“Right.” I laugh, and it feels good, but on the heels of my mirth, a sob escapes, and I cover my face as they continue to come, and I can’t stop them.
My newfound crew leaves me to my breakdown, which lasts a few more embarrassing minutes before I drop my hands and apologize.
“No need,” Augustus says, waving his hands. “So, I assume you’ve met the shittiness that is Shepherd?”
“Indeed. I am full up with his shit.”
He cocks his head. “You got out?”
I nod and then admit, “I think my friend let me go.”
“Your friend?” he asks.
“It’s complicated.”
“I guess.” His companion, July, remains quiet and behind Augustus, not hiding but not engaging. Augustus is tall and lean and brings to mind a skinny stick figure, all limbs, but his flourishes and flowery speech make him appear bigger and taller, larger than life.
“So, what’s this about bringing the bastard down?” he asks eagerly, rubbing his hands together.
“Right. I’m just so fucking tired of the world taking what they want. So, now I’m gonna show one of these fuckers what happens when you don’t play nice in the sandbox,” I say fiercely.
“Wow, you are a feisty little thing. But, and I mean this nicely, my dear, you and what army?”
I shrug. I know it’s an impossibility, but I refuse to let Shepherd live, and I have an ace in the hole that is Enzo. I don’t know how much longer it will be before Shepherd wants to have sexual relations with him, maybe never, but if he does, Enzo won’t regret making it his last.
I wonder if I should wait and let it take its course, but I don’t trust it will happen. I know there are people there allowing this to go on either by fear or apathy, while others are willing it to happen for their own gain. Still, I have to believe that out of the roughly 200 people, those that are, represent a small portion of that population, and the rest will rise up once their abuser is dead.
I can’t save them all, but I can cut the head off the snake and hope for the best.
“I don’t have all the answers.”
“Hmm, well, perhaps we can help, eh July?” he asks the woman behind him who doesn’t speak but nods.
With that, I am comforted, and I lay back against the wall and doze. Knowing that others around me can keep watch allows me to relax fully, and I am out cold within minutes.
???
Scuffling outside the door wakes me, and I sit up, shaking my neck. The awkward angle of my sleeping position has created a new set of aches and pains to contend with. Calgon, take me the fuck away.
A man and a woman come through the door, and my eyes widen at the sight of the blond hair in a jaunty ponytail swinging over her shoulders. She stops in the door and grins toward July, and I whisper, my heart pounding, “Mich.”
Her eyes snap to me immediately, and she stumbles forward a step, shouting, “Lo, oh my God, Lo.”
I move to my knees as she drops beside me and we embrace. The feel of her arms wrapped around me brings tears to my eyes and I shudder.
“I can’t believe it’s you,” she warbles.
Over her shoulder, I see Jase walk forward and fall to his knees beside us with a huge grin. He encompasses us both in his arms, squeezing the shit out of us, and Mich squeals in delight.
After, he eases back, looking me over as Mich asks hesitantly, “Cole?”
I drop my head, covering my mouth, and the sob sticks in my throat. He would have been so happy to know she’s alive, that they’re alive. Now it’s too fucking late.
Michele sags back into Jase, who puts his arms around her and hugs her to him. We mourn quietly for a minute until she shakes her head and reaches out to take my hand.
“We have a lot to catch up on,” she murmurs.
We chat into the early morning hours, the darkness coming and leaving once more while I explain the last few months, beginning with how Cole left to search for them after the attack at the ranch, my stay at the Sam’s Club with Enzo, and finding Cole at the community. I skip over Marie and the drama but choke up when I have to explain that Shepherd ordered his death for daring to defy his plans to repopulate the earth his way.