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Since we hadn’t been swarmed yet, my guess was the latter.
However, that didn’t make me feel any safer. Humans desperate for supplies were just as dangerous as infected.
I doubted they would return soon, though. It would draw the attention of whatever infected were still in the area. That gave us a few days before we had to worry about them. Not that I thought we’d linger that long. There were too many of us gathered in one spot for us to be safe based on Molev’s observations about attracting infected attention.
The sun descended another inch toward the horizon before Molev and his group returned.
“Find anything?” I asked.
“No infected, but someone’s been here. We found a stash of canned goods in a closet,” one of the soldiers said.
“That fits our theory,” Steve said. “Roni and I brought down a lone infected that we think was part of a raid group.”
Molev grunted. “We should move them quickly. We left a guard at the door.”
Tension was high when the volunteers finally emerged from the aircraft. I gave my sister-in-law a reassuring smile and returned Cory’s nod. No one made any extra noise as they worked together to unpack whatever supplies we’d brought with us. The researchers didn’t say a word about the storage cube we left behind either.
The dorm-style housing didn’t relieve the high tension, despite the reinforced bars over the lower-level windows. They all understood the danger we were in.
Just like back at Irwin, they divided up and shared rooms. A guard took position at each floor’s exit, and one remained just inside the door of the main entrance.
Once it was secure, Molev took my hand. “We will return soon.”
Roland shook his head in humor.
“Soon isn’t a measure of time you should use when you’re alone with Andie, my friend.”
Roni chuckled, which I could see confused Molev.
“Let’s go,” I said before he could tell me to explain.
It felt good to be in his arms with the cold wind battering my face as he ran impossibly fast to the building with the radio. As soon as he reached it, he put me down and hugged me close.
“I know,” I said before he could say anything. “Stay behind you. Stay close. No risks.”
He pulled back enough to capture my chin and hold my gaze.
“I love you, Andie.”
It was so unexpected and out of place for the situation that I wasn’t prepared. Panic slipped into my gaze before I could stop it.
He frowned, and the hand pressing against my back pressed harder, molding me to him.
“Don’t,” he said, his voice low with warning.
CHAPTERTEN
“I’m notthe one making declarations of love just before going into an abandoned building like he thinks we’re going to die. Pardon me if I’m feeling a little freaked out.”
He huffed a partial laugh, his intensity easing.
“I did not confess my love because I think we will die.”
“Okay, well, I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear it then and wait for you to say it again at a less life-threatening time, okay? My poor human heart can only take so much.” I captured the hand holding my chin and threaded my fingers through his so he wouldn’t think it was a retreat. “Ready?”
He pressed a kiss to my temple and led the way inside.
Nothing popped out or crept up on us as we navigated the hallway. Like the watchtower’s radio, this one also had a battery backup that turned on with a switch. The second it did, static and faint words filled the room.
