“No!” Erin leapt forward, toward her father, as a low growl escaped him. His fingers curled into claws and his eyes rolled back into his head, tremors racking his body. The stranger grabbed her, hauling her back.

“Dad!”

The second militia man drew and fired, the blast of his revolver echoing through the quiet town, reverberating off the neat lines of old buildings.

Santa’s body tumbled to the ground. Dead.

Erin gasped, mouth slack and eyes wide. The man who held her released her, drawing back. But a hand remained stretched out to her, in case she stumbled.

Daniel swore fervently beneath his breath. Aah, man. What a thing for her to have to see.

Her fingers flexed and closed, flexed and closed as she stared down at her father, lying in an expanding pool of blood. Somewhere in the distance kookaburras started laughing, greeting the dawn. The wood in the funeral pyre popped and crackled, the scent of charred flesh heavy on the breeze. Daniel swallowed back the nausea. Death wasn’t something you ever got used to. Not really.

Erin spun and stepped up to the man who had killed her father. His gun was stil in his hand. Her fist caught him fair in the face, slamming into his cheekbone, leaving a smear of blood in her wake. She drew her hand back again, her intent clear.

The man grimaced, straightened and holstered his gun. He stood tall, not moving an inch, with his eyes wide open, waiting to take anything she had to give him. Not saying a word.

Her fist trembled in the air between them, wavering.

Erin’s shoulders crumpled first, caving in. Her hand fell next, spine bowing and knees folding. She made no noise at all as she knelt beside her father’s body.

Captain Manning nodded at the two men standing guard behind the woman. “They’ll look after her.”

Daniel raised a brow.

“You’d have her live with kil ing her father on her conscience?” the captain asked.

“No. Just curious about exactly how they’re going to ‘look after her.’”

Sean’s tired gaze stayed on him a long time. “We realize we’re going to have to prove ourselves.” He narrowed his eyes at Erin. She remained huddled beside Santa’s corpse. “It’ll be easier for her to hate them than herself, or anyone else here for having to kill him.

They’ll look after her by dealing with his body, if she wants, when she’s ready. They’l make sure no one bothers her if she wants to be left alone. That’s al .”

Daniel rolled out his lips. “Yeah. That’s what I thought you meant.”

“You think you’re funny, don’t you?” asked the captain in a low tone.

“No, not particularly. Sure as hell, not right now.” Dan smothered a yawn, widened his stance. “You’l get your chance to prove yourselves. Be careful though. People are going to be edgy for a while. It’d be sad if there were any accidents and one of you got shot by mistake.”

The captain’s eyes lit with a wolfish grin. “Wouldn’t it be?”

“Now then, I’m just saying.”

Sean grunted, frowned off into the distance. “How did the world get so f**ked up?”

“Dunno. Why don’t we all just concentrate on helping each other stay alive, hmm?”

“Believe me, that’s the plan.”

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

Un-fucking-believable, they were arguing again.

Finn climbed the steps silently. Loath to interrupt, because not all arguments were bad. Especially not if the room reeked of sex.

“Dan …” Al’s voice was low and urgent.

Finn knew that tone of voice. Finn loved that tone of voice.

“You have to wait,” Dan said.

“You’re not being fair.”

“Of course I am.”

“No, you’re not,” she moaned. “You’re really f**king not.”

“I would remind you, babe. This was all your idea.”

Their girl took a sharp breath. “Damn it.”

“You’re doing so well. The secret, my love, is lube – lots and lots of lube.”

Finn’s imagination had presented many varied scenarios. The one that met him topped them al .

Al was na**d and on her hands and knees, a personal favorite of his. Watching her tits sway was awesome. Dan knelt behind her, two fingers buried in her gorgeous ass. His pants were stil on, despite the definite bulge at the front.

And there were balloons, strangely enough, balloons in every color imaginable. A whole room full of them.

“You’re in trouble,” Dan said to Finn. His fingers never ceased their slow, careful thrust and retreat.

“Why is that?” Finn asked, his gaze glued to Dan’s hand.

“It’s your birthday, and you didn’t tel me.” Al’s face was flushed pink, her mouth open, and jaw tight. Her gray eyes were glazed with passion. “You were supposed to be home quarter of an hour ago.”

“I forgot about my birthday.” Finn dropped to his knees beside the mattress and leant over, kissing the life out of her. He couldn’t get enough of her. “I’m sorry I’m late.”

“He wouldn’t let me come,” she tipped her chin at Dan.

“It was polite to wait for the birthday boy,” said Dan with a wink.

Finn grinned so hard his face hurt, hand stroking her healed shoulder. “Can I guess what my present is?”

“Get your dick out. I’m tired of waiting. You need to catch up fast.” Al’s gray eyes glanced up at him, mouth open and waiting, her beautiful lips moist. “Hurry.”