Page 95 of Romancing in Rot

“I need you to tell us what he meant.”

His gaze cuts to Jacob. “Thought he was asking the questions.”

Jacob folds his arms. “I’m asking about routes and fuel. Clair’s asking this.”

Carlos looks back at me, suspicion narrowing his eyes. “Why?”

“Because you have Luis,” I say. “I have Poppy. And neither one of us gets to act stupid with their lives.”

His jaw shifts.

I set my bowl aside. “If there’s something in that city that could get our kids killed, I need to know before we walk in. Not after.”

The fire cracks between us.

Luis lowers his spoon.

Carlos notices and exhales through his nose. “They use voices.”

No one moves.

“Recordings, mostly,” he says. “Someone crying. Begging. Saying they’re hurt or trapped. A woman. A kid. Whoever they think you’ll stop for.”

Trish mutters, “Of course they do.”

“Who?” I ask.

Carlos stares into the fire. “People at the mall.”

The word mall lands wrong in my head. Pretzels. Clearance racks. Poppy begging to ride the tiny carousel near the food court.

Not this.

“What do they want?” Jacob asks.

Carlos’s mouth twists. “Supplies. Weapons. People.”

Lyla’s blade stills. “People for what?”

Carlos doesn’t look at Luis.

That tells me more than I want to know.

My stomach turns cold. “Carlos.”

His eyes flick to mine. His face hardens, but his voice drops. “Meat.”

The clearing goes silent.

Joanie’s spoon lowers. “I’m sorry. Did you just say meat?”

Carlos looks at her. “You heard me.”

Poppy goes very still.

So does Luis.

I want to cover every child’s ears in this whole ruined world, but none of us have that luxury anymore.