“Dion. Grady,” I say flatly. “You disrespected the people in this camp when you stole food. You know the punishment.”
“Briar.”
I look at Pax, whose gaze is steady and knowing.
“They’re my people. I’ll do it.”
“I’m not giving you a gun, Pax.”
He shrugs. “I don’t need one.”
Dion is crying softly. I hate being in this position, but I put myself here. I could have followed Nova’s decision not to let the Tiders in.
I pushed for this, though, and the reality of leadership is setting in. It’s heavy.
Both men have their heads bowed. I fire a bullet into Dion’s head first, and then Grady’s.
Their bodies drop to the ground. It’s the first time I’ve killed someone who wasn’t trying to hurt or kill me. The difference is massive.
Pax is still on his knees. I motion for him to stand and he does. Niran’s eyes are wide with disbelief. Nova nods and takes out her radio.
“I’ll bury them,” I say, knowing she’s about to call people to do it.
“You sure?”
I nod. “Pax and I will do it.”
When it’s just Pax and me, tying the ankles of the bodies together so we can drag them more easily, he studies me.
“What?” I ask.
“You okay?”
I meet his eyes, unflinching. “You wouldn’t ask a man that.”
“Depends on the man.”
“No, it doesn’t. You’re assuming because I’m a woman that I feel bad about it, but I don’t.”
I tied Grady’s ankles tightly, leaving myself a long section of rope to drag his body with, but it’s still like trying to move a boulder. Pax is dragging Dion’s body without much effort.
“I can get both,” he offers.
“No.” I dig my boots into the ground, seeking traction. “I’m fine.”
I put the rope over one of my shoulders, using my back to pull. I’m moving slowly, but moving.
“Still want to kill me?” I ask Pax.
He tried to call me into the circle for a fight to the death after I killed Virginia that way. Marcus wouldn’t let him do it.
“I never wanted to kill you,” he answers.
I scoff. “Liar. When you wanted to trade Ellison for me, it was so you could kill me.”
“That was just me messing with Marcus’s head.”
We walk in silence for a few minutes, me huffing and puffing with exertion as we cross camp with the bodies.
