"Really?" Alvaro let out a small laugh that sounded more like a growl. "And here I thought we'd pay by becoming your unpaid labor force."
"Alvaro," Sasha warned, her tone slicing the air sharper than any blade.
The man didn't flinch. His surgical mask hid his expression, but his tone was like steel. "Everyone here works. It's how this bastion survives. That's the rule of the new world. You'll find it's safer here than out there."
"Hmm…" Alvaro's smirk deepened. He leaned closer to Sasha and murmured, "Safer maybe, but I bet they're running low on supplies. People with desperate stomachs do stupid things. You sure you're okay losing that van?"
Sasha's eyes flicked to him, calm and knowing. "It's fine. Everything important's stored inside my ring. I have multiple armored vans here too."
