I would.

“Don’t come any closer,” she warned, as her hand grasped the drawer and rummaged inside, hunting for a weapon. She wouldn’t find much in there. We had the knives hidden around the house. But she pulled up a fork. She quickly glanced to it and must have decided it would do. She held the handle tightly, but I could see she was using all her energy to do it. She didn’t have much. She started to sway on her feet. But she wasn’t giving up.

“I promised Kevin that I would take care of you. I’m true to my word, Nova. I will take care of you. I can take you to where you were going.” I held my breath as she swayed again. I was worried she would fall and hit her head. She looked down at me, my palms upright on the floor so she could see I had no weapons. I moved slightly and she backed up holding the fork out just from her body.

“Don’t,” she gritted out. I resumed my position. I didn’t say anything, just kept my eyes on her as she looked at me and the room she was in. She always kept an eye on me; she was smart. I could tell that. She wasn’t some stupid lost girl. No, this woman had strength, fight. She had a will to live.

I didn’t move. I wanted her to trust me. I knew that Colt was suspicious of her. He had been assessing the whole situation for hours now. He’d taken first watch last night. I tried to sleep, but I couldn’t help but see the concern on his face. He was running over and over in his head what this woman meant. I must say, he was more guarded than me. I never questioned it. Which in thinking back, how often did a woman of any kind just magically come into my life?

Never.

But I wanted her side of the story before I came to some conclusion that she was a spy for someone, or maybe even those crazy-as-fuck Red Raiders.

Eventually exhaustion won over and she all but crumpled to the floor. I quickly got up and raced over, crouched down low I pulled her to a sitting position. Until a sharp pain hit my shoulder. Her eyes flew open as I let her go and grabbed my arm to see what it was. She kicked me then, right in the nuts. I dropped to the floor, gasping for air. It felt like she had kicked my nuts into my stomach. She scrambled to her feet, and I tried to grab her as she took off running. I heard the front door open and Noah yelling.

“Fuck,” I screamed as I pulled the fork from my shoulder. I stumbled to my feet, threw the fork into the corner of the room, and chased after her. Noah had her in his arms. She was screaming and trying to bite him but he didn’t let go. Colt was trying to calm her down.

“Let her go,” I called out. Noah shook his head.

“Colt, I don’t think she is a spy, man.” Colt looked back to me holding my arm and back to Noah who was trying like hell to miss all her little shots. She was giving it her all, until she started to slow down. Then, Noah let her down onto her feet.

She looked like a deer in headlights. She couldn’t believe he had let her go. She stumbled a few steps back and then started to run. She didn’t get far before she was on her knees crawling.

“Fuck. Shit. Go and get her,” Colt called to Noah. My heart twisted. Why didn’t she want to stay with me? I promised her I would protect her. I knew I shouldn’t have gotten so attached. In my heart I knew she wouldn’t want to stay with me, but I guess having Noah around gave me hope. He made it seem like she would wake up and want to join us and be part of our misfit group of outcasts—our family. I’d started to believe he was right.

Noah cradled her in his arms. I was surprised she would let him after what she just did to my shoulder. But then I saw her face. She had passed out. Colt grabbed my arm to inspect my shoulder.

“Lucky it didn’t go to deep. Keep it clean and it shouldn’t get infected.”

I nodded and headed into the house.

I can’t believe she stabbed me. With a fork!

8

Noah

I didn’t understand why she ran from us. We were the good guys here. I knew Colt saw her as something else. But I really didn’t understand what she was running from. I wanted her to tell me, to stop Colt from pacing and staring at her like she was the enemy. She had been lying there for the past two hours out cold.

“I think we need to get her to answer some questions,” Colt said. “Then if she wants to go, let her. I will follow her to see if she is reporting back to anyone. I don’t trust this. It’s too fucking strange. I bet she was here trying to figure out how many men we had. And now that she figured there is only three, she is trying to report back to them…” He trailed off.

He was over thinking this. I felt like she wasn’t a threat. He was always on alert, but more so now that she was here. But he was very protective. So, I understood where he was coming from. But I was sure Nova would tell him she wasn’t a threat when she woke up.

She started to stir, so I helped her head up to give her water. She took it and drank half the canteen before pulling away. Water ran down her lips and chin. I wiped it away with my hand, and her eyes flashed open to me.

“Hey.” I smiled down at her. She was so small in my arms. But now we knew size meant nothing when you wanted to escape. She was good at hiding that was for sure

She coughed and then surprised me when she gave me a small smile in return.

“Hey,” she replied. Then she saw Ezra move up and her smile dropped, the look of fear draped across her face. Ez wasn’t even angry with her. He had said that it was a normal reaction for someone who felt cornered. That he was fine, and it was just a scratch. But I could see when he lifted his arm high that it wasn’t just a scratch by the look on his face. She must have hit the muscle at least. The prongs on the fork had gone in quite deep.

“It’s okay. I’m not upset,” he whispered to her. She looked around the room and saw Colt looking out the window, keeping watch. As always.

“I’m not upset either, Nova. I just wanted to help you. I’m sorry I scared you.” I smiled again, hoping she would give me another one and she didn’t disappoint. I was happy to see her smile again. It was only a small one, but it was a huge step. I wanted her to stay with us. I never knew any girls after NEX, never touched one until she came here. And I just… I really wanted her to like me.

9

Nova

Noah. He was a giant, but he really was like a big puppy dog. He seemed too sweet to be in this world we live in now. But here he was, helping me drink. And smiling at me as if I didn’t just try to scratch his eyes out and stab his friend.

Colton looked over to me and started with a barrage of questions.

“What’s your full name? Where are you from?” He looked out the window again as I answered as best I could. I didn’t want them to send me back to Bakersfield. Or tell the men of Bakersfield I was here.

“I’m Nova Flores. I’m…from Bakersfield. Kevin and I were leaving because it wasn’t safe there anymore.”

He turned to me on that last admission. He raised his brows.

“That place was safe last time I was there.” He tilted his head as he leaned in closer to me. I looked up to Noah who nodded at me to answer as I sat upright. If I was going to be here and interrogated by him, I didn’t want to do it lying down.

“I’m telling you it’s not safe there. Not anymore… Not for me.” It was all I would give him, and he didn’t push again.

“Who do you work for?”

“I don’t work for anyone. It was just me and Kevin. My father died and Kevin took care of me. It wasn’t safe, so we left. We heard whispers about a city through the desert, a place that was safe for women. A place I could be free…”

“Bullshit,” he all but yelled, cutting me off. It made me jump.

“Hey, Colt, don’t scare her, fuck man,” Ezra said as he got closer to me. He almost reminded me of Kevin the way he positioned himself between Colton and me. A protector.

Colton threw his hands up in the air. “Fuck, you guys are so gullible. She didn’t just come here from Bakersfield. No one comes that way and survives. That’s bullshit I tell you. And you guys just eat it up. The truth is, we have a woman here. A fucking woman. Why would, of all the people to ever come here, and that has been zero, we would get a woman at our door?”

I understood what he was implying. And I felt bad he was fighting with his friends, with his lover over me, but I wasn’t working for anyone.

I just wanted to go to another city, start over. I didn’t want to go back into hiding, but I would if I couldn’t find this place I had heard whispered so many times. Eden.

In the past I sometimes used my body to get the supplies we needed. Kevin never said anything when I would return with food and supplies. He knew I was visiting the brothel, and most women there were in their fifties. So when someone young came in, the customers were happy to pay me decently in trade items.

It was the only safe way to get goods, food. That was why I kept my hair long. The women told me to grow it out. “Men don’t pay to fuck girls who look like boys. They want a real woman, with hair they can pull,” they’d said.

But never did I expect to be here, with these three men. If I didn’t have Kevin, then I would have to learn to survive on my own.

And how long do you think that will last?

“Look,” I yelled. They all froze and stared at me.

I took a deep breath and calmed myself down. “Look, I didn’t come here for this. I didn’t mean to get here to you. I have been hiding for years, and I got found out, okay? That’s why it wasn’t safe anymore. You know what they do to young women in Bakersfield. They are taken and sold off to the highest bidder to be married. I’m not doing that. I don’t want that so we ran. I would rather be dead than raped every day for the rest of my life.”

They were all quiet and just stared at me.

Colton nodded. “If you want us to take you to the next city, we can do that. Do you have someone meeting you there?” Colton seemed to have calmed down. I bit my lip and inhaled.

“No, but that’s okay. I will figure it out.” They looked to each other. Ezra looked to me, and his eyes appeared…sad? No, that can’t be it. I don’t know him. I owed him my life, and I didn’t know how to feel about the way he was looking at me, so I glanced away.

* * *

Later in the evening, I ate a bowl of stew, with real meat and potatoes. I didn’t ask where the meat had come from, but I think it was rabbit. I felt I could relax a little around them, though I didn’t fully trust them. I wouldn’t go to sleep with them around. Three men in the middle of nowhere. No one would ever hear me scream, and even then, the type of men that would come to save me would probably be even worse than these three. I didn’t have Kevin to save me anymore. I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat at his memory. Later I would mourn for the man who raised me; he had always been like a second father to me.

“Do you want to play a game, Nova?” Noah asked as he came up with a box in his hand. It was faded but I saw the word Trouble on the side. Wow, a real board game.

“Yes, please.” I sat up and crossed my legs as he moved the mattresses together.

“Ez, you gonna play?” he called over to the opened door. And I heard Ezra call back. “Yep, just give me a minute.”

“I have all the pieces left in here. I have kept this with me a long time, Nova. Do you want me to tell you the rules?”

I shook my head. “I think I know the rules. I used to play this with my mom.”

He nodded and then asked the one question that none of them had asked me yet.

“How old are you, Nova? If you don’t mind me asking.”

I smiled at him. He really wasn’t as scary as he looked. He smiled back at me, and this time it reached his eyes. And the dimples that popped out were cute. I couldn’t help but smile bigger at that. It felt nice to smile. Even if it was only for a little while.

“I’m twenty, but I could be twenty-one I’m not sure. I just go by the years now instead of my actual birthday date. How old are you?”

“You’re a lot younger than I thought you would be.”

I turned to Colton. He was on the chair looking out the window again. The room was cast in a glow of red at the setting sun and he looked incredible. There were no words to describe these men—they were all so attractive. And clean. Maybe just men who washed looked this hot. They practically never washed at Bakersfield.

“Oh why?” I asked, curious now he was speaking to me. He looked over to me and shrugged. I turned back to Noah.

“I’m…I’m nineteen or twenty. I’m not sure either, and Colt is…” He hesitated to see what Colton would do. I watched Colton too. He flinched slightly but didn’t look over to us.

“He is thirty-five. And Ez, well, he is twenty-five.” I smiled and put my hand on Noah’s knee. He looked worn out, and I could feel the strain between him and Colton. I knew I put that there. He looked down to my hand and then to my eyes. I quickly removed my hand and set my little pieces up to play. Noah didn’t say anything about me touching him so I pretended like it didn’t happen.

* * *

After two rounds of Trouble, the light had all but gone. And all we were left with was a slither of moonlight and the heat of the day lingering.

“I will take first watch, Colt. Get some rest,” Noah said. He swapped places with Colton, who then moved their mattress away from mine. It shouldn’t have upset me, but it did. I was confused by all of this. I never really talked to many people before. Hiding that you’re female is hard if you go around talking to everyone. But being in the dark, I felt safe to talk to them. I couldn’t see their expressions if I said something wrong, but I mostly listened to their stories. I laughed with them, and it felt nice.

“Nova?” Ezra spoke up from beside me after the room had been quiet for some time. I thought they had all fallen asleep, except Noah who was still seated at the window. Every so often, he would move to the other window, but mostly he watched from one side.

“Mmm?” I murmured back.

“Are you sure you want to leave?” he whispered to me. I could just see his face from where I was lying. His one blue eye almost shone in the moonlight—it was pretty. I didn’t know what to say. I kept looking into his eyes. Wondering what I wanted. What I should do?

This really was a case of “better the devil you know” like my dad had always taught me. But I could feel it, in this room, that these men were different. Or I hoped they were because I felt like for the first time, I was home. I was somewhere I could belong.

“No,” I choked out. The lump in my throat was back and everything came flooding in. Kevin was dead…gone forever. All because of me. We wouldn’t have had to leave if I wasn’t so stupid. I shouldn’t have wandered away. I should have stayed in my hiding spot and waited for him to come home. But I wanted to see what everyone was doing. I wanted to see Adam. I thought if he was finished work we could sneak away and kiss. He didn’t know I was female; he never asked, and I never told him. But we would kiss. And it felt…well, it felt amazing. Like I was someone special, like I was a real person. Not always hidden away from the world. But that was all we did—kiss and talk. I guessed I was mourning the loss of what could have been with him as well. I thought I was in love with Adam. No, I knew I was in love with him. I should have told him that.

Big arms wrapped around me, holding me softly, and I knew they were Ezra’s. I had never been hugged like this before and it felt protective, caring. I relaxed into his hold and cried into his chest until I had no tears, and my body shook with so much emotion. He made soft sounds, as he stroked my hair. He never once told me to stop; he only told me to let it all out. And I did.

When I was all but sniffles, he cupped my cheek and pushed my hair back. He looked down to me as I froze in his arms, afraid of what he was going to do. He sensed that and gently smiled.

“Nova, if you want to stay with us, I promise we will take care of you. This is a family based on one hundred percent trust. Do you understand?”

I nodded and he smiled back. I felt exhausted, and I did the one thing I said I wouldn’t.

I fell asleep.

10

Nova

It had been four days since I’d woken up here. And life had been so different from what I had always known. For one, I didn’t have to hide who I was. Two, I had eaten more in the four days than I had in a month. The guys had a stockpile of food, and they were more than willing to share it with me. Which leads me to three. I hadn’t quite worked out what they wanted from me, so I was always waiting, watching. Just in case they had other plans, but there had to come to a point in my life where I could trust others. Not always looking over my shoulder, because maybe now I had someone who had my back too. Or maybe three other someone’s.

“We have enough food to last us about five days. I will need to go trade again to get more,” Colton said as he wandered into the kitchen with nothing but his shorts on. He came in from the basement. I liked it down there when it got too hot out. It was so much cooler, but so much darker too. I didn’t mind the dark, though. When you’d been hiding your whole life, dark was just normal to you.

“Do you think maybe we could trade for more clothes for Nova to wear?” Ezra asked as we prepared lunch together. It had been so much fun to help him cook and learn from him. They had created a spot in the backyard of the house where they would light a small fire and cook all types of things over it. We didn’t have that in Bakersfield. We just ate what we had, and there was no cooking. We only ate from cans or protein bars the government still made.

Noah was on watch; there was always someone on watch. Well most the time. It did make me feel safer. But I felt I needed to pull my weight more, which now I had some. That was what three meals a day did to you.

“Can I go on watch? If you show me where to be looking. I really want to help.” I looked over to Colton, who was the man in charge here. Everyone looked to him. He looked at me for longer than was comfortable and then nodded. I almost wanted to scream with joy. He trusted me enough for watch duty.

“After lunch, Nova can be on watch, and yes we can get her something else to wear. What did you need, Nova?” Colton studied me with those piercing blue eyes.

“Oh, I had never thought of more clothes. Um, maybe do you think? Um…” I didn’t know how to ask for a bra. I’d never had one, and now that I was putting on some weight I was starting to notice things were getting bigger up top.

“It’s cool, just tell Colt. He can get practically anything.” Ezra nudged my shoulder with his arm. I was really short around these guys.

“Okay…could you get a bra?” I whispered. I didn’t know why. It was not like it was something bad. I guess I was just embarrassed.

“Oh.” His eyes went wide. “Ah…” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m sure I could find something. Do you know your size?”

“Oh um? Small? Or um, around me? How do you mean size?” I was confused. How does size work? I was small so thought I was probably a small. No wait. Would I get fatter with all this food? Should I go for a size more like Colton? He was lean but muscular.

“Your cup size, and, you know, dress size?”

I peered up to him and he was looking at me. I felt uncomfortable at the way he looked at me so I shrugged, confused.

“I don’t know what that means?” Now I felt kind of dumb asking for one. “Actually, don’t worry about it. I’m okay. I don’t need anything.” I went back to peeling the potatoes and trying to dismiss the weird vibe that was in the room.

I heard a chair pull up and Colton sat beside me at the table.

“No, I won’t not worry about it, Nova. If you don’t know what size you are, I can help you. Have you ever had a bra before?” I didn’t look at him; I just felt so silly. I shook my head. Why was I letting something like his get to me? I’m strong, I’m tough. I’m a woman who survived NEX. And I was being all emotional over a bra?

“Okay, Nova, you will get a bra. I can help size you. Come with me.” He laid his hand palm up on the table. I hesitated for a moment before taking it. I really would love a bra. All the women at the brothel had bras. And they really loved wearing them. I guess it made them look like a real woman and that was also why I wanted one.

He led me to the front room. There was no furniture in here, the windows boarded up, but it still let in plenty of light. I felt nervous. Did he want to see my boobs? Instinctively I wrapped my arms around my chest and looked down at the floor. I didn’t know if I wanted him to see me. I took a step back as he held his hands up defensively.

“Hey, I just thought you maybe didn’t want to do it in front of Ez, but I had girlfriends in the past, and I can tell your size roughly by looking with clothes on. Just your top is very loose, so I can’t see what size you need.”

That shocked me. He had girlfriends once? I guessed that made sense given he was much older than the rest of us. He would have been what? Twenty when the flare hit. I nodded and placed my arms by my side.

“So if you just pull your top from the back, I should be able to gather an idea on the size.”

I pulled my top flush against myself without looking at Colton. I was worried what his face would say.

“All good. I know what size will suit best.”

And with that, he left me standing, confused as to what just happened as he went upstairs.

11

Noah

I usually got stuck with watch during the day. I was terrible at staying awake at night so I got to spend more daytime staring at nothing, watching nothing come. Except that day something did come. And her name was Nova.

I heard someone enter the room and turned to find Colton stomping over our mattresses toward me. The look on his face had me straightening up where I was sitting.

I went to speak, but he crushed his mouth to mine as soon as he reached me. Okay, this is a surprise. I kissed him back, but this kiss was different to what he normally gave me. Typically, it was a small kiss on the lips, but when his tongue entered my mouth, I was taken back. I pulled away from him. Placing my hands on his shoulders to catch my breath.

“What’s going on Colt?”

“I want you, right now.” He practically growled at me.

I was stunned. We didn’t normally do anything during the day, just at night. I didn’t know what had gotten him in this mood, but I was excited for it. I nodded and smiled. And before I stood up, he was already naked, in all his glory with his cock jutting out from his body. I leaned forward and clasped it in my hand and I started stroking him the way I knew he liked best. He moaned and rolled his head back.

“On your knees,” he commanded me. I loved when he took control. It turned me on more than anything. “I want your mouth now.”

I complied and he gripped the back of my hair and directed me to his cock. I swirled my tongue around the head and took him slowly into my mouth. He groaned and his hips flexed forward until he reached the back of my throat. I gave him full control as I dropped my hand and reached into my pants to stroke my own throbbing cock. The sounds he emitted aroused me even more. I could orgasm just by them alone. I loved to please him.

He pushed me back and his cock sprang free from my mouth. I looked up to him and his eyes were dark and full of lust. He shoved me hard until my back hit the mattress. He quickly removed my pants before he placed himself between my legs. He spat in his hand a few times. It made me so horny as he pushed his finger past my ring and slowly fingered my ass. I thrust my hips upward as he slowly teased my cock with his fingers. My balls tingled and tightened with the need for release.

“Shit,” I hissed. “More, Colt. I need more.”

12

Ezra

After Colt ran up the stairs, I could hear Nova quietly follow him about a minute later. I wasn’t too sure what had happened between them, so I left lunch prep where it was to find out what was going on.

I got to the top of the stairs and saw Nova standing to the side of the bedroom door frame, peering in.

What the—? I was just about to ask her if she was okay, when I saw her put her hand down her pants. Fuck, is she touching herself? Then I could hear the moans. Colt and Noah were fucking again. But this was different; they didn’t do it during the day. Well, from what I knew they never had. And they were loud, so I usually knew.

When I heard Noah asking for more, I saw Nova look in again, her hand moving fast between her legs. Her other hand reached under her top exposing her belly to me. Her skin was smooth and a creamy coffee color. Just thinking about her made me hard. This would make me come in my pants. Fuck. I didn’t want her to know I was watching, but I knew I wanted to watch her to the end. I wanted to help her, to feel her. This woman had my cock hard for almost a week. I had to take care of myself more than I would like to say. Just because of her. I never knew I would feel this way about someone.

Her hair fell over her shoulder as she arched her head back and made a small breathy moan. I couldn’t help but rub my cock though my shorts. But it was not enough. I stepped back farther, trying to be as quiet as I could. I pulled my cock out and stroked myself. I shuddered at the feeling. I wouldn’t take long. Watching her was the best thing I had ever experienced. I had never been with anyone before. Yeah, I had seen Colt and Noah going at it. But this was different. I could just imagine her, my hand between her thighs.

It didn’t take long before I heard Noah calling out in release. It sent Nova over at the same time. Her body trembled with release as she grasped the doorframe and bit her lip to stay quiet.

I was next. I held my palm out as I came over and over again. I tried to be as quiet as I could but I wasn’t.

Nova stared right at me, her mouth agape and those big brown eyes fixed right on my cock. We were broken from our trance when Colt practically screamed his release. Nova started running down the stairs. I stood there frozen with my cock in one hand, my come in the other. Noah came running out of the room and stopped when he saw me. He then looked toward the stairs.

“What the fuck?” Noah questioned me with his brows pulled close in confusion. He pulled his pants up and ran down after Nova.

“If you wanted to join, Ez, all you have to do is ask,” Colton said, walking out. Then he winked at me and chuckled. I hadn’t heard him laugh in a long time. It was good to hear. He patted my shoulder and took off down the stairs, his naked white ass on display for the world.

13

Nova

Holy shit, I was so embarrassed. I had never done that before. I had never gotten myself off by watching anyone before. I didn’t know what came over me, but that was so intense. What I wasn’t expecting was Ezra there, cock in hand and coming into the other.

It was… hot. That he got himself off by watching me. I wanted to reach out and touch him. His body was slick with sweat, and his stomach was taut, the muscles moved with his quickened breaths. But his cock, holy crap. He was big. I looked to his face, frozen in what looked like horror. I didn’t think twice, I freaked out and ran.

“Hey, Nova. Are you okay?” Noah came around the corner of the kitchen and surprised me. I thought it was Ezra. I nodded. “Um…yep,” I squeaked out. Shit, did he know I was watching him and Colton?

“I think we all are okay.” He wiggled his brows and laughed, dimples on full show.

I moved away from him and washed my hands in the bucket of water. Trying to hide my face, which I felt burning up.

Colt entered the room and cleared his throat. I turned to see he was wearing nothing. “Nova, let’s just get this out there. Did you watch us?” His cock was still hard. Which surprised me. I always thought they went down once a man came? Maybe I was wrong.

I shamelessly looked to the floor as I nodded. He was going to want me to leave. I shouldn’t have done that. And I shouldn’t have touched myself to them either. I peeked up though the curtain of my hair and saw Ezra standing there next to Colton. I looked down to his hand, which was clasped in a fist.

They were all standing there looking at me. Ezra had a look of guilt. Noah had a big grin on his face and Colton looked…pleased?

“I watched, all right? I’m not going to lie to you and say I didn’t. I did okay? It’s a bit hard not to when you just start fucking in the middle of the shared bedroom.” I looked to each of them. Noah laughed, and Colton raised his eyebrows his lips curled into a sexy smile.

“So, you admit you watched us. I didn’t think you would. Did it turn you on? Is that why Ez here has a hand full of his jizz?”

Ezra lowered his head. He looked embarrassed. Argh. I was fucking this all up. I was in this house with three amazing, extremely attractive guys, and I really wished that maybe, I could have something like Colt and Noah had. That passion, that love. But right now I was feeling a little worked up. I stood up straighter.

“Yes. And I’m not sorry.”

Noah came closer to me. “Do you want to watch us again? Can I watch you, Nova?”

Shit. Did I want to let him watch me? Maybe? I did want to watch him again? Yes! I was so turned on by what I had just seen. I’m a woman. I have needs just like any man.

I took a deep breath, swallowed and then looked to all three of them.

“Yes. Yes I do.”

* * *

It had been two long days. I thought we would be doing something that afternoon they all caught me. But they’d all just smiled and went about their daily chores. Then, something happened to the water well, and they spent most the afternoon fixing it. I kept watch from the chair in the bedroom all day, seeing nothing but desert—boring. They’d said I did a great job and that I could do it again. Which was what I was doing right now. But I was mostly day-dreaming. Which is probably not the best when your on watch.

Dinner had been over for a while now, and the sun was getting lower in the sky. The winds had picked up, but I couldn’t see any storms coming. The guys said not to stress too much in looking for one. Sometimes they never get close enough, that we would know when one was here. I just needed to watch for anyone that was out there. So, I just looked out as best I could and moved to the other window every so often to stretch my legs, and look out there.

The room was cast in reds again. It was beautiful to see it every night.

“Nova, would you like to have some fun with us?” I turned to see Colt wearing only his shorts again. His body was lean with a trail of slightly darker hair leading a path from his belly button down into his shorts.

I saw Noah following Ezra into the room.

“Yes,” I replied, a little nervous at what he meant. I quickly glanced outside, but all was clear.

Ezra sat down on his mattress. It had been in the same position next to mine all week, and I enjoyed having him so close to me. I enjoyed them all if I was honest. Even Colton.

“Did you want to watch first? Or did you want to be a part of everything?” Colton stepped up closer to me. I could smell him, he had a bath today. They had soap that had this sweet smell to it.

Did I what? Oh, God, it is actually happening. Now!

“Um…both?” I answered. I didn’t know what I wanted right now. This was hard because I had never actually had sex with anyone for the sake of being with them. I did it to survive, and now that I had an option, I was not sure what I was supposed to do.

“It’s okay, you can watch me if you want.” Noah wiggled his brows at me as he came closer and sat down on my mattress. I couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across my face. He always seems to be able to make me smile and laugh.

One thing these guys hadn’t done was touch me. I didn’t count when Noah grabbed me when I tried to escape or when Ezra held me while I cried that night. No, they hadn’t even tried to do anything sexual, which had been a relief but also, I didn’t know how to show I wanted them too. I understood that Noah and Colton had their own thing, which was fine with me. But I really felt like I had a connection with them all. I wanted them all if I was being honest. Which was new for me. I shouldn’t want to be with three men at once should I? But this…was happening.

Ezra looked over to me, his eyes finding mine. He cleared his throat and asked. “Are you a virgin?”

I quickly shook my head. “No, I have had sex. I…I worked sometimes for food.”

Colton made a sound, and he didn’t look pleased. He shook his head and quickly added, “Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. I understand the need to earn for food. Now that you’re here with us, you will never have to do that again, I promise, Nova. You don’t have to do anything with us you don’t want to do. So, if this is something you don’t want, you just speak up at any time and we will stop, okay?”

He was so sexy as he ran his hand through his hair. And licked his lips.

I wanted this. I wanted to feel with them. I wanted to be with them. “I want this,” I said and Colton stalked over to me, it made me tingle with nerves the way he moved towards me. Lightly touching my shoulders, he pulled me to standing. He pushed my hair behind my ear and ran his thumb down my cheek to my jaw. He leaned in so close that I could kiss him. His warm breath fanned over my lips as I ran my tongue over my bottom lip. My stomach fluttered. I missed kissing. I looked up into his eyes. They were smiling down at me.

“You can take what you want from me, Nova. If you want to kiss me, just do it.” His voice so husky and deep. I didn’t give myself a chance to second guess. I leaned in and lightly touched my lips to his. I felt his tongue against the seam of my mouth, and I opened to let him in. Our tongues clashed with each other. His hand moved from my shoulder to the back of my head as he deepened the kiss. I arched my body into his, wanting to get closer. I could feel the hard planes of his chest, and the tell-tale sign he was turned on was hard against my stomach. I slowly ran my hands down his back as he pulled me in harder and we were lost in the kiss. In each other.

When we pulled back for air, he gave me the most brilliant smile, one that I had never seen on his face. Colton needed to smile more often I decided. I was so turned on, I could feel the wetness slicking between my legs.

Colton pulled me over to the mattress that Noah and he shared and sat me down.

“Noah, would you like to kiss Nova? She is an amazing kisser.” Colton pulled on Noah’s top to bring him closer, and the look he gave me was so cute. I had seen him kiss Colton, but his eyes were wide as he looked so unsure of himself.

I decided to take control of this kiss. I grabbed the back of Noah’s head and pulled him toward me. Our lips met. His were a little softer than Colton’s. I ran the tip of my tongue against his bottom lip, and he opened for me. I pushed my tongue inside and met with his. At first it was a little awkward, but he finally relaxed into the kiss. I looked to see his hand hovered near me, but he didn’t touch me. Colton took Noah’s wrist and placed his hand on my shoulder. I giggled a little; it was so cute. Here was this big guy, and he was nervous to touch me. I pulled away and licked my lips.

“I like kissing you, Noah,” he blushed and shyly looked away. But the smile on his face said he liked kissing me too. My chest felt warm as my heart raced happily. I wasn’t sure if he only liked guys or if he liked girls too. I guess he liked us both.

Feeling more confident I called out to Ezra. I reached my hand out to him. He slowly made his way over. He looked to Colton and then back to me. He gave me a small smile as he dipped his head down.

I reached out for him again but when he didn’t come closer, I went to him.

“Ez, you want to say anything?” Colton asked him. Ezra looked up to me with those amazing eyes. The blue one peering into my soul every time he looked at me. He rubbed the back of his neck and bit his lower lip. I smiled when I saw he was even more nervous than Noah was. He cleared his throat and quickly looked up to me.

“I…I’m new at this, Nova,” he muttered out. He looked down again, and I understood what he was saying. If he was anyone else, I wouldn’t have believed him, but Ezra was the type of guy who would never visit a brothel. He had never been with a woman. And I wouldn’t change that for the world. I want to be all his firsts. And all his lasts.

I leaned into him, holding his knees for support and gently placed a kiss on his lips. I moved in closer until I was straddling his lap. My hands went to his face and pulled him in to kiss again. His arms wove around me as he pulled me closer and our tongues met. He tasted like sugar. So sweet that I wanted more. My body started moving against his, and I could feel his hard cock straining to get out of his pants.

I reached down between us and palmed him through his pants. He shuddered and pulled back from me. Shit. I didn’t realize how forward that was. His brows were bunched together and he was taking deep breaths. He gave me a crooked smile that sent tingles down into my core. “I want to keep going, but I…um. Yeah I won't last if you keep doing that.” Colton and Noah chuckled at Ezra. But that gave me confidence, that I could work him up that much. I must be doing something right.

“Let’s get undressed.” Colton suggested and I peeled myself away from Ezra and sat down beside him.

I watched as Noah stood up and took off his shirt and shorts fast. He stood there watching me, he was completely naked. I trailed my eyes down his very muscular body, his cock was reaching for the stars. He was big all over, and he looked pretty proud of his body as he flexed his arms and stroked his cock lazily a few times. He chuckled and I looked back up to his face, he winked at me. And I couldn’t hide the blush spreading across my face. Yeah, I was staring at his cock, I can't help that my eyes were drawn to it.

Colton stood up next and just dropped the shorts in one quick sweep, he ran his hand down his chest and cupped his balls, my eyes followed his hand. I quickly looked away from Colton to Ezra, who now had his top off. He stood up and paused as he looked down to me. I winked at him, and he gave me the most bashful smile. He took his pants off slowly, it was an impressive show from all of them.

Wow. I sat back to take them all in. They all had amazing bodies and I couldn’t wait to touch them all. I stood up and stepped closer. I reached out and gently stroked my fingers across Ezra’s abs. He tensed and his cock bobbed at me. I stepped back smiling at the movement.

“I guess it’s my turn now.” They silently nodded.

I had not shown them anything since being here, always making sure the door was closed when I bathed. And I was a little nervous if I was being honest, about what they would think about me naked. I took in a deep breath and lifted my top up first. Hesitating over my head a little longer before I saw their reactions to my breasts. They might not be much, but they were more than I’d had before.

I dropped the shirt on the floor and put my fingers on the draw string on my pants. I glanced up at them, the looks on their faces made my heart pound and a flush of warmth spread all over my body. I slowly untied the draw string and my pants slipped to the floor without any effort.

All of their eyes were now freely roaming over my body as they just stood there. I suddenly felt self-conscious as no one had said anything. And quickly covered myself with my hands.

“Hey,” Colton said as he stepped forward and placed his hand on mine, the one that was covering my breasts. “You’re so fucking beautiful, Nova. Seriously, I was just so turned on that I lost all words.”

14

Ezra

I stood frozen on the spot after Nova ran her fingers across my skin, I could still feel her touch linger. I didn’t know what to think when she got naked. I don’t think my brain was working anymore, but my body sure was. My cock grew harder, I wanted to touch myself but I really would come if I did. I had seen some magazines with naked women, well what was left of the pages. So, I had seen a woman naked before, but just not in the flesh. I was worried she would think I was strange being a virgin. I didn’t know why—I just assumed. Which was stupid I know, I was just full of nerves and excitment. But she seemed to like kissing me. I know sure did enjoy kissing her. Now she was naked… And my heart was pounding. I wanted to please her and make her moan like she did when she touched herself. I just didn’t know how.

“Come here, sweetheart.” Colton brought her down to sitting and lowered his hand to us. Indicating he wanted us to get down on the mattress too and not be standing here like assholes staring at her.

“Nova, you are seriously beautiful,” Noah told her as he reached out to her. She took his hand and smiled up at him. I could sense she was a little nervous. I wanted her to feel more comfortable, but I didn’t know what to say right now. Noah could make everyone feel comfortable.

“Okay, boys,” Colton said from behind her. She let out a small giggle at the word boys.

“Nova calls all the shots, okay? If she says no, it’s no. You need to stop. If she screams yes, keep doing that because it means she likes it. But she is going to tell us how fast or slow she wants to go here.”

Colton nodded to her and she smiled shyly. Taking a deep breath, she looked to all of us now on our knees. Noah couldn’t help himself as I saw him from the corner of my eye stroking himself again.

“I would like the same as what Colton did for Noah. I want to have sex and enjoy it.”

We all nodded. But we didn’t move from where we were. I think we were waiting on her to start or do something. Well I know I was.

Noah put his hand up with a big grin on his face. “So, can I ask a question?” I hid the smile that grew on my face. Trust Noah to break the silence.

Nova nodded as he asked, “Can I like see where my cock goes? So, I don’t mess this up,” he quickly added at the end. Colton sputtered out a laugh and slapped Noah on the shoulder. I coughed a few times from the shock at what he had just asked. But that’s Noah for you. He had that big dopey grin on his face.

“Shit man, you won’t mess this up.” And Colt pulled him in and kissed him hard.

“So, how do we start this?” Nova asked as she glanced around at us. Colton took charge, pushing her gently down onto her back and kissed her. He ran his hands up the outside of her thigh and across her belly until he cupped her breast and started massaging it with his palm. Pulling at her dark-pink-colored nipple with his thumb and forefinger. He pulled away from her lips and trailed a line of kisses to her earlobe. She gasped as she arched her chest into him, her hand found his back as she ran her fingers down then up. She grabbed his arm, pulling him in for another kiss. He moaned into her mouth then reached out his hand towards me. Colton turned and pulled me toward Nova without breaking their kiss. Taking my hand he placed it where his just was, on her soft breast. His teeth playfully nipped at her lower lip then kissed her again. When he saw I wasn’t moving, he placed his hand on mine and started moving it.

Colton was teaching me how to please her, and I was grateful for it.

I saw Noah move to the other side of Nova, and Colton shifted his weight so he was now sitting away from her. Noah bent down and latched his mouth onto her other nipple, and the sounds that came from Nova spurred me to do the same. I watched Noah lick and suck, and I did the same. She grabbed my hair and pulled me in closer. Her breast was so soft, yet her nipple was hard.

Colton pulled us away and chuckled at Nova’s cute little whine.

“Spread your legs for us, beautiful. I want to show these boys what a real woman looks like.” Nova was flushed and breathing heavily. She looked incredible and with her snow white hair all fanned out behind her. It matched the curls between her legs. And when she opened her legs, exposing herself to us for the first time, I could see her slit glisten in the fading light of the evening. I licked my lips, my hand found my cock and couldn’t stop myself from stroking it. I had to pinch the head of my cock to stop myself from coming.

“That’s it, Nova. Shit, you’re so wet, babe. Can I touch you?” Colt hovered close to her as she nodded. He spread her open more. He gently ran his thumb over the top of a bump. Nova shivered and clenched her fists by her side.

“Is he hurting you?” I asked worried.

She shook her head and looked over to me with a lazy smile. “It feels good, it's my clit. That’s how I touch myself.” And she let out a moan as Colt sped up his movements. Fuck, if this was what she was doing to herself, I really needed to pay attention so I could do it for her.

“Watch, boys. See how wet she is? It means she is ready. She needs some cock. Don’t you, sweetheart?”

She nodded and moaned again. “I want you to fuck me.” She bucked her hips in the air at Colt, and he didn’t have to be told twice. He moved his index finger down lower and it disappeared inside her. Then he brought it back up and swirled it around her clit again. She was so wet.

“Fuck, Nova, you’re so tight. I can’t wait to fuck you. But I think Ez here needs to fuck you first.” And everyone looked to me.

Huh? Me? My stomach fluttered and I felt hot all over. I thought Colt was going to keep showing me, that he would fuck her first.

“Ezra,” she whispered to me, her hand reaching out. Shit. I couldn’t say no to her. I never want to either. The way she was looking at me with those eyes... Colton pulled his hand away and sucked the wetness from his finger and thumb. Holy Shit, he was tasing her. I moved towards her as I took his place. I looked down at her, my fingers trembled slightly. I didn’t know where I should start. Colt grabbed my hand and moved it towards her and Nova giggled.

“Here.” She took my hand from Colts. I think that helped my nerves a little me. She placed my index finger on her little bump.

“That’s my clit. It’s super sensitive. Okay? That can bring me to orgasm. But so can this.” And she pushed my fingers through her slit. It was warm and wet. I could smell her, her arousal, as she pushed my finger into her vagina. At least I knew what that was called. I was not totally dumb when it came to women. Fuck, Colt was right that was so tight. I didn’t know how I would fit in there.

“I’m…I’m too big,” I stammered, trying to control myself, before my cock exploded right there with only my finger inside her.

“No such thing, Ez. You can fit. You have seen me fucking Noah. It’s the same thing… Just different hole.”

I had watched them fuck before. I would never tell them that, they knew I heard them but I should never have watched. That was private, intimate. I lowered myself down between Nova’s legs, and her small hand grabbed onto my cock. It felt so good I bucked into her hand, needing the friction.

“Fuck, I’m sorry.” I told her, embarrassed that I just did that.

She just smiled and pulled me down onto her. She kissed me, her tongue danced with mine as she wrapped her legs around my ass and pulled me even closer. I looked down between us. I could see my cock in her hand as she stroked it a few times before she aimed it between her legs. The head of my cock felt the warmth of her body as her legs pulled my ass towards her, my cock sliding into her.

“Fuck,” I hissed as I felt her warm tunnel grasp onto my cock like a fist. I held still for a moment. I didn’t want to move. I was scared if I did I would come instantly, and I wanted to please her first. She needs to come first.

“Ezra,” she whispered into my ear as she licked the tip of it then sucked my lobe into her mouth. My whole body was alive, my skin was so sensitive as she ran her fingers down my back.

The other two sat back from us and didn’t speak. They let us have this moment to ourselves. I slowly pulled out and then pushed gently back in, fascinated at the way her body and mine were connected. Like one. Like we were made for each other. Holding still I let out a deep shuddering breath, trying my best to stop myself from coming too early.

I have fallen so hard for this woman.

She reached down between us and started rubbing on her clit as I started to move again in a slow but steady rhythm.

“Yes, fuck me harder.” She groaned, and I pumped harder, my balls slapping against her ass at every stroke. She started making sounds that she had made the other day when I watched her, those sounds told me she was close. I grabbed her cheek and kissed her. It was rough, but I wasn’t able to think as I was so close to coming. But I was trying to hold off for her.

“Fuck, I’m going to come, Ezra. Keep going, I need more.” And with that it was like a strike of lightning went off in me, and I shifted up and held onto her hips. I started moving and pumping at a different, deeper angle, which seemed to do the trick as her face fell into blissful orgasm, and her body grew so tight around my cock that when I came. I saw stars. It was euphoric.

I pumped in and out a few more times, riding out the wave of my orgasm and all but collapsed onto her in a pile of sweat and pleasure.

“Oh, my God.” I muttered as I tried to catch my breath. Nova giggled and kissed my shoulder. She bit her bottom lip with a hint of a smile and looked into my eyes.

“Oh, my God.” She giggled as she embraced me.

I was in love with Nova.

15

Noah

Watching Ez and Nova fuck was hot as hell. I couldn’t believe how exciting it was to watch others having sex, and how close I was to coming. There was no way I could fuck her now. I would explode before I got over there. But Colt seemed to think otherwise.

“That was fucking hot. How do you feel, Nova? You want to go again? Maybe with Noah? Or try something different?”

She kissed Ez and then with a lazy smile, whispered, “Noah. I want Noah.”

Fuck. Everyone is looking at me.

My heart started pounding in my chest. “I…um… Colt can go next,” I quickly blurted out.

Colt laughed. “No, she asked for you, Noah.” I closed my eyes, a lump formed in my throat. I don’t think I can do this… I was all excited and ready for it. But after watching Ez with her, I just didn’t think I would be any good at it. Colton sensed my change in mood.

“Or I can fuck you and let Nova watch?” His hand went to my cock and stroked me.

I nodded, I was too nervous to touch her now.

16

Colton

Man, I’m exhausted. When there was that much fucking going on, you were bound to be. But tonight had been amazing, a night of many firsts. While everyone was sleeping in post orgasmic bliss I was on watch for the first half of tonight. I kept thinking about how we got so lucky with Nova. Yeah, alright I admit I was pretty hard on her for the first couple of days. But that’s my job, it's what keeps us safe. And I will keep her safe, we all will.

I glanced down to see Ezra cuddling Nova on her mattress. He was sleeping deeper than I had ever seen him do. That’s what a great sex session will do to you.

Noah was spread out like a lazy dog on our mattress. He didn’t even bother to get dressed. He just lay down with a lazy smile on his face and instantly fell asleep. I was going to have to talk to him tomorrow, find out where the cocky and confident Noah went when it came to sex with Nova. He was doing great up until the end where he seemed jerky and nervous. Which isn’t like him. I smiled down at him, watching his chest rise and fall. I felt no jealously when he kissed Nova. If anything, it felt right. Like this was how we were supposed to be. Our family. All together.

I rubbed my eyes and glanced outside into the dark again. It was like I was seeing fire flies, dancing in the distance. I looked up to the moon. It was probably around 2:00 a.m. I got up and walked to the front window to have a look there, and I saw the fireflies dancing again. I rubbed my eyes again. I quickly went back to the other window and looked once more.

“What the fuck?” I said out loud, and instantly Ezra was on his feet. I guess he wasn’t sleeping as deeply as I’d thought.

“What the fuck?” Ezra hissed as he peered out through the slats to what we now both realized were not fireflies but flashlights. How could I be so stupid to think they weren’t flashlights. Fuck. My stomach dropped as I saw there was not just a few but many. Sweeping from side to side as they entered the main road to our little town.

“Fuck, Noah, Nova, get up now!” I rushed over and shook Noah awake. “Put your clothes on now. We have visitors and lots of them.”

Nova was visibly shaking as she looked out the front window to the other group of lights headed our way. Her hand went to her mouth as she turned to me, her eyes wide with panic.

“Oh, my God, Colton, what do we do?” The pitch in her voice sent everyone into action.

Ezra ran down the stairs and came back fast with three backpacks. Our emergency “get the hell out of dodge” bags.

“How close?” Noah called over to me. He was now fully dressed and standing at the doorway ready to go.

I heard the smashing of glass as they broke into the house across the street. And some stomping on the porch of our house. A few bangs on the front door as they tried to open it, it was locked. But they would smash their way in. Even with the house all boarded up. Nova gasped from where she was looking.

“They are here for me. They are from Bakersfield.” She stammered.

I heard the crash as the front door busted open downstairs. Noah closed the bedroom door and locked it. Everyone turned to me, waiting on orders. Fuck. Nova grabbed onto Ezra’s arm, she was shaking and visibly shaken. I shook my head to clear it. With the bedroom door locked, this gives us a few minutes of time, in which to scale down the side of the house. And hopefully no one would see. Fuck, I should have been paying more attention.

Ezra slung one of the backpacks over his back and handed one to Noah.

“Ezra,” I whispered to get his attention, as I place my hand on Nova’s shoulder and a finger to my lips. I looked to Noah and made the sign to evacuate. With every bang downstairs we heard, we pulled another board off the window. Until someone was trying to get into our room. Opening the window to the cooler night air was harder than I thought. It hadn’t been opened in a long time, and I struggled at first. My hands a little clammy.

Some yelling from outside the bedroom door told us there was now more than one out there. I glanced around below and saw there was no one down this side of the house. I quickly scaled down the side, using a lattice that was here when we found the building. We’d chopped it in half so no one could easily scale up it. But now that meant there was a bit of a drop once you got down. I landed with a small thump on the dirt. I look around and saw no one was here.

Nova was being lowered out the window by Ezra. She struggled to come down the lattice, and she was shaking. She was much slower than I wanted her to be, because the guys didn’t have much time left before the intruders broke into the room. Nova gasped as she stumbled down the side of the house. I caught her before she could hit the ground. Ezra threw my backpack out to me, I caught it and swung it over my back. When I looked up to see who was coming, I heard Ez and Noah yelling.

“Fuck, run, Nova. Hide. At the back of the house. I will come find you,” I told her. I had to get her safe before these men find her, and I needed to help Noah and Ezra.

She got up and stumbled over a few rocks as she started running. Then she froze as she looked into the kitchen window. Her hand flew to her mouth at what she saw there.

“Run,” I whisper-yelled.

I jumped up, trying to reach the lattice, but it was no use. I couldn’t get up to the guys. My heart pounded as I watched on. There was nothing I could do as Noah was being pushed out the window. Fucking hell. How did this happen?

17

Nova

“Run,” Colton told me.

It was hard to hear him over my thundering heartbeat. I started to run when I saw him.

Shit. I froze, recognizing him immediately. He was staring right back at me. The hair on my arms lifted at the sight. That black beanie, those aqua blue eyes. They belonged to the one person I thought I could trust, but now seeing him here, I knew it wasn’t true.

Adam. The boy I’d spent so long giving all my kisses to. I thought he was innocent in all of this. But he must have been the one to tell everyone I was a girl. No. A woman. I felt dizzy and wanted to throw up. How could you?

“Run,” yelled Colton again. I quickly turned and saw Noah being shoved out the window just as another man came up around the side of the house and charged toward Colton. My hand flew to my mouth to stop me from screaming. I quickly looked back to Adam, and his eyes were wide in panic. Fuck.

Adam motioned with his hand and mouthed the word “run.” And with that, I did. I ran so fast into the dark that I fell over time after time, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. I needed to get away. I could hear men raiding the houses looking for me, but I didn’t stop. I did what Colton had said, what Adam had said. I ran and I didn’t stop until I found a small rusted shed and hid behind it. I didn’t want to hide inside; there would be no way to escape if they found me. I kept watch, my eyes strained in the dark to see my guys. Colton, Ezra and Noah. But I didn’t realize I had run so far; the house was so much farther than I thought. I started to worry that Colton wouldn’t find me. He said to hide out behind the house. But I panicked and I kept going. But then the real panic set in… What if they were dead? My knees went weak and I fell down into the red dirt of the desert floor. I kept looking back to the house. Do I go back? My hands shook as I clutched my chest where my heart was racing.

I took a deep breath to steady myself. I need to calm down to think straight.

“No, they are alive.” I told myself. They were alive and coming. They would come for me.

I waited there for hours until the sun started to rise over the horizon. That’s when I saw the first house go up in flames. My chest got tight, as I struggled to breathe. I felt nauseous and I started to shake again. Guilt filled my stomach that I had done this—I ran from Bakersfield. I brought these men here. They were after me and now Colton, Noah, and Ezra were missing. My stomach was in knots.

“I’m not going to cry. They are alive.” I stood up on shaky legs and walked around the rusted metal shed. I was surprised that it was still standing out here with all the storms. I need to go back to them. I should have waited, I could have helped. I looked back to the houses. And is that? Someone coming toward me. It was hard to pick him out, but he stumbled a few times. Oh, my God!

“Hey,” I called out as I ran out from behind the shed toward him. Was it Colton? I couldn’t see well in this light. As I got closer, I could see red blood covering his head.

“Colt?” I warily asked where I was standing. He looked up with a wicked grin. Not Colton. My heart plummeted, and I felt my stomach lurch in disgust. “Got you now, bitch,” he screamed as he lunged for me, grabbing onto my arm as I tried to run.

“Let go. Get off me.” I kicked and hit him, trying to loosen his grip on me, but it was no use. He grabbed my other arm and tightened his grip until I yelped in pain.

“Now you are gonna come with me, little miss. We are gonna have fun you and me.” His breath was rancid as he spit the words in my face.

He half picked me up and half dragged me back to the shed I had just come from. I fought as hard as I could, but it was impossible to get out of his grip from this angle. He opened the shed, the rusty hinges screamed in protest. It was dark in there, but I could make out a few things lying around. A small shovel—the handle looked rotten, though—and a few planks of wood. Red dust covered almost everything. He threw me down on the hard ground, the air whooshing out from my lungs. I took a few deep breaths and turned to find him unbuttoning his pants.

“Fuck off,” I yelled to him as he approached me. No way was I going to let him rape me. He would have to kill me first. I scrambled over to the shovel. The handle wasn’t as bad as I thought, just split and weathered.

I held it out in front of me, and he laughed as he grabbed my foot and dragged me toward him. He tried to grab me, but I swung with everything I had and hit his arm with a loud bang that I didn’t just feel through my arm, but my whole body pained from it.

“Your gonna pay for that, bitch,” he growled out.

On pure adrenaline, I lifted the shovel again, aimed for his throat, and swung as he lunged at me. The sound he made when the tip of the shovel sliced though his skin was something I would never forget. His hands flew straight to where the shovel was embedded in his skin and he pulled it out.

I scrambled back in shock as he held onto the open gash and blood started pouring out between his fingers. He tried to talk but as he did, blood bubbled out and his eyes widened. I dry-retched as I watched him crumble to the floor, gasping for air. I didn’t look away as I watched the life drain out of him.

I just killed a man.

18

Ezra

We had been bunkered down outside, hiding in the bushes at the back of the house, waiting for these assholes to leave. But the fuckers set our place on fire. They raided the other building and took all our shit. There was just too many for us to take on. I counted over fifteen of them. At least Nova was not here, Colt had told her to run and she did. We needed to find her; she was alone and probably scared. I can see why she left Bakersfield.

“Noah, keep your eyes open. Don’t go to sleep.” I looked over to see Colt stroking Noah’s cheek. Colt had a smile on his face, but you could see the cracks there. He was trying to be positive. But Noah was hurt badly. One of those fuckers had pulled a knife on him. He’d deflected the blow to his chest, but it hit his head hard, and he fell from the window and hit the ground. Even with Colt trying to stop him from hitting the ground, Noah was a big guy and there was no way Colton could have caught him. I charged the asshole who stabbed him and threw myself out the window. I landed awkwardly but I didn’t break anything. Just a sprained ankle, if that.

But now we worried that Noah had a concussion, and the bleeding from the gash in his head from the knife did not slow down at all.

“I think we need to go now while they are all going through the last of our shit. I can carry Noah if you can carry our bags.” I told Colton.

Noah shook his head. “Just go find her now,” he whispered.

I couldn’t leave him to go find Nova alone. We all needed to go together. I quickly passed the bags over to Colt. He strapped one to his front, the other to his back, and held the last one in his hand. He got up and did a quick sweep of the area.

I got up and watched Colton go around the outside of the house. To check if it was all clear from those Bakersfield men. The heat from the fire was powerful; I could feel the dry air as the wind blew toward us. He waved to me and I carefully pulled Noah over my shoulders in a fireman’s carry and jogged over to Colton. I followed him as he dashed out of the yard and away from the house we’d spent so much time in—our home that was now burning to the ground. And out into the desert where hopefully our Nova waited for us to return.

After what felt like an hour, we saw a small metal shed in the middle of nowhere. It was amazing it had held up after all this time. The rusted tin gave it a red look, which was very suiting out here, where everything was red. The one thing I noticed was it was big enough to hide in there, and if Nova was anywhere, that was where I would bet my last ration bar.

“Nova,” Colt called out as he entered through an open door. As I caught up to him, I heard him hiss “fuck” under his breath. “Nova, baby, sweetheart?” Colt murmured gently.

When I entered the dark space, the first thing I saw a man covered in blood on the floor and a little human ball crouched in the far corner of the dark shed. I quickly moved around the body and gently placed Noah on the floor as far away as I could. “Noah, wake up,” I tapped his cheeks, and shook his shoulders. He didn’t open his eyes. Shit I should have talked to him more. I should have tried to keep him awake. I could see his head wound had finally stopped bleeding, and all the blood on his face had dried and was flaking off.

“Nova,” I called over to her, and Colton turned to see that Noah was now unconscious. Nova looked like she was in a comatose state. Fuck this shit. Hadn’t we suffered enough? We finally found this incredible woman, and now we were homeless, Noah was injured, and now our beautiful Nova…

“Fuck,” Colt yelled. And it shocked both Nova and me. Her head swung up and she looked over to us with those big browns. Thank fuck she was still alive, but those eyes had fear in them. What did that fucker do to her?

I moved to her, pulling her into my arms. Once she was standing, I looked over her and ran my hands up and down over her body, looking for any injuries she may have gotten. She was fully dressed but had blood splatter on her face and clothes.

“Is it your blood?” I asked. She shook her head and pointed to the body on the floor. I kicked the dead body until it rolled over, revealing a massive gash in his throat.

“Holy shit, did you do this?” I asked her in shock. She blinked away tears and nodded again. Her hands trembled as she clasped onto my top. Not wanting to let me go. I held her tightly in my arms, not wanting to let her go either.

“You did good. Don’t cry. You were protecting yourself. You need to stay strong. Noah needs us now. He hit his head and… I let him fall asleep.”

19

Nova

I looked over to where Colton was hovering over Noah. Ezra was right; I needed to stay strong. I pulled myself up and wiped my shaking hands down the front of my top. I needed to snap out of this haze I was in. My men were safe, they were here with me. I had to do what was needed to survive. I had to kill that man. I had no other choice.

“Noah,” I called out as I wiped my eyes dry, I rushed over to where he lay. Colton was trying to wake him, but Noah wasn’t responding.

No. I only just got these guys. I cannot lose any of them right now. They were mine and we were a family. We had only just become a family.

“Let me see,” I told Colton as I pushed him aside. I pulled Noah’s hair apart at the top and found a big clean slice around three inches long. I could see from here it was to the skull, but there didn’t look to be any breaks. But the force of the knife might be why he was unconscious right now.

“What happened?” I asked. As they filled me in on what happened, I held Noah’s hand and stroked his face with my other. I don’t know if it was to comfort Noah or to reassure me that he was still here, alive.

“Head wounds are always the best bleeders. But it looks like it hasn’t broken anything. We need to clean it and stitch it up fast before he gets an infection,” I told them, and I ran my hands down Noah’s face.

“I didn’t realize you knew so much medical stuff.” Ezra looked at me with his brow raised and small smile across his face.

I shook my head. “No I don’t, but a friend told me a few things. His father is a doctor, so I asked questions.” I shrugged, I didn’t know much and I wasn’t about to tell them that friend was Adam. Or that I saw him in our kitchen only hours earlier. I still had not processed that. I didn’t understand his reaction to me at all.

Glancing around, I saw the backpacks they brought in with them. I pulled one over and realized it was much heavier than it looked. I opened it and saw a metal canteen and a cast iron frypan. A few pieces of clothing and some tin cans without labels.

I opened the canteen and with Colton’s help, I washed the dry blood from my hands. And then we cleaned the wound on Noah’s head.

“Ezra, is there something in one of the bags that we can use to close this or cover his head like a bandage?”

Ezra started looking though the other two bags and pulled out what once was a bandage but the once-white fabric was almost gray.

“That isn’t clean. Is there anything we could cover the wound with that is?”

He pulled out a small rag from another bag and handed it to me. It was much cleaner than the bandage, so I folded it up and placed it on the wound and then wrapped the dirty gray bandage around to keep it in place. I laid his head back down on Colton’s thigh and smiled gently to him.

I gently touched Colton’s shoulder “He will be all right.” But deep down I didn’t know if I was saying that to make him feel better or convince myself Noah would be. I just hoped and prayed he was.

* * *

That night the boys decided we needed to leave. It was a miracle no one had come and found us yet. Ezra thought maybe it was because they stole a lot of their loot to trade with, so that they had stopped chasing me to take it back with them to Bakersfield. For now at least. But Colton had wanted to wait until dark before we moved on. They explained to me that we were going to their special bunker that was not too far from here.

“Should we make a travois?” I asked no one in particular.

“I thought about it earlier, but I’m worried it will leave tracks,” Colton informed me. My shoulders lowered as I realized that was true.

He came over, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me into a hug. “Hey, that was a good idea, though. You are very smart and resourceful.”

I smiled softly as I hugged him back. The feelings I got from his arms around me comforted me in ways I didn’t know it could. This is what I had been missing in my life.

Once Ezra had Noah on his shoulders, I took one backpack—after insisting I was fine to carry it—and Colton took the other two, and we headed out of the shed and into the dark of the night.

It was hard to navigate through the dark. I stumbled over small rocks I couldn’t see and the wind had started to pick up. I really needed a hat to contain my hair from whipping around my face and getting stuck in my already-dry mouth. I didn’t know how far this bunker really was, so I couldn’t be certain if we were almost there or only halfway. And I didn’t want to ask. I didn’t want to come across as complaining. Especially since I was only carrying such a small amount. But I was exhausted, physically and emotionally from everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours.

When the sun came over the horizon and I could see clearly. I noticed there were a lot more shrubs and small trees in this area. I didn’t know all this still existed outside Bakersfield. I always had hoped. And this gave me hope for more than just survival; this gave me hope we could stay at the bunker and really settle down, maybe one day we could find the place called Eden. If it really does exist. And finally, I can relax and be free, happy and loved. Not always looking over my shoulder, and worrying where my next meal was coming from. With Colton, Ezra, and Noah, I hadn’t had to do much looking over my shoulder this last week and my belly was never empty. These guys were my family now. I trusted them with my life.

“Let’s stop for a quick break. It’s not too much further,” Ezra said as he turned to me, carefully placing Noah down.

I dropped almost where I was standing. I was thirsty and needed some water desperately. But we didn’t have much with us, and what the guys had in their packs was being rationed out.

“Here let me help.” Colton grabbed Noah’s head. He moaned and grimaced in his unconscious state. I didn’t know if that was good or bad. I only knew a few medical things. I felt like it was a good sign. He was still alive, at least. I quickly moved over to him and saw the sheen on his head.

“Shit, I think he has a fever.” Using the back of my hand, I placed my hand on his forehead, I could feel him burning up.

Colton took Noah’s hand and placed his fingers over the pulse point in his wrist. “His heart rate is a little slow. But not too bad. We got to keep moving. We need to get to the bunker now and get him out of the sun. We need to cool him down.”

Without speaking, Ezra bent down and carefully cradled Noah in his arms. And started walking.

“Ez, that is going to kill your back. I will help you put him on your shoulders,” Colton stated as he approached Ezra, who just shook his head and continued walking.

By the time we got to an area that was dense with small shrubs, the sun was in the middle of the sky and it was unrelenting. The heat of the day was thick in the air, and we all needed shelter and water badly. Ezra was unsteady on his feet as he stumbled and lurched to the side.

“Ezra,” I screamed as I watched him fall to the ground in front of me. I ran to him. Colton turned and ran back. Ezra wasn’t looking any better than Noah, and I felt his head too. He felt clammy but wasn’t hot.

“Ezra, are you okay?” I asked as I ran my hand over his brow again. Just to make sure he wasn’t burning up like Noah.

His eyes looked distant, and he just stared at Noah who was still in his arms. He turned to get up. When he stumbled back down again, I caught him as best I could as Colton grabbed Noah before he hit the dirt.

Colton struggled to carry Noah, and I tried to help as best I could but Noah was huge. In the end we half-carried, half-dragged him. We took him to the nearest shrubs for shelter from the sun. It wasn’t much but it was better than lying in the hot sun. Colton and I returned to where Ezra was still sitting, we lifted Ezra up to stand as Colt draped Ezra’s arm over his shoulder and I took the other trying to take as much of his weight as possible to get him out of the sun.

“Shit, Ezra, what the hell? You’re killing yourself. You should have said something.” Colton grabbed a canteen from his backpack and placed it against Ezra’s lips. He didn’t react, so I tilted his head back as Colton poured water into his mouth.

Tears started running down my cheeks. This wasn’t happening. I couldn’t have this happen again. I only just found them. I couldn’t lose them. I…think I love them. It wasn’t too early to feel like this was it?

20

Colton

Fuck! Fuck and more fuck. How? How the fuck did this happen? We were eating three full meals a day, drinking water till we couldn’t drink anymore, and even bathing and washing because we had enough water to do so… Now this. An empty canteen, no real food. Just unlabelled cans. Nova she had been incredibly strong but now her tears were silently running down her cheeks and honestly I just wanted to do the same.

Noah hadn’t woken up. He moaned a lot and the pain on his face made me want to break down and hold him. Never let him go. But I had to lead. I needed to be the strong one who got us to the bunker. I needed Ezra to be my second as always, but he was staring into the distance with a blank look on his face. And Nova was trying so hard to keep it together. She was gently stroking Noah’s cheek and whispering about how they were going to get to the bunker. And how much fun they will have there.

I didn’t realize it was this far to get here. But we had been traveling slowly. We were close. I just knew it. I was looking for the other marker, and when I find it I can get us to the bunker. Which hopefully still had water and food stored in there.

“Nova?” I stood up, looking at our surroundings. I could see the old highway in the distance, the concrete long broken up and weathered like the rest of the country.

She looked up at me with those eyes, her white hair fanned around her face making her look like an angel. Beautiful. But that look in her eyes made me want to wrap my arms around her and tell her everything would be okay. But I could do that later, when everyone was in the bunker.

“I’m going to go on ahead and find the bunker. I won’t be long. Stay here with the guys and just keep your head down. You never know who might be around these parts. We are getting closer to a major trading city. Full of smugglers, and sometimes Red Raiders drop by with… Well, just stay down, cover your hair with this.” I handed her the shirt from my own back. It had holes and was a faded blue, but out here she wouldn’t stand a chance against anyone who wanted to take her. So it was better than nothing. She quickly lowered herself under the closest shrub, wrapping the T-shirt around her head and holding onto it in a death grip. Fuck she looks so small, so scared.

“Shit, sweetheart, I’m sorry. I’m trying my best here.” I leaned down to her, placing a kiss on her forehead and then one on Noah’s. I squeezed Ezra’s shoulder. Nova nodded, but you couldn’t miss the watery sheen in her eyes, she was going to cry again, and I didn’t want to be here when she did or I might not leave them.

Jumping to my feet, I looked again for the highway. And started running.

“Fucking rock. Where the hell are you,” I curse to myself. The large rock was one of my markers. It was a big fucker too, so it was not like someone would just come pick it up and take it. It had been roughly twenty minutes since I’d left them, and I didn’t know if it was from the heat or just my heart that my eyes were watering. I didn’t cry. I never had. But my heart was pounding as I looked for the marker. I just wanted them all safe. I was scared to return and find them gone.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. Removing all the negative thoughts from my mind and I felt clearer. I looked to the highway and then turned left. It’s got to be over here. I turned to my right and started back to where they were all waiting, and I saw a large gray and red rock sticking out of the ground.

“Thank you,” I called out to no one as I ran over to it. The surrounding shrubs had grown since we’d last been here, and I didn’t see it. I must have walked right past it. Once I got there, I saw the small chimney sticking out of the ground. I started my fifty paces toward the highway which was still miles away.

As I got closer to the bunker, I could see the outline of it slightly emerged from the ground. I moved over to where the hatch should be and rubbed my boot along the ground, looking for the latch covered in red dirt and dust.

A small metal ring appeared through the red and I reached down, twisted it, and pulled the hatch up. It was hard and heavy and groaned as I pried it from the ground. The dirt and dust filtering down into the bunker. When I had lifted it open a smell of musty old air hit my nose. I looked down and saw everything looked the same as we had left it. Pulling out my pistol, I quickly lowered myself down the ladder.

“Anyone in here better fucking leave before I shoot you,” I called out into the dark room as my boots hit the floor. My voice echoed back to me. I walked over and ran my hand along the wall looking for the solar flashlight we’d left there. When I found it, I clicked it on, grateful it had enough charge in it and pointed it around the room. I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw everything was the same as when we last were here. No one had been here. I quickly turned the light off and hurried up the ladder to get my family.

* * *

“Nova, I will go down inside. Can you help lower Ez down to me?” When I got back to them, Ezra had been a little more coherent, and was able to walk with the assistance of Nova. I carried Noah on my back, it was a struggle but I got us back to the bunker in one piece. But getting him down into here was going to be hard. I really needed Ez to help lower him down, but Nova was better than no one.

Nova grunted as she struggled to lower Ez down, I pulled on his leg, and he toppled down on me with a groan. “Shit, Ez, you’re almost as heavy as Noah, dude.” I placed him on the floor near the ladder and went back up to help Noah down next.

I saw Nova talking sweetly to him and rubbing his face. Shit, this girl is really breaking through all my barriers right now. I fucking loved Noah. But Nova had wormed herself in. I was hooked just as badly as these two. And only after a week.

After a few choice words over how heavy Noah was, we finally got him down into the bunker. Nova lowered herself down, and I handed her the flashlight as I reached up and locked us in.

“Wow, this place is a lot nicer than I thought. How did you find this place?” she asked as she touched the shelves and walked around the small room. There was an actual bed at one end, and I could see the look on her face when she saw it.

“A real bed and everything,” she exclaimed.

She pulled down the bedding, and dust motes sprinkled the air and danced in the air. I awkwardly picked Noah up and laid him down on the bed. Then, Nova began stripping him down.

“We have to cool him down. Is there water?”

I quickly went to a cupboard that we stored the water in. It had been a while and the water was not as fresh as we had been use too. But it was perfect to cool him down with, and to drink until I could get more. Snatching a cloth from another cupboard, I ran over and gave the supplies to Nova and went to check on Ezra.

“Man, you don’t look so good,” I told him, and it was the honest truth. He peered up to me, his one blue eye always drawing my attention. He glanced over to Nova and back to me. He gestured for me to come in closer.

“Don’t want Nova to know, but…I’m all messed up, man. I’m seeing shit that isn’t there. Don’t tell her, though. I don’t want her to freak out. We already have Noah not doing good. I just needed to tell you.”

“Ez…I think you’re dehydrated, man. Didn’t you drink enough? You should have said something.”

“I was saving water for Nova. I only drank small amounts to make sure she would have more. I didn’t think about me.”

I grabbed the back of his head and pulled his forehead flush to mine. “I won’t tell her. But next time, don’t do that. You scared me today. I will grab you some water and something to eat. That will make you feel better. You carried Noah for so long. And you didn’t stop. You hear me, you didn’t stop. I will be forever grateful to what you have done for Noah... for all of us.”

Ezra grabbed my shoulder and nodded. “I would do it for any of you, any day. You’re my family. Nova is our family. We stick together no matter what.”

21

Nova

“Ezra…” I whispered into his ear. He had been sleeping for a while. Well, almost a whole day. Noah’s fever hadn’t gone down. It had only become worse during the night. I cleaned his wound again, and when I did I saw the signs of an infection. I cleaned it the best I could, but I don’t think that was going to be enough. Colton had been worried. We had been taking it in turns trying to cool Noah down, but it was hard to sleep with him so sick. And the painful moans he made, just hit me right in the chest. I wanted to ease the pain, but there was nothing we could do but wait and hope the fever breaks soon. Colton had left earlier to go catch us something to eat. He was setting up some snares to catch rabbits.

I shook Ezra gently and whispered to him again. He moaned and stretched his arms above his head. Which made me breathe a sigh of relief, he was fine. I couldn’t have two of them sick, but I knew we needed to get something for Noah to break this fever.

“Hey,” he croaked out as he sat himself up, he ran his hand down his face then gave me a warm smile. I passed a water bottle to him. He drank the whole bottle and wiped his chin where a little had spilt.

“Thanks, I’m feeling much better.” He turned to see Noah still lying next to him. I placed the cloth we had been using to cool him down with in the small bowl of water. I squeezed the excess out and ran it over his forehead and it down over his chest and arms to try cool him down.

“Any change?” Ezra asked as he lowered his body back down onto the bed and rubbed his eyes.

I shook my head. “If anything, I think things have gotten worse. He needs antibiotics. But it’s not like we just have that stuff just lying around. I will try my best with what we have.” I needed to think. What did Adam teach me about infection? Clean and cover the wound. And there were other things I could do, but I just couldn’t think of them; my head was foggy from lack of sleep. I needed to get some rest, but I needed to stay awake until Colton came back to take over. But then Colton also needed sleep too. When Noah’s fever breaks, I am going to kiss him so hard. Then sleep for a week straight.

I saw Ezra just watching me. I smiled at him and he opened his arms, silently asking me to come to him. I crawled over and laid on top of his chest. He wrapped his arm around my back and I settled into the hug. I closed my eyes and listened to the rhythmic beat of his heart. It was soothing.

“This feels amazing,” I murmured against his chest, his heartbeat lulling me into sleep. But I couldn’t sleep yet. “I need to stay awake.” I tried to tell him, but the words were slurred.

“Shh…. I will take over. You rest now.” His voice rumbled deeply in his chest as he stroked my back. He smelled like home.

“Just for a minute. Until Colton comes back.”

22

Ezra

I don’t want to move. Nova fell asleep on me and it was the best feeling in the world. My heart wanted to burst from my chest. Feeling her slight weight against my chest felt incredible, I pulled in a deep breath and let it out without waking her. I lay like this for a few more moments, but I knew I had to get up. I needed to help Noah. I carefully sat up cradling her droopy head and placed her where I was just lying. I placed a kiss on her head as I pushed her hair back from her face. I ran my fingers through the longs strands as I watched her small chest rising and falling as she slept.

I tended to Noah, using the cloth to cool his body down. He was hot to touch. And mumbled in pain. His face twisted up and he would call out. I felt sick that I couldn’t do anything else for him. I was grateful when Colt returned.

“Shit, man I’m so glad your back, he is burning up something bad. Nova said we need antibiotics. I thought he would be okay, but this fever isn’t breaking.”

Colt just stood there, a dead rabbit in one hand. The other raking through his long hair. I saw a flicker in his eyes; he was scared. Hell, I was scared. We had been together too long for a stupid infection to take one of us out. This is not happening to Noah. To us.

“I’m going to go to Lovell and get supplies,” I told him as he just stood there frozen and watched Noah. “You stay here with Noah. I know he would want it to be your face he sees when he wakes up. And I know he is going to wake up while I’m gone and my trip will all be for nothing.” I tried to be as positive as I could, even putting a fake smile on my face, but Colt wasn’t buying it. Shit, I didn’t buy it either.

“I will take a few items to trade and return by tonight.” Well I hoped I would. But I didn’t tell him that. I leaned over and kissed Nova who slept so peacefully. I squeezed Colt’s shoulder as I looked over at Noah’s contorted face, I made a silent prayer he would be alive when I returned.

* * *

“State your business,” the guard at the gate of Lovell requested in his gruff voice. I didn’t recognize him. I used to be here every other week with Colton, but I hadn’t been here in a long time.

“What happened to Vince? He not working today?” I asked, curious more than anything.

He nodded behind him. “Vince don’t work the wall no more. He got a promotion.”

I nodded and showed him the pack of nails, a small plastic horse toy in decent condition, and a hairdryer. I knew there was no power, but some tech people loved this stuff and built things using the components.

Lovell was a big walled city. Didn’t fully stop the Red Raiders from breaking in, but it stopped most others. Like the men who attacked us. Those men were just a group from Bakersfield. This wall would keep them out. But not the Raiders. No they were the most deadly group of men. No one was safe when they were around; they killed. Took men and woman and traded them as sex slaves. Their group was so big that no place could really defend itself against them or the weapons they had.

But Lovell had a treaty with the Raiders so they were free to trade in the city. And by trade, I meant the women and men they prostituted out to anyone willing to pay. It was disgusting and no one stopped them; they couldn’t. Everyone who had tried was now dead.

“What are you trading for?” the guard asked.

“I need something for an infection.”

He nodded and told me where the main trading area was. But I knew from the times I’d traded here with Colton where I was going.

I walked through the main street, and there were traders everywhere. There was some fresh food for trade. It was grown here at Lovell. If I had anything left over, I was going to get Nova an apple. I bet she would love a fresh apple. I walked from there to the trading tent I knew.

“Mark,” I called out and a short, graying old man popped his head up from under his table.

“Fuck me. I thought I was hearing things. It is you. How you been, Ezra?”

I shook his hand and showed him my goods. He nodded and pointed to the nails and hairdryer that were in my backpack.

“Yeah, I’m great. Actually, I’m fucking more than great, but shit’s hit the fan. Noah is sick and I need to get him something for an infection. Can you help me out?”

The smile was gone from his face, and a solemn look took up in his eyes. “Shit, that’s not good. Fuck yeah, I can help you. Daniel has some med shit. I’m not sure what, but I can see what he can do for you.”

Mark called out to his son to watch the tent while he was gone. Mark was a good guy. Been trading with Colton for years. I was glad to see he was still here and alive and well.

“Come here. He is just around here. There was no room for him on the main strip so not many people know he is around here.” Mark led me down a few streets until we ended up outside a faded pink door. You could tell it once was red, but that was so long ago that the sun and rain turned it to this strange pink color.

Mark knocked and then pushed the door open. It was dark inside, and I hesitated before entering. But Mark had been good to us so I trusted him. Well as much as one could trust another in this fucked up world.

“Hey, Daniel, I got my good friend Ezra here. He needs something for an infection. I told him you’re the guy to come to.”

I saw a man with white hair. I wasn’t sure if it was by age or the NEX virus. He nodded and started gathering a few items from a cupboard. I moved forward when I heard a throat being cleared. I turned to find a large man in the corner holding a baseball bat. Yeah, I guessed if you were selling medical supplies, you needed security. I nodded to him and took a step back.

“What is wrong with your friend?” Daniel asked. He had a strong accent, but I couldn’t pin down where he came from, somewhere down south I guessed.

“He had a knife cut his head. It isn’t looking good. He has a fever. Has had it for days. Nova said we need antibiotics. But I will take anything you have to fix him.”

Mark turned to me. “Huh, you got a new fella with you three?”

I realized what I’d just said. Fuck. How did I slip up already? I just nodded to Mark, and Daniel started mixing a bunch of dry ingredients together and put it in a very used plastic bottle. The one thing we had plenty of after NEX.

“Give him this to drink. Mix with water, warm is best to dissolve it. Only a capful, and only three times a day. Okay?”

I nodded to him and then he told me the price. Fuck me. I shook my head and Mark nodded.

“I got that for you, Daniel. No worries. Ezra here has traded with me, so I will get you paid up.” Mark told him.

“This shit better work,” I told him as I left.

When I made it back to the bunker, it was dark and I struggled to find the hatch. The moon wasn’t bright enough tonight, and I really should have brought a flashlight with me, but I also didn’t want to alert anyone our location. Finally, after banging around on the ground, I hit metal.

I knocked three times, paused, and then knocked twice. The hatch unlocked from the inside and opened to me.

23

Nova

When I woke up, Colton explained that Ezra had gone to the nearest city to buy medicine for Noah. And when Ezra returned he had a bottle with a strange-sandy brown colored power. We were supposed to heat water and get the now delirious Noah to drink it.

It took a good twenty minutes for us to get down the first dose. I held onto Noah’s hand as the boys tried not to waste any, attempting to get him to swallow. Tears pricked my eyes as they kept begging him to swallow. The love I felt in that moment told me more than words could ever express. The guys really were a family. My family. And I knew things would never be the same if we lost Noah.

That night Noah and Colton used the bed, and Ezra made us a pallet on the floor in the far corner. He said I needed to rest and that Colt would take care of Noah and wake us to take over when he was too tired. I fell asleep wrapped in his arms, something I will never get tired of. The way his arms were around my waist and shoulders, hugging me tightly was so comforting. I slept better than I ever had before.

“Hey, sleepyheads.” I heard someone say from above us in a much too cheery tone.

I covered my eyes from the flash of light. “Argh.” I moaned as I rolled over and hid my face into Ezra’s nice warm chest. I heard Ezra moan with the same protest.

“It’s not time to get up,” he mumbled into my hair.

I heard a chuckle and then Noah said, “Aww come on sleepyheads, I feel like now is a great time to wake up.”

I giggled and then froze at what I just heard.

Noah? “Noah?” I turned to see him sitting up in the bed, he had a huge smile on his face, giving us all a glimpse of those dimples I had missed. Colton was perched on the ladder, looking out of the bunker, letting in all that bright sunlight. He had a smile on his face too. Noah was awake.

I let out a sound between a whimper and a scream. I was so relieved. Ezra got up and strolled over to Noah and seized him in a huge bear hug as soon as he got to him.

“Holy shit, Noah, don’t ever do that again to me,” Ezra said. The emotion in his voice made my heart beat faster.

“To us,” I said as I approached and hesitated by Noah’s side.

He reached over to me and pulled me into the hug. “I promise I won’t fall out of houses again.” Noah chuckled.

I rolled my eyes and smiled. I looked over to Colton, his eyes rimmed with red. He looked like hell but relieved.

“I gave him the meds three times while you two lovebirds were sleeping. That stuff really does work. I think we just need to clean the wound again, and if needed we can stitch it up finally.”

I nodded at him and gestured for him to come back and join our group hug.

Colton looked outside one more time before closing the hatch. The way he walked towards us gave my body tingles. God, he is hot. He was topless, which I have noticed is theme with Colton.

“Gee, if all I had to do was get sick to have all you loving on me, I would have done it sooner.” We laughed and Colton playfully smacked Noah’s arm.

“Don’t you ever scare me like that again. Ever.” Colton wrapped his arm around Noah’s shoulder and kissed his head.

* * *

After another day in the bunker and Noah was finally able to move around and feel like himself, he pulled out his game of Trouble.

“You packed this?” I asked, surprised as he handed it to me. I sat down on the floor and crossed my legs. Noah sat down in front of me.

He nodded with a big dimpled grin. “It always lives in my emergency bag. I don’t ever want to lose it. It’s all I have left of my family.”

I nodded in understanding. I didn’t have anything from my childhood. When the solar flare hit, we were at Kevin’s house. We were told to stay indoors. Then Mom got sick and we never went back home. All I had were the clothes on my back and my iPad. Which wasn’t much use when there was no power to charge it. I wish I had known that day would be the last day in our house. I would have brought a teddy with me, or even my favorite barbie. But it was what it was, and I hadn’t really thought about that until now. I wished I had something left that was from my mom. From my dad.

“Hey, Nova, I’m sorry. Did I say something wrong?” The concern on Noah’s face had me shaking my head to get rid of the thoughts. No point on dwelling on things I can't change.

I shook my head and smiled. “No, just thinking. Sorry.” “Let’s play, because it can get boring down here.”

Colton laughed “If you’re bored, sweetheart, I have some ideas in how to pass the time.”

Everyone laughed but then all eyes were on me. And they didn’t look playful in the way Noah just looked with his game. No these eyes looked heated. I felt my body grow hot and my heart started to flutter. I glanced up to Noah, who was looking at my lips. His tongue flicked out and ran along his lower lip. That move alone had my teeth grazing the bottom of my lip. He made a sound, like a moan as he shifted his body closer to me. I flicked my eyes to Colton, who tilted his head toward the bed with a smirk.

“Let’s play your game,” I teased Colton. I stood up and threw Noah a wink over my shoulder. That spurred him to his feet lightening fast. Colton chuckled at the move as Noah pulled me in for a kiss. His tongue stroked my bottom lip as I opened for him, reaching up to hold the back of his head. I was lost in the way my body responded to him. Someone cleared their throat and I pulled back. Slowly opened my eyes to see Ezra and Colt had moved next to us. I couldn’t stop the grin on my face as Noah stood up straight and laughed.

“I guess we all want to play.” Colton said as he winked at me.

24

Noah

When those words came out of her mouth, everything happened so fast. I couldn’t believe I just kissed her. And wow, that kiss was so…arousing. Colt picked her up and she squealed as he lifted her up to cradle her into his arms. He grinned and whispered something into her ear that made her giggle and squirm as he walked towards the bed.

“Noah, come on,” Ezra called out to me. I was standing in the same spot with my hand now on my cock rubbing it through the fabric of my pants. I headed slowly over to the bed. My head still wasn’t feeling the best, and it throbbed a little where I had been cut. But that won't stop me from joining in.

“Lie down, Noah. You’re looking a little pale.” Colt pushed me down next to where Nova was now laying, and she pulled herself up and rolled on top of me and straddled my waist.

“Hey, puppy. Are you feeling up to this?” she whispered into my ear. I almost laughed. If that was her idea of a nickname, then I would keep it. She then brought her mouth to mine and kissed me again and she moaned. It went straight to my balls. I groaned into her mouth as I used her body against mine to gain friction against my hard cock. When she pulled away we were both panting, her face was flush. And I was hot all over. In a good way.

Ezra was standing beside us, she reached over to him. Pulling him down to meet her lips she kissed him while still straddling my waist. He skimmed his hands under the hem of her top then pulled it up, breaking their kiss to take it off. He took her mouth again but with her breasts exposed to me I reached up and palmed them both, running my thumbs over her nipples. Colton was at her ear again, nibbling and whispering something to her. She glanced down at me, I could see a hint of a smile as she grabbed the back of Ezra’s head and deepened their kiss. Holy shit, this was hot.

“What are you saying to her?” I asked him, a little worried. He just gave me a huge grin and winked. Fuck, he is sexy. My cock ached for release, I could feel the stickiness of the pre-cum against my pants. I wanted to touch myself, to finished. But then my mind started to race. What if I wasn’t any good at this? Nova made me excited but she also made me nervous. I didn’t want to look stupid in front of everyone, Colton wasn’t a virgin when I met him. Ezra sure wasn’t one anymore. That just left me, and the tightness I felt in the pit of my stomach had me feeling very out of my element, so I gently pushed her off my lap and sat up against the headboard.

“Um, I can move over for you two” I suggested and pointed to Ezra. He shook his head. I looked to Colt as he moved over to me and right into my personal space.

“Noah, you wanted to play with her first. And I can see the tent in your pants.” He crawled up my body, running his hand up my thigh then palmed my cock through the fabric. I opened my mouth and he caught my moan in a heated kiss. He opened his mouth to me, sweeping his tongue inside, the same way Nova had kissed me before, yet it was different. Where Nova was soft, sweet even. Colton was hard, demanding. I opened my eyes to see Nova and Ezra. Nova was watching us, her mouth was open, her lids heavy as Ezra sucked and teased her nipples. My breathing sped up at the sight.

Colt slowly tugged my pants open and I moved allowing him to pull them off. I tugged on the back of my shirt and drew it over my head, avoiding the bandage there.

“Do you want her?” Colt brought her hand over and placed it on my cock. She moaned as wrapped her small hand around it.

“Shit,” I hissed out. She made me feel huge in her small hand. She stroked me slowly as Ezra continued to suck her nipple. She arched herself into him and she started to stroke me faster.

Colt grabbed my chin, pulling me to look into his eyes. “I wanna watch you fuck Nova,” he growled out. His eyes were dark and heady. He was stroking himself now, the shorts he wore were gone. I could see Ezra had now lost most his clothes. I wanted this. I wanted Nova.

I grabbed Nova’s hand to stop her. Not because I wanted to. No, because with Nova and the way Colt just spoke to me, I was going to blow my load. I didn’t want this to end yet, not like this. I nodded to Colt. “Yes, yes I want to fuck Nova”

Ezra stepped back, allowing her to come over to me. She lost her pants as she crawled up my body and I waited for her. She kissed me softly as she ran her hands down my chest and found my cock again. She swirled her thumb around the pre-cum that was still leaking from me and stroked me slowly from tip to base. My body shuddered at the feeling. Fuck, I’m not going to last.

“Touch me,” she uttered as she sat back on my lap and touched herself with her free hand. I watched as she ran her fingers over her nipples then between her legs. She hitched herself up a little and I watched as her fingers disappeared into her sex. I grabbed the head of my cock and squeezed it tight. Fighting off the orgasm that was just under the surface.

“Touch her, Noah,” Colt demanded.

I ran my hands up her body and cradled her breasts in my hands again. I moved in and sucked on each nipple until they were hard. She moaned as she grabbed onto the back of my neck, avoiding my head but wanting me closer. She pulled my hand down to where I had never been before. My fingers lightly touching the hair between her legs as she pushed my fingers between her wet folds.

“Put your fingers inside me.” She arched her back, giving me room. I fumbled around. I was nervous. Colt was watching me. Ezra was watching Nova. I glanced down, watching my fingers move, looking for where she wanted me. Finally, I found it as my finger all but sucked up into the heat of her sex.

“Holy shit,” I breathed out. I could feel her muscles tightening around my finger.

She moaned and rocked her hips into my hand. She reached behind her and stroked my cock, and my body bucked on its own into her fist, straining to keep her touch on me.

“I think someone is ready for a little more fun.” Colton spoke with a wicked smirk.

She turned to Colt who kissed her hard. She then looked down at me through half-lidded eyes. Grabbing my wrist, she pulled my finger from her sex and moved her body, hovering over my cock as she aimed it up into her heat. My heart started to hammer in my chest and the nerves bubbled up again.

“Do you want me?” She asked as she hovered there, tucking some long strands of hair that had come loose behind her ear.

I swallowed and nodded. Yes! I wanted her. Of course I did.

“Say it,” she demanded, rubbing my cock along her wet slit.

My throat felt so dry when I spoke. “I want you, Nova.”

She lowered herself down, taking me all in. It felt like my cock was in a hot-wet fist. Fuck me, this is amazing. My hands moved to her hips as she started raising herself and then lowering down again slowly. I watched as her body took all of me. The vision alone had my balls tingling. I was not going to last much longer.

Colt was smiling at me from the side. “Fuck, you two are so hot,” he hissed out as he stroked himself faster.

Holy shit! Colt was getting off on us.

I moved my hips up to meet hers, finding a rhythm. She grunted in time with my cock disappearing between us. I wasn’t going to last long, and I really wanted her to come with me.

“I…I need… I’m going…to.” It was hard to talk, to think. But Colt understood me. He came over and rubbed his hands down the side of Nova. Down to where we were joined. She gasped and bucked forward as I watched him rub his thumb on her clit. It didn’t take long after that for her to come as I chased right after her. The aftershocks from my orgasm rippled through me.

“That felt amazing.” Nova whispered as she lay on my chest. I didn’t speak, I couldn’t even if I wanted too. I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her back before I felt the bed jostle.

“Ready for more, sweetheart?” Colt said from between my legs. She glanced back and chuckled. I could feel her laugh as my now softening cock popped out from the warm embrace of her sex.

“I take that as a yes.” Colt moved up to her, placing one hand on her lower back. She arched her chest into me and her hips went up towards Colt. His head dipped low between our legs, and I felt his warm tongue skate up my balls. I moaned at the feeling. His tongue left me and Nova was now moaning. When he came up, he licked his lips and bent over her.

“You taste so fucking good, sweetheart. A little of Noah and a little of you” he growled into her ear as his eyes found mine with a dirty smirk. He then moved back and slipped into her sex, her hands grabbed my arms to hold herself steady. I kissed her and took everything she gave me as Colt rocked into her over and over.

“You like that, don’t you?” he asked. Nova moaned into my mouth, unable to answer. I ran my hand down to grab her ass cheek. Colt placed his hand on mine and held onto me. I looked up into his eyes as he watched me.

“Do you trust me?” he asked her again. She whispered yes as he grabbed her hair up in his right hand and pulled her head back. Her neck exposed to me, I took advantage and kissed and sucked there. He reached down and kissed her roughly.

“Suck Ezra’s cock for me, sweetheart,” he demanded. His voice was rough with need as he slammed himself into her over and over. Ezra hesitated beside the bed. She reached for him and he went to her. Like a moth to a flame. I could see her big eyes looking at up at him. She licked her lower lip and then the tip of his cock. She swirled her tongue around his head then took him in half way.

It didn’t take long before Ezra held her head and started fucking her mouth. She gagged when he went too deep. He freaked out that he had done that and he tried to pull away, but she smiled and held onto him, only taking half of him into her mouth. I would have to show her how to suck cock without gagging. Ez is bigger than Colt but not by much. I felt myself getting harder by watching the show right in front of my face. Then one by one they came. Nova collapsed on my chest, and the only sound in the bunker was that of our heavy breathing.

“Fucking hell, that was intense,” Ezra huffed out. And we all laughed.

25

Nova

The days started to blend into each other until weeks had passed. Noah and I spent a lot of time playing Trouble when Colton and Ezra went to get supplies. Noah always chose to stay with me. I worried that it was his head, but found that he usually stayed behind when they went to trade. I loved having Noah with me. I learned about his dad and what had happened to him. How they all ended up together. How he and Colton became more than just friends. Everyone loves a good love story.

Colton told me when I have sex with Noah, that I had to take charge. Noah loved being told what to do. And I enjoyed it. It was true; he loved to be bossed around, but Noah could do things without being told. Like right now he was flirting pretty hard. And he was very confident with his body. And who wouldn’t be with a body like his.

I wasn’t so sure what was going on with the four of us, but I knew it wasn’t what people would call normal. I felt like this was the new normal. Well for us it was. Growing up I’d always wished I could one day find a man and get married. Even now with the way the world was, I still wanted that. I would love to have children, but I also didn’t and wouldn’t bring them into this. That was why when I never got my period, I was grateful. It was a constant reminder of how babies were not supposed to be in this world. Now that choice has never been an option, it made me feel better. Especially when I was having as much sex as I was right now.

“Do you think…like what we are all doing…is it like wrong?” I hesitantly asked Noah. I felt like with him being the same age as me, well close enough, he might see the world differently. Like me. That it’s changed and relationships were not the same as they used to be.

He shrugged and then smiled, giving me those cute dimples. “I know it’s not what my parents had. But with the way everything is now, it would make sense for a woman to have more than one boyfriend. Or husband. As long as they are a family and everyone is happy. I think what we are doing is right…very right.”

I leaned over and kissed his cheek. Which led to kissing his other cheek. I hesitated at his mouth, I wanted to kiss him so badly but before I could do anything, I pulled back. I didn’t know if that was allowed. Like could we do stuff without the other two here? When we all touch, kiss and have amazing sex, everyone was here, together. Always as a group. And I didn’t want Colton or Ezra to be upset if Noah and I did something without talking to them first. We really needed to talk about…well, us.

“We all need to talk when they get back, about us and what it is we all are.” I told him, he gave me a worried smile, so I tried to reassure him with mine. But I was exhausted and really wanted a clear head when they got back so I went and had a short nap.

* * *

“Hey, sleepyhead.” I turned to see Ezra sitting on the bed, smiling down to me. I rolled over and hugged him tightly around his waist. I worried so much when they were gone. Like way too much. Noah always told me they would be all right, but I needed to see them in the flesh to know they were.

“Colton?” I asked as I sat up and looked around the bunker.

Colton smiled as he walked over, taking his time. He knew I wanted to hug him, but he liked to make me suffer a little longer. Tease. He gave me a small chaste kiss and pulled back with a grin. “Close your eyes, sweetheart.” I closed them without thinking. He took my hand and placed a small kiss there and then something hard that felt like a ball.

Ezra beside me whispered, “Open your eyes.”

When I did, I looked straight down at a red apple. My eyes pricked with tears, I hadn’t had an apple in what felt like forever. “How did you get it?” I looked back to Ezra who had the biggest dopey grin on his face. I nudged him with my shoulder, and he kissed my cheek.

“We just did. And you’re welcome. Now take a bite. Tell me how amazing it is.”

I giggled as I thanked them. Noah joined us on the bed, a total bed hog he was, sprawled himself over my legs. I slowly took a small bite. The crunch of the fresh apple was amazing—it was juicy and tart. I passed it back to Colt and he shook his head.

“No, sweetheart, it’s just for you. We wanted to get you something special.”

“You already did. You got me a bra, which almost fits. You didn’t have to get me this. I want everyone to enjoy it with me.” I pushed it back to him. Shaking his head, he nodded to Ezra, who didn’t complain as he took my hand in his. Taking only a small bite, he hummed with appreciation.

“Noah?” I handed it to him. His bite was huge. I laughed as Colton made a not too happy sound. Lastly Colton took a bite and smiled to me.

“This makes me happy,” I said. The smile on my face, echoed around me on theirs.

How did my life get this good?

26

Colton

“I have something I want to talk to you all about. And, well, I think…no I need to talk about this.” Nova sat up straighter on the bed.

Shit, this doesn’t sound good. I knew the bunker was small, and I really didn’t want to keep us here much longer. But it was the safest place right now for her. Until I could find us somewhere safer, I didn’t want to leave.

“We are listening,” I told her. Noah grabbed her hand and squeezed it. She took a big shuddering breath. Did he know what she was going to say. My stomach dropped. Fuck. She wanted to leave us. No, she can’t just leave us. She was a part of us. We were a family. Without her we wouldn’t be whole again.

“I just wanted to talk about all of us, and what we all are. Because we haven’t said anything or discussed it, and I want everything to be…clear. What it is we all are. Together?”

My heart stopped and then started again. I let out a deep breath and grabbed her free hand.

“Oh, sweetheart, you had me worried for a minute there. I thought you were going to ask to leave us. Thought I might have a heart attack.” I joked with her. Giving her a cheeky wink.

She shook her head and let out a small giggle and then Ezra spoke next.

“We are a family, all of us. Including you.”

She nodded and looked to Noah. He cleared his throat. “What Nova is trying to say is, that she wants to know like are we all her boyfriends? I already told her I was. But she wants to know ’cause, well, she is worried that it’s not…um normal?” Noah kissed her hand.

“Okay,” I started…trying to think of the right words. “I guess when I was younger it wasn’t exactly normal. But then what is? I know of religions where men had multiple wives. So it’s like the opposite. There aren’t enough women left for every man to have one woman. You could have your pick of any man, but if you’re willing to have all of us as your partners, your boyfriends. Then I know I speak for us when I say we want you for our own. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks.”

The guys huddled closer, and we all closed in around Nova and held her. She started crying and I wasn’t too sure if they were happy tears. Or if I had said the wrong thing. I wasn’t the best at this stuff.

“I love you,” Ezra whispered to her. “I always will. I want you as my girlfriend.”

She pushed us back a bit giving herself room to breathe. Wiping the tears from her face, she looked at each of us. “I love you all. I want you all as my boyfriends.”

We all breathed a sigh of relief and hugged her tight.

* * *

Later that night, Nova came to speak to me privately. About being with each other when one or two of us are not here. I felt a rise of jealousy in the pit of my stomach, but I pushed it down. If we were going to make this work, then there probably should be a more clear understanding on our relationship. As much as I wanted to say we all should be together, I knew if I could have her alone, I would. But then how did she feel if I was with Noah without her? We had not touched each other alone since that night we almost lost him. But that didn’t mean I might not want to in the future.

“Are you okay with me and Noah? Or is that something you want us to do with you only?” I knew she wouldn’t say no. But I wanted to hear it from her.

Shaking her head, she said, “No, I want you two to be together with me and without. You had something before I came here. I love what you have. I like watching too.” She giggled as I winked at her. She scrunched up her nose slightly when she was thinking, it was cute. “I think it's best that we all tell each other, though. No secrets. Like if I was with Noah today, while you and Ezra were out. Would you like it if I told you, or not?”

I thought about it then nodded. “I think it is a great point, maybe at the start as we are all getting used to it I would like to know.” I admit. “Let’s tell the other two, they are giving us funny looks from other there.”

Nova giggled and that really had Ezra’s ears pricked. Noah just lazed on the bed with an eyebrow raised and a smirk. I rolled my eyes. And Nova laughed. “Come here Ezra, and puppy.” And I laughed too. That nickname is too funny not too.

* * *

Later that night while we were laying in bed, I turned to see Nova still awake. Ezra and Noah had been asleep for a while already. She smiled and shrugged “I shouldn’t have had that nap, being down here it’s hard to track the time of day.”

I really didn’t want to keep her down here forever, if anything I would love to go back to our old house. But that wasn’t possible. But I knew we couldn’t stay here too much longer. This wasn’t living. “I heard of a place. I don’t know if it is true, but I want to find it. For us.”

She leaned in close to me and whispered. “Eden?”

I leant back and glanced at her in shock. She knew about Eden?

Her faced beamed. “That’s where I was going. With Kevin. We can be a family there.”

I agreed. We needed to find it. So we could really start living.

27

Nova

We set out three days ago. The weather had been changing. It was getting cooler the farther we headed north. Colton had heard of Eden in Lovell. The Eden that Kevin and I had been seeking when we left Bakersfield. The women in the brothel had told me of it. That some woman had escaped from Bakersfield and left to find it, a place where women weren’t treated like slaves or whores. Where they lived freely with their families. That’s all I know about Eden. But it already sounded amazing.

“There, I see a place up ahead.” Colton turned to me and pulled my hat down tighter and then tucked any loose strands of my hair into the shirt that was covering my head and hair. He wrapped my mouth and nose with the sleeves. If anyone saw my hair, they would know I was a female. Or at least assumed that I was. I wished I could dye it a color other than the white it was. I wished for my old brown locks. But with the shirt covering me, it looked like the masks the guys pulled up over their mouth to keep the dust out. I looked just like another man in their group. A small man. They boxed me in as we walked toward the town in the distance. Colton Leading. As always.

My stomach was churning so badly when we got to the gates that I thought I was going to be sick from nerves. This place reminded me of Bakersfield, except it looked smaller.

“What’s your business?” the scruffy man standing at the gate asked us. His chest puffed out to seem more intimating.

Colton stepped up, opening up his backpack. “Trading and get a room for the night.”

The scruffy man looked back to us and then down into the backpack. “You wanna go through the main street and turn left to trade. There are a few places here you can stay. Maybe ask for the Fort Hotel. They have baths and you look like you all need one.”

Colton nodded as we all followed him in. I could see the guys were all on edge. Shit, we all were. This was dangerous but we were running out of food, and it was better for us to stay together. I didn’t want to be waiting and hiding while they traded. I looked down at my feet and tried to stay small next to Noah. Ezra was bringing up the rear. I watched Colton scanning everything and everyone as we walked through the main street. There were men everywhere, calling out to us to trade for their goods.

We stopped and Noah held my arm as Colton and Ezra haggled and traded a few things they had taken with us from the bunker. Once they had finished, Colt nodded to us as we followed again. Ezra again took up the rear.

“We are going to get a room for the night,” Noah whispered to me. I nodded back and looked to the ground as we walked.

When we finally stopped on the outskirts of town, the wall that surrounds this town was pretty worn in this area. There was a brick house that, in truth, looked decent. Colton hopped up the steps and knocked.

An old man opened the door.

“Yes what can I do for you?” he asked. Colt gestured to us and then explained we were looking for a room. He held out a few items for trade. The old man looked at it all and grabbed something out.

“That’s for one night. One room,” Colton agreed to the deal, as we followed the old man inside the dark house.

* * *

“Fuck. I don’t want to do it again tomorrow. So we need to leave early. I will go out and see if there is a quicker way to the front gate. You all stay here and don’t leave. I will return with some hot food. Keep quiet.” We all nodded to Colton as he left the room, Ezra Locked the door behind him.

We all looked to the stained double mattress on the floor. I didn’t want to touch it. Most of the stains looked like they were sex stains. Gross. Noah picked it up and flipped it over. It didn’t look any better on that side.

He shrugged. “I’m sorry, I wish we could afford something nicer for you, Nova.”

I smiled and patted his shoulder. “It’s fine. Lets gets some rest. My feet are hurting, and I’m just so happy that I won’t be sleeping under the stars tonight,” I told him and lay down on the mattress trying to ignore the stains. “Not that I hate it. Don’t get me wrong. I love being out with you guys, but I’m not big on finding bugs in my clothes every morning.”

Ezra laughed.

I slapped him playfully on his arm. “Shut up,” I said as I rolled over to Noah who was laying next to me now, his hands behind his head. I looked over to his face and he had a big grin. “It wasn’t funny.” I growled playfully at him. But I remembered back to the second night out, when I woke up to a centipede crawling around in my pants, and I couldn’t get it out without stripping them off. Then Colton had to shake the stupid thing out of my pants, because it wouldn’t leave. That will give me nightmares for a while.

“It was a little bit funny,” Noah commented as he tried to hold in a laugh. I tickled his side and he laughed loud. He dropped his arms to defend himself against me.

Ezra joined in, and then the three of us heard a sound. We stopped straightaway. Fuck, Colton would be so mad already. We were supposed to be quiet, and already we are making a ton of noise.

“No more,” Ezra boomed loudly. “Get some sleep, boys,” he said with emphasis as if we were all male in here, and not two men with a female. When we heard no other sounds, we relaxed again. Must have been the house settling in for the night.

* * *

“Hey, sweetheart, we are moving out now,” Colton whispered into my ear. “I found a weak spot in the fence further up and we will just slip though there.”

I nodded gradually, rising from where I was lying. Noah was sleeping with his back against the wall, and Ezra was sitting and watching. He had last watch. I told them I would take a shift, but they wouldn’t let me, said I needed the sleep.

Colton helped me wrap my hair and face up. Noah gave me a big hug, as he did every morning. And Ezra held my hand and kissed my forehead.

When we exited onto the street, the sun had just come up over the horizon, and the cool morning air was fresh. I took a deep breath and steadied my nerves. It was quiet out on the street, no one was around as we started walking in the direction where Colton had found the weakness in the fence. That’s when I heard the first man yell. Then another, and eventually there was a crowd of men following us up the street. My head started pounding, I felt like I was going to fall over. Noah grabbed my arm and held me close as the guys boxed me in tighter. We started walking faster.

“Give us the girl,” one man called out. That started all the rest up and they ran toward us. We picked up speed and we ran as fast as I could. Ezra picked me up, my stomach rolling with the movement as he ran through small side streets following Colton and Noah behind us.

“Fuck,” Noah hissed as he almost slammed into us. “Run,” he shouted at Colton. We took a few different streets and found a few buildings. Colton and Noah tried all the doors, they were looked. Ezra tried the door closest to us. It was unlocked, so we all jumped inside. It looked like it was a garage at one point; a car was in the middle, and it was stacked to the brim with goods. Colton closed the door, and darkness surrounded us. The only window on the building was long gone and boarded up. The click of the lock sounded.

“Put me down, Ezra.” I whispered as I tried wiggling down but he held on tighter.

“Shhh…” Colton hissed at us. I couldn’t see a first, my eyes slowly adjusting to the dark.

I finally got Ezra to drop me, and I rounded the car. I crouched down low next to its large tire. I could hear the boys walking around looking at what was in here. This would last us a long time if we could get this car to work. Imagine having a car. We could go so much farther with one. I hadn’t seen a car in this condition in years. There were some people out there that did have working ones. Like the Red Raiders. They had cars, trucks, and semi’s. I didn’t know how they made them work, though.

“Nova,” I heard Noah call to me. I looked up and saw the three of them looking at the back of the building.

“Stay here and stay down. We are going to look for another exit. The door is locked. Just stay hidden.” Colton whispered.

I nodded and sank back to the cold floor.

How did those guys know I was a girl? Did I do something wrong last night? I know we messed around and were a little loud, but we stopped. Plus, it shouldn’t have taken those guys until morning to come find me. Shit.

At least I had my guys here. I felt safe with them. I worried about them so much. But they were doing everything they could. They had been gone about five minutes, when I heard a sound next to my head. I turned to see myself looking down the barrel of a shotgun.

“Don’t do anything stupid, boy. Slowly get up and show me your hands,” the deep voice said. He sounded calm. But the edge to his voice told me he was serious.

I felt shaky as I slowly got my legs to move. I stood up and held my hands up. I looked away from the man so he couldn’t see my face.

“What are you doing in my garage, kid?” he asked. I shook my head. Shit, where are the guys? Can they hear this man? I wanted to call out to them, but I didn’t want this guy to find out I was a woman.

“Answer me, or I will shoot you for trespassing,” he said. I turned to him and looked up. He was tall, like Noah. His dark hair had smatterings of salt and pepper and was slicked back. He had a beard that matched. He was attractive for an older guy. His arms were covered in tattoos, and he even had one on his neck.

“Take that shit off your face.” He jerked the shotgun at me. And I froze. Looking to where the guys had gone, I silently prayed they would be back. I felt a tug on my head. By the time I realized what had happened, I had lost my head covering and my hair was out. Freely flowing around my face and chest. The man gasped and dropped his shotgun. The sound was loud in the quiet space.

“What the fuck?”

I stood there frozen. I didn’t know what to do. Where was Colton? Ezra? Noah said they would be back fast.

“You’re… How… What are…”

I heard a throat clear. I turned to where I had last seen my guys, and Colton was standing there with his pistol drawn. The man turned and went to grab his shotgun, but he wasn’t quick enough; Ezra was there and was now pointing it at him. He raised his hands above his head and looked between them both.

“It’s a woman,” he stated. As if they didn’t already know. Colton slowly came forward until he was right next to the man, he never looked at me, he kept his eyes on the man. When he reached me, he held his hand out and I took it. He tugged on my hand and pushed me behind him fast. Noah came out of nowhere and held me tightly. Shielding me. Protecting me.

“Don’t hurt her,” the man said. I looked out from under Noah’s arm to see the man holding his hands out toward me.

“We won’t hurt her. We just need someplace to hide until we can leave,” Colton growled out to him, Colton was in . Ezra nudged the guy with his own shotgun and told him to walk. Noah followed them into the room they just came from. There was a small kitchenette and table with three chairs. A window high up let in light, it was warm in here. Like he had a heater on.

“Sit down,” Ezra told the man. He kept his hands up in surrender and took a seat at the table. His back was straight, his hands rested on the table palms down.

“Tell us how to get out of the wall from here. Where does the fence start and end?” The man just kept looking at me, his eyes never breaking from mine. Noah didn’t like it, so he pulled me to the other side of the room and sat me down on the floor. He sat down facing me, and acting as a shield. He was shaking. I pulled him in and kissed him softly, and he relaxed into me wrapping his arms around my shoulders.

“I thought... I was so scared, Nova,” Noah whispered into my neck.

“Hey,” I heard Colt yell. “Eyes here. Don’t you look at her.” He slammed his hand down on the table. And it made me jump.

28

Ryker

The long-haired blond guy in front of me slammed his hand down on my kitchen table. Mine. In my house. How the hell did they get in here? Fucking asshole.

“What are you doing with a woman?” I gritted my teeth. I looked him dead in the eye, not breaking eye contact. He got really close to my face and asked me again where the fence ended.

I glanced to the man behind me, who had my shotgun. As if this wasn’t a joke. How in the hell did I end up a hostage in my own house? His dark skin shone with sweat, and he had one blue eye. My guess was that would be from NEX. Like the woman, who had the longest white hair and biggest brown eyes. She peeked around the big guy on the floor with her and looked at me. When she saw me looking, she hid herself again.

“Are you here with them of your own free will?” I called out to her. The asshole in front of me growled.

She made a small sound and then called out to me. “Yes, they are my family.” Her voice was soft and sweet. Holy shit, I missed the sound of females. She peered at me again, her lips pink and full. Her cheeks a little flush from the warmth of the house. It was always hot in here. But those eyes. Fuck. The big browns peering up at me though her long lashes.

Is she real? Or is this a dream.

“Stop looking at her.” The one holding my shotgun spoke for the first time. He was getting agitated and with him holding my shotgun, I didn’t want to test him. He seemed to be getting upset with me looking at the young woman so I looked away.

“Where is the fence from here?” the blond-haired guy asked again. I turned to him and tried my best to explain how to get there. Where the weak points were. The thing was, I lived in the centre of Fort Esko, so they were shit out of luck. They can’t just walk out of here without getting noticed.

I could hear some noises outside getting louder. I looked to all the men in the room, and they were looking at each other. Wordlessly plotting their next plan. One that I wished I now was a part of.

“Hey, if you take me with you, I will show you where. But you have to take me with you.” All eyes turned on me and they didn’t look friendly. Except for the pair of browns peeking at me again. The large guy shifted to stop her from looking at me. I could just make out what he was whispering to her. Something about not to look at me. I couldn’t help the hint of a smile on my face when she peeked at me again, and this time she smiled softly at me.

Oh yeah, she was real.

The long-haired guy started pacing in front of me. He seemed like the one in charge and when I tried to move, he pointed his pistol at me again. I put my hands up.

“Look, if you take me with you, I can bring supplies. I have heaps of stuff in my Jeep.” I gestured with my thumb to the garage behind me. I wasn’t going to tell him my Jeep worked off solar and was slow as fuck. But it was better than being on foot.

He motioned to the guy behind him, and they pointed their weapons at me as they walked over to the woman. She looked young, maybe early twenty’s. But you could see in her eyes she had lived a long time. An old soul.

They started talking and I heard her almost yell a few times, my lip twitched at that. I liked her fire. The long-haired guy came back over to me.

“Give us your supplies, you tell us where the fence is, and we will let you live.”

I couldn’t believe this bullshit. I have lived here for twenty years and never once in that time had I been threatened in my own home. I threw my hand up in the air and stood.

“No, fuck this. You take me with you. For fuck’s sake you have a woman in your group. A real woman. I’m not asking for anything but to join you, and I can help you all. I don’t want her in this town any more than you do. That outside… That’s fucked up is what it is. We don’t have any women living here. And that’s why. It’s not safe here. We need to take her someplace, anywhere from here.”

It was quiet for a few moments before she stood up. She wasn’t very tall, just a few inches over five feet. She had the most amazing eyes and lips, I was drawn to her, like a moth to a flame. She slowly approached me and stood next to the leader of the group. She looked up at him.

“Colton, I say he comes. He can’t do anything to me with you three. But if he can get us out, then I say he comes with us.” The other two guys snorted and made sounds of disagreement. And the guy Colton just looked at me unblinking, I could see his jaw ticking. She touched his check, and I could see him ease into her touch. Ah, so he must be her lover. Lucky son of a bitch.

“Please,” she pleaded until he blinked and looked down to her. He kissed the top of her head, not taking his eyes from me. But he lowered his pistol.

“Get the shit.” He waved for me to go.

29

Ezra

“I don’t trust this guy,” I whispered to Noah as we followed him out into the dark garage. I didn’t know him, and for all I knew, he would lead us into a trap and take our girl. Our Nova.

Noah nodded and watched him like a hawk as he kept glancing back at Nova. The guy wasn’t blind; he could see how beautiful she was. No way he wanted to just be a friend. Dirty old bastard looked old as fuck. He could keep away from her. She is our girlfriend.

My nails bit into my palms. Nova either didn’t notice the way the guy was staring, or she was trying to ignore it. Shit, did we look at her like that when we first met her. No. He was a creepy old fucker.

“What’s your name?” she asked him. Colton had his body between her and the old guy at all times. He was shielding her at all times. It made me feel a bit better.

He smiled down to her and put his hand out to shake.

“Name is Ryker Jones.”

My heart hammered and I instinctively stepped up closer. He wasn’t going to touch her. No way. Then I saw he was not looking at Nova, but at Colton. Who took looked down at it for a heartbeat then shook it.

“I’m Colton.” I he practically spat out. Turning to us, he pointed “Ezra and Noah.”

He didn’t tell him Nova’s name. Good. I’m glad. Except for one little problem… Nova liked to talk.

“I’m Nova. It’s nice to meet you, Ryker.” Colton’s shoulders stiffened slightly and his fists curled as she spoke. Noah started to chuckle next to me. I shoved him with my shoulder. He looked to me and shrugged. I rolled my eyes.

“That woman will be the death of me,” I hissed out.

After a good ten minutes of Ryker grabbing stuff off his shelves and telling us what they were for, I was getting restless. We needed to leave already. And there was no way we could take half this shit. We had to get away first and this was too much. We could carry a tent, but not the rest of this shit. When he opened the door to his Jeep, he started shuffling things around in there.

“So, I assume they saw you all out there, yeah?” Ryker asked. No one said anything. “All right, so look, I am going out on a limb here to trust you all. And I hope you don’t fuck me over. Especially since I’m your best bet of getting out of here alive and with Nova in one piece. But once a month, I go trade at Eagle point. I trade shit for others too.”

“That’s like five days walk from here,” Colton said. Ryker nodded and pointed to his Jeep.

“Yeah but I don’t walk anywhere. I drive.”

The room went silent as the words seeped in.

Nova was the first to break it. “Oh, my God, yes. I hoped it worked. Can we drive it out? Can I drive it?” Noah laughed now, what is with these two. I rolled my eyes again and Colton narrowed his eyes at Nova. She playfully tapped his forehead where it creased.

“Look, I can hide you in here, say I’m going to trade when I leave. They like to know I’m coming back you see. I’m not due to leave until next Friday, but it’s not like they are keeping count of the days. Fuck, after doing this for the last ten years, everything blends in together. I’m sure they have no idea what day of the week it is.”

* * *

Oh, of course, I was stuck in the boot with Noah. A heap of stuff lying on me while Colton was in the back seat with Nova. They were hiding under a bunch of stuff too. I knew Colton was trying to keep the weight of stuff off Nova, and we were slowly driving down the main street to the front gate. The car wasn’t fast, that was for sure, but it worked. This guy was a genesis. I gave him that. It was fully solar-powered. But I guessed with all the weight it was not going to go screaming out the lot.

“Hey, man.”

I heard Ryker greet the guard at the gate. I held my breath, my heartbeat rising every second we were in this shit town Fort Esko. Come on, guy, let us out. I heard some talking and Ryker laughed.

“Shit, you don’t say? Well if it’s true, then I will believe it when they catch her.”

Fuck. Come on, go, you old bastard. A few slaps on the side of the Jeep, and we were moving again. I let out a deep breath and Noah looked to me.

“Shit, man that was close. You hear him?” he whispered. I nodded and I hate to admit it, but I was grateful to Ryker for getting us out. But I still didn’t trust the old guy.

* * *

The car slowed down to a stop. “Okay we passed the rise. It’s a lot slower going because I guess I have never really had four extra people in here, but you can all sit down on the seats if you want to be more comfortable,” Ryker announced. I couldn’t wait to get this shit off me. I was hot and it was stuffy under all this, especially next to Noah.

“I’ll sit up front,” I heard a small voice say. And in unison Noah, Colt, and I said, “No.” It made her giggle.

“I think it’s best if Colton sits up front. And you can sit in the back with your friends. Just help me move some stuff around, and we will be on our way. But don’t get any ideas of booting me out, all right? Trust here needs to go both ways.”

Noah grumbled and I agreed. At least I got to be next to Nova.

When we all got arranged into seats, it was a little uncomfortable as there was so much stuff packed in. But Noah had it worse. He was all cramped up because he was just so much taller.

“I think we need a bigger seat back here. Maybe I should go in the front?” Noah asked Colt, who shook his head.

Nova sat between us but saw how uncomfortable Noah was, so she offered him her seat and plopped herself into his lap as he lounged back and ate up all the attention. I wasn’t jealous, as I knew I would be the one cuddling up to her tonight. I didn’t think she has realized that yet—that we have been taking turns every night to be the one cuddling her.

The silence in the car stretched for a long time, the sound of the engine soothing, lulling me to sleep but I forced myself to keep my eyes open. I couldn’t help but be alert when Nova was right next to me. Noah had nestled Nova so she was sprawled out on his chest and was stroking her hair. The small soft sounds that came from her told me she was sleeping. He smiled to me and closed his eyes. Not before long he was also making sounds, but they were nowhere near as cute as the ones Nova made.

“So, where we want to go? I can take us to Jasper? Or Williamstown? Oh, probably best to avoid those places with Nova, but they do know me there, so if we kept her hidden, we could go in and get supplies and leave without anyone even knowing.”

I tensed up. What was this guy’s angle?

30

Colton

The guy, Ryker. There was something about him. I had my pistol in my pocket, waiting for the guy to turn on us. The way he kept looking in his rear-view mirror made me even more uneasy. It was not like he could see out the back of the car with all the stuff piled back there. No, he was watching and looking at Nova. My Nova. Our Nova. I tried to keep my cool, but I wanted to push him out the Jeep and leave him in the desert.

I could tell he irked Ezra something bad. He was on alert and I was glad for it. But if we had to be with him to get where we were going, then I was going to take everything he was willing to give. When things looked like they were going down, I would take us all and bail on the guy.

“Head north. We need to go north.” That’s all I really knew of where Eden was.

He nodded. “Jasper is north, but not straight up. Did you want to go there and get more supplies? Or just head north?” he asked. This was the second time he wanted to go get supplies. It made me uneasy.

“No, just go north.”

He pulled a map out from the console and flipped it open. Holy shit, I hadn’t seen one of these in like forever. GPS had taken people everywhere—no need to use a paper map.

“It’s old but it helps. We are roughly here.” He pointed to the state of Utah.

I nodded. Okay so we were in Utah.

“So, there are all different places up there that I have never been to. But most major towns are still functioning. So, you will need to help me out and figure out where you want to go, and where you want to avoid.”

Fuck I never even thought about that. We hadn’t really been out of the area we were living in. I studied the map for a while and told him to keep going and to avoid Jasper. We were not going there.

* * *

When the sun started going down, the Jeep started to crawl even slower.

“Shit, the battery must have run out and been just running straight off the sun. It needs to recharge. We can crawl for a bit, though. Do you want to camp or find a place?” he asked.

“House, please.” Nova talked for the first time all day. I didn’t know how she was even going to sleep tonight, but I was wrecked, and I was sure Ez was too. Noah was taking first shift on night watch after his full-day nap.

“House it is,” Ryker said as we continued down the highway. There was nothing but small scrubs and dirt. I could see a town coming up ahead, but it wasn’t fenced or walled so I assume it was abandoned. It wasn’t too small. It had a gas station and I could see some houses. As we crawled into town, there were a few cars blocking our way, and it looked like the town had seen better days.

“Look there is a motel. I wonder if we could get some rooms,” Ezra said. It looked so much worse than the rest of the town. Ryker stopped. Ez followed me out of the Jeep and over to the motel. It wasn’t as bad inside as it was outside, but there wasn’t much for security with the doors all being smashed in. You couldn’t close them. I shook my head and headed back into the Jeep.

“You think you have enough juice to get us to a house?” I asked Ryker.

He shrugged. “Only one way to find out. I will go down that side street and hopefully there is something decent down there.”

Nova decided she was getting out now. “I need to stretch my legs,” she said as she slipped past me out, jumped over the console, and out the front door of the car. That woman infuriated me, and fuck if I didn’t love her for it. Noah jumped out again with Ezra right up behind her. Ryker slowly followed them down the street into the first house. And parked.

* * *

The first placed had been cleaned out, not even a mattress. So, we quickly moved to the next place. It was a bit better, with a couch and one queen-sized bed. The kitchen didn’t have much, just some useless utensils that we couldn’t use.

“Let’s have something to eat. I’m starving.” Nova popped up behind me. And I jumped.

“Hey, don’t do that,” I teased her. I wasn’t really scared. I knew she was behind me, just wasn’t expecting her to be so close. I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and she laid her head against my chest.

“Mmm…you smell like… you,” she said and then pushed off from me and bounced off to Ezra, who was dragging some broken furniture out of the hallway so the bedrooms had better escape routes.

“So, I have brought out a few things I have for eating. Mostly can goods. And with that it’s mostly a surprise. So, take your pick.” Ryker handed the cans over to me. I looked at them and used the can opener he held out.

“These cans are from the government when everything went to shit, so they aren’t too old. But I’m pretty sure they aren’t cans of peaches. Which I don’t recommend eating if you find one that looks like peaches… it never is so just throw it away.” And his face scrunched up and he shook his head in disgust as he held his stomach.

Noah laughed behind him. I noticed he had one eye on Nova and one on Ryker.

“That reminds me of when we found that Twinkie, and you told me not to touch it. And I didn’t listen.” I rolled my eyes at Noah and laughed. That was not pretty.

“You ate a Twinkie? Seriously?” Ryker turned to look at Noah, who nodded with the stupidest grin on his face.

“Yeah man, if you get told not to eat it, trust them and don’t eat it. I thought I was going to die.”

Once I got the lid off the first can, I noticed it was a meal, like veggies and meat of some kind; the second one looked the same. So, I opened a third can and placed them all down on the kitchen counter. Being careful not to disturb the dust. Last thing I want to eat is dust covered canned food.

“Nova,” I called out. She popped her head around the corner and saw the cans and bounced over to them. She was very perky tonight. She wasn’t usually this bouncy. Maybe being in the car for so long had helped her energy levels. Plus I’m pretty sure she slept most the ride here.

Ryker held out a spoon for her and she took it, thanking him and started to dig in. Noah came up next and Nova gave him the spoon. Between the two of them, they finished the first can. I took a few spoonful’s and passed the spoon over to Ryker, who was just standing back watching us. He took it and had two bites and then gave the spoon to Ezra, who had just finished moving all the crap out of the way.

“Not too bad,” Ez said as he took a third serving and handed the spoon back to Nova.

“Eat,” I said when she hesitated to look at us. She was always worried she was having too much, but really, she never had enough. I wanted to be able to provide for her better, and if this was all we had, then I would rather her have a larger serve than any of us. I looked to see how Ryker was taking that in, and he just leaned against the wall, his arms crossed against his chest and watched her with amusement.

When he caught me looking at him, he gave a small nod of his head. She tried to hand the spoon to Noah and then Ryker, who both shook their heads. At least he was in agreement with me.

“You have to eat too. You’re bigger than me.” She gave Ezra that look. I knew the way his face was crumbling, and when he started inching toward her. I knew he was going to take that spoon.

“Three more servings, then you’re finished, sweetheart,” I told her.

She turned to me with narrowing eyes and crossed her arms across her chest. I wanted to laugh at the way she looked. But I held my gaze to hers and quirked my brow in challenge. When I didn’t break like Ezra almost had, she took her three servings. Glaring at me the whole time before passing the spoon back to Noah.

31

Nova

Mr. Bossy Boots Colton. I didn’t need to eat that much, but he made me eat more. Even when I wasn’t hungry anymore. My stomach had never felt full until I met the guys. And especially since Colton worries and forces me to eat more than I want. I was grateful to him, though, and to Ryker for getting us here.

Although, I was not too sure about Ryker. What was his thoughts on me? On the four of us?

He’d helped us when he could have sold me to the wolves. And he was still here, sharing his food now. And decent food at that. I gave him a smile to show how much I appreciated what he had done. Colton told me not to talk to him. That I was in a bit of trouble for already talking to him so much. I just rolled my eyes at that, and he threatened a spanking if I did it again. Which I did, just to see if he would. He just laughed, which was much better.

I loved when Colton smiled and laughed. Mr. Serious is his other name I call him. But God, I didn’t know where we would be without him. He was a born leader. And holy fucking hell he was hot as fuck—that long, shaggy, dark-blond hair, and those eyes. Plus, he knew his way around my body more than I did.

“All right, bed time,” Colton announced as he took me by the arm and led me to the room with the only bed. The one bonus of having three boyfriends was you always got the bed. He placed the flashlight on the floor, giving the room a real dreamy feel to it. I really wanted to get out of my clothes and sleep naked. And after such a long, boring day in the Jeep, I wanted nothing better than to snuggle up and have some fun sexy time with my guys.

“Ezra,” I called as he strolled in the room and placed a kiss on my forehead, I bounced past him and peered around the door for Noah. He was sitting on a chair near the front door of the house.

“He is taking first watch tonight,” Colton stated from behind me. I turned to see him almost naked in front of me. Ezra was still taking his clothes off and gave me a cheeky grin. I knew that smile, and I couldn’t wait to kiss it off his face.

I followed the guys lead and took my top off, the next thing I saw was Colton giving me a stern look as he stomped past me and closed the door. Loudly.

“Don’t leave the door open. He might see you.” He approached me and held my chin with his thumb and finger. I winked at him, and it broke his little dominance. He couldn’t help but crack a smile as he leaned down and kissed me. I felt Ezra come up from behind and undo my pants for me. They dropped to the floor and he squeezed my ass. I rubbed myself into Colt, needing him close to me.

“Get on the bed,” Colton ordered. Colton liked being in charge all the time. I was not complaining, because it made me hot as hell. As Ezra found out. “You’re so wet already.” He breathed into my neck as he stroked my clit. I moaned at the feeling, throwing my head back he kissed along my collarbone.

This was the first time without Noah, without the four of us. It was not bad, just different.

“Now someone was bad. And I told that someone they would get a spanking if they didn’t stop…and what did they do?” Colton stalked up my body, a wicked gleam in his eye.

“I talked to Ryker.” I giggled as his big hand landed on my breast, and he kissed and licked my lips as Ezra slowly fucked my body with his fingers. I moaned into Colton’s mouth. I didn’t want Noah hearing us and feeling left out. But Colton had other ideas.

It was like he and Ezra had planned out what they were going to do with me. One minute I was on my back getting finger-fucked by Ezra; the next I was on my stomach, Colton behind me rubbing circles on my ass cheeks.

Slap.

I gasped at tingles his hand had left and turned in time to see Colton slap my other ass cheek. My whole body flushed from the feeling.

“You like that, don’t you?” he asked. I just smiled and winked at him. That was my answer because surprisingly I did like it. I wiggled my ass, and Colton slapped it again, slipping his fingers between my legs and into my needy body. Hhe bent down and playfully bit my shoulder.

“I think that’s a yes, Nova. You want some more?” he murmured into my hair.

I arched my back, giving him more room to play with me. I reached out for Ezra, who was stroking his cock to what he saw. I reached for his cock, and he let go. Letting me take over and keeping the same pace. I pulled him closer to me and licked the head. He moaned as I put the tip into my mouth and sucked. Hard. He jerked forward, his hand going to my head. A need to hold onto something as I sucked him deep, as far as I could take him into my throat. The sounds he made spurred me to continue.

“I see Noah has been giving lessons.” I pulled away, with a smile I watched Colton pull his boxers down, his cock bouncing as he freed it. Lifting myself so I was on all fours, I got better access to Ezra, and Colton came up to me from behind. He swiftly entered me until he bottomed out. The feeling thrummed through my body.

He grabbed my hair firmly, not painfully but enough to tell me he was in charge. He pulled my head back so I was now looking at Ezra’s face

“Fuck her little mouth, Ezra. Teach her that if she doesn’t listen, she gets gagged.”

Shit, Colton was so fucking dirty tonight. Ezra did as Colton said, except he gave me full control. I might have had a talking with Noah about sucking cock, but I was still no deep-throat professional like he was. The room was filled with the moans and slaps of my ass. I was getting close to coming, and Colton sensed that as he reached below me and stroked my clit as he fucked me harder. I shuddered at the touch; it was so sensitive. His other hand slapped my ass, his thumb moving toward my other hole. I could feel him pushing against me, wanting entrance to my untouched place. I wasn’t sure if I was ready for that and tensed up a bit.

“Sweetheart, I will make sure you like it. I’m going to slowly ease you into it. I’m not going to fuck your ass until you’re ready.” At that I relaxed again, and Ezra held my head as I sucked harder and deeper.

As I felt the coil tighten inside me, I knew I was going to come. I pulled my head back just as my body started to go over the blissful edge. I felt Colton’s thumb as it entered my ass. The feeling was unreal; it felt foreign but so right at the same time. I shuddered and gasped for air as it intensified the orgasm. Colton chased his right after me.

“Open your mouth.” Ezra’s voice was deep and gruff. I opened and took him as deep as I could before he pulled back.

“Shit,” he said as he spilled into my mouth. One last shuddering breath and he pulled away from me. Cupping my cheek, he said, “You can spit it. I won’t be offended.” I didn’t really like to swallow, not like Noah did. So, Ezra usually pulled out and came on my chest or his hand.

I poked my tongue out to show him I’d swallowed.

His smile was worth it. “Fuck, that is hot. You’re so fucking hot, and smart and beautiful, Nova.” He kissed me. Not caring that I tasted like him. Colton came over from a table and had a wet cloth.

“Gonna clean you up, sweetheart.” He was back to regular Colton. Not the bossy sex god Colton.

* * *

I opened my eyes. I couldn’t believe I’d slept last night but the guys wore me out. I rolled over and stretched. I looked beside me to a sleeping Noah.

“Go back to sleep,” he grumbled. I giggled and licked the tip of his nose. His eyes flew open. “Did you seriously lick me?” He grabbed my arms and pinned them beside me, and I cracked up laughing. He started to tickle my sides, and by the time we were finished, I was lying on top of him, kissing him.

“God, Nova, I love you.”

My stomach filled with butterflies. It was the best morning. So far only Ezra had told me he loved me after I told them all I loved them. I had hoped and wished that Noah and Colton would tell me that. And now Noah had.

“You don’t have to say it back,” he quickly added, glancing away.

“I love you, Noah. With all my heart,” I told him as I kissed him and laid my head down on his chest. I loved to listen to his heartbeat. It soothed me. He ran his fingers through my hair, getting caught on many knots I needed to brush. But in this moment, I was truly happy the world had gone to shit, because if it never had I wouldn’t have my guys. Noah, my big puppy, always making everyone smile. Colton, bossy but sweet. And Ezra, so protective and caring.

And I love them all.

Screw a normal relationship. I couldn’t pick just one. I could never choose one over the others; they were all mine. And I loved them all, and nothing was going to change that.

I heard the door squeak open. I looked over to see Ezra standing there, the smile he gave me touching his eyes.

“Love birds, we are going to get going now that you’re awake. You can sleep in the car, Noah,” he added once the groan started up in Noah’s chest. I laughed and slapped his arm to stop.

32

Ryker

Last night when Nova went to bed, I didn’t expect to hear the three of them together. Even thinking about it now has me adjusting myself. I thought she was just with Colton. That was why I told him to ride up front with me so I didn’t have to see them together looking like lovers. But then she had lain down on that other man’s chest and had fallen asleep. And Colton didn’t bat an eyelid I was very confused.

But now I was starting to figure out their whole relationship, and yeah I would be lying if I said I wasn’t jealous. I was jealous. I missed the sweetness of a woman just being around. I wasn’t young when NEX took every woman I knew out. I could have settled down and started a family. But I was waiting, and the joke was on me because by the time I was ready, there were no women left to even take out on a date.

So, I threw myself into what I knew best—being a mechanic—and built myself this Jeep that actually works. Since being a mechanic wasn’t exactly going to help me after the Flare and NEX, I had to come up with my own way of making a living. And doing trades with other towns, and even transport was the best way to do that.

“Good morning, Ryker,” Nova said as she stepped out of the house and onto the path toward me. I straightened up and smiled down at her. Trying to get the sounds she made last night out of my head.

“Good morning,” I replied. I saw Colton coming toward us. I backed myself up to the Jeep to show him I was no threat. I got it; I would act like him if I had Nova. You couldn’t trust anyone these days. That was why that kid Noah was watching me from the hallway. I’d hardly slept. Especially after I heard what was going on in there. I wasn’t the only one outside that room that was affected; Noah had re-adjusted himself a few times. I couldn’t stop imagining what was going on in there. Fuck. Just thinking about it is making me hard again.

“We ready to go?” Colton asked me as his hand slipped into Nova’s and she blushed. You would think she was a virgin the way she was smiling so sweetly at Colton. But after last night, I knew better. She’s a little minx.

I nodded. The solar panels were juicing the batteries up enough for us to start the day. I had a look at the maps and worked out how to get north without bumping into too many towns. Like Colton wanted, but I knew we needed to eventually restock and hopefully find the place we were going. Because like it or not, I was coming with them.

* * *

“Did you want me to take over driving for a while? Give you a chance to close your eyes and rest for a few hours?” Colton asked from behind my seat. Noah was riding shotgun. Apparently, he wanted to stay awake as long as possible. I could think of one reason why he would do that, and she was sitting in the back seat, flipping through a book she found in my stash. I had been driving for a few hours and my eyes were starting to burn with how tired I was.

“Yeah actually that would be great. I will swap with you.” I pulled the Jeep to a stop and opened my door.

“Noah, get in the back,” Colton ordered. The kid grumbled and got out. Yeah, I knew that would happen, but a guy can dream right. I really wished it was me going in the back. As I rounded the front of the Jeep to the passenger door, Colton had already got in and started off without me.

“Fucker,” I yelled as I chased my Jeep. Fuck. How could I have been so stupid? After about a minute of running, I stopped. I was out of breath, there was no point it was faster then I was. The Jeep came to a sudden stop. Fuck. I started running again and it took off. “Mother fuckers,” I screamed into the dust it left behind. I took a look at my surroundings. Great they left me in the middle of nothing.

I heard a sound from where the Jeep went, then I could see it. It was reversing towards me. I jumped out the way, unsure what Colton was going to do. Then white hair spilled from the front passenger window.

“Jump in the back, Ryker. I’m sorry Colton did that. He promised not to do it again,” she said with the sweetest smile. I couldn’t even be angry right now; she was talking to me. I nodded and opened the back door up, and Ezra had moved to the middle seat. He didn’t say anything when I got in.

None of them did, actually. But Nova didn’t care. She wanted to talk, and she really wanted to talk to me and I didn’t want to be rude so I talked back.

“So, have you read this whole book?” She turned in her seat to face me and waved the book around in her hand. I nodded. It was my favorite book growing up. Percy Jackson. It was a great adventure story. My mom bought me the book when I was ten. And I couldn’t part with it. The book was all dog-eared and worn out from all the years of reading. But it wasn’t missing any pages.

“Yeah, that book has been with me for over thirty years.” She smiled shyly at me and then glanced over to Colton in the driver’s seat, who had a stiff way about him. He wasn’t happy she was talking to me, but he wasn’t stopping her either, so I tried to continue the conversation.

“Do you like it so far?”

She nodded and then turned back to me. “How…old are you?” She hesitated as if I would be offended. I winked and she smiled.

“I’m old.” I chuckled and then added, “But I’m not that old. I have had a few hard years…. Like fourteen of them. How old do you think I am?” She giggled and her eyes darted to Colton as she bit her lower lip. God that was not helping me at all. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. Honestly. Finally her gaze returned to me.

“Maybe like forty?” her brows scrunched in the middle of her forehead as if she was unsure of her answer.

I nodded and replied “Close enough.” She smiled and bounced a little in her seat. Then Ezra spoke.

“You’re old enough to be her dad.” And I instantly got aggravated. Asshole.

“Well if that’s the case, then so is Colton,” she quipped back at him. I couldn’t help but chuckle at her. She sure was a firecracker. I knew Colton was older than these two. But I was definitely older than him. Not by much but enough.

I had drifted off to sleep at some stage, and the sun was starting its decent. I was hungry, so I reached into the back and pulled out some protein bars. I passed one to Ezra first. He mumbled a thanks. Noah grabbed it.

“Thanks, man. My stomach is eating itself.”

I handed two forward and Colton looked over and took one. Nova didn’t take the other, so I moved forward in my seat in case she didn’t see it. Colton spoke then.

“She is asleep, man. Keep it for her when she wakes up.”

I moved forward and peered around the seat to see her. Her hair had fallen across her face, her mouth just visible through the white locks, and her lips were slightly parted. She made the softest sounds. I was surprised Colton let me look as long as I did. The book was still in her hand, lying open on her lap with her hand barely holding it. Without thinking, I reached over to the book. A firm hand grasped my arm before I got to it. I glanced over to a very angry Colton. His teeth gritted together and his eyes piercing right through me.

“Don’t you dare touch her. You are fucking lucky you are still in here with her. If I had my way, I wouldn’t have fucking stopped,” he hissed. I moved my arm back slightly and looked him dead in the eyes.

“I didn’t appreciate you trying to ditch me back there. As I said, trust gotta go both ways, and so far it seems I’m the stupid one here.”

He didn’t say anything, but I heard the other two clearing their throats. I turned back to see Ezra sitting very tense, watching me with that piercing blue eye of his.

“I wasn’t going to touch her,” I told him.

Noah eyed me next. “Sure looks like you were trying to touch her.”

I let out a deep breath. “Fuck, I was reaching for the book. It will fall out of her hand and she will lose her page. I was going to mark where she was up to and put it in the console for later when she wakes up. I wasn’t trying to touch her.”

I shook my head and Colton let go of my arm. He reached over and grabbed the edge of the book and passed it to me. I tagged it and put it in the console.

“Fucker,” he mumbled. I sat back in my seat and we continued the drive in silence.

33

Noah

A few days later we got within a few miles of a functioning city that we didn’t see on the map. As we got closer Colton drove the car behind a building a few miles back to hide it. It was decided that Ezra was going to stay with Ryker and Nova, while Colt and I went into town and to get supplies. But I knew there was a hidden message in that too. We were going to ask about this Eden place too.

As we approached, we noticed this place had more guns and protection than any other town we had been to before.

“State your business.” The guard at the front signalled with his gun for us to stop.

“We are here to trade and buy supplies, mainly food, then travel on,” Colton replied. His voice steady and calm as if there weren’t a bunch of eyes and guns on us.

“Show us what you have.” The guard stepped forward. Colton hesitated at first and then opened his bag, showing some stuff Ryker gave us to trade with. He nodded and let us pass.

“Fuck, that was intense,” I muttered to him. He nodded. Grabbing my arm, he led us away from the front gate.

“Let’s find the nearest bar and buy a drink each. Get talking and see if we can find this Eden.”

When we walked into the busy bar, there were a bunch of drunks swinging at each other. I had to swerve around them to avoid being hit. One of the guys looked at me with a puzzled expression. I turned and followed Colton up to the crowded bar. He ordered us a couple of whiskies. We didn’t drink alcohol much, and I avoided it if possible. ’Cause that shit tasted like fire. But to blend in, you needed to look like you were drinking.

Colton knocked his drink back and then slammed the ceramic cup down. He asked for another. My cup had a chip in it. I took a small sip, the burn hit as soon as it touched my tongue. I tried not to wince at the taste. Colton started scanning the crowd. Working out where to start first and walked away from the bar. I looked around but decided to try finish this drink before I started talking to anyone.

Colton looked like he fit in so well here. He started laughing with some men and then offered to play darts with them. He was unquestionably the hottest guy in here by far.

“Hey,” a guy said as he sat on the stool next to me. I nodded in greeting but my eyes never left Colt.

“You new here?” he asked. I turned to him and I saw he was around my age. He had dark eyes. His smile was big as he tipped back his drink. Nodding, I took another sip of my whisky and he waved to the bartender.

“Another one for me and my new friend.” He winked at me.

Um…shit. Is he flirting with me? I turned back to Colt who had a group of men chatting and laughing with him. I had seen him do this many times before if he wanted information. He buttered them up like they were his new best friends and slipped in a few small questions here and there and got all his answers without the men realizing they had even given it.

“Hi.” I decided I might as well play along too and maybe get some information from this guy. When the bartender gave me a refill, the guy tapped his cup with mine and slammed it back. I took a long sip. It burned as it went down, my body felt warm from the alcohol.

“I’m Kade.” He held his hand out and I took it in mine as I shook it.

“Noah.”

The small talk was awkward. I didn’t know if he would stop talking to me once I told him that Colt was my boyfriend. Or if he was really flirting with me to start with. So I decided to not tell him about Colt until needed. Maybe he just wanted a friend? Not everything is about sex.

But after a few more drinks and not much of a chance of finding out about Eden unless I spelled it out, that protein bar from earlier wanted to come back and make an appearance.

“I think I drank too much,” I told Kade. He was starting to slur his words also. I looked around and saw some small lights on. What’s the time? It was dark outside now. Shit. I saw Colton in deep conversation. Ugh, I need to get up. I hope he was getting good intel. Those guys looked scruffy as all hell. They usually had the best information and gossip.

“I have to go talk to my boyfriend,” I told Kade. I started to get up. I was a little lightheaded and unsteady on my feet. Shit. I sat down fast. That whisky was strong.

“You have a boyfriend? It figures,” he muttered. I felt bad he had been paying for my drinks.

“I’m sorry. He is over there, looking for the way to this place called Eden,” I told him. I jerked my head up. Shit I shouldn’t have told him that. His eyes went wide as he glanced at Colt and then back to me. I had spent all this time not saying it, and now I blurt it out. I blame the alcohol.

“What have you heard about it?” he asked, suddenly very serious.

Um…I don’t know how to interrogate people. “Just that certain people go there to live without all this shit.” I swung my head around to demonstrate what I meant. He scanned the room over his shoulder and then leaned in close.

“Why would someone like you, with a boyfriend, be looking for Eden?” he whispered close to my ear. His warm breath tickled my neck.

“Do you know of it? Do you know where it is?”

He looked around again and he seemed restless. After a quiet moment fidgeting with his hands, he gave me a slight nod. Shit. My heart started racing. My stomach still wasn’t settled after the alcohol, so I took a few deep breaths to help steady it.

“Come with me.” He got up and walked out the bar. I tried to get Colt’s attention, but I didn’t want to miss out on finding out what Kade knew. And I was worried he would disappear on me if I didn’t follow closely behind.

As I followed him out into the dark, I saw him cross the street standing outside a shop. When I got closer, he started walking again. I worried we were getting too far away and maybe this wasn’t a good idea. I didn’t know who this guy really was. He spun on his heel and swayed lightly.

“Tell me what you know,” I demanded. Getting upset on how stupid I had been to come here alone without Colton to back me up. My stomach lurched, but I held it all down. I’m making myself sick now.

He came closer and said, “You are telling me you have… a woman?” I didn’t know if I was supposed to say yes or no. So I just stood there staring at him, biting my tongue and not giving anything away. He nodded, running a hand through his short dark hair. “Really?” he whispered.

After a stare-off for what felt like forever, he whispered to me again, “You better not be fucking with me.”

I didn’t move. I wanted Colton to come out. To help me. Then I decided I needed to step up and be a man, so far it was only Kade here. A few drunks stumbled passed us but apart from that we were alone. “I’m not fucking with you. Do you really know where it is ’cause I need to take someone there.” I hissed out under my breath.

“My sister…Emma,” he trailed off. I stepped closer nodding for him to continue. “She lives there with her husbands.”

My mouth dropped open. Holy shit. This guy hasn’t just heard of it. He knew someone who is living there. In Eden. It’s real. “Husbands?” I ask, as in more than one. Like what we are doing right now with the four of us?

He nodded. “Yeah, she has like seven, I think. It’s one of the rules they have there. Men can only live there if they are married, or you know committed to the woman…A lover. They protect her and the settlement. So, if your woman has men, she has to be with them as in… husbands.” He turned around, and I saw Colton walking around outside the bar in the moonlight.

“Colton,” I called over to him. He ran over. Was that worry in his eyes as he looked at the stranger I was with outside. Or Jealously? Could Colton get jealous? Did I want him too? Yes, yes I did.

“I didn’t get shit, and now it’s fucking late as fuck,” he said while eyeing up Kade.

“Well I have got better than that. Meet Kade. He has a family member who lives in the place we are searching for.” I tried to be cryptic as a group of men stumbled past. Colts eyes went wide then narrowed on Kade.

“Are you serious? So, it’s real?”

Kade nodded and whispered to me. “Does she have room for one more?” And gestured to himself.

Colt heard what he said and grumbled loudly. “No,” he hissed out and Kade stepped back a bit, his hands up in defence.

“Where is it? Please help me.” I wanted to beg, but I stood stock still waiting, hoping he would tell us. After some silence, I could tell he was internally debating if we really had a woman with us and if he can tell us.

“Go to Montana. Go to Apex Falls. Ask for Jeremey at the gate. He will instruct you the rest of the way.”

And with that, he slipped away into the night, leaving Colt and I stunned that we had somewhere, an idea of where to go. And north was where we need to be. In Montana.

34

Nova

I thought it was rude we had taken Ryker’s tent. He kept insisting I take it, knowing the boys would be sleeping in it with me when Colt and Noah returned. It wasn’t large, just a two-person tent, but that was okay. I liked to be close to them when I was sleeping. It gave me security, and I slept so much better for it. Ryker had the keys to the Jeep and had set up his sleeping bag much farther away from us than I thought he would. He stood there, looking at the sunset.

“Ryker?” I asked. He turned to me with a smile on his face. Ezra wasn’t too far away from me, and I knew I was safe with him. I didn’t feel like Ryker would hurt me, if anything I trusted him. He hasn’t done or said anything to make me believe he would want to hurt me or the guys. I was starting to get to know him a bit better. Especially now that Colton wasn’t here, and I could talk to him more freely.

“Can I ask you about a few things in the book?” I knew how to read, but some words I didn’t know or understand. Books and paper were a little hard to come by, and even when we could trade for things, food was more important. Still my dad taught me a lot, but there were a lot of big words in here I didn’t know or understand.

He nodded and we sat down, not too close to each other though. He explained what the story was about but didn’t give away the ending. “There are more books in the series. I wish I had them, but this is the only book I have, unfortunately.”

He was sitting closer to me now, our bodies just relaxed with the casual conversation. I smiled up at him and his eyes twinkled with his.

“So, did you have a wife or someone before… you know everything?” I asked. His smile dropped slightly, and he shook his head no.

“I was waiting you know… for that right time. That special someone to settle down with. But she never came and then everything happened and I took that as a sign.” He shrugged and looked down at his feet, sliding them back and forth through the dirt. I bent over and picked up a stone, rolling it between my thumb and finger.

“A sign?” I prodded, wanting to know more of what he meant. He turned to look at me.

“You know a sign, that it’s not in the cards for you. Love and family. The Flare was a sign that I was supposed to be alone. Well that’s what I have thought for the last fourteen years.” He shrugged at his word as if they mean nothing.

I grabbed his forearm and gave it a small squeeze. He glanced down to my hand, I felt nervous suddenly and pulled away. He reached for my hand and gently held it as he brought it back to his forearm and rested it there, his large hand warm on top of mine.

“Nova you are amazing, and so strong. And the guys are all so lucky to have you, and you them. I’m sorry I just came barging into your life so suddenly and I know it’s only been a couple of days. But I would love to go on your journey with you. And stay with you all. If you are okay with that?”

His voice was deep and I could hear the vulnerability in there. He had been so honest and giving to all of us. I wanted him to come to Eden. He needed us as much as we needed him. He had done so much for us already, we could never had gotten this far without him. I didn’t know how to say yes without talking to the guys first, so instead I rested my head on his shoulder and watched the moon rising towards its apex in the nights sky.

Then Ryker surprised me and started singing softly, of a man who had found love, but she didn’t love him back. I loved the timbre of his voice. I felt the song through my body. Seeping in and the emotions that went with it gave me goosebumps. Ryker was an amazing singer; he hummed the tune when there were no words.

This was perfect right here in this moment, so real. I almost forgot Ezra was so close. Yeah, Ezra. He had said Ryker could be my dad, but I didn’t see that when I looked at him. No, I was attracted to him, and who he was as a person. He had a neatly trimmed beard of salt and pepper which matched his hair. His tattoos covered his arms and he had one on his neck, but I had not seen any other ones on his body yet. Maybe when he takes his top off next I will have a look. My eyes closed as I listened to him humming other tunes.

“Hey.”

I heard the shout from where Ezra was. I opened my eyes and saw a man in a red balaclava, holding a gun to his head. My heart dropped when I saw more men wearing the same red over their faces behind him. Ryker grabbed my arm, pulled me to my feet and started running, hauling me in front of him. The sound of a gun rang out in my ears.

“No!” I screamed as I turned and dropped to my knees. Ezra was still standing there with the gun pointed against his head. No. Stop. I felt a tugging at my side trying to get me up. Ryker.

“Run, Nova,” Ryker yelled. He was holding his arm and I could see the dark red of his blood dripping down his tattoos and onto the dirt beside me. Everything was in slow motion, I felt like time was standing still. The sounds were filtered to a low hum as I watched Ezra fighting against the man with the gun who then hit Ezra on the head. He fell hard. I struggled to steady myself as my hearing returned to normal, my voice hoarse from the screams emitting from me. Trying to get up on shaky legs, my body was not responding to what was happening. I started running like Ryker kept chanting for me to do. I turned to see the men in red running after me, and they were too fast. Too many. They stomped on Ryker’s arm and he let out a loud wail of pain.

Tears streamed down my face as I turned back to see where I could go, somewhere to hide. Arms ripped at me as one of the masked men grabbed me from behind and swung me around. I gave him everything I had—I kicked and screamed and used my nails until my fingers bled. But it was no use. There were too many of them. They all cheered and whooped. And when they put a hood over my head, I lost it. The panic had set in as they dragged me away before shoving me into a small cage. My body shaking in fear, I curled into a ball and took the hood off my head. I sobbed as they drove away.

The Red Raiders had taken me.

* * *

After a while, the vehicle I was in slowed down, and I could hear a lot of chatter between the Red Raiders. A flashlight shined into the small cage I was in. I heard them talking about me. I shivered at the thought of what they were going to do. I kept thinking why? Why now did this happen?

“Put her in the other cages. Get ready for the next city. No one touches her yet. We can get more for a pretty prize like that.” The sound of metal as they unlocked the cage had me scrambling to the other end away from them. Fuck you, assholes! I screamed in my head. I kicked as soon as they reached in to grab me. It was tight effort, but I still managed to get him hard.

“Fucking bitch,” he yelled as he yanked on my foot until I tumbled out onto the dirt. I hit my head on the way down and groaned. I was disorientated and my head hurt. The hood they had shoved over my head fell beside me. Two sets of Raiders grabbed me and dragged me to what looked to be a semi-truck stacked two high and side by side with cages. They were each full of dark mounds. What? Oh, my God. They were people. I tried to see them better, but they were all huddled near each other. The door of one was unlocked and I was shoved in. They taunted me a bit before banging on a few other cages. I saw the people in there jump, there was a few men mixed in but mostly females. They closed a tarp over the top and everything went black.

Shit.

Fuck.

Once it was quiet outside, I whispered, “Hello,” but no one answered. I guessed this was where the hope for our future ended. Ezra, Colton, and Noah. Even Ryker. I wanted them back. I needed them. I broke down and sobbed until my throat was raw and I couldn’t cry anymore. They didn’t even know where I was. I didn’t know where I was.

I woke to voices. My eyes strained in the early morning light filtering through the tarp that covered the cages. I looked down and saw my cage was on top of another. There was a tiny person in a ball huddled to one corner. I saw most the caged people huddled closer to the end of their cage, away from the door. So, I did the same. The tarp lifted and the bright light of the day shone in, it was almost blinding as I squinted to see some figures approached. Was that a… man? Oh my god they were dragging a very thin man toward us. His head hung down with a mop of jet-black wavy hair. The Raiders chuckled as they got closer.

“We are using your cage for a new one.” The one on the left pushed the man to the ground. He held his hands out as he hit hard. I heard him moan when he curled up in a ball. Trying to protect himself from the Raiders.

My throat was dry. I wanted to scream for them to stop. But that would only draw their attention to me. There was nothing I could do to stop them. Everyone around me was in cages, locked up there was no one to help him. Eventually the guard picked him up and carried him toward… me. My eyes widened as they started unlocking my door. Panic set in and I couldn’t hold my bladder anymore. I could feel it running between my legs and down onto the person below me. I was frozen, my body wouldn’t move as my heart raced, yet I couldn’t breathe.

“It’s not like he would know what to do with a woman anyway,” one said, chuckling. They laughed as they shoved him in toward me. He groaned as he hit the cage floor. And I didn’t breathe until they locked it up and left.

He looked up at me through the hair hanging over his face. His dark eyes pinned me. He blinked, breaking our stare, and looked down to his hands where blood pooled around freshly opened wounds. He clenched them into fists and curled in on himself again.

“Hey, are you okay?” I whispered to him. His body tensed at my words but didn’t speak. The sound of the semi starting up had me looking around at all the cages. The semi-truck was huge, and held around twenty cages from what I counted, filled with men and women. The tarps were placed back on us, after a round of taunting by the Raiders. And we started moving forward at a fast pace. How did they power this thing? Gas? We were going too fast for any of my guys to find me. Fuck.

“Hi,” the girl beside me whispered. Her hair was short but white just like mine. I was shocked she was talking to me after not answering me last night when I called out. “I’m Harlow.”

She was wearing what looked to be a dress, or once was a dress. It was dirty and ripped. She looked well fed though, not like the man in my cage. He was so thin I could see all his ribs and spine. He didn’t have anything on but dirty sweatpants. “I’m Nova.”

“If you need to use the toilet, you can call a Raider next time. Or you can use the door end of your cage like the rest of us do.” A voice came from below. The body under me untucked itself and blue eyes looked back at me. The same blue as Ezra’s eye. Oh, Ezra. My eyes pricked with tears and a few spilled loose. My eyes were already burning from the night of crying—what was a few more tears over my Ezra. I apologized. I felt terrible that I had peed on her.

“Kento?” the woman, Harlow, called to the man in my cage. “Kento, show me,” she said in such a soothing way. He glanced over to her and shuffled his body, holding his hands out to her. She started whispering things to him and I tried not to listen. But it was hard not to. She was telling him he was strong and brave. And that one day he would be free. He nodded and looked at me, his skin wet with sweat now. He didn’t look well at all. His face was ashen and sunken in. The skin around his left eye was almost green in color from a bruise. Oh, my God, what have they done to this man? This beautiful broken soul.

I reached out to him and he jumped back, hitting his back against the cage. Shit.

“Don’t touch him,” Harlow practically yelled. “Don’t,” she mouthed again.

My eyes went back on Kento, and I held my hands up. “I’m sorry, I wanted to help clean your hands. There is gravel in your wounds,” I tried explaining so they could both hear me. A few others in cages were all talking among each other. Men and woman alike. There were about thirty people altogether, some doubled up in cages like Kento and me. Wow. So many people. We needed to get out of here. I knew the guys were looking for me, but I was worried I would never find them again. How would they find me now? Even if I escaped. All I knew was Eden was north. We didn’t have a meeting point in case we got separated. I wouldn’t know where to meet them or where they would be.

Slowly, Kento sat. The cage was high enough to sit up without crouching over. He looked down at his hands and then over to me. He held his hands in fists but slowly uncurled them and reached them towards me. I was hesitant at first. I didn’t want to scare him. So, I looked to Harlow and she nodded for me to go ahead.

“Nova will take care of you, Kento,” she said in a calming voice to soothe him. I used the same tone with my voice and introduced myself.

When I touched his hand, he didn’t move. He looked away the whole time, not making any eye contact with me at all as I tried to pull out stones and wipe the dirt with my shirt. I didn’t care if I was getting blood on me. This man needed someone to help him. My shirt was covered in dirt and my own urine by now anyway. A bit of blood on it wouldn’t make any difference. Then I saw little dark dots, a splatter of brown on my top. Then remembered Ryker, he was shot. His blood was on me. A reminder of what these Raiders had done to him. I calmed myself and took a deep breath, I didn’t want to scare Kento.

“Kento, that’s a nice name.” I was unsure what to say and that was the first thing that came to mind. I hummed a tune to him when he didn’t answer, the same one Ryker had hummed to me last night. Then finally he looked over at me then with those dark eyes.

“Thank you,” he all but whispered to me. I gave him a small smile. I tried for happy, but I knew it wasn’t coming across as that.

“My father’s name,” he then said. And Harlow looked over to us and gently smiled.

“Kento’s father was Japanese, and what does you name mean Kento?” Harlow asked, I could see her trying to keep him talking but he didn’t answer her. The jolting from the road was making it hard to sit still and the metal bars on the cage floor dug into every part of my body. But I tried my best not to touch Kento more than needed.

“We eat soon. I will bring you back water and food okay?” she told him. And he dropped his gaze to his hands and curled them back into fists as he lay down and closed his eyes.

35

Ezra

Something cold and wet hit me and I gasped for air. My head throbbed as I jolted upright, my eyes scanning around me. My eyes focused in the dark and Colton and Noah were looking down at me. I couldn’t understand what they were saying over the ringing in my ears. “Fuck,” I groaned. “Stop.” I held my head as everything spun, and I heaved to the side of me. I hadn’t been sick in so long. My body felt like hell.

“Where is she?” Colton grabbed me before I lay down again. “Where is Nova?” The panic in his voice had me recalling what had happened. My heart raced. Nova.

I choked out “Red Raiders” as they cussed and yelled. I wanted to do all those things, but all I could do was curl in on myself and try not be sick again. I needed to be strong, I needed to get up but my head… Everything spun and I was sick again.

“Stop, this isn’t helping,” Noah yelled at to Colton.

I knew he was right. Every minute we stayed here meant Nova was with them longer. I cringed, I didn’t want to think about what they were doing to her. Or how frightened she must be.

“Ryker, is he dead?” I looked over to where I’d last seen him lying in the dirt screaming at Nova to run, but it was so dark I couldn’t see anything. They both stopped and looked over. Noah had a flashlight and pointed the light over there. Nothing. Holy shit.

“They shot him. He was running with Nova and they shot him.” I shook. I didn’t trust the guy but he still didn’t deserve to be shot and killed this way.

“Do you think he moved? Like crawled away?” Colton asked seriously as he went over to the area, looking around. When they didn’t find anything, I shuddered. Maybe they took him? Maybe Nova had him at least. I knew he would protect her. Of that I could trust him. After I saw him with her, before those fuckers came. I knew he had her best interests. Even if I didn’t like how close they had been getting.

“Fuck,” I heard Noah say beside me. He held up the book Nova was reading. She had that with her when she was been running. How was it next to me? When he showed me the rabbit foot key-chain, I understood what it meant. Ryker had left the keys there for us, right next to me. He was alive. But where was he then?

“Quick, look to see if he left anymore clues,” I yelled to the guys. The light from the flashlight had been thrown around where I was, but nothing else looked different or out of place. Shit.

“We have a few hours before daylight. Let’s get packed up and hopefully the Jeep will be juiced enough to start now.”

Hurriedly we packed the tent up, grabbed Ryker’s stuff, and piled it into the Jeep. As we started, the headlights turned on, and Colton hissed under his breath. In front of us was a man. He was semi-hidden in the bushes. “I’m gonna fucking kill him,” Colton screamed as he ripped the car door open and chased after him. Noah shouted behind me to stop, but I was just as enraged as Colton. The guy stood up with his hands raised in the air as I ran past Colt and hit him square in the nose, and he dropped to the ground like a sack of potatoes. I kicked him as Noah grabbed me and held me back.

“Did you take her you fucking asshole, are you a Raider?” Colton yelled.

He shook his head. “The Red Raiders tried to get into our town yesterday. I thought they had moved on. I didn’t know they were still around.”

“Why did you follow us Kade?” Noah asked this time. He was a lot calmer. Kade?

The guy stood up, blood running out of his nose as he tried to hold it. It was broken, I could feel that on my knuckles. I hit him hard.

“I wanted to see that you really had a woman with you.”

I froze. He knew we had a woman with us. I turned to Noah and growled. He didn’t look at me. Colt grabbed my shoulder and looked at me. “Calm down.” He commanded in that voice he does. I held my throbbing head and turned my anger elsewhere.

Colt spent five minutes yelling and asking questions, the guy, Kade, said he believed the Red Raiders where going toward Eagle point. And that we should head in that direction. But only if we took him with us, then he would tell us where Eagle Point was. Because of course we couldn’t find it on the map in the Jeep. Which set Colton off for another few minutes.

“Fuck it, he comes. We are wasting time. We need to find Nova now.” I made my way over to the Jeep and sat in the front passenger seat.

Eventually Colton relented and Kade jumped into the back with Noah. I closed my eyes to settle my stomach as we very slowly headed the way Kade directed. Hoping and praying we would get to her before it was too late.

My love.

My Nova.

36

Nova

We had travelled for a while before the vehicle slowed down and stopped. I noticed there were other vehicles with us, and a couple of motorcycles, which came past us every so often. Maybe checking that we all were still there, not that they could see us through the tarp. When some of the Raiders pulled the tarps back I saw that we pulled into what looked like an old motel. I froze. Kento looked up and glanced around to where we were.

“Fuck this shit,” Harlow muttered beside me. I looked over to her, and she scooted to the back of her cage, so I did the same. Everyone around me started to move to the middle, where the cages touch on the other side. I only noticed a woman behind me when she hit the back of my cage trying to put as much distance between the door and herself. Kento looked over to me and moved a little closer. But he was still really close to the door.

“Here,” I said as I moved to the side as much as I could so he could sit next to me. Yelling began and I saw a man walking around carrying a silver metal pole, tapping it on the cages as he walked around the vehicle.

“Thank you,” Kento whispered to me. I nodded, not wanting to talk. We were touching, we were so close. I reached down and grabbed Kento’s hand without thinking. He didn’t flinch from me, instead he gave me a small squeeze.

“All right, slaves. We are settling here for the night. We will be bringing over the customers soon. We want you all to wash up, eat. Look pretty. Boss man will inspect you all, and if you’re not cleaned up, you will be the one who is free on the menu tonight. And we know everyone loves a free fuck.” As he walked away, he called out ‘guards’ and another group of men came and started unlocking the cages. The women and men made protesting sounds as they were ripped from the back of their cages. When they came for me, I was shaking so hard and my hand was gripped tightly to Kento.

Kento pushed his small frame in front of me to shield me from the guard who was now cussing at us. The guard hit Kento until he dropped down, his grip on my hand slack. The guard reached over his body and grabbed my arm, dragging me out over the top of Kento.

“No,” I screamed as I fought him. He locked the cage with Kento still in it. I felt better that he wasn’t being hurt anymore. But he was the only one left. Why?

“Shut up,” a young woman said to me. I closed my mouth and followed the rest of the women and men toward a car. The guard pushed me a few times but I kept up with the group. The Raiders there handed out protein bars and bottles of water. They had baskets of apples and more protein bars, which some of the girls went up and took extra from. Harlow came over to me, holding an apple out. I took it from her, remembering the time I had an apple and shared it between the guys. My heart ached at the memory. It wasn’t that long ago, and yet it felt like it was a lifetime ago.

“You have pockets?” she whispered. I nodded and she went back and got a handful of protein bars.

“The guards let us take extra for later, but if you’re seen taking extra they expect something in return. Don’t take any. Just take mine.” She handed them to me, and I quickly shoved them into my pockets. I used the waistband on my underwear to hold a few bars to my body.

Raider guards came around holding out refills for the water bottles. I drank all mine and held it out. The water splashed over my hand and spilled on the ground. Such a waste.

“Clean up, now.” Everyone started forming into a line and I quickly followed as some towels and cloth were handed around. They were using the water from their bottles to wet it and wash. I stood next to a tall man, who wet the now dirty towel in his hand and then washed his face and hands and handed it to me.

“You’re in with Kento?” he asked in a low voice. I nodded. He opened his bottle and wet the towel for me. It was then I understood what he really meant. Why I had so much food on me from Harlow. Why he used his water and not mine. It was so I could feed and give my water to Kento.

Kento was thin, rail thin. They obviously beat him, and they didn’t feed him. The others had been feeding him, keeping him alive. I looked over to the semi where I could just make out his body curled up inside his cage. I wanted to weep at what they had done to this poor man. His face looked young. He was scared of people, he wasn’t fed, and he was hurting so badly. I wanted to run over and hug him, tell him everything would be okay. I would take care of him. My guys would find us and rescue us. I would care for him. He would get better. He just needed to hold on. They are coming. I knew it in my heart. Colton will find me. And that was what hope felt like.

We were marched back to the cages. The guard opened my cage door, and as he shoved me in, he felt my chest. I tried shoving him off me, but he held on tighter, causing me to let out a yelp of pain as he crushed my breast.

Kento reached over and pushed the guard off me and pulled me farther into the cage with him. Even when he was so exhausted and beaten down, he tried to help me. The guard called another and the one with the big metal pole came back.

“You want trouble? I will give you trouble.” And he hit Kento over and over with the pole. It hit his leg and then his head. I tried to shield him, getting hit on my hand and arm, but Kento pushed me away. A heap of slaves started screaming for the guards to stop. Then everyone went quiet when the stick made a weird buzzing sound. Was it powered with something? Kento looked over to me, his eyes glassy as he stared into mine. The guard touched him with the stick, and Kento’s face twisted and his body convulsed with pain and I screamed. My body shook in faer and didn’t know what was happening. Or how to stop it. When the guard took the stick away, Kento’s eyes closed and he lay still on the cage floor. I held my breath, and kept still.

Holding his stick up, the guard yelled out, “Anyone else looking for trouble?” Everyone was quiet as they jumped into their cages and scuttled away from the cage doors.

When the guards locked us all in and left, I hovered my hand above Kento. I didn’t know if he was conscious or what was possibly broken. Because something would have broke with that beating. I could still feel the pain on my hand and arm. I could feel the swelling from it already.

“Kento?” I whispered as I placed my hand on his shoulder. He flinched, but not away from me, but in pain. My eyes started to water and Harlow kept chanting to him, “You are brave. You are strong.”. He opened his eyes to me, and the tears streamed down my face from that one look.

“Oh, God, Kento, please,” I choked out. I didn’t know what I meant. Please don’t die. Please be okay. Just please.

“Shit, Kento, honey, you took a bit to come back to us. Stop okay? Nova can take care of herself. She is brave and she is strong. Just like you, honey. Now have some water and let Nova take care of your injuries.”

I quickly pulled my water bottle out and handed it to him. He struggled to take the lid off. I helped him and then placed it back in his hand, helping him tip it to his lips. He drank almost the whole thing. I didn’t care. He needed it more than me. I unwrapped a protein bar and helped him eat it by breaking it into small pieces for him to chew. After a while, his eyes closed and he fell asleep.

“Check him for injuries would you?” the girl behind me said. “While he is sleeping, it’s the best time to do it. He doesn’t let anyone look at him. Please don’t be afraid to check everything. He was gone for a long time before you got here.”

I hesitated. Do they want me to look everywhere? As in under the pants he was wearing too?

“I will help you,” Harlow said as she reached her arms though the small square bars on the cage. “I usually do it and clean him up as best I can. When he falls asleep, he pretty much passes out.”

I helped her lower his pants and tried not to flinch at what I saw. Someone had hit him across his ass with something thin. He had long raised welts on him, and they looked so sore. Some had broken open. Someone passed some cloth through from below, and Harlow wet it and tried to reach but she couldn’t. “Just wipe gently. He won’t wake up, I promise.”

And as I cleaned him, I silently cried. Who was this sick to do this? Why would anyone do this for fun? When I finished, Harlow told me to look away. Said this part was the worst, but she would do it. I looked behind me to the woman there. She gave me a tender smile.

“I’m Layla. And thank you. He has been here the longest of all of us. We don’t know why they treat him this way. He never tells us. He hardly talks. I’m glad you’re in there with him. He needs someone nice to take care of him.”

Harlow told me she was finished, and I helped re-dress Kento. I brushed his hair from his face and placed a kiss on his forehead. His skin was clammy, but he didn’t seem to have a fever.

“I will take care of you. I will do my best. I promise,” I whispered into his hair.

I started to panic. Which is not the best thing to do. I really needed to keep myself together. I had to find a way out of this. I just couldn’t shut my mind off.

“Hey, Nova, you’re breathing too fast. Calm down,” Harlow whispered to me.

I looked at her, and she seemed so calm. How was she so calm right now?

“The customers? They… rape us, don’t they?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

She nodded. “Look, some are better than others. Just don’t fight back. And try to make sure they don’t come in you. You don’t want to get pregnant. And if they do, you need to clean yourself out fast to try to prevent it.”

I nodded and swallowed the lump in my throat. “It’s okay, I never got my period. So, I can’t get pregnant. My father told me how babies are made and about getting my period. But not for me.” I shrugged.

“Um, you are a tiny little thing but not that tiny. You can still get pregnant. Stress can cause you not to get your period, or if your underweight. Which I’m assuming you are. Or were. Compared to me you, look healthy. But yeah, it could start right back up, and boom, you might not even know. Because you’re already pregnant. So, avoid sperm near your vagina at all times.”

What? Holy shit. I thought I couldn’t have a period because of NEX. I didn’t know any of this being stressed or underweight stuff.

I placed my hand on my stomach. Am I already pregnant? Oh, my God, I needed my guys. I needed them right now.

37

Ryker

The small electric scooter I was on ran out of power. It charged itself off the Jeeps solar panels but I had not used it in a long time. It was hidden under everything in the back of the Jeep that I had almost forgotten about it. I left it in the middle of the road, hoping the guys would see it and hopefully know this was the right way. I tried to stop and place things in the road that looked like arrows. But I didn’t know if they would know that was what they were seeing or if it was just rubbish.

Pain shot into my arm and then my shoulder as I reached for more junk to arrange in an arrow towards the Raiders. I ignored it, my fingers still worked so I wasn’t worried yet. I trashed through a few houses until I found some fabric to make a sling. I was hoping this would remind me not to use the arm. I took my shirt off and replaced it with a strange-looking Hawaiian shirt that was too tight. But it hid the bullet wound. Which went right through so at least I didn’t have to worry about having to dig it out. Hopefully, with this shirt at least, I wouldn’t get recognized by the assholes who jumped us last night.

I had walked for hours; the sunrise alerting me to the fact I hadn’t found her yet. My arm felt heavy and dull. The pain was no longer there. I didn’t know if that was a good thing or not.

I saw movement up ahead, I quickly ducked behind a building and watched. Fucking Raiders.

I been camped out here for only five minutes before I got my first glimpse of Nova. She was standing next to some guy who was washing his face. Fuck. There was so many Red Raiders. A group of five jumped onto the back of a truck and drove off toward where I could see a town up ahead. They were likely looking for customers for their sex slaves. Sick, dirty fuckers who didn’t care the people were being held against their will, and still fucked them anyway.

There was a commotion, and I saw some Raider hitting at where Nova was put in a cage like she was some animal. My hands curled into tight fists and itched to go smash him. I wanted him dead. Eventually everything stopped, and I could just make out Nova’s head through all the metal bars and other captives. I reached into my pocket and found a few items I had quickly stashed in there, a ring, a watch, a few ladies broaches. I didn’t have a lot on me. I didn’t even think about it, but I needed to buy my way to Nova and get her out before some fucker touched her.

* * *

It was mid-afternoon by the time I walked to Eagle Point, as the sign told me. I had taken the long way around so I didn’t walk past the Raiders. I had taken the sling off and my arm screamed at the change of position. I guess that’s better than the dull feeling.

Eagle Point was a messed-up town. There wasn’t even a guard at the front gate; you could just walk in and take whatever you wanted. That was not a good sign. Lawless towns were deadly. The town was rundown badly, and there weren’t many people around for a town this size. The people may have left or been killed. I didn’t want to think too much about it so I kept my eyes open. Wishing I had Colton’s pistol with me. I did have anything to protect me or Nova if I can get her. No when I get her, and I will.

I saw five Raiders, their faces uncovered but wearing the red head coverings. They varied in age, but I didn’t care how young they were. They joined up with the Red Raiders. They all deserved to die. Two started walking toward me, so I approached them carefully.

“What do you want?” the older Raider demanded, sizing me up. I stood my full height. I wasn’t going to be intimated by this asshole. I could see he had weapons, so I chose my words right.

“I hear you got women. I wanna buy one.” I gritted my teeth at the words.

They looked at each other and laughed. “We don’t sell them, but you can buy thirty minutes with one,” one of them said. “How much you got?”

I pulled the gold diamond ring from my pocket.

The first Raider shook his head. “Nah, you can get a man for that. We have a few. A woman is double that.”

I had a feeling the Red Raiders made their own prices, but I didn’t care. I needed Nova safe. And I needed her now.

I pulled out a few gold broaches. They nodded and led me to where their truck was parked in the town square.

“We will take you all over there soon, just wait here.”

There were a few local men sitting on the truck bed, obviously going to the same place I was going. But for different reasons. I wanted to hit them, kill the dirty assholes but I kept my hands by my sides. Three of the Raiders loitered around; a two had guns in their hands. I studied them all as best I could. There was one without a gun, whom I noticed did most of the running around, bringing buyers back to the truck. I wished I had my shotgun with me, but I was pretty sure they wouldn’t be happy with me bringing that back to their camp.

The sun was setting before we took off. It was insane the amount of time I had to wait. I was getting angry but I needed to keep a level head about myself if I had any hope in hell of saving Nova from these perverted assholes. We held on to the truck, as we went off down the road toward the Raiders camp. Their truck was powered differently than the Jeep. It was more reliable in the dark. I wished I knew what powered it so I could get the Jeep to drive at night. As we approached their camp, they had some lights on that lit up the whole encampment. Two of the Raiders jumped off the truck and ran over to what must be their superiors. The Red Raiders were organized like an army, and by the looks of it, a very well run one at that. This was going to be hard. And my plan didn’t go past getting Nova out of the cage, once I have her out then I would find a way to get her away.

A few of the Raiders came over to us and called us over to where the slaves were. I started toward the cages and the Raider from earlier put his hand against my chest to stop me. I jerked back, away from his hand.

“Hey, buddy, first in first served. You’re getting a woman, so you got to wait.”

I wanted to smash him. My hands curled into fists and my shoulder screamed in pain from the movement. Reminding me I had to play it cool. I can't do anything that would draw attention to myself.

I prayed, and that was something I hadn’t done since I was a child. I prayed that the other men from Eagle Point wouldn’t pick Nova, that she would be mine. I had to save her from this. Fuck, I wanted to save them all, but I was only one man. With no weapons to defend myself with a bullet wound in my shoulder; there wasn’t much I could do. Finally, I was called over and one of the Raiders led me to the semi filled with cages.

“You have enough for any woman. Take your pick. You get thirty minutes in one of the rooms at the back.” I looked up to where Nova was earlier, and all I could see was an Asian man with dark hair and eyes staring back at me, he trembled as he barely held himself up

“Fuck.” My eyes darted back and forth through all the cages. She was here, I saw her. Fuck am I too late? She was in that cage when I left. I ran my hand through my hair and turned back to the cage realising I was too late, she wasn’t there anymore. But then another pair of eyes fixed on me. Big brown ones. My heart stuttered and my knees almost buckled beneath me. She was here.

“Hurry up, pick one.” The Raider said as he jostled me from behind.

Pointing at Nova, “I want that one.”

He nodded and another Raider opened the cage. The man in front held his arms out to shield her; he looked almost dead. He looked like a skeleton, but the strength he had was unbelievable.

“No buy him,” she called from behind him. What? Did she think I was really going to buy her, and rape her? I would never touch her without permission. Ever. I looked at her, her eyes pleading. My heart dropped until she mouthed to me Buy him, please.

“How much for the man?” I asked the one closest to me. I held out another gold broach, the last I had, and the Raider nodded and yanked the poor man out hard, and he hit the ground. I cringed. “Fucking hell, don’t damage him,” I gritted out between my teeth, itching to break this Raiders arm for doing that. Nova slipped out of the cage behind him. A young Raider with a flashlight came over and helped the poor guy up. He was gentle about it and slowly helped him walk, well more limp toward one of the rooms with Nova beside him. Just the thought alone of them both being led to the room there made my skin crawl.

“You got thirty minutes,” the young Raider said as he placed the man down on what used to be a bed but now looked like it would infect anyone who touched it. He put the flashlight on the floor to illuminate the room. Nova was over at the man’s side as the young Raider was leaving, he whispered to me, “Please don’t hurt him any more than he is.” He closed the door behind him, and I let out a deep breath. I couldn’t hear any footsteps, so I knew he was outside the room, guarding it so I don’t just take off with their merchandise.

“Ryker.” Nova breathed out as she launched her arms around my neck, sobbing quietly. I held her tightly with my one good arm and ignored the pain in my other, not wanting to let her go. I inhaled her scent and ran my hand up and down her back to comfort her. I didn’t want to let her go, but now was not the time for hugging.

“Shh… they are outside,” I whispered to her. She dropped her arms from my neck and made her way quickly over to the man on the bed and fussed over him. He watched me the whole time, still trembling and not batting an eyelid. I guessed anything could happen in the blink of an eye.

“Kento is hurt bad. We need to take him with us. How are we getting out of here?”

I looked around the room. There was a door leading to a small bathroom out the back. A small broken window greeted me. Okay that was a start. I looked out the back and couldn’t see any Raiders out there. But just because I couldn’t see them, didn’t mean they weren’t there. Fuck, I wish I had bothered to look out here before I came and got her.

I could hear Nova talking to Kento. They guy looked like he wouldn’t make it much longer. There was no way he would be able to run, and I didn’t know if I would even be able to carry him with one arm, given the amount of blood loss I’d already had.

Fuck. I paced back and forth trying to think when Kento spoke up. “Buy Harlow,” he rasped out on a shaky breath. I looked to Nova as I approached the bed. Kento jerked away from me so fast that he fell off the bed trying to put distance between himself and me. Shit.

“I won’t hurt you. I’m here to get Nova. I’m here for her. Who is Harlow?” Nova helped Kento off the ground and back onto the bed. The guy was shaking so bad. Fucking hell. What had this guy been through? I could never imagine. I will carry him if I have too, I will not leave him behind to die like this.

He spoke quietly to Nova, and she turned to me, a small smile on her face. Telling me she was trying to stay positive, she was staying strong. Even now. She came to me and I bent down to her when her arms stretched out and she surprised me when she cupped my face. I couldn’t help myself, I nuzzled into her hand. Wanting to feel her touch on me. Taking everything she was giving, even if this was all I ever got. I could see why the other three love her and would do anything for her.

“Kento said that the guard at the door, Jake, only joined a month ago because he wanted to help them all. Jake is in love with Harlow. She is the one who has been looking after Kento. He said when the time is right, he is going to save them. We get Harlow in here, he will help us.”

I paced the room a few times., my hand raking through my hair. Shit, what if he rats on us? I was only here for Nova. Now she wants me to trust this Jake guy to rescue not only her but two others. I nodded to Nova and she brought her hands to my chest. Looking up at me her big eyes, full of hope.

“You know this is getting harder the more people we add. My arm is practically useless. I don’t know how I’m getting away with you, much less three of you.” I ran my hand through my hair and over my face. I needed to think, I needed a clear head. I looked out the broken back window again. And saw nothing again. Maybe this was the way, we could escape from here, but time was not on our side now. Could this Raider guard Jake buy us some time? That’s what I would need, especially with Kento. He could not out run these Raiders. And I could never live with myself if I had to leave him behind to save Nova. I would never forgive myself.

“We have to take Kento. He can’t stay here any longer. We have to help him, Ryker. Please.” Nova pleaded with me and held my hand in her small one. I looked down to where we were joined and then into her big eyes. Almost broke my heart. I nodded once, letting her know I would not be leaving Kento behind. But if they found us escaping, they would kill me on the spot and Nova and Kento would be back in those cages being sold to the next man, and the next… I shook my head from that thought. I gestured that she move away from the door and back to Kento. I opened it slightly and the young Raider Jake looked up at me.

“Is something wrong?” He tried to glance inside the room, so I blocked it with my body as I opened the door a little more, my eyes darting to the area around to see if anyone was watching me and how many of them were out there.

“I want to buy a woman named Harlow,” I said. Jake’s eyebrows rose, and he looked back to the semi where she hopefully still was, I could see the way his posture changed that he was not happy with what I just asked.

His hard eyes pinned me as he growled out “Why, you have enough.” Which told me very clearly Kento was right, that this guy did care for Harlow. Things might just work out if I play this right.

“Come inside and I want to show you a problem I have in here.” He hesitated at first, those hard eyes flared with something before he followed me in. He looked over to Kento and Nova huddled on the bed. He stepped closer to them and then stopped, his head whipped to me as if he forgot I was right behind him then back to them both.

“What…what’s going on? Kento?” Jake’s voice was soft when he spoke. Not the same anger he expressed to me outside.

“We want Harlow, we are leaving and taking Harlow with us.” Nova whispered, her hands trembled as she told him, but her back was straight and chin held high.

Jake stepped closer to her, and I growled at him. “Stay away from my Nova.” He turned to look at me again. Then back to Nova and Kento. He was still for a few moments before standing straight and walked back over to the door. He didn’t say anything as he placed his hand on the doorknob. My stomach twisted in knots, was he going to fuck us over?

“You need Harlow.” He started “I will go and get her for you right away.” As he started to open the door, he turned to me. “You promise? You will get her out of here?” He asked.

I nodded. “Are there any Raiders out the back?” he shook his head and pointed to the front of the camp where I first came in on the truck. “You need to stall them, for as long as possible. Don’t let anyone come in here.”

He nodded and left swiftly.

“Shit, okay we need to go out through the bathroom window. The drop isn’t too bad but it will hurt a little. So far, I can’t see any of them out there but that doesn’t mean they aren’t, but just be watching and listening in case Jake is wrong and they are out there. The light is all but gone, so it will be hard for them to see us, but hard for us to see them and where we are going.”

Nova nodded and I went about removing some broken glass shards from the window frame, placing them in the dirt brown sink. Didn’t want to add gutted to the list of problems with this plan right now. A knock at the door sounded and it opened to a shaking woman with shoulder-length white hair. Her blue eyes glanced to me then Nova. She looked upset with what she had been brought into.

“What did you do?” she hissed under her breath. I cleared my throat to tell her and Harlow went ridged as she dropped to her knees her head lowered. Shit. Is that what they train them to do?

I stood where I was and spoke softly “I’m here for Nova, I came to save her, and I’m taking Kento and you with me.”

The look on her face almost shattered me. With the hope in her eyes, her body went slack as the words settled. Her mouth opened to talk but nothing came out. I quickly left and finished up with the window

Once we were all in the bathroom, I laid down the shirt I had put on earlier across the window frame. I didn’t think it would fully protect them from any left-over glass, but it was better than nothing and I wasn’t going to ask for their clothes, they were barely dressed as it is. I looked between the three of them trying to work out who should go first. Nova was the strongest by far, followed by Harlow. Kento—fuck, the guy could hardly hold his own weight. I would have to help him out.

“Oh, God.” Nova grabbed my injured arm, now it was exposed she could see where the bullet had entered and left through my shoulder, the blood had dried and crusted over the wounds. I hissed when she gently touched next to the wound. The pain was a reminder of what these Raiders will do if they catch us. Actually I wouldn’t feel it anymore if they caught us. I would be dead.

I decided Nova would go first as she seemed the strongest, then Harlow would help me get Kento out, and then Nova was going to have to catch him. And fuck, if this wasn’t a stupid plan. But it was the best I could do with what I have. I just needed to get Nova, and if I could help the others, then I would do everything I could. Even if it meant I didn’t make it out alive.

Once Nova was outside, she crouched down low and scanned the area. We waited for a minute and there were no sounds or movement. “Go,” she whispered. Harlow helped Kento up to the window. As soon as I touched him, the guy went all stiff. “I have to help you out,” I whispered to him. He slowly relaxed and I held his arm as I lifted him up and I lowered him out to Nova. She caught him as best she could to soften his fall. He didn’t make a sound when they landed on the ground together. The guy was so injured but was so strong. Next was Harlow and she was easy as she dropped to a crouch next to them both.

“Wait for me by the trees,” I said, pointing to some trees behind them.

As I walked out the door, the Raider kid, Jake, was there. I nodded to him. “White house on the corner,” I said and he returned the nod. It's where I had got the shirt from earlier and the house had more inside than any other on the outskirts of Eagle Point. I walked off away from the building, trying to look natural as I strolled away from the camp. I quickly doubled back around, checking for any Raiders that might be hiding. They were so focused on the sale of their slaves and the goods they had been bought with, they didn’t seem to be worried. The thought kept screaming to me that they were too well organized not to have guards out the back. But there was a bunch of them cooking and drinking around a drum fire to really notice much else.

I stalked around to the back of the building and made a bird call, hoping Nova would know it was me. It was so dark I couldn’t see a foot in front of me. The clouds in the sky hid the moon; it worked in our benefit but hindered me in finding them. Luckily, there was a small forest behind this motel, so we could use the trees shrubs as cover as we worked our way from here. And back to the white house I was in earlier where hopefully Colton would be coming up with the Jeep. That was if he’d understood where I was leading him with all the signs I’d left him before I got this far. God, I hope he did.

38

Nova

When I heard a weird whistle, I shrunk down lower in the shrub. I wasn’t sure if it was Ryker or a Raider. I didn’t want to find out if it was a Raider, I wasn’t going back in a cage. Staying hidden was the best option until Ryker came back. But then I heard it again. I swung my head to look behind us, every sound I heard now had me on edge.

I held Kento closer to me. It was cold tonight and he was still only wearing sweat pants. The day hadn’t been that warm and he hardly had any meat on his bones as it was. His skin was cold and clammy. Harlow was on his other side, trying to rub some warmth into him. The weird sound happened a third time and Harlow and I froze our movements. Kento let out a small whistle. We both looked down at him in shock. Harlow quickly placed her hand over his mouth as we ducked our heads even lower. I heard some twigs crack and some shrubs being moved aside. My heart raced faster at every sound I heard coming towards us.

“Nova,” I heard whispered. Ryker. My heart started beating faster at the sound of his voice. He was here, he came back for us. We were getting out of here. I almost broke down and cried right there, but there was no time for that now.

“Yes,” I whispered back. Ryker finally found us, my hands were shaking but he took them in his and rubbed them as he leaned into me. Lending me his strength. He looked around then gestured for us to crouch as he helped us lift Kento to his feet. Then he bent down and gathered Kento up with his good arm. He grunted when he used the injured one to go under his legs.

“Your arm?” I tried to be quiet but I was worried. He was clearly in a lot of pain. He shook his head as he started walking forward, trying to bend down low but it was hard with him carrying Kento. I heard him hiss out once but he didn’t make any sounds after that. I grabbed onto Harlow, and we held each other as we tracked through the woods behind Ryker. Watching and listening to everything around us.

After a few hours of walking and many times asking Ryker to please let us carry Kento, we made it into a small rundown town that was barely standing. We ran as best we could in our weakened state, stopping and crouching low at every unfamiliar sound. I didn’t know if my heart raced more from the running or fear. But having Ryker here, his eyes scanning constantly and always watching where I was, I felt safe. Finally, we were given respite in the form of an old, white, tattered house. It smelled like death inside but it was better to smell that then be out where the Raiders were probably looking for us now.

I helped Ryker lay Kento down on an old couch, Ryker grabbed his arm as soon as he pulled away. I reached for his arm but he shook his head and nodded to Kento where Harlow now sat next to him, chanting “you are brave, you are strong.” I chanted with her until Ryker returned with some clothes and a rough-wool blanket.

“I think these will fit. They are female clothes, but he is small, and he needs everything he can get right now. I’m worried about his temperature.”

Harlow and I helped get Kento into the clothes, and he fell right to sleep. Ryker started pacing. He looked out the windows and paced more. He was stressed—really stressed. I was too, but I tried to hide it in front of him. I didn’t want to stress Ryker out any more than he was. I went to him and laid my hands on his chest. I smiled up at him. “Thank you,” I told him. Thank you for saving me. His smile was a sad one, and I noticed his eyes were red. He looked utterly exhausted, but he held my hands close to him and pulled me into a warm embrace. His good hand snaked through my hair and held me to his chest. I listened to the rhythmic beating of his heart. It was fast, but it slowed to a beat that comforted me.

He took a deep breath “You are safe now, you don’t need to thank me Nova. I’m just so glad you are here. Safe.” I pulled away from his chest and looked up to his eyes. They were now glossed over with unshed tears. I couldn’t help it, the tears silently ran down my face. He moved his hand to my face and wiped the tears. I probably looked like hell, but he smiled down at me and kissed my forehead.

The one question on my mind now was. “The guys… are they coming?” He pulled away from me, he seemed reluctant to let go and instantly I missed his warmth. He went back to look out the windows then stood in the middle of the room, looking back to me then Harlow and Kento.

He shook his head and ran his fingers through his hair, he let out another deep breath and his shoulders slumped. I hadn’t seen Ryker like this yet, but I hadn’t known him long. And now he’d saved me twice in that short time.

Tears threatened to spill…again. “They aren’t coming?” I heard the pain in my voice as I choked on the words.

Ryker was over to me in an instant. And held me to his warm body once again. He made a soft comforting sounds while he stroked my back, my legs wanted to give out. But he held me strong, and I knew it was giving him pain to use his shoulder.

“I don’t know, Nova. I left as many clues as I could to where they had taken you. I couldn’t wait for Ezra to wake up. They hit him hard… so hard. I left the key and made as many arrows as I could. I just had to get you. I needed to…to get you, I just had too.” I felt him kiss my head and his body shook as he told me. I held onto him tighter, there was nothing else he could have done. He came for me, he…he. “You came for me, you came.” I mumbled into his bare chest, tears now flowing between us.

“I couldn’t lose you Nova, I only just found you.” He pulled my face back and the tears on his cheeks told me he felt the same right now. I only just found him, but I couldn’t lose him either.

I stiffen quickly when I saw movement outside.

“Shit.” I quickly pulled on Ryker to duck down and pointed to the window. His head whipped around so fast as he put his hand on me to stay down and gestured to Harlow that someone was coming. He crawled over to the front door with his finger over his mouth, telling us to be silent.

I heard two sets of footsteps, and then the doorknob turned with a sound that felt so loud it was screaming at me to run. The door slowly opened.

“Harlow?” a man’s voice whispered into the dark room.

“Lucas?” she called back and as he came into view. Harlow threw herself at the tall man standing there. Some shuffling and the door closed. Harlow was crying now and as I finally saw Lucas more clearly, I recognized him from the line-up the Raiders made us do. He was the one who handed me the towel to wash my face and use his water. Another man was there too, Jake. He hugged Harlow too. And kissed her. I turned away, not wanting to pry into their private moment. But feeling relieved that she had her men with her. They were both safe here with her.

“Thank you. For everything. But we all need to leave before they come for us. There are four slaves and one guard missing, they would have noticed by now,” Lucas said.

I looked to Kento, who was awake now. I wished I had some water to give him or some food. I didn’t bring anything once I got out of the cage. I wasn’t thinking about that when I saw Ryker. All I could think about was getting Kento and me out of there.

Harlow, Lucas and Jake kept hugging each other while they spoke to Kento. You could tell that Lucas and Jake really loved Harlow. It reminded me of Ezra, Noah, and Colton. I held myself together by wrapping my arms around Ryker’s waist.

“I don’t think we can move Kento, he is too weak and so are we.” Lucas spoke to Ryker.

I went over to Kento and gently held his hand. He gave me the smallest of smiles, it gave me a small bit of hope. “Hey, Kento, how are you doing?” I asked.

He squeezed my hand. “Leave,” he whispered to me. I didn’t understand what he was saying until he said, “Leave me… Save…yourselves.”

I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I cried hard and painfully. Harlow told him she wouldn’t leave him, that they would find a way to carry him.

“Leave me,” Kento begged. His eyes focused on mine, I could feel his pain.

“You can come with us to Eden. We are going to a place called Eden in the north,” I told him. I held his hand tighter as everyone discussed things around us.

“I need to find my son Joseph. Is Eden…real? Truly?” Harlow asked, her eyes wide.

I nodded. Because it had to be real. We were going to find it, and if not, we would make our own Eden. With Colton, Noah, Ezra and Ryker, I will have Eden wherever I am.

“I don’t know where exactly. But it’s north.” Ryker explained to them how we were waiting on people. We had a Jeep that was taking us north and if they wanted, they could come with us, or we could leave signs of some kind so they could find their way after us. After a lot of discussion with Lucas and Jake, Harlow started to cry as she approached Kento.

“I’m going to leave you with Nova and her family to take care of you. I will come to Eden with Joseph and we all will see you very soon.” Kento murmured something to Harlow and she kissed his head. She hugged me, and so did Jake and Lucas. Ryker shook their hands but didn’t say anything as they left. Then it was just the three of us.

“Hey, buddy, I’m going to find some water. You hang in there, okay? Nova will protect you while I’m gone. She is tough, this one. I heard she stabbed Ezra with a fork.” Ryker chuckled, lightening the mood. It made me smile. I don’t understand why the guys didn’t think they could trust him. I did from the moment he reached for me, when Colton pulled me away from him in that garage, worried that Colton had hurt me. I knew he would never hurt me or do anything to put me in danger. And now the way he was caring for Kento. My heart skipped a beat. Ryker…I have developed very strong feelings for him in such a short time.

Ryker smiled as he turned to me. “Hey, I will just look for some water. Don’t go anywhere. Keep your ears open, I’m hoping the guys find us here. But you will need to listen for the Jeep while I’m gone.” He came up to me, and I wrapped my arms around him. He was so much taller than me, and I felt him bend to kiss my head again. I looked up to him, my throat felt tight as a tear broke loose. Can he feel this? Between us. The way my body reacts around him. He cocked his head and brow as he brushed away the tear that fell loose.

“Ryker,” my voice hoarse, as he cupped my face and kissed my forehead. But I didn’t want that; I wanted to kiss him. Really kiss him.

I reached up and cupped his face, pulling him toward me. He hesitated “Nova, you don’t have to…I didn’t do this for…”

“I have wanted to do this…I want this.” I let him make the next move. When our lips met, it was soft and sweet. His beard tickled my chin, and I couldn’t help but smile as he wrapped his good hand around the back of my neck to deepen the kiss. When he pulled back, he ran his thumb over my bottom lip and I chased it with my tongue.

“I have wanted to do that since the first moment I saw you.” I told him. His grin lit up his face as he gave a chaise kiss and walked to the front door. He smiled and winked as he quickly left the house. I stood there, my hand going to my mouth. I smiled.

I Just kissed Ryker. And it was so much better than I dreamed.

39

Colton

It was dark and the stupid Jeep didn’t work for crap in the dark. We were better off on foot. We were further than where we needed to be but didn’t have much of a choice. We hid the Jeep in some shrubs, hoping that it was hidden enough and continued on foot. We would get to Eagle Point by morning Kade had told us. I knew we could have waited for morning to drive in, but I also didn’t like the thought of alerting anyone to our presence. And with a Jeep just rolling in to town would have brought a lot of attention. Either way we were going to get Nova back. Then Ezra could stop beating himself up about it.

If anything, I just hoped Ryker made it to her. I saw the signs he left us. If I wasn’t looking for Nova, I wouldn’t have noticed that they were signs. The way different objects he found had now become arrows was smart. I had to give it to the guy. He knew what he was doing.

“Ezra, seriously you’re starting to piss me off. It’s going to be okay. She isn’t going to be upset with you. Hell, none of us are so stop acting like this.” I yelled. I shouldn’t have, and I knew nothing I said would change what he was feeling, but we had been walking for hours and he had got on my last nerve. He was my second, always the one I could depend on. To keep a level head in any situation. And he was upset and mad at himself. Which was understandable, but it was affecting everyone now. I was mad at myself for leaving Nova to go to Fort Collins with Noah, I should have left him and gone alone. But I can’t dwell on what ifs. If I didn’t go, if I didn’t bring Noah he wouldn’t have met Kade. And we wouldn’t actually have a real lead on where Eden was.

“Ezra?” The sound of a man’s voice called out in the early dawn light.

Fuck. I ducked down and held my pistol in the direction the voice came from, holding my position. The sunrise bringing some light to see finally. The three behind me got low and scattered themselves in formation.

I could see a figure standing off to the side of the road around twenty yards away, near the tree line.

“Ryker?” I called out, but I didn’t think it was him. The lone figure turned into three. Holy shit. They slowly started to approach, Ezra snapped out of his funk, returned to my side as I stood. My pistol aimed towards them.

“That’s not Ryker,” he stated. And I could tell that. But how the fuck did they know Ezra’s name. “Shit” I hissed out. I yelled it out when I got frustrated at Ezra before. That’s how. Fuck.

“Fucking stop now. Or I will shoot you.” I growled out to them. I still couldn’t see them clearly but there was two tall and one shorter one.

Kade and Noah came up and stood tall beside us. Three against us four, plus my pistol. The odds were high in our favor.

“I know where Nova is. She is safe,” a female voice called out. My heart almost stopped at the mention of Nova’s name. Nova is safe. I lowered the pistol and stumbled forward slightly as I caught myself. Noah grabbed my shoulder and I leaned into him. I had been so sick with guilt, but I didn’t dare to feel it until now. I feared the worst but I couldn’t show the guys that. I needed to be the one to keep a level head, to be strong. Be their leader.

Ezra ran over to them, not even waiting for me. Or checking if they had weapons. I stood there and let Noah hold me a few more moments. Comforting me. When I was ready, I walked over. There were three people talking with Ezra. Giving directions to where Nova and Ryker are.

The woman was my height, she had short cropped white hair. The man next to her reminded me of Noah, tall and young. Except he had a darker complexion. And on the other side of the woman was a man with short blond hair. He was tall, but very thin. He introduced himself to me.

“I’m Lucas, if it wasn’t for Ryker and Nova we wouldn’t be here right now. We owe them our lives. Truly. Anything you need just let us know.” I nodded to Lucas. Amazed that Ryker got all them out without the Raiders noticing. I’m sure Nova had a big part of that. My girl has the biggest heart.

“We are going to Eden. You should come with us,” I asked.

The woman shook her head. “No, I have to go find my son, then we will come to Eden. Nova told us it's somewhere north.”

I nodded and gestured to Kade who finally spoke. “My sister lives in Eden. You need to go to Apex Falls and speak to Jeremy there. He knows where Eden is. He will take you there.”

After a few minutes of talking, Kade explained to them about the women there having more than one lover who they call husbands for protection. That you can go to Eden as a couple, but strength in numbers is what keeps Eden going.

“I can bring Lucas and Jake, they are with me. They are my boyfriends. And my son, I have to find my son. The Raiders sold him. Once I get him back I will go to Eden.”

“Harlow… I don’t know Nova. I was helping them come find her. If… If you would be willing. I would love to help you find your son. And I can help you find Eden. I know Jeremy.” Kade looked at his feet when he spoke. There was a few looks between Harlow and her two men, then she smiled.

“Come with us.” she said to Kade. “I need all the help I can get to help find my son and take us to Eden.”

Kade looked to Noah then quickly back to Harlow. Yep, he had a thing for Noah. But the way his eyes lit up at Harlow’s words, he wanted want she could offer more. I was glad when he accepted. Because I wasn’t going to share Noah, and I’m sure Nova would have very strong words about that also. I am a little possessive. But Noah belonged to Nova and me only.

After we parted ways, we ran to where they had told us Ryker was. I didn’t know who Kento was, but he was waiting there for us too. And we were to taking him to Eden, Nova had promised to take care of him.

“Nova?” I called from outside the only white house on the corner. I didn’t see any other ones, so this had to be it. I felt breathless waiting for her to answer. When I heard footsteps and a voice said, “Just stay,” I knew that voice. “Ryker,” I called as I barrelled up the stairs, Ezra shoved past me as Ryker opened the door to let us in, and Nova practically screamed when she landed in Ezra’s arms. Noah stood beside me, but we didn’t go to her right away. Ezra needed this. He needed to see she was fine, she was okay. When she reached out toward us, I couldn’t stop my feet from running to her as we all embraced together. The four of us were back together. I never wanted to lose her again, to feel this way again. Like my heart had been ripped from my chest.

Sobbing, she choked out, “I missed you all. I knew you would come. I knew it.” And I didn’t have any words. For the first time in my life I cried with her. I never had let anyone see my walls down like this, I never wanted to show weakness in front of the guys. But right then I knew it was okay. They were my family. My reason to keep living.

After kissing Nova for what felt like the hundredth time, I pulled away and left her tangled between Noah and Ezra as I approached Ryker. I held my hand out and he took it. “Thank you… for everything you have done. I’m sorry I tried to leave you in the middle of nowhere… Honestly, I was scared you would take Nova from us, trust goes both ways. I trust you.” I told him.

He nodded and pulled me in close. “I would never have done that. I think the world of Nova. She is my world. I hope you can accept that I won’t leave her. Unless she asks me to.”

I nodded. I understood. And I was grateful.

“Okay let’s get the show on the road,” Nova called out to me. I laughed. Something I didn’t think I would ever do again. I kept touching her. More than I ever had before. She noticed but didn’t say anything. Like she knew I just had to know she was real, that she was with us again. But we needed to move soon and fast. So I need to stop, and get us moving.

Kento was this frail young man curled up into a ball on a faded blue couch. His hair was a mass of dark, slightly curled hair, and his face was black and blue from the beatings he must have received from the Raiders. His eyes stayed shut the whole time I was in the room. But as soon as Nova or even Ryker talked to him, he opened them. Nova told us we were not to talk about Kento in front of him. That we needed to take it outside or somewhere he couldn’t hear us.

Ryker’s shoulder was patched up the best Ezra and I could. He still had movement in his arm and fingers so I wasn’t worried too much about damage. And the wound was clean and didn’t show any signs of infection. He had no shirt on, but he said he wasn’t cold. And he insisted that Kento kept the blanket on him. That he needed it more. I didn’t doubt it after seeing that other guy, Lucas, with Harlow. He was thin like Kento. But he looked a lot better. Healthier. Kento, he looked like he didn’t have long left. He was very, very unwell.

“I will carry Kento to the Jeep,” Noah said.

As he approached him, I saw Kento flinch away and Nova ran over holding her hands out. “Hang on, we need to ask before we touch.” Shit. Noah flashed a worried look my way. I didn’t think Kento would be so afraid of us. He must have been through hell and back to be so scared. I owed him my life for protecting Nova in the cage she said she was locked in. Even the thought of it made my body tense with anger. I wanted to kill the Red Raiders.

I waited outside with Ezra, scanning the area looking for any Raiders. I turned to see Nova come out and down the stairs with Noah behind her. “Where is Kento?” I asked just as Ryker came out, Kento cradled in his arms, the blanket wrapped protectively around him. “Shit, man, let one of us carry him to the Jeep...” Nova put her finger to my lips to stop me from speaking further. My eyes flashed to hers and she shook her head.

“No. Ryker is fine. He only had a sore arm. He is better now. He is strong and brave like Kento. He can carry him.” I looked over to Ryker, who gave me a look daring me to say something to contradict what Nova had just said. I shook my head. Shit, if he wanted to carry him, then that’s on him. But it was long walk back to the Jeep, especially with his shoulder.

40

Nova

We drove wide around Eagle Point, as far away as we could. Colton was a great driver. We still hit a lot of bumps, and Noah and Ezra jumped out a few times to move things that were in our way. But I felt so much better to see that town and the Red Raiders behind us. Far, far behind. I sat in the middle between Ezra and Ryker. We had Kento on our lap, his feet on Ryker and his head on my lap. I stroked his hair over and over until he finally fell asleep. He was lifeless when he slept, it would worry me if I didn’t know this was normal for him, it wasn’t normal for anyone else. It was the only time his face looked truly relaxed. He wasn’t in pain when he slept. I wanted to be brave and strong too, but just thinking about what he had gone through... It was hard to keep a brave face.

Ryker nudged my shoulder and gave me a sad smile. “It will be okay. He will be fine. I promise.” But I could see that smile hid the fears he had. He didn’t really know if he would be fine.

Ryker had carried him the whole way to the Jeep. He was in so much pain you could see it etched into the lines on his face. But Kento had said he would rather stay than have Noah carry him. Even though I insisted that Noah was safe. He kept tensing up when he got too close. When Ryker came over, he didn’t do that. He seemed relaxed with Ryker, so I asked if he would mind Ryker carrying him. Kento agreed and I helped pick him up and nestle him in Ryker’s arms.

* * *

We didn’t drive far. The battery was partially dead, it didn’t get to charge enough. So, we pulled up to an old farm house. The best part was there was a dam that had water. Not really drinking water, but we could boil it, and I wanted to swim. But Colton said it might be unsafe, or have dead animals or even people in it, so we could wash but he wanted us to boil it first. ‘I’m not taking chances.’ He had said to me, when he stroked my hand. I noticed he touched me a lot more then usual. But I chalked it up to him scared and needing to reassure himself that I was here. Safe with them. I wasn’t complaining. I loved the extra attention he was giving me.

“I have never been happier in my whole life than I am right now.” Snuggled into Ezra’s arms watching the water boil on a little gas stove. I wanted a fire, but we weren’t as far away as they wanted from the Raiders so we used the little gas stove that almost didn’t have enough gas left to use. We boiled a big pot and I washed my face and armpits as best I could. Nothing you could really do about being smelly out here. I chuckled to myself. My boys all smelled like their own musky scents. They were all different, even Ryker.

I turned to Ryker, and he smiled at me and tipped his head. Like a gentleman. “Can you help me clean Kento? I cleaned him last night with Harlow. And I think it would be good to be able to really clean and maybe dress his injuries. He has a lot of them.”

Nodding, he held out his hand and I took it. The guys looked at me but didn’t say anything about me touching him, or him touching me. They finally trusted Ryker. And I think they knew, that he was just as important to me as they were. He led me over to the tent that we had put Kento in earlier to sleep.

“Kento? Are you awake? It’s just me and Ryker. We want to help clean and dress your wounds.” He didn’t say anything, so I touched him. He was limp and easy to move. Shit. I had never known anyone to sleep like this. It was like he was fully unconscious, it was starting to worry me.

“Shit, I don’t think he is okay,” Ryker said. “We will need to give him food, slowly. When he wakes up. I don’t know how much he has been eating. But we can’t give him too much.”

I nodded. It reminded me of the time Ezra, Noah, and Colton had found me and they told me not to eat or drink too much after starving for a week in the desert. That felt like years ago. Not just weeks. I am so lucky to have them all in my life.

Noah appeared at the tent, but he didn’t say anything as he dropped a bowl of freshly boiled water and handed me a fresh clean rag and small dry towel. I smiled as I took it from him. And he left without a word. It made my heart skip. He knew how much Kento meant to me, and he didn’t want to upset him by speaking.

I started to undress Kento with Ryker. After taking his top off, I started washing his face and chest and Ryker dryed it as best as he could. I saw all the marks, scars. Bruises new and old. It broke my heart. He still had on the same pants, which hid the more freshly open wounds that I knew where there. Ryker helped me remove his pants. I felt terrible about looking at his naked body while he lay their unconscious, so I quickly placed the towel over his privates. Even though he had no idea he was naked in front of us. He still deserved dignity. I would never deprive him of that.

“You want me to wash his…” Ryker waved his hand around his groin area. His voice was full of heartfelt feeling.

“No, it’s okay.” I washed his legs and went back up to take the towel off. But Ryker grabbed the rag, cleaned it, and smiled gently at me. He placed his hand over the little towel and nodded his head to the left. Telling me without words to look away, that he will do this for him. So, I did. Grateful for Ryker taking such great care of Kento.

I really liked Kento. Such a beautiful man to be so broken down like this. He was so thin and small. Just like me. He couldn’t be much taller than I was. I could feel Ryker gently rolling him over so I turned my attention back to Kento face as I pushed some hair away from his forehead.

“Fuck,” he hissed out as he saw the backs of his legs and ass. Ryker’s hands trembled slightly when he returned the rag to the pot of water. The big deep welts looked worse than yesterday. But they didn’t seem to be infected yet. We needed to clean them as gently as we could.

Ryker started cleaning the ones on his leg and then paused. It worried me so I looked up to see his face, his brow was furrowed then his eyes widened as he looked up at me. “You know what? I think I will do this bit alone. And you go out and sit with Ezra.”

My eyes welled up. It was bad. Harlow had told me to look away when she helped. But the fact that Ryker was telling me to look away was heartbreaking.

“It’s okay, Nova. Don’t Cry. I just think Kento wouldn’t want you to see him this way. That’s all. I’m sorry. You can stay. I just… ” He lowered his eyes as he placed the wash rag across the wounds and his ass to hide them from me.

I nodded, the tears spilling over. I left the tent and walked back to Ezra. He gave me a look of worry as I broke down and sobbed in his arms. I sobbed for what happened to Kento, what could have happened to me. For all the hurt that Kento had to endure. But those fuckers… I had never hated anyone more in my life than I did those Raiders. I wanted to kill them all. Burn them all. They needed to die for what they had done to not only Kento, but Harlow, Lucas… all the others they still held captive tonight.

I felt more hands on my back, rubbing gently in a soothing way. Noah spoke softly. “It’s okay, Nova. He is safe, and you’re taking great care of him. I know he will be fine.” Noah then held me tightly against Ezra’s chest. It was warm between them both, my eyes burned with tears.

“Colton,” I heard Ryker call out between my sobs. I tried to see what was happening, but Noah held my face and kissed my cheeks.

“It’s okay. He is fine, you are fine.” He repeated softly over and over.

I was too exhausted, feeling the warmth and protection between two of my amazing men. I fell asleep.

41

Ryker

While washing the welts on his leg and my mind going over what this guy had been through and taken to get here. I realized what these men the Raiders sold were bought for and I couldn’t put Nova through that, especially with the welts. The men who put them there I believed wouldn’t have been gentle in other areas. And I knew if it was me, I wouldn’t want her to see me like this. She really had taken on such a caring role for this young guy, and this would break her.

It was hard to tell, but I would say he was early twenties. I don’t know how long they held him as a slave. But the way he was around Noah this morning really got to me, how scared he was. I could never have left him behind. Even though my shoulder screamed the whole way. It was worth it to have him here, safe and away from those depraved fuckers.

He was almost clean, but I needed some help re-dressing the guy, and I wanted to let Colton know what I had seen while washing him, so he knew a bit more of the shit this poor guy has been through.

“Colton,” I called over to him. He was over to me quick. I placed my finger to my lips to let him know not to talk as he entered the tent. I removed the towel I had placed over the worst of it, showing Colton the welts and wounds. I could hear the almost silent gasp he made. With fresh clothes in my hand, I gestured that he help me dress him since it was hard with my injured arm. He nodded and we did so in silence. All we could hear was Noah murmuring soothing words to Nova, and her sobbing finally stopped.

Once Colton and I were outside the tent, Ezra carried Nova over and placed her inside with Kento. Colton waved us all away from the tent to talk.

“Alright, they sleep in the tent. I want them hidden as much as possible. Ryker, you will sleep outside the tent door. It’s probably best you stay close just in case Kento wakes up. He seems to be fine with you.” He ran though the watch routine and when he was finished, I nodded and walk over to grab my sleeping bag from the Jeep.

“Hey…” Ezra walked up to me and clapped me on the back. “Seriously, thank you so much for finding Nova, and saving her. I honestly don’t think we could have done that without you.”

I grabbed his shoulder with my good arm and squeezed it, letting him know all is good between us. I grabbed my sleeping bag and lay down in front of the tent. Nova was fast sleep. It made me happy to see her relaxed again. That was what was most important to me. The guys being happy with me was a bonus. They knew I was not trying to steal her away from them. Which was what I assumed they all had thought since I’d driven them out of Fort Esko. I could never take her away from the men she was clearly in love with. I would never want to do that and break her heart. I just had to hope there was room in her heart for me. Because she has already taken mine.

I settled down to sleep as Colton took first watch with Ezra. I would take watch with Noah later.

I jolted upright at the sound of a whimper, my brain still fuzzy from sleep I rubbed my eyes as I heard it again. I looked into the tent and saw Kento start thrashing around in his sleep.

“No… Stop!” he rasped out loudly. Fuck.

Colton ran over just as I got out of my sleeping bag and into the tent. Nova was holding onto Kento.

“It’s okay, wake up. It’s okay, please wake up…” Nova kept repeating in that soothing voice she did. He kept thrashing around.

“Nova, let go of him,” I told her. Her eyes were on me, and I could see the tears and worry in hers. I grabbed Kento’s shoulder and shook him. “Wake up, come on, Kento.” His eyes flashed open and darted around the small interior of the tent. To Nova, to me, and then to something behind me. He sat up and all but tried to escape through the fabric at the back of the tent. He then curled into a little ball. I turned to see Colton standing outside, the dark of the night made him look intimidating.

“Fuck…” he whispered. “I’m leaving. I just wanted to make sure you were okay, Kento,” Colton said in a loud but calming voice so that Kento could hear him. Then he left back to where he was on watch. Nova didn’t know what to do with herself. She reached out for Kento but didn’t touch him.

“Hey, Kento, remember me? I’m Ryker,” I calmly said as I switched the flashlight on and aimed it low so the light wasn’t so intense. Kento looked up from under the dark hair that had spilled across his eyes. I gave him a small smile and looked at Nova. His eyes followed to see Nova with her hand stretched out to him.

Slowly he uncoiled himself and reached out to take her hand. She broke down into a mass of sobs as Kento tried to soothe her by rubbing his hand down her back. Which I could see was not helping Nova at all. That girl had the biggest heart and watching Kento trying to comfort her, even though he was scared and afraid was clearly making her cry more.

“Kento, you want to go to the toilet and then grab something to eat?” I asked. Hoping this would give Nova time to calm herself.

He looked slowly to me and nodded.

Outside the tent, I waited for Kento. I saw Noah was awake now and had moved away from where he was sleeping nearby, giving Kento plenty of space to come out and not be frightened of them.

He crawled out of the tent and could barely stand. I held my good arm out for him to hold if he wanted. At first, he didn’t take it, but when he dropped hard to the ground, I told him to hold on.

“It’s okay to have someone support you. I will help you, Kento. I promise I won’t let you fall.”

And I meant every word of it. I wouldn’t ever let him fall. I would be there to catch him.

After a quick pit stop, I helped him sit down where we had eaten earlier and gave him some fresh water and a protein bar. He ate quickly.

“You can’t eat that fast. It will make you sick, okay? We won’t go hungry. We have plenty of food. But if you’re going to eat like that, I won’t be able to give you anymore. When you drink, just take a mouthful, then wait a bit.” I handed him another canteen to drink from, and he listened this time. I broke off a small chunk of another protein bar and gave it to him, he ate it much slower this time. So I gave him the rest.

“We will have you right as rain as soon as possible.”

He nodded. I couldn’t help but noticed the way his eyes darted to the tent and the guys that were on watch. I hope he was starting to understand that none of us would hurt him.

Back at the tent, he settled next to Nova who had waited for him to return. He held her hand in a near death grip. She didn’t cry this time. She had calmed herself as she softly smiled to me.

“I got you. I won’t let anything happen to you,” she soothed again.

“Thank you, Nova,” he croaked out. I listened to Nova talking with him, painting this pretty picture of Eden and what it could mean for us. Kento said few more words. I couldn’t keep awake any longer, the stress on my mind and body from the last two days hit me hard and I fell into a deep sleep.

42

Adam

The sun had risen, and we could see the camp much better in the daylight. They might have a Jeep, but we now had a truck. My uncle was happy, we wouldn’t lose them now. When Charlie saw that big one in Fort Collins, he helped us track them down.

There was only six men with us now, my uncle leading us to Nova. He was waiting on more men before we all go in and try to get her again.

I could see her, her hair covered up by one of the men’s shirts, but there was no mistaking that body. I knew Nova. I knew the way she walked, talked, and her little giggle. I missed her...

“All right, Davie’s boys are almost here. We are going to catch that little Bakersfield bitch. And this time kill the rest slowly. They fucking killed Mike and left him in that shed to rot. They are gonna suffer for that.”

My uncle paced with eagerness as the men around him praised him for the good job he had done in finding her. That they would have her soon enough.

As desperately as I wanted to see Nova again, I prayed my uncle and his men wouldn’t.

The end.

Protecting Nova

Protecting Nova is the second book in the Seeking Eden series. And the final chapter in Nova’s Journey. Release date is 19th June 2019. Look out for the pre-order on Amazon.

About the Author

Belle is a wife to a very loving and supportive husband and mother to three very amazing and different children.

She has an addiction to reading, notebooks, coloured pens and mint chocolate. She lives in the beautiful Australian bush, surrounded by wildlife and the smell of eucalyptus trees. She also has a strong love for all 60’s music, believes she was born in the wrong era and should have been at Woodstock.

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