“Let me worry about that,” Falk says. “Just get what you need.”
“What about food and water?”
“Right here.” Falk pulls out several small packages of premade food. “I’ve got water purification supplies, too.”
“We’ll need flashlights.”
“I’ve already taken care of that.” Falk stands and heads to the kitchen to grab the spare batteries from the drawer. “There are a couple of things I need from the shed. You stay right here. Don’t fucking move, you hear me?”
“What if they come here?”
Falk halts for a moment before removing the gun at his hip. He checks the clip and the chamber, makes sure the safety is on, and places it in my hands.
“Shoot them.”
My stomach turns over.
Falk is suddenly on his knees in front of me, cupping my face with his hands again.
“Don’t hesitate, Hannah,” he says. “If one of them comes through that door, you shoot to kill. You can do it.”
I nod quickly.
“Promise me.”
“I promise.”
He stares into my eyes for a second before he presses his mouth against mine. The kiss is hard and brief.
“I’ll be right back.”
He’s out the door, and I am alone. The entire exchange between Caesar and Brett flows through my head over and over again, and I stare at the gun in my hands, trying to remember not to put my finger on the trigger. I jump at every sound I hear outside, and I’m afraid I’m going to blow up the couch.
Relax. Breathe.
They’ve been here all this time, knowing exactly who I am, and I had no idea who they were. They’ve been watching me. Brett had his hand on my leg—the thought makes my skin crawl—and at the time, I had been angry with Falk for overreacting.
Now I wish he had gone ahead and shot Brett. Caesar, too.
I swallow hard and pace back and forth. Where is Falk? Shouldn’t he be back by now?
I hear someone on the steps, and I look quickly to the door. There’s a slight scraping sound, and my heart lodges in my throat.
They’ve come for me.
I back up against the wall on the far side of the living room, gun held in both hands and pointed at the door. I promised Falk I would shoot to kill, but I can’t even imagine myself doing it. I’m not even sure I can hit the door from here.
Take the safety off!
A little squeaking sound escapes my throat as I turn the gun to the side and flip the safety off. My hands shake and the gun wobbles. How will I ever keep my aim straight? I try to breathe slowly, remembering that I should fire as soon as all the air is gone from my lungs.
Focus, Hannah!
I take a deep breath, look down the barrel of the gun, and point it at the door as it swings open.
It’s Falk.
“It’s just me!” He ducks quickly and holds out one hand. “It’s just me, Hannah! Don’t fucking shoot!”