Despite Beck’s complaining, we move what we have back to the apartment complex before midday. Caesar and Ryan opt to share the apartment below Falk’s while Beck takes the one across from them on the ground floor. The lanterns and some of the other necessities are distributed, and the brothers head off to look for more supplies. There’s discussion about what to do with all the bodies in the nearby area, and Ryan offers to start digging graves.
Falk insists I stay with him in his apartment. I debate arguing with him about it—there are plenty of other apartments, and I’m used to having my own space—but one look from him, and I realize it will be pointless. I have to admit, I do feel safer with him close to me.
“I can’t properly watch out for you if you are in your own place,” he says. “You can have the bed. I’ll sleep on the couch. I’m going to start teaching you to shoot, too.”
“I’m still not so sure about that.” I start taking supplies from a backpack and look for a place in the kitchen to store them.
“You’re going to learn anyway.” Falk brings another backpack over and places it near my feet. “Once we have everything set up here, we’ll start your training.”
“You are very bossy, you know.” I put my hands on my hips and tilt my head to look up at him.
“I have to be,” he says simply. “That’s the only way I can protect you. I need to know where you are at all times. I also need to know that you can protect yourself if I’m not there.”
His shoulders are straight and his expression tells me that he’s not going to change his mind. I shake my head and go back to organizing.
There’s definitely a part of me that appreciates his take-charge attitude. If he weren’t here, I have no idea what I would do. I wouldn’t know what sort of items we’d need to survive or what type of environment would offer us the best chances. I’d be without direction and probably scared out of my mind.
Given that, maybe I can put up with his bossiness.
For now, at least.
Once we have everything stored, we go outside and assist Caesar in building a large fire pit. He and Ryan have already gathered a good number of stones to surround it while Beck digs a large, round depression.
“It will be a good place to cook once the gas runs out,” Caesar says. “It’ll be easier to cook out here anyway as long as the weather is good. We should find a suitable place to keep communal property.”
“There’s a shed nearby,” Falk says. “I think the landlord keeps lawn equipment in it, but it would be a good place to store kindling to keep it dry. It’s big enough for other stuff, too.”
“Good idea,” Caesar says. “Let’s check it out.”
The shed is full of lawnmowers, leaf-blowers, shovels and other landscaping items. Ryan moves them out to the parking lot so we can make room for the things we’ll need close to us. Falk heads off to find more stones to line the pit, promising me he wouldn’t be far away. I decide to busy myself collecting all the nearby sticks to start a kindling pile in the shed. I don’t think my leg is up for any heavy lifting.
There are plenty of small branches lying around, and I break them over my knee so they’re more uniform and will stack well. I’m on my third stack when a voice startles me.
I glance over my shoulder and breathe slowly to calm my heart.
“Making yourself useful?” Beck is right behind me, causing me to jump.
“Just doing what I can.”
“Uh huh.” Beck leans against the trunk of a tree and watches me.
“Did you need something?” I ask when he doesn’t say anything else.
“You aren’t really with that asshole, are ya?”
“Falk?” I don’t have to ask, but I do anyway. It’s obvious who he means.
“Yeah. Falk.” Beck sneers the name and rolls his eyes. “The asshole who thinks he owns you.”
I press my lips together and stand up, looking straight at him. I tense my fingers around the branch in my hand.
“He’s just trying to keep everyone safe.”
“He’s on a power trip.”
I watch Beck’s face carefully. This isn’t a topic I care to debate with him—his mind is set, and I’m not going to speak against Falk, not at this point.
“So are you with him or not?” Beck asks when I don’t take the bait.