Brothersong (Green Creek #4) - T.J. Klune Page 0,169
of the garage lowered a pair of high-powered binoculars. “Nothing but the wind.”
Will looked down at me again. “We sure they’re coming?”
I looked at Gavin, who nodded tightly. “Yeah. We’re sure.”
Will spat over the side of the building. “How many?”
“Quite a few.”
He tapped the barrel of the shotgun against his shoulder. “Gonna get ugly.”
“I know.”
“Ox? The others? They all right?”
“Yeah,” I said, because it was easier than to say otherwise. I hoped they were. “On their way.”
He whistled lowly. “Probably won’t get here before. We’ll be in the thick of it by the time they show up. Think the wards will hold?”
“They better,” I said grimly. “If not, we’ll be ready.”
“That we will,” he said. “Carter?”
“Yeah?”
“Your daddy would be proud of you.”
I looked up at him again.
He said, “It might not be my place to say as much. But I know it’s true. You’re a good man, Carter Bennett. Proud to know you. We’ll do what we can. Ain’t that right?”
The men and women of Green Creek raised their weapons and cheered.
Will tilted his head back and howled.
“Let them come,” I whispered as the others followed Will’s lead. The sounds of humans singing the songs of wolves echoed up and down the street.
IT WENT LIKE THIS:
Rico stood with Bambi, Joshua in his arms. He kissed his son’s forehead, muttering sweetly in Spanish. Bambi touched his arm. “You better not do anything stupid. I’ll do what I have to in the bunker, but I swear to god, Rico, if you get yourself killed, it’ll be the last thing you ever do.”
“Uh. That’s pretty much the point—”
“Rico.”
He winced. “Sorry. I’ll do my best not to die.”
“Damn right you will,” she snapped at him.
And then he said, “I don’t say this often enough. I know I don’t. I swear I’ll get better at it. But I need you to know I love you. You and Joshua both, more than anything in the world. You gave me life. You gave me purpose. I would be nothing without you. I don’t know why you decided to hitch yourself with an old redneck, but I won’t question it. Thank you for putting up with all my shit.”
She sniffled. “You’re lucky to have me.”
“I am,” he agreed.
“And you’re a daddy now.”
“I am that too.”
She said, “And when this is all over, you’re going to marry me.”
He gaped at her. “Did… did you just propose?”
“You were dragging your feet, you motherfucker. One of us had to do it.”
“I love you so goddamn much,” he whispered fiercely, and Joshua let out a little squawk as his father bent over to kiss his mother.
When she pulled away, she reached up and touched his face. “Come back to us,” she said quietly. She took Joshua from him and turned away, following a group of women to their truck in front of the house. They’d take her and Joshua to the bunker.
Rico stared after them as they drove away.
I put my hand on his shoulder.
“They’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” he said.
“I know.”
He looked over at me, eyes filling with orange. “Let’s kill as many of these fuckers as we can.”
I grinned at him.
IT WENT LIKE THIS:
Chris and Tanner standing in front, facing each other, their foreheads pressed together.
Chris said, “You stay by me.”
Tanner said, “I’ll never leave your side.”
Chris said, “Except when I tell you to run.”
Tanner said, “Fuck you. I’m not leaving you.”
Chris said, “You dumbass. Why are you like this?”
Tanner said, “You and me, all right? You and me. Platonic mates for life.”
Chris said, “We’re so goddamn weird.”
Tanner said, “I know. Could be worse, though.”
Chris said, “Hell yes it could.”
I shook my head. Those fucking dorks. I loved them so.
IT WENT LIKE THIS:
Jessie hummed a quiet song, sitting on the porch in front of Dominique. Jessie was cleaning her guns as Dominique braided her hair.
I watched them through the window.
Dominique said, “I’ve been thinking.”
Jessie snorted. “Uh-oh.”
“Hush, you. Listen to me.”
“I always do.”
“You’d think so. But I’ve got a list a mile long that says otherwise. Gavin. Carter.”
Jessie sighed. “Yeah.”
“I want that. With you.”
Jessie set her gun on the steps between her feet. She tilted her head back to look up at Dominique. “Is that right? I had no idea.”