I blushed, and climbed down, ignoring the pissed-off glares of every single man on the bus. “Sorry,” I mumbled. “I couldn’t see.”
Tai shook his head at me and I got behind him, huddled up against his back.
“So I’m going to ask again,” the guy said, sounding no less pissed. “Who the fuck are you and why are you here?”
“We’re going west,” Sasha told him, “needed to get out of Detroit. Had an unfortunate disagreement with a couple Apocalypse Riders, had to leave without much preparation, and the beater we were in broke down in the middle of fucking nowhere about six miles from here. Been following the road, hoping not to hear motorcycles coming up behind us, you know? Didn’t expect to find…anyone…”
“That explains why you’re openly carrying and aren’t masked,” he still sounded a little suspicious, but not the level he was before. “But before my people board the bus, you need to cover up.”
“Oh, sure,” Sev agreed and we all pulled our masks out of our pockets and put them on — something I’d never had to do once in the last four years, but something the rest of them seemed pretty comfortable with. It was awkward and it was going to take some getting used to, but the guys had warned me repeatedly that you didn’t go anywhere without one — except maybe tromping through the woods with no one around for miles. “So what is this place? What are you all doing?”
“Big pharma,” the man said like that explained everything, and I guess it did. “They opened up this vaccine research facility about a year ago, started pouring pollutants into the water table, but haven’t produced a goddamn thing. Nothing meaningful, at least. I don’t think they’re even really working on the vaccine.”
“Why do you say that?” I asked, earning a warning glare from Tai but fuck that noise, this was about me.
“None of your fucking concern,” he said, not meanly but firm, and I narrowed my eyes at him.
“You can’t just put a bold statement like that out there, and not expect some follow-up questions.”
There was silence, then Luka piped up, “She’s not wrong. That was a bit of a cliffhanger.”
I heard the guy sigh. “Fair enough. We’ve been watching the facility for awhile, and there’s solid evidence that suggests—”
I heard a new person come pounding up the steps, shouting, “Omar, we gotta roll! Gretchen set off the alarm and troops are on their way— FUCK! Who the fuck is that?”
“They’re coming with us,” Omar said, and it wasn’t a question, so he must be the one in charge. “Get all the way to the back,” he commanded, and I was being shuffled up a couple stairs to an open area where all the seats had been removed, leaving a few poles and the top rail to hold onto. The windows back here had been blacked out with paint, chipping around the edges, and the emergency door had a latch so it couldn’t be opened from the outside very easily.
I wasn’t sure if I suddenly felt less exposed or in a lot of fucking danger being trapped back here, but I trusted my men to be able to handle any situation.
They stacked up our gear in a corner, putting me with it — and to be honest, I was just glad to be sitting for awhile — then all five of them stood in a barrier to block me from view. I could hear more and more people piling onto the bus; no longer silent, but not in a panic or anything, an organized escape by people very determined not to be caught. Respect.
It was just a matter of minutes before the bus began to creak and groan as the lumbering hulk was set into motion and we began to drive. I peeked out through a gap in the paint on the window next to me, and noticed someone with a camera taking pictures of the bus as the guards milled around, looking smug.
I nudged Spider in the hip. “They took pictures.”
“They always do,” Omar’s voice carried from just beyond Sev, and I tapped his knee. He moved out of the way and I could see the protest leader sitting on the ground against the opposite wall, hemmed in on all sides like I was, but his people left a gap in front of him. With Sev repositioned, I also had a gap, and the two of us were facing each other as the only two seated people surrounded by a forest of legs. “Any protests, anywhere, someone is taking pictures. I like to think there’s someone in a dank office in Washington compiling files on all of us, trying to match up grainy close-ups of eyebrows and earlobes since we’re always masked.”
My eyes shot up to Tai, who was eyeing his brother with a troubled expression.
We hadn’t been masked.
We were only in the crowd for less than a minute, but if they caught us on approach…
“Where are we going?” I asked casually, leaning over to peek out through the window again as though I was curious. I wasn’t seeing any of it, my mind was going a million miles an hour trying to remember if I saw anyone with a camera out there, if we were ever exposed to the guards, or what might happen if anyone recognized us.
Omar ignored my question. “You all approached from the northeast, came in around the bend in the road. There were trees between you and the cameras up until you were in front of the bus,” he said calmly, watching me. I tilted my head, keeping a blandly interested expression on my face as though I was listening but not sure why he was telling me any of this. I’m not sure I was fooling him. “There was a very small window when you might have been photographed.”
I nodded, widening my eyes and letting them dart from side to side like I was completely confused by all of it. He chuckled, then turned his head to look forward. I resisted looking at any of my men, there was no way he wasn’t watching in his peripheral vision to see what I’d do.
I looked out the window again. “So, uh, where are we going then?”
“A gathering place,” he said, turning back to me, his eyes crinkling above his mask. “Lots of people coming and going— you’ll be able to find someone willing to negotiate, pick up a new vehicle. Be on your way. South, right?”
“West,” I said. “We have family outside Chicago.”
“Ahh,” he nodded. “Makes sense. Where were you coming from? Detroit?”
I nodded. “Northern suburb, technically. We went south first, figuring it would be less obvious, and then got off the highway to take some back roads and broke down. One piece of bad luck after another.”
“Sounds like it,” he agreed, blandly. “Surprised you got through, most of the back roads between here and there have been torn up.”
Fuck. Didn’t consider that the buffer zone might cover the roads! “Not all of them,” I shrugged, taking a chance that he didn’t know for sure. “You know how bikers are, they like the empty stretches — best people to ask what’s still drivable and what’s not.”
“Thought you said you ran afoul of the Apocalypse Riders?” Suspicion was creeping back in, but he wasn’t questioning how we might have known about the roads, which was the important part.
“I— we did,” I dangled the bait, and he snapped it up. He looked up at my guys, all of whom were staring straight ahead with grim expressions, ignoring us. “Doesn’t mean it was always contentious,” I said slyly, winking at him. Sasha grunted, shifting in place, drawing Omar’s eye again. I snaked out a hand and wrapped it around his ankle, a claiming gesture.
The story was there, all the bits laid out just waiting to be assembled, pieced together with assumptions and stereotypes, and low opinions of feckless young women. He stared at my hand gripping Sasha’s leg and smirked, nodding. “I see.”
You see what I want you to see.
“We’re here,” he said.
The bus swung to the right in a wide arc. I stood up and Sasha moved me between him and the metal pole he was holding onto with both hands, pressing tight against my back. The bus swayed as we passed over speed bumps way too fast, and I was tossed from side to side in the circle of his arms. He was as immovable as a rock with the onrushing tide breaking around him.
I could see outside now — the only windows painted over were the ones back here, and the massive windshield and the sides in front of us were all clear.
We’d turned into a sea of tents, beat up vans, and late model sedans interspersed with the occasional converted school bus or RV. Masked people were everywhere: gathering in groups around open fire pits and sprawling out in lawn chairs, kicking a hacky sack back and forth, or squatting on the ground throwing dice. Children chased each other through the maze of vehicles.
“Old high school,” Omar said, as the driver tapped the horn. A group playing frisbee off to the side of the driveway all stopped, raising their arms at the bus. The littlest one of them broke off — the kid couldn’t be older than ten or eleven — and started running towards the school, easily outpacing the bus as we continued over speed bump after speed bump. I watched as he disappeared inside, and the bus expertly slid into place along the curb, the air brakes squealing.
Once parked and the engine off, the driver popped open the door and exited, not looking back. People began to follow and I looked down to Omar who smiled up at me — I could tell by the way his eyes crinkled at the edges, the mask flexing. “We’ll go inside, you can get some rest, take a shower if you want. The water probably won’t be hot, but clean is clean, right?”
“Truth,” I smiled back, bobbing my head. “Thank you. If you have any suggestions on a vehicle, that would be appreciated too.”
“Sure thing,” he said, off-handed, getting to his feet and moving out of the way as the people around us filed past. He waited for us to gather up all our baggage, then led the way off the bus.
I followed Sasha down the tall steps, my legs a little wobbly, and out onto the sidewalk. Omar waited until all six of us were together before cutting through the people milling around, discussing their evening plans post-protest. The sun had set in the time it took for us to get here, and my stomach was growling uncomfortably but the prospect of a shower — even a cold one — was way more exciting than food.
He led us towards a line of double doors and we entered the building through what was once the main entrance, and the space between sets of doors had a couple people with shotguns blocking the way.
“They been unmasked at all?” A tall guy with dark blonde dreads asked Omar, ignoring us.
“They were on approach, masked up on the bus before anyone got close,” Omar answered, pointing at our boots. “Been walking awhile, looks like mainly in the woods. Rained the last two days, you don’t get that kind of mud from a few hours walking down pavement.” I hadn’t realized he’d studied us that closely, enough to notice the amount of mud on our boots, and anxious alarms chimed in my head. We hadn’t blended in like I thought. “Doesn’t match the story they told. Nor does the military-issue molle packs, the sniper rifle, their paranoia about being photographed, or panicking when they heard troops were arriving. Deserters, I think. No coughing, no signs of fever. Thirst, but that’s to be expected. The girl is the only one I have concerns with. She doesn’t fit.”
Tai shoved me behind him, and suddenly I was surrounded by all five of my men with their weapons drawn.
“Guys,” I whispered. “Let’s hear them out.”
Omar held up his hands, eyes narrowed, as five shotguns were racked and leveled at us. “You want to start talking, or are we going to have to start shooting?”
I tried to elbow my way past Tai but it wasn’t happening. I stood on my tiptoes and looked at Omar and Dreadlocks over his shoulder as he growled “Azzie” in warning.
“Doin’ my job, Tai. Yeah, they’re hiding me,” I said calmly. “And I’ve got a hundred doses of vaccine for you and your people here if you can give us a private room, access to your showers, and a place to cook some food.”
“Bullshit,” one of the other guards drawled out. “Unless it’s fake shit. You peddlin’ poison, bitch?”
“Nope,” I popped the P, smiling brightly. “It’s legit. You know that secret base about forty miles from here?” Dreadlocks nodded warily. “Vaccine is manufactured there. We’re on the run from them, got out with a supply to distribute. We’ll do the kids, anyone high-risk, but can’t spare more than that. You all look like you’re taking the right precautions, so herd immunity should keep you all safe once the most vulnerable are protected. Sound like a plan?”
I could see immediately that this wasn’t going to work. Not a single one of them even looked curious, and those shotguns stayed pointing right at us.
“Get the fuck out of here, right now!” Dreadlocks shouted, pointing at the door. “And we’ll be watching. If you talk to a single person on your way out, try to sell or give away your tainted shit, we will shoot you on the spot. You walk out that door, and keep fucking walking, hear me?!”
Luka dropped the duffel of supplies he was carrying, grabbed me up, and carried me out the door. He turned to the right to follow the sidewalk along the building through the area with the lowest amount of people. Over his shoulder, I saw the rest of them back out through the doors cautiously, Sev carrying the bag Luka had dropped. He looked over and saw us, called something to the others, and they began to follow — slowly at first, but once they cleared the doors, all of them began to jog towards us.
I know this was a critical situation. I realize that there was a very real threat there, and I need to take it seriously, but I was glued to Luka’s chest watching these four— Viking gods— commandos— muscles… so many muscles…
“You alright there, sweetpea?” I think Luka was laughing at me. “I’m the one running but you’re the one panting.”
Yep, definitely laughing at me.
“Careful there,” he reached up and rubbed his thumb along my bottom lip, “got a little drool going on.”
“I can’t stop staring at any of you, it’s starting to worry me. It’s like all the hormones I’ve suppressed for so long are suddenly let loose like you all opened Pandora’s box—”
“Not Pandora’s box we’re gonna open,” he muttered under his breath.
“—and I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that right this second because I can’t decide if that’s sexy or horrifying. Or horrifying yet sexy, which is almost worse because it’s like I don’t want to be turned on by it or at least I feel like I shouldn’t be, but yet I am and what does that say about me?—” I tilted my head back so I could see his eyes, waiting for something to change.
“Azzie-pie, whatever we do or say that lights you up like the goddamn sun is good, and it doesn’t matter what it is. Hell, the weirder the better! We like that you’re a little fucked up and strange, we want all your dark parts that you think you need to hide. Like those D&D flirts Sev lost his mind over — he had to explain most of them, and then explain why they were funny, but it was so nerdy-cute… just makes me love you more for being so perfect for him, because it makes you even more perfect for me.”
“Would it be inappropriate to maybe start making out right here in the middle of this abandoned soccer field? We’re totally safe, right? I mean, they aren’t following us. And also, how are you able to say all that like we’re just sitting around having a conversation when you’re carrying me while running through an abandoned soccer field?!”
“Lots of cardio,” he grinned, waggling his eyebrows. “I’ve got excellent stamina. I’m basically a superhero.”
“Dammit, Luka!” I whined, “I’m gonna have to change my underwear again if you keep teasing me.”
“Shit, girl,” he cursed as he stumbled, then muttered “Fuck it!” and dropped to his knees, rolling us both onto our sides, finding my mouth in the dark. No resistance, I couldn’t get my lips open any faster than I did, and his tongue licked into my mouth feeling like velvet against mine. I gripped his hair, holding on for dear life as we tried to eat each other’s faces, desperate, clawing at each other. He sucked on my tongue and I bucked my hips against him, moaning his name, and then I was being dragged away by my backpack as Sasha leaned in and punched Luka in the face.
“YOU MOTHERFUCKER!” He screamed as Luka dodged another hit, scrambling away as best he could in the long grass as I fought against whoever was dragging me away then I loo
ked up and saw a furious Spider looming over me.
“You— you fucking dropped!” Sev shouted at Luka, lunging at him. “WE THOUGHT YOU WERE SHOT!”
I looked around and found an enraged Tai a few feet away, but he and Spider were staying near me and not getting involved, which was good—
“HEY!” I shouted, and when they didn’t stop trying to hit Luka, and Spider wouldn’t let go of my pack, I released the chest strap and slipped free of it, throwing myself into Sasha and knocking him off balance before his fist connected with Luka’s face again, reaching beyond him to slap at Sev. “HEY! STOP! IT’S NOT HIS FAULT!”
“Oh, we know that, Azzie,” Spider growled, dragging me off of Sasha, “but he’s the one who should’ve known better—”
“STOP!” I screamed at the top of my lungs, and Spider released me, throwing up his hands and backing off as Sasha stood bent over, hands on his knees, panting heavily, and Sev lightly slapped Luka in the head again before backing away. “What the fuck!”
“Do you know— do you know what it’s like to watch your brother and your girl… running across a field from a known threat… in danger… suddenly drop to the ground— and then,” Sasha ground out between gasps of air that had nothing to do with the run, it was pure rage making him pant like a bull, “and then to find them— find them kissing— trying to rip each other’s clothes off—”
“Okay, it was a bad idea!” I yelled, slightly softer, moving to Luka like I could shield him from them, “and that sounds awful, but don’t hit him because of it!”
“Jesus,” Sev wheezed, kicking at Luka again but I got between them and blocked his foot. “Luka can take a fucking punch, Azzie! He could’ve blocked every one of those hits and probably taken us all out without a scratch, and you’re— you’re protecting him!”
“Stop hitting Luka!” I hollered at Sasha, who went in for another punch while Sev was distracting me, and then I was being handed over to Spider because Luka was on his feet taunting them, and then I scooped up my pack and Mouse’s and started walking away because… fucking BOYS!
Book of the Lost: AAV-07d25-11: (A reverse harem, post-pandemic, slow-burn romance) (The JAK2 Cycle, Book 3) Page 21