Vengeance (Twenty-Five Percent Book 3) (33 page)

Darren pushed the final pair of socks into his khaki green duffle bag and looked around the bedroom in the house he’d called home for the past four weeks.

Well, that wasn’t entirely true; he’d never actually called it home. The tiny one bedroom house he’d commandeered in Sarcester was nice enough, but he’d always known it was temporary. And now he was leaving and would probably never see it again.

He checked the wardrobe one last time, in case he’d forgotten anything. Not that he had much to forget. Thank goodness for the big and tall men’s clothing store in the city centre or he’d have been wearing jeans that stopped at his calves. Him and the rest of his fellow ex-Boot bodyguards, Brian, Rick, Ben, Ian, Tom and Charlie. Funny how when they were working together he’d never thought of them by their first names. Not that he regarded them as bosom buddies now, but things had become a little less... formal.

He briefly wondered where the others were, Pinner and the rest who had followed Boot to the bitter end and then run when they finally realised they were on the losing side. Darren had searched after Boot was dead, without any real idea what he was going to do if he found any of them, but he never did. The hotel where they’d stayed was deserted. Maybe one day he would come across a small horde of very tall eaters. He wouldn’t lose any sleep if he did. Survival, that was the name of the game now. They’d picked the wrong side.

He closed the wardrobe door on the black suit still hanging in there, did a final sweep of the bedroom, then ducked out the door and carried his bag down the narrow stairs.

The unnecessarily cheerful doorbell played its jaunty tune. Darren dropped his bag at the bottom of the stairs and opened the door.

“I hear you’re leaving.”

He stepped aside to let MacCallum in, leaving the door open. “Brian blabbed I take it?”

He looked down at the bag. “You were just going to sneak off?”

“Sneak off? What am I, a prisoner?” Darren walked through to the kitchen and began pulling a selection of small, high calorie items from the cupboards to take with him in case he didn’t find food immediately. Chocolate, mostly.

MacCallum walked in after him and leaned against the doorframe. He folded his arms across his chest then unfolded them again with a slight wince.

Darren noticed how he also favoured his right leg, but considering he’d been shot three times only four weeks previously, MacCallum looked in good shape. He and Clarke were ridiculously lucky to have made it out of the confrontation with Boot alive. Darren had been among those who rushed to them when they heard MacCallum’s call for help on the radio. Both of them had looked like they were dead already. The guilt he’d felt when he saw their bloody, bruised forms still bothered him. He didn’t like feeling guilty.

Maybe that was why he’d stayed this long, volunteering for every unpleasant, dangerous job there had been over the past weeks, first hunting down the rogue eaters still wandering the city streets, then enduring endless days of helping to clear the thousands of bodies littering the streets. The smell still lingered in his nostrils.

There was a possibility he’d been trying to work away his guilt at being part of the cause of all the suffering. But it still hovered in the back of his mind, no matter how hard he worked and how often he told himself he was just following Boot’s orders and trying to stay alive. He hated that.

“You could stay,” MacCallum said.

“No thanks. I don’t want to be part of this whole all for one and one for all thing you’ve got going on here.”

“People will forgive you, if you give them a chance.”

Frowning, Darren picked up the small pile of nutritionally void food items and pushed past him. “I don’t need their forgiveness.”

“If you say so,” MacCallum said, following him back to the front door.

Darren waved him off. “Has anyone ever told you how annoying you are?”

The corner of his mouth hitched up. “Once or twice.”

Darren packed the chocolate bars and crisp packets into the bag and zipped it closed.

“We could use you here,” MacCallum said. “I hope this will all be over soon, I really do. Hannah, Larry, Pauline and Dave are working on a way to mass produce the cure and somehow deliver it to hordes of eaters all at once, and maybe even before that help will come from somewhere. But if it doesn’t, we’re on our own, and most of the people here aren’t fighters. You’re one of the few who are. We need you.”

Darren slung the bag over his shoulder and turned to face him. If he had a moment of doubt about his decision to leave, he chose to ignore it. “Thanks for the offer, but no. I don’t belong here.”

He pushed the key into the outside of the door and stepped out into the chilly morning air, heading for the shiny new Jeep parked on the road beyond the small, overgrown garden. Opening the back door, he threw the duffle bag onto the seat inside.

“Where are you going?” MacCallum said from behind him.

Darren slammed the door shut. “Bristol, to find my parents and my sisters.” He didn’t add,
if they’re still alive
.

“Well, you’re welcome to bring them back here when you find them,” MacCallum said. He held out his right hand. “Thank you, for saving my life.”

“I didn’t set out to save your life, MacCallum. I ended Boot’s. Or at least I thought I did.”

“Call me Alex. And thank you anyway.”

His hand remained extended, hovering in the space between them. After a moment’s hesitation, Darren grasped it.

Alex smiled. “Be careful out there. There are things that will eat you alive.”

Darren was surprised to feel himself almost smiling back. “You don’t say.” He climbed into the driver’s seat, closed the door, and rolled down the window. “Good luck, Alex.”

“When you’re as good as me, you don’t need luck.”

Darren stared at him. “You’re kidding, right? You attract injuries like a magnet.”

“I prefer to regard that as a consequence of my naturally self-sacrificing personality,” Alex said, grinning.

This time, Darren did smile. “You are a weird person.”

The Jeep’s engine roared into life when he turned the key. With a last nod to Alex, Darren pulled away and headed down the road.

He didn’t look back.

“You’re sure her shift ends now?” Alex said.

“I got Claire to check. She finishes at two.”

Micah came to a halt and stared at the entrance to the Castle Hill Leisure Centre a little way along the road. The sprawling building had been converted into something of a central hub for supplies and people were coming and going through the open gates. It was also a base for those who were re-establishing the infrastructure of the city, as well as the teams who regularly went outside the barriers to forage and find anyone who might need help. It was one of, if not
the
busiest place in Sarcester now and many people worked there.

Including Beth Cutter.

“What if she says no?” Micah said, looking uncharacteristically insecure.

“You sound like you’ve never asked a woman out before,” Alex said.

“I’ve asked plenty of women out. Dozens, maybe even hundreds, since I asked Esther Landers out when I was thirteen. She was fifteen, by the way,
and
she said yes. I totally nailed it. I’m very good at asking women out.” He touched his fingertips to his nose. “Just not since...”

“Stopping stressing about your nose,” Alex said. “It’s fine.”

“Are you sure it looks okay?”

“You can’t even tell it was broken. Pauline did a great job fixing it. Of course, it does have the disadvantage of being attached to the rest of your face, but you should be used to that after twenty-seven years.”

Micah threw him a withering glance and started walking. As they approached the gate, Beth walked out.

Micah stopped again. “Okay.” He drew in a deep breath and smiled. “I’d ask you to wish me luck, but let’s face it, what sane woman could resist this?” He waved a hand at himself like he was presenting a prize on a game show.

Alex chuckled and gave him a small push in Beth’s direction. “Stop with the self-love and go and ask her.”

“Okay, I...”

Micah froze as Ben walked through the gates and jogged up to Beth. He leaned down to kiss her and they strolled away, arms draped around each other.

Micah’s shoulders slumped.

Alex winced in sympathy. “I’m sorry.”

“When did that happen?” Micah said, still staring after Beth and Ben.

“Probably while we were away. We did stay at your parents’ place for two weeks.”

Micah turned to face him. “Yeah, but, but...” He threw his hands into the air. “We were healing! We almost died heroically saving the city from Boot. We
needed
that time off. She could have waited for me. And, and, and... that is so uncool of Ben, stealing her while I was incapacitated. You just don’t do that to another guy. And how on earth did he get past her father?”

“Did she know you were interested in her? Did Ben?”

Micah planted both hands onto his hips and looked at them again. “That is
so
not the point. She obviously just prefers muscles over brains.”

“I thought Ben had a degree in...”

Micah held his hand up to stop him. “Don’t. Just don’t. I need this.”

“Sorry.” Alex placed one hand on his shoulder. “You’re completely right; she’s always had a thing for the big, dumb ones.”

“Thought so.” Micah puffed out a breath. “Well, now we’re here I might as well pick up some supplies. Lucy is eating me out of house and home.”

They resumed their walk towards the leisure centre.

“I told you, Survivors have higher metabolisms,” Alex said. “We have to eat more.”

“Yeah, she gave me that excuse too. I still don’t believe it. I asked her if she’d been talking to you. She said no. I didn’t believe that either.”

Alex tried to hide his smile. He wasn’t entirely successful. “She needs guidance. I like being a mentor.”

“Yeah, well... for some unknown reason she looks up to you, so do me a favour and tell her to do what I say. I love her to bits and I’m glad she’s with me, but looking after a sixteen-year-old is a nightmare. I don’t know how many teenage boys survived the outbreak in Sarcester, but I swear every single one of them wants to date my sister. You’d think her eyes would put them off, but oh no. Apparently having white eyes is in now.”

Alex grinned. “Really?”

“And it’s not like I can stop her from doing what she wants, now she’s, like, twice as strong as I am.”

“It’s probably closer to three times as strong.”

Micah gave him a look. “Not helping. At least I don’t have to worry about her being safe since she can beat any one of them to mush, but she’s still driving me crazy. I used to be the cool big brother, now I’m the big brother who has to tell her to pick up her clothes and clean up after herself. The sooner I find our parents and they take over, the better. I’m seriously considering leaving the flat to her and moving in with you.”

“You’re only across the hall. You practically
have
moved in with me.”

Micah heaved an exaggerated sigh. “Does the sofa miss me? Tell me it does.”

“I hear it sobbing during the night.”

As they neared the gate leading into the car park, they saw Sam and Claire heading for the front entrance. Alex waved, but neither of them noticed as they walked arm in arm, staring adoringly into each other’s eyes. Sam walked her to the doors where they kissed for a little longer than was publically acceptable before she went inside. He watched her until she was out of sight then wandered back towards the gate and Alex and Micah, a dopey smile on his face as he gazed into the sky.

“That look can only mean one thing,” Micah said as they watched him. “You are off the hook for relieving Sam of his V-card.” He sighed. “At least
he’s
getting some.”

Sam was almost on top of them before he noticed they were there. He grinned and ran over.

“So,” Alex said, “looks like things are going well with you and Claire.”

A huge smile stretched Sam’s cheeks. “I... she... we...” He breathed out a sigh. “She’s amazing.”

Micah looked at Alex with a mock serious expression. “He’s practically glowing, he’s smiling like a Cheshire cat, and he’s lost the power of coherent speech. I’d say he’s in love. What do you think, Doctor MacCallum?”

Alex pretended to study Sam for a few seconds, nodding slowly. “The signs are definitely there, Professor Clarke. All evidence points to it.”

Sam’s face turned scarlet as he pushed his hands into his pockets and looked at the ground.

Micah slapped him on the back, grinning. “We’re happy for you, Sam. Claire’s cool.” He looked at Alex. “I’m going to check the wall.”

He headed into the building. ‘The wall’ was how people had come to refer to the place they’d cleared in the reception area for notices and photos of lost loved ones. Someone had organised it, alphabetising the display, providing space for any news to be written, and keeping it tidy. In the middle of the C section was the photo of Micah’s family and every day he checked it, in case any among the trickle of refugees entering the city had left any news about his parents. He was still hoping they would make their way to Sarcester somehow.

“What’s going on over there?” Sam was looking past Alex to the end of the building.

Alex followed his line of sight to see Janie, Penny, Carrie and Patrice all facing in the same direction, staring at something around the corner. He and Sam strolled over to the huddle of women.

“What’s up?” he said.

No-one answered. They seemed to be in some sort of trance. Alex moved forward to see whatever had their undivided attention.

Fifty feet away, in an area by a set of double doors where supplies were moved in and out of the building, Brian was loading boxes into one of the pickup trucks they were using for food distribution.

He’d taken his shirt off.

“Seriously?” Alex said, appalled. “What if a group of us men were standing around watching a half-naked woman?”

“Did someone just say something?” Penny said, not moving her gaze from the muscle-bound man.

“I didn’t hear anything,” Janie replied.

Alex heaved an exasperated sigh. “I am so disappointed in you all.”

Micah walked up to the group. “What’s going on?” He spotted Brian. “You have got to be kidding me.”

“Why do girls like big muscles?” Sam said.

Janie glanced at him. “Why do men like big boobs?”

Sam turned bright red, looking like an animal caught in the headlights. “I... um... because they look like they can feed babies well?”

Micah stifled a chuckle.

“Well done,” Janie said, returning her attention to Brian.

The big man stopped and stretched, arching his back and pushing out his ample chest. A sigh rippled through the group of women. Alex saw Brian’s gaze flick for a split second to his audience before he went back to work.

“He knows they’re watching,” he muttered to Micah. “The exhibitionist.”

“I don’t know who’s worse,” Micah replied, “him or them.”

“Honey?”

Alex turned at the sound of Hannah’s voice, smiling as she approached.

Finally, someone who appreciates the man she has.

He slid his arms around her waist and pressed a lingering kiss to her lips. When they parted, she gave him a smile that made his heart thud.

“The new equipment is arriving from the hospital,” she said, her arms still draped around his neck, “so I’m going to the lab before Dave grabs all the cool stuff for his workstation. I love him like a brother, but that man can be so obsessive about his gadgets. What’s everyone looking at... Whoa.” She stopped, her eyes fixed on Brian.

“No, please,” Alex said, “not you too.”

It was as if he’d suddenly ceased to exist. She let him go and wandered over to join the other women.

“I knew he had a rather well developed musculature,” Hannah said, “but that is impressive. The recti abdominis are particularly fine.”

“I don’t know what that is,” Carrie said, “but I totally agree with you.”

Sam lowered his voice. “I’m glad Claire isn’t here.”

“How is he still single?” Patrice said.

“If it wasn’t for Logan, I totally would,” Carrie replied, then winced as she looked at Janie. “Sorry.”

Janie shook her head and smiled. “If it wasn’t for Kenny, I totally would too.”

The group erupted into giggles. Alex hadn’t seen Janie giggle once in the four years he’d known her. In the past week he’d seen her do it on at least three separate occasions. Things were certainly changing.

Carrie glanced at Alex. “Sorry, Alex, you’ll always be special to me. You know you were my first when I was fifteen.”

Four faces whipped round to stare at him. Hannah raised her eyebrows.

“
Crush
,” he said quickly. “She means
crush
. I was her first
crush
.”

With the final box loaded, Brian closed the truck’s tailgate and picked up his shirt. He looked straight at the women, winked, then strolled back into the building, his shirt draped over one shoulder.

Alex couldn’t help rolling his eyes.

“I wonder if he does that every day at this time,” Penny said.

Carrie grinned. “It couldn’t hurt to come and check.”

Patrice looked at her watch. “Two o’clock tomorrow then?”

“It’s a date,” Janie said. She bent to pick up a cardboard box marked Pampers on the ground next to her. “Better get these back to Kim. I’d forgotten how many nappies kids go through.” She raised one hand as she walked away. “See you later, white-eyes.”

Hannah reached up to kiss Alex. “I’ll see you tonight.”

With the show over, the women disbanded, leaving Alex, Micah and Sam alone. There were a few seconds of silent contemplation.

Alex rubbed his jaw. “Does anyone else have an urge to go and bench press a car right now?”

“I think I’m going to go and see how Claire is,” Sam said. “And if Brian is anywhere near her, I’ll ask him to get dressed.”

“I can’t believe Hannah would be interested in such a shallow thing as big muscles,” Alex said as Sam walked off towards the front entrance.

“Beth too,” Micah said. “Ben looks like the Hulk. Seriously, they wouldn’t even need to CGI him. Just spray paint him green and he’d be good to go.”

“It’s not like we’re hideous trolls. Hannah says she thinks I’m handsome. And Beth would have been lucky to have you.”

“Damn right.”

“And anyway, what does Brian have that we don’t?”

“Muscles the size of beach balls?”

“I meant
apart
from that.”

Micah shook his head. “I have no idea.”

“We saved the city, for goodness’ sake.”

“Maybe even the world. If Boot had won and got that virus out...”

“Exactly.” Alex nodded, finalising the matter. “We’re heroes.”