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“Eighty, but I’m shooting for double the goal.”
“Wait—seriously? It’s too fucking early. They must have been hyper-alert when you started.”
“I needed the challenge,” I say, annoyed.
“You know there’s just going to be more of them. No matter how many we hack down, there are always others to take their place.”
“Then why are you even on pest control?”
“Same reason every other guy is.”
I know the answer too well: to find their mate.
Sometimes I forget that I’m the odd man out. That while they search relentlessly for their queens, I’m just happy to get my dick sucked.
Or I was. Everything’s been flipped on its head and I don’t know if I’ll ever think straight again.
Thankfully, Cole recognizes my conflict and has allowed me to check in over the radio, so I’m not tempted to spy on Suki and the boys.
“Have you noticed the streets are busier?” Alistair asks. “And not with the dead.”
“People are getting bolder, coming out more. Lowtown is getting bigger, but it’s nothing good. I suspect the Vultures may have tipped some assholes off, letting them know the bombs were bogus.”
In exchange for food, supplies, and future admission into the Keep, the Vultures clean the mess of corpses we leave behind. In an effort to get the forming gangs off the streets, we streamed a message over the radio saying the city would soon be bombed. We couldn’t have the Vultures leaving with how necessary they are, so we gave them a heads up.
The broadcast worked initially, but the message seems to have lost its luster, and I think it’s because of a few loose-lipped Vultures.
“It’s possible we have a few rats in the mix,” Alistair agrees. “But it’s not like they know where the Keep is, and even if they did, we’re well protected.”
“Good point.”
“So, how are things?” he asks.
Do I tell him how much I hate life? How every day that goes by, I think abouther?
“I’m alright. Yourself?”
“Getting by. Hey, have you seen any of the fairer sex milling around?”
“Saw one dumpster diving a few days back, but there’s very little that was ‘fair’ about her.”
“Dammit, I’m beginning to think there are none left in this city.”
“You could always pull a Blake and go on a walkabout. I doubt Cole will give you too much hell.”
“Nah, man. There has to be someone holed up somewhere around here.”
“So, um…” How the fuck do I ask him who claimed Suki? Can’t be him. Could it be Gabriel? Cole?
He licks his lips. “You wanna hear about her?”
“Huh?”
“Don’t act like you don’t know who I’m talking about.”
There goes being coy.
“Yeah, ah, how is she? Who is she dealing with?”
