by M. D. Massey
“Understandable,” I say. “Doesn’t stop me, though. Of course, I guess it’s not such a great idea to get wasted when I have a daughter now.”
“You earned a night to relax. I’ll keep an eye on ‘er.”
Smiling, I raise my glass. “Thanks.”
He nods and walks away, taking the can of nuts with him. He joins Winston and Mike, and a scowling Angus. I take a few sips while I watch them talk. They’re probably discussing our plan of action, so I head over too.
“We can go out in the mornin’,” Axl says. “We’re gonna need one more big vehicle like the Armada, or two smaller ones.”
“No electricity,” Winston says. “How are we going to get gas?”
“We’ll have to siphon it out of some other cars,” Axl replies.
Winston raises an eyebrow. “You know how to do that?”
The corner of Axl’s mouth turns up and his eyes twinkle. “Used to siphon gas outta my boss’ car when I was short on cash.”
I laugh and he when his eyes meet mine his smile gets bigger. “You mean the Nissan that you are now driving?”
“Same one,” he says, winking at me.
“Well that’s a handy skill to have in a zombie apocalypse,” Mike says. “Can’t say I’ve ever done that.”
“I’ll teach ya.”
Everyone laughs and Angus pats his brother on the shoulder. “We got lots of skills that didn’t mean shit before all this. Ain’t that right, little brother?”
Axl nods, but before he can say anything Winston interrupts. “We’re going to have to hit up the parking garages to find a car. No other place in the city.”
“That shit’s gonna be rough,” Angus says. “No electricity. Gonna be dark as hell in there.”
“We’ll need to take a pretty big group,” I say.
The men turn and look at me like they just noticed that I was standing there, and I suddenly sprouted wings.
Angus looks like he wants to spit, but he doesn’t have his can. “You ain’t goin’, Blondie.”
I straighten my shoulders and meet his gaze head on. “And why not? I’m a good shot and I sure as hell can’t chip in by cooking or anything. This is the kind of stuff I’m good at.”
“It’s not safe out there,” Winston says.
“But it’s safe for you guys?” I snort and take a drink. Sexist assholes. I’m not usually much of a feminist, but I suddenly have the urge to punch Winston in the balls. “You’re going to need a big group and I’m going.” I take another drink and turn away before anyone can argue with me.
19
“You ain’t so bad, you know that Blondie?” Angus puts his arm around me while we walk to the elevator. He’s drunk off his ass.
“I did know that,” I say, trying to wiggle away from him. He’s persistent though, and we end up walking all the way to the elevator with his arm draped over my shoulder.
I may be a little drunk—okay, really drunk—but that doesn’t mean I want to be alone in a small space with Angus. I glance over my shoulder, hoping to see Joshua or Jessica, or anyone else who was playing cards with us in the restaurant. But no one else seems to be coming.
“Too bad you got the hots for my little brother. I could show ya what real man is like in the sack,” he says, leaning closer to me than necessary. His hot breath reeks of alcohol and dip. Not a good combination.
I roll my eyes and maneuver out from under his arm when the elevator door opens. “I don’t have the hots for Axl,” I say, stepping into the elevator. “We’re just friends. When he’s not being an ass.”
Angus starts laughing, but it’s cut off by a raspy cough that makes me shudder. He gives me a big smile and steps toward me just as the elevator door closes. “In that case…”
I dodge out of the way just as he tries to kiss me. “I don’t think so. Just because I’m not into him doesn’t mean I’m into you.”
He turns and gives me a big grin. “The pickin’s are slim, girl. You can’t be too choosy these days.”
Ugh. He has a point, but that doesn’t mean I’m ready to jump in the sack with him. “I can still have standards.”
Luckily, it’s a short trip to the eighteenth floor.
“Here we are!” I take off down the hall to our room the second the elevator door opens.
Angus grunts and tries to keep up, but I make it before him. And I have the key. The suite is dark when I step in and people are curled up on the floor of the dining room and sitting area. The soft sounds of their breathing fills the room.
Angus stumbles in behind me. I put my finger to my lips. “Sleep it off, Angus,” I whisper.
I head toward the bedroom on the right and he goes to the left. When I open the door, I try to make it as soundless as possible. Axl and Emily are already in bed, and the guilt that squeezes my insides nearly takes my breath away. I should have come back earlier.
Axl sits up. “She’s sleepin’,” he whispers.
I put my finger to my lips again, then strip down to a camisole and my underwear. The bathroom light is on, probably so Emily doesn’t get scared, illuminating the bed. Emily is asleep on the right side. Axl lifts the covers and motions for me to lay down on the left. Good thing it’s a king size bed.
“You drunk?” he whispers when I crawl in.
I nod and close my eyes. “Just a little.”
“Angus drunk?”
“He tried to kiss me in the elevator.”
Axl swears. “Moron.”
I smile and open my eyes. Despite my best effort, I can’t stop my gaze from going over his bare chest. It’s the first time I’ve see him without his shirt on. He has a lily tattooed on his right bicep, and I sit up a little so I can get a closer look. It’s all black but very intricate. It’s actually really pretty.
“Got that for Lily, my high school girlfriend. It was my first tat.” He laughs quietly. “Angus hated her.”
“Why?” I whisper.
“Probably ‘cause he didn’t get much say in my life when she was ‘round. Angus likes to be in control, if you haven’t noticed.”
I snort and quickly cover my mouth, looking over toward Emily. She doesn’t move. I turn back toward Axl. “What else?”
He sits up and turns, pointing to his left shoulder blade where there’s a confederate flag. “Got that with Angus. He’s got the same one.”
I roll my eyes. “That’s so cliché. You know that, right?”
He shrugs, but I’m not sure if it’s because he doesn’t know or he doesn’t care. He points to the guitar on his other bicep. It has a rose twisted around it. “Got that for my mom. Ain’t sure why. I was a ‘lil drunk and feelin’ bad for her, I guess.”
“Why a guitar?” I ask, looking closer at it.
He smiles and it’s hard to tell because it’s so dark, but I’m pretty sure his cheeks turn red. “She was a pretty big Guns N’ Roses fan.”
I clamp my hand over my mouth and laugh. “Is that why your name is Axl?”
“Could be worse,” he says. “She was into AC/DC when Angus was born.”
I laugh harder and turn my face into the pillow, so I don’t wake Emily.
“What ‘bout you? You gotta have some tats.”
I roll over and lift my shirt so he can see my lower back where I have a large purple butterfly tattooed.
“Tramp stamp?”
I roll back over and smile, not bothering to pull my shirt down. Maybe it’s the alcohol or the fact that we’re both half-dressed, but I’m feeling a little frisky. His eyes roam a little. They stop on my stomach. He reaches out and flicks the silver ring in my belly button, and his smile gets bigger. My heart pounds and my throat goes dry.
“Figures,” he says.
“That’s not my only piercing.”
I raise my eyebrows suggestively. When he smiles and licks his lips, heat rushes through me.
“That right?”
I bite back a smile. “My nipples.”
He laughs quietly. “You should get some
sleep.”
“What if I don’t want to sleep?” I whisper.
He stops smiling and his stormy eyes search mine. I chew on my bottom lip and my eyes move over his muscled chest to his firm biceps and his broad shoulders. When did I start thinking Axl was hot? I have no idea, but at this moment I can’t focus on anything else.
He moves closer and I suck in a deep breath. My heart rate picks up. Then his warm lips touch mine and I come alive. Every nerve ending in my body tingles. I kiss him back and wrap my arms around him, running one hand up the back of his head and through his hair. He moves his hand down my back, over my butt and to my thigh, pulling my leg up around him. He parts my lips with his and dips his tongue into my mouth. It’s hot and sensual, and I moan, whispering his name. His hips move against mine and I can feel how much he wants me. The blood shoots through my veins, rising in temperature until it reaches boiling point and my body threatens to overheat. His hand moves up my body. He cups my breast and rubs my nipple with his thumb.
My heart races and I gasp. I had no idea how much I wanted this until now. And I do want him, so much. His mouth moves faster against mine and I have a hard time catching my breath. All I want to do is strip off our clothes. But we aren’t alone.
Emily starts to cry, and it’s like a bucket of cold water has been poured over us.
“Shit.” Axl lets me go and rolls over to comfort her.
I lay still and try to catch my breath. Axl’s voice is so soft and soothing as he tries to calm her down. Her sobs puncture the waves of desire rolling over me. But it doesn’t go away completely. I want Axl, more than I’ve ever wanted another man, and I don’t want to wait another day. So I lay there, waiting. Eventually her whimpers stop and Emily’s breathing becomes heavy. But he never rolls back over to me.
I sit up to look at him. Did he fall asleep? No. He’s just lying there, staring off into the darkness. But he doesn’t look at me and he doesn’t say anything. I lie back down and roll over on my side of the bed so I can go to sleep.
When I wake up Axl is already gone, but Emily isn’t. She’s awake and lying next to me, and she studies me with her big brown eyes. They are so sweet and innocent.
I smile and brush the hair off her forehead. “Did you sleep okay?”
She shakes her head. “Bad dreams,” she says in a tiny voice.
Her frightened expression squeezes my chest. If only I could do something to comfort her. I’m so useless in times like this. Without thinking, I pull her close and kiss the top of her head.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I wish I could make them go away.”
She wraps her little arms around me and buries her face in the crook of my neck. Her warm breath tickles my skin and my heart swells with a sensation I haven’t felt in a long, long time. Suddenly, I’m thrust back in time and I remember how it felt to have her inside me. Lying awake at night with my hand resting on my large belly, feeling a hard bulge and trying to guess if it was a foot or an elbow. How much I loved her before I even saw her. I remember vividly what it felt like when she was born. Holding her and looking into her blue eyes, her little hand wrapped around my finger. The devastating sadness that almost crushed me when I had to hand her over to the nurse. Had to say goodbye.
Tears come to my eyes and I squeeze her tighter. I have to figure out a way to keep her safe. I have to go out today with the men and help find a vehicle so we can get away from here, so she can survive. I have to be there for her now, because she doesn’t have anyone else.
“You ready for breakfast?” I ask, wiping the tears away and reluctantly letting her go.
She nods and we climb out of bed. I throw on a pair of shorts and hold her hand as we head out into the other room. The smell of coffee greets me the second we step out, and I almost jump for joy.
“There’s coffee?” I ask when I walk into the dining room.
“Pot’s over there.” Axl is at the table eating a bowl of dry cereal. He doesn’t even glance my way.
My heart jumps while my stomach clenches, but he still doesn’t turn my way. He’s so confusing. Does he want me or not?
I help Emily into a chair and hand her a Pop-Tart before going to get myself some coffee. My throat is so tight I’m not sure if I’ll be able to drink, but I’m salivating at the thought of it. I’ll figure out the Axl thing later. After we get somewhere safe.
Everyone is up, and a few people sit around in the living area while others are at the dining room table eating a breakfast of Pop-Tarts and packaged muffins. I grab a blueberry muffin and unwrap it, taking a big bite as I plop into the seat next to Emily.
“Is that Pop-Tart good?”
She looks up at me with her innocent eyes and nods. I smile and give her a little hug. The coffee and muffins and all the new friends I’ve made help soften the blow that Axl’s moodiness brought.
“Now you’re interested ‘n her,” Axl mutters, shaking his head.
My eyes sting, but he still won’t meet my gaze. His judgment hurts more than my own did. I have to fight the urge to cry.
I turn away and smile at Emily. I’m trying. That’s what matters.
“We’re gonna head out here in ‘bout thirty minutes,” Angus says, sauntering over to the table.
He looks me over, raising an eyebrow. I roll my eyes. He must remember last night differently than I do, because his chest is all puffed out and he looks awfully proud of himself.
“Who’s going?” I get to my feet. I need to get to the bedroom and get dressed, so I’m ready to go.
“Winston and Mike, you, me and ‘lil brother over there.”
“Okay. I’m going to change real fast.”
I run back to the bedroom, wolfing down the rest of my muffin and pushing thoughts of Axl out of my mind. I’m not going to let him distract me. Going out to find a car could be dangerous and I can’t afford to focus on anything else.
I brush my teeth and pull my hair out of my face, then grab a clean set of clothes. My jeans are still around my knees when the door opens and Axl walks in.
“Don’t you knock?” I say, yanking my jeans up the rest of the way.
“Didn’t think it mattered.”
He strips down to his boxers and I try hard not to watch. Dammit. Why do I still find him so attractive?
“So, are we going to talk about last night?”
“Nothin’ to talk ‘bout,” he says. “We kissed.”
I turn with my hands on my hips. “Seriously? That’s all you have to say to me? We kissed and then you just disappeared!”
He gives me a hard look, and his gray eyes are stormier than ever. “Emily needed me and the last thing I want is some chick usin’ me to get her through. I’ve had that. Lots of times. I ain’t interested in havin’ it again.”
A sharp pain shoots through my chest, and I want to scream at him or throw something. “Fine. As long as I know. I was just feeling a little lonely and thought you might be too. Sorry I was mistaken.” It’s a flat-out lie. I like Axl. Most of the time.
“Try Angus,” he mutters. He zips his pants and pulls a shirt over his head as he walks out the door.
I follow him out, but do my best to stay as far away from him as possible. My gun is tucked firmly in the waistband of my pants. The men are all gathered around the bag of weapons, arguing over who gets what. I stand off to the side with my arms crossed over my chest while I wait for them to get ready.
“Take a knife, Blondie.” Angus hands me a six-inch hunting knife in a sheath.
“Thanks.” I remove my belt and loop it through the holes in the sheath, so I don’t have to carry it. “So what’s the plan?”
“Goin’ down the street to a parkin’ garage Winston knows of. We’ll locate us a vehicle, break in, siphon some gas, and get the hell outta there.”
“How are we going to drive it with no keys?”
“Don’t worry your sweet ‘lil ass. I know how to hotwire me a car. Did some time in juvie back in the day for stealin’ cars,” Angus says.
“Are you serious?”
He gives me that monkey grin of his and raises his chin. “Hell yeah I’m serious. My friends and me used to go for joyrides in their parent’s cars on the weekends.”
Of course. I’m not sure why that would surprise me, because it seems like something Angus would have done. “Are we breaking a window to get in?”
“Yeah, only way. We’ll break the window and then tape it back up, so’s the zombies can’t get in.”
I give him a smile of admiration. I was right to stick with these guys. Angus isn’t stupid. “Damn, Angus.”
“Everybody ready?” Axl calls out.
“Ready,” I say.
The others nod or call out that they’re ready too, and Axl opens the hotel door. “Keep the deadbolt on and don’t let nobody in. Doc, if somebody fishy comes up you shoot first, ask questions later. Got it?”
Joshua gives him a tense nod, then looks at me. “Be careful.”
I take a deep breath and look around. My gaze stops on Emily and that protective feeling from the bedroom comes back, full-force. “I’ll be careful.” I give her a quick smile that doesn’t feel the least bit real, then head out the door.
20
The reality of the situation hits me when we reach the lobby. The stench of death is so strong I have to pull my shirt up over my nose. The maid’s rotting corpse lays in the middle of the room. The stink is only going to get worse. The sooner we get away from this hotel, the better.
I look toward the front door and freeze. Bodies stumble around outside. Dozens of them. Some so close I could reach out and touch them if I opened the door. Men, women, children. It’s unnerving.
“Shit,” Angus says. “There’s more of ‘em than yesterday.”
“How are we getting to the parking garage?” My voice is muffled from the fabric of my shirt. “We can’t go through all these…things.” I still can’t bring myself to say the word, like saying it will make it more real somehow.
“We’re going out the back.” Winston turns away from the front door and leads us through the hotel. “Axl and I checked it out this morning. The parking garage is just a block over and there weren’t as many dead out this way.”