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Authors: Kris Norris

Tags: #Paranormal Multiple Partner Erotic Romance

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BOOK: What Remains_Reckoning
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Hamilton gave her hand a squeeze. “Just say the word, and I’ll scoop you up.”

She snorted. “I’m quite capable of walking.”

“Right. And just because you look like a bloody ghost and your entire body is still dancing a jig doesn’t mean anything. Perfect.”

“You’re a pain in the ass, you know that?”

His gaze slid to her hips and backside before returning to her face. “Good guys usually are. Remember. Just give me a sign and I’ll help you.”

She nodded, wanting to refute the notion but aware it’d be a lie. Instead, she moved forward between Gunner and Wolfe as the men cracked open the door, scanning the surrounding area before looking at her.

Gunner smiled. “You ready?”

“More than.”

“We’ll have to walk like we belong. Three people skulking along are sure to draw attention. But if we do get spotted, follow Wolfe. He’ll see you get clear of the grounds.”

She glanced at the man in question. “But what about—”

Wolfe cut her off with a warm finger over her lips. “Don’t worry about either of them. Beau has no idea who he’s up against.”

Wolfe’s claim sent a shiver tingling down her spine, only she wasn’t convinced it was fear this time. It felt more like a tendril of excitement. An awakening of a part of her she’d long since buried. And she wasn’t quite sure what to make of it.

Gunner nudged her forward, giving her another stunning smile as they left the barn, turning right toward one of the other buildings. The man seemed to know where he was heading, which either meant they’d been casing the compound like they’d said or that she was about to be betrayed. A shadow passed in the distance as one of Beau’s men stopped to survey the yard. He gave a single salute, moving on again when Wolfe returned it. He glanced over at her, winking his reassurance as they halted at the corner of the far barn, cloaking themselves in the dark pools lining the building.

Hamilton popped out a few feet in front of them, waving them closer. Morgan swung her head around, searching the area behind them. Christ, when the hell did the man get in front of them? He’d been tailing them the entire way. Yet there was no mistaking it was Hamilton as they regrouped, the man’s face blurring into focus.

He darted in beside them, huddling close. “There are three trucks parked inside and another, smaller one just around the corner. It doesn’t look like much but it’ll be a far sight safer to steal. We’d have to open the large, double doors at the rear of the barn if we want one of the others.”

Gunner shook his head. “That’d make way too much noise and draw every one of Beau’s men. We don’t have that kind of time or the resources to fight them off. And it’s only a matter of time before they find Bobby and that other bastard.”

Ham nodded. “What do you want to do about the guards once we reach the gate? There’s always at least two of them standing watch.”

Gunner grimaced. “I hate to take out anyone still remotely human. Even the idiots here. Some might be as much the victim as the others. Beau made it quite clear you agree to be one of his
brothers
, or he kills you.”

Morgan huffed. “Right. Being a guy in this camp is the hard part.”

“I’m not saying that to lessen anything the women have suffered. Beau’s a psychopath. He gets pleasure out of hurting anyone and everyone. That doesn’t mean every one of the men here are bastards, too. There’s got to be the odd one that doesn’t abuse the women.”

“Yeah. You three.”

Gunner’s expression sobered. “Fuck. Just our luck. We go in search of possible survivors and end up at some twisted version of the Playboy mansion. This sucks.” He pushed a hand through his brown hair, looking as if he wanted to pull some of it out. “Fine. We hit the gate. Eliminate any threat. But we do it as quietly and as minimally as needed.”

Hamilton motioned to Wolfe’s rifle. “No silencer.”

“I know.” Gunner grunted. “I’m banking on the fact you haven’t lost your touch with a knife.”

“All I need to do is see them.”

“Got it. Let’s get the hell out of here. This place is fucked up.”

Morgan followed them around the corner, scoffing at the truck Hamilton wanted to use. They’d be lucky to get two of them in the cab based on how large all the men were. Even then it’d be a tight squeeze. She wasn’t sure how the man thought they’d all fit.

Gunner laughed as he jumped behind the wheel, shoving his hand under the steering column and yanking a bunch of cables out. He flipped through them, picking out a couple before motioning to Hamilton. The man gave Gunner one knife, waiting as he stripped the wires then handed back the weapon.

Morgan raised a brow. “They teach you how to hotwire cars in the reserves?”

Gunner grinned at her though the open door. “Nope. Learned that growing up on the wrong side of the tracks.” He eased back, smiling at his work. “Okay, we’re good to go once we’re clear. I just hope she starts.” He nodded at her. “Okay, honey. In you get. You’ll have to eventually sit on someone’s lap. Hamilton, you’re in the flatbed. Make sure you don’t miss those targets. Wolfe has your back in case there’s more than two.”

“Ready whenever you guys are. Let’s get this baby rolling.”

Morgan gasped when Wolfe grabbed her by the waist and bodily tossed her into the cab. She tumbled against Gunner, his hard body stopping her from falling into the console. He helped her ease into the seat as the other two men pushed the truck, jumping on board when it started to roll down the short incline. Wolfe kept the rifle poised near the window, his body squishing her between the two men. His elbow brushed against her breast and she tensed, trying to make herself as small as possible.

He glanced over at her. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you.”

“I’m not scared.”

His lips pushed down at bit. “No. You’re terrified. Look, I don’t know what Beau and his men did to you—well, we have an idea but—we said we wouldn’t hurt you and we won’t. Period. We’re not like them.”

She gave him a guarded look, not sure what to reply, especially when the only answer seemed to be, “I know.” But even with all they’d done, she couldn’t bring herself to mutter the words. She’d heard promises before. They’d always ended up being lies.

Instead, she sat between them in silence, dreading each second that seemed to drag by. It meant they were closer to the gate, and she wasn’t sure if they’d make it out. Gunner lifted one hand, making a series of signals she guessed were for Hamilton. Muffled noises sounded behind her a moment before the gate wavered into view. Two guys stood near the junction, turning toward them before clutching at their shoulders. Their weapons fell heavily to the ground as the men collapsed back against the wire, slowly sliding down until their asses hit the dirt.

The door beside her opened and Wolfe was gone, reaching the men as Gunner slowed their vehicle. Wolfe grabbed one, punching the guy in the jaw, allowing the man’s head to loll over to one side before circling his arms around the man’s chest. Hamilton followed suite with the other, dragging him to lie beside Wolfe’s guy at the side of the gate. Then they scanned the area, quietly disengaging the lock then sliding open the unit.

Gunner reached under the console, rubbing the wires together until a few sparks arced between them and the motor hummed to life. He maneuvered the machine through the small opening, stopping as the two men closed the gate then made for the truck. A bright beam of light suddenly illuminated the tailgate of the vehicle, the distinct ping of gunfire popping to life.

“I think they know we’re gone.” Hamilton’s voice sounded beside her as both men jumped into the vehicle.

She inhaled sharply as his hands slid under her thighs, sliding her on top of him. Hard muscle flexed beneath her legs the strength easing some of the tension bunching her shoulders. She resisted the urge to glance at him over her shoulder, trying to stay out of Gunner’s way as he barreled down the dusty road, when a body appeared in the headlights.

She screamed, shielding her face as the truck veered left, clipping the mirror on the zombie’s head. The creature bounced off the side of the truck, the sickening sound of its skull slamming into the ground following them.

Gunner glanced quickly over his shoulder, cursing when three more appeared in front of them. He swerved again, this time hitting two when they lunged at the truck. He compensated for the skid of the tires, somehow keeping the vehicle upright.

He rounded another bend, the headlights highlighting a small herd of infected. “Hold on.”

Gunner rammed them, avoiding as many as he could as he kept up the speed, blood and bone smearing across the windows. Morgan huddled into Hamilton, not caring what he thought of her and whether she’d regret her actions in the morning. Fear jacked up her heart rate, and she half wondered if she might pass out.

She cursed her involuntary reaction. Even after all this time, the damn things creeped her the hell out. And it wasn’t as if she hadn’t fought them off. She’d killed more than her fair share. But somehow being in the truck, vulnerable, unable to choose her own fate, made the fear threefold.

Hamilton held her tight when she turned to stare at his chest, whispering soothing words as the vehicle danced across the dirt road, spraying gravel and sand in every direction. He didn’t ask her to loosen her death grip on his shirt or to slow her suddenly erratic breathing, shifting her slightly so he pull her closer, her head now resting on his chest.

“Fuck!” Gunner’s voice sounded more than a bit angry. “Where the hell are they all coming from? There’re only small towns remotely close.” He huffed as the truck shimmied around another corner. “We won’t last long on this logging road. We need somewhere else to go, before we run out of gas still surrounded by these things. There’s not much fuel in the tank.”

Hamilton tensed beneath her. “Sorry, bro. Beggars and all that.”

Gunner chuckled. “You found a way out for us. Can’t ask for more than that. And the throws…” He whistled. “Nice. And you didn’t even kill them.”

“They could still die, but…”

Morgan sighed, knowing how the sentence ended. Hamilton hadn’t wanted to kill them outright. And that fact just made her heart race faster.

She spared a glance at the road. More infected lined the edges, their eyes glowing red in the headlights. She tried to judge which way they were heading, gasping when she saw a familiar marker. “Turn right at that rock up there. There’s a small two-track that leads higher into the mountains. There’s a ranger cabin near the peak. It’s surrounded by wildlife fencing. Should keep the majority of those things out. At least, it seemed to work that way the last time I was there.”

Gunner looked over at her. “A ranger cabin? Does Beau know about this place?”

“It was decommissioned years ago. I doubt he’s ever been up there. He preferred to stay in town. Had his fingers into everything. Always left the uncivilized duties to someone else.” She snorted in disgust. “Even if he does, he’ll never risk coming out at night. That’s if he even bothers to follow.”

Wolfe grunted this time. “Oh, he’ll follow. He doesn’t seem like the type to let others take what’s his.”

“I’m
not
his.”

Wolfe grinned. “Of course you’re not. But the guy’s too delusional to see that. He thinks he owns you. He’ll come looking.”

Hamilton gave her another squeeze. “Don’t worry. We can handle Beau. Let’s just get somewhere safe for a bit. We can work it out there.”

Gunner seemed to accept the reasoning and turned hard onto the narrow path after the rock. The truck shuddered as the tires fought to get traction then lurched forward, bumping along the trail as it wound its way up the side of the mountain. Nothing but trees graced the dirt track, the long, sweeping branches nearly touching the vehicle as they followed the road, finally stopping when a small cabin appeared in the twin beams of light.

Gunner slowed, finally stopping at an odd-looking gate. “Is this the place?”

She gave him her first real smile. “I know it doesn’t look like much, but…” She motioned to the gate. “It’s not quite as impressive as Beau’s complex, but it keeps the animals in and those bastards out. At least, it kept the old breed out. Who knows about this new one. Though the wire seems to be a bit harder for them to scale. It’s quite sharp.”

Wolfe nodded at the gate. “Does it just slide open?”

“Like I said. It’s not that sophisticated.”

Gunner grinned. “It’s a far sight better than that damn barn. Wolfe…”

The man did a quick scan of the area then jumped out, easily opening the gate. He marshaled them inside, closing it behind them before jogging toward the cabin, rifle at the ready. Morgan watched him disappear inside, not sure how she felt about him risking his safety for her—or them—even if the others seemed more than okay with it.

The man appeared a minute later, giving what she assumed was the ‘all clear’ signal. Hamilton shuffled her off his lap, climbing out of the truck before offering her his hand. She stared at it for several heartbeats before accepting. She managed about two steps before her legs gave out, and she fell against him, a whimper of pain hissing free.

Hamilton scooped her up, holding her against his chest as his lips brushed along her forehead. “Easy, baby. We’ll get you inside where you can rest. Promise. And I’m sure you’ll feel much better once you get your strength back.”

She wanted to assure him she was more than fine now, but as the edges of her vision started to fade, she knew she wouldn’t get it out before she succumbed to her body’s demands. She closed her eyes, enjoying the play of his muscles as he climbed the three short steps to the porch and entered the cabin, shutting out the rest of the world.

 

Chapter Five

 

 

 

Gunner reclined in one of the wooden chairs placed around the small table, hands loosely laced together as he watched Morgan toss restlessly on the couch. Hamilton had carried the girl in two hours ago, and she’d been out of it since. After the jolts she’d received from the baton, Gunner had expected her to sleep like the dead. But from the moment Ham had placed her on the sofa, she’d mumbled incoherent phrases, her limbs jerking roughly against the cushions, looking as if she were fighting invisible intruders in her dreams. Then she’d started screaming before staggering to her feet and trying to stumble out of the cabin, only to have Hamilton settle her back down. Even then, she’d fought him, lashing out before falling into his arms, barely lucid. He’d given Gunner a look that had damn near taken him to his knees. Pain. Remorse. It was a look he hadn’t seen on his friend’s face since they’d discovered their families were gone. That the damn apocalypse had claimed everyone they’d ever cared about.

BOOK: What Remains_Reckoning
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