He finished the beer in two gulps, then crunched the can flat in one hand. "You see any cell service around here? Power lines are down. Roads are fucked. Nobody's coming."

Andrea bristled. "We'll stay out of your way. You'll barely notice us."

"That's not how this works." He leaned against the wall, looming. "You want to stay under my roof, you do what I say. Otherwise, you can take your chances out there." He pointed at the door. "But you got five minutes before the sirens start."

Neither woman spoke. They knew he wasn't bluffing. Andrea looked at Vanessa, whose jaw was set, lips trembling. She looked back at Hugo, at the way he smiled when he realized he had them cornered.

"What do you want?" Andrea said, even though she already knew.

"You're not dumb," Hugo said. He took a step forward, knuckles rapping the back of the couch. "Get on your knees. Both of you."

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