by C. M. Wright
“Canada, do you have anything to say before we all make a decision?” Dustin asks.
I look around again and wonder what each person is expecting me to say. Most likely, the majority, if not all, are expecting me to be a bleeding heart. To plead for his life. Hell. Even Jake looks smug as if he expects the same thing.
I am so done with this bullshit.
I push my wheelchair away from the table, turn, and begin to wheel myself toward the door Will and I came in. Halfway there, I stop. Staring at the door only a few more feet in front of me, I chase around all the thoughts running rampant through my head. Then, I turn back to the group surrounding the table, their eyes all focused on me.
“I was going to roll on out of here and let you all decide Jake's fate. I figure if you are all going to assume the worst of me, then screw you all. If you think for one second I still feel anything positive about that scum, you all better think again. Will, I love you. No one else is ever going to come between us again. I promise you that,” I pause, letting my eyes show the intensity of love I feel for my husband. When Will finally gives me his sexy grin, I turn my attention to the man of the hour.
“Jake, I know you truly believe I'm gonna get you out of this.” His cocky grin gets even cockier. “So I will.”
The gasps of shock echo throughout the room. Will's face is still turned to me, so none of the others can see what I see. He knows me. So well.
I begin to turn away again, back toward the door. Pushing myself away, I throw back over my shoulder loud enough that no one can deny what they heard me say next.
“My vote is to kill the son-of-a-bitch.”
By the time I reach the door, I feel someone take over the pushing of the wheelchair, so I relax and drop my shaky arms in my lap. Will leads me outside and we take our time going back to my room in the hospital.
Chapter Nineteen
Six Months Later -
Jake's death was a big deal in the refuge. In fact, I heard a lot of people celebrated when the bullet went through his head. We didn't acknowledge the execution at all. Will, our boys, our daughter and I stayed in my hospital room together that day, except for the half hour Will had to attend to something important. We ate together, laughed together, and just enjoyed spending the day together.
I refuse to give that monster any more of my time or thoughts. He was not going to come between me and my family ever again, so why bother thinking about it?
I did worry briefly how Greg was handling it all. I mean, Jake was his brother; but too many people assured me that Greg was doing fine. Sure, he didn’t do any celebrating; but he wants his new wife, Deborah, and his baby safe. Knowing Jake is dead helps him feel safe in a way nothing else could. Greg's baby, Dakota, seems to be happy and healthy, though his son is being closely monitored and regularly tested with Greg and his wife's blessing.
With all the new equipment the people here now have access to, it wasn't too hard to recreate the anti-zombie formula that will keep Greg and my dad alive. And I've recently been told they plan to release a shot for everyone to be given that should, we hope, immunize us from becoming zombies once we die.
Nick has moved on, finding love with a woman much closer to his age. Of course, he will never forget Vicki, but he and Beverly seem to be very happy together. She's an amazing woman and I love the hell out of her.
The refuge is still expanding with new buildings, land and people. Will worked with several groups who have set up a quarantine for people who are new and for all who come back after leaving the refuge. He also made sure security was assigned and enhanced, plus has overseen a dozen other projects.
As for me, I haven't left the refuge since the rescue of the captives in the Krew building. Not that I haven’t been asked if I would like to go, I just don’t feel the need to go anywhere. Not yet anyway.
Eventually, I know I'll have to get out and have some excitement. Being in one place too long just isn’t me. But for now, I think I’m going to enjoy having some peace and spending time with my kids, husband and family. Hell! Even boredom sounds good.
For now.
Chapter Twenty
Will
I just wanted to add something, something I cant help but say I have no regrets over. I've kept this secret from Canada, but I was the one who had the honor of putting that bullet in Jake's head. That was where I went when I had “something important to attend to”.
The actual shooting only took a few seconds. There was no hesitation on my part. I was more than ready. Yes, I was gone for a half hour. I was allowed twenty minutes with the prisoner before the execution. I don’t regret one damn second of the time I was given. My knife didn't regret it either.
Chapter Twenty-One
I know exactly where Will went the day Jake was executed, and I'm pretty sure I can guess what he did. Does that bother me?
Not.
At.
All.
I love you, Will.
You are my hero.
Always.
From The Author
Thank you for purchasing and reading the sixth book in the Zombie Overload series.
If you liked it, and I hope you did, please give it a good rating/review and tell your friends about it.
Will this be the end of the Zombie Overload Series? Good question. I guess we will just have to wait and see. You all know Canada as well as I do, so with her stubbornness and attitude, what do you think? Will it be soon? No. I have other projects in the works, other stories that need to be told, other characters who want to take over my life. I have to give them their time for now. As Canada said, for now.
C. M. Wright
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Special Thanks and Acknowledgments
Thank you to my fans who have read the entire series! You have all played a huge part in inspiring me, and I appreciate the verbal ass-kicks to keep going.
*****
Special thanks to: My husband, William, our sons, Bryson and Austin, and all my family and friends. I love you all. You have no idea how much I appreciate what each of you bring to my life!
*****
Many, many thanks to Trisha Wilko for the amazing photos, and for being the model on the covers of all of the Zombie Overload Series books. You are beautiful, even when you look hideous! Love you my friend and fellow Walking Dead freak!
*****
A huge thank you to Fiona Wilson, Eric R. Asher, Nicole Kuhn and Kristen Secorsky for being such incredible beta-readers. You all have no idea how much I treasure your mentoring and friendship. Thank you for all you do. And thanks too, Eric, for allowing me to bother you during work and way too late at night when I have a paragraph that is pissing me off! You always know how to fix it.
*****
My biggest thanks goes to God, who has given me one very twisted mind and an incredible imagination, but keeps me just sane enough to avoid the asylum. Without Him, I would just be one more ordinary nut locked in a psych-ward.
*****
And to my sister, Hope - I love you, and am finally able to appreciate why you were born to torment and terrorize me. Oh, and the series is done, so quit being a bitch and read the damn books!
About The Author
She likes to laugh and make others laugh, so she does her best to bring that to her readers...for the Zombie Overload series, anyway. Eventually, she is planning to write about other creatures that go bump in the night.
Send C.M. Wright an email or find her on Facebook and Twitter. She always responds to her fans and answers questions - if she can. She loves hearing from her readers, whether it's good or bad.