Page 407

--donation bonus (day #21, post 1/5)--
Colt took the note, reviewing the bullet points, and from there, the check-up drew towards its conclusion. Dr. Marcus gave the twins their vaccinations and gave Colt his phone number in case there were any further concerns. The cash changed hands, and when Colt and Hector left, they found a waiting line had formed outside the cellar’s entrance.

The drive back to Roman’s bunker gave Colt plenty of time to think. He discussed his intentions with Bohwanox privately and found the reaper in agreement.

When they arrived, Colt waited until everyone was gathered in the garage again. With a child in each arm, he said, “I need to tell you something.”

Hector and Garovel both turned to look at him.

And though he knew what he had to say and how he wanted to say it, Colt found himself reluctant. The words didn’t want to come. He had to force them. “We have to go our separate ways.”

Garovel’s face was obscured by the reaper’s hood, but Hector didn’t seem especially surprised. Perhaps they’d been expecting this.

“I wish I could help you more,” Colt went on. “And I’m grateful. For everything you’ve done for me. For my kids. But I--” He faltered, gritting his teeth and looking at the floor. He hated this feeling. Running. Fleeing. Especially when he knew what was at stake, when he’d seen first hand the kind of monstrous people they were fighting. “My kids come first,” he said, partly to himself.

There was a pause, and then Garovel said, ‘We understand.’

“Yeah,” Hector added. “We know how important they are to you.”

Of course they understood. The bastards. Why couldn’t they get angry at him? That would’ve made this so much easier. Maybe he would’ve been able to storm out and never look back. Colt shook his head. No. Probably not even then.

‘Where are you going to go?’ asked Garovel. ‘If you can’t stay with us, then I assume you intend to leave the country, no?’