What Remains: Wasteland

by Kris Norris

  “Guess you’ll have to wait and see for yourself.” He held up another needle, this one curved. “I’ll have to do a couple of layers. That blade nicked the muscle pretty good. There could be some scarring.”

  “Guess that means I won’t win anymore beauty contests.”

  Kace smirked, working the needle with ease. “Not sure I want to know what kind of beauty contest a grunt like you has won but…”

  Kace dodged Hunter’s slap, subtly reminding him he was holding a needle. Rhys smiled. At least some of the tension between the men had lifted, though he knew the relative peace wouldn’t last. It was only a matter of time before Emersyn regained consciousness, and once that happened, all bets were off.

  The thought made him smile. Kace couldn’t have been more off base when it came to her. She could spit fire and go through infected like a Tasmanian devil without even breaking a sweat. There was no doubt that Em was a fierce warrior, and Rhys had often wondered if she’d be the same wildcat in bed or if she’d thrive on giving up some of that control. Allow her men to take her where she needed to go.

  Men.

  Damn, where had that come from? He’d always been a possessive lover and fought the very notion of multiple partners. It was part of the reason he hadn’t hesitated leaving, despite the fact he’d tried to convince himself it’d been to save Kace. But as he gazed at Emersyn, watching her face twitch, he couldn’t argue the truth that settled uncomfortably in his groin. He’d left because he hadn’t been able to come to terms with his feelings for her and didn’t know if he could share her. That’s if she even thought of him in that way.

  He glanced at Hunter. Rhys hadn’t missed the way the man looked at Em, and he could tell Hunter felt more than friendship toward the feisty redhead. Even Kace seemed taken with her, the man’s comment regarding her safety a sure sign. Kace wasn’t the kind to worry about whether women should be involved in combat or not, and the fact he’d given the idea some thought meant Em had stirred something inside him. Rhys waited for the hot prickle of jealousy to burn low in his gut, but watching the two men interact only gave him an odd sense of peace.

  He released a slow breath. He was getting far too ahead of himself. By the confused look on Emersyn’s face when he’d gazed down at her, it was more than obvious she’d thought he was dead. And knowing her the way he did, he’d have plenty of explaining to do before she’d consider anything other than knocking him on his ass. Kace cleared his throat, drawing Rhys’ attention.

  His brother patted Hunter’s leg, rolling his sleeves down as he pushed to his feet. “I’ve managed to stop the bleeding, and that patch job should hold as long as you let it heal for a couple of days. I’ll bandage it to hopefully stem off any infection, but you should take a round of antibiotics when we get back to this compound of yours…that’s if your doctor has any.”

  Hunter stared at his leg as if assessing the man’s work. “She brought a limited supply with her. I’m sure she’ll have something should I still need it by the time we get there…if we ever do.”

  Rhys took a step forward. “Glad we can always count on you for positive thinking. And what do you mean ‘she’? What happened to doctor doom? Or did he decide to go back to watching mold grow?”

  “Reynolds is dead. He was one of the casualties the night Billy…” Hunter took a deep breath, seemingly gathering his composure. “Colby’s team found a veterinarian…alive…out at some old, abandoned airstrip. Abby’s pretty amazing, even for an animal doc. She’s been a godsend. She’s also pregnant with twins.”

  “Explains why Colby, Darcy and Barrett didn’t show up to haul our asses back.”

  “Something wrong with the team you did get, buddy?”

  “Damn, you’re touchy. You know I’m happy to see you.”

  Hunter glanced at Emersyn then raised his brow.

  Rhys resisted rolling his eyes. “Both of you. You’re not the only one who considered the group family. Don’t think leaving was easy.”

  Hunter slipped off the table, bracing his weight on the edge. “Then why—?”

  A muted groan cut him off, and Rhys turned, his gaze landing on the cot. Emersyn rolled her head to the side, moaning again as she blinked. He took a deep breath then covered the short distance between them, resting his hip on the edge of the bed. She blinked again then seemed to drift off, her eyelids slowly closing.

  Rhys looked at his brother. “Are you sure you didn’t do more than knock her out? It’s not like Em to be down this long.”

  Kace glanced at Hunter, skirting the man as he made his way to the cot. “You know I don’t miss up close and personal. But I didn’t hit her that hard. Let me have a look.”

  He took Rhys’ place, checking Emersyn’s pulse and flashing a light in her eyes. He furrowed his brow and grabbed a vial out of a bag, waving the open end under her nose. Emersyn’s eyes opened, and she bolted upright, coughing as she pushed Kace’s hand away, turning her head. Kace capped the vial and tossed it in his bag then grabbed her shoulders, stopping her from moving.

  He leaned forward, urging her to lie back down. “Easy. You’ve had quite the hit to the head.” He gave her a tentative smile and held up a couple of fingers. “How many fingers am I holding up?”

  She blinked a couple of times, squinting at him before tilting her head and landing a stiff shot to his jaw, knocking him off the bed. He hit hard, barely having time to scoot backward before she staggered to her feet, glaring at him as she braced some of her weight on the frame.

  She gave him a smug smile. “Two.”

  Chapter Three

  Emersyn stared at the man splayed on his ass, the imprint of her fist a red streak across his cheek. She shook out her hand, gritting her teeth against the rush of nausea that churned through her gut. Images flip-flopped, and she had to take several quick breaths before the room stopped spinning. Her name sounded close by, but all she saw was the man in front of her.

  She glared at him, finally straightening. “I’m assuming you’re the asshole who hit me in the back of the head.”

  The man clenched his jaw, making the vein in his temple dance. “In my defense, I didn’t realize you were friendly.”

  “Well, the next time you’d best pray you kill me because I’ll sure as hell kick your ass until you wish you had.” She winced, grabbing the back of her head. A large lump had blossomed just above her neck, and she pulled her fingers away, certain there’d be blood on them. Footsteps echoed beside her, and she looked up, stumbling onto the bed again when a familiar gaze met hers, those eyes exactly as she remembered.

  He gave her a sexy half smile before stopping an arm’s length away. He went to one knee in front of her, his hand reaching to rest on her thigh. “You thrown enough punches yet or should I stay clear for a while longer?”

  “Rhys?”

  His smile widened, making her stomach drop and her heart pound. God, he was just as handsome as he’d been the day he’d left, though he looked a bit thinner. Her gaze swept over his body, taking in broad shoulders and bulging biceps that stretched the fabric of his long-sleeved shirt. His waist seemed narrower, but his thighs were just as powerful as ever, making him appear completely edible in his jeans.

  Questions tumbled through her head when the notion struck her. She leaned forward and trailed her fingertips down his jaw. The stubble sent tiny vibrations up her hand, and she stopped with her thumb brushed against his cheek. The fine lines around his eyes crinkled as his expression softened, and she had to resist falling to her knees in front of him and losing herself in his arms.

  Instead, she drew her hand back and stumbled to her feet, taking a few shaky steps away. Emotions she’d bottled up for months rushed to the surface, and she had to choke back the sob clogging her throat. Rhys sighed behind her as a hand settled on her shoulder.

  “Damn it, Hunter, don’t get in the middle of this.”

  “How the hell did you know it was me without looking?”

  She glanced at him over her shoul
der, hopeful he wouldn’t see the tears pooled in her eyes. “Please. I can tell the difference between you two with my eyes shut. Your hands have more calluses, and your grip tends to cup rather than clench. Rhys is intense in everything he does, even if it’s just holding your shoulder. He’s also larger than you, and has a different scent. You’re all pine trees and spice where he’s autumn leaves and musk.”

  Hunter’s eyes widened as he shook his head. “Shit. I had no idea you were so attuned to us. Guess my mother was right. Women are far more observant than men when it comes to the opposite sex.”

  “Or maybe it just comes from spending the past four years with you guys…twenty-four, seven.”

  Hunter gave her a stunning smile as he traced the line of her jaw, brushing away a single tear that escaped her lashes and cascaded down her cheek. She cringed inwardly, consciously drawing herself up and plastering the stony facade on her face that she’d perfected over the past six months. She’d already admitted her feelings to him when she’d thought they weren’t going to make it. She couldn’t afford to let him see how deep those feelings actually went, not when it seemed obvious she was nothing more than a teammate to either of them.

  Hunter frowned and took a step back, shaking his head as he limped over to the table and leaned against it, his head bowed to his chest. He looked broken, and a spark of hope burned in her chest. Was he upset because she’d distanced herself? Could that mean he felt something more than simple friendship?

  She shook the irritating thought away. He’d had six months to show her that his feelings ran deeper, but he hadn’t so much as given her a second look since Billy died.

  Rhys walked over to her, stopping a couple of feet back. “Don’t take this out on Hunter because you’re pissed at me. He wasn’t the one who let you down.”

  She raised a brow. “Trust me when I say, I haven’t taken anything out on him.”

  “So you didn’t just pull back and shut yourself off? I’m the only one who saw that and how much it kills him when you do?”

  Her bravado faltered slightly, and she chanced a look at the man in question. He’d put on his own mask—tight lips drawn into a fine line, the edges turned down into a slight frown. His eyes had narrowed as if he was squinting to see her better, and his back was ramrod straight.

  She glared at Rhys, anger making her cheeks feel red-hot. “In case you haven’t noticed, the world ended. Translation—emotions are a luxury we can’t afford. Caring only gets you hurt.”

  He sighed. “The day you don’t care, Em, is the day I shoot myself in the head.”

  She stepped forward and swung her arm, aiming her open palm at his cheek when the guy she’d knocked on his ass moved between them, catching her hand mid-swing. Strong fingers encircled her wrist, holding her slap at bay as he shuffled closer, rustling her collar with his breath.

  “Don’t blame Rhys. This isn’t his fault, it’s mine. He only left because I needed him. And I know that decision has been killing him inside every day he’s been here.”

  Em clenched her jaw, finally giving the guy a good hard look. His hair was darker than Rhys’ and marginally shorter, with the ends curling slightly around his face. His hazel eyes appeared large in his oval face, giving him a boyish charm she hadn’t noticed before. He wasn’t sporting the facial hair the other man was, and there was no doubt his jawline mimicked that of Rhys.

  She swept her gaze down his body. Lean muscles created dips in the fabric, hinting at a strong physique beneath the worn jeans and tee. But there was an intelligence to him that overshadowed the other features, and she had a feeling there was far more to the man than what was on the surface.

  Emersyn inhaled, cursing the sweet essence that filled her head as the guy continued to crowd her, making the room seem even hotter. She tried to take a step back, but he moved with her, keeping her body close to his. His gaze bored into hers, as if he needed some kind of acknowledgement before he’d release her. She huffed out her irritation, ignoring the way that full mouth of his lifted into a small, sexy grin.

  “You’d best release my arm before I remove yours and stick it up your ass.”

  He laughed, gently lowering her hand but not letting go. “It appears my previous assumption was incorrect.”

  “And what assumption was that?”

  “That you needed protecting. Rhys said you were one-hundred percent badass, but I suppose I had to see it for myself to believe it.”

  Em scrunched up her face, glancing at Rhys over the guy’s massive shoulders. “Who the hell is this guy?”

  The man inched over to his right, blocking out the view of Rhys behind him. “The name’s Kace. Kace Scott.”

  Her mouth gaped open. “Scott? As in the same last name as Rhys?” She yanked her arm free and stepped around him, marching over to Rhys. “There something you want to tell me?”

  Rhys didn’t so much as flinch. “I think it’s fairly obvious.”

  “Well, either you have a little brother you never fucking mentioned in the four years we basically lived together as a team, or you’re secretly married to this guy and he took your last name.” She leaned closer. “I’d understand the latter of the two.”

  The corner of Rhys’ mouth lifted. “I’m not married to him, Em.”

  “Figured as much.” She struck quickly, lashing out one foot and sweeping his legs from underneath him.

  He fell back, landing on his ass with a resounding thud. The solid impact eased some of the emotions still rioting through her system, and she held her ground when both Hunter and Kace took a step toward her.

  Rhys waved his hand, halting them before they closed the distance. He eyed her, that luscious mouth curving up again. “Nice strike. But if memory serves me correctly, you always went for the chest?”

  “I needed a new move. Hunter got too good at anticipating me.”

  “I’ll be sure to thank him properly later.” Rhys cocked his head to the side. “You done, or am I in for a round two?”

  “Oh we’re far from done, but you won’t see it coming.”

  The man simply nodded, gaining his feet. He moved into her personal space, pausing when his face hovered inches from hers. The sheer closeness of him made her heart skip a beat, but every inhalation only infused his scent into her head. She held his gaze as he studied her, his dark eyes scanning every inch of her face, and it took all her strength not to look away before he saw through her facade to the woman beneath the fatigues.

  Something akin to a contented sigh breezed between them as his hand stroked along her jaw. “Damn. You’re even more beautiful than I remember. I can’t believe a group of men haven’t stolen your heart and tamed that wild side just a bit.”

  “Guess I’m just not the settling type.”

  He chuckled, leaning in so his mouth brushed along the shell of her ear. “Or maybe the right guys haven’t had the balls to ask you yet.”

  She couldn’t hide the visible tremor that worked through her body as the soft skin of his lips caressed her cheek. She held her breath, not sure whether to toss him on his ass again or beg him to hold her. Rhys took her momentary indecision as a chance to ease back, once again watching her from a step away. If he’d noticed her raw reaction, he wasn’t showing it.

  Em drew herself up, crossing her arms on her chest to hide the way her nipples had beaded into tight buds or how a pink flush had crept down her neck and across the upper swell of her breasts. Even fully clothed, she knew the men would catch on.

  She nodded at Hunter. “You get any information while I was out?”

  He shook his head. “Rhys wanted to wait until you were awake, so I know about as much as you.”

  She glanced back at Rhys. “I’d start talking if I were you, and I wouldn’t stop until my pulse is somewhere close to normal.”

  He chuckled. “Not sure that’s going to happen with the four of us in the same room but…” He dodged the playful punch she aimed at him. “Why don’t we go into the other bunker, and I’ll get y
ou both some coffee.”

  She blocked his way when he moved to go past her. “The coffee can wait. Talk.”

  “Damn, girl. You always were a hard sell.” He waved at the cot she’d woken on. “Fine. Be stubborn. But at least sit down before Kace has another patient to stitch up.”

  She looked at Hunter, finally noticing the bandage on his leg before shifting her focus to Rhys’ brother. Great. The new guy had medical skills on top of being Rhys’ sibling. Just another factor that would likely bite her in the ass once Rhys was finished explaining. And if her suspicions were correct, it’d be hard to resent the man for leaving.

  She released a weary breath as she walked over to the cot, sinking onto it with a sense of apprehension. She wasn’t sure she really wanted to know the truth. To hear facts that would alter her feelings and make her respect the man more than she had. Hell, she’d just confessed to Hunter that she’d been in love with him forever. Knowing Rhys was alive complicated that. One of the reasons she’d never made an open play for any of the men was because of how close they all had been, and the simple fact that she’d never been able to truly choose. All of them had stolen a piece of her heart. Then the world as they knew it had ended, and she’d been given the unique opportunity to explore her complicated feelings. Multiple partners meant she didn’t have to feel guilty for loving all of them.

  But before she’d mustered the nerve to approach the men—to take a risk far greater than facing a hundred undead—Rhys had vanished. And she’d been left with a void the others couldn’t fill. Then Billy had died, and she’d had to close herself off to keep from going insane. She’d known then that she would never find two other men who’d touched her the way Rhys and Billy had—men she’d trust with her life. Men Hunter would accept. And with single couplings as dead as the zombies, her love for Hunter had become nothing but a dream she’d never be able to realize. Not as long as they stayed within the compound.

  Emersyn closed her eyes. This was too surreal. Too insane. Here she was in the middle of an apocalyptic wasteland, and she was worried about fulfilling more than her basic needs. She was lucky to have food, shelter. To have men she trusted to watch her back. Love wasn’t part of the equation, and the quicker she accepted that, the better.