smell of burnt coffee and g

I didn't kno

nd, sitting across from me in the worn-

hat made local girls swoon and old l

table. "Babe, check it out. The ultimate surviva

lueprint. The diner. The date. Ten days.

d. A life I'd already live

our sweat and our savings, into building this exact bunker for h

ever

nged the locks. We arrived, my mom, my dad, and me, and he laughed at us from behind

voice was a smooth,

lace for my followers to come, lea

her voice echoed in my head, s

dn't flinch. I just stared at him, the man I thought I l

ayal. And this new, terrifying abili

le. "Ethan, th

ughts w

you want this to be the ultimate retreat, we

yes l

heating," I said, listing the most expensive, labor-intensive upgrades I cou

he greed churn

rious. "That sounds expensive, Mol.

my voice steady. "Company po

deed to his family's old, forgotten ranch land. It was miles out

e said. "It's

t. "Okay, Ethan. I'll have my dad draw up th

already thi

, a real smile this

arted right